7 Best Gold IRA Companies in 2022
Though many people favor traditional individual retirement accounts (IRA), savvy investors may opt for alternatives, like precious metals. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the benefits of gold IRAs and the best providers to work with.
Best Customer Support
Goldco Precious Metals
- Over a decade of experience handling IRA accounts
- Low Yearly Fees
- Exclusive new-client promotions
- Outstanding customer service
Best Pricing
Augusta Precious Metals
- Joe Montana is a corporate ambassador
- One-on-one conference
- Simple account opening process
- Extraordinary customer service
Lowest Fees
Noble Gold Investments
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Precious metals spark images of wealth and prosperity, don’t they? Gold, silver, and platinum have marked wealth and prosperity for centuries, and that’s not likely to change soon.
That makes investing in precious metals an exceptional way to secure your retirement. We’ve seen market turmoil too often over the past few decades.
In many cases, it has cost good people large portions of their retirement funds. With the push to diversify and find more stable investments, precious metals emerged as a robust option.
At first glance, a gold IRA may feel like chasing the shiny toy, but if you dig a little deeper, it’s a wise decision. A diverse portfolio is your best defense against market instability, and choosing something that retains value could give you a stronger sense of security.
Of course, as with any investment, there are crooks promising all that glitters only to deliver a poor knock-off. Fortunately, investing in precious metals isn’t new, and the 7 best gold IRA companies have a reliable system, solid business ratings, and long-term customers.
The Best Gold IRA Companies for 2022
Company
Best For
Goldco Precious Metals
Best Customer Support
Augusta Precious Metals
Best Pricing
Noble Gold Investments
Lowest Fees
Birch Gold Group
Best Customer Service
American Hartford Gold
Lowest Minimums
Advantage Gold
Most Educational
Hard Assets Alliance
Best Security
A Detailed List of the Top Gold IRA Companies
Choosing the best gold IRA companies to work with wasn’t easy, but we narrowed the list to a few select categories to help you decide. From best overall to high-quality customer service, each company on our list contributes something unique to the industry.
Goldco Precious Metals
Best Customer Support
Key Features
- Over a decade of experience handling IRA accounts
- Low Yearly Fees
- Exclusive new-client promotions
- Outstanding customer service
Goldco Precious Metals is a renowned precious metals firm specializing in IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts). The company has made a name for itself for its service transparency, low yearly rates, and excellent customer service.
About Goldco Precious Metals
Founded in 2006 in Woodland Hills, California, Goldco Direct, LLC is a precious metal firm offering retirement investment solutions. Goldco deals in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, or a combination of these.
Trevor Gerszt is the founder and owner of Goldco. You can also buy precious metals directly from Goldco.
Who is Goldco Best For?
Goldco Precious Metals is the ideal investment service for the following types of investors.
- People who prefer tangible assets. Unlike some companies that are at risk and may close down at any moment, precious metals maintain their value. If you’re looking for a reliable, physical investment source, then precious metals are a perfect choice.
- Don’t want to take the risk of investing in the stock market. Precious metals always have market value and bear no risk to the investor. Even if the stock market fluctuates, precious metals serve as the savior, unlike traditional securities.
- People looking for the right retirement savings plan. You don’t have to do extensive market research for the perfect investment. Precious metals are your safest bet, unlike unstable stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
- People who are about to retire or have reached the retirement age. The 2008 recession was a financial disaster, and you never know when it strikes again. The best to protect your wealth from any financial hardships is to invest in precious metals.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
$25,000
Fees:
$175-$225/yr
Current Promotions:
5% back on metals over $50k
Pros
- Over a decade of experience handling IRA accounts
- Low Yearly Fees
- Exclusive new-client promotions
- Outstanding customer service
Cons
- Online account setup not supported.
- Initial IRA deposit $25,000.
Augusta Precious Metals
Best Pricing
Key Features
- Joe Montana is a corporate ambassador
- One-on-one conference
- Simple account opening process
- Extraordinary customer service
Augusta Precious Metals helps retirement savers gain peace of mind by diversifying their investment portfolio with physical gold and silver. They help individuals rollover IRA or 401(k) to one that contains gold & silver.
About Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals is a family-owned business that offers Gold and Silver IRAs. It’s a company focused on aiding potential investors to take control of their financial future with confidence and experience.
The firm’s employees have over 50 years of experience in the industry. Augusta cooperates one-on-one with investors to help grow wealth and make sure that you have a comfortable and reliable retirement with a precious metal IRAs.
The company’s Better Business Bureau rating is A+ and it has a Business Consumer Alliance AAA rating. On TrustLink, the company’s rating is 5.0.
