Best Gold IRA Companies

Gold and other precious metal IRAs are an investment and carry risk. Consumers should be alert to claims that customers can make a lot of money in these or any investment with little risk. As with any investment, you can lose money and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance results. Consumers should also obtain a clear understanding of the fees associated with any investment before agreeing to invest.

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Our Experience Testing Gold IRA Companies

To provide the most authentic buying guide for gold IRAs, the Retirement Living content team spent several days contacting gold IRA companies to learn about the investment process and product details. When available, we asked companies for starter kits we could analyze. We had to offer our name, email address, and phone number to receive a digital copy of a starter kit, but our requests were granted quickly.

For instances where companies did not offer an informational kit, we used the live chat feature. Each company asked for a name, email, and phone number to enter a live chat, but we found all company representatives very responsive and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions in full.

Orion Metal Exchange

Orion Metal Exchange stands out among our list of best gold IRA companies because it displays real-time metal prices directly on its website—not all competitors do the same. It has the most customer reviews on our site from people who’ve invested with the company and worked with its team of professionals.

What Gold IRA Customers Say About Their Experience

To learn how customers rate their experience with gold IRA companies, we analyzed three years’ worth of customer reviews of gold IRA companies on our site. Are customers who invested in gold happy with their experience? According to the 195 reviews posted on Retirement Living, customers who have invested with the companies on this list have an average satisfaction rating of 4.4 stars.

And while price does factor into customer satisfaction, other aspects like customer service, responsiveness, and investor education are referenced more frequently than we expected. In fact, 43% of reviewers mention a representative or account manager by name when detailing their experience (good and bad) with the company.

Key takeaways from our review analysis of gold IRA companies on Retirement Living include:

• Over 90% of gold IRA customer reviews are 4 stars or higher.
• Reviewers who mention communication are more likely to rate their experience as positive.
• Overall, the majority of customers are satisfied with the customer service they received throughout the investment process, such as one Orion Metal Exchange reviewer who said their experience was easier than expected. “I expected it to be more complex but my rep helped me all the way through and was very knowledgeable on investing. They keep following up with me which I didn’t expect, but found very helpful.”.

Only 9.5% of gold IRA customer reviews were less than 4 stars. Of the reviews that skewed negatively:

• 85% reference high premiums compared to the spot price (market value) of the coins and steep fees that limit investment potential, such as one California reviewer who claimed the fees were higher than expected. 
• 65% mention high-pressure sales tactics and a lack of consumer education before making an investment decision.
• 15% mention issues contacting customer service and delays in account maintenance requests.

Nearly all reviews on our site reference feeling nervous and worried about making large investments that can affect their retirement—though our data suggests that some companies are better than others at putting customers at ease.

We think gold IRA companies can improve their rankings by delivering high-touch, personalized service to all customers and committing to educating investors about fees, risk, and whether investing in alternative assets is right for their particular situation.

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Gold IRA Company Reviews

The following companies currently offer gold IRAs and have been rated highly by customers, the BBB, and the press.

Most of Lear Capital’s customers have existing retirement accounts they wish to diversify with gold and silver, but the company will assist anyone with an IRA or 401(k) rollover.

You’ll pay a $200 annual fee for Lear to manage your IRA. The fee covers the costs of storage, custodian management, and quarterly statements. There are no additional fees from Lear Capital for maintaining your IRA, although there may be costs associated with buying, selling, and transfer of assets.

• Metals: Gold, silver, and platinum bars and coins
• Minimum investment: $25,000
• Fees: Setup, annual maintenance (including storage)
• Storage options: Delaware Depository

We contacted Lear Capital to request a gold IRA investor kit and learned firsthand how hard the company works to educate its customers about Gold IRAs. The kit and the website provide comprehensive resources for customers to review and learn. Lear’s knowledge of the gold and silver markets is established in the private markets and translates well to their IRA management.

Read our full Lear Capital review.

This company has recently made a big splash in the industry, thanks to celebrity endorsements from Sean Hannity and Chuck Norris, among others. Specifically, we like this company’s buyback price guarantee: Goldco promises to buy back your metals at the highest possible price. This, and its silver coins promo for new accounts, allows us to confidently recommend Goldco for first-time buyers who are unsure how to begin investing wisely.

