Their analysts estimate that gold could surpass $4,000 an ounce by the second quarter of 2026. What’s more, gold could reach $6,000 an ounce by 2029 1 — if just a small percentage of foreign-held U.S. assets are reallocated to gold. Goldman Sachs also hiked its year-end gold price outlook from $3,000 to $3,700. 2
Gold is often considered a safe haven asset. This means it can retain or even increase its value during times of economic volatility and market turbulence. For instance, during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009, the value of gold actually rose, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 3 Gold isn’t tied directly to any particular currency, which means it offers some protection against devaluation.
While the U.S. and China have temporarily agreed to a cooling-down period on tariffs, uncertainty remains around trade, geopolitical instability and fears of a global recession.
Gold can hedge against the result of a global downturn — meaning inflation, currency fluctuations and economic instability. But the precious metal can also act as a retirement planning tool that provides both stability and diversification in your portfolio.
Here’s what you need to know about gold IRAs, plus some places to get started.
What is a gold IRA?
Like traditional IRAs, gold IRAs offer tax-deferred growth — so you don’t pay taxes on your investment gains until you make withdrawals in retirement.
You’re also subject to contribution limits and required to start taking required minimum distributions at age 73. In 2025, the annual contribution limit for traditional and Roth IRAs is $7,000, with an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 for those over 50.
With a gold IRA, you invest in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium rather than stocks, bonds and mutual funds. You acquire physical gold — in the form of coins or bars — rather than a piece of paper. These tangible assets are then stored in an IRS-approved depository as part of your retirement savings. If you store your gold at home, you’ll have to pay taxes, as this is considered a withdrawal.
You’ll also need to set up an account with a specialty dealer — not with a conventional broker. Here you have three options.
- A traditional gold IRA funded with pre-tax dollars
- Roth gold IRAs funded with after-tax dollars
- SEP gold IRA, which are available to self-employed individuals or employees of small businesses
You can fund the account through a direct contribution or a rollover from a qualifying retirement account. Often, gold dealers like American Hartford Gold or Thor Metals offer 100% free rollovers. Once funded, you can buy IRS-approved coins or bars through a specialty dealer, which can then be stored in a depository by a custodian.
There are specific rules around gold IRAs — and some states have different tax structures for the sale of gold and silver. Choosing the right dealer and custodian can help investors navigate regulatory and taxation hurdles.
Some qualified dealers also offer incentives like free setups, secure storage and bonus precious metals with qualifying purchases:
American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold (AHG) is an investment company that offers gold IRAs among a range of precious metals investment options, which can be delivered to your doorstep or placed in a self-directed, tax-advantaged gold IRA.
With high ratings from the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs and Trustpilot, AHG has a strong focus on customer service and secure storage, with a price protection guarantee.
For instance, AHG offers the custodial services of Equity Trust Company and a choice of IRA-approved depositories for the secure storage of your gold and other precious metals. Depository locations include Texas, Delaware, Salt Lake City, New York and Los Angeles. It also offers clients a buyback commitment, with a simple three-step liquidation process and no additional liquidation or shipping fees.
With secure storage, expert guidance, and customizable investment plans, American Hartford Gold helps investors diversify their portfolios while hedging against inflation.
American Hartford Gold offers a free investor's kit that provides information on how you can receive up to $20,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.
Thor Metals
Thor Metals is a precious metals investing company that only accepts well-known, government-backed coins and bullion such as the American Eagle. Aside from selling investment-grade IRAs, it aims to educate investors about gold IRAs and provide a high level of customer service.
Thor Metals provides fully transparent transactions, personalized metal selections and a simple step-by-step process to help you build your portfolio. It also offers VIP support, with highly experienced IRA experts on hand to walk you through the process. Thor then sends the metals directly to you or your IRA-approved depository, covering the cost of shipping and all-risk insurance.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that provides details on how you can get up to $20,000 in free metals with qualifying purchases.
Before you buy
Before you commit to a gold IRA, it’s worth considering the pros and cons — and whether it’s the right retirement vehicle for your needs.
While gold is seen as stable, a gold IRA is less liquid than a traditional IRA. Plus, selling gold can be more time-consuming than stocks or bonds. The price of gold can also be volatile, and it doesn’t pay dividends.
Finding the right dealer can help navigate some of these issues and even provide you with perks like free setup, shipping or insurance, or assistance with liquidating your assets.
While gold has its pros and cons, it is often seen as a viable investment strategy to help weather economic turbulence.
