Gold IRA vs Gold ETF

A physical Gold IRA and a gold-focused exchange-traded fund can both create gold exposure, but ownership, costs, liquidity and account complexity differ.

Physical Gold IRA

The IRA owns qualifying physical metal under a custodian/storage arrangement. Dealer spreads and custody/storage fees can apply.

Gold ETF

An ETF is a security that can generally be bought and sold through a brokerage account during market hours. Fund expenses and the fund’s specific structure matter.

Key decision

Decide whether your priority is direct IRA ownership of qualifying physical metal or simpler market-traded exposure. Read the fund prospectus for any ETF you consider.