Bob Coleman on Fiduciary Metals Advice, IRA Risks, and Gold Strategy

I joined the Summit Metals Exchange to talk about a problem I believe far too many investors still do not understand. A lot of people in this business sell gold and silver like a product push, not like a fiduciary responsibility. That distinction matters, especially when clients are being steered into overpriced IRA metals, misleading narratives, and short-term fear while the real reason to own physical metals remains long term and unchanged.

Gold and silver dealers get paid when they move product. That creates a built-in conflict right out of the gate, because the incentive is to sell inventory, not necessarily to do what is right for the client. I came into this market from the advisory side, and that changes the lens completely. When I look at a client, I am thinking about risk profile, time horizon, capital preservation, liquidity, and whether metals actually fit the broader strategy. That is very different from someone pushing slabbed coins, limited-edition bullion, or high-markup IRA placements because the spread is rich and the client may not realize how badly they were overcharged until years later.

That same disconnect shows up in how people react to market volatility. When gold and silver move hard, a lot of retail buyers panic because they are watching price instead of understanding purpose. I do not buy the idea that physical metals are supposed to make you rich overnight. I look at them as a long-term store of purchasing power with no counterparty risk. Price can get pushed around by options activity, forced liquidation, or broader liquidity events, but the larger backdrop has not changed: governments keep spending, deficits keep growing, central banks keep adding liquidity, and the long-term case for holding real metal remains intact.