Brokerage IRA to Gold IRA - Moving Money From Fidelity, Vanguard or Schwab Into Gold (2026)

Major brokerages such as Fidelity, Vanguard and Charles Schwab don't hold physical gold coins or bars inside IRAs. To own physical metal in a retirement account, you transfer money from your brokerage IRA to a self-directed IRA at a custodian that handles precious metals. Done as a direct, custodian-to-custodian transfer, it's tax-free and has no dollar limit.

In most cases your brokerage will need to sell some or all of your investments to cash first, because gold IRA custodians generally receive cash, not shares. Here's the process, what to decide before you start, and the small fees to expect.

Why Brokerages Can't Hold Your Gold

Brokerage IRAs are built for securities: stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. You can buy gold funds or mining stocks there, but not physical coins and bars, which must be held by an IRS-approved trustee and stored in an approved depository.

That's why a physical gold IRA uses a self-directed IRA custodian, such as Equity Trust, along with a precious metals dealer and a depository. If you're happy with paper gold, a gold fund in your existing brokerage IRA may be simpler and cheaper. See gold IRA vs gold ETF.

Transfer vs Rollover From a Brokerage IRA

Table: Ways to move money from a brokerage IRA | | Direct transfer | Indirect rollover | |---|---|---| | How money moves | Brokerage sends funds to new custodian | Brokerage pays you; you redeposit | | Deadline | None | 60 days | | Withholding | None | IRA withholding may apply unless you opt out | | Frequency limit | Unlimited | One IRA-to-IRA rollover per 12 months | | Our view | Use this | Avoid unless necessary |

See IRA transfer vs rollover for the details.

Step by Step

Selling Before You Transfer

Many brokerages accept liquidation instructions on the incoming transfer form. Some prefer that you sell the investments yourself first, then request a cash transfer. Selling inside an IRA isn't taxable, so either approach is fine. Selling yourself gives you control over timing and which positions you trim.

Partial vs Full Transfers

A partial transfer leaves the rest of your brokerage IRA invested as it is. A full transfer closes the account and may trigger a closing fee. Partial transfers are more common, because most savers want gold as a modest share of their retirement savings. See how much gold in a retirement portfolio.

Which Account Type Goes Where?

Table: Matching account types | Brokerage account | Move to | Tax result | |---|---|---| | Traditional IRA | Traditional gold IRA | Tax-free | | Rollover IRA | Traditional gold IRA | Tax-free | | Roth IRA | Roth gold IRA | Tax-free | | SEP IRA | Traditional or SEP gold IRA | Tax-free | | Traditional IRA | Roth gold IRA | Taxable Roth conversion | | Taxable brokerage account | Not an IRA transfer | Selling may trigger capital gains; contributions limited |

That last row matters. Money in a regular taxable brokerage account isn't retirement money, so it can't be "transferred" into an IRA beyond the yearly contribution limit. See gold IRA contribution limits.

Fees to Expect

• Outgoing transfer or closing fee at some brokerages, often modest. Many waive it for partial transfers.
• Trading costs on any funds with sales charges or short-term redemption fees.
• Gold IRA setup fee at the new custodian.
• Ongoing custodian and storage fees, often about $200–$300 a year combined.
• Premium on the metal, usually the largest cost.

Ask your brokerage about outgoing fees before you start. See gold IRA fees.

Timing and Market Exposure

Between selling your investments and buying metal, your money sits in cash, usually for one to two weeks. That means you're out of the market briefly in both directions. Most savers accept that; trying to time it rarely helps. If you're nervous, you can transfer in stages, though each stage adds paperwork.

Brokerage-Specific Tips

Each brokerage has its own forms and habits, and they change, but a few patterns are common:

• Online transfer requests: most large brokerages let the receiving custodian start the transfer, so you usually won't need to fill out the brokerage's own outgoing form.
• Cash-only transfers: if you leave investments unsold, the brokerage may reject the request or try to send shares, which a gold IRA custodian may not accept.
• Retirement account verification: some brokerages call you to confirm a large outgoing transfer. Answer promptly to avoid delays.
• Keep the old IRA open: with a partial transfer, your remaining investments stay put, and you can keep contributing to the old IRA if you prefer.

Keeping Gold in Proportion

Moving money from a brokerage IRA is a good moment to look at your whole retirement picture. If your brokerage IRA holds mostly stocks, adding a modest gold position can reduce how much your savings move with the stock market. If you already own gold funds or mining stocks, count them too, so you don't end up with more gold exposure than you intended. See diversify your retirement portfolio.

Common Snags