Best Gold IRA Companies 2024

I’ve been documenting my gold IRA company reviews since 2012.  

Perhaps similar to you, I spent countless hours sifting through articles and advertisements touting the best gold IRA accounts, and in the end I became even more confused.  I finally picked up the phone, made calls, took notes, and went online to fact-check my notes.  The below information is unlike any other comparison you’ll find online because I put my money where my mouth is and invested in what my research told me was the best gold backed IRA. 

I outlined my entire experience in great detail in hopes of helping people in similar situations make a decision when comparing the numerous precious metals IRA companies.   

I haven’t seen anyone else in the industry back up their claims with proof of being an actual investor.  I show receipts and go on camera – so you can see I value transparency and am an actual customer.  This is a huge reason I’ve garnered a lot of media attention and have been featured in USA Today, among other publications, for my no frills approach to reputable gold IRA company reviews. 

#1: Goldco

5/5

Annual Fees
$80 + Storage

Minimum Investment
$25,000

Special
First-Year Fees Waived for New Clients

#1 Overall Gold IRA Company 2023

Read my Goldco review to learn more.

The gold IRA is a fantastic hedge against inflation and market instability.

  • Many economists urge investors to allocate a portion of their retirement savings into physical precious metals.

  • By reading this report, you will find out which USA-based firms are the best gold IRA companies that have been fully vetted and can be trusted with your retirement savings

  • In addition, you will get details to help you decide which gold IRA company best fits your own investment needs. I’ve compiled hours of work on all of the gold IRA reviews on this website.

Best Gold IRA Companies 2023 – Our Gold IRA Reviews Help Consumers Make Sound Investments

#2: American Hartford gold

5/5

BEST FOR INVESTMENTS OVER $10,000

  • #1 Ranked Gold Company by Inc. 5000
  • A+ Rating from BBB, 5-Star Reviews and Thousands of Satisfied Clients
  • Lowest Price Guarantee & No Buy-Back Fees
  • Exclusively Recommended by Bill O’Reilly, Rick Harrison and Others.
  • No-Cost Consultation with a Precious Metals IRA Specialist
  • American Hartford Gold Featured on Newsmax, RSBN, Epoch Times and Fox News
augusta precious metals gold ira

Read the full company review to learn about their impressive staff that includes a Harvard Educated Analyst.

#3: Augusta Precious Metals

5/5

BEST FOR INVESTMENTS OVER $50,000

Augusta Precious Metals will educate you like no other company – its free one-of-a-kind web conference was designed by the company’s on-staff Harvard-trained economist. Augusta is endorsed by hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana, and the company provides superior transparency and best prices.  
Annual Fees: $80 + Storage
Minimum Investment: $50,000
Special: Up to 10 Years of Fees Waived for New Clients

#4: Noble Gold

5/5

Annual Fees
$230

Minimum Investment
$5,000

Special
FREE 5 oz silver

BEST STORAGE OPTIONS OF GOLD IRA COMPANIES

Noble Gold wins in the storage category and is a first-class company all around.  Read my full NobleGold review for more information.

Since 2012, we’ve advised people to allow gold IRA companies to help them allocate a portion of their retirement savings into a precious metals IRA or a gold IRA rollover.

The fact is, everyone needs to protect their wealth from uncertain times and INFLATION.

Imagine making sound financial decisions and saving diligently for decades…

… and all of a sudden your entire nest egg quickly going down the toilet due to inflation and an unstable financial market.

The sad truth is that there have been countless individuals who had no protection. So they squandered a large chunk of their retirement funds on bursting asset bubbles.

It’s possible to alleviate such pitfalls through a diversified investment portfolio.

However, the horror of wasting decades of savings that you worked hard your whole life because of some unforeseen and uncontrollable force still lies ahead.

This page was created to educate you on the gold IRA rollover process. We cover gold IRA companies that specialize in utilizing your established retirement account and converting a portion to gold IRA investments.

If you visit the website of any of the reputable gold investment companies below, you’ll not only get a free investing kit, but also a 100% no-obligation consult that will walk you through how this works.

Gold IRA Investing Guide

If you already know how a gold IRA works: Scroll down and find the information about the various companies that offer a gold IRA rollover or new account set up.

