What are the best gold IRA companies?

[Marshall Erickson]

Hey everyone! I’m looking into setting up a gold IRA, and I keep seeing Goldco recommended everywhere. Is it really the best option, or are there other companies I should be checking out too? Does anyone have recommendations on the top gold IRA companies out there?

 

[G. Hunt]

I’ve had my gold IRA with Goldco for a couple of years now, and I’m more than happy with them. They really walk you through the whole gold IRA rollover process and explain you everything, which was a big plus since I didn’t know much going in. Their customer service is great, and easy to reach. On the downside, their minimum investment requirement is $25,000, so it might be suitable for high-balance investors. You should also be aware they don’t offer platinum or palladium if that’s something you want.

 

[Raymond]

I’m looking into setting up a gold IRA, and I keep seeing Goldco recommended everywhere.

It's one of the most popular gold investment companies, but it's definitely not the only option available. Goldco's $25,000 investment minimum is a bit steep compared to some other companies. I chose American Hartford Gold instead, it is highly reputable and has a lower entry point of $10,000.

 

[Scott Julius]

I went with Goldco because of the silver bonus. If you're ready to invest $50K or more, that 5-10% in silver adds up pretty nicely. And their rollover process from my old 401(k) to a gold IRA account was smooth. No tax issues, which I was worried about. But I agree with @G. Hunt that this company is definitely for people who already have a solid amount saved up.

 

[Will H.]

I think American Hartford Gold is the best. Every time I’ve interacted with the team at American Hartford Gold, they’ve been clear, professional, and welcoming. Josh, the Senior Account Executive, was especially helpful by patiently explaining important topics and thoroughly answering all my questions. I never felt pressured to decide, and their genuine, patient approach made the whole process informative and supportive. I have complete trust in the investments Josh has managed for me and am excited to continue working with him and Natalie for my future purchases.

 

[Charley Lancaster]

I've done my research, and I can say that Augusta Precious Metals is the best gold IRA company, in my opinion. Augusta helped me roll over my 401(k) to a gold IRA quickly and efficiently (without any high-pressure sales tactics that are unfortunately common in the industry) and without incurring any IRS fees. Out of 800+ reviews across eight review websites (BBB, Consumer Affairs, Google Reviews, among others) Augusta has received just one (!) poor review.

However, this company is probably more suitable for high-net-worth investors because Augusta has a high investment minimum of $50,000, and their premium coins are priced above bullion. But if you decide to invest, the company provides lifetime service beyond setting up a gold IRA, and waives fees for 10 years.

 

[C. Bernard]

Avoid Lear Capital by all means, they are scammers! I CAN'T BELIEVE it's being advertised on CBS News. I rolled over $30,000 from my retirement account on 09/11/23 to invest in physical gold, but these scammers never clearly explained the fees they would charge. Despite asking several times for a specific dollar amount, they kept giving vague answers, only mentioning a spread over time. At no point did I agree to them taking more than $10,000 in fees, and now my investment has lost a lot of value. I want my money back, as I never agreed to such high fees! After reading similar complaints on the Better Business Bureau, it’s obvious that their business practices mislead customers about the fee structure and how much money will be stolen from their gold IRAs!

 

[Victoria R.]

At no point did I agree to them taking more than $10,000 in fees, and now my investment has lost a lot of value. I want my money back, as I never agreed to such high fees. After reading similar complaints on the Better Business Bureau, it’s obvious that their business practices mislead customers about the fee structure!

This is terrible, that's why you always have to read the fine print on any document that you sign. Not all gold companies are scams, though. Even though the industry does have many shady players. I've purchased gold from one of the companies mentioned in this thread (I won’t say which for privacy reasons), and there are legitimate reasons to invest in gold. However, even the reputable companies tend to use aggressive sales tactics, and some, like Lear Capital, resort to fear-mongering, claiming the world is on the brink of collapse.

