Investing in precious metals such as gold can be a wise investment decision for someone with a well-diversified portfolio. After all, gold is viewed as an effective hedge against inflation and stock market volatility, thanks to its relatively stable value.
One of the best ways to invest in gold is to set up a gold-based IRA. Unlike traditional IRAs, gold IRAs allow you to invest in several precious metals, including silver, platinum, palladium, and, of course, gold.
Today, we shed light on some of the best gold IRA companies of 2023, highlighting everything from their investment and storage options to their BBB and BCA grades.
Overview of the Best Gold IRA Companies in 2023
- Augusta Precious Metals – Best Gold IRA Company Overall
- Goldco – Runner-Up
- Birch Gold Group – Best for Investor Resources
- American Bullion – Best Coin Selection
- GoldBroker – Best for Discreet Storage
- BGASC – Best Purchase Minimum
- RC Bullion – Most Informative Website
- Lear Capital – Most Industry Experience
- Advantage Gold – Best Customer Satisfaction
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The 9 Top Gold IRA Companies Today
Here are our top picks for the best gold IRA companies of 2023:
1. Augusta Precious Metals – Best Gold IRA Company Overall
Key Highlights
- Storage: Delaware Depository
- Investment Options: Gold and silver
- Minimum Purchase Order: $50,000
- BBB Grade: A+
- BCA Grade: AAA
- TrustPilot Grade: N/A
Overview
Founded in 2012, Augusta Precious Metals is a family-owned gold IRA company that offers its clients a wealth of information about investing in gold and other precious metals.
The company is well-known for its fair and transparent pricing. It’s also known for its emphasis on earning and reinforcing client confidence by offering a 100% money-back guarantee for new clients.
If you’re looking to invest in platinum or palladium, Augusta Precious Metals isn’t for you. The company focuses solely on gold and silver products, both in bullion and coins.
For storage, the company uses Delaware Depository, one of the country’s most reputable safekeeping options, offering numerous vault locations throughout the U.S.
Augusta’s onboarding process is free of complications and scare tactics. The company’s specialists will help you every step of the way as you’re setting up your gold IRA.
As a matter of fact, Augusta’s processing team will do all of the heavy lifting on your behalf, from paperwork and custodian communication to transfers and storage.
Even after you’ve set up your account, the Augusta team will continue providing insights and advice concerning precious metal portfolio diversification.
Wrap Up
Augusta’s customer-centered approach is the reason why it’s at the top of our list. The firm is all about establishing trust and keeping clients in the driver’s seat without making them feel on their own.
2. Goldco – Runner-Up
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold and silver
- Minimum Purchase Order: $25,000
- Storage: Delaware Depository
- BBB Grade: A+
- BCA Grade: AAA
- TrustPilot Grade: 4.8/5
Overview
With a stellar reputation and thousands of 5-star customer reviews, Goldco is considered the industry’s gold standard. The company is recommended by celebrities such as Chuck Norris and Sean Hannity.
Setting up a gold IRA with Goldco is straightforward, despite how overwhelming other companies make it seems. You’ll be assigned a representative to guide you through the entire process.
With Goldco, you can fund your gold-based IRA by rolling over assets from a traditional retirement account with no tax consequences. You can roll over your traditional IRA, TSP, 401(k), and 403(b).
Having funded your account, you can start choosing the precious metals you’d like to invest in. The company mainly focuses on gold and silver coins and bars.
It’s worth noting that Goldco sources its gold coins from some of the finest mints from all around the world. And the company offers a buyback guarantee at the highest price.
In addition to setting up precious metal IRAs, Goldco enables clients to buy physical gold and silver directly without needing a retirement account. You can even order the metals to your doorstep.
Goldco is one of the best gold IRA services for offering extensive educational resources. This includes e-books, videos, and a comprehensive blog that covers all sorts of investing topics.
Wrap Up
The main downside with Goldco, and the reason it’s number two on our list rather than number one, is that its minimum purchase order is $25,000. However, that is way up there compared to other gold IRA companies.
