5 Best Gold IRA Companies (2023): Safeguard Your Retirement

When it comes to retirement planning, there are a lot of different options to choose from. A gold individual retirement account (IRA) is one of the best options for safeguarding your financial future and diversifying your existing investment portfolios.

It allows you to invest in physical gold, which can protect your savings from stock market crashes, inflation, and other economic factors.

If you have a traditional IRA, you can do an IRA rollover into precious metals from your 401k. The best gold IRA companies below can help you with this process, taking the headache out of doing everything yourself.

Gold IRA accounts are a type of self-directed IRA and an excellent investment because it allows you to hold physical precious metals like gold, which can protect your portfolio from economic uncertainty and market volatility. With a traditional IRA, you cannot use precious metals.

Exploring precious metals investments within retirement accounts is a wise strategy, and the best IRA companies can offer valuable options to expand your current portfolio and safeguard your retirement nest egg.

If you’re also looking to invest in gold outside of an IRA, check out my article about buying gold coins.

One of the biggest benefits of investing in a gold IRA is that it protects your money from inflation. In recent years, the dollar’s value has been dropping while the price of gold and other precious metals has been steadily increasing.

Since 2001, the price of gold has risen by over 500%, and when you think that period includes the 2008 financial crisis, that’s quite impressive.

Check the latest gold prices here.

That means your gold ira investments could be worth more over time if you put it into gold rather than traditional stocks or bonds.

What Are The Best Gold IRA Companies?

Here is my list of the best-rated gold IRA providers this year, in this in-depth gold IRA comparison.

1. Augusta Precious Metals

Best overall

Augusta Precious Metals was founded in 2012 and has become an industry leader and one of the more trusted precious metal companies aimed at high-net-worth individuals.

One thing that separates this precious metals company from the rest is its educational materials. For example, they offer a free in-depth web conference about investing and articles covering a range of on-topic content to help guide you.

They also have the best customer service in the industry and guide you through the process, handling 95% of the paperwork.

Having experienced high pressure sales tactics myself, as I’m sure you have, Augusta, I am pleased to report it is the opposite. They are not salesy and offer information and support rather than trying to force you into a decision.

If you were in any doubt as to their credentials, they have Harvard-educated economist Devlyn Steele as their education chief and the legendary NFL star Joe Montana as one of their high-profile ambassadors.

For a gold IRA account, they offer a selection of qualifying coins, including:

• American Eagles
• Australian Striped Marlin
• Canadian Maple Leaf
• American Eagle Proofs
• Gold Canadian Eagle
• American Buffalo

Of course, you can buy these as a cash sale outside of any precious metal IRA, and then you have a more extensive selection to choose from as the IRA rules are set high in terms of purity.

Key features/benefits

• You are guided through the process by trusted investment professionals
• They use industry-leading storage specialists Delaware Depository for your IRA storage
• Lifetime customer support (verified)
• Competitive pricing
• Detailed free investment guide
• No hidden charges or annual fees – you only pay a modest amount for your custodian and storage fees with your provider
• Highest approval ratings in the industry

Setup & maintenance costs

One-time fees

• IRA set up: $50

Annual fee:

• Custodian maintenance: $100
• Storage & insurance: $100

What I like/dislike about Augusta Precious Metals:

Like:

• Transparent pricing structure with no hidden fees
• Extremely knowledgeable and experienced staff
• Lifetime support
• Precious metals IRAs are straightforward to open with this company, as you are guided through the whole process

Dislike:

• They don’t offer platinum, palladium, or cryptocurrency IRAs
• High minimum investment of $50,000

Augusta Precious Metals is an industry leader, and the reason that they are my number one pick as the best gold IRA company as they cover all the bases and keep you informed every step of the way.

Get started with Augusta Precious Metals

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2. Birch Gold Group

Best for new investors diversifying their portfolio

The Birch Gold Group, formed in 2003, has become a trusted provider of precious metals IRAs with a dynamic team and diverse portfolio, including gold and silver bullion coins and bars, platinum, and palladium.

They also focus on empowering their customers, not just paying lip service to these principals of education but delivering extensive educational resources. If you’re not sure, check out their reviews, cementing their place as one of the best gold IRA companies.

They also have an affordable minimum amount for investment set at $10,000, which makes it an option for many more people to open a gold IRA account.

A great example of their customer service is offering a complimentary portfolio review to help you make the best decisions for your retirement. This is in addition to their free kit available when you request more information from them on their website.

Birch Gold Group has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is one of the top-rated gold IRA companies by Consumer Affairs, so you’re in good hands.

Check out the images below, which show some of the qualifying precious metal coins for their gold IRA.

I like how they strive to give you as much information as possible, even including a scam protection guide among the vast resources you can access for free.

