Precious Metals
Before you buy metals for an IRA, you need to know what the IRS actually allows and how dealer pricing works. These articles cover the Precious Metals Fundamentals — two core skills every IRA buyer needs: eligibility (what qualifies) and pricing (what you actually pay).
Spot price is not the same as what you pay. Premiums and dealer markups close the gap between the headline number and the price on your invoice — sometimes by 3%, sometimes by 10% or more.
Not every reader needs a Gold IRA — start with the fundamentals here so pricing and eligibility do not surprise you later.
What Is a Precious Metals IRA?
The broader category explained: gold, silver, platinum, palladium in one retirement wrapper.
IRA-Eligible Metals
IRS purity requirements, approved coins and bars, and items that don't qualify.
Spot Price vs Premium
What drives dealer markups, how to evaluate fair pricing, and when premiums spike.
Related Gold IRA topics
Precious-metals fundamentals matter most when evaluating a Gold IRA: which coins are eligible, how dealer premiums add to spot price, and how those costs flow through the account.
Gold IRA Overview
How Gold IRAs work, what they cost, and how to evaluate whether one fits your situation.
How a Gold IRA works
Custodian, depository, and dealer roles — the operational mechanics of a physical-metals IRA.
Gold IRA fees
How spot price, dealer premium, custodian fee, and storage cost combine into your total acquisition cost.
Gold IRA scams to avoid
Common dealer tactics — overcharging on premium, pushing collectible coins, "home storage" myths — and how to spot them.