Major financial institutions, like Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, predict gold prices will continue to climb in 2026, citing reasons like concerns about the Federal Reserve, tariffs and ongoing uncertainty, leading to increased demand in this "safe" investment.
Currently, gold is valued at more than $4,000 per ounce, up almost 50%, and is considered one of the best-performing assets in 2025.
With investors seeing gold as a hedge against inflation, is now the right time for you to invest, given the predictions of gold prices going up even higher?
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In this article: American Hartford Gold, Priority Gold and Thor Metals
Not seen since 1996, central bank reserves now hold more gold than U.S. Treasuries. Gold ETFs' assets under management (AUM), or the amount held in these investment vehicles, went up 6% to $503 billion. Plus, gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) backed by the physical precious metal have had inflows to the tune of $8.2 billion in October.
Also driving up the increased demand and hence the rise in gold prices is the desire to invest in more “safe” assets like gold. The U.S. dollar is still continuing to decline, making it more affordable for other countries to invest in gold.
With the potential for growth, you may be wondering if it’s a smart choice for you to invest in gold.
Investing in gold can offer you a lot of opportunities to grow your wealth, but it may not fit your investing goals.
For instance, if you’re purchasing the physical precious metal, you’ll need to be sure that it has investment value and meets purity standards. You’ll also need to find somewhere secure to store it and purchase insurance in the event it’s stolen.
What’s more, the IRS treats physical gold as collectibles, so you could be taxed on capital gains or the profit you earn when you sell. Even if you don’t purchase your own physical gold, other investments, like gold funds, could charge management fees.
It’s also important to consider what might happen if gold falls in value. Do you have other types of assets in your portfolio that can help diversify your investments? If so, gold can offer a sound way to help you invest toward your financial goals, such as for a comfortable retirement.
Different ways to invest in gold include, as we mentioned above, purchasing your own physical gold and storing it, or investing in gold funds, like ETFs and stocks. Think of these funds as gold-adjacent investments. Your gold funds could be linked to gold prices, but they could also hold shares of stocks in gold-mining companies.
To invest in gold funds, you'll need to open an account with a brokerage company and select the fund you want. Many companies may have minimum investment amounts.
Investing in Gold IRAs can help you invest in physical gold and take advantage of tax-free growth while your assets are held in your account. These types of accounts are a type of self-directed IRA, where you have more choices in what you can invest in. Assets include physical items like gold and other types of precious metals.
With self-directed accounts, you will need to select a custodian, or company, that will hold your assets and keep records to send to the IRS. You are ultimately responsible for determining whether the assets you hold inside this account work with your goals.
Because self-directed IRAs aren’t held at financial institutions like banks and brokerages, they may not be held to the same regulations. However, like other types of IRAs, there are annual contribution limits, and you follow the same tax guidelines when you withdraw from the account.
Still, it may be well worth your time investing in gold, as long as you do your research and understand both its risks and rewards. Also, make sure to take the time to compare different brokerages and gold IRA companies, as they may charge different fees and offer different levels of transparency.
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Hartford Gold offers a low account minimum, which can be great for those who don’t initially have a lot to invest. If you do have a larger amount, you may be able to waive some of their fees. Other features include a price-match guarantee and buyback program.
Customer support is available, and you can contact the custodian about their fees and other account features. Aside from their high BBB rating, American Hartford Gold also partners with Brinks Global Services and Delaware Depository, both secure depositories that store your IRA assets.
Another highly rated company by the BBB, Priority Gold offers perks like no IRA administration and store fees for the first year. You can also choose from different types of gold coins from various countries. With its Priority Platinum package, you can get free insured shipping to its storage facilities and up to five free years of storage.
Aside from its highly rated customer service, Priority Gold also offers a guaranteed buyback program for qualified accounts.
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Thor Metals Group also doesn't charge service fees for qualifying accounts. The custodian also doesn't charge any shipping fees and only deals in government-backed coins through its partnership with the U.S. Mint. It claims it’s a customer-first and transparent company, not charging any hidden fees and showing you upfront exactly what you’ll be paying. If you’re unsure about a gold IRA or whether Thor Metals is for you, consider requesting their Gold IRA Quick Start Guide.
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