The most reliable gold IRA companies in the US – our complete list

Reviewing every gold IRA company out there would take up a lot of your time. It’s best to have someone else filter through your options for you, like us.

The following will help narrow down your options considerably. Check out the 10 best gold IRAs in 2022.

1. Goldco

If you’re getting your feet wet with gold IRAs, chances are you’ve heard of this company. It’s an impressive company, even though it’s relatively young.

It was founded by Trevor Gerstz, and it’s headquartered in California. The web-based company mostly deals with gold but also deals with other precious metals, like platinum and silver.

The company was founded in 2006. It’s received countless rewards since its inception, which explains why it had to be on this list and why it had to be number one.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• Impressive customer service
• Desirable promotions
• No high-pressure sales tactics
• Surprisingly high buyback promise

Cons

• $25,000 minimum to open
• Can’t setup account online

2. Augusta Precious Metals

The second company I had to mention was Augusta Precious Metals, and it’s second for a reason. It may not be as impressive as the one mentioned before, but this gold IRA is definitely up there.

It’s a top-rated company for good reason. They sell IRS-approved precious metals, like gold, and work with different custodians to help clients manage everything. The goal of this company has always been to educate clients.

The more clients know, the more they’ll get out of their gold IRA accounts. They try to establish a real relationship with clients, and that makes this company special.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• Very positive reviews
• Good ratings from the Better Business Bureau or the BBB
• Endorsed by Joe Montana
• Offers a one-on-one conference tool designed by an economist
• Lifetime account services
• No pressure sale tactics

Cons

• $50,000 minimum to start
• No online setup

3. Birch Gold Group

The Birch Gold Group had to be on a list of the best gold IRA companies out there. It focuses on all precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

You can buy one of these or a combination; it’s up to you. It was founded in 2003, and the web-based company is located in California.

The company focuses on customer service and educating clients. They are also known to offer personalized options to help each person find the right investment.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• Thousands of five-star reviews
• A+ from the BBB
• Supported by Ben Shapiro
• Ranked number one for customer care

Cons

• No overseas depository
• Setup fees aren’t transparent

4. Regal Assets

Regal Assets is young, compared to other companies. It was founded in 2009, which isn’t so long ago. The company was founded by none other than Tyler Gallagher, a giant in the financial industry.

This is another company in California, but thankfully, it’s online. It should be pointed out that there are offices throughout the world, especially in the European continent. The company focuses on gold IRAs. Of course, it invests in other precious metals, like silver and platinum.

One thing that’s special about Regal Assets is that it also works with crypto IRAs, which is new and interesting. The company was featured in several magazines, like Forbes, SmartMoney, and MarketWatch.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• The company has thousands of five-star reviews on BirdEye.
• They sell bullions because they are easy to liquidate.
• Assets are managed by one entity.
• There’s a low minimum investment compared to others.
• There are no additional costs when buying back.

Cons

• Website not user friendly
• Site is lacking info on its managers
• No BBB rating

5. American Hartford Gold

The next company we have to talk about is none other than the American Hartford Gold IRA company. This is an impressive, family-owned business that has made waves since it was founded.

The company is based in Los Angeles, California, but it can be reached online. American Hartford Gold started with one goal: to help folks invest in precious metals. The company offers precious metals in various forms, like bouillon, bars, and coins.

You choose how you want your precious metal. The company is young though. It was founded in 2015. The company has good representatives ready to help experienced investors and newbies with whatever questions they might have.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• Family owned
• A+ rating from BBB
• Rated number one by INC 5000
• Price match promise on purchases
• Simple sign-up process
• Impressive promotions

Cons

• Offers only silver and gold
• No flat-rate system, which can be annoying

6. Noble Gold

Noble Gold is a young company. It was founded in 2017. As we’ve discussed before, new companies come with natural risks. What I can tell you is that this particular company is starting pretty strongly.

It focuses on precious metals, which is why it’s on this list. The company focuses on creating strong relationships with clients. On top of that, they work hard to make sure you know everything you need to know about gold IRAs.

They help you set up your account. They help you contact custodians. They even help you learn how to use depositories. The company is in California, too, but you can access it online. It has physical depositories throughout the United States, including the American Southwest region.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• They have an impressive and quick sign-up process.
• The customer service is very good.
• They offer one of the lowest investment minimums.
• They have an A+ rating with BBB.

