Are you looking for a straight-talking and ethical gold IRA provider? Read this first!
The gold IRA field is a crowded one. Trust me, I spent countless hours on this and it took me years to be able to trust the company I ended up selecting, which I reveal further down this review.
There are a handful of great companies, many average, and a few bad apples. It’s important to make the right choice from the start. I recommend Augusta Gold IRA to anyone who has $50,000 or more and wants to get into invest in metals with their retirement, and today I’ll share with you why they are constantly one of the top gold IRA companies you’ll continue to hear about by people like me who cover this space.
At a Glance:
* ZERO complaints since 2012 – the only gold company that can say this
* Specializes in gold and silver IRAs, unlike other companies that have an array of products
* Joe Montana, hall of fame quarterback: his personal choice for gold IRAs
* Best prices
* Superior transparency and leadership
* Agents are patient, friendly and non-pushy.
* Annual Fees: $80 custodial + storage (no Augusta management fees)
* Minimum Investment: $50,000
* Special: Up to 10 years of fees waived for new clients
I’ve heard a lot about Augusta Precious Metals, and I’ve decided to investigate the company. I’ve been analyzing companies offering gold IRA services since 2012. It’s about time to put Augusta Precious Metals under the microscope.
Look:
To create this Augusta Precious Metals review 2023, I have looked at the company from every angle. Besides the obvious website, I’ve dug into their hundreds of reviews to form the full picture of the company.
Here’s my promise to you: by reading this review until the end, you will know if what Augusta offers is the right choice for you. For transparency, I didn’t use them because my first buy wasn’t $50,000. So for that reason, I used Goldco and I am very happy with them. But, we are all built different, so I recommend you go with your gut here.
You see, Augusta Precious Metals is an ideal gold IRA solution for some. The company has many positives and very few drawbacks. I will detail this in a bit. Also, I will reveal Augusta’s practices and fee structure.
We’re talking about your golden years, so it’s a serious matter. This is why I have done the heavy lifting for you. Let’s get this review started.
What Will I Learn?
Quick Glance Augusta Precious Metals
Award-winning Augusta is an industry leader and proponent of adding physical gold and silver to retirement portfolios. Unlike other gold companies, Augusta Precious Metals stays with its valued customers throughout the entire life of their physical gold and silver portfolios with the company.
This company operates differently from other gold companies — it has specialized departments that handle each step of the streamlined process, which produces cost savings that are passed to customers through lower prices.
According to the company’s website, Augusta is committed to total transparency, simplicity and account lifetime service to customers and their customized metals portfolios.
Hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana is the company’s corporate ambassador. Mr. Montana said he found Augusta when he asked his personal financial advisors to find the best gold provider in the United States.
Through a one-on-one web conference, he met with the Augusta analytics team and its lead analyst, an on-staff Harvard-trained economist.
Mr. Montana was so impressed with the company after that meeting, he wanted to help other Americans gain the same kind of retirement protection he had found through Augusta. The Augusta analytics team is available to anyone who is interested in considering gold and silver as a protective portfolio asset.
Augusta Precious Metals Commitments
Augusta Precious Metals sets itself apart from other gold companies with superior experience and knowledge of precious metals, especially gold and silver. Augusta is known for its specialty in gold IRAs, as opposed to other gold companies that provide gold IRAs as one of multiple other unrelated products.
1. Total Transparency
Augusta is very forthcoming with information about the company. You can get robust information on the website. They charge no hidden fees, continually update your transaction status, and are always available to answer questions. Augusta was voted “Most Trusted in the U.S.” by IRA Gold Advisor and “best of” multiple years in a row by TrustLink.
2. Customer Service
The company is known for giving an amazing amount of time and attention to its customers.This is done, in part, with an easy, streamlined gold IRA process and a personal agent assigned to each customer. The Augusta team does 95% of the legwork with you to set up your account within an IRA or simply as a cash account. Augusta also pre-selects the most common precious metals products at very competitive prices.The company has ZERO complaints at the BBB, which is amazing. You can read the many exceptional customer reviews on consumer websites.
3. Knowledge and Expertise
Augusta’s gold and silver agents share the knowledge and expertise you need to help you build a precious metals portfolio to best meet your personal objectives. The company’s team of economic analysts, led by an on-staff Harvard-trained economist, is available for the life of your account to serve as your personal information resource.
