How to buy physical gold for retirement in 2026

Buying physical gold for retirement this year? Here's how to do that without overpaying or getting burned. Sponsored Gold IRA How to buy physical gold for retirement in 2026 We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht February 23, 2026 / 6:01 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Buying physical gold for retirement isn't complicated, but it does require thoughtfulness in this landscape. Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images Gold tends to find its way into retirement conversations for a simple reason: It behaves differently than stocks and bonds when the economy shifts. And, with markets swinging, interest rates still reshaping portfolios and inflation refusing to fully fade from the picture, many people who are nearing retirement right now are taking a fresh look at what diversification actually means for their long-term security — and whether some of their retirement investment assets should live outside the traditional financial system.That shift in thinking, coupled with gold's impressive price trajectory over the last year, has pushed physical gold back into the spotlight for retirees. Tangible gold coins and bars you can actually own can be a smart addition to a retirement portfolio right now. For some investors, the appeal is being able to hold a physical asset, and for others, it's strategic, driven by concerns about currency risk, policy uncertainty or how their portfolio might behave in the next major market shock.But if you want to own physical gold in retirement, there are real decisions to make and real costs to understand before you commit and buy in. So, how exactly should you buy physical gold for retirement this year? That's what we'll outline below.Start adding gold bars and coins to your retirement portfolio now.How to buy physical gold for retirement in 2026The most direct way to hold physical gold in retirement is through a self-directed gold individual retirement account (IRA). Unlike a traditional IRA, which holds paper assets like stocks and mutual funds, a gold IRA allows you to hold IRS-approved physical gold within a tax-advantaged retirement account. You contribute to the account the same way you would a conventional IRA, but instead of buying shares, you're purchasing tangible metal that gets stored in an approved depository on your behalf.To open one, you'll need to work with a specialized gold custodian, which is a financial institution approved by the IRS to administer self-directed IRAs. The custodian facilitates the purchase of gold on your behalf through a licensed dealer. Not just any gold qualifies, though; the IRS requires the metal to be at least 99.5% pure. Once purchased, the gold must also be stored in an IRS-approved depository, not in your home or a personal safe deposit box.Outside of a retirement account, you can also buy physical gold directly through dealers, banks or online platforms. Gold coins, and particularly widely recognized bullion coins like American Gold Eagles, are the more flexible option because they're easier to sell in smaller increments. Gold bars typically carry lower per-ounce premiums than coins, though, making them more cost-efficient if you're buying larger quantities and planning to hold them long-term. Whatever route you take, though, most experts suggest limiting gold to between 5% and 10% of your overall portfolio. And, at current price levels, even a modest gold allocation represents a meaningful dollar commitment, so it's worth sizing your position deliberately rather than just reacting to the headlines.Protect your retirement investments by adding gold today.What to know about gold fees, storage and scams in retirementPhysical gold comes with real-world frictions that paper assets don't, and knowing where the costs and risks live can prevent unpleasant surprises later. Here's what to consider:Certain fees can quietly eat into gold returnsGold IRAs often carry setup, custodian and storage fees. You'll also face dealer premiums when buying and bid-ask spreads when selling, even outside an IRA. These costs don't show up on a stock chart, but over time, they can materially affect your net return, so ask for a full fee breakdown in writing and compare multiple providers before buying. The cheapest headline price isn't always the best long-term deal. Storage is a real decision, not a footnoteStoring gold at home gives you access to and control of your assets, but it also introduces security risks and potential insurance gaps. Professional gold vault storage adds cost but can provide peace of mind and documentation that helps when selling later. For IRA-held gold, third-party stora