News & Trending Investing News

8 Reasons Retirees Should Probably Avoid Gold (And 3 Things To Invest in Instead)

Discover why retirees should think twice before jumping on the gold bandwagon.

Gold bars on US dollar banknotes
Updated May 28, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Gold is often recommended as a stable long-term investment that never depreciates in value. 

If you're trying to start investing for your retirement, you might have considered purchasing gold bars. But how much is a gold bar worth, and is it actually worth it?

We cover eight reasons to consider steering clear of gold. We’ll also offer three alternative investments with better long-term payoffs that retirees should consider instead.

Steal this billionaire wealth-building technique

The ultra-rich have also been investing in art from big names like Picasso and Bansky for centuries. And it's for a good reason: Contemporary art prices have outpaced the S&P 500 by 136% over the last 27 years.

A new company called Masterworks is now allowing everyday investors to get in on this type of previously-exclusive investment. You can buy a small slice of $1-$30 million paintings from iconic artists, all without needing any art expertise.

If you have at least $10k to invest and are ready to explore diversifying beyond stocks and bonds,see what Masterworks has on offer. (Hurry, they often sell out!)

Gold can be a volatile asset

ALAN/Adobe drawn graph indicating volatility in the stock market

Generally speaking, gold tends to maintain its value over time, but gold is much more volatile as a short-term asset. 

For one thing, gold typically has an inverse relationship with the U.S. dollar. Gold usually costs less when the U.S. dollar is strong compared to other currencies, and vice versa.

For another, gold’s price changes dramatically depending on its physical supply and demand, which depends on gold-mining companies’ schedules and whether gold jewelry is in vogue worldwide.

As a retiree, you want low-risk, stable investments, not high-risk, volatile investments. If you want to keep your assets relatively safe in the short-term, then gold probably isn’t the right choice.

Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.

Gold ETFs don’t pay dividends

Liubomir/Adobe frustrated senior couple sitting on couch at home reviewing bills and taxes

Many people invest in gold through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and while some ETFs pay dividends, gold ETFs don’t. 

Since investing in gold isn’t a good source of passive income, it isn’t the best choice for retirees using cash flow from investments to boost their monthly Social Security checks.

You can consider investing in dividend-paying, gold-mining company stocks instead of gold ETFs, but stocks (especially gold-related stocks) are more volatile than stable bond investments. And depending on your age, they might not be suitable for your portfolio.

Gold has a high premium to purchase

Kirsten D/peopleimages.com/Adobe senior couple with calculator planning financial investments

ETFs have an actual value (the inherent value of the physical gold held by the ETF) and a market price (tied to how highly traders value gold at any given moment).

If the market is stable, these two values should be pretty similar — but that usually isn’t the case with gold, which is a more volatile asset. 

Instead, gold usually trades at a premium, meaning you’ll spend more money than the gold is worth to invest in an ETF. Physical gold also has high premiums.

Get a free stock valued between $5 to $200

Secret: You don't need thousands of dollars to buy thousand-dollar stocks or create a diverse portfolio.

Robinhood offers a method of investing called “fractional shares.” On its own, one share of a single stock could cost a lot of money, making it difficult to diversify. Robinhood allows you to buy pieces of stock instead, so you have the option to build a diverse portfolio quickly.

Let’s say you want to invest $250, as an example.

With that amount, you could build a relatively diverse portfolio with an investment of $50 in a big tech stock, $50 in a retail stock, $50 in an energy stock, $50 in a manufacturing stock, and $50 in a bank.1

Even better news? Add a Robinhood Gold membership, and you’ll get access to 4.25% (as of 11/15/24) APY2on your uninvested cash3and the ability to buy and sell stocks 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Open and fund a Robinhood account and earn up to $200 in stock

Gold isn’t a useful commodity

night_cat/Adobe pieces of gold loaded into furnace for melting

Commodities like wheat, corn, and cotton have multiple uses and demonstrable real-world value. In contrast, gold is mainly considered valuable because humans like it, not because they need it (besides a small amount in some electronics). 

Gold no longer officially backs any global currencies, and unlike other precious metals that are also used for jewelry, gold has limited industrial uses.

If gold suddenly falls out of fashion, it’ll lose nearly all its value — unlike silver, which can be used in several applications besides necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

Gold is difficult to store

fizkes/Adobe elder couple of homeowners exhausted with relocation

Instead of investing in gold ETFs or gold-mining companies, some individuals try purchasing gold themselves and storing it at home in hopes the gold will still be valuable if the U.S. dollar loses its value.