The modest $200 annual fee (waived the first year) is a bit higher than other companies but gives you the ability to see your own assets at any time.

• Metals: Gold and silver bars and coins
• Minimum investment: $25,000
• Fees: Setup, maintenance, wiring, storage
• Storage options: Not disclosed

Admittedly, we had a tough time finding information online about fees, account minimums, custodians, and storage options. But representatives were quick to respond to our questions when we reached out via the live chat feature. We also found Goldco’s in-depth blog, eBooks, and educational videos very helpful for potential investors.

For more information, read our full Goldco review.

Orion Metal Exchange offers transparent pricing and over 50 years of precious metals investment service. While Orion is based in Los Angeles, it has options for investors in all 50 states to fund IRAs with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

One of the reasons we placed Orion at the top of our list is that they made it easy for us to access educational resources quickly and request a free investor kit to learn more about buying gold and silver through them. The kit was sent to our email; it gave us several easily-implemented tips for choosing the right gold IRA company and how to avoid rookie mistakes when buying gold, which we found really helpful for empowering our decision. We also had many opportunities to contact an experienced account representative. Once connected, we found the expert knowledgeable and friendly as they explained the process of opening an IRA.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion coins and bars
• Minimum investment: $5,000
• Fees: Storage (only after three years)
• Storage options: Works with all IRS-approved gold IRA custodial institutions

The company displays its list of IRS-approved coins on its website. Transparent product pricing is important for ensuring you get the best deal. Orion Metal Exchange gold IRA charges fewer fees than its competitors. For example, there is no setup or transfer fee, and the company will pay your storage fees for up to three years.

Orion recommends you store precious metals at a local Brinks or Delaware Depository location. Although home storage is an option, Orion does not recommend it because such methods are not IRS-compliant.

For more information, read our full Orion Metal Exchange review.

Investing with Patriot Gold Group is fast, easy, and affordable. We think Patriot Gold stands out from others because it makes getting started with a gold IRA easy with a 24-hour turnaround. They advertise no fees for life (if you have more than $100,000 in your account).

Patriot Gold is a dealer-direct company, which means you won’t pay typical fees charged for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion or coin purchases. This feature undoubtedly benefits the consumer, but the website lacks information about fee amounts, account minimums, and other details. You will have to contact them before signing up to learn more.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars and coins
• Minimum investment: $50,000
• Fees: Setup (depending on account balance), transaction, storage, insurance
• Storage options: Advertises Brink’s Global Services and Delaware Depository, but doesn’t disclose full list

You can initiate a gold IRA account online by filling out their online form with your basic information and the best time to be reached. You can roll over an existing IRA into a gold IRA or start a new gold IRA from scratch. Patriot Gold Group has a five-star rating from ConsumerAffairs and AAA rating from the Business Council Alliance.

Read our comprehensive Patriot Gold Group review.

Since 2003, Birch Gold Group has been selling physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium to fund IRAs or for physical possession. They’re recognized as an industry leader because of their efforts to educate consumers on the best way to turn precious metals into long-term investments.

Customers will have ongoing access to account executives who will educate you in person or online about how Precious Metals IRAs can diversify your portfolio, hedge against inflation and show strong growth potential. Birch Gold Group frequently offers promotional pricing, such as getting additional free precious metals, depending on the order amount.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars and coins
• Minimum investment: $10,000 recommended
• Fees: Setup, annual maintenance, transfer
• Storage options: Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services, Texas Precious Metals Depository, International Depository Services

In addition to its “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau, Birch Gold Group has won numerous awards including five stars with TrustLink touting their customer service and a “AAA” rating with Business Consumer Alliance.

Read our complete Birch Gold Group review for more details.

Based in Los Angeles, American Hartford Gold specializes in Gold and Precious Metals IRAs. To open a Precious Metals IRA, click on the website link to call a product specialist to complete the necessary paperwork. If you’re rolling over an existing account, American Hardfort Gold will transfer your funds within three days. The assets you buy will be stored in an IRA-approved vault.

