Best Gold IRA Companies and Gold Investment Retirement Accounts
By investing in gold, you are protecting your savings while also ensuring that your retirement portfolio is diverse. Gold experiences little fluctuation and generally has stead growth, meaning it will not be effected as much by inflation.
Although most IRAs are composed of stocks and bonds, you are allowed to use a self-directed IRA account to invest in assets such as precious metals.
Given that a gold IRA involves working with a custodian, storing the physical gold in an approved depository, and being aware of IRS regulations, it's no wonder that many potential investors feel overwhelmed. To save themselves the headache, more and more people are instead opting to use established gold IRA companies.
The?best gold IRA companies?have experts that specialize in self-directed retirement accounts. They can assist you with setting up your account, acquiring precious metals, and remaining compliant with the tax code.
Here are the best gold IRA companies, whether you want to buy gold to expand your investment portfolio or convert an existing retirement into a precious metals IRA.
Best Gold IRA Companies of 2023
- Goldco: The most trusted gold IRA company, and the best one overall.
- Augusta Precious Metals: If you're looking for the most affordable prices, look no further! (Must have $50,000.)
- Noble Gold: Best customer service
- American Hartford Group: Best gold buy-back program
Wealth and asset protection is what Goldco does best. If you're looking to transfer assets from a retirement account that has tax advantages, like an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b), then this company can help you do so. Additionally, Goldco offers direct sales of gold and silver to customers.
Goldco offers both gold and silver IRAs. If you decide to invest in a gold IRA, you can buy variouscoins that are eligible for funding your account. Goldco obtains high-quality coins from different mints that are eligible for gold IRAs, including:
Gold American Eagle gold coins
- Gold Maple Leaf coins
- Gold Freedom and Hope coins
- Gold bars
- And more
You can also purchase silver coins, which include options such as:
- Silver American Eagle coins
- Silver Maple Leaf coins
- Silver Lucky Dragon coins
- Silver bars
Goldco offers a fast and simple way to open a gold IRA. First, you can start your IRA by signing an agreement on the Goldco website. A company representative will help answer any questions and guide you through each step of the process.
After you have funded your IRA, you are able to roll over assets from an existing 401(k) or any other eligible account. In general, IRA rollovers occur without resulting in any tax penalties. If you don't already have a retirement account set up, fret not! You can still create a brand new precious metals IRA.
After you have funded your precious metals IRA, you will be able to choose which gold or silver you would like to purchase with your funds.
If you would rather invest in your retirement savings without a third party, you can buy physical gold and coins on the Goldco website and have them shipped to either your preferred depository or straight to your home. Some customers also qualify for free storage through Goldco.
Looking to buy precious metal coins but not sure where to start? Look no further than Goldco. Our wide range of products are available for direct purchase on our website. Simply sign an agreement and fund your account via bank wire or check, and you're good to go!
If you're undecided about partnering with Goldco, feel free to request a complimentary kit that will teach you more about the company. The kit comes complete with a printed guide, an audio recording, and a video tutorial that covers topics such as:
- The benefits of investing in precious metals
- The best ways to grow your retirement account
- Investing in precious metals: how to gain more say over your finances
Goldco offers a 10% return in free silver when you make a qualifying purchase, making them a top gold IRA company. They provide a variety of gold and silver investments to suit your retirement goals.
Augusta Precious Metals is a top gold IRA company created by Joe Montana, a hall of fame quarterback, and his team of financial advisors. This company has received many five-star rankings since 2012?and has won several awards for its outstanding IRA services.
Augusta Precious Metals not only offers gold IRAs, but they also allow cash purchases. Similar to the other companies we researched, in order to use Augusta Precious Metals you must have a qualifying IRA and roll over your funds into a new gold or silver IRA account.
First, you will be able to speak with a live agent who can assist you in your gold or silver purchase. Your agent can also provide economic guidance and teach you about precious metals IRAs.
After you've spoken with your live agent and created your new IRA, you'll need to have at least $50,000 available to invest. Augusta Precious Metals offers an IRA account that allows you to buy gold or silver. To fund your account, you can transfer money from your existing retirement account. Once you have the funds available, simply submit an order from Augusta's order desk."
