7 Best Gold IRA Companies Of 2023 (Reviewed & Rated)

When it comes to protecting your retirement account against market volatility, inflation, and a pending recession, a gold IRA or precious metals IRA may be one of the best options at your disposal.

 HowToInvestGold.com has reviewed and rated the 7+ best gold IRA companies of 2023 to help you identify the best option to grow and protect your wealth today. 

A gold IRA is a specialized, self-directed individual retirement account designed to hold physical gold and silver, and other precious metals. Just like traditional IRAs, a gold IRA allows pre-tax contributions, meaning that the investment earnings can accumulate tax-deferred.

Opening up a gold IRA account has many benefits, and can, for example, help you:

• Hedge against a weaker dollar and increasing inflation
• Limit exposure to economic uncertainty
• Mitigate the effects of geopolitical instability
• Diminish negative fallout from the coronavirus economic crisis
• Diversify your portfolio
• Take real ownership of your financial future

In this guide, we have reviewed and rated the top 7+ gold IRA companies in the industry to help you identify the best option to protect and grow your wealth today. We have rated each gold IRA company on a variety of factors including BBB/BCA ratings and complaints, customer reviews, annual fees, precious metals selection, storage options, promotions, and buy-back programs.

Let’s start with an overview of all contenders.

 

Top 7 Gold IRA Companies Of 2023

 

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Here’s our list of the top 7+ gold IRA companies (reviewed & rated), starting with our winner Goldco Precious Metals:

1. Goldco: Best Overall Gold IRA Provider
2. Augusta Precious Metals: Most Trusted Gold IRA Company
3. Gold Alliance: Most Affordable Gold IRA
4. American Coin Co: Best ROI Gold IRA
5. American Hartford Gold: Most Transparent Fee Structure
6. Birch Gold Group: The Gold IRA Specialist
7. Noble Gold: Most Personalized Service
8. BullionVault: Best Online Gold & Silver Trading Company

#1 Goldco: Best Overall Gold IRA Company

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Goldco is our top choice for the best gold IRA and precious metals company of 2023. We believe that the company has earned its spot as the leading and most trusted provider of precious metals IRAs in the United States.

For one, Goldco’s mission is to help Americans protect their retirement savings accounts from stock market volatility and inflation through the use of precious metals, which they have successfully been doing for over a decade.

The company’s specialty has always been the sale and delivery of premium gold and silver coins that are IRA-approved, and in helping you identify which precious metals are right for you.

Second, Goldco offers unmatched customer service and an easy and free IRA rollover, where a precious metals specialist at Goldco holds your hand from start to finish.

Also, their low annual fees, highest buy-back guarantee, A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, and AAA rating by the Business Consumer Alliance makes them the best and safest option to open up your gold IRA account.

Additionally, Goldco was honored as the Company of the Year in the 2021 American Business Awards. And in March this year, Sean Hannity and Stew Peters also endorsed Goldco and support the company’s growth initiatives to educate people about the benefits of buying gold and silver, as well as protecting their IRA, 401(k), TSP, or pension accounts with physical precious metals.

Goldco Gold Coins And Gold Bars

Goldco Silver Coins

Goldco Verified And Recent Customer Reviews

#2. Augusta Precious Metals: Most Trusted Gold IRA Company

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Next on our list of the best gold IRA companies of 2023 comes Augusta Precious Metals. The company truly lives up to being the most trusted gold IRA company in the US.

First of all, they have an excellent track record with thousands of top ratings. They also have hundreds of top reviews on watchdog sites like TrustLink, as well as an A+ BBB rating and a AAA rating with the BCA. As a matter of fact, Augusta has been named:

• • “Most-Trusted Gold IRA Company” by IRA Gold Advisor
  • “Best Overall” Gold IRA Company in 2022 by Money Magazine
  • and received “Best of TrustLink” 6 years in a row.

Then there’s the fact that Augusta is endorsed by Hall of Fame quarterback and multimillionaire Joe Montana. He asked his personal financial team to find the best gold IRA company, and they found Augusta for him.

He attended the company’s unique one-on-one web conference and became a customer. Joe loved the company’s mission so much that he also became the company’s paid corporate ambassador.

What also stands out is that the company offers the most unique approach to customer education via its personal one-on-one web conference designed by on-staff Harvard-trained economist Devlyn Steele.

To conclude, Augusta Precious Metals has a well-oiled process for making your gold IRA rollover or transfer stress-free and easy together with IRA Specialists you can trust.