Augusta Precious Metals CEO Isaac Nuriani started the company in 2012. What makes it so successful is its customer-centric approach to investing.
Devlyn Steele is their director of education who does APM’s one-on-one webinars to help educate individuals on the benefits of starting a precious metals IRA.
The company strives to help people protect their investments and offers a personalized approach to precious metal investing. You won’t have to worry about paperwork or regulations – the firm will guide you through the process with integrity and institutional knowledge.
Who is Augusta Precious Metals Best For?
Augusta Precious Metals is best for someone looking to diversify their retirement portfolio on a tax-deferred basis and keep up their status-quo tax treatment.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
$50,000
Fees:
$180/year
Current Promotions:
Fees waived (depending on the investment amount)
Pros
- Joe Montana is a corporate ambassador
- One-on-one conference
- Simple account opening process
- Extraordinary customer service
Cons
- Don’t offer platinum or palladium bullion
- Thorough, transparent process takes slightly longer
Noble Gold Investments
Lowest Fees
Key Features
Two financial experts founded Noble Gold Investments in 2017 to educate customers about precious metal IRAs and make informed investment decisions. The company is a full-service firm with a focus on precious metals for long-term wealth and retirement planning.
About Noble Gold Investments
Noble Gold Investments base the company’s premise on making investments in precious metals easy, with attainable customers’ results. Collin Plume, the President, offer decades of expertise in the financial industry, including real estate, stocks, bonds, and precious metals.
It takes just a few minutes to open an account on the company’s website, and Noble Gold Investment offers a wide range of physical gold and silver bullion bars and coins.
This precious metals investment company has a well-established network of financial agents, certified accountants, estate planners, and legal professionals.
They regularly consult with them to improve their clients’ portfolios and provide solid advice and financial direction.
Who is Noble Gold Best For?
Noble Gold Investments is ideal for individuals who know what they’re looking for and want to invest wisely. The minimum cost to invest is $2,000, which is generally affordable and lower than other companies’ requirements for similar plans.
The firm works with customers in a direct, transparent fashion so that they can open an account. While Noble Gold may suggest options to clients, there is no hard selling so that you can feel at ease and comfortable dealing with them.
Individuals who are new to investing in precious metals and want to plan for long-term goals and financial emergencies may consider the Royal Survival Pack that provides a collection of well-known precious metals for a diverse investment.
This pack comes in two forms: Noble Express, which is delivered straight to you, and Noble Fortress, which is held in a high-security, guarded depository, either in the US or overseas.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
$2,000
Fees:
225
Current Promotions:
Incredible precious metals buyback program
Pros
Cons
Birch Gold Group
Best Customer Service
Key Features
- High business ratings from trusted sources
- Educational resources on precious metals and IRAs.
- Competitive Prices
- Excellent customer service
Founded in 2003, The Birch Gold Group is a leading name in handling and valuing precious metals and Gold IRAs. With almost two decades’ experience, the media-featured Birch Gold Group has high feedback from clients and review resources.
About Birch Gold Group
Valued by industry colleagues, the media, and customers alike, Birch Gold Group is an established dealer of precious metals in America. Based in Burbank, California, Birch Gold Group’s dedicated and knowledgeable team has been advising clients since 2003.
If you’re looking for reliable, competent advice to help secure the future of your retirement, this might be a great option. Birch Gold Group is committed to putting customer empowerment first; you decide what happens to your money.
Who is Birch Gold Group Best for?
Investing in precious metals can feel daunting, especially if you’re new to the investment process. How, then, to be certain that Birch Gold Group is a good match for you?
Birch Gold Group is prepared to work with everyone. There’s no limit on the clientele they engage with, and their educational resources are informative and geared towards making IRAs and precious metal investment accessible to even the novice investor.
With almost two decades of experience, Birch Gold Group is amply situated to guide you through the investment process and custodian and storage selection.
Their dedicated team’s emphasis on transparency and customer knowledge will help you make informed decisions every step of the way.
Further, precious metals and gold IRAs are an excellent way to give your portfolio in good condition as you head towards retirement. The economy might fluctuate, and stocks may vary, but precious metals’ market value remains stable.
But that’s not the only reason to put your faith in the Birch Gold Group and precious metals. There are other reasons for starting a gold IRA, including:
- No contract required to realize your gold
- Anonymity possible when investing in gold
- No specialized knowledge needed to invest in gold
- Easy and cost-effective to store gold safely
Furthermore, because gold and other precious metals are tangible, liquid assets, they can be valuable investments in times of crisis.
Now more than ever, we live in uncertain times, and the security afforded by precious metals and gold IRAs has never been more welcome.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
$10,000
Fees:
$180/yr
Current Promotions:
Receive $1,000 in free silver (depends on investment amount)
Pros
- High business ratings from trusted sources
- Educational resources on precious metals and IRAs.