Did you know that Augusta also allows you to buy physical gold and silver outside of an IRA? If that interests you, don't worry - the company's gold and silver professionals will guide you through the process. You'll have free and secure delivery, complete control over your assets... AND all it takes are a few simple steps:
- Invest money into your account using a cash transfer.
- Please choose between our gold or silver options.
- Choose where you want us to deliver your package.
Augusta offers a wide selection of gold and silver products that you can use to invest or fund your IRA, including:
- Canadian Maple Leaf coins
- American Eagle coins
- America the Beautiful coins
At Augusta, we partner with only the most trustworthy custodians in the industry, like Equity Trust, Gold Star Trust Company, and Kingdom Trust. Plus, our team can serve as your liaison to your custodian at any time – so you always have access to them when you need it.
In addition, the Augusta Precious Metals website has a video resource library with helpful videos from Delvyn Steele. As somebody who attended Harvard for his degree in economics, these videos are an excellent way to learn more about what's currently happening in different economies around the world.
In general, we would advise Augusta Precious Metals to anyone who wants to open a precious metal IRA with a reliable company.
#3.?Birch Gold Group: Experts in Gold IRA Rollover
Birch Gold Group is a physical precious metals dealer with over 13,000 customers that boasts an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
Birch Gold Group offers a unique opportunity to invest in physical precious metals. You can directly purchase gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins, bars, and rounds from the company. Additionally, you have the option of opening an IRA account with Birch Gold Group which allows you to hold your investment in currency backed by these very same precious metals.
If you're interested specifically in a gold or silver IRA account with Birch Gold Group they make it relatively easy to get started funding your retirement source. Simply open an account and choose how best to fund it- whether that be through rolling over a 401(k) into a new self-directed IRA or transferring funds from another already established IRA provider straight into your new BirchGoldGroupIRA . A customer specialist will always available help review accounts, handle transfers, as well as answer any questions throughout this process so that investors feel confident about their choices .
After funding your account, you decide which precious metals to buy and how much of each. Your specialist looks over the order and sends a confirmation, as well as discussing storage options with you.
Birch Gold Group only works with well-known, reliable depositories where you can store your gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins as part of your IRA. The company commonly uses Brink's Global Service and Delaware Depository - which offers insurance coverage up to $1 billion dollars.
At any time, you can reach out to your precious metals specialist to catch up on how your investments are doing or make changes to your account. They will walk you through everything step-by-step and do their best to help you keep a portfolio that makes money.
You can also choose to directly purchase gold, silver, platinum, and palladium through Birch Gold Group without investing in a gold IRA. All you have to do is fund your account with a wire or personal check. Your metals will then be shipped discreetly and fully insured to your desired location.
If you want to learn more about Birch Gold Group, request a free info kit from the company's website. This kit will give you a booklet with information on how to diversify your savings using precious metals.
After extensive research, we believe that Birch Gold Group is the best company to go to for anyone looking to invest in a gold IRA. The professionals working there are extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help their clients in any way possible.
In addition to investing in people's retirement through an IRA, Noble Gold also offers the opportunity to buy gold, silver, palladium and platinum coins as well as rare coins directly from their website.
If you're interested in a gold IRA, Noble Gold makes the process easy. Simply fill out an online form–which will only take about five minutes–and if you have any questions, someone from the company will be happy to call and guide you through the process of providing the necessary information.
After you pick your new custodian, the Noble Gold IRA team will call to set up your account and get any extra paperwork you might need. You’ll also get an email with your self-directed IRA account number.
At Noble Gold, they make it easy for you to transition your assets into a new IRA account by allowing direct transfers from an existing custodian. You also have the option to roll over funds into your new account. Best of all, there are no tax penalties when transferring funds between custodians.
You can always check on the status of your purchase through Noble Gold's custodian, Equity Institutional. They offer online access that is available 24/7/365.
If you're interested in purchasing precious metals directly, Noble Gold offers Royal Survival Packs. These packs include a hand-picked selection of high-quality and recognizable metals that are also very liquid. Purchasing these packs is a great option if you're unsure which specific metals to buy.