Augusta Precious Metals has earned high customer loyalty and repeat business by serving customers with true transparency and integrity. You can tell in part by some of the people who buy gold and silver from Augusta – a famous one is hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana. After the economic fiasco of 2008, he asked his personal financial advisors to find the best way to protect his retirement money. They suggested gold, so he sent them out to find the best gold company in the U.S. They checked out all available companies and chose Augusta for him.
PROS
- Up to 10 years of fees waived for new customers
- FREE one-on-one webinar: educational, explains gold IRA benefits
- Superior customer service validated by thousands of five-star reviews and zero BBB complaints
- Simple, transparent process and great prices, which makes protecting your retirement investment easy for the years to come
CONS
- Augusta only sells gold and silver; platinum and palladium are not in their catalog
- The minimum investment is $50,000
Who Can Benefit from an Augusta Gold IRA?
Augusta Precious Metals is a gold IRA company that specializes in helping any customer who wants to use physical gold and silver in his or her portfolio to grow their savings or protect their portfolio. However, the company can best help customers who have at least $50,000 in an existing retirement account, such as an IRA or 401(k).
This is an excellent company for those who have hesitations about working with a precious metals company, because Augusta has established a strong reputation for transparency and integrity. This has been validated by the likes of Joe Montana, hall of fame quarterback, whose personal financial advisors chose Augusta for him, not to mention thousands of five-star ratings from customers all across the U.S. They have ZERO complaints at the BBB, and there were named “Most Trust in the U.S.” by IRA Gold Advisor, plus getting on TrustLink’s “Best of” list for multiple years.
In addition, Augusta offers a host of educational materials — including a unique and helpful one-on-one webinar designed by the company’s on-staff Harvard trained economist — for potential customers to study before purchasing. For those reasons and others, this company is a great option for those who need robust information before making a decision to fund a self-directed silver or gold IRA.
Although Augusta doesn’t provide financial advice, it is helpful that the company studies precious metals options and presents the most popular physical gold and silver products to choose from – it saves customers a great deal of time and helps sort out the best options.
The free Augusta Gold & Silver Guide Covers:
- How The Gold IRA Gives Investors Peace Of Mind
- How to Diversify Your Savings with a Gold IRA
- Why Augusta Is the Preferred Choice of Joe Montana
Precious Metal Perks You Enjoy With Augusta Precious Metals
There are always good resources at Augusta that help make your investment worth your money, from precious metals and economic education to online tools, best-in-class pricing and free shipping. These perks came in handy when I was starting to invest in gold.
Online resources available for Augusta Precious Metals customers include current market news, videos led by the company’s on-staff Harvard trained economist , and tools such as a required minimum distribution (RMD) calculator and a precious metals price chart showing the current spot price of gold and silver.
Judging from the company’s thousands of top-rated reviews, Augusta’s free one-on-one webinars and free guides are highly respected as helpful sources of information for those considering the purchase of precious metals to add to their portfolios. Online chat is available for instant connection with the company’s agents.
Augusta Precious Metals goes the extra mile for its customers by partnering with the Royal Canadian Mint to introduce Americans to purer coins at lower prices than other mints. Other efforts to help customers include providing free shipping and transit insurance.
Although Augusta can’t guarantee buybacks, the company says it has never declined a buyback, which is helpful for those looking to liquidate their accounts at some point in the future.
Other perks of working with Augusta Precious Metals include a seven-day window to revise prices, a 100% money-back guarantee and fast shipping and distribution. The website says, “When you need your money fast, we can quickly liquidate precious metals on your behalf and wire the cash to you. Or, if you prefer, you can request expedited shipment of your physical precious metals directly from your custodian.”
Augusta Precious Metals Management
One thing that sets Augusta apart is the management and team of precious metal experts.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Isaac Nuriani
Isaac Nuriani has always been at the forefront in helping seniors plan for their retirement. When the banks and Wall Street posed a threat to retirement plans, Isaac Nuriani took the initiative to educate the public and empower them to secure their future.
When starting he sat the following principles for the company: transparency and ethics, superior customer service and the industry’s best pricing.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Howard Smith
Before joining Augusta, Howard Smith worked for at least 20 years in the capital markets and banking sector. He joined the management team at Augusta in 2018 to help Americans save for retirement and preserve their wealth.
Director of Education & Senior Economic Analyst (SEA) – Devlyn Steele
Over his years working in the finance industry, Steele has processed more than $2 billion worth of assets. At Augusta, he leads a team of highly qualified professionals dedicated to teaching retirement investors about using precious metals to safeguard their IRAs and 401(k)s. He is the Harvard-trained economist who leads the one-on-on webinars to educate Americans and empower them to protect their retirement.
