Precious Metals Buying & Ownership Guides

Owning physical metal involves more than the purchase. You also need to think about storage, insurance, records, taxes when you sell, and choosing a company you trust.

Start with how to buy gold or precious metals for beginners. Then use 25 questions to ask a precious metals company before you speak with anyone. Our glossary defines the terms you'll hear.

All precious metals buying & ownership guides guides

• How to Buy Gold: A Practical GuideA practical guide to buying physical gold: coins vs bars, where to buy, how spot price and premiums work, storage choices, and IRA vs direct ownership.
• How to Buy SilverHow buying physical silver differs from gold: product choices, why premiums run higher, bulk and storage, sales tax, IRA fineness rules, and selling later.
• How to Buy Platinum and PalladiumWhat to know before buying platinum or palladium: supply concentration, industrial demand, available coins and bars, wider spreads, and IRA fineness rules.
• How to Choose a Precious Metals CompanyEight practical criteria for choosing a precious metals company: pricing transparency, product mix, IRA support, storage, buybacks, conduct, and track record.
• 25 Questions to Ask a Precious Metals CompanyA checklist of 25 questions to ask any precious metals company about pricing, products, retirement accounts, storage, shipping, selling, and staff.
• High-Pressure Sales Red FlagsSales tactics to watch for when buying precious metals, from fear scripts and fake deadlines to bait-and-switch coins, plus where to report problems.
• Storing Gold at Home: Safes and PrecautionsHow to store directly owned gold and silver at home: choosing a rated safe, where to put it, insurance riders, discretion, records, and telling heirs.
• Precious Metals Storage Options ComparedCompare home safes, bank safe deposit boxes, private vaults, and depositories for gold and silver on access, insurance, privacy, cost, and IRA eligibility.
• Insuring Precious MetalsHow insurance works for gold and silver: low homeowners limits on bullion, scheduled riders, safe deposit box gaps, depository coverage, and shipping cover.
• Safe Deposit Boxes for GoldWhat to know before keeping gold in a bank safe deposit box: no FDIC coverage on contents, bank liability limits, access hours, insurance, and heirs.
• How to Sell Gold and SilverHow to sell physical gold and silver: who buys it, how bids compare with spot, getting several quotes, paperwork, taxes, and selling metals in an IRA.
• How Precious Metals Buyback Programs WorkHow dealer buyback programs for gold and silver work: how bids are set, the steps for directly held and IRA metals, timing, and which written terms to check.
• Shipping and Delivery of Precious MetalsHow gold and silver are shipped: insured transit, signature delivery, discreet packaging, timing, inspecting your order, and depository delivery.
• Reading a Precious Metals Purchase AgreementThe clauses that matter in a gold or silver purchase agreement: price locks, cancellation terms, spreads, shipping, storage and buyback language.
• Taxes on Selling Physical Gold and SilverHow the IRS treats gains on bullion coins and bars as collectibles, the 28% maximum long-term rate, holding periods, and the basis records you need.
• When Precious Metals Sales Get Reported to the IRSWhich gold and silver transactions dealers may report to the IRS, how Form 1099-B and Form 8300 work, and why your own reporting duty applies either way.
• Precious Metals and Estate PlanningHow to title physical gold and silver, name beneficiaries for metals held in an IRA, keep records heirs can find, and when basis rules differ for heirs.
• Gifting Gold and SilverHow gift tax rules apply to gold and silver coins, why the recipient usually inherits your cost basis, and practical ways to give bullion as a gift.
• Precious Metals for BeginnersA starting point for first-time buyers: the four metals, coins vs bars, spot price and premiums, ways to hold metal, storage, taxes, and where to read next.
• Building a Personal Precious Metals PlanA written framework for owning gold and silver: define goals, set a budget, choose the form and account, plan storage, and decide your exit before you buy.
• Buying Gold on a Regular ScheduleHow dollar-cost averaging applies to physical gold and silver, why premiums on small orders matter, and how to set a buying schedule that fits your budget.
• Record-Keeping for Precious Metals PurchasesWhat records to keep for gold and silver: receipts, cost basis, serial numbers, photos, storage logs and IRA statements, and how long to keep them.
• Precious Metals GlossaryPlain-English definitions of more than 80 precious metals terms, from allocated storage to withholding, with links to our in-depth guide for each topic.
• Common Gold Buying MistakesThe gold buying mistakes that cost people most: overpaying premiums, buying IRA-ineligible coins, storing IRA metal at home, and having no plan to sell.
• How to Verify a Precious Metals DealerPractical checks on any gold or silver dealer: BBB and BCA profiles, state attorney general records, CFTC actions, reviews, and a real physical address.
• What the CFTC Warns About Precious Metals FraudA plain-English summary of CFTC consumer warnings on precious metals fraud: financed metal, undelivered orders, bait-and-switch pricing and fake storage.