Key features/benefits

• Excellent info kit to help you make the right choice
• High levels of customer confidence (verified)
• Quality customer support with fast response times for your gold IRA account
• A wealth of information material in an easy-to-understand format
• They offer both platinum and palladium as alternatives to gold and silver
• Simple fee structure

Setup & maintenance costs

The current fees are set out below, but if you invest more than $50,000, they will pay your first-year fees.

One-time fees:

• Account Set Up: $50
• Wire Transfer: $30

Annual fee:

• Storage & Insurance: $100
• Management Fees: $100

What I like/dislike about Birch Gold Group

Like:

• A diverse selection of precious metals
• Good for beginners
• Quality customer support and educational materials
• Affordable entry commitment

Dislike:

• No cryptocurrency IRA
• Transactions times can be overly long

The Birch Gold Group offers a great all-round service, with a wide range of metals and plenty of helpful resources to ensure you make the best choices for your retirement.

Get started with Birch Gold Group

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3. American Hartford Gold

Best for personalized options and buyback program

American Hartford Gold is a family-run company based in Los Angeles that takes great pride in looking after its customers, as is backed up by its high feedback ratings.

Bill O’Reilly and Rick Harrison are among their high-profile clients, and this company has delivered over one billion dollars of precious metals since starting out.

As a family business, you will get a more personalized service than some more prominent companies. They understand this is a big decision and want to ensure you are as comfortable as possible with the whole process from start to finish.

They have an extensive buyback program, so if you want to cash in your investment at any point, they will repurchase it from you without penalty. This is an important feature as it gives you the peace of mind that your investment is always liquid.

They offer a wide range of IRA-eligible coins and bars, which include:

• Saint Helena Sovereign Gold
• Australian Wildlife Gold
• Canadian Maple Leaf
• 2013 Canadian Polar Bear
• 2014 Canadian Arctic Fox

They also offer two types of gold bars, including:

• Valcambi Combibar
• Sunshine Minting 1 ounce Bar

Key features/benefits

American Hartford Gold offers an impressive range of benefits for a smaller company.

• Wide range of gold bullion coins and bars
• Detailed free guide
• Minimum investment of £10,000
• A simple three-step process for gold IRA rollovers
• Buyback program

Setup & maintenance costs

One-time fees:

• $50 set-up fees

Annual fee:

• Variable depending on purchase amount (contact them for latest prices)

What I like/dislike about American Hartford Gold

Like:

• Customer-centered approach for a very personal service
• Bars and not just precious metal coins to choose from
• Helpful buyback program for your physical precious metals
• Real-time market reports
• Weekly blog updates

Dislike:

• No platinum, palladium, or cryptocurrency IRAs
• Need to call for latest pricing info

American Hartford Gold offers a more personal service than most, with the reassurance that they will buy back your gold if you need to liquidate it.

Get started with American Hartford Gold

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4. Goldco Precious Metals

Best for experienced staff & educational materials

Goldco Precious Metals was founded in 2006 with its headquarters in Los Angeles, and currently has a marketing partnership with the famous actor and martial artist Chuck Norris, no less.

They have a very comprehensive free beginners guide available, along with regular blog updates and articles about precious metals, IRAs and the US economy, giving you valuable up-to-date information.

Their minimum investment is $25,000, so mid-range for these IRA companies.

With decades-long experience in precious metal IRAs and with a wealth of positively glowing reviews, this is a company you can trust.

They have a lot of experience with gold IRAs, backed up by the positive reviews they have received. Their staff are highly knowledgeable and are always on hand to help with any queries you may have.

And if you ever want to sell back your gold, they have a buyback program that guarantees the best prices in the market.

While they offer many more types of coins and even platinum and palladium, the types of IRA-approved are only gold and silver coins and include:

• Gold American Eagle Type 1 and 2
• Gold Liberty
• Gold Phoenix
• Gold Australian Striped Marlin
• Gold Freedom and Hope
• Bars of gold

Key features/benefits

• Possibility of a 10% discount when purchasing via their website
• Highly experienced and professional staff to guide you through the process
• No hard selling
• Trusted company proven by their positive customer reviews
• Beginners guide

Setup & maintenance costs

One-time Fees:

• Setup & wire transfer: $80

Annual fee:

• Maintenance: $80
• Storage: $100-$150

What I like/dislike about Goldco Precious Metals

Like:

• Decent buy-back prices
• Handheld every step of the process
• Trustworthy company with over a decade of experience
• Lots of free quality retirement financial advice
• A comprehensive and unique selection of approved coins

Dislike:

• A minimum investment of $25,000 could be too high for some gold IRA investors
• No palladium, platinum, or cryptocurrency IRAs

Goldco is an ideal company if you are looking for a gold IRA, with over a decade of experience and positive customer reviews to back them up.

However, if you cannot meet their minimum investment, I recommend a better choice: American Hartford Gold with a $10,000 investment minimum.

