Research & Blogs

3 Safe Ways to Store Your Physical Gold

There are many things that investors need to consider when buying gold: size, finish, bar type, and more factors into understanding what type of gold is best for your portfolio. But what happens once you purchase that gold? Storage is an important consideration for investors looking to keep their gold safe and secure. Keep reading this blog to learn more about three different types of storage that may work best for your needs.  

Home Storage

With storing your gold at your home, you are the only person in charge of your gold. While this method does allow you to access your gold whenever you want, this method of storage puts a lot of responsibility on the owner¹. Gold requires protection from potential damage (from general wear-and-tear, natural disasters, and so forth) and from potential burglars. Storing gold in the home as opposed to a third-party institution means that there are no security personnel, vaults, and more to keep your gold secure against thieves. Furthermore, insurance on your gold is not guaranteed. Storing gold at home is a perfectly viable option for investors who are aware of the risks and want to prioritize easy access their gold.

Safe Deposit Boxes 

An investor may choose to store their gold in a locked safe deposit box at their local bank. Safe deposit boxes are relatively inexpensive storage options and require far less individual protection efforts than home storage (as you are entrusting the bank with your gold). While safe deposit boxes are generally secure, there are large risks that come with this method of storage. Firstly, precious metals that are stored in safe deposit boxes are not insured² by the bank. Investors may want to purchase independent insurance on their gold in safe deposit boxes, but this can be quite costly. Furthermore, entrusting your gold with a third party limits your access to it. Investors are at the mercy of bank hours in order to use their gold, and the risk of bankruptcy³ further limits one’s access to their gold. 

Home storage provides quick access to gold, but there are numerous challenges with keeping that gold safe. Safe deposit boxes provide some level of security, but that gold is not insured, and investors are limited by bank hours and potential bank failure. The best solution for gold storage is placing it in a secure vault. 

Vault Storage 

Storing one’s gold in a trusted vault allows for high-end security and care⁴. Vaults are weather-proof, are designed to keep one’s gold at the right temperature, and conduct frequent inspections to ensure the proper care of the gold they hold. Furthermore, vaults will often provide their own insurance for the gold in their possession. Because vault storage is a third-party solution, an investor’s access to their gold will be limited by the specific vault’s hours and rules (like with a safe deposit box). Vaults, however, provide extensive care and security for your gold that safe deposit boxes and home storage lack. 

Conclusion

The right storage solution for an investor’s gold will depend on their individual needs. When you invest in gold through Gilded, your gold is held securely by Brink’s, our world-renowned partner that specializes in top-level protection for one’s precious metals. Brink’s vaults provide full insurance on your gold through Lloyds of London, and ensures professional care of the precious metals in their possession. Learn more about the Gilded offering and Brink’s here.

¹ Gold Avenue, “What is the Safest Place to Store Gold?, https://www.goldavenue.com/en/blog/newsletter-precious-metals-spotlight/what-is-the-safest-place-to-store-gold“ Accessed 11/6/22. 
² U.S. Money Reserve, “How to Safely Store Your Gold and Silver, https://www.usmoneyreserve.com/news/executive-insights/how-to-store-gold-silver/“ Accessed 11/7/22.
³ Gold Avenue, “What is the Safest Place to Store Gold?, https://www.goldavenue.com/en/blog/newsletter-precious-metals-spotlight/what-is-the-safest-place-to-store-gold“ Accessed 11/6/22. 
⁴ U.S. Money Reserve, “How to Safely Store Your Gold and Silver, https://www.usmoneyreserve.com/news/executive-insights/how-to-store-gold-silver/“ Accessed 11/7/22.