- Competitive Prices
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Only available to customers in the U.S.
- $10,000 minimum for non-IRA purchases
American Hartford Gold
Lowest Minimums
Key Features
- Low investment minimum
- A+ rating with Better Business Bureau
- Low annual fees
- Price match guarantee
American Hartford Gold is a family-owned and operated company that helps individuals and families invest in precious metals within their retirement accounts.
About American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold is based in Los Angeles. The family owned and operated business helps people invest in precious metals, including platinum, silver, and gold.
American Hartford Gold delivers inside retirement accounts such as a TSP, 401K, or IRA, as well physical assets. The firm achieves greater security for its clients’ futures by adding “safe haven” assets to their portfolios, such as gold IRAs.
Trusted and recommended by Bill O’Reilly, American Hartford Gold is rated A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. It also has a mission to be completely transparent and fair while educating and helping clients with investments in the precious metal industry.
Who is American Hartford Gold Best For?
If you are here, you know that gold is the standard. American Hartford Gold is dedicated to the wise investor who understands gold IRAs are a tax-efficient way to secure your future.
When you sell precious metals from an IRA, you pay zero taxes on the gains. So, when the stock market is hit, gold, silver, and other precious metals keep your investments stable.
If you want a company with years of experience and a Better Business Bureau A+ rating, you are in the right spot. American Hartford prides itself on customer service and knows that personalized investment is the key to success.
Precious metal investments can be costly, but American Hartford Gold is a cut above the rest with lower rates and fees than its competitors. The variety of options between silver, gold, and platinum bars and coins is what allows clients to feel secure in their gold IRA through American Hartford Gold.
The flexibility and reliability are why the firm is best for a variety of quality investors.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
$1,500
Fees:
Up to $150/year (charged by custodian)
Current Promotions:
Receive up to $1,500 in free silver (with a qualifying purchase)
Pros
- Low investment minimum
- A+ rating with Better Business Bureau
- Low annual fees
- Price match guarantee
Cons
- International investment options are limited
- Only available for U.S. customers
Advantage Gold
Most Educational
Key Features
- Buyback services available
- U.S. Mint approved dealer
- Exceptional customer service
- Easy to liquidate your investment retirement account.
Advantage Gold is an investment firm that specializes in precious metals. It’s a great option for first-time buyers because their staff is knowledgeable and can help provide education and resources to get you started on the right track.
About Advantage Gold
Advantage Gold is an investment firm that specializes in precious metals. You can set up an investment retirement account; invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and IRS-approved coins.
The company was founded by Adam Baratta and Kirill Zagalsky, who are experts in the precious metals industry.
As mentioned above, this company is relatively new since it started in 2014. They pride themselves on educating the investor, so they feel good about their investment decisions.
Who is Advantage Gold Best for?
Advantage Gold might be the best gold IRA company for first-time buyers.
The reasons for this include the knowledgeable staff and the education they offer clients. The best thing about Advantage Gold is that they are providing education on precious metal investing so that buyers understand the market before they start, avoiding wasted time and money.
Whether you’re new to precious metal investing or not, Advantage Gold may be appealing to you.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
$25,000
Fees:
$225/yr
Current Promotions:
Invest $50,000 (waives all fees for the first year )
Pros
- Buyback services available
- U.S. Mint approved dealer
- Exceptional customer service
- Easy to liquidate your investment retirement account.
Cons
- Online purchase not available
- A relatively new company
Hard Assets Alliance
Best Security
Key Features
- Competitive pricing
- Easy to open an account
- Different account types
- Great storage options
Are you wondering whether Hard Asset Alliance is a reliable and legitimate company? This article will explore the advantages and disadvantages of Hard Asset Alliance, and whether it is a trustworthy company.
It is well known that precious metals are very popular at the moment, and investing in them is becoming more and more the rage. This is because gold is seen as being crisis resistant, and people believe that metal is similar.
This article will explore the company’s background, as well as the products that are offered by Hard Asset Alliance. It will also look into whether or not it is safe to invest using this company.
About Hard Assets Alliance
Hard Assets Alliance is a precious metal company that provides a brokerage service. It is a combination of research and economic analysis which come together to allow the buying and selling of precious metals.
The company gives you access to precious metals at very good prices that are competitive when compared to other companies that provide a similar service.
Hard Asset Alliance (HAA) provides a full service when it comes to buying and selling precious metals. They have the option for international storage and different delivery options.
You are able to open an account in which you can purchase and store, and then sell these precious metals. The account options available include things like an IRA.
