Best gold IRA companies (2024)

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MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money

Best gold IRA companies (2)

Gold has long been a favored investment option, maintaining its appeal to investors through the ages. Its enduring popularity can be attributed in part to its historical ability to preserve value duringinflationary periods. However, thebenefits of investing in goldextend beyond merely serving as a hedge against rising prices.

Investors have various avenues to incorporate gold into their portfolios, each offering unique benefits in terms of diversification and financial security. These options include physical gold ownership through coins and bars, as well as more indirect methods such as gold-focusedexchange-traded funds (ETFs)and gold mining stocks. For those looking to combine the advantages of gold investment with tax benefits,gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs)present an attractive option.

Incorporating a gold IRA into your retirement strategy can be a prudent decision. However, it's crucial to select a reputable provider when establishing such an account. To help you narrow down the options, we've combed through a wide range of gold IRA providers to find what we believe to be the best companies to work with. Here's what you should know.

Learn more about your gold investing opportunities online here.

Best gold IRA companies

Here are some of the best gold IRA companies currently.

  • Best overall: Goldco
  • Best for customer service: Lear Capital
  • Best for customer reviews: American Hartford Gold
  • Best for low fees: Birch Gold Group

Best overall: Goldco

Goldco is our choice for the best overall gold IRA company due to its outstanding track record and ratings, robust educational content and other factors. The company is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), AAA by Business Consumer Alliance and an excellent 4.7 rating on Trustpilot (as of April 26, 2024). Other accolades include being named an Inc 5000 Award recipient as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies for the past seven years. The company was also designated the 2022 Company of the Year from the American Business Awards.

Goldco offers both gold and silver IRAs and allows rollovers from 401(k) and 403(b) plans, pensions, thrift savings plans and traditional and Roth IRAs. Your precious metals are stored in an IRS-approved depository. At age 59 ½, you're eligible to take distributions as physical gold or cash.

Goldco's website lists fees for gold IRAs at roughly $225 annually ($125 for the annual maintenance fee and $100 for annual storage, though segregated storage will cost $150 annually). Getting started requires a $25,000 minimum investment, and you can usually roll over funds into your IRA within two weeks.

Learn more about Goldco's gold investing options here now.

Best for customer service: Lear Capital

Customer service involves more than just handling customer complaints. An essential component of customer satisfaction is assisting investors and preventing issues in the first place.

In that regard, Lear Capital proactively helps investors by providing superb investment tools and resources on its website. For example, the company's Smart Suite Tools help investors determine how much inflation-adjusted money they'll need in retirement. You can also utilize the Required Minimum Distribution calculator to discover how much you must withdraw from your gold IRA in retirement per IRS regulations.

Lear Capital also earns a 4.8 Trustpilot rating as of April 26, 2024.

Learn more about gold investing with Lear Capital now.

Best for customer reviews: American Hartford Gold

If you're looking for a gold IRA company with impeccable reviews and ratings, look no further than American Hartford Gold. The company enjoys an A+ rating with the BBB and a 4.7 rating with over 1,200 reviews on Trustpilot (as of April 26, 2024).

What's interesting about American Hartford Gold's customer reviews is that the company responds to nearly every review across every platform, whether the comment is good or bad. Perhaps it's that intention of customer prioritization that is responsible for so many positive reviews in the first place.

American Hartford Gold also offers valuable resources on its website to assist investors, from pricing charts for precious metals to industry news.

Check your gold investing options with American Hartford Gold now.

Best for low fees: Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group transparently lists its setup and annual storage and management fees, a rarity in the marketplace. According to the company, most investors adhere to the following fee schedule:

  • Account set up:$50
  • Wire transfer:$30
  • Storage and Insurance:$100
  • Management:$125

Unlike many gold IRA providers, Birch Gold's fees are flat-rate rather than a percentage of your account value. This structure may work in your favor if you have a high account balance. Additionally, Birch Gold will cover your first year's fees if you transfer over $50,000.

Learn more about investing in gold with Birch Gold Group here.

The bottom line

These are our picks for the best gold IRA companies. Ultimately, the choice is an individual one. If you're considering opening a gold IRA, your best option will depend on which company best suits your personal financial needs and goals.