Get started with Goldco Precious Metals

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5. Regal Assets

Best for mixed IRAs and Crypto

Regal Assets was founded in 2009 and, like Goldco Precious Metals, is based in Los Angeles.

They have a very user-friendly website that makes it easy to find the information you need quickly and without any fuss, and with experienced and relaxed advisors (no hard sell).

In addition, they are official members of the Forbes.com Councils and also the Entrepreneur.com Leadership Network.

When it comes to gold IRA rollovers, they have a lot of experience and are one of the most popular companies in this field. They have been featured in Forbes, Smart Money, and The Street.

One thing that makes this provider stand out is that they offer several other retirement options in addition to gold, including Platinum, Palladium, and Cryptocurrency. These can be done as an IRA rollover or transfer.

On top of this, they have a world-first Regal IRA, the only precious metal IRA to date that allows you to mix metals and cryptocurrencies. For example, you can mix of gold, silver, and cryptocurrency in the same IRA.

Their applicable coins for these types of IRA include:

• Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget Coins
• American Gold Eagle Coins
• Austrian Gold Philharmonic
• U.S. Buffalo Gold Uncirculated Coins
• Also included are gold bar options

Key features/benefits

Regal Assets has many unique benefits, including a buying back program at a locked-in price and available in just 24 hours.

• Unique Regal IRA for a mix of precious metals and cryptocurrencies
• Low fees and commissions
• Industry-leading buyback facility
• Free informational kit explaining everything you need to know
• They manage over one billion dollars in assets
• Low minimum investment of $10,000
• No fees for the first year

Setup & maintenance cost

One-time Fees:

• No setup fees

Annual fees:

• Maintenance: $80
• Storage (segregated): $125

What I like/dislike about Regal Assets:

Like:

• A great mix of precious metals and the inclusion of Crypto IRAs
• Low investment minimum
• A very experienced and trustworthy company
• Average of 4.5 out of 5 for reviews on TrustLink
• Industry-leading buying back program

Dislike:

• Hard to find the pricing on their website
• No longer accredited to the BBB (reaccreditation apparently underway)

Regal Assets is best for those looking to invest in a mix of precious metals and cryptocurrencies as part of their retirement portfolio. They have low fees, no setup costs and are a very experienced and trustworthy company.

Get started with Regal Assets

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FAQs For The Best Gold IRA Companies

What is a gold IRA rollover and how does it work?

A gold IRA rollover is when you transfer your traditional individual retirement account or 401k into a gold ira account. This can be done by rolling over funds from your current account or by transferring them.

The process is simple and can be completed in just a few steps.

Firstly, you will need to set up a self-directed IRA with a reputable gold IRA company. This can be done online and usually takes just a few minutes.

Once your account is set up, you will then choose the gold you want to buy and have it delivered to the depository. The gold will be stored in a segregated account on your behalf, as you are not permitted to keep it yourself.

When it comes time for you to retire, you can take physical possession of the gold or sell it and take the cash.

What is the best gold coin to buy for an IRA?

There are a few options for buying gold for an IRA, depending on your personal preferences. Some of the most popular coins include American Gold Eagles, Austrian Gold Philharmonics, and U.S. Buffalo Gold Uncirculated Coins.

Why can’t I choose from more gold coins for my IRA?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has specific requirements regarding what type of gold can be held in an IRA.

The U.S. Mint, the Canadian Mint, or the Perth Mint in Australia must mint the coins. In addition, they must also meet specific purity standards; gold coins must be at least 99.5% pure.

The only exception is the American Gold Eagle coin, which is 91.67% pure.

What is the best gold bar to buy for an IRA?

Again, there are several options for buying gold bars for an IRA. Some of the most popular bars include Credit Suisse Bars and PAMP Suisse Bars.

Are gold IRAs a good idea?

Gold IRAs can be an excellent way to diversify your retirement portfolio and protect your wealth. Gold is a very stable asset and has performed well during times of economic turmoil and is a great way to hedge against inflation and the devaluing of the US dollar.

What is a gold Roth IRA?

A gold Roth IRA is a retirement account that allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals.

The main difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is that with a Roth IRA, you can withdraw your money tax-free in retirement, as you pay the tax on the funds that go into your account.

Is American Hartford Gold legit?

American Hartford Gold is a legitimate gold IRA company that has been in business since 2015. They offer competitive pricing, no setup fees, and are accredited with the Better Business Bureau. Their website is easy to use and offers helpful information on how to get started investing in gold for your retirement portfolio.

Wrapping Up

So that wraps up my review of the top gold ira companies. Hopefully, this guide has given you some insights into the best gold IRA companies for you and what to look for when choosing one.

My number one pick is Augusta Precious Metals. They have the best and most experienced industry professionals with world-class lifetime customer support, and you are guided through the whole process.

Remember, when it comes to retirement planning, it’s vital to do your research and choose the option that best suits your needs.

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