The buyback commitment offered by American Hartford Gold is what stands out to us the most. This program guarantee lets customers sell their precious metals while avoiding additional fees during the liquidation process. They also offer customers more promotions than other gold companies, including free account setup, free insured shipping, and free storage.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars and coins
• Minimum investment: Not disclosed
• Fees: Flat annual storage
• Storage options: Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services, A-M Global Logistics (AMGL), International Depository Services

We couldn’t download the 25-page investor kit without providing a name, email, and phone number, but we could access the company’s robust investor library, which gave us four eBooks explaining updated information for the year. This includes tips for preparing for a recession and a guide for opening a gold IRA.

For more details, read our full American Hartford Gold review.

Premier Gold is a precious metals dealer whose specialists can help you diversify by rolling over funds to a gold IRA or purchasing precious metals for physical possession. Its business model is based on repeat business and referrals, supported in large part by transparent investor education. Invest an amount you feel comfortable with, though gold IRA fees are waived for transfers over $50,000.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, palladium
• Minimum investment: None (dealer recommends $50,000)
• Fees: Setup, annual maintenance
• Storage options: Brink’s Global Services, Delaware Depository, International Depository Services, A-M Global Logistics

Premier Gold specialists are financial experts, not sellers, so they’ll work with you to identify assets that best fit your investment goals. There are more than 60 IRA-approved metals to choose from and consultations are free.

Read our full Premier Gold review to learn more.

To open a self-directed gold IRA, you’ll need to invest at least $20,000. Call Priority Gold and speak to a specialist who will guide you through the process. 

Since 2015, Priority Gold has helped new and seasoned investors make responsible, educated investments. Specialists have more than 20 years of combined experience facilitating gold IRA rollovers into gold and silver, collaborating with Preferred Trust Company to provide custody services.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, palladium
• Minimum investment: $20,000
• Fees: Setup, annual maintenance, storage (waived for certain investments)
• Storage options: Brink’s Global Services, Delaware Depository

Customers praise Priority for its customer service and guidance throughout the investment process. Its website is also full of educational information, including an investment glossary of terms and a real-time price chart you can use to compare the current price of gold to the U.S. dollar, S&P 500, Oil, or Dow Jones to learn how gold is performing.

Read our full Priority Gold review to learn more.

VaultUS Gold stands out to us as a reputable precious metals dealer because they create custom investment portfolio suggestions based on your budget, risk tolerance, and investment goals. The price of their portfolio suggestions includes all costs and fees associated with opening and maintaining a gold IRA.

• Metals: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars and coins
• Minimum investment: $5,000
• Fees: Setup, maintenance, storage (about $250 for the first year)
• Storage options: Delaware Depository, Lloyd’s of London, International Depository Services, Brink’s US

Unlike other competitors, VaultUS Gold does not list its precious metal prices online. However, a company representative told us the storage and maintenance fees for your IRA-eligible metals are typically $250 for the first year and $200 per year thereafter. VaultUS offers up to five years of free storage and maintenance, depending on the size of the account.

Read our full VaultUS Gold review to learn more.

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Additional Gold IRA Companies

Freedom Gold USA is a precious metals dealer based in Los Angeles, CA. Read our comprehensive Freedom Gold USA Review to learn more.

All American Assets offers affordable gold and silver products from the U.S. Mint. Browse live pricing online or work with a full-service IRA team to invest. Read our All American Assets review to learn more.

Red Rock Secured is a Gold IRA provider offering gold, silver, and other investment tools. Read our comprehensive Red Rock Secured Review to learn more.

Lexi Capital helps customers convert their existing IRA, 401(k), annuity or other retirement accounts. Read our comprehensive Lexi Capital Review to learn more.

The Gold Financial Group explains gold investing and the precious metals each client is interested in. To learn more about the company, read our Gold Financial Group Review.

American Precious Metals Exchange is one of the largest precious metals dealers specializing in precious metals for Gold IRA accounts. Check out our APMEX comprehensive review.

JM Bullion buys and sells precious metals such as gold, silver, copper and platinum. Check out our JM Bullion comprehensive review.