This is impractical for several reasons, but one of the most important is how inconvenient it is to store gold at home. You’ll need a secure location in your house that won’t draw attention. 

Plus, you risk losing it if a disaster ever strikes your house. You’ll also worry about the gold at home when you’re traveling.

Gold can be stolen

Christian Delbert/Adobe burglar using crowbar to break into a house at night

Even though gold doesn’t have many practical uses, humans still consider physical gold interesting, valuable, and unique — which means having a substantial stash of gold at home can make you a target for thieves.

You’ll need to go out of your way to store your gold in a completely secure, out-of-the-way area in your home that only you and maybe one other trusted person know how to access. Frankly, for most people, the hassle and stress of storing gold just isn’t worth it.

Gold can be taxed more as a collectible

Igor Butseroga/Adobe old coin in the woman’s hand through the magnifying glass

Whether you own physical gold stored at home or invested in gold through an ETF, gold is typically considered a collectible by the IRS. 

Collectibles are taxed at a rate of 28%, much higher than the 15% to 20% tax rate for capital gains.

Gold doesn’t offer the best return on investment

whyframeshot/Adobe senior asian couple sitting on couch with tablet on table reviewing bills at home

For all the reasons we listed above and more, gold isn’t the best option for reaping profits. Even if you profit from investing in a gold ETF or mining company stock, that profit is almost certainly lower than the return from other investments.

If you want to make your nest egg last as long as possible, consider looking away from gold and toward one of the following alternatives — each of which tends to provide a much better return on investment than gold.

Alternative: Stocks

insta_photos/Adobe stock market investor analyst

Stocks are a riskier investment than bonds but yield greater rewards. 

While you should move into less risky investments as you age, keeping some money in stocks (including dividend-yielding stocks) can help your savings account stretch further.

Earn up to a $300 bonus and grow your money with up to 4.00% APY

This powerful combination checking + savings account from SoFi® allows you to earn up to a $300 bonus with direct deposit and grow your money with up to 4.00% APY.4

This is one of the top accounts we’ve seen, and offers like this can be rare. You work hard, and now it’s time to make your money work for you — with SoFi, you can grow your money with hardly any effort!

SoFi has no account or overdraft fees5 and additional FDIC insurance up to $2 million on deposits is available through a seamless network of participating banks.67 Plus, you can receive your paycheck up to 2 days early.8

How to earn up to $300: Sign up and make a direct deposit within the first 25 calendar days of the promotional period, then collect a $300 cash bonus with a direct deposit of $5,000 or more.

SoFi is a Member, FDIC. 7

Open your SoFi account and set up direct deposit

Alternative: Bonds

WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe senior couple planning their investments with financial advisor

Treasury bonds are some of the most stable investments you can make. 

You’re practically guaranteed a return — which makes Treasury bonds the type of risk-averse investment you want if you’re in retirement or getting close.

Alternative: Real estate

Andy Dean/Adobe senior couple in front of sold real estate sign

Unlike gold, real estate has seemingly endless value in the real world. After all, even during more volatile economic times, there’s always a demand for housing. 

Plus, while houses themselves don’t always appreciate over time, the land the home is built on almost always does. 

Property could be more valuable than investing in gold bars or jewelry if you're looking for a physical investment.

Bottom line

Monkey Business/Adobe financial advisor talking to senior couple at home

Investing in commodities like gold can be crucial to a healthy, diverse investment portfolio, but it definitely shouldn’t dominate your portfolio. And steer clear of liquidating your investments in favor of purchasing gold.

Instead, talk to your financial advisor about how to make wealthy money moves as you get closer to retirement. 

Personalized advice from a fiduciary expert is the best way to ensure you’re making smart financial moves that will help boost your bank account and make your savings last as long as possible.

Masterworks Benefits

  • Invest in art like a millionaire for a relatively low cost
  • Art investments have outperformed the S&P 500 by over 131% for 26 years
  • Purchase shares of artwork by top artists
  • Hedge against inflation and diversify your portfolio


Author Details

Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith has spent a decade writing for and about small businesses. She specializes in all things finance and has written for publications like G2 and SmallBizDaily. When she's not writing for work at her desk, you can usually find her writing for pleasure near large bodies of water.