Gold futures traded near $4,300 to $4,400 an ounce in late September. On Sept. 25, they were down 8.5% from a month earlier and up 14.4% from a year earlier, Yahoo Finance reported. The article listed a stronger dollar, elevated Treasury yields and expectations of further Fed rate increases among the forces holding gold in that range.
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate to a range of 3.75% to 4% on Sept. 16. Gold pays no interest, so higher rates can make yield-bearing alternatives more attractive by comparison.
The Treasury Department’s 13-week bill carried a 4.10% discount rate on Sept. 28.
What owning gold inside an IRA costs
A gold IRA carries costs that a Treasury bill or bank account does not. A Yahoo Finance fee guide from April 2026 listed setup fees of $50 to $300, annual storage of $100 to $300, annual custodian fees of $75 to $300 and transaction fees of $25 to $100 each. It put dealer premiums at 2% to 10% above the spot price and estimated annual costs of $200 to $600 on a $50,000 account, not counting markups.
Do the math on the premium. A 5% markup on a $50,000 purchase is $2,500 paid before the price of gold moves at all. The same $50,000 in Treasury bills at a 4.10% rate would earn about $2,000 over a year if rates held, which they may not, and before federal tax.
The comparison is not perfectly fair. Gold does not produce income. Investors buy it as a diversifier or a hedge, and the Yahoo Finance article noted that suggested allocations range from zero to 20% of a portfolio depending on risk tolerance.
The tax rules that limit what you can buy
An IRA cannot hold most collectibles. IRS Publication 590-A says the amount an IRA invests in collectibles is treated as a distribution, which can mean a tax bill.
Section 408(m) of the tax code carves out certain gold, silver and platinum coins, plus bullion that meets the minimum purity standards of a regulated futures exchange. The bullion must be in a trustee’s physical possession. That requirement is why gold IRAs typically use an approved depository rather than a home safe.
Where gold fits
Ask for every cost in dollars: setup, annual custodian, annual storage, the premium over spot on the exact coins or bars, and the price the dealer pays when you sell. Get the fee schedule in writing and compare it with at least one other provider.
Investors, including Ray Dalio and Jamie Dimon, have argued that gold can play a modest role as a diversifier. The metal also has value beyond investment demand because of its industrial uses.
Anthem Gold Group helps investors buy physical precious metals and set up precious-metals IRAs. You can purchase gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars for direct delivery, or hold eligible metals inside an IRA through approved storage. Plus, qualifying customers may receive up to $25,000 in complimentary gold and silver and waived IRA storage fees for up to 10 years.
Gold is up 14.4% over a year and down 8.5% over a month. Inside an IRA, its price is only part of the cost. Custodian, storage and dealer charges can add to what you pay.
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