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APMEX Gold

4.5 Stars (1 Review)
Updated: March 31, 2023
By: Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith
Sr. Content Manager
As Retirement Living’s senior content manager, Jeff oversees the product and publishing of all retirement, investing, and consumer wellness content on the site. His extensive expertise in brand messaging and creating data-driven stories helps position Retirement Living as a top authority for senior content and community resources.
Sr. Content Manager
Edited By: Lauren Hamer
Lauren Hamer
Sr. Editor
Bringing more than a decade of editorial experience to Retirement Living, Lauren focuses on reporting senior-related issues, including retirement planning, finance, consumer protection, and health and wellness. Lauren has edited consumer content for Credible, Angi, Slickdeals, Jobs for the Future, and more.
Sr. Editor

APMEX offers a wide selection of precious metals to get you started with a Gold IRA. APMEX is the largest online precious metals dealer in the world and provides a variety of over 10,000 items. Owning an individual retirement account holding gold or silver is often useful for diversifying retirement savings with a stable long-term investment.

APMEX logo

Editorial Breakdown

Customer Care 4.7 Stars
Price 4.4 Stars
Reliability 4.5 Stars
Ease of Purchase 4.6 Stars
Overall Rating 4.6 Stars

Bottom Line

American Precious Metals Exchange is one of the largest precious metals dealers specializing in precious metals for Gold IRA accounts.

APMEX Review

American Precious Metals Exchange is a precious metals dealer specializing in metal for Gold IRA accounts. APMEX is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has a reputation as a leader in the precious metals industry.

Since 1999, APMEX has provided customers with precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium and rare coins for personal storage and investment in Gold IRAs. APMEX also buys precious metals from customers looking to sell.

The APMEX website features a wide selection of precious metals, so it’s easy to choose investment pieces. The company frequently updates the site with new offerings. APMEX also offers rare and foreign coins and other items for collectors and hobbyists.

Pros

  • Large selection of gold and other precious metals
  • Industry leader in Gold IRAs
  • Orders over $199 ship free
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • Fully insured

Cons

  • Shipping times can be slow

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.

Opening an APMEX Gold IRA

A Gold IRA is a self-directed retirement account holding IRS-approved precious metals. The account owner buys assets using funds in an IRA custodian account, then stores the metals in a secure depository. Gold and silver IRAs can be part of a retirement portfolio with relatively stable precious metals prices offering security in a changing financial market.

While APMEX provides precious metals for any purpose, the company specializes in helping customers who want to open a Gold IRA. You should contact a sales representative and let them know that you want to make a purchase to fund an IRA. They will walk you through the process, including:

  1. Opening a dedicated custodian account: Per IRS requirements, you must use a dedicated custodial account to hold your IRA assets.
  2. Funding the account: This is accomplished with new funds or by creating a Gold IRA rollover from an existing IRA.
  3. Selecting and purchasing IRA-approved metals: The IRS has specific rules for what types of precious metals can be used to fund an IRA. Gold bars, coins, and rounds must be at least 0.995 fine. The Gold American Eagle is the exception with an allowable 0.9167 fine. Silver products must be at least 0.999 fine, and platinum and palladium should be 0.9995 fine or higher.

APMEX makes it easy to shop for IRA-approved products by grouping them all in one section of its website. You can view all of the products or sort by metal like gold, silver, platinum or palladium.

APMEX Gold IRA Costs

Unlike some gold and precious metals dealers, APMEX publishes prices on its website. The company also displays current market prices for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The cost of precious metals is subject to change quickly. Price fluctuations are based on the level of market volatility, how available the metals are and other factors.

Published prices can change at any time. You can save quite a bit by buying in bulk. The following chart shows some recent prices for the most popular precious metals at APMEX.

APMEX IRA-Approved Metals
Sample Costs
Form Starting Cost
1 oz American Eagle Gold Coin $1,562.39
1 oz American Eagle Silver Coin $20.05
1 oz American Eagle Platinum Coin $1,038.29
1 oz Gold Bar $1,522.39
1 oz Silver Bar $18.68
10 oz Gold Bar $15,273.99
10 oz Silver Bar $184.80

How to Buy Precious Metals from APMEX

To buy precious metals for a Gold IRA from APMEX, be sure to contact a sales representative by phone first. They will ensure that you choose the right metals for an IRS-approved account.