3. Birch Gold Group – Best for Investor Resources
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Minimum Purchase Order: $10,000
- Storage: Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services
- BBB Grade: A+
- BCA Grade: AAA
- TrustPilot Grade: 4.8/5
Overview
If you’re looking for an IRA company that can help you invest in other precious metals than just gold and silver, Birch Gold Group may be the perfect company for you.
Birch deals in not only gold and silver, but also platinum and palladium. The company has been in business since 2003, and to this day, it still maintains a solid reputation and excellent ratings.
Not only is Birch Gold Group one of the best options on the list when it comes to investment options, but it also enables clients to choose between Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services for storage.
If that’s not enough, you’d be happy to know that Birch will also enable you to choose between two different custodians: STRATA Trust Company and Equity Trust Company.
Birch Gold Group’s customer-centered approach, coupled with its depth of knowledge and vast experience, makes them one of the best options on the list regarding customer service and education.
As a Birch client, you’ll be informed about all of the benefits and risks of investing in precious metals. You’ll be educated on precious metals schemes and how to avoid them.
Wrap Up
One of the strongest selling points of Birch Gold Group is transparency. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another precious metals IRA company that’s so transparent about its fees that it shares them on its own website.
The main downside with Birch Gold Group is their flat fee structure, which can be a bit aggressive for small-time investors, especially when considering their minimum purchase order.
4. American Bullion – Best Coin Selection
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Minimum Purchase Order: $50,000
- Storage: Delaware Depository
- BBB Grade: A
- BCA Grade: AAA
- TrustPilot Grade: 4.4/5
Overview
American Bullion was founded in 2009 by two veteran commodity traders. Since its inception, the company has earned several recognitions. In 2011, for instance, the company had the highest number of precious metal IRAs.
It’s also worth noting that the company is listed with the United States Mint and is a verified member of the American Numismatic Association. That’s not to mention its BBB and BCA ratings.
American Bullion’s inventory consists of IRA-approved precious metal coins and bars. They deal in several precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. So you’ll be able to diversify your precious metals portfolio.
American Bullion has a preferred partnership with STRATA Trust Company as a custodian. And as far as storage, the company has a partnership with Delaware Depository.
The company boasts an impressive selection of gold coins, including American Eagle, American Buffalo, Austrian Philharmonic, American Eagle Gold Proof, and Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins.
Note that American Bullion allows its investors to store their gold at home. So, if you’re uncomfortable with storing your precious metals at a depository, you can have them transferred to your home.
Wrap Up
If you opt for home storage, you should keep in mind that American Bullion’s delivery time is a bit long. This is one of the main downsides highlighted in most customer reviews.
Another downside is the company’s high minimum purchase order of $50,000. However, new customers don’t have to pay fees for a year after registration.
5. GoldBroker – Best for Discreet Storage
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Minimum Purchase Order: $5,000
- Storage: Undisclosed
- BBB Grade: N/A
- BCA Grade: N/A
- TrustPilot Grade: 4.8/5
Overview
While GoldBroker may not yet be as well-known as the likes of Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, and Goldco, it’s one of the fastest-growing bullion dealers in the industry.
GoldBroker, which falls under the parent company FDR Capital, is essentially a custodian of bullion that sells gold, silver, palladium, and platinum—in the form of coins and bars.
The company is based in London but has several offices worldwide, including in Toronto, Malta, and New York. The company also has its own vaults located in Switzerland, Canada, and Singapore.
GoldBroker’s precious metals are allocated and stored outside of traditional banking systems, which is why they have their own secure and discreet storage locations.
Not only does GoldBroker sell precious metals, but it also has an excellent buyback program that allows clients to sell their precious metals back to the company with no intermediaries.
Though GoldBroker is a custodian itself, it works with two other primary custodians. Their custodian in the US is Matterhorn Asset Management, and their custodian in Europe is Rhenus Logistic.
In addition to the company’s offshore vaults, GoldBroker offers onshore storage for American IRA accounts in their New York vaults. What’s more, the company provides insurance through La Bâloise Insurance Company.
Wrap Up
A downside of working with GoldBroker is that their selection of coins is limited to large quantity orders. The company also doesn’t share any statistics concerning its holdings and vault partners.