Important Information
Account Minimum:
N/A
Fees:
Storage Fees: 0.7%/year
Current Promotions:
$5/month minimum per account; waived for accounts with MetalStream activated.
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Easy to open an account
- Different account types
- Great storage options
Cons
- No transparency
- Lack of customer service
What is a Gold or Precious Metals IRA?
An IRA, or individual retirement account, is meant to see you through the retirement years. Traditional IRAs can involve various investments, like a 401(k) program, while gold and precious metal IRAs rely on stocks in gold companies or physical products, like coins.
Benefits of Having a Gold IRA
Investing in precious metal IRAs could carry significant benefits if you handle them properly. Keep in mind that precious metal IRAs, like any other investment, should only make up part of your portfolio.
Tax-free growth
Though the IRS has guidelines and rules for gold IRAs, they also provide some special benefits for using them. Contributions are tax-deductible, and you have some tax-free rollover options.
Security
As we’ve seen time and again, banks, stocks, and paper money can rise and fall. Gold and other precious metals offer more security in uncertain times because they remain almost universally coveted.
Diversification
Spreading your investments around and choosing a combination of assets builds a more diverse portfolio. The diversification approach limits the risk of loss and helps you survive any market volatility.
Capital appreciation
Gold prices change like anything else, but they trend toward increases, often substantial, making them a solid investment plan. Likewise, other precious metals follow a similar trend, though they all differ slightly.
Limit inflation
Though gold prices trend upward, they usually run opposite paper money and stocks, meaning they may protect you against inflation. When stocks and other paper assets plummet, you can rely on precious metal IRAs to hold their own and keep you afloat.
Gold IRA Rules & Regulation
The best gold IRA companies know the rules and regulations so that they can stay in business. However, as the investor, it helps to have an idea about what to expect before you enter into an investment.
Gold standards
We’ve come a long way from the days of the 49ers prospecting for gold, but just like those days, investors have standards. You can’t use just any gold for an IRA, it must meet requirements outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including a minimum fineness.
Unfortunately, not just any gold qualifies for an IRA. Even some of the most valuable collector’s coins fall short of the minimum fineness ratings, making them collectibles instead of assets.
Gold and other precious metals must meet fineness standards of .999 or 99.9%.
Purchase through a custodian
Also, unlike the prospectors of old, you can’t take any gold you find or possess and shift it into an IRA. You must purchase precious metals through an IRS-approved custodian.
Special storage
If a gold IRA gives you the image of opening a lockbox in your home whenever you feel the need to gaze upon your investment, you are in for a surprise. The physical gold, or other precious metals, must remain within a bank or IRS-approved trustee.
Many providers allow you to choose segregated or non-segregated storage. Segregated storage means your precious metals have their own space in the facility, while non-segregated vaults contain gold belonging to several people.
Required minimum distribution
Like most IRAs, gold and precious metals have required minimum distributions (RMD). While it may not be an issue some years, other years you may end up struggling to sell the gold at an optimal time to meet that minimum and avoid penalties.
FAQ’s
Once you determine that a gold IRA is right for you, it helps to know how to set on up. Though you may not want to rush into anything, you be surprised by how easy it is.
How to Invest in a Gold IRA
Once you determine that a gold IRA is right for you, it helps to know how to set one up. Though you may not want to rush into anything, you may be surprised by how easy it is.
Step #1: Choose a gold IRA provider
Since you need to go through an IRS-approved custodian, that’s the best place to start. It’s important to find a reputable company to work with but note that some brokers may suggest custodians they know.
Doing your homework is crucial to protect yourself and your investments. Since you’re developing a self-directed IRA, many firms don’t offer support for choosing a gold broker or custodian.
As you research companies, don’t be afraid to ask questions and dig deep.
- Look for transparency, especially regarding fees and minimum thresholds.
- Check the company’s history from objective sources, like the Better Business Bureau and other review sites.
- Make sure the company possesses all necessary licenses, registration, and insurances. Remember that the company must be IRS-approved to handle a gold IRA.
As a final note about choosing a provider, don’t underestimate your gut feeling. If a company seems too good to be true or doesn’t seem to offer a personal experience, it may not be the right fit.
Step #2: Begin rollover or transaction process
Establish the self-directed IRA account and set up your contribution. You could also roll over funds from qualified plans. Make sure you meet all minimums and work within the established contribution limits.
Step: #3: Invest in gold or precious metals
While you can’t buy just any gold or silver, you have some options. Depending on the provider you chose, they may provide you a selection of dealers to use. Again, everything you purchase must meet the IRS guidelines to work for a gold IRA.
Best Customer Support
Ranked #1 for Best Pricing
When it comes to customer service, fees, safety, and overall customer satisfaction, Goldco Precious Metals checks all of the boxes.