Global uncertainty, inflation concerns and market changes can move you to look for alternative assets that diversify your portfolio. Major precious metals can be a good option when investing through a self-directed individual retirement arrangement (SDIRA) due to their historical performance. For instance, the total gold demand as of the third quarter of 2025 has increased 3% year-over-year, amounting to 1,313 tons of gold. This gold is valued at $146 billion, representing a 44% increase over the previous year.
Investors dominate this demand. And while most people investing in precious metals choose gold, many also consider silver and other metals. Selecting the right asset is essential in growing your wealth. This precious metals investing guide can help.
Major Precious Metals for Investment
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has rules governing investments with an IRA or an SDIRA. You can only invest in certain precious metals, which include:
Gold
Gold is the most common metal investment, with the U.S. having the largest reserve, amounting to 8,133 tons as of September 2025. Gold tends to maintain its value over long periods, even during stock market volatility. Like other types of precious metal investments, its characteristics impact its use cases, and therefore its value. Gold is used as a base for jewelry and collectibles, and has applications in the electronics and dentistry industries.
You can invest and trade gold through global commodities markets. The price is less affected by supply and demand. However, hoarders — people with large supplies — can influence gold’s value. The price often drops when hoarders sell, while it increases when they buy.
Compared to other investments, gold is more liquid, since you can sell it more easily. It also has a strong track record during economic instabilities. The World Gold Council reports that allocating 4% to 15% of your portfolio to gold investments in the past decade hypothetically would have increased your risk-adjusted returns, depending on your other investments and location.
Gold investment forms include:
- Bullions: Bars, coins and rounds
- Digital investments: Funds, stocks and cryptocurrencies
- Derivatives: Futures and options
This past decade, small bars and coins have accounted for about two-thirds of the annual gold investment demand. Meanwhile, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similar products accounted for one-third of the demand.
Silver
Economic changes tend to affect silver more than gold investments. That means demand for silver tends to grow when economies are doing well. The Silver Institute states that over half of silver’s demand comes from the technology and heavy industries. Innovations that influence the price include the demand for electrical appliances, medical products, industrial items, smartphones and automobile systems.
Like gold, you can buy and trade silver on global commodities markets. However, you can expect lower entry price points than gold, which makes silver more accessible for new investors. Just remember that you may also gain less than what you would with gold.
You can purchase silver through silver bullion options, digital investments or derivatives. However, pure silver assets are typically in the form of bars and coins.
Platinum
Platinum is another highly desirable precious metal. It can sometimes sell at a higher price per troy ounce than gold during stable conditions due to its rarity. Platinum is one of the rarest metals on earth, since mining companies only pull a few of them annually. The mines are heavily concentrated in South Africa and Russia.
Apart from its rarity, platinum’s use as an industrial metal also affects its price. The greatest demand comes from the automotive industry, which uses platinum to reduce harmful emissions. Other contributing industries include the computer, petroleum and jewelry industries. These demands make platinum a solid, cost-effective alternative to gold investments.
Similar to other metals, you can invest in platinum through bullion and digital assets or invest in derivatives.
Palladium
Palladium is another silvery precious metal essential to manufacturing industries, such as the industrial and electronics industries. It’s also often used in medicine, dentistry, and the jewelry industry. However, palladium is rare, just like platinum, and is 30 times rarer than gold. The majority of the supply comes from Russia, South Africa, U.S. and Canada.
Palladium’s rarity and role in technological advancements make it a valuable commodity. If you’re choosing between platinum vs. palladium investing, the industry use cases may be worth considering. Like other metals, you can also choose between physical or digital investments.
Physical Investment Forms
Learning the different physical investment forms can help you create a more informed investment decision. SDIRA lets you invest in bullions, which are either bars, coins or rounds that vary in weight and purity. You can determine the purity by measuring the precious metal’s weight against the other metals in the alloy. Precious metals are measured in troy ounces, where one troy ounce is equivalent to about 31.1 grams.