6. BGASC – Best Purchase Minimum
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, and platinum
- Minimum Purchase Order: N/A
- Storage: Brinks Global, Texas Bullion Depository, International Depository Services, and Delaware Depository
- BBB Grade: A+
- BCA Grade: N/A
- TrustPilot Grade: 4.8/5
Overview
BGASC is a precious metals investment firm that offers its clients the ability to establish precious metals IRAs. It deals primarily in gold, silver, and platinum, both in coins and bars.
This company’s catalog of IRA-approved gold bullion, coins, and bars is extensive, so you’re guaranteed to find some investment options that are of preference.
If you visit the company’s website, you’ll find plenty of interactive informational sections intended for client education, including a live spot price chart and historical price data for gold, silver, and platinum.
With BGASC, you have the option to choose between three custodians, namely STRATA Trust Company, New Direction Trust Company, and GoldStar Trust Company.
The company also has several storage options, including Brinks Global, Texas Bullion Depository, International Depository Services, and Delaware Depository.
BGASC boasts a solid reputation and thousands of satisfied customers. BGASC also doesn’t have a minimum purchase order, which makes it one of the most accessible options on the list.
Though BGASC attracts a lot of precious metals investors, it also attracts the type of people that are simply into collecting unique and precious items from around the world.
Wrap Up
It’s worth pointing out that they sell junk silver and numismatic collections, along with coins, bars, and bullion. They even have a unique selection of Hobo nickels and carved coins.
7. RC Bullion – Most Informative Website
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Minimum Purchase Order: $10,000
- Storage: Undisclosed
- BBB Grade: A+
- BCA Grade: BB
- TrustPilot Grade: 3.7/5
Overview
RC Bullion is yet another company that operates as a precious metals dealer and IRA company. It boasts an impressive inventory of IRA-approved coins and collectible coins.
RC Bullion’s catalog contains gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Some of their IRA-approved coins include the Gold American Eagle, Platinum Australian Platypus, and Palladium Canadian Maple Leaf.
One of the things we like the most about RC Bullion is how informative the company’s website is. There’s an extensive knowledge section there that contains numerous articles about investing in precious metals.
On top of that, the website contains a free gold IRA guide that you can refer to if you still have questions about precious metal investing. There’s also a section for spot prices of several precious metals.
As with most precious metals IRA companies, RC Bullion has a partnership with STRATA Trust Company for its custodial services. RC Bullion’s storage information is undisclosed and left to the discretion of its clients.
With a team of qualified experts and a dedicated IRA department, RC Bullion can provide the information you need about investing in precious metals IRAs.
Wrap Up
Not only does that company enable you to open a self-directed gold IRA, but it also offers direct deliveries right to your doorstep. However, their shipping and delivery times are a bit on the slow side.
Another downside of dealing with RC Bullion is that there’s no transparency on their website concerning the prices of their products and their management team. Nonetheless, the company has an excellent BBB rating.
8. Lear Capital – Most Industry Experience
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Minimum Purchase Order: $15,000
- Storage: Delaware Depository
- BBB Grade: B
- BCA Grade: AAA
- TrustPilot Grade: 4.9/5
Overview
Founded in 1997, Lear Capital is one of the veteran companies on the list, offering rare coins, bullion, and gold IRAs. The company deals primarily in silver, gold, platinum, and palladium.
One factor that sets Lear Capital apart is its complete price transparency. They quote all fees and taxes before having clients finalize their purchases. They also have a price match guarantee.
Lear Capital clients are assigned individual senior account executives to help them with all their precious metals investment matters. There’s a dedicated line that routes clients directly to their reps.
Setting up a gold IRA account is simple and doesn’t take time. In most cases, your representative will set up your account within 24 hours and handle all your investment needs from there.
In terms of storage, Lear Capital works with IRS-approved vaults, with the Delaware Depository being their main storage facility. The company also provides full insurance coverage for packages shipped from the depository.
Wrap Up
Lear Capital is one of the best gold IRA companies when it comes to value, providing many incentives and offers. For instance, qualifying accounts and purchases get to enjoy free IRA set up and storage!
