Can you use a 401(k) to buy gold? What investors should know before rolling over retirement funds

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

September 30, 2026 / 2:50 PM EDT / CBS News

Gold's sharp price moves this year have given retirement investors a lot to consider. Case in point? The precious metal surged past $5,500 per ounce in early 2026 before giving back a sizable portion of those gains, with spot gold trading around $4,300 per ounce as of late September. And with inflation concerns, interest rate shifts and geopolitical uncertainty continuing to influence the market, the case for holding gold — and the risks that come with it — can look different from one month to the next.

That changing backdrop may be particularly relevant for investors right now, and particularly those who have accumulated a substantial balance in a 401(k). Most workplace retirement plans are built primarily around stocks, bonds and funds, so investors who want to diversify beyond those traditional assets may start looking at whether gold has a place in their retirement strategy. For someone with an old 401(k), that can lead to questions about whether those existing retirement dollars can be used to gain that exposure.

After…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/