How Easy Is It To Work With Augusta Precious Metals?
Augusta Precious Metals’ specialized departments help customers understand economic pressures on the value of their retirement accounts, as well as the effects of market changes on precious metals. The different departments work together like a well-oiled machine!
The company’s highly competent agents and personnel streamline and organize the process unlike any other precious metals company.
Augusta customers work one-on-one with a personal customer success agent who acts as the customer’s primary contact at all times, and customers also have access to an economic analytics team led by an on-staff Harvard-trained economist, the Augusta IRA processing team, and the company’s order desk.
The Augusta Precious Metals approach is much like an automobile assembly line system. The effectiveness and efficiency that result from this unique setup produces cost benefits that Augusta passes through to customers.
Many high-net-worth individuals have taken advantage of this savings through Augusta for years. Joe Montana, the company’s corporate ambassador with a net worth of about $150 million, was looking for the nation’s best gold company to help him protect his retirement when his advisors found Augusta.
Even after an initial account has been established, Augusta Precious Metals customers can call on members of any of Augusta teams for assistance.
In fact, the company prides itself on serving as a resource for customers as long as their accounts are open. Other gold companies do not offer as many services after the account has been initiated.
3 easy set-up steps to open a gold IRA through Augusta Precious Metals:
- Open an IRA account. Augusta Precious Metals works with one of the industry’s most-reputable, most-efficient gold IRA custodians, which gives Augusta customers preferred pricing.
- Fund the account. If you have an existing 401(k), IRA or other retirement accounts, you are allowed to roll over funds from those current accounts.
- Buy gold or silver. You decide which precious metals you want to buy for your IRA. Augusta sends your gold and/or silver to the Delaware Depository or another secure location in one of several cities in the United States.
How Safe is the Augusta Precious Metals Storage?
You do not have to store precious metals in a safe in your home when you can store them in a secure fully insured facility. If you have a gold IRA, you are required to store your metals in a secure depository. Augusta’s website lists 12 secure facilities in the United States that you can choose from. After you finalize your purchase, the precious metals will be at the storage facility in 7 to 10 days.
Storage Facility Locations”
- Shiner, Texas
- Dallas, Texas
- South Fargo, North Dakota
- Los Angeles, California
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Nampa, Idaho
- Wilmington, Delaware (2)
- Bridgewater, Massachusetts
- New Castle, Delaware
- Springfield Gardens, New York
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Augusta Precious Metals Fees
The cost of coins and bullion purchased from Augusta is based on current gold and silver spot prices and market rates for premium coins. Remember that the price of precious metals fluctuates depending on many factors, as with any investment asset.
Augusta is very transparent about its markup over cost and market prices – this is important because some gold companies do not share this information. There are no hidden charges or commission fees. Augusta can help customers with a minimum $50,000 in existing retirement accounts.
Augusta customers often share in reviews that they believe Augusta’s prices are very competitive. Both gold and silver bullion coins from Augusta are priced at approximately 5% over the company’s cost, and that includes free transit insurance and free shipping for orders that qualify.
In addition to the cost of buying the actual gold and silver for a physical precious metals IRA through Augusta Precious Metals, there are negligible costs for setting up the IRA with a custodian (as required by the IRS), plus storage fees. One-time account setup with the custodian is $50.
There are two annual fees involved: an $80 custodian maintenance fee and a $100 storage fee at the depository. (Ask about getting fees paid for a lifetime.)
The precious metals you buy for your gold or silver IRA are stored in an insured secure depository that specializes in securing precious metals in their physical forms. All the coins come certified by independent grading companies PCGS and NGC.
Precious Metals Products
When you buy from Augusta, what products will you by buying? Augusta offers IRS approved bullion coins and bars in gold and silver. For these two precious metals, there is a full range of products in different weights to match your goals.
Note that early withdrawal of the metals from your IRA might lead to taxes and penalties unless you choose to roll them over to a qualified account. You need to talk to your financial, tax and investment advisers before withdrawal. If you bought the metals with cash, and not in an IRA, you can withdraw them without any extra charges.
Augusta Precious Metals IRA Fees
Fees | Goldco Gold or GoldCo Silver IRA |
---|---|
Minimum Purchase Required | $50,000 |
One Time Setup Fee | $50 |
Annual Fees | Custodian Service Fee $80 |
Storage | $100 Annually |
Shipping Fees | Free for Clients |
Markup over Cost | 5% |
Augusta Precious Metals Reviews, Rating and Complaints
Augusta Precious Metals has performed excellently since its inception in 2012. The Internet is awash with positive reviews and ratings of the company. I have only seen a few complaints, and the company has always responded immediately in a positive way. At the BBB, Augusta has ZERO complaints, which is impressive.
