Gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs) allow investors to hold physical gold and other approved precious metals within a tax-advantaged retirement structure. These accounts are designed for long-term investors who want to diversify retirement savings beyond traditional stocks and bonds while retaining the benefits of deferred or tax-free growth. While gold IRAs are often discussed alongside physical gold investing, they operate under a distinct legal and administrative framework. Understanding how gold IRAs work, their advantages, limitations, and risks is essential before considering them as part of a retirement strategy. What Is a Gold IRA? A gold IRA is a form of self-directed IRA that permits investment in physical precious metals, most commonly gold, but also silver, platinum, and palladium under specific conditions. Unlike standard IRAs, which typically hold mutual funds, ETFs, or bonds, a gold IRA holds tangible assets stored in approved depositories. Gold IRAs follow the sa...