If you don’t know how a precious metals IRA works:I’ll spell it out for you really quick here…

In short, a gold IRA is a form of Individual Retirement Account that houses physical precious metals (such as gold and silver) as precious metals investments’ instrument for the owner of the account.

These types of retirement accounts work the same way as a regular IRA, however, they hold physical gold bullion like bars or gold bullion coins rather than paper stock or mutual fund certificates.

How I Learned About the Best Gold IRAs 

I personally found out about these types of accounts, which are self-directed IRA accounts, back in 2012 when I asked my financial advisor how to invest in real estate with my SEP IRA.

In addition to being able to invest in real estate, I could buy gold in my precious metals IRA account thanks to the diversity that a custodian account offers.

Most traditional financial advisors will not tell you about these types of accounts because they do not get commissioned on them!

While most people have heard about the ability to set up a gold IRA account, the fact is that you can add silverpalladium, and platinum to the account assuming they are in an IRS-approved bar or coin form. (You’ll hear about the silver IRA, palladium IRA, or platinum IRA, and these are all interchangeable for simple matters.)

By working with one of the reputable gold custodians below, you can rest assured your asset is IRS-approved.

Precious metals are widely considered the best method to hedge against inflation, not to mention diversify a portfolio that could include real estate, stocks, or mutual funds.

While your metals will have to be stored by your gold custodian in a specific manner, you can rest assured I’ve made sure that the companies below maintain a safe third party depository or own their own facility.

What Will I Learn?

Rating the Best Gold IRA Companies

The best way to research is to put my money where my mouth is.

So, I decided to buy from one certain company and will share with you all the research involving this move via a supplementary review below.

I went through more than 50 of the largest and most prominent names in the industry. I’ve scrutinized each one of them based on a myriad of crucial aspects. I’ve tried and tested their offers until I reached a verdict.

My final conclusion was Goldco is the best and most trustworthy gold IRA company, with the most positive gold IRA reviews, especially compared to other gold IRA companies.

A number of the aspects that I looked into include:

  • Track record and standing in the industry

  • Fees and storage

  • Terms and policies

  • Customer service

  • History and security

You need to do your homework thoroughly when it comes to checking out gold IRA companies today.

I exhausted a great deal of time studying various companies, their procedures, corporate reputation, and fee structure.

Below is a list of the top choices you can consider which uncovers key elements to provide you the best gold IRA company reviews from a small business owner’s perspective.

These reviews covers fee structuresstorage policies, and many more elements that helped me narrow down my list of gold IRA companies. The final three I consider to be the top gold IRA companies that will give you an A+ experience.

#1 Goldco – The Gold IRA Reviews Found Online Have Spoken

goldco

Goldco

5/5

Minimum Required: $25,000
Annual Fees: $80
Storage Fee: 3rd party fee

Pros:

Cons:

I suggest you read my full Goldco Review to see what I found when I really dug deep and investigated this company from the inside out, and compared it to some of the best gold investment companies.  Here are some main reasons I found them to be a respectable, premier gold IRA company.

  • No Fees on non-IRA transactions

  • IRA fees as low as $260 annually

  • Low minimum investments

  • Good service – first class all around

  • Get started with just $50 to open your self-directed precious metals IRA

Phone:  1-877-514-2567
Website:  
Goldco.com.  

From the first time I spoke with an agent, to the time I decided it was something I wanted to look into moving forward with, I was in good hands.  Here is how the process goes down: An IRA specialist walks you through the information needed to complete the application, which then once opened, gives you an account.  Once this IRA account is open, funds can be transferred in.  Once funds are received, you loop back with the dedicated account executive and select the metals you want to place into your IRA.  Once this choice is made, the metals are then stored in the depository of your choice within days (if the metals are in physical stock), or up to four weeks in the case that they need to be ordered.  Either way, you are kept abreast of the developments every step of the way, which again, confirmed with me that this was indeed a very gold company you can use to set up an IRA with any precious metals you desire.