Augusta Precious Metals Gold And Silver Coins And Bars

Augusta Precious Metals BBB Reviews

To give you an overview of what some of Agusta’s happy customers are saying, here’s a sample of the company’s BBB reviews:

#3. Gold Alliance: Most Affordable Gold IRA

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Gold Alliance is among the best and most trusted options for precious metals and is our third-best option for gold IRA companies. The company has been the longest in business with over two decades of experience in the field. It’s clear that Gold Alliance is a highly reputable precious metal investment company worth looking into.

First, the company is ranked very highly on all the significant business ranking and review services – getting close to 5-star reviews each time and also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Beaurue and AAA rating by the Business Consumer Alliance. Additionally, most customers reported the highly professional and friendly customer service that they receive from Gold Alliance and access to a FREE consultation with a Gold Specialist.

Furthermore, Gold Alliance offers an extensive range of IRA-approved precious metals coins and bars and their maintenance fees are relatively low when compared with other vendors. They only charge $180 including insurance, storage, quarterly financial statements, and online access to your account.

Lastly, the company was named #1 Fastest-Growing Gold Company in America by Inc. 5000, and has been featured on Forbes, WSJ, Fox News, Bloomberg Business, Yahoo Finance, and USA Today. They are also exclusively recommended by Mike Huckabee – former governor of Arkansas.

Gold Alliance Trustpilot Reviews

To give you an overview of what Gold Alliance’s customers are saying about the company, here’s a sample of their Trustpilot reviews:

#4. American Coin Co: Best ROI Gold IRA

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In fourth place, we have American Coin Co. – a strong contender in the gold IRA industry despite limited information online. The company, run by CEO Brett Bultje, stands out as both a precious metals IRA manager and a plain old bullion vendor.

The company provides secure, discrete, fully insured shipping on your order, so you can invest with confidence. What’s unique for American Coin Co. is their zero out-of-pocket fees when you establish and fund your account with a trusted custodian. 90% of clients qualify for American Coin Co. to cover their administration and storage for a minimum of one to 10 years; many qualify for no fees for life.

Like Augusta, American Coin Co. focuses on education and offers free virtual educational webinars, plus one on one consult with gold IRA educators. This is beneficial for the investor who wants to learn more before taking the step of opening a gold IRA.

Lastly, their price protection plan ensures that if the price of gold or silver should decline within seven days of your purchase, American Coin Co. will cover the difference in more precious metals on qualified accounts. Overall, American Coin Co. is a legitimate precious metals dealer suited for a wide variety of investors.

#4. American Hartford Gold: Most Transparent Fee Structure

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Forth on the list of our best gold IRA companies of 2023 comes American Hartford Gold.The company is the highest-reviewed gold dealer on the Better Business Bureau and a family-run business that puts its clients at the forefront.

Despite “only” being in business since 2016, the California-based company has processed over $1 billion in transactions. A massive figure that is corroborated by the sheer amount of reviews they have compared to even some of their top competitors.

American Hartford Gold’s President Scott Gerlis comes from a family with an interest in numismatics, coin collecting, and the like. We don’t need to tell you that such a background is going to go a long way when it comes to how products are treated, and indeed, as we gloss over the inventory, we’ll see that Gerlis’ claims of being a coin aficionado are very much valid.

The company’s personalized customer support, 100% free IRA rollover, transparent and competitive fee structure, a remarkable palette of gold and silver bullion, plus the fact that they are rare coin collectors and enthusiasts make them a great choice of gold IRA company.

Additionally, the company is ranked #1 for Inc 5000 in the Precious Metals Vertical and is also endorsed by longtime Fox News television host and political commentator Bill O’ Reilly. Not to forget, “America’s Mayor” and Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is also a client and sponsor of American Hartford Gold.

American Hartford Gold Coins And Gold Bars

American Hartford Silver Coins And Silver Bars

American Hartford Gold Trustpilot Reviews

To give you an overview of what American Hartford Gold’s customers are saying about the company, here’s a sample of their Trustpilot reviews:

#5. Birch Gold Group: The Gold IRA Specialist

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Fifth on our list of the best gold IRA companies for 2023 is Birch Gold Group. With almost two decades in business, we can safely state that Birch Gold Group is an established and reputable gold IRA company.

Like the previous gold IRA companies, they have an A+ rating with the BBB and an AAA rating with the BCA. They’ve also managed to earn thousands of 5-star reviews, with more than 12,000 clients across the US.

The company’s educational, no-pressure sales approach and easy and stress-free gold IRA setup, makes them an excellent choice for a gold IRA company.

In addition, Birch Gold Group has been endorsed by Ben Shapiro and featured regularly in major news and media outlets. This partnership allows the public to learn more about their retirement savings options since Mr. Shapiro’s thoughts are that …”it is foolish not to have some assets in the one area of human activity that has never been worth zero.”

