Vaulting Options
Understanding Allocated, Segregated, and Pooled Storage for Precious Metals (2026 Guide)
Vaulting options determine how your precious metals are stored, tracked, and insured inside a professional facility. Whether you hold gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, the vaulting structure you choose affects your ownership rights, liquidity, and long‑term security.
This guide explains the main vaulting options available to investors and how each one works.
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1. Allocated Storage
Allocated storage means specific bars or coins are assigned to you. These items are recorded under your name and cannot be used by the vault or custodian for any other purpose.
Advantages
- direct ownership of specific bars
- highest level of transparency
- fully insured
- ideal for long‑term holders
Limitations
- higher storage fees
- less flexible for rapid trading
Allocated storage is the gold standard for investors who want maximum clarity and control.
2. Segregated Storage
Segregated storage means your metals are stored in a dedicated compartment within the vault. They are not mixed with other clients’ holdings.
Advantages
- your metals are physically separated
- high security and transparency
- ideal for large holdings
Limitations
- higher cost than pooled storage
- may require advance notice for access
Segregated storage is often used by high‑net‑worth investors and institutions.
3. Non‑Segregated (Commingled) Storage
Non‑segregated storage means your metals are stored alongside other clients’ holdings, but you still own a specific quantity of metal.
Advantages
- lower storage fees
- efficient for trading and liquidity
- fully insured
Limitations
- you do not receive the exact same bars you deposited
- less transparency than segregated storage
This option is common for investors who prioritize cost efficiency.
4. Pooled or Unallocated Storage
In pooled or unallocated storage, you own a claim to a portion of a larger pool of metals rather than specific bars. This is the most cost‑effective vaulting option.
Advantages
- lowest storage costs
- high liquidity
- ideal for frequent traders
Limitations
- no specific bar ownership
- higher counterparty risk
- not suitable for IRA metals
Pooled storage is best for investors who value liquidity and low fees over individual bar ownership.
5. IRA‑Approved Vaulting
Precious metals held in a retirement account must be stored in an IRS‑approved depository. These vaults offer strict custody controls, insurance, and third‑party audits.
Key Features
- IRS‑approved facilities
- segregated or non‑segregated options
- full insurance coverage
- independent audits
IRA vaulting is mandatory for retirement accounts and cannot be replaced with home storage.
6. How to Choose the Right Vaulting Option
Your ideal vaulting structure depends on your priorities:
- maximum transparency → allocated storage
- physical separation → segregated storage
- low cost → non‑segregated storage
- high liquidity → pooled/unallocated storage
- retirement accounts → IRA‑approved vaulting
Many investors use a combination of vaulting options depending on their goals.
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Final Thoughts
Vaulting options determine how your metals are stored, insured, and accessed. By understanding the differences between allocated, segregated, non‑segregated, and pooled storage, you can choose a custody structure that aligns with your security needs, liquidity preferences, and long‑term strategy.