#2: Augusta Precious Metals

augusta precious metals gold ira
5/5

Minimum Required: $50,000
Fees: NO MANAGEMENT FEES
Setup: $50 one-time custodial fee
Administration: $80 per year for custodian
Storage: $100 per year, non-government facility

Pros:

Cons:

Here are the reasons to choose Augusta Precious Metals:

Joe Montana’s Endorsement: I came across an article on hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana, who was one of my idols growing up.  The report detailed how he had literally sent his financial advisors on a quest to protect his football earnings, which, mind you, weren’t the astronomical figures that quarterbacks earn these days.  Long story short, his advisory team went on an exhaustive search and after vetting all U.S. gold companies landed on Augusta Precious Metals, which I review here.

augusta precious metals gold ira

Montana has now become an ambassador for the company.  He is a very “salt of the Earth” type of person, I highly doubt he would put his legacy on the line for any company that was less than excellent.  

Superior Leadership, Education and Reviews: After a thorough analysis of the many gold IRA companies by yours truly, it’s hard to argue with the professional opinion of Joe Montana’s financial advisors. Everything from Augusta’s leadership, to its prices, transparency,educational materials, and the great attention they pay to customers, is first class.

Below are many of the advantages that you will see offered by Augusta

  • A+ with their local BBB Chapter – (and ZERO complaints).

  • Industry-unique web conference with Devlyn Steele, the company’s on-staff professional economist who is trained at Harvard Business School. (This web conference is perhaps the best perk of inquiring about opening an account. Highly encouraged.)

  • They specialize in gold and silver IRAs. Leadership is Top Class and Second-to-None in the industry.

  • Transparency – there are no hidden fees. What you see is what you get!

  • 100% money-back guarantee to first-time customers.

  • Lightning-fast depository distribution (they have their own storage accounts to share with you).

#3: Noble Gold

Noble Gold

Noble Gold

5/5

Minimum Required: $5,000
Fees: Administration $80 yearly
Storage: $150 per year

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended Reading:  Read my FULL digest on Noble Gold.

Gold IRA Company Qualities to Look For

#1. Reputability

It’s crucial to consider companies that are capable of providing satisfactory results amidst a volatile market.

In essence, market conditions must not decide the end result of your investment. Customer services is an area of utmost importance as you need a company who can walk you through every step of the way once you decide to use your current 401k and weigh on life-changing financial choices.

Furthermore, it’s vital to identify whether or not the company’s past clients are contented with the kind of service it delivers.

Finally, the company you consider must be highly renowned and endorsed by different independent review bodies in the industry such as BBB and TrustLink – with minimal or no complaints.

gold ira account fees

#2. Fees and Policies

Never make a decision unless you have considered every fee and policy that will inevitably become attached to your account.

It’s imperative that you know full well what kind of financial agreement you are entering on. Try to ponder upon these two questions before making your choice:

  • Is the investment scheme suited to your personal needs and circumstances?

  • Are there exorbitant fees involved?

At the start, everything can appear somewhat complex. The company that you decide as your financial partner in life must be able to transform the entire investment system into a straightforward one.

This is made possible by providing you with the right people who are ready and able to walk you through the process and give you top-notch customer service.

#3. Terms of Service and Track Record

Your financial caretaker must offer you a myriad of investment choices and terms that cater to your personal needs and circumstances. It’s ideal to partner with a company who has a positive history of stable and sound investments that are viable both in the long run and short run.

This kind of consideration is particularly vital for newbies and inexperienced investors. Pursuing a gold retirement plan is a smart financial move since gold is a steady commodity and acts as a buffer on the diminishing effects of inflation towards your savings.

#4. Reliable Buyback System

When you wish to liquidate your gold deposits or other metals of value, you need someone who can buy them back in a heartbeat.

This allows you to capitalize on potential profits when the market is ripe. Such profits, however, won’t be realized if you are required to spend a number of days to liquidate your assets in physical precious metals.

With that being said, the company you choose must follow a reliable buyback system from the gold IRA investors that will help you sell your metals on a price that is synonymous to the current market level.

#5. Security of Deposit

It’s essential to guarantee that the company you choose provides a number of secured storage facilities to choose from.

This is a crucial aspect that a lot of people tend to ignore when they search for gold IRA providers: a security of deposit.

As a good rule of thumb, you want to opt with a company who provides segregated storage options. This simply means that you will receive a dedicated compartment to store your prized metals separated from the rest of the other client’s stock.

This also means that you can enjoy instant access to any and all of your assets in the event that you want to resell them. Overall, never ignore security and speed of access when it comes to finding the ideal gold investment company for your financial future.