Buying gold and precious metals from APMEX is as easy as any online purchase. Choose the investment pieces you want to buy and add them to your online cart. Due to precious metals price fluctuations, you have 10 minutes to complete your purchase after adding a metal order to your cart.

When you are done choosing your precious metals, either create an account and log in or checkout as a guest. You can use a major credit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash or a bank transfer to complete your order. When you become an established customer, you can also pay with a personal check. Gold and precious metals orders are subject to state sales tax. The shipping cost is $9.99 for orders under $199, otherwise precious metals ship for free.

Gold Shipping and Storage with APMEX

You can’t take possession of precious metals if they are held in an IRA due to government regulations. We do not recommend keeping substantial amounts of gold or other metals in your home, but hobbyists may do so. Gold IRA and customers who opt for storage have their investment stored for a monthly fee.

The storage facility is Brink’s Security-protected Citadel Global Depository Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of APMEX. Storage fees vary depending on the value of your Gold IRA. You pay $15 per month for a portfolio valued at $25,000 or less. You’ll also pay a handling fee of $50 to $75, plus shipping costs when you withdraw all or part of your holdings from storage.

APMEX Complaints

APMEX is a leader in the precious metals industry and generally receives high ratings online. The company gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from reviewers at both ConsumerAffairs and GoldDealerReviews. APMEX’s Trustpilot rating is 4.7 out of 5, with reviews noting the company has a good selection of precious metals and gold and excellent customer service. Some customers say the shipping can be slow.

APMEX Q&A

  • Does APMEX require a minimum Gold IRA order?

    There is no minimum for domestic orders, but international orders must be $250 or more when purchased with a credit card, Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash. If you pay via bank transfer, the minimum order is $1,500.

  • How much of my portfolio should be in APMEX precious metals?

    APMEX recommends 4% to 12% of your portfolio be comprised of precious metals to diversify your investments.

  • Does APMEX accept precious metals trades?

    Yes, the company accepts gold, silver and platinum trades in some situations. Talk to a sales representative for more information.

  • Does APMEX ever have sales or promotions?

    The company often offers promotions to email newsletter subscribers. To sign up, create an account on the website.

  • Does APMEX guarantee the gold and precious metals it sells?

    Yes, APMEX offers a full guarantee and allows for returns, refunds and exchanges, depending on the product. Contact the company for more information.

  • What is the difference between investing in a precious metals IRA and a precious metals mutual fund?

    Gold or precious metals mutual funds invest in gold-related industries, primarily mining companies. These mutual funds are often appropriate for an IRA or 401(k), but invest in no actual gold. The value of a Gold IRA is determined by the physical metal held in the account.

Conclusion

Whether you are thinking of starting a Gold IRA or want to buy precious metals or rare coins, APMEX offers competitive prices and excellent customer support. An APMEX service agent can assist with any questions or will walk you through each step of opening a Gold IRA.


1 APMEX Reviews

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1 Star

December 23 2021 10:46PM

Absolutely horrible customer service. Fees fees fees, they nickel and dime you every chance they get. They add tax arbitrarily, when you question it, sometime they remove it sometime they say it stays, it is crap shoot with them.

When order and pay they credit your payment. So you think you paid, they they hold the order for months, no reason, and they don't tell you when you pay that your won't ship for months.

Then months later, after you have no idea they are going to charge your account again, they take money and ship product six months or more later. What a joke. I got tired of waiting for product to ship, 10 items, they won't ship for months because of one coin.

It is ridiculous. So I tried to cancel order. Remember they have done nothing yet except charge my acct to check for funds. Now they tell they want a 45 dollar loss fee, even thou Silver went a dollar since my order, they still want to rip you off with a $45 loss fee AND A $35 Cancel fee.

Once you order you are screwed, they got you and you have pay hard to get out. What a joke. I am done with this unethical company and they rip off customers attitude. Good riddance.

Rick G.
Sanger, TX
1
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