The company’s free investor kit is one of the best we’ve come across, containing all sorts of information that will help you on your precious metals investing journey.
The main downside to dealing with Lear Capital is its high minimum purchase order of $15,000. Though it’s not as high as Augusta and Goldco, it’s still one of the highest on the list.
9. Advantage Gold – Best Customer Satisfaction
Key Highlights
- Investment Options: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Minimum Purchase Order: $25,000
- Storage: Delaware Depository and Brinks Global Services
- BBB Grade: A+
- BCA Grade: AAA
- TrustPilot Grade: 5/5
Overview
With an A+ on Better Business Bureau, AAA on Business Consumer Alliance, and 5/5 on TrustPilot, Advantage Gold is the best gold IRA company on the list in terms of client satisfaction.
Advantage Gold prides itself on having a fully staffed precious metals IRA department specializing in converting already established IRAs into precious metals IRA accounts.
The company does a great job of educating potential clients about investing in precious metals. They also make the process of setting up a gold IRA simple, as they handle all of the gold IRA rollover particulars themselves.
What we like the most about Advantage Gold is its ongoing support. For as long as you have an IRA account with Advantage Gold, you can expect top-of-the-line client support.
What’s more, this reputable gold IRA company offers buyback services. So, whenever you decide to sell a precious metal, you can sell it to Advantage Gold and receive the metal’s spot price, at the very least.
Advantage Gold partners with two of the most reputable IRA custodians in the industry, namely Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company. You also get the option to choose an alternative IRA custodian.
Wrap Up
Storage-wise, the company has a partnership with the Delaware Depository and Brinks Global Services, the two most prominent storage options in the IRA industry.
There isn’t much to complain about with this company apart from the fact that the website doesn’t have any pricing details. Apart from that, Advantage Gold is nothing short of impressive.
What Is a Gold IRA?
A gold IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a specialized retirement account that allows the owner to hold gold coins or bullion and other precious metals as qualified retirement investments.
Self-directed IRA holders can purchase not only gold but also silver, platinum, and palladium. You can buy the latter in the form of coins, bars, or any other approved form.
Rules and regulations regarding contribution limits and distributions with gold IRAs are similar to those of traditional retirement accounts. Be that as it may, gold IRAs must be held separately from traditional accounts.
Opening a gold IRA requires a custodian, such as a brokerage firm or bank. You can set your gold IRA with either pretax or post-tax funds (Roth IRA).
Depending on your financial and investment profile, opening a gold IRA can be an excellent idea. It’s a good way of diversifying your retirement portfolio.
That’s not to mention that you can invest your gold IRA funds in most gold-related paper investments, including exchange-traded funds, precious metal mutual funds, and gold mining companies.
However, you must keep in mind that gold IRAs come with notably high fees. There are also specific rules and regulations regarding the use of gold IRAs, so consulting a financial advisor is recommended.
How to Choose the Best IRA Gold Companies
You need to consider several factors to identify the best gold IRA companies, including licensure, credentials, reputation, storage options, investment options, and fees.
You should be requesting starter kits from the companies that you deem promising. Make sure the company is able to address all of your questions right away, whether it’s via phone, live chat, or request forms.
Steer clear of companies that are vague about their prices and fees. Also, companies that use scare tactics or that have confusing procedures and policies.
Last but not least, you should go for a company that offers a wide range of investment and storage options. The ones with limited options are usually far from worthwhile.
Top Things to Look for When Choosing a Gold IRA Company
Here are the factors you need to take into consideration when trying to pinpoint the best gold IRA company for your needs:
Company Reputation
Reputation goes a long way in determining whether or not a service provider is worth your while. The ones with the most positive reviews and client testimonials are the ones you should consider.
In addition to reading reviews and testimonials, you can easily assess a company’s reputation through its Better Business Bureau (BBB) grade. Ideally, aiming for a gold IRA company with an A+ grade would be best.
Costs and Fees
Consider the costs and fees of the gold IRA company you’re about to opt for. By costs, we’re mainly referring to the price of the metals you’re looking to invest in.
