ROI Calculator
Model net return after purchase spread, liquidation spread, and annual fees. Every figure uses exact-decimal arithmetic. If your projected fee burden exceeds 20% of principal, you will be asked to type the figure to continue — a deliberate friction we apply to high-cost projections.
Recalculating…
FAQ
- What counts as a realistic annual appreciation figure?
- Long-run gold price appreciation is around 3–6% nominal, but annual values are volatile. Use a conservative figure when stress-testing; the calculator is designed to reveal how spreads and fees swamp a thin return assumption.
- Why do spreads hurt me both at purchase and liquidation?
- A dealer buys metal at one price and sells to you at another; that gap is the purchase spread. At exit, the dealer buys your metal back at a lower price than it sells for, which is the liquidation spread. You pay both sides of the transaction.
- How does this compare to holding an ETF?
- An ETF like GLD has a small expense ratio (≈0.40%) and tight bid/ask spreads — usually well under 1%. A physical precious metals IRA adds purchase + liquidation spreads and fixed custodial/storage fees. Run both scenarios to see when the tax advantages of an IRA offset the higher friction.