What sets Noble Gold apart as one of the best gold IRA companies? To start, they offer great prices on gold and quick, secure shipping. But that's not all--hundreds of happy customers have given them five-star reviews, so you can be confident in their practices.
Noble Gold also offers a buyback program to each and every client. So, if your retirement goals or savings happen to change down the line, you can be confident that the company will repurchase any gold or other precious metals that you had originally bought from them.
To sum it up, Noble Gold is an extraordinary gold IRA company that always goes the extra mile to help its clients purchase lucrative investments.
American Hartford Gold is a credible and reputable company. The company has been in business since 2015 and has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. American Hartford Gold also enjoys near-perfect ratings on Trustpilot and Google—4.9 and 4.8, respectively.
The Los Angeles-based company offers a few different ways for people to invest in precious metals. These include investing through:
Gold and silver coins
- Platinum
- Collectors coins
- Gold bars
- Silver bars
American Hartford Gold provides investors with the ability to invest in and receive physical precious metals. However, if investors want to hold these metals in an IRA, they will have to pay storage fees for a third-party depository such as Delaware Depository Service or Brinks Global Services.
Follow these three steps from American Hartford Gold to buy precious metal:
1) If you need help completing the new investor account forms, please give us a call.
2) You have the option to rollover funds from an existing IRA when you move them into your new account.
3) You can purchase IRA-eligible precious metals of your choice.
American Hartford Gold offers a price-matching program to save you money, as well as a buyback commitment. With the latter, you can sell your gold bullion back to American Hartford Gold without liquidation fees.
There are zero establishment fees for having a gold IRA with American Hartford Gold, and shipping your gold to the depository is also free of charge. The company does cover insurance and tracking related costs, but you will probably have to pay annual maintenance fees as well as storage fees if you decide to keep your investment in a depository. Additionally, since prices are not listed on the company's online precious metals catalogs, you will need to speak with a representative in order to get pricing information.
Pros
- Family-owned and operated business
- BBB-accredited company with an A+ rating
- A buyback commitment and price-match guarantee
- Company that donates to charitable community organizations
Cons
- Does not disclose specific fee structure or precious metal prices
- Charges annual maintenance fees
- Provides no international shipping
American Hartford Gold is a reliable company that offers several gold and silver investment options. They also buy back investments, although you will have to pay depository fees in advance. You will need to contact customer service for information on current gold prices before investing. Overall, American Hartford Gold makes a good choice for investors who want to include gold among their wealth portfolio holdings.
#6. Oxford Gold Group: Best Customer Service
With a decade of experience in the industry, Oxford Gold Group's founders sell only investment-grade precious metals while offering retirement accounts that utilize gold, silver, and other such metals. Though based in California, the company services people across the U.S. Additionally, they are accredited by BBB with an A+ rating--and have received thousands of positive customer reviews
The Oxford Gold Group guarantees that the coins and bullion we offer are IRS-approved.
Gold and silver coins
Gold and silver bars
- Platinum coins and bars
- Palladium coins and bars
Oxford Gold Group offers a array of options for customers who are investing in precious metal IRAs, such as:
- Traditional IRA
- Roth Gold IRA
- SEP Gold IRA
You can also choose to rollover your IRA account.
At Oxford Gold Group, we understand that not everyone has the same preferences when it comes to their investments. That's why we offer two different locations for stored precious metal IRAs- the Brinks Depository in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Delaware Depository in Wilmington, Delaware.
Creating a new account with Oxford Gold Group is an easy process:
1) After you finish filling out the new account forms, review them with your dedicated partner.
2) You can choose to transfer funds from your previous retirement account, or roll them over tax-free.
3) Research your investment options and buy the precious metals you want.
Your precious metals will now be delivered to your depository for secure storage.
Pros
- BBB-accredited company with an A+ rating
- Educational resources
- Quick and easy investment process
- Wide range of precious metals for purchase
- 24-hour customer service
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Cons
- Newer company (established in 2018)
- Only two IRA custodians
- Higher account setup and annual maintenance fees
The fee for the Oxford Gold Group's services is rather high when compared to other companies. You're also only able to utilize two IRA custodians but it does have an excellent reputation 9BBB rating). If you desire investing in precious metals and diversify your wealth portfolio, then the Oxford Gold Group would be a good choice.
