Guides
Plain, sourced explanations of how to buy, sell, and hold precious metals, with the numbers tied to primary sources. Not personalized financial advice.
How to Buy Gold in 2026: A Beginner's Guide
The real ways to buy gold in the US, what you actually own with each, and what they cost. Physical coins and bars, allocated platforms, gold IRAs, and ETFs, compared with primary sources. No payment from any company.
Gold vs Silver: Which Should You Buy in 2026?
Gold or silver? Gold is the steadier store of value; silver is cheaper to start, more volatile, and tied to industry. The real differences in cost, storage, volatility, and tax, with primary sources.
Is Gold a Good Investment in 2026?
An honest look at gold as an investment: it pays nothing, the inflation-hedge case is mixed, and stocks have out-returned it long term. Its real strength is diversification. The case for and against, with primary sources.
What Is a Gold IRA? How It Works, Rules, and Fees
What a gold IRA is, how it works, the fineness and storage rules, the layered fees and the metal markup, and who it suits. Sourced to the IRS, the tax code, and the CFTC.
Gold Coins vs Bars: Which Should You Buy?
Gold bars are usually cheaper per ounce; government-minted coins are easier to authenticate and resell in small amounts. The premium trade-off, sourced, plus the collectible-coin trap to avoid.
Gold IRA Rollover: How to Move a 401(k) or IRA into Gold
How to move a 401(k) or IRA into a gold IRA without triggering tax: transfers vs direct and 60-day rollovers, the 20% withholding and one-per-year traps, and the step order. Sourced to the IRS and CFTC.
How to Store Gold Safely: Home, Bank, or Depository
Where to keep physical gold safely: a home safe, a bank safe deposit box, or an insured depository, plus the insurance reality and the gold-IRA storage rule. Sourced to the FDIC, IRS, LBMA, and UL.