From the ratings, you can tell that this company gets a lot of praise and works hard to satisfy every customer. If you do a search for Augusta Precious Metals, you can see what customers have to say.
A number of consumer watchdog websites have awarded Augusta Precious Metals high ratings based on customer reviews, lack of complaints, years in business and other criteria.
The company was chosen “Best of” multiple years in a row by TrustLink and voted “Most Trusted” by IRA Gold Advisor. Augusta also received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance.
At TrustLink.com, Facebook and Google My Business, Augusta has received 5 out of 5 stars or close to it. To see Augusta Precious Metals reviews, visit the Augusta Precious Metals webpage.
Also an indication of the company’s integrity: Augusta donates a portion of its net proceeds to K9s for Warriors.
Joe Montana Bought Gold & Silver With Augusta Precious Metals and is Now the Company’s Corporate Ambassador
Hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana is an Augusta Precious Metals customer and the company’s corporate ambassador. When he was looking for a way to preserve his retirement savings, Mr. Montana asked his financial advisors to vet all the gold companies in the U.S., and they chose Augusta.
They recommended Augusta Precious Metals because of the company’s streamlined, organized approach and reputation for integrity and compliance.
On the company’s website, you can read about Mr. Montana’s experience with Augusta. He offers more details in this quote:
“I wanted to explore Augusta Precious Metals as a gold and silver provider myself, so I attended a unique one-on-one web conference with their lead analyst, Devlyn Steele. It’s called the Augusta Profit & Protection Web Conference. It helps educate you on market conditions and gold/silver options and explains how this knowledge can empower you with a self-directed IRA.”
He went on to add:
“If you’re seriously interested in learning more, you should ask these guys about a one-on-one conference with the analytics team – so you can learn what I learned. I, for one, am really glad I did.”
-Joe Montana
Additionally, here’s a video that he shot about his experience:
Are Augusta Metals Fit for your IRA Account?
Augusta Precious Metals offers gold and silver coins and bullion, as well as premium coins.
Gold options include:
- American Eagles, American Eagle Proofs
- Austrian Wiener Philharmonikas
- Vienna Philharmonics
- Australian Kangaroos and Nuggets
- American Buffalos (no proof coins)
- Credit and Pamp Suisse Bars
- Canadian Maple Leafs
Silver options include:
- Australian Koalas
- Canadian Maple Leafs
- American Eagles, American Eagle Proofs
Final Thoughts on Augusta Precious Metals
If you’re looking for a gold IRA provider, you can’t go wrong with this impressive company. After a thorough analysis by yours truly, it’s hard to argue with the professional opinion of Joe Montana’s financial advisors. Everything about this company,from Augusta’s leadership, to its prices, transparency, educational materials, and the great attention they pay to customers, is first class. That’s probably why the company enjoys so many (thousands) of top ratings from customers and consumer watchdogs like TrustLink, which named Augusta “Best of” for many years running, and IRA Gold Advisor which voted the company “Most Trusted in the U.S.”
Because gold and silver are not affected by inflation in the same way equities are, adding them to your portfolio can be an advantage. Physical precious metals are in a different asset class, so you have a chance for them to offset losses elsewhere in your portfolio. You can sock away a lot of money, but if inflation takes more than 2 percent every year, it could seriously affect the final value of your portfolio.
Savings accounts with banks will give you an average of 0.5 percent in interest, which means you will only get a few cents for every dollar you sock away. But gold and silver have a great track record of holding value when other assets don’t.
To eliminate the problems of inflation and low interest rates, you can decide to roll over some of your retirement savings to precious metals. The problem with most gold IRAs is that most companies are not transparent.
You end up paying so many fees after your purchase. This does not happen with Augusta Precious Metals. What you see is what you pay.
This company insists on transparency and personal ethics, and those are two of the most important virtues that make them successful.
Check out Augusta Metals today.
PROS
- Up to 10 years of fees waived for new customers
- FREE one-on-one webinar: educational, explains gold IRA benefits
- Superior customer service validated by thousands of five-star reviews and zero BBB complaints
- Simple, transparent process and great prices, which makes protecting your retirement investment easy for the years to come
CONS
- Augusta only sells gold and silver; platinum and palladium are not in their catalog
- The minimum investment is $50,000
FAQ on Augusta Precious Metals Review:
What are the best precious metals to buy?