Cons

• It’s a young company.
• There’s no international depository options.

7. Gold Alliance

This is another company I had to add to this list. It’s an impressive company, thanks to the power behind it. The company was founded by two giants in the finance industry.

The company focuses on gold IRAs, so if that’s all you care about, then this company would be a good fit. The company does its best to work with clients, making sure they can deal with the complex paperwork involved with these sorts of accounts.

They want to ensure you’re always IRS compliant. They don’t want you to deal with any issues; no one needs that grief.

The company is kind of young though. It was founded in 2017. Still, it’s been mentioned in large publications like Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• Five star reviews on Google
• A+ rating with Better Business Bureau
• Offer lifetime client support
• Clients enjoy a buy-back promise

Cons

• Very young
• Prices for metals aren’t listed

8. Advantage Gold

I couldn’t forget about Advantage Gold. This company was founded in 2014, which means it’s relatively young, but it’s not the youngest on this list. Still, it’s something I had to mention.

It was founded by Adam Baratta, Larry Levin, and Kirill Zagalsky. These folks are happy to connect their names to this company, especially because it’s been successful since it was founded. This is probably due to these folks’ financial experience. Zagalsky, for example, worked for the US Mint as well as Baratta.

The two learned how money works. Levin worked for S&P 500, which is impressive on its own. The combination of all three of these folks has helped make Advantage Gold the trusted gold IRA company it is today.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• The IRA application can be completed online.
• It’s got hundreds of positive reviews already.
• Only IRS-approved items are sold, which makes shopping easier.

Cons

• Account set up is complex
• Focuses on specific metals, so you won’t find other semi-precious metals
• Education material is too dense for beginners

9. Patriot Gold Group

Patriot Gold Group is one of the most trusted companies on this list, partly because of how long they’ve been in the gold IRA game. They were founded in 1990, so they’ve been doing this for over three decades.

If you want to work with a company that’s been getting it right for a long time, then this will be a good fit. The issue here is they are stuck in their ways. They don’t take chances that other companies might as they prefer stability.

With Patriot Gold Group, it’s easy to set up your account. The company is based in Los Angeles, California but online.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• Understands gold IRAs intimately
• Investor direct prices
• Focuses on precious metals like gold

Cons

• Must fill out paperwork before asking anything
• Stuck in their ways, unwilling to take risks

10. Rosland Capital

I couldn’t end this list without mentioning Rosland Capital. Here’s a company that’s been doing an impressive job for some time. It was founded in 2005.

One thing that makes this company special is none other than actor William Devane, who happens to be their spokesperson. You’ll see the guy on TV from time to time talking about Rosland Capital.

While it’s not smart to just take the word of some celebrity, it’s still noteworthy. The company has one of the most user-friendly sites. It’s impressive by all accounts. This is great since many of its users are a little older.

Here is the Link to their official website

Pros

• They offer international and domestic precious metal sales.
• Specialty gold and silver coins are sold.
• The staff consist of experienced representatives only.

Cons

• Uses third-party links not associated with the company
• Metal prices not easily found on the site

The Most Important Thing to Look for in a Gold IRA Company

You can take our list to heart, but you should do some research on your own. Now, it is going to take some time to do all that, so make sure you give yourself time before you start.

The following are some things to look for to find a good gold IRA company:

Great Ratings

The first thing you want to see is good ratings.

No company is going to satisfy every client, so don’t look for 100 percent positive reviews.

Look for a good chunk of positive reviews, above 60 percent is a good rule of thumb. You also want to see good ratings from official authority groups or bureaus, like the BBB, which has been mentioned a few times.

If you have the time, look at what people are saying in the reviews. Focus on the major benefits, the things that people seem to love the most about the company.

Options for Premium Coins

The next thing you want to look for is premium coin options. While these aren’t necessary, you should have these options if you’re interested in them.

Premium coins are proof coins. They’ve been meticulously crafted and made into rare coins. You will pay a little extra for these. You’re paying for the craftsmanship and the gold or silver.

These coins may appreciate because they’re rare. This could or could not happen.

These coins are attractive though. If you want to show your metals off, then this is what you want.

Longevity

The next thing I had to mention is longevity. Youngness is something to watch out for. There are always exceptions, like some of the ones mentioned here that are impressive, but most of the time, you want to see longevity.

The longer the company has been operating successfully, the higher the chances you’ll be okay. Gold IRAs that have stood the test of time are ones you can trust.