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What is a gold IRA?
Have you considered investing in gold for retirement? Many people only invest in stocks and other paper investments through traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts, but did you know that you can't actually invest in gold with these types of retirement account?
Gold IRAs are individual retirement accounts that invest in precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum or palladium. They have the same contribution and income limits as traditional IRAs.
However, gold IRAs differ from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s in that they contain physical precious metals rather than paper assets. When you purchase precious metals through a gold IRA, you must store them outside your home with a custodian at a secure depository.
Looking to invest in gold? A reputable gold IRA company can help you facilitate your purchase and open a new account. These companies know the ins and outs of IRS rules for retirement accounts, giving you the guidance you need to maintain a profitable portfolio. Many gold IRA companies also partner with custodians.
By investing in a gold IRA account, you provide yourself with more stability and diversity for your retirement. Gold tends to have steadier growth than assets such as stocks, so by including it in your portfolio you minimize how much its value can drop.
Furthermore, gold IRAs have great tax benefits. Your contributions and gains aren't taxed, and sometimes your contributions can be written off on taxes.
Therefore, if you're hoping to have a more stable and?diverse investment portfolio, investing in a gold IRA is likely a wise choice for you. Another option available to you is known as a gold IRA rollover, which we will explain in greater detail further below.
We explain our process for ranking the top gold investment companies
When you're ready to invest in a gold IRA or other precious metals IRAs, make sure you use a reputable company so the process is smooth and easy. With expensive Gold IRA investments, it's not worth taking a chance with a questionable provider who might end up costing you more money in the long run.
We only picked the five best gold IRA companies based on specific reliability, knowledgeability, and reputability standards. The factors we took into account are listed below.
The reputation of a business is built on the quality of its reviews.
Many companies have bad reputations for a reason. If you want to have a good experience with your gold investment company, make sure to choose one that other people say is reputable.
You can get an accurate idea of how well-respected a company is by reading user reviews and ratings on the Better Business Bureau website. The BBB, or Better Business Bureau, is a platform where customers can voice their complaints and opinions of businesses they've interacted with. These experiences are then used to generate a letter grade from A+ to F, with A+ being indicative of excellent service.
We picked the five best gold IRA companies by examining each company's Better Business Bureau reviews and ratings. The companies that made our list all have B or higher BBB ratings, and more positive gold IRA reviews than negative ones.
Setup is quick and easy.
The best precious metal IRA companies understand that gaining new clients is essential to their success. They work hard to make the setup process as easy and stress-free as possible. These companies allow new clients to set up gold IRAs within a few days or less, and they offer qualified assistance from investment professionals.
The gold IRA companies we've compiled feature quick and easy setup processes. You'll also be assigned your own specialist who will walk you through every step of opening your account, so that you're never left in the dark or without guidance.
Prices and charges
Many gold IRA companies will charge you fees for their services. However, these fees go towards opening and maintaining your account, as well Protecing your investments by securely holding your precious metals.
If an IRA company provides its services at no charge, you may question whether it has the experience and dedication to provide a secure gold IRA. Also, companies that don't charge for their services often lack the extra customer service and expertise of higher quality companies.
On the other hand, companies that charge unreasonably high fees could be just as untrustworthy. Oftentimes, these types of businesses prioritize making money over giving their customers quality service.
We only picked gold IRA companies for this list that charge fair fees.
Gold and silver products available
Many people choose to open gold IRAs as a way of diversifying their investment portfolios. So, it makes sense to find a gold IRA company that offers many different types of gold, silver, and other precious metal products.
Some of the companies we've listed specialize in silver and gold coins but have a wide range of each. Others let you invest not only in gold and silver, but also platinum and palladium--either in coin or bar form.
And one company, Regal Assets, goes even further by allowing customers to put money into cryptocurrencies.
With our list, you can be confident that each company offers Wedding Rings made with different metals.
Precious Metals Buybacks?
If you're doubtful about what sort of rare metal to buy for an IRA or nervous about the entire process, you may want to consider working with a business that offers potential buybacks. These businesses let purchasers sell their metals back without enduring any extra charges.