Advantage Gold agents will work alongside you to fund your precious metals IRA. The company strives to educate the customer so they can be confident in their investment. Read our comprehensive Advantage Gold Review.

Noble Gold representatives simplify setting up an IRA or rollover IRA. Check out our comprehensive Noble Gold Review.

Oxford Gold Group is a Gold IRA company offering gold and other precious metals. Read our Oxford Gold Group Review.

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Our Research Methodology

To identify top gold IRA providers, we analyzed 10 data points to give you a well-rounded review of each provider. We sourced feedback and reviews from real consumers and consulted with finance experts. We also considered these features:

• Licensure and credentials
• Fees, such as transfer and setup, annual management, and storage costs
• Access to educational information and investment resources
• Customer service and support availability
• Industry reputation
• Storage options
• Minimum investment requirements
• Options for precious metals

We also requested starter kits, as most companies allow interested investors to call for a starter kit or more information. We wanted to narrow down the list to those that would answer your questions right away, either with a live chat rep, or an easy-to-use request form. Companies that responded within a few days (or quicker) stayed on our list.

Basically, we followed our own buying tips to uncover the best providers. Companies that obscured their prices, had difficult or confusing policies and procedures, and/or limited investment and storage options were eliminated. The result of our analysis is the best gold IRA companies for you, a friend, or a family member to consider.

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Tips for Choosing the Right Gold IRA Company

The three most significant considerations for finding the best gold IRA company are consumer ratings, customer service and reputation.

Top tips:

• Be a skeptical investor; only work with reputable companies that are committed to customer education
• Make sure you buy IRS-approved and IRA-approved coins from a reputable company
• Understand potential tax penalties for selling and home storage options

Before investing in gold, you should know exactly what you’re getting. Ask lots of questions and do your due diligence. Going into a transaction of this magnitude unprepared or without the right knowledge could cost you money in the long run.

Gold IRA Best Practices

Buy IRA-approved metals: Per IRS rules, you can hold only certain types of gold and precious metals in an IRA. To be IRS-eligible, gold must have a 99.5% purity, silver 99.9% purity, and platinum and palladium 99.95% purity. (The IRS makes an exception to the fineness rule for American Gold Eagle coins, which must only be 22 karats or 91.67% pure gold.) Metals must also meet other qualifications pertaining to their condition (near perfect), weight, and authenticity.

IRA accounts only accept gold bullion, not collectibles, so save your numismatic coins for your display case and fund your gold IRA with tangible bullion instead.

Store it properly: Gold purchased for a gold IRA must be stored with a reputable, IRS-approved storage facility. While many IRAs offer you the ability to keep your gold in separate storage away from the metals of other investors in the same facility (known as comingled storage), beware of any company that provides an option to store them at home in a safe or bank deposit box. This is not an IRS-approved method and would result in the removal of the metals from your IRA and potentially incur a withdrawal tax penalty.

Hold your gold until maturity: If you need access to your IRA funds, you can take distributions from your gold IRA like a traditional IRA. In most instances, you can opt to receive the actual bullion or the cash value of your precious metals. But remember that early withdrawals before 59 1/2 attract a 10% penalty, and the dollar value withdrawn is added to your income and subject to ordinary income tax.

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Top Gold IRA Companies

• Great Ongoing Promotions – American Hartford Gold
• No Fee for Life IRA – Patriot Gold Group
• Great Retailer – Goldco
• No Fees BuyBack Program – Preserve Gold
• Great Service – Lear Capital
• Great portfolio simulator – Premier Gold
• Great free storage – Priority Gold
• Competitive Pricing – Orion Metal Exchange
• High Business Alliance Rating – Rosland Capital
• Great Customer Service – Augusta Precious Metals
• Great Online Education – Birch Gold Group
• Great Customer Reputation – National Gold Group
• Great Mobile App – OneGold
• Flat Fee Structure – Allegiance Gold
• Unique Investor Workshops – Monetary Gold
• Great Customer Service – Gold Alliance

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What Are the Typical Gold IRA Fees?