Bars
Bars can be cost-effective for large-scale purchases. You can choose from different weights easily at a premium typically lower than a spot or market price. Bars also come in metric weights. For instance, you may purchase 1 gram of a gold bar or 400 ounces if you’re an institutional investor.
You can base the size on your investment purpose and preferred storage. For instance, starting with small bars can be economical and simple. You can place them in your home safe until you need a larger vault. You may need professional vault storage for larger purchases, especially when buying medium-sized bars. Proper and adequate storage maintains your bar’s long-term value, insurance and resale price.
A damaged or even a slightly marked bar may impact the metal’s full resale value. Specialized storage facilities can offer sufficient protection and documentation for your precious metals. Generally, you can choose between storing bars in a home safe, private vault or professional depository. Some vaults come with insurance or policies specific to your bullion.
Coins
Coins can be attractive due to their stories, prestige and scarcity. In the U.S., the Mint produces precious metal coins for investors and collectors alike — whether you’re looking for proof, uncirculated or bullion coins. However, remember that you can only invest in specific coins in your SDIRA. The Mint sells proof coins that may not be eligible.
Examples of coins you can get from the Mint, which come with a Certificate of Authenticity, include:
- American Buffalo
- American Eagle
- American Innovation
- American Liberty
- Commemorative Coins
- Morgan and Peace
- Native American $1 Coins
The U.S. government guarantees the bullion coins’ weight, content and purity. However, you cannot purchase these coins directly from the Mint. The Mint distributes bullion coins through authorized purchasers or official distributors. The pricing typically depends on the market price, with a premium that covers the minting, distribution and marketing process.
Rounds
Rounds may resemble coins, so be careful when identifying them. Purchasing a round for the price of a coin or vice versa can impact your investment strategy. Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Coins | Rounds |
|---|---|
| Produced and minted by a sovereign government | Minted by private mints |
| Comes with a date stamp | Do not contain a date stamp |
| Contains a minimum face value | Do not contain a face value |
Private mints can produce rounds using their own designs and metal content. There are fewer limits to the designs or sizes. They can even tailor the design to your preferences. However, they cannot use the exact size or weight specifications of a government-minted coin.
Some companies make rounds to replicate popular or historic coins. These rounds come with markings — which can be any marking — to differentiate them from the original.
Digital and Paper Precious Metal Investments
Apart from physical investment forms, you can invest in precious metals digitally or through derivatives. These investment forms can be through funds, stocks, futures, options or cryptocurrencies. When deciding between physical vs. digital precious metal investments, consider the flexibility and efficiency of digital assets. Each investment form comes with its own benefits.
ETFs and Mutual Funds
ETFs let you hold and trade precious metals on stock exchanges. It’s more convenient than physically purchasing commodities, as you can buy and sell your investments during market hours. You don’t need to wait for delivery or prepare for storage. You can also get your cash quickly after selling, typically after a few business days.
However, since you don’t have access to a physical commodity, you can’t claim a specific metal. For instance, you can’t say which gold bars are yours if the fund owns 1,000 bars. You may also be subject to higher tax rates. Precious metals are considered collectibles by the IRS, which can subject you to a maximum of 28% capital gains tax. A regular stock may subject you to up to 20%.
Similarly, mutual funds let you invest in precious metals digitally. However, you’re trusting the companies handling the investments and not just the metal value. Consider the track record of the company managing your account. Note that companies may only be able to invest up to 10% of their assets in precious metals. The law requires mutual funds to earn 90% of their income from securities.
Mining Stocks and Royalty Companies
Purchasing mining stocks can be suitable for both beginners and seasoned investors. However, you need to consider geopolitical factors and price fluctuations. Mining stocks are more volatile than physical metals, since the risk involves company operations. For instance, a company’s change in operational cost may impact the price. With physical investments, you only need to worry about the metal price.
You can generally choose between two categories of companies:
- Majors: Majors include large, well-capitalized companies with an established history and a global operation. They already have proven and probable reserves, and break down the cost and profit on any deposit by the ton, which makes it easier for you to evaluate your investments.
