Retirement and
Metal Location

There is no single right number. Many families hold a measured share in physical metal as ballast against inflation, market drawdowns, and the risks that come with digital accounts. The desk sizes your position around your income needs, your other assets, and how much volatility you can live with, then revisits it with you and your advisor as your plans change.

Yes, through a self-directed IRA, with two conditions. The metal must meet IRS fineness standards, such as gold of at least .995 fine or American Gold Eagle coins, and it must be held by a bank or an IRS-approved trustee, never at home. Holding IRA metal yourself can be treated as a taxable distribution. Metal you own outside an IRA can be vaulted in your own name.

A home safe leaves your metal exposed to burglary, fire, and disputes, and standard homeowners policies often cover bullion only up to a few hundred dollars unless you add a rider. A professional vault keeps it 100% allocated and segregated in your own account, insured, and third-party audited, and you can still see it on video or in person. If you keep some metal at home, keep it modest and documented.

You can sell part of your holdings back through the desk at live pricing, on a set schedule or when you need it. We plan sales around holding periods and your other income with your CPA, and settle only to the account you named in advance, after confirming the instruction through your second channel. You can also take delivery of metal if you prefer.

Start with where you will spend your time and where your heirs live. Storage in the United States keeps metal close and reporting simple. Switzerland and Singapore add distance from any single legal system and suit families with international lives. Some families split holdings across two locations. Each location's terms are set out in your custody agreement.

Title the metal to the right owner, whether that is you, a trust, or an entity, and leave clear access instructions so your executor and heirs can reach it without a password. Inherited metal generally takes a new cost basis equal to its value on the date of death. Gifts to charity follow special rules for tangible property, so plan them with your attorney and CPA before you give.