In addition to the cost of the metals themselves, you’ll need to budget for other fees related to establishing and maintaining a gold IRA.

• Setup fees: An application fee to process a new account or initiate an IRA/401k rollover. These fees range from $50 to $275, but some custodians wave this expense for larger accounts.
• Transaction fees: A flat fee to purchase or sell metals within the account. Fees are typically about $40 per transaction.
• Account maintenance fees: Annual fee to maintain your account. These fees can vary from $75 to a few hundred dollars per year, though some custodians may offer discounts based on account size.
• Wiring fees: IRA custodians will charge a wiring fee of about $25 for each outgoing wire.
• Storage fees: A percentage of your investment or a flat fee paid in exchange for holding and securing your metals in an approved depository. Some custodians may include insurance costs in their storage fees.
• Shipping fees: A flat fee to move your metals to and from the depository.

Options for Storing Your Gold

When deciding where to store your gold investments, your options are limited in an IRA. The IRS has only a few approved depositories for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Examples of IRS-approved depositories include Delaware Depository Service Company, JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, and CNT Depository.

Under IRS law, you cannot store your investments at home or in a safe deposit box — without incurring a fee, at least. If you store them at home, the IRS will consider it a withdrawal and levy taxes (if it’s a traditional gold IRA) and/or penalties (if the withdrawal takes place before age 59 1/2).

Many gold IRA companies partner with a third-party storage firm or secured depository. When researching companies to invest with, ensure they’ve partnered with reputable facilities and ask how they handle transportation and insurance coverage. Then, determine how they’ll be stored. Allocated storage means your metals will be stored alongside the metals of other investors. Commingled, or segregated storage, keeps your investments separate from assets held by other investors in an individual storage box or vault.

• Allocated storage means your bullion will be stored alongside the metals of other investors. Upon withdrawal, you may not receive the exact same bullion that you purchased, but rather an equivalent type. This is a less expensive form of storage and is acceptable for most people who don’t need to receive their exact individual pieces of bullion. 
• Commingled, or segregated storage, keeps your investments separate from assets held by other investors in an individual storage box or vault.

What to Consider Before Investing in a Gold IRA

There are pluses and minuses to investing in a gold IRA.

It helps diversify your portfolio

Most retirement experts have recommended that you allocate 5% to 10% of your total portfolio to precious metals, but making finite suggestions can be challenging since investment preferences are highly personal.

It’s a proven way to grow your investments

The price of gold has risen steadily over time, reaching its highest price ever in 2020. In 2023, gold prices spiked to new all-time highs, and it currently hovers near record-breaking levels.

Historically, gold has proven itself as a reliable investment by keeping up with inflation despite long periods of both underperformance and overperformance. It has also served well during periods of high turmoil due to its perception as a “safe haven” asset. In 2020, during a period of high turmoil, gold outperformed the S&P 500.

It comes with higher fees

The cost to have a custodian to store and insure and buy, ship, and transport your assets is pretty steep. You’ll also have to budget for annual custodial fees, which tend to be higher than traditional IRA management costs.

It is subject to an early withdrawal penalty

Ideally, you’ll hold gold in your IRA until you retire, but if you withdraw funds before age 59 1/2, you’ll pay a 10% penalty. You’ll need to start taking mandatory distributions at age 72, or you could face additional taxes.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Gold IRAs

Here are answers to the most commonly-asked questions regarding gold and precious metals IRAs. Review them to get an understanding of how an account can be started to help you build wealth in retirement.

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Related Gold IRA Resources

More Related Articles

• Gold Prices Past 100 Years
• When is the Best Time to Buy Gold?
• The Best Places to Sell Your Gold
• Americans Turn to Precious Metals To Protect Their Portfolios From Inflation
• Gold Statistics (Historical Data & Trends)
• How Much Does a Brick of Gold Weigh?
• How Much is a Gold Brick Worth?
• How Much Is a Silver Bar Worth?

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Concluding Thoughts on Gold IRAs

Investing in a Gold IRA is one of many ways to plan for retirement, and if you choose to do so, you should be aware of the way to do it wisely. There is likely a company out there that represents your values in price, customer service, product, and storage.