Mr. Shapiro even helped bring to the fore the option to rollover an IRA or eligible 401(k) into an IRA backed by physical gold and silver.

Lastly, Birch waives all setup fees for new accounts over $50,000, plus shipping fees on all cash purchases of $10,000 and more. Not to forget, their buy-back program makes it easy to liquidate your metals when it is time to sell.

Birch Gold Group Gold Coins And Gold Bars

Birch Silver Coins And Silver Bars

Platinum Coins And Bars

Palladium Coins And Bars

#6. Noble Gold Investments: Most Personalized Service

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Making a name for yourself in the precious metals retirement investment sphere in just 5 years is not easy. And making a good name is that much harder. Noble Gold Investments has done just that. Despite their relative freshness as a brand, they consistently pop up as one of the top gold IRA companies available.

Noble Gold, based in Pasadena, California was established in 2017. Just like the other precious metals companies in this article, they focus on shielding Americans’ retirement savings from any number of economic calamities.

The company has an A+ rating with the BBB and an AA rating with the BCA, as well as remarkable customer reviews, practically spotless despite being in business for only 5 years. They also offer the best minimum IRA requirements in the sector, with $2,000 to open an IRA and a $5,000 rollover minimum.

Additionally, one of the stronger points of the company is the availability of IRA-eligible coins in numerous denominations. Likely due to their focus on precious metals dealership, they are able to offer IRA-eligible bullion in denominations that you simply will not find with most other gold IRA companies.

Noble Gold Coins And Gold Bars

Noble Gold Silver Coins And Silver Bars

*7. BullionVault: Best Online Gold & Silver Trading Company

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As a bonus contender on our list of the best gold IRA companies of 2023 we present BullionVault. The company differs from our other precious metals companies in the sense that it is one of the largest online bullion dealers in the world. Even though their main focus is on gold and silver trading, the company offers precious metals IRAs as well.

With BullionVault, individuals can easily invest in gold, silver, and platinum that they can choose to store at home or in secure vaults in Zurich, London, Toronto, Singapore, or New York.

BullionVault is not rated by the BBB since the company is registered in the UK. However, BullionVault has excellent customer reviews and is seen as a trusted and respected online gold dealer, which has served its customers for over two decades.

Besides, BullionVault is partially owned by the World Gold Council, allowing customers to have direct access to the professional bullion market. We would say that BullionVault is the ideal precious metals dealer for international investors just starting out, as well as professional gold and silver traders.

BullionVault Gold Coins And Gold Bars

Silver Coins And Silver Bars

Now, let us cover some common questions and answers about opening a gold IRA account.

Common Gold IRA Questions & Answers

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Even though you have come this far to look for the best gold IRA companies to open a gold IRA account with, you may still have questions.

To hopefully answer all of them, we have listed some common questions and answers about gold IRAs. Feel free to use the quick links in the TOC list to jump straight to any section:

What Is A Gold IRA?

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To begin, a gold IRA is a specialized, self-directed individual retirement account designed to hold gold and silver, and other metals.

Just like traditional IRAs, a gold IRA allows pre-tax contributions, meaning that the investment earnings can accumulate tax-deferred.

A gold IRA (also called a precious metals IRA) differs from a traditional IRA in the sense that it strictly holds physical gold, silver, or other metals.

In contrast to a gold IRA, a regular IRA typically holds paper assets such as stocks, bonds, EFTs, funds, and so forth.

Benefits Of A Gold IRA

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In uncertain times like these, it is more important than ever to turn to assets that help you hedge against inflation and other economic stresses to help strengthen your savings.

Opening up a gold IRA account has many benefits, and can, for example, help you:

• Hedge against a weaker dollar and increasing inflation
• Limit exposure to economic uncertainty
• Mitigate the effects of geopolitical instability
• Diminish negative fallout from the coronavirus economic crisis
• Diversify your portfolio
• Take real ownership of your financial future

For more information, you can visit our article on gold IRA pros and cons – is a gold IRA right for you?

Are There Different Types Of Self-Directed Gold IRAs?

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Yes, there are two types of gold IRAs available:

1. Traditional-Based Gold IRA

With a traditional IRA, the contributions you make are tax-deductible (subject to income limitations). When you start taking distributions from your gold IRA, the amounts withdrawn are taxable as ordinary income. And you can start taking distributions without penalty when you are age 59½.

Traditional IRAs may be good choices for those individuals who anticipate finding themselves in a lower tax bracket once they reach retirement.

That way, they can realize tax benefits from their contributions during higher-bracket working years and pay taxes at a lower rate on withdrawals once they retire.

Note that a traditional IRA – including a traditional gold IRA – comes