economy
January 23, 2026
How much gold should you own in retirement? Rules of thumb for investors over 50
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.
TL;DR
- A widely cited rule suggests keeping 5% to 10% of a total retirement portfolio in gold investments.
- An "inverse age rule" suggests a maximum gold allocation equal to 100 minus your age, though a modified version of age minus 50 is considered more reasonable.
- Gold does not produce income, so it should be considered alongside other non-income-producing assets, potentially limiting gold allocation.
- Ensure essential liquidity needs (1-3 years of expenses in cash) are met before considering gold allocations.
- The type of gold asset (physical vs. ETFs/stocks/funds) impacts the recommended allocation amount.
- For most investors over 50, a 5% to 10% gold allocation balances diversification and growth potential.
Continue reading the original article