Aurum Meridian · Research

Gold research library

Start with the ownership, account and custody questions. Use our guides to prepare better questions, then check the linked primary sources and current provider documents.

Editorial approach and affiliate disclosure · Company directory · Journal archive

Getting started and retirement

How to Invest in Gold: Ownership, Costs and Risks

Compare physical gold, exchange-traded products, mining shares and gold IRAs. Understand ownership, fees, liquidity and risks before choosing an investment.

How to Compare Gold IRA Companies

Compare gold IRA dealers, custodians, storage arrangements and total costs. Use a written-quote checklist and see our disclosed featured providers.

Gold IRA vs Traditional IRA: Account Type and Assets

A gold IRA can itself be a traditional IRA. Understand tax treatment, permitted assets, custody, fees and distributions before comparing retirement accounts.

401(k) to Gold IRA Rollover: A Decision Checklist

Check rollover eligibility, account tax type, custody and written fees before moving a 401(k) to a gold IRA. Understand direct and indirect rollover differences.

How a Self-Directed Gold IRA Works

Understand the owner, dealer, custodian and storage provider in a self-directed gold IRA, including due diligence, prohibited transactions and records.

Gold Depository Comparison: Custody, Insurance and Access

Compare gold storage contracts using allocation records, insurance terms, audits, withdrawal procedures and costs. Separate IRA custody rules from marketing labels.

Required Minimum Distributions from a Gold IRA

Plan valuation, cash sales or in-kind withdrawals from a gold IRA. Check the applicable RMD rules, tax treatment, deadlines and custodian procedures.

Gold Price Outlook for 2026: How to Evaluate a Forecast

Assess gold price forecasts using dated assumptions, scenario ranges and investment costs. Learn why a price target is not a guaranteed return.

More gold and precious-metals guides

Gold vs. Silver Investment .

Compare gold and silver as investments, including market drivers, volatility, storage and liquidity. Understand how the two metals differ before buying.

How to Buy Gold Bars .

Learn what to check when buying gold bars: weight, purity, dealer premiums, authenticity, storage and resale terms. Compare the full cost of ownership.

Is Gold a Good Investment? .

Consider gold’s potential role in a portfolio alongside volatility, storage costs, liquidity and its lack of income. Review the trade-offs before investing.

Gold ETF vs. Physical Gold .

Compare gold ETFs and physical gold across ownership, storage, trading, fees and tax considerations. Review fund documents and current rules before investing.

American Eagle vs Canadian Maple Leaf .

Compare American Gold Eagle and Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins, including weight, purity, premiums and resale considerations. Verify current specifications.

The 28% Collectibles Tax on Gold ETFs .

Explore tax considerations for gold ETFs, including fund structure and collectibles treatment. Check current rules and seek advice for your circumstances.

How Fed Policy Moves Gold .

Explore how Federal Reserve policy, interest rates and market expectations can influence gold. Understand the relationships and their limitations.

Central-Bank Gold Buying Trends .

Explore central-bank gold buying, reserve diversification and demand data. Learn how official purchases fit into the wider gold market.

BRICS Gold Accumulation .

Explore BRICS gold accumulation and reserve diversification, including the limits of reported holdings and their relevance to the gold market.

Gold vs Inflation: The Record .

Examine gold’s relationship with inflation across different periods. Consider real returns, holding periods and the limits of using gold as a hedge.

Royalty and Streaming Companies .

Learn how precious-metals royalty and streaming businesses work. Compare their revenue models, company risks and exposure to mining operations.

Silver Industrial Demand .

Explore silver’s industrial uses and the demand factors that influence its market, including manufacturing, energy technologies and economic cycles.

The Gold-Silver Ratio .

Learn what the gold-to-silver ratio measures, how investors interpret it and why historical ratios do not guarantee future price movements.

Platinum and Palladium in an IRA .

Explore platinum and palladium in a precious-metals IRA, including metal eligibility, custody, storage and market risks. Verify current account requirements.

LBMA Good Delivery Bars .

Learn about LBMA Good Delivery bars, their role in wholesale gold markets and the differences between institutional bars and retail bullion.

Numismatic vs Bullion Coin .

Compare numismatic and bullion coins, including rarity, grading, metal value, premiums and resale. Understand what drives the price of each type.

Roth Conversion and the Gold IRA .

Explore questions to consider before a Roth conversion involving a gold IRA, including valuation, liquidity and potential taxes. Verify current rules.

Gold in a 60/40 Portfolio .

Explore how adding gold changes a portfolio of stocks and bonds. Consider diversification, volatility, rebalancing and the limits of historical comparisons.

Mining Stocks vs Physical Gold .

Compare gold mining shares with physical gold, including business risks, price exposure, income potential, storage and ownership costs.

Junior Miners vs Majors .

Compare junior gold miners and established mining companies across funding needs, production, exploration risk and exposure to changing metal prices.

Home Safe vs Safe-Deposit Box .

Compare a home safe with a bank safe-deposit box for physical gold. Consider access, security, insurance and the terms of each storage option.

Gold IRA Scams to Avoid .

Review warning signs in gold IRA offers, including pressure selling, unclear premiums and misleading promotions. Prepare questions before committing funds.

Journal archive

Browse all published articles. Check each article’s date and sources when evaluating time-sensitive information.