Gold IRA Investing Recap & Summary 

Before you begin your quest to find the best gold IRA company, read the Q&A I’ve set up below. It includes some important things you might want to know first involving the rollover process, as well as how the precious metals market works, and other essential terminologies.

If you are ready to get started, I recommend you click here and fill out a form to get in touch with a broker who can help.

gold custodians

What is a Gold IRA Custodian?

In essence, a gold IRA custodian is defined as a financial institution that utilizes valuable metals like gold in the creation of distinct retirement plans for people who want to maximize their savings and better their financial future with gold silver bullion or precious metal coins.

It’s illegal to set up a retirement account without a custodian, so this is a necessary part of the process and required by the IRS.

What is Investing in Gold for Retirement Like?

When the economy is in the stages of growth, precious metals like gold are somewhat volatile and are thus viewed as speculative. However, they are also considered as effective cushions in periods of recessions and financial turmoil. For this reason, precious metals become more expensive when the economy is struggling and heading towards a downward curve.

With that being said, it makes sense to have a portion of your savings in a gold IRA so long as you avoid reselling them during periods of economic growth when they are typically at their worst value.  Think of it as the ultimate hedge against a bear market, and a very stable hold during any other market – so be careful about the time to purchase precious metals.

gold retirement accounts

Gold IRA Investing – Where Do I Start?

You can consider a variety of ways if you are planning to put your money in gold but the most widely used ones involve a mutual fund or ETF. There are those who favor these types of investments above physical gold since it’s a lot more stress-free to convert the investments into actual money.

The downside to them though is that they are relatively risky in times of economic shifts. ETFs can seamlessly be integrated not only to traditional IRA’s but Roth versions as well and they feature lesser fees and insurance criteria than physical gold.

While these can be decent investments for traders who get in and out of positions rather quickly, the main way I write about long term gold investing is for retirement accounts.

What’s the Meaning of a Gold IRA Rollover?

Generally speaking, rolling over your 401(k) to gold involves moving a portion of or your entire savings towards a gold IRA. Simply put, this is basically a form of retirement savings that involves physical gold assets.  (Or other precious metals of course, such as the silver IRA.)

When you roll over your funds to a metals-backed IRA, it entails withdrawing a certain amount from your personal retirement account for the procurement of precious metals through a gold IRA company. Once you have procured the item, it will be recorded in your new IRA account based on its present market price.

Which Precious Metals Can I Buy?

Not every precious metal is covered by the IRS. The types which can be secured safely from IRAs are certain forms of:

  • Gold
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Silver

What is the Minimum Investment?

When it comes to investing in gold with the companies listed above in my gold IRA company reviews, the smallest amount that you need to have ready is $5,000.

There are companies like Advantage Gold who don’t follow a minimum investment policy, although they would strongly recommend their clients avoid anything lower than $5,000.

The company I recommend, Goldco, requires a $25,000 investment.

How Can I Set up My Own Gold IRA?

If you have arrived at the ultimate decision to set up your own personal gold investment, simply register for an account from a prominent gold IRA company that we endorse on this page.

Visit the company’s account registration page and fill out the necessary information on the application form. Once you have entered your name and contact details, you’ll be contacted by one of their Augusta’s professional agents. The next step will be to assign beneficiaries and share your existing custodian info.

What is the Best Gold IRA Rollover Company?

At this point, you basically have everything you need to know about the best rated gold IRA companies and the only step left is to make a decision.

top rated gold ira firms

Finding the perfect gold IRA company to fit you and your finances should be, first and foremost, at the top of your list of priorities. Regardless, whether you’re still a newbie, already a seasoned gold investor or anything in between, we highly advise that you base your decision on these key factors:

  • Trustworthiness

  • Customer Service

  • Storage policies & fees

  • Track record (a.k.a, number of complaints and quality of first-person reviews like what you read here)

And when we are talking about the above factors, Goldco passes with flying colors.

You can see I have even broken down Goldco vs. Augusta Precious Metals for anyone looking to compare the two.

Legal FAQ’s and History of the Precious Metals IRA

In 1997, the Taxpayer Relief Act made it possible for certain types of alternative investments to be permissible within an IRA. In fact, the Act specifically stated that investors could purchase and own physical gold and silver coins minted by the Department of the Treasury in the United States.

