Before You Buy
- Clarify your purpose. Are you seeking diversification, a tangible asset, a gift, a collectible, or retirement-account exposure?
- Understand the full price. Compare spot price, dealer premium, shipping, storage, insurance, and any account fees.
- Choose the product type. Coins, bars, rounds, collectibles, and IRA-eligible products can have different economics.
- Research the dealer. Check reputation, policies, buyback terms, complaint history, and how authenticity is handled.
- Plan storage and security. Consider home storage, private vaults, bank boxes where available, or qualified custodians.
- Know your liquidity. Ask how and where you can sell, what spreads may apply, and how quickly proceeds are available.
- Understand taxes and account rules. Tax treatment and retirement-account requirements can differ; consult qualified professionals.
- Have an exit strategy. Decide in advance what would cause you to hold, sell, rebalance, or pass the asset to heirs.
Continue Your Research
Use the checklist as a starting point, then compare actual products, costs, policies, and disclosures.
Explore Precious-Metals Resources →Educational content only. Precious metals involve risk and may not be appropriate for every person.