 

[Barry Finley]

Noble Gold Investments is definitely one of the best gold IRA companies, if not the best. Unlike other precious metals IRA companies, this company doesn’t spend big on ads and celebrity endorsements, and this is probably the reason why it has some of the lowest fees and markups on gold bullion in the industry. There are thousands of positive reviews and barely any negative feedback, aside from one complaint on BBB from 2020, which has already been resolved.

Noble has exclusive IRS-approved storage in Texas and guarantees to buy back your physical precious metals when you decide to liquidate. Plus, the investment minimum is much lower than on other sites — $20,000. The only downside I’ve noticed is the higher premium on their exclusive coins, but overall, the pros definitely outweigh the cons for me.

 

[Roscoe Cole]

I decided to go with Birch Gold Group, and while Goldco is more popular, I liked the flexibility Birch offered, and their customer support seemed more friendly and helpful. They let me invest in platinum and palladium, which helps spread the risk even more. Goldco and Augusta only deal with gold and silver, which is fine, but I wanted the option to diversify more.

Just a word of advice: when choosing a company, make sure to check their BBB ratings and read some gold IRA reviews, as well as complaints. Birch Gold Group has an A+ rating and thousands of 5-star reviews, which really helped me feel confident in my choice.

 

[Marshall Erickson]

I’ve had my gold IRA with Goldco for a couple of years now, and I’m more than happy with them. They really walk you through the whole gold IRA rollover process and explain you everything, which was a big plus since I didn’t know much going in.

Could you please explain how a gold IRA rollover actually works?

 

[G. Hunt]

Could you please explain how a gold IRA rollover actually works?

After you've set up your self-directed IRA for gold investments, you will have to add funds to it. A common method is transferring money from an existing retirement account like a 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA, or something similar. To begin the transfer, you will have to reach out to the administrator or manager of your current retirement plan and inform them that you want to initiate a rollover.

You'll usually need to provide your current administrator with details about your new gold IRA custodian, including the custodian’s name, your new account number, and instructions on where the funds should be sent. Before the money is moved, your current custodian will ensure you've completed all necessary forms and obtained any required signatures.

The entire rollover process generally takes one to two weeks, depending on how quickly your current plan can release the funds and the method of transfer (whether by mail or electronic transfer). These kinds of transfers to a gold IRA are typically done without any tax implications.

 

[Marshall Erickson]

Question for those in the know: are there any differences between Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust gold IRA custodians?

 

[Charley Lancaster]

Question for those in the know: are there any differences between Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust gold IRA custodians?

Equity Trust is the industry leader. It was established in 1974 and currently manages more than $52 billion in retirement funds. In comparison, STRATA manages only around $4 billion. Most precious metals IRA companies partner with Equity Trust because it is viewed as a top choice for self-directed IRAs. There are also Madison Trust Company and The Entrust Group, but Equity Trust is still the most popular.

 

[AbrahamBlair]

Does anyone know if it's possible to move TSP to gold and silver?

 

[Raymond]

Does anyone know if it's possible to move TSP to gold and silver?

Yes. If you have a TSP, a 401(k) through your employer, a Roth IRA, or any similar account, you can transfer it into a precious metals IRA. Self-directed gold IRA holds physical gold, silver, or other high-quality precious metals like platinum and palladium. Any gold IRA provider works with TSP and will be able to help you with the rollover.

 

[Marshall Erickson]

Is Advantage Gold worth it? It's recommended by Investopedia, but it seems to be less popular than other companies. There are only 76 reviews on BBB about this company.

 

[Victoria R.]

Is Advantage Gold worth it?

It's a new company, and I tend to be cautious of newer gold IRA providers. Advantage Gold was involved in at least one notable class action lawsuit in 2022, alleging that it made unsolicited telemarketing calls to individuals listed on the National Do Not Call Registry without obtaining prior consent: https://www.classaction.org/news/la...mbers-on-do-not-call-registry-without-consent