Investors could add the following gold investments to their individual retirement accounts:

  • 1 ounce US gold coins

  • ½ ounce US gold coins

  • ¼ ounce US gold coins

  • 1/10 ounce US gold coins

As far as silver is concerned, the Tax Relief Act of 1997 allowed investors to add 1 ounce silver coins minted by the US Treasury to their retirement accounts.

And in 1998, investors were allowed to use their IRA to invest in specific platinum coins as well as specific platinum, palladium, silver, and gold bullion.

Precious Metals Approved for IRA Accounts

The Internal Revenue Service has approved specific types of bullion and precious metals for individual retirement accounts. Investors aren’t allowed to invest in collectibles as part of qualified plans or IRAs, but they can purchase certain gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion. But they have to meet specific fineness requirements in order to qualify.

From a liquidation standpoint, owning gold coins possesses a big advantage as opposed to owning gold bars or other precious metals bars in your gold IRA. It’s difficult to sell gold bars because they are higher-priced and can be counterfeited easier. Plus, their heaviness makes them more difficult to deliver as well and requires greater security during transportation.

At this time, a range of precious metals do meet specific purity requirements acceptable for gold IRA accounts. The government has investigated certain companies that aggressively sell numismatic coins as opposed to gold bullion. These companies make a higher commission selling numismatic coins, but bullion is more reflective of the precious metal spot price.

Acceptable Gold IRA Investments

  • American Gold Buffalo Coins (Uncirculated)

  • American Gold Eagle Bullion Coins

  • American Gold Eagle Proof Coins

  • Australian Kangaroo/Nugget Coins

  • Austrian Gold Philharmonic Coins

  • British Gold Britannia Coins from 2013 and Later

  • British Gold Shengxiao Lunar Series Coins

  • British The Queen’s Beasts Coins (Gold)

  • Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins

  • Chinese Gold Panda Coins

  • Gold rounds and/or bars produced by Comex or Nymex approved refineries, or the National Mint, that meet fineness requirements at the minimum

Acceptable Silver IRA Investments

  • American Silver Eagle Bullion Coins

  • American Silver Eagle Proof Coins

  • Australian Silver Kookaburra Coins

  • Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coins

  • British Silver Britannia Coins from 2013 and Later

  • British Silver Shengxiao Lunar Series Coins

  • British the Queen’s Beasts Coins (Silver)

  • Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins

  • Chinese Silver Panda Coins

  • Silver rounds and/or bars produced by Comex or Nymex approved refineries, or the National Mint, that meet fineness requirements at the minimum

Acceptable Platinum IRA Investments

  • American Platinum Eagle Bullion Coins

  • American Platinum Eagle Proof Coins

  • Australian Platinum Koala Coins

  • British the Queen’s Beasts Coins (Platinum)

  • Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf Coins

  • Isle Of Man Noble Coins

  • Platinum rounds and/or bars produced by Comex or Nymex approved refineries or the National Mint, that meet fineness requirements at the minimum

Acceptable Palladium IRA Investments

  • American Palladium Eagle Bullion Coins

  • Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf Coins

  • Palladium rounds and/or bars produced by Comex or Nymex approved refineries, or the National Mint, that meet fineness requirements at the minimum

Distributions Rules and Regulations

The distribution rules and regulations for gold IRAs are the same as for a regular IRA. Account holders can either:

  • physically take possession of their precious metals

  • or liquidate their precious metals for cash

Either of these actions is considered an IRA distribution. If you perform them, the IRS will tax you accordingly.

Precious Metals Storage

Best Gold IRA Companies

In an effort to stay in compliance with requirements by the IRS, all IRAs including gold IRAs must have a custodian or trustee in place. According to IRS Publication 590, “The trustee or custodian must be a bank, a federally insured credit union, a savings and loan association, or an entity approved by the IRS to act as trustee or custodian.”

Numerous custodians or trustees use private depositories to store their precious metals for their IRA. These depositories offer security features that include automatic re-locking, time locks, and monitoring for sound, motion, and vibrations. And monitoring takes place 24/7/365.

