Gold and other precious metals cannot be held on regular IRA accounts. And, traditional brokers rarely offer gold IRA investing.
So, if you’re looking to stash your retirement dollars in gold, silver, or other IRS-approved precious metals, you’ll need to open a gold IRA account with a reputable gold IRA company.
In this post, I’ll give you short gold IRA companies reviews of top-rated gold IRA companies in the US, including what they offer, their main features, fees, and more so that you can choose the one that fits your investing needs.
5 Best Gold IRA Companies
1. Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals is a top-rated gold IRA company in the US that has been in business since 2012. It’s our top pick of the best gold IRA companies due to its transparent pricing, strong customer support, reasonable fees, and zero customer complaints.
What if offers: Gold and Silver
Main features: Spot price charts, lots of educational resources, live chat
Fees: $200 annual maintenance fees.
Storage Options: Delaware Depository
Pros
- A transparent fee structure
- Zero setup fees for up to 10 years – every customer qualifies
- 100% money-back guarantee for new customers
- Fair pricing backed with a 7-day price protection
- Excellent buy-back program
- Self-directed IRA accounts with no management fees
- Strong customer service with high consumer ratings
Cons
- Limited choice of metals –doesn’t offer platinum or palladium
- High minimum IRA gold investment of $50,000
- Doesn’t offer online purchases
- You’ve to contact them for full pricing disclosure
2. Goldco
Goldco is a top gold investment company that’s reputed for its superior customer support. It has been in the gold IRA investing space for about 17 years, hence one of the best gold IRA companies with an A+ BBB rating.
What it offers: Gold and silver
Main features: Spot price charts, live chat, news & articles
Pricing: $80 annual admin fee, $150 storage fee
Storage Options: Delaware Depository
Pros
- Reputable customer service and support
- Extensive education center
- Reasonable storage and admin fees
- Quick and easy online account setup
- Gold IRA transfer Offers 401 (k) and IRA rollovers
- New accounts get up to 10% in free silver coins
Cons
- High minimum gold IRA investment of $25,000
- Lack of disclosures means you’ve to call them for full fee disclosure
- Limited choice of metals — doesn’t offer palladium or platinum
3. American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold entered the Gold IRA scene in 2015 and has become one of the top-rated gold IRA companies with an A+ BBB rating, 5-star Trustpilot rating, and top-rated 4 years in a row by Consumer Affairs.
What it offers: Gold and silver
Features: Market news, spot price charts, minimum distribution calculator
Pricing: $180 annual storage and maintenance fee
Storage Options: Equity Trust, Delaware Depository, International Depository Services (IDS), Brinks
Pros
- Low minimum investment of $1,500 for cash purchases and $10,000 for IRA rollovers
- Has a buyback program
- Part of the account registration process is online
- Offers IRA and 401 (k) rollovers
Cons
- No pricing or fee disclosure on their website
- Limited educational resources
4. Noble Gold
Founded in 2016, Noble Gold makes our list of the best Gold IRA companies for smaller investors due to its low IRA gold investment requirement, lots of educational resources, and wide selection of precious metals.
What it offers: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
Main features: Lots of educational resources, trusted advisors to guide and educate customers.
Fees: $80 annual service fee, $150 annual storage fee
Storage Options: Equity Institutional and International Depository Service (IDS)
Pros
- Low minimum investment of $2,000
- No set-up fee
- Wide selection of precious metals
- Competitive pricing on gold purchases
- Extensive educational resources
- Excellent buy-back service
- Part of the account registration can be done online
Cons
- Lack of company disclosures on fees and pricing
- Relatively new gold IRA player
- You have to contact customer support for full pricing and fee breakdown
5. Birch Gold Group
Founded in 2003, Birch Gold Group is one of the best gold IRA companies with a long-standing experience and reputation in the gold IRA space.
It offers a wide selection of precious metals, has stellar reviews from top consumer rating sites, and partners with many depositories and custodians.
What it offers: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
Main features: Spot price charts, educational resources, latest news & market updates
Fees: $80 annual maintenance fee and $100 storage fee
Storage Options: Delaware Depository, Brink’s, International Depository Service, and Texas Precious Metals Depository.
Pros
- Wide selection of precious metals
- Access to educational resources and the latest market news
- Customer support via phone and email
- Affordable minimum investment of $10,000
- Waives custodial fees for the first year for IRA account transfers above $50,000
- Great reputation and decades of experience
Cons
- No online account set up or purchases
- No fee or pricing disclosure on their website, so you’ve to call for details.
Top 10 Gold IRA Companies in the USA
In addition to the above companies, there’re other top-rated gold IRA companies in the United States. Below is a list of the top 10 gold IRA companies in the USA.
- Augusta Precious Metals
- Goldco
- American Hartford Gold
- Noble Gold
- Birch Gold Group
- Red Rock Secured
- Patriot Gold Group
- Advantage Gold
- Orion Metal Exchange
- American Bullion
What is a Gold IRA?
A gold-backed IRA, also referred to as a precious metal IRA, is a type of individual retirement account (IRA) that allows retirement savers to invest in physical gold and other precious metals.
Unlike ordinary IRA accounts that hold paper assets, a Gold IRA account involves purchasing and storage of the actual metals and attracts higher fees.
How Does a Gold IRA Work?
A gold IRA works pretty much like an ordinary IRA account, as account contributions and distribution rules remain the same.
But, instead of investing your money in stocks and bonds, you invest in physical gold and other IRS-approved precious metals.
Again, gold IRA accounts are not offered by conventional brokers, but by gold IRA companies, which act as custodians or depositories to manage the account.
