Just 35% of Americans said they were on track with their retirement savings, according to the 2025 Report on the Economic Well-being of U.S. Households, so it’s no surprise that gold can be an appealing investment.
Gold (GC=F) has been valued for centuries, but is all that glitter worth the hype? Gold’s price has skyrocketed in recent years — it’s over $5,000 as of March 2026. Many people are considering putting more of their money into gold rather than other investment options, particularly as they plan for retirement.
Although it’s possible to retire comfortably by investing solely in gold, it’s a lot more difficult (and requires much more of your own money) than if you invested in the stock market.
Read more: Who decides what gold is worth? How gold prices are determined.
Gold involves added costs, including insurance and storage fees.
Over the long term, the stock market has outperformed gold.
Experts recommend putting no more than 15% of your portfolio into gold.
There are two main strategies for investing in gold for retirement: purchasing physical gold coins or bars and investing in a gold individual retirement account (IRA).
When it comes to investing in gold, purchasing physical gold is the most common approach. Investors can purchase gold coins or bars. These items are tangible and can be stored at home. You don’t have to rely on banks or brokerage accounts — you can literally hold your wealth. And physical gold can act as a hedge against inflation and provide peace of mind.
The downside? Physical gold is at risk of theft and loss. You’ll have to get a strong safe (or pay for professional storage) and purchase insurance coverage.
Plus, you’ll have to sell your gold in retirement for income. Selling gold isn’t always easy or quick; you have to find a buyer willing to pay your price, which can be a hassle in your golden years.
Learn more: Is gold a good investment in 2026?
Gold IRAs are self-directed retirement accounts that allow you to invest in alternative assets like precious metals. Through your retirement account, you purchase physical gold, which is managed by an approved custodian and stored in a vault.
Only certain gold products are eligible for gold IRAs. All gold must meet 0.995 purity standards.
They’re subject to the same tax advantages as regular Roth or Traditional IRAs and are also subject to required minimum distribution (RMD) rules.
While gold IRAs can be appealing, they tend to have high setup fees, custodian fees, and ongoing storage costs.
Read more: How gold IRAs are taxed
Gold enthusiasts tout the precious metal’s stellar performance over the past few decades, but it pales in comparison to the performance of the stock market.
Consider this: From December 1985 until March 2026, gold’s price went from $327 to $5,019. If you were 25 and invested $10,000 in gold in December 1985, you would’ve bought 30.58 ounces of gold. Now that you’re 65, that…
Source: finance.yahoo.com