Best of all, these depositories often have large insurance policies that can insure around $1 billion or more at times. And these depositories employ two types of storage that include:

  • non-segregated storage

  • segregated storage

With non-segregated storage, your precious metals are stored with the precious metals of other investors in the same vault. With segregated storage, your precious metals are stored in a separate dedicated vault.

Because of the stringent requirements for custody, it’s highly unlikely that an investor can act as their own precious metals IRA trustee. Neither the federal courts nor the IRS have recognized self-storage in a safe deposit box or an investor’s home as a valid alternative. In fact, the IRS warns that using an unconventional arrangement means running the risk of disqualifying your precious metals IRA.

IRA Investing New Features

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the best gold IRA?

Here’s the list of the best gold IRAs you can choose from:

 Best ForGold IRA CompanyWebsite
1First-Year Fees Waived for New ClientsGoldcoGoldco.com
2Joe Montana’s #1 Choice: Best Pricing & TransparencyAugustaAugustaPreciousMetals.com
3Lowest Initial Investment NeededNoble GoldNobleGoldInvestments.com

Can you buy gold in a˝n IRA?

It’s true that most IRA custodians won’t allow you to have gold in their IRAs. However, if you want to own gold such as gold coins or gold bullions in an IRA, you need a self-directed IRA that is offered by specialized companies and administered by specialized custodians.

Is a Gold IRA a good in˝vestment?

The Gold IRA is a good investment hedge against inflation and gold is the safe haven when stocks bonds and mutual funds tank.

How much is a gold IRA?

The cost of a gold IRA account varies from company to company. Some have a gold IRA setup fee, while others only charge for a storage fee. The best thing to do is to contact the gold IRA company and ask them.

Can I store my gold IRA at home?

You can’t store physical gold in your gold IRA at home. It’s prohibited by the IRS. However, if you have physical gold from outside the IRA, you can store it at home.

What kind of perks can you expect from the best gold IRA companies?

The best gold IRA companies offer different perks for new gold IRA(new IRA) accounts. The best company can get you fees waived, free gold, or actually waive the first-year storage fees.

What kind of fees can I expect with gold IRAs?

With most gold IRAs, you can expect some sort of annual fees. Some have a complex fee structure depending on the plan you’re going with. As a promotion, gold IRA companies sometimes waive the first year fees. After that, you have to pay flat fee. Annual fees typically include storage fees and service fees. Most reputable and top gold IRA companies have no hidden fees.

Why won’t a financial advisor recommend investing in a gold IRAs?

It’s not a secret that a financial advisor will consider his own interests first when recommending investment options. The truth is that, when they are checking out a retirement investment, they want to earn a big fat paycheck. This is why they suggest paper assets, stocks, and bonds and stay away from gold or other precious metal options: because they don’t get a commission. That’s why they hate recommending investing in precious metals. Yet there are so many high-quality alternative investments other than paper assets.

How safe are g˝old investments?

Gold investments are safe in a retirement portfolio. A financial advisor might shun it and it can beat a traditional IRA in the bear market. Like with any investment options, there are pros and cons.

What’s the best way when it comes to investing in precious metals?

Investing in precious metals might seem daunting at first. Think of it as talking with a precious metals dealer and not a financial advisor. These companies are easy to talk with and are used to patiently explaining how things work in detail. Augusta Precious Metals, in particular, has gotten customer education and customer service down to an art, to the point that opening a gold IRA account will be enjoyable.

Why are gold IRAs so attractive?

Gold IRAs are so attractive because companies offer low fees and the fee structure is transparent. Also, top gold IRA companies offer incentives to go with them. Some come with low fees (easy fee structure), a gold or silver bonus, or other precious metal retirement investments. Before making any investment, make sure you check out the company’s gold IRA guide, because it’s meant for the long-term and you need to understand how it works. Physical possession is not possible with gold or silver because of IRS rules, so home storage of a gold IRA is out of the question. The physical gold or silver in your retirement investment has to be kept in an approved depository. Also, make sure you qualify for the required minimum for the investment company.

What kind of storage options do you get with gold IRAs?

With gold IRAs, you have multiple storage options. You can opt for the Delaware Depository. Of course, there are annual fees like the storage fees. Sometimes the best gold IRA companies waive the first-year storage fees. The best storage option would be an IRS-approved depository like the Delaware Depository for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. You can’t do home storage, because it’s against IRS rules. Home storage is only an option if you’re not using a gold IRA.

