5 Best Gold IRA Companies of 2023
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Best For Customer Service
As inflationary pressures increase from historically low levels, the popularity of gold IRAs is growing rapidly as a safe way to invest in this popular precious metal. From fees, storage options and price transparency to customer reviews, reputation and track record, we have done the research, so you don’t have to. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or new to the gold market, this guide will help you make an informed decision on the best gold IRA company for your needs.
1. Augusta Precious Metals: Best Overall
Simple Setup And Lifetime Customer Support
- Ranked as the “Best Overall” gold IRA company by Money magazine
- Up to 10 years’ worth of fees reimbursed to your IRA in premium silver coins
- On-staff Harvard-trained economist
- A+ rating of 4.96 with over 100+ reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- AAA rating, 5 stars from 90+ reviews from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA)
- 5 stars from 280+ reviews at TrustLink
- Free 1-on-1 web sessions and robust educational resources
- Endorsed by Joe Montana and his financial team
2. Goldco: Best For Customer Service
Simple Setup And Lifetime Customer Support
- 5-time Inc. 5000 financial category winner
- Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with over 400 reviews
- Rated AAA by the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA)
- 10% back in free silver for an IRA-funded account
- Offers a buy-back program guaranteed at the highest price
- Extensive educational resources
- Endorsed by Sean Hannity, Chuck Norris, Ben Stein, and others
3. American Hartford Gold: Best For Low Minimum Purchase
Over $1 Billion In Precious Metals Delivered
- #1 Ranked gold company by Inc. 5000
- Exclusive buyback program for existing clients
- Gold, platinum, palladium, and silver investments
- Has an excellent rating on Trustpilot (5.0/5.0) from 1,000+ customers
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Endorsed by Bill O’Reilly, Rudy Giuliani, Rick Harrison, and others
- Receive up to $10,000 in free silver
4. Birch Gold: Best For First-Time Buyers
Birch Gold has served over 7,000 customers since 2003
- First-year fee on IRAs waived with a minimum rollover of $50,000
- Offers other metals, including silver, palladium, and platinum
- Strong educational resources and customer service
- Solid reputation with Trustpilot (4.9/5 with over 100 reviews) and
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- IRA assets insured up to $1 billion
- Endorsed by Ron Paul, Ben Shapiro, Steve Forbes, and others
5. Noble Gold: Best For Small Investors
Low Minimum Investment Requirements
- A robust range of precious metals products
- Noble Gold has an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- AA rating on Business Consumer Alliance (BCA)
- 5-star rating on TrustLink and overwhelmingly positive reviews
- Top-notch security and proof of purchase features
- Good buyback program
- Fast and easy sign-up process (takes less than 5 minutes)
What to Look for in A Gold IRA Company
Even though we have provided a list of the best candidates you can choose from, you will ultimately decide who you go with. Therefore, in this section, we share some of the characteristics you should focus on whenever it is time to take your pick.
Transfer & Setup Fees
The set-up fee is a one-time cost. However, the higher it is, the longer it will take to make up the money spent. In addition, you may have to roll over an existing retirement account from another provider, whether that is a 401(k) or a Roth IRA. In any case, the lower these fees are, the faster your account balance will return to its original state.
Keep in mind that if your account balance is high enough, you may have an edge to negotiate better terms. Don’t rush and settle with the first provider that comes knocking; get yourself the best deal possible by leveraging the fact that there is a lot of competition in this market.
Annual Management Fees
The management fees charged by a gold IRA company vary depending on the custodian the customer chooses and other similar factors. Some providers offer no-fee-for-life accounts, which is a great alternative. However, this type of account is typically reserved for high-net-worth individuals.
If your account balance is less than $100,000, the best approach is to shop around and go with the provider that offers a balance between competitive fees, outstanding customer service, and a sufficiently ample portfolio of gold coins and bars to choose from.
Storage Fees
Gold IRA companies are intermediaries that offer accounts that can be used to invest in precious metals. However, they are not the custodians of these assets as they rely on other companies that are authorized to provide this service.
Storage fees are charged by gold IRA companies but are determined by the custodian. These fees can vary from $50 to $300 per year, depending on how much gold is stored. Other usual costs are shipping and insurance.