The best precious metals to buy are silver and gold. Gold has been used in jewelry for generations as a way to preserve wealth, while silver is in huge demand as an industrial metal. Going with gold or silver is an excellent choice for precious metals.
Is it a good idea to buy precious metals?
Buying precious metals means that you are protected by effective diversification in good times and bad. We recommend that you take opinions about gold and silver with a grain of salt. In good times, people speak out against precious metals. In bad times they say the best time to buy metals would’ve been in the good times. It’s a good idea to get the facts from somewhere reliable, such as Augusta’s professional analytics team. All in all,many people believe it’s a good idea to have some of your investments in precious metals for safety.
Is Augusta Precious Metals legit?
According to the better business bureau Augusta Precious Metals is a legit company. The United States Mint recognizes it as a bullion dealer. Also Augusta Precious Metals Company is a member of ICTA.
What metal is better than gold?
Every metal has its benefits. If you want something that’s more valuable than gold then choose palladium.
How can I contact Augusta Precious Metals?
Their corporate address is Augusta Precious Metals, 5830 East 2nd Street, Casper, WY82609. A satellite office is located at 8484 Wilshire Blvd. #515, Beverly Hills, CA, and the address for accounting (including check mailing) is 19528 Ventura Blvd., Unit #562, Tarzana, CA.Or you can reach them via this phone number 800-700-1008. For current customers the contact phone number is 855-909-0082.
What is the BBB rating for the Augusta Precious Metals IRA?
The BBB rating for Augusta Precious Metals IRA is A+. It has earned a 4.5 rating out of 5 stars. As you know, obtaining a perfect 5 stars rating is nearly impossible, since there will be some difficult customers no matter what you do in the precious metal field. This company’s 4.5 rating is phenomenal. I highly recommend them and so does Joe Montana. If you’re serious about protecting your retirement savings, and gold or silver is your choice, then this Augusta Precious Metals walk-through will serve you well. I highly recommend them – it’s a great company to work with, and they stand out with their lifetime customer support.
Augusta Precious Metals offers the following gold IRA retirement savings options:
Currently Augusta Precious Metals offers gold IRAs(gold IRA) and silver IRAs. In your silver and gold IRA(gold or silver) you can keep physical precious metals products such as: silver bullion, premium coins, gold coins, silver coins. As you know, during panic times, precious metal prices like silver and gold tend to jump. When gold coins prices surge and get out of reach then it’s time to buy silver coins. Finally, other premium coins will rise as well. Since silver is cheap, it’s a good idea to invest in a silver bullion product. Gold is sometimes preferred because it requires smaller storage space than silver coins.
Does Augusta Precious Metals offer anything besides silver and gold?
So far, Augusta Precious Metals offers only the silver and gold IRA. There’s a high level of customization for gold IRAs and silver IRAs. Silver IRAs can be funded with silver coins and with even silver bullion. So, make sure you do your due diligence first.
Can you rely on past performance?
The truth is that in the finance world past performance doesn’t guarantee future success. This is why it’s important to make sure you know everything about IRA gold before you invest in a precious metal. The truth is that a precious metals IRA is a safe haven when bad times come. Nobody knows when this will happen.
What kind of precious metals products does Augusta Precious Metals offer?
Augusta Precious Metals offers the following precious metals products: silver and gold coins and silver bullion for long-term protection. No other precious metal option is available with in an Augusta Precious Metals IRA.
How is the customer service with an Augusta Precious Metals IRA?
The customer service with an Augusta Precious Metals IRA or break a company. They have a high level of expertise in the field. If you’re purchasing gold for your gold IRAs, the customer service department will be more than happy to walk you through the process. It’s a great company to work with in the long term. Their dedicated customer service will help you no matter your gold and silver needs, be it IRA processing or a 401(k) rollover or purchasing gold in a cash account. Best of all, Augusta Precious Metals offers customer support for the lifetime of your account.
Read more about the gold IRA rollover process on this page: Gold IRA Rollover Guide – What You Should Know. There you will learn all you need to know about how this process will work with Augusta Precious Metals.
Disclosure: The owners of this website may receive compensation to recommend certain sites or companies. The content on this website, including positive reviews may not be neutral or independent.
About Tim Schmidt
Tim Schmidt is an Entrepreneur who has covered retirement investing since 2012. He started IRA Investing to share his expertise in using his Self-Directed IRA for alternative investments. His views on retirement investing have been highlighted in USA Today, Business Insider, Tech Times, and more. He invested with Goldco.