What do I need to know about self-directed IRA funds?

Because you are the sole manager of your self-directed IRA fund, you have complete control over it – you get to make all the decisions. Precious metal IRAs can’t guarantee profits, but they are a great choice for diversifying your retirement money. When you enroll in a self-directed precious metal IRA, you know that as an investor your precious metals give you a good chance to counteract any losses you might have with other types of investments.

How to pick a reputable gold IRA company?

In the gold IRA business, just like with precious metals dealers, reputation is key. Before making any investment, make sure to check the customer reviews, and what the Better Business Bureau and the Business Consumer Alliance says about them. This is the most important thing when considering any asset for your retirement portfolio or individual retirement account.

What is IRA-approved gold or silver?

IRA-approved gold or silver means that the specific IRA obeys the strict IRS guidelines. For example, only certain gold or silver coins and bars are allowed. Secondly,your precious metals have to be housed in an approved depository like the Delaware Depository. Before making any investment, check out the IRA guidelines, because investing in gold is different from traditional IRAs.

Can you get gold from a precious metals dealer and put it into your IRA?

When you invest in gold for IRA Investing purposes (gold IRA),most precious metals dealers can’t help you. The IRS has strict rules, and only certain coins and bullions are permitted. Dealers might have higher markup than the regular price of gold. As you know, the price of gold has been rising by a few percentage points per year.

Should you choose a traditional IRA or an individual retirement account?

This comes down to personal choice. For some retirement investors, the gold individual retirement account would be better than the traditional IRA.

What are IRS-approved precious metals IRAs?

For IRS-approved precious metals IRAs, not every type of precious metal or shape is approved. Typically, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are considered as precious metals in an IRA. However, gold and silver are the main ones. Some gold and silver for don’t qualify for approval. Before going toward a new gold IRA or existing gold IRA,make sure that the precious metal,such as gold and silver coins, is IRS-approved. To help you make the right choice, always ask for the approved precious metals list. For example, the Canadian gold maple leaf is approved in the United States.

How do you know which are the best IRA companies to work with?

The best IRA companies have a proven track record, plus they have good standing with the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance. You should always read customer reviews about these investment companies.

Is there a one-time setup fee when choosing a gold IRA?

This depends. It varies from one precious metal provider to the next. Some have a one-time fee, others don’t, while a few offer it as a bonus.

Can I do a 401(k) precious metals account IRA rollover?

Yes, you can do a 401(k) precious metals account IRA rollover. Most gold IRA companies do this automatically when you open an account with them. The gold IRA will protect you from an eventual downfall of the economy.

With this type of IRA, do the storage costs goes hand-in-hand with the amount of gold held?

With some custodians, the storage costs goes hand-in-hand with the amount of gold held, while others have a fixed fee. The gold IRA cost (gold prices) doesn’t factor into fees. However gold prices have a big impact on how many items you can purchase. The prices of gold and silver products (gold or silver) are changing with the market.

Stocks and bonds vs. gold and silver: ˝which one should you choose?

Comparing stocks and bonds with gold and silver is not a fair comparison. If you choose one of them, you might lose money. Stocks and bonds might crash, so you can lose money by the buckets. Also, if you go with gold and silver (gold or silver) you might miss out on gains. Besides gold and silver in a gold IRA, you can have other precious metals in your retirement portfolio. Having a precious metal IRA means you’re diversifying with other types of investments. There’s no certain time set when the market turns; the only sure thing is that it will happen sometime and the gold IRA is a great protection against it.

How important is customer service with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium IRA providers for investors?

Customer service can make or break the reputation of a gold, silver, platinum, or palladium company. Since we’re talking about a lot of money, a knowledgeable customer service staff is key. Always check what kind of rating the company has with the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau is a trusted source for ratings of many gold IRA companies.

Can I as an investor hold my gold and precious metals in a deposit box?

Yes, you can hold gold and silver and other precious metals in a deposit box. However, if we’re talking about gold IRAs, then the deposit box is out of the question, because IRS rules say it must be held by a custodian. This means that gold IRA has to be held by an IRS-approved custodian (through your gold IRA company). According to IRS rules, precious metals in IRAs must be held in banks and vaults, not in a deposit box, to be considered a gold IRA. On the other hand, if you want to invest in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium outside of an IRA, you can keep it in a deposit box without any problems. It’s good to know that a gold IRA rollover is easily done by the best gold IRA company.

