How much do you actually lose when you sell your gold investments?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money How much do you actually lose when you sell your gold investments? We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht April 8, 2026 / 2:45 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Most investors should expect to give up at least some of their gold's market value when selling their assets. Irina Marwan/Getty Images Gold took investors on a volatile ride over the past year, with the price of gold repeatedly cycling from new record highs to substantial pullbacks before inching back up again. And, the last few weeks have been particularly volatile for gold prices, which are now sitting just under $4,800 per ounce. While that's a sizable drop compared to the over-$5,500-per-ounce price from early 2026, investors who bought in early have still been left with sizable gains. That, in turn, is prompting many investors to consider whether now is the right time to sell their gold assets, before the price falls further.But while gold's current price may look attractive, it doesn't tell the full story. That figure is the spot price, which is not necessarily what you'll receive when you actually sell your gold investments. Between dealer spreads, premiums and potential tax implications, the process of selling your gold comes with built-in costs that can directly impact your returns. So, the amount you walk away with, if you offload your gold now, may be lower than expected.That, in turn, makes it im...