Best Gold IRA Companies
Investing in a gold-based IRA could be one of the best ways to protect your retirement account from market volatility and inflation. A gold IRA, also known as a precious metals IRA, allows you to invest in precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum.
The process of setting up a gold IRA account is a little more complicated than that of setting up a traditional IRA account. Because of this, many people rely on gold IRA companies to simplify the process.
Gold IRA companies can help you convert paper assets into gold bullion and coins even if you have an existing IRA or 401k that holds stocks and bonds.
It is important to keep in mind that not all gold IRA companies are the same. There are some companies that are reputable and transparent, while there are some that have hidden fees that really add up over time.
To help you decide, we’ve reviewed the best gold IRA companies in the industry. Based on reputation, annual fees, precious metal selection, and gold IRA reviews, we rated each gold IRA provider.
Here are the 5 best gold IRA companies of 2023 if you’re ready to protect your retirement with precious metals.
Also Check: What is Gold IRA?
5 Best Gold IRA Companies in 2023
1. GoldCo
Our top pick for the best gold IRA company of 2023 is Goldco. A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau describes Goldco as a highly rated gold IRA provider.
With Goldco, you can open a precious metals IRA whether you’re starting out or rolling over an existing IRA or 401(k), 403(b), TSP, savings account, or any other tax-advantaged retirement account. Rollovers are tax-free and penalty-free.
For gold IRA account holders, they charge a flat annual fee that varies depending on the customer. Due to the consistency of the rate, the more assets you invest in your account, the lower the percentage.
If you reach retirement age, you can take payments in either gold or cash from one of their self-directed IRAs.
How to set up a gold IRA Account with Goldco:
- To open an IRA account and sign an agreement with Goldco, contact the company’s representative.
- You can transfer funds from your existing retirement account to your newly opened IRA.
- Buy and store gold coins, bullions, and bars.
Fees:
- Account Minimum: $25,000 recommended
- Storage Fees: Depend on the custodian
- Annual Fees: $175; $225 for $100,000 investment or more
2. Augusta Precious Metals
A premier gold IRA company, Augusta Precious Metals is founded by Joe Montana, a football legend and his team of financial advisors. For its IRA services, this company has won several awards and received thousands of five-star ratings since 2012.
Gold IRAs and cash purchases are available through Augusta Precious Metals. A gold or silver IRA rollover is required by Augusta Precious Metals, just like the other companies on our list.
You’ll have the opportunity to speak with a live agent who can guide you through the gold or silver purchase process. In addition to explaining precious metals IRAs to you, your agent can provide you with helpful economic guidance.
In the next step, your live agent will assist you in creating your new IRA. Augusta Precious Metals IRA accounts require at least $50,000 in investment funds.
After creating your account, you’ll need to fund it with money from your existing retirement account. By submitting an order to Augusta’s order desk, you can purchase gold or silver.
You can also buy physical gold and silver outside of an IRA with Augusta. This option will still provide you with guidance from the company’s gold and silver professionals, free shipping, and total control over your precious metals. In order to buy gold or silver directly, you simply need to follow these steps:
- Fund your account with a cash transfer.
- Choose between gold and silver.
- You can sign for delivery at a location of your choice.
In addition to gold and silver bullion and coins, Augusta also sells IRA funding options. The following gold and silver products are available:
- Canadian Maple Leaf coins
- American Eagle coins
- America the Beautiful coins
Your new IRA can be administered by one of Augusta’s trusted custodians, such as Equity Trust, Gold Star Trust Company, or Kingdom Trust. You can contact your custodian at any time through Augusta, which acts as your liaison.
For anyone looking to open a precious metal IRA with a reputable company, Augusta Precious Metals is a good choice.
How to set up a gold IRA with Augusta Precious Metals:
- To open the account, contact the company’s account managers.
- Transferring funds from your existing retirement account should be done according to instructions.
- Upon opening the account, proceed to buying and storing precious metals.