These gold IRA companies not only offer buybacks, but they make the return process as easy and stress-free as possible. In some cases, if you bought your metals directly from the company, they will even pay for shipping back to their facilities.
Several of the companies on our list offer easy and reliable buybacks, meaning you can always count on getting some money back if you sell your precious metals to them.
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How to find a broker or custodian for your gold-based IRA
If you have a gold IRA, you're responsible for keeping track of the precious metal. However, according to the IRS, people with gold IRAs are not allowed to store the metal in their homes--it must be kept with a gold IRA custodian.
There are many eligible financial institutions that can act as a gold IRA custodian, such as banks, credit unions, and brokerage firms. Sometimes gold companies will have a specific recommendation, but you ultimately have the choice of who to store your assets with.
It may feel challenging to pick the best custodian for your gold IRA storage, but it's worth taking the extra time to review a few options and their qualifications. The most dependable custodians will have licenses, insurance, and registrations. These allow them provide quality services while protecting their assets.
The reputation of a custodian is one way to tell if it is reliable. Checking the Better Business Bureau website for reviews can give you an insight into what other customers' experiences were like, and help you predict your own experience.
You will need to partner with a broker to invest in a gold IRA, similar to traditional IRAs. The companies we recommend act as brokers and will manage all the steps of purchasing your precious metal IRA.
What types of gold can you hold in a precious metals IRA?
There are specific regulations from the IRS about the types of precious metals that consumers can hold in their IRAs. The gold, platinum, and palladium must be at least 99.5% pure, and the silver must be 99.9% pure in order to meet IRA requirements.
Additionally, when you buy gold for your IRA, you must purchase it in one of the following denominations: one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, or one-tenth ounce.
A reputable gold IRA company can ensure your precious metals match IRS standards, but you should always check thegold against regulations before buying it for your IRA.
Investing in gold for retirement has many benefits.
Are you debating if it would be advantageous to include gold in your retirement rather than solely having a traditional IRA or 401(k)? If so, is it worth taking the time to transfer some of your funds into a gold IRA?
Though some might gold a risky investment, there are in fact several reasons why investing in gold can be advantageous, especially for retirement.
Unlike other currency, gold always keep its value.
Gold is a wise investment because it holds its value and does not corrode over time. For centuries, people have considered gold to be one of the most precious substances on Earth.
Gold is a good way to protect your money from inflation.
The value of the dollar gradually decreases overtime, which is inflation. For example, a 1,000-square-foot house costs more now than it did 50 years ago. Therefore, if you want to maintain your investments' profitability, they need to appreciate at a higher rate than the inflation rate.
Gold is known to stabilize against inflation and market fluctuation. Prices of gold change depending on how much is in circulation, global events, and other conditions. When the value of the dollar falls, it's not uncommon for gold prices to increase.
Gold keeps its value during deflation.
In addition to guarding your finances against inflation, gold can also protect them during instances of deflation. When prices drop sharply because there's less demand--like during the Great Depression--people often look for a safe place to store their money.
Gold is a more stable investment than many others, so people tend to buy gold during times of inflation. For example, the purchasing power of gold increased during the Great Depression.
Adding gold to your investment portfolio can help diversify it.
The phrase, "Don't keep all your eggs in one basket," is especially relevant to stock market investments. If you only invest in one product, you're more vulnerable to unsystematic risks that could make the value of your investment plummet.
But if you diversify your portfolio, you can help manage risk and decrease the volatility of asset prices. For example, investing in a gold IRA is a straightforward way to add diverse assets to traditional retirement funds.
What is a gold IRA rollover?
Instead of allowing you to open a gold IRA from scratch, most of the companies on our list only permit you to either transfer funds from an existing IRA or withdraw them and deposit them into a new account; this latter option is called?gold IRA rollover.
There are specific rules and regulations that IRA rollovers must follow from the IRS. For example, if you choose to roll over funds from an IRA, you cannot hold those funds in your account for longer than 60 days before investing them into a new IRA. In contrast, if you were to facilitate an IRA transfer, the funds would never touch your bank account before being transferred to your new
Although a rollover is more complicated than just transferring funds, the process usually only takes 60 days or less. The companies below will help make sure your gold IRA rollover goes as smoothly as possible so that you don't end up getting penalized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum investment for a gold IRA?