As far as fees, there are quite a few ones to account for, including:
- Setup fees, which have to do with opening a new account or initiating an IRA/401k rollover. Setup fees range from $50 to $275, on average.
- Maintenance fees, which are annual fees that you pay to maintain your account. They range from $50 to $150, on average.
- Storage fees, which you pay for holding and securing your precious metals in a certified, well-equipped depository. These fees can be flat, or they can be a percentage of your investment.
- Shipping/transfer fees, which are flat fees that you pay to get your precious metals transferred from or to the depository.
- Transactions fees, which are flat fees—around $40—that you pay whenever you buy or sell metal via your gold IRA account.
- Wiring fees, which are fees that your IRA custodian charge whenever you process an outgoing wire. It’s around $25 per wire in most cases.
Investment Options
Gold IRA companies with extensive experience and knowledge tend to offer numerous investment options not limited to gold coins. Some offer silver, platinum, and even palladium.
Even if you’re not interested in anything other than gold IRAs, you should still aim to work with a firm offering a wide range of investment options to ensure a good deal of experience.
Storage Options
Most gold IRA companies don’t have in-house depositories. Instead, they’re partners with approved third-party storage firms and depositories.
With that in mind, you must first inquire about their storage partners before dealing with a gold IRA company. You must also ask about their insurance coverage and how they handle transportation.
You also need to inquire about the company’s storage options. Does it offer segregated storage, also known as commingled storage? Or does it only provide allocated storage?
Allocated storage is when your investments are stored with assets of other clients. In contrast, segregated storage is when your investments are separated inside their own storage box or vault.
One isn’t necessarily better than the other. It’s just that some clients may not feel comfortable with their metals stored alongside those of other clients.
Potential Buybacks
If you’re new to the world of investing in gold and other precious metals, opting for an IRA company that offers buybacks is highly recommended.
A buyback is when you sell one of your metals back to the company without incurring fees. Having this option is great if you’re hesitant about the whole endeavor or aren’t exactly sure which metals to invest in.
Conclusion
Though there are many other gold IRA companies out there, we assure you that the ones reviewed in this post are the best of the bunch and that one of them will surely meet your needs.
Other reputable gold IRA companies that are worth mentioning:
- American Hartford Gold
- Patriot Gold Group
- Noble Gold Investments
- Silver Gold Bull
- Rosland Capital
Be sure to request a free kit before opting for any gold IRA company. With your retirement investment portfolio in mind, weigh the pros and cons of investing in gold before setting up a gold IRA.
FAQs
Are Gold IRAs a Good Idea?
The answer to this question can vary from one person to another. For someone with a well-diversified portfolio, investing in gold IRAs is a good idea. It can serve as a good hedge against inflation, after all.
On the other hand, investing in gold IRAs might not be a good idea for someone with a limited retirement portfolio. This is because there are risks that come with buying gold as opposed to other assets.
If you’re someone with a limited retirement portfolio, it’s better that you invest in stocks and bonds since they can provide a return over time. Gold may not pay you any dividends in this case.
How to Buy Gold in an IRA?
To buy gold in an IRA account, be it in the form of coins or bullion; you’ll need a custodian to be in possession of the metals, as per IRS rules and regulations.
You can’t use IRA money to purchase precious metals and store them on your own in a standard IRA. Otherwise, they’ll be subject to capital gains tax.
How Much Money to Start a Gold IRA?
To start a gold IRA, you’ll need $100 to $300 at the very least. Note that this range will only cover the setup fees and application process. It does not affect buying, storing, or insuring physical gold.
With most reputable gold IRA companies, though, the minimum investment amount ranges from $5,000 (such as Augusta Precious Metals) to $50,000 (such as American Bullion), with $50,000 being the highest minimum on our list.
What is so special about Gold?
Due to a number of characteristics, gold has always been extremely valued. It is typically found in nature in a relatively pure form and is pleasing to the eye due to its colour and brightness. It is also resilient to the point of practically indestructibility, malleable (highly flexible), and durable.
For more insights into Gold, read our Gold Statistics & Facts article.