Customer Support
Entrusting your money to a third party is a big deal, and it is important to know you can reach out to them at any given point if something goes wrong or you have questions about the service.
The best gold IRA companies offer various channels through which investors can speak to a representative. They include live chat, support tickets, phone, and e-mail. The easier it is to get in touch with someone, the better.
In addition, it is important to gauge how trained the representatives of these companies are to answer the most complex questions about the service, as that would give investors a good sense of how easy it would be to solve whatever problem they face if they enroll for the service.
Educational Resources for Investors
Not everyone is familiar with how the commodities market works, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed if you plan to learn by looking up random information on the internet. The best gold IRA companies understand this need and typically create materials that are easy to understand so investors can enrich their knowledge.
Some topics discussed in these materials may include how IRAs are taxed, what kind of returns can be expected from gold investments, how to react during a market downturn, and what drives the price of the precious metal.
Track Record
Gold IRA companies handle thousands of dollars on behalf of their investors; this demands a high degree of credibility and transparency. The best companies can demonstrate that they have served their customers well via online reviews.
In addition, prospective investors can look up the status of these businesses on websites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if they have received any complaints from previous customers and, more importantly, how they have handled them.
FAQs About Best Gold IRA Companies
In this section, we provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get in regard to what the best gold IRA companies are.
What Is a Gold IRA?
A gold IRA (individual retirement account) is a type of investment account that allows the holder to invest in this precious metal while deferring the payment of taxes on any capital gains realized until the retirement age kicks in.
How Do Gold IRAs Work?
Nowadays, there are many ways to invest in gold electronically. With a gold IRA, an investor opens a tax-advantaged account that allows them to purchase physical gold (either in coins, bars, or other displays), while a custodian will be selected to store the gold on behalf of the investor.
The gold IRA company is in charge of providing periodical reports and executing the required transactions to build the investor’s portfolio and manage it accordingly. However, most of these companies are not permitted to provide financial advice. For that reason, most of them only offer self-directed investment accounts.
Why Should I Consider Opening a Gold IRA Account?
Investing in gold can be a wise decision to diversify a portfolio that is mainly made up of risky assets such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or real estate.
Gold’s relatively stable performance over time and proven worth as a store-of-value asset are considered advantages during times of economic hardship, as this precious metal typically maintains its worth whenever the purchasing power of fiat currencies is declining.
Can I Only Hold Gold in My Gold IRA Account?
Most of the providers in this list offer precious metal and silver IRAs apart from gold IRAs. However, if the investor opts to open a gold IRA, they will only be able to buy gold with that particular account.
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Our Rating | |||||
Annual Fees | $200 (waived for the first year) | Varies depending on custodian | $175 – $225 (waived for the first year) | $200 (waived for the first year for account over $50K) | $225 |
Minimum Deposit | $50,000 | $25,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
Trustpilot Rating | N/A | 4.8/5.0 | 5.0/5.0 | 4.9/5.0 | N/A |
BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ |
BCA Rating | AAA | AAA | AA | AAA | AA |
TrustLink Rating | 4.9/5.0 | 4.8/5.0 | 5.0/5.0 | 4.9/5.0 | 5.0/5.0 |
Information Kit | Physical Kit | Physical Kit | |||
Verdict | Best Overall | Best For Customer Service | Best For Low Minimum Purchase | Best For First-Time Buyers | Best For Small Investors |
Final Thoughts
Gold IRAs are a great alternative to investing in this precious metal as a way to diversify an investment portfolio. Even though they are not the cheapest option, they allow investors to save money on taxes by deferring the payment of these obligations until they have reached retirement age.
In addition, investors may feel more comfortable knowing that they own a physical asset stored by a custodian. This, for some people, remains one of the most appealing features of gold IRAs.
Simple Setup And Lifetime Customer Support
- Ranked as the “Best Overall” gold IRA company by Money magazine
- Up to 10 years’ worth of fees reimbursed to your IRA in premium silver coins
- On-staff Harvard-trained economist
- A+ rating of 4.96 with over 100+ reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- AAA rating, 5 stars from 90+ reviews from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA)
- 5 stars from 280+ reviews at TrustLink
- Free 1-on-1 web sessions and robust educational resources
- Endorsed by Joe Montana and his financial team