Fees:
- Minimum investment: $50,000
- Custodian account setup fee: $50
- Custodian maintenance fee: $80 per year
- Depository storage fee: $100 per year
- No commission fees
- No management fees
3. Birch Bold Group
For almost two decades, Birch Gold Group has thrived in the IRA industry. You can choose from a variety of precious metals offered by the company. These include silver, platinum, palladium, gold bars, coins, and palladium. Precious metals can be purchased directly from the company.
You can also open an IRA account through them. Gold IRAs are very simple to open, and the company’s team of IRA experts will make sure the entire process is as hassle-free as possible. They provide real-time and historical graphs on gold, silver, palladium, and platinum prices on their website. They also have 401(k) Rollover guides, gold investing articles, and detailed articles that explain the different ways to invest in gold.
Furthermore, the company has partnered with several reputable depositories to ensure your gold is stored securely.
How to set up an IRA with Birch Gold Group:
- With the assistance of Birch Gold professionals, you can open an IRA.
- You can transfer your existing 401(k) funds to a new IRA.
- Purchase gold coins, bars, or bullions and invest in them.
Fees:
- Minimum Investment: $10,000
- Initial set-up fee: $50
- Wire-transfer fee: $30
- Annual Storage Fees: $100
- Annual Management Fees: $100
- If your investment is above $50,000 all these fees are waived
4. Noble Gold
Noble Gold was established in 2016 and is relatively new to gold IRAs. With its low minimum investment requirement and extensive educational resources, it has quickly become a favorite among new investors for gold IRAs.
It has also earned five-star ratings from Consumer Affairs and a BB rating from BCA.
Along with its extensive educational resources, Noble Gold offers a free initial consultation to understand each customer’s needs, preferences, and objectives. A trusted advisor guides and educates customers the rest of the way without resorting to high-pressure sales.
Despite Noble Gold’s competitive fees, they aren’t the lowest. New customers don’t pay a setup fee, but all accounts are charged an annual service fee of $80. A $150 annual storage fee is also charged to all customers. All accounts pay flat fees regardless of size, and the storage fee covers the cost of segregated storage.
With Noble Gold’s extensive network of partners and suppliers, customers receive competitive pricing on gold purchases. Moreover, Noble offers a “no-questions-asked” buyback program.
The custodian of Noble Gold is Equity International. Their website allows you to view your account information at any time. For storage, Noble uses International Depository Services (IDS). The company has two locations in the U.S. and one in Canada. A Lloyd’s of London insurance policy covers storage at the high-tech IDS facility.
Fees:
- Recurring Annual Fee: $80
- Annual Storage Fee (Texas or Delaware): $150
- Custodian Fee: Varies by customer
5. American Hartford Gold
Its wide selection of gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bars and coins is one of the reasons why American Hartford Gold is preferred by many customers. In terms of customer service, it really shines. You’ll be guided throughout the entire process by a team of highly-skilled IRA specialists.
The process of opening an account is simple, and shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes, or you can work with a representative if you prefer.
Upon setting up your account, you can fund it through a transfer, a rollover of another IRA, a TSP (thrift savings plan), 403(b), or 457 account, or by making new contributions.
Your gold is stored with Brinks Global Services or Delaware Depository, available in several locations throughout the U.S.
Fees:
- Annual Account Fee: $75 for accounts under $100,000;
- $125 for accounts over
- Annual Storage Fee: $100 per year
Also Check: Why should I consider investing? 8 pieces of Advice for Young Investors
Bottom Line:
Gold is often viewed as a strong long-term investment vehicle, and for good reason. You might find it comforting to know that at least some of your retirement investments are based on tangible assets.
It’s ultimately up to you to decide what’s best for you and your family. Our recommendation of financial companies is not taken lightly, and each firm has been thoroughly investigated by us. Although there has been volatility in the markets and in the world, Gold and precious metals have remained competitive, if not outperformed other currencies.
For those looking to invest some of their retirement funds in precious metals, I highly recommend checking out the five companies we have reviewed. If you want to compare prices, reach out to a few of them since they all have free information guides.
Pick the one you know will take care of you, and make your choice with confidence.