How to buy physical gold for retirement safely in 2026

1. Why consider gold

Buying gold can offer your portfolio "a hedge against inflation as well as diversification," but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Physical gold gives tangible ownership and may feel secure for some retirees, yet it also brings distinct costs and operational tradeoffs compared with ETFs or mutual funds. Use gold as part of a broader retirement plan, not as an all-or-nothing replacement for diversified, income-generating assets.

2. Know the legal basics

For Canadian investors, "Since the 2005 federal budget, Canadians have been able to hold certain investment-grade gold and silver coins, bars, and related certificates inside tax-deferred registered plans, including RRSPs." That change permits bullion in registered accounts but creates extra custody and fee rules. In the U.S., the IRS requires specific compliance for Gold IRAs; as BestGoldIRA warns, "Make sure to only invest in IRS-approved gold coins or bullions. While the IRS's list of authorized assets may change, it is important to only invest in ‘highly refined bullion’ with a 99.5% purity."

3. Set up the account

Follow the basic administrative step BestGoldIRA prescribes: "The first step is to set up a self-directed IRA account. Your custodian will take the necessary details and open your account so that you can hold precious metals in the account." Work with a custodian experienced in precious-metals IRAs so account paperwork, custodial agreements, and transfer mechanics are handled correctly and documented for tax purposes.

4. Fund the purchase

A gold IRA "may be funded with cash contributions, through a rollover from an existing retirement account or via a custodian-to-custodian transfer between IRAs." CNBC explains the mechanics: the simplest path is a direct rollover where funds transfer straight from your old account to the gold-IRA custodian. Avoid indirect rollovers unless you understand the risks: you "are given the distribution from your old account and have 60 days to deposit it into a gold IRA or face early withdrawal penalties" and the IRS requires 20% withholding with an indirect rollover.

5. Choose IRS-approved products

Compliance is technical: U.S. bullion held in IRAs must meet purity and manufacturing standards—"Gold bullion coins and bars must be at least 99.5% pure"—and BestGoldIRA adds that assets "must be manufactured at a nationally accredited company and be in their original mint packaging." Expect to require certificates of authenticity, coin condition without defects, and bars that meet specific IRS weight requirements. Because the IRS's approved list "may change," verify product eligibility with your custodian before purchase.

6. Storage and custody rules

Never store IRA-held bullion at home. CNBC is explicit: IRA metals must be "held by a qualified trustee in an approved depository, not at home." For Canadian registered plans, GoldRRSP recommends starting "with a dealer program that clearly labels which products qualify and supports registered-account storage," reflecting parallel custody and storage expectations. Outside of retirement accounts, Money.com notes common alternatives—home safes, bank safety deposit boxes, or third-party storage companies—each carrying different insurance and cost implications.

7. Fees and cost examples

Expect ongoing costs: storage, insurance, depository fees, and sometimes custodian or annual account fees. As an example, American Hartford Gold (as reported by CNBC Select) has a "minimum purchase requirement of $10,000" and a "minimum account balance of $10,000," with an "annual IRA fee of $75 for accounts valued at $100,000 or less, $125 for accounts valued at $100,001 or more" and storage fees that "vary with the depository but typically is a flat $100 annual storage fee in most cases." Some providers promote buyer incentives (Money.com notes offers such as free investor kits or silver bonuses), but promotional offers should be weighed against long-term cost transparency.

8. Providers, recognitions, and endorsements

Vendor reputations and awards appear frequently in marketing copy and press releases; for example, Priority Gold's PR claims it was "Recognized by Forbes in 2025 as the Most Trusted Gold Company" and that "Expert Consumers has recognized Priority Gold as a go-to firm for Gold IRA rollovers in 2026." GoldRRSP lists "TOP 3 COMPANIES IN 2026" as SGB (SilverGoldBull), Guildhall, and Border Gold. Independent ratings, transparent fee schedules, buyback guarantees, and clear custodial relationships are practical signals to vet beyond press claims and endorsements.

9. Liquidity and practical tradeoffs

Money.com cautions that "physical gold is also the most difficult type of gold to liquidate," and notes the trade-offs: coins can be more liquid while bars are often more cost-efficient for large purchases. GoldRRSP summarizes the core tradeoff: "The tradeoff is simple: you get the comfort of owning real bullion, but you also take on extra rules, storage requirements, and ongoing fees." Evaluate how easy it will be to sell when you need cash, and whether buyback guarantees and dealer networks cited by vendors match your liquidity needs.

10. Disclosures, next steps, and verification

Many guide sites and vendor pages are reader-supported or promotional—GoldRRSP states, "we are reader-supported. Our content doesn't constitue financial advice. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from our links." Treat press releases and vendor claims as starting points and verify regulatory lists, exact product SKUs, and depository agreements with custodians. If you plan to roll existing retirement funds, confirm whether a direct custodian-to-custodian transfer is possible, ask for written fee schedules, and request documentation of product eligibility and storage arrangements before you authorize any transfers.