Can You Buy Gold in a Fidelity, Schwab or Vanguard IRA?

Many people already have an IRA at a large brokerage and wonder whether it can hold gold. This page reports what three well-known firms say on their own websites, then explains the IRS rule that shapes the answer. It is a companion to our guide on what a gold IRA is and how precious metals IRAs work. This is general education, not personal advice, and we do not recommend any firm.

How we sourced this page. Everything below about a firm is that firm's own statement, taken from the pages we opened on October 7, 2026. These pages change. We did not look at any other brokerage, so we say nothing about brokerages in general.

Can I hold physical gold at a mainstream brokerage IRA?

The answer depends on the firm and on what the firm's own rules allow. The table summarizes what we could confirm. "Not found" means the pages we opened did not say, not that the answer is no.

Can I buy physical gold in a Fidelity IRA?

According to Fidelity's website, yes, within limits. Its page says: "The only precious metals permitted to be purchased in a Fidelity IRA are:" and then lists Gold American Eagle (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz), Gold American Buffalo (1 oz), Silver American Eagle (1 oz), Platinum American Eagle (1 oz, 1/2 oz and 1/4 oz) and "Bullion Quality Bars" (Fidelity).

The same page says: "Precious metals are generally not eligible to be held in other retirement accounts at Fidelity." A footnote says metals "may not be purchased in a Fidelity Retirement Plan (Keogh), and are restricted to certain types of investments in a Fidelity IRA."

Fidelity also warns about taxes. It says the direct purchase of precious metals and other collectibles in an IRA "can result in a taxable distribution from that account (except as specifically provided under IRS rules)."

A second Fidelity page, on how to trade precious metals, describes the service this way (Fidelity):

• "Fidelity acts as an agent only; we hold no inventory in precious metals."
• Trades "must be placed through a representative" by phone.
• Minimum initial investment is $1,000 for IRAs and $2,500 for non-retirement accounts.
• Whole ounces or whole coins only, with no fractional amounts.

A caution. The two Fidelity pages are not worded identically. The trading page lists categories that include palladium bullion bars for IRAs, while the first page gives a narrower list. We cannot tell from the pages which is more current. If this matters to you, ask Fidelity which metals it permits today.

We did not open any Fidelity page describing storage or fees for IRA metals, so we do not describe them.

What about Schwab?

We opened three Schwab pages: its IRA page, a gold investing article (dated April 15, 2025) and a precious-metals ETF page. None of them said whether a Schwab IRA can hold physical gold or silver.

The IRA page lists "stocks, bonds, CDs, ETFs, and mutual funds" among the options (it says "including"), and the page did not mention gold or collectibles. The gold article says physical gold, such as "gold coins, gold bullion bars, and gold jewelry," is one way to invest. It also notes that "Markups and commissions on physical gold sales can be high" and that secure storage "can also potentially be an issue." The article does not say whether Schwab sells physical gold.

Because we could not confirm Schwab's position, we make no claim about it. Ask Schwab directly.

What about Vanguard?

Vanguard's IRA investment options page names mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, individual bonds, certificates of deposit and real estate investment trusts (REITs). It also says: "IRA investments can't be made in collectibles, life insurance contracts, and other prohibited investments set by the IRS" (Vanguard).

Vanguard's page on alternative investments says: "Trading in commodities and futures is very specialized and not available through Vanguard." It also says: "the prices of these metals can be extremely unpredictable and volatile" (Vanguard).

Neither page states in so many words whether a Vanguard IRA can hold physical gold. Our reading is that neither page lists physical metal as an option. That is our reading, not a Vanguard statement, so confirm with Vanguard.

Why does the IRS treat gold differently from stocks?

Federal tax law treats most collectibles as a problem inside an IRA. The IRS page we opened is mainly about individually directed qualified plan accounts, but it has a section stating that the collectibles restrictions also apply to IRAs and refers readers to IRS Publication 590-B. Confirm how the rules apply to your situation with a tax professional.

On that page, the IRS says: "A plan participant whose account acquires a collectible is deemed to receive a distribution in the year the collectible is acquired." A distribution is a withdrawal, which can be taxable.

The page lists exceptions, including "Certain gold, silver, or platinum coins described in 31 USC Section 5112." It also names gold, silver, platinum or palladium bullion "of a certain fineness" if "a bank or approved non-bank trustee keeps physical possession of it" (IRS).

In plain terms, as we read it: some coins and bullion can qualify, but only if they meet the rule's description and are held by an approved trustee. We did not open a source on what happens if you hold the metal yourself, so we do not address it here; ask a tax professional.

Where can I buy gold for my IRA?

That depends on who holds the account. We can report only what we confirmed:

• Fidelity says it acts as an agent for IRA metal trades, through a representative, and limits what can be bought.
• For Schwab and Vanguard, we did not find a page describing a physical-metal option in an IRA.
• A self-directed IRA is an IRA at a custodian that allows a wider set of assets. We explain how these work in our self-directed IRA guide, and our solo 401(k) and precious metals page covers a related account type. We have not verified any particular custodian here.

What about gold ETFs?

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a fund that trades like a stock. Fidelity's page says that if metals "are held in an ETF or other underlying investment vehicle," you should first confirm that such an investment is appropriate for a retirement account. Schwab's article says "Some ETPs buy physical gold, while others invest in gold futures, options" (the quote is cut off there). These are different products from owning coins or bars, with their own costs and risks. Check each fund's own documents. We do not name or rank any fund.

What should I ask before moving forward?

• Which exact coins and bars does the firm allow in my account type today?
• Who is the trustee that holds the metal, and where is it stored?
• What are all the fees, markups and the price at which I could sell?
• Does the transaction count as a purchase inside the IRA, or a withdrawal?

Our gold IRA due-diligence checklist has more questions. A tax professional (a CPA or enrolled agent) can explain how your own situation fits the rules.

Related questions

• Does this page recommend a firm? No. It reports what firms say and does not compare quality.
• Are these offerings fixed? No. Firms change their pages and products, so recheck before acting.