Shopping and comparing different gold IRA companies can help you determine which one checks the most boxes for your situation. All of the above companies can answer your questions to arm you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Also, consider consulting your accountant or financial advisor before making any investment to ensure it aligns with your portfolio plan.

Best gold IRA companies (2024)

FAQs

What is the most trustworthy gold IRA company? ›

The 10 best gold IRA companies
  • Allegiance Gold. ...
  • Lear Capital. ...
  • Orion Metal Exchange. ...
  • American Bullion. ...
  • Birch Gold Group. ...
  • Apmex. ...
  • Goldco. Goldco is a privately held company based in California. ...
  • American Hartford Gold. American Hartford Gold was founded in 2015, and it's based in California.

How to choose a gold IRA company? ›

A reputable company will provide transparent fee structures without hidden costs. Balance costs with the quality of services offered. Understand the minimum investment requirements: The gold IRA companies covered here have minimum investment requirements of between $20,000 and $50,000.

Are gold backed IRAs a good idea? ›

Pros of a Gold IRA

During times of inflation and volatile markets, some investors use gold to hedge against uncertainties. “Gold IRAs can be a great way to diversify your retirement portfolio and protect your savings,” Ryan said. Precious metal investments may also be used as part of a long-term savings strategy.

Is free gold IRA kit legit? ›

Is a free Gold IRA kit legitimate? Yes, a free Gold IRA kit from a reputable company is legitimate. It is designed to educate potential investors about investing in precious metals through an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Look for transparency, customer service quality, and reputation when choosing a company.

What is the most reputable online gold dealer? ›

Best Online Gold Dealers
  1. Best for Transparent Pricing: American Hartford Gold Group. ...
  2. Best for Fast Account Opening: Priority Gold. ...
  3. Best for a Variety of Investment Options: Advantage Gold. ...
  4. Best for Experience Precious Metals Investors: Preserve Gold. ...
  5. Best for Diverse Options: American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX)
Sep 6, 2024

Do you pay tax on gold IRA? ›

Investors who are under age 59 1/2 and make a withdrawal from their IRA will pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Investors over age 73 who use pretax and SEP-IRAs must take required minimum distributions (RMDs). Gold IRA owners who make qualified withdrawals from a gold IRA are also subject to capital gains tax.

Can I store my gold IRA at home? ›

The idea is that investors can open a self-directed IRA and keep the gold at home, rather than store it elsewhere. While that may sound like a strategy that saves money and gives investors more control over their assets' location, it's not allowed, according to Internal Revenue Service rules.

Does Fidelity offer gold IRA? ›

IRAs are subject to federal laws and restrictions governing their investments in precious metals. The only precious metals permitted to be purchased in a Fidelity IRA are: Gold American Eagle (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/ 10 oz) Gold American Buffalo (1 oz)

How much are gold IRA fees? ›

In general, you should expect to pay about $50 for application fees. Account fee: With a gold IRA, you'll have to pay an annual account fee to cover the cost of bookkeeping and administrative expenses. Fees vary based on how much money you have in the account, but it can range from $75 to hundreds of dollars per year.

Can you request a free gold IRA kit? ›

If you're ready to request a free gold IRA kit, here's how to do it: Select one or more gold IRA companies that interest you. Fill out the form online or call the company. Speak to a representative to confirm your contact information.

How much money do you need to start a gold IRA? ›

You don't need as much as you might think to start a gold IRA. For newly established accounts, there's a minimum of $5,000. This minimum doubles to $10,000 for transfers or rollovers from other IRAs. These requirements ensure investors are getting a worthwhile return on their investment.

What is the safest gold investment? ›

Instead, the average gold investor should consider gold-oriented mutual funds and ETFs, as these securities generally provide the easiest and safest way to invest in gold. Larger investors seeking direct exposure to the price of gold can buy gold directly through bullion.

Which is better Patriot Gold Group or Goldco? ›

Both offer services to enhance your financial portfolio with gold and silver. Goldco appeals with no setup fee, while Patriot Gold Group, despite higher fees, excels in customer service and quality. Your decision should be informed by their offerings, fees, and your personal investment objectives.

What is the safest IRA to have? ›

Fidelity is the best all-around full-service broker thanks to its combination of IRA account types, investment offerings, research, and customer support. For investors who need help with their IRAs, Charles Schwab is the best IRA for beginners, while Merrill Edge provides the most access to human advisors.

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