- Juniors: Juniors are riskier investments with potentially high returns. These companies typically have small capital and short histories. They are often still developing or seeking to develop a natural resource deposit.
Royalty companies provide the funding for the exploration and development of resources. In exchange, mining companies offer a revenue percentage from the deposits.
Futures and Options
Futures and options let you invest in precious metals at a specified date in the future. With futures, you must agree with the exchange regarding the quantity, quality, time and delivery location of the assets. You can only negotiate the price. While you are obliged to buy or sell with a futures contract, you don’t have the same obligation with options. Options only grant you the right to purchase or sell an asset, which can offer lower risks than futures.
Generally, futures and contracts are risky investments and are not often ideal for an IRA. Consider working with a tax consultant or professional for expert advice.
Digital Gold and Blockchain-Based Metals
An institution’s reserve of precious metals determines the value of metal-backed cryptocurrencies. For instance, a company may purchase physical gold and store it in a vault. This company may then create digital tokens representing the value of its holdings. When you buy the token, you’ll digitally own the gold. Trading on the blockchain means you can purchase and sell precious metals instantly 24/7.
Institutions must be transparent regarding their metal reserves. Ensure they verify their holdings through independent audits.
Why Invest in Precious Metals?
Investing in precious metals can diversify your portfolio. They carry intrinsic value and can’t be inflated — you can’t print more metals. Typically, the value of metal also strengthens whenever the dollar weakens. Even a small percentage of precious metal investments in your portfolio can reduce risk and volatility.
During unpredictable geopolitical events, precious metals can also serve as safe-haven assets. The growing industrial demands for precious metals, especially for silver and platinum, also make them an attractive investment. You can even easily transfer these timeless, tangible assets to your family members or future generations. They can be an alternative, portable way to store your life savings.
How to Make Your First Purchase
Investing in precious metals can be risky, especially with untrustworthy custodians. To protect your wealth and increase your chances of a smooth investment process, consider these steps:
- Set your goals and budget: Your goals impact your purchasing strategy and investment timeline. Are you investing for portfolio diversification or to build long-term wealth? Some coins’ value comes from their rarity, apart from the metal content. Precious metals also don’t generate dividends or interest. Would this investment impact your cash flow? Starting small can be ideal if you’re not an aggressive investor. You can gradually build your investment over time.
- Select metals to invest in: Make sure you’re investing in the metals and metal forms approved by the IRS for an SDIRA. You can choose from gold, silver, platinum and palladium of specific purity. Accuplan can help guide you through the requirements.
- Assess potential custodians: Steer away from fraudulent custodians driven by commissions. They may persuade you to invest in specific assets with high markups and low liquidity. Determine if your custodian is trustworthy through reviews and research. If you partner with Accuplan, you’ll be working with a team handling over $2 billion in assets and trusted by countless investors with varying goals and needs.
- Prepare secure storage: If you’re investing in physical forms of precious metals, you need to prepare adequate storage beforehand. Proper storage may involve working with professional vault storage services, whether through banks or private vault companies, or preparing a home safe with the right security features.
- Adjust your investment strategy accordingly: Investing through an SDIRA requires due diligence. You may need to monitor investment activities, especially if you opted for digital investments. Working with professionals, such as tax consultants, can help.
Start Investing With Accuplan Today
At Accuplan, we can help you set up an SDIRA, so you can start investing in precious metals of your choice — whether that’s gold, silver, platinum, palladium or all of the above. Our user-friendly platform makes it easier for any investor to get started.
Our experts are also trained and experienced in all aspects of SDIRAs. We understand that the IRS has strict rules and that noncompliance can disqualify your IRA’s tax-advantaged status. Don’t navigate these requirements on your own. You can rely on our excellent customer service to guide you through the process. If you’re ready to get started, fill out an application today.
Disclaimer: Our information shouldn’t be relied upon for investment advice but simply for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, nor should it be relied upon for accounting, legal, tax or investment advice.
