Gold IRA vs Gold ETF
Compare physical precious metals in a self-directed IRA with exchange-traded gold exposure.
A Gold IRA holding physical metal and a gold ETF can both provide gold-related exposure, but the ownership, custody, trading and fee structures differ.
Physical IRA metal
Requires self-directed custody and storage and can involve dealer spreads.
ETF exposure
Trades through a brokerage like a security and does not give the investor personal title to particular bars in the same manner as IRA-owned physical bullion.
Compare liquidity, expense ratios, spreads, custody, tracking behavior and your actual objective rather than treating the two as interchangeable.
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