To get started, you’ll first need to find top-rated gold IRA companies, then follow the following steps.
Open an account
The first step is to create a gold IRA account with a custodian or a trustee company that offers gold IRAs, like Augusta Precious Metals.
Fund your Gold IRA account
Fund your Gold IRA account by making annual contributions similar to the ones you make to your ordinary IRA account: $6000 if you’re below 50 and $7,000 if you’re above 50.
Alternatively, you can roll over your 401 (k) or conventional IRA into a gold IRA and use the funds to purchase your desired precious metals.
Buy gold
Once you’ve money in your gold IRA account, use the funds to make an IRA gold investment by purchasing the gold or other metals offered by your custodian.
Store your precious bars and coins
Your custodian or depository handles all the paperwork, storage, and tax reporting required to maintain the account and keep your bars and coins safe and secure.
Per Gold IRA rules, you can’t take possession of the bullion and coins in your gold IRA account, which means you can’t withdraw the metals and keep them in your home.
What To Look For in a Gold IRA Company
There are a few things that you should look for when choosing the best gold IRA companies, including:
- Security of the depository
- Investment fees and storage costs
- Segregated vs comingled storage preference.
- Types of precious metals you can invest in
- Ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Good reputation backed by a track record of helping customers achieve their goals
- Customer service and support
Benefits of a Gold IRA
- Tax advantages: A gold IRA has all the tax advantages of an ordinary IRA account, and follows the same contribution and distribution rules.
- Self-directed: It’s a self-directed account, giving you the freedom to choose and invest in your desired precious metals.
- Easy management: Your custodian deals with all the paperwork, transportation, storage security, and tax reporting, lifting the hassles of dealing with physical gold off your shoulders.
Downsides of a Gold IRA
- High fees: It’s costly to open and maintain a gold IRA account compared to ordinary IRAs
- Restrictions: Retirement age restrictions apply, so you can’t sell your metals when you want. Plus, there’re IRS limits on the type of bars and coins you can buy.
Gold IRA vs Physical Gold
A gold IRA is a great option for hands-off investors who want to avoid the hassles and paperwork involved in transporting and storing physical gold while enjoying the tax benefits offered by standard IRA accounts.
Physical gold comes with tangible ownership, lower storage & management fees, and the flexibility to sell when you want. It’s a viable investment option for hands-on investors willing to deal with the responsibility of securely transporting and storing their own gold bars.
Best Gold IRA Companies Compared
| Augusta | Goldco | American Hartford Gold | Noble Gold | Birch Gold Group | |
| Precious metals offered | Gold and Silver | Gold and silver | Gold and silver | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium |
| Minimum investing | $50,000 | $25,000 | $1,500 for cash purchases and $10,000 for IRA rollovers | $2,000 | $10,000 |
| Fees | Zero setup fees for up to 10 years; Annual maintenance fee: $200 | $80 annual admin fee, Up to $150 storage fee | $180 annual storage and maintenance fee | $80 annual service fee, $150 annual storage fee | $80 annual maintenance fee, $100 storage fee |
| Storage options | Delaware Depository | Delaware Depository | Equity Trust, Delaware, IDS, Brink’s | Equity Institutional, International Depository Service (IDS) | Delaware, Brink’s, IDs, Texas Precious Metals Depository |
| Website features | Spot price charts, educational resources, live chat | Spot price charts, live chat, news & articles | Market news, spot price charts, minimum distribution calculator | Educational resources, trusted advisors | Spot price charts, educational resources, latest news & market updates |
| Customer support | Phone, live chat | Phone, Email | Phone, email | Phone, email, FAQs section | Phone, email |
Methodology
I considered several factors, including customer ratings from top consumer rating sites, customer support, pricing transparency, fees, and availability of educational resources. Website features and availability of online account setup were also a factor.
That said, the information presented here should not be taken as financial advice, and you should talk to a fee-only financial advisor to clear any doubts.
FAQs
What is the best gold IRA?
Augusta Precious Metals is arguably the best gold IRA in the US. That’s due to its low-cost and transparent pricing, strong customer support, educational resources, and nearly zero customer complaints.
Is Gold IRA legit?
Yes, Gold IRA investing is a legit retirement saving option governed by IRS regulations. Your homework is to ensure that you choose a top-rated gold IRA company to avoid scams.
Is there a minimum for gold IRA?
Yes, some gold IRA companies have a minimum investment requirement, which can be low or high depending on the company. Minimum orders of $10,000-$50,000 are common.
Can I store my gold IRA at home?
No, you can’t store your gold IRA at home. You must open a gold IRA account with a gold IRA company to store and manage your gold bars and coins on your behalf.
What is the best way to purchase gold for an IRA account?
The best way to purchase gold for an IRA account is to open a gold IRA account with a gold IRA company. That’s because gold and other precious metals must be held separately from traditional individual retirement accounts.
Is a Gold IRA taxed?
Yes, a gold IRA is taxed following similar tax rules that apply to standard IRAs. A traditional gold IRA is taxed at distribution time, while a Roth gold IRA is taxed at contribution time.
What precious metals can I hold in an IRA?
You can hold four precious metals in your gold IRA, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. IRS limits apply to the type of bullion and coins that you can buy to ensure their quality and long-term value.
What are the alternatives to a gold IRA?
Gold mutual funds & ETFs, and gold stocks are the top alternatives to gold IRAs. You can also invest in physical gold to navigate the high fees and restrictions that come with a gold IRA.
What is the cost of a Gold IRA?
The cost of a gold IRA is usually high than a regular IRA account. It may cost you between $50-$300 to set up a gold IRA account, about $100 in annual maintenance fees, and between $100-$150 in storage fees.
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