Although the IRS does not have a set minimum investment amount to open a gold IRA, many gold IRA companies have their own independent thresholds that you must meet before working with them. For example, Augusta Precious Metals requires its clients invest $50,000 as a buying minimum for gold and other metals.
Some companies have more lax minimum investment requirements, meaning that if your retirement accounts haven't gained much value, you might want to switch companies. You should especially look for a gold IRA company with a low minimum investment requirement so that you can begin to grow your wealth.
Can I keep a gold IRA at home?
A frequent question we get is whether investors are able to store their gold bullion from a gold IRA at home. The answer is no, you cannot keep the physical gold you purchase through a gold IRA in your house.
An IRA that invests in gold must comply with IRS guidelines, which states the gold must be stored with an approved custodian, such as a bank, credit union or other financial institution.
Disobeying this rule and keeping your gold at home has adverse ramifications: it will then be classified as a distribution, accruing a 10% tax penalty. On top of that, you'll need to pay income taxes on the distribution – making the gold worth less in total.
Even worse, if you store your gold investment at home and get audited by the IRS, you may face additional penalties.
Owning gold can be a great way to invest your money, and if you'd prefer to store it yourself, you can buy gold bullion from one of the companies on our list. These companies will ship your gold right to your door with insurance to protect it during transit. Once you receive this gold, you can keep it at home, store it with a custodian, or do whatever else you want with it.
What types of coins can you hold in a gold IRA according to the IRS?
The metals you want to use for an IRA must meet certain IRS requirements regarding quality and purity. Gold, platinum, palladium have to be .995 pure while silver has to be .999 percent pure.
The IRS has a set of quality requirements that certain gold bullion and other precious metal coins must meet in order to be accepted into an IRA. For example, the following gold coins are some of the many that fulfill the requirement:
- American Gold Eagle bullion and proof coins
- American Gold Buffalo uncirculated coins
- Chinese Gold Panda coins
- Australian Kangaroo/Nugget coins
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins
- Austrian Gold Philharmonic coins
A reputable gold IRA provider will only sell you gold that meets IRS standards
How much does it cost to open a gold IRA account?
An initial account setup fee covers the work associated with creating your investment gold IRA, which is typically between $50 and $150. Some companies don't charge this fee if you're investing a larger sum of money.
Many IRA companies charge an annual administrative fee to keep your account open that can range from $50-$150, typically correlating to the size of your account.
In addition, you must pay a storage fee to the company that stores your investment. Some businesses charge a yearly flat rate, while others calculate their fees based on the total amount of gold in the account.
IRA providers can choose whether to charge a commission for their clients who want to buy gold.
Though gold IRA fees are oftentimes more expensive than traditional IRAs or 401(k)s, many investors feel that the advantages of investing in gold make these extra costs worth it.
Have you ever wondered where the physical gold in your IRA is stored?
When you open a gold IRA account, you will need to find a custodian to store your investment, such as a bank. You can pick which custodian will hold your gold for you. Some companies that offer gold IRAs already have specific depositories lined up, so it would be easy to transfer your investment there if you wanted to. However, feel free to pick from these custodians or different ones entirely.
ALWAYS check a depository's licenses and registrations before considering entrusting it with your gold investment. Skipping these background checks could result in you losing your entire investment.
Conclusion
By investing in a gold IRA with one of the reputable companies from our list, you can take advantage of an easy setup process, work with an advisor who knows the ins and outs of this industry, and choose from a wide variety selection of precious metal coins and bullion.
If you're still unsure which IRA provider is the best gold IRA company for your needs, we recommend requesting a free booklet from each provider and comparing the benefits and drawbacks of each organization. However, because all of these companies offer similar services, choosing any of them to facilitate your gold IRA investment would be advantageous.
If you're panicking about your retirement, investing in a gold IRA may provide some relief. To get started, browse through our list of recommended companies and begin the process of rolling over funds from an existing retirement account.
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*Advertiser-provided content, not written by a financial advisor.