Is the gold IRA company the go-to source if an investor is looking into investing in a gold asset?

Yes, the gold IRA company is the best choice for it. Also, you have to know there’s a minimum investment amount for investors, and this set by the IRA company. Some companies offer a four-figure minimum investment, while others demand a five- or six-figure minimum investment. For most investors, the advantage of best gold ira company is clear. Investors are accepted from all across the country.

Which is the best gold IRA choice?

The best gold IRA company would be Augusta Precious Metals. After sorting through all the gold IRA companies in the country, I’ve found Goldco to be the best gold IRA provider. They not only have great customer support, outstanding educational materials, and excellent prices and transparency with gold IRA, but they are highly rated as well. I could not find any complaints about this company on the Better Business Bureau website, and I can’t say the same about other companies — I think Goldco is the only one with no complaints. As you know, customer support can make or break a company.  The customer support is amazing. They can help you out even if you’re an absolute beginner in gold and silver products, as well as gold IRA rollovers. Augusta also takes prides in transparency so you know exactly what you’re getting. The company has no management fees, and the custodial and storage fees depend on the custodian company and depository storage company. After countless hours of searching, I nominated Goldco as the best gold IRA provider this year. Before buying, check the Business Consumer Alliance website for extra info.

How important is customer support with a gold IRA provider?

For an investor, customer support is crucial — especially with gold IRA providers. We’re talking about people’s hard-earned money and their future, so a knowledgeable agent or precious metals team is a must when opening a gold IRA account.

How do you purchase precious metals in a precious metals IRA?

Most gold IRA companies makes it super easy to buy precious metals in a precious metals IRA. Before you create the new precious metals IRA,you need to convert your traditional IRA account into self-directed IRA and transfer funds there after that, and this can be done with any existing IRA account. The gold IRA rollover (gold IRA rollovers) process is simple, and it’s mostly done by major gold IRA companies. This is how you know if it’s a reputable gold IRA company — if they can guide you through the process smoothly. Gold IRA providers allow you to buy gold, collectible coins, bullion bars, rare coins and all precious metals with ease. Besides buying, you have the option to sell precious metals. Here’s one important note with a new precious metals IRA:You’re getting physical precious metals, not gold ETFs. Now, if you’re eying traditional or Roth precious metal IRAs,(traditional or Roth IRAs) then you can get gold ETFs as an investment, although this depends on your own personal circumstances.

What are IRA-approved precious metals for a precious metals IRA account?

According to IRS regulations, the approved precious metals are: gold, silver, platinum and palladium. This means that you can also create gold silver platinum, palladium, or silver IRAs for your existing retirement account in addition to gold. For the gold IRA to work, you can transfer existing gold holdings or acquire precious metals from the gold IRA company. Also keep in mind that past performance doesn’t guarantee future success. To buy precious metals or IRA-eligible gold, all you have to do is call up the IRA provider, and they will set you up.

What kind of gold IRA fees am I looking at?

When you are comparing gold IRA companies, it’s important to check out the fee structure. Some have flat fees, while other companies have a different approach. Gold purchases (for gold IRA investors) have a certain fee, and this is common in the gold IRA space and precious metals industry. There has been an increase in the number of companies that offer precious metals IRAs, so fees have fallen. That’s one of the reasons it’s the perfect time to buy gold in an IRA for your investment portfolio.

Do I really get free silver rare coins when opening precious metals IRAs?

Some companies have this incentive while other companies have a professional coin grading service and other perks. The gold investment depends on gold prices and gold investment companies. Setting up gold individual retirement accounts is easy after that buying gold .

What is Investopedia? Is it one of the IRA companies?

Investopedia is a news site that covers many topics for investor men and women. They are not listed with the Better Business Bureau or with the Business Consumer Alliance, because they do not provide products.

Where can I find more info about gold and a gold IRA?

Here’s renowned expert Peter Schiff’s review about gold and precious metal IRA.

Also, you can find out more on this Wikipedia page.

Tim Schmidt

About 

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.