They’ve figured things out. They’ve worked out the kinks. They know how to deal with a crisis and know how to manage your assets. These are things you want. A young company may not be able to handle everything just yet, and you don’t want to be the client they practice on. They might get better with time, but you may suffer till they do.

Still, it’s a bit of a gamble. New companies can be aggressive and might turn out better than established companies.

Acceptable Fee Structure

The next thing you want to pay attention to is fees. These are going to be a pain if you don’t pay attention to them. Some companies are transparent about their fees, which is a good sign.

Ideally, you’ll find a company with one, flat annual fee that’ll never change. Finding something like that ensures you always know what to expect. The problem is that all companies aren’t like this.

Some are a little less forthcoming with their fee structure. Sometimes, they’re deceptive, which is not what you want. This is how you get those surprise bills that set you back. Look for companies that won’t scale your fees as you earn more.

Ask the companies you’re looking at directly about additional fees. Look at past customer reviews. If you notice a chunk of people were surprised by fees, then chances are they’re not being transparent about fees.

Good Efficiency

Efficiency and delivery are the next things to look for in a gold IRA company that you’re considering. Firstly, don’t let any company sucker you into thinking that setting up your account must take a long time.

If they’re asking you to wait 90 days before your account is active, then you want to skip that company. If the company is willing to take that long to get your account up and running, then there’s no telling what other delays they’re willing to submit you to.

It takes some time to set up an account, but effective gold IRA companies have already done the work. You shouldn’t wait longer than a day or two for your account to be set up. Some companies are even able to get your account ready to go in a few hours.

When the account is live, you normally have to wait a few days before you can start funding it and buying the precious metals you’re hoping for. It could take about three to seven business days before you can fund your account, but it shouldn’t take any longer than that.

Friendly and Supportive Staff

I have to talk about the folks you’ll be working with. Avoid companies that hire rude people, who won’t be helpful or don’t have the patience to explain things to you.

It’s also important that you stay away from companies that train their staff to be pushy and use deceptive sales tactics. These sorts of tactics are unnecessary. You’re there because you’re interested in diversifying your portfolio. There’s no reason to use these sorts of tactics on you.

They’ll only make you mad, and they’ll sour the relationship you’re supposed to have with the company. You don’t want to avoid asking a question because you know talking to the salespeople is a headache.

Look at the reviews to find out if the staff you’re working with is good or not. Skip the ones who don’t appreciate their clients. You’ll be much happier if you do this.

Alternative Investment Options

If you’re going to go for a self-directed IRA, then it’s a good idea to take advantage of all its perks, and that means options.

Since it’s self directed, you can look for other investments if you want to diversify your portfolio further, as any good investor should.

The company you’re considering should have a few alternative investment options for you. It could be as simple as more than one type of precious metal, like silver. I mentioned one company that’s working with cryptocurrencies, but there are more alternative investments, like annuities.

You’ll feel happier knowing that options are accessible to you. All you have to do is be willing and act.

Quick Q&A About Gold IRAs

How does it work?

It works by simply transferring the funds in your retirement account to a self-directed IRA that could be customized to your liking. This is necessary because you can diversify your portfolio how you want and can buy gold as part of your diversification.

What kind of metals can you buy?

The IRS lets you buy all sorts of precious metals. Gold is one of them. It’s what we’ve been talking about, but you can also buy silver, platinum, and palladium. If you want to diversify with more than one metal, you can.

Where can your metals be stored?

After you buy all that gold, you don’t have to worry about storing it in some cellar. You don’t have to buy a huge safe to store your gold or other precious metals.

There are civilian depositories throughout the nation and the world where they can be stored for you. If you want, you can keep your gold, but you’ll have to withdraw it, and the IRS will count it as a withdrawal.

Why should you add gold to a retirement portfolio?

It’s done to diversify a bit. On top of that, gold is stable, and it’s safe from the troubles of the world, as governments face from time to time.

When you retire, you want a stable stream of income, so investing in something stable makes sense.

How long should you keep your gold investment?

These are long-term investments. You should shoot to keep them for a minimum of five years, but if you can keep this investment longer, then it’s highly recommended that you do.

Before I go, I want to say that, if it’s up to us, we would focus on Goldco and Augusta. These two companies are the most impressive and hungriest. You can tell their pros outweigh their cons, especially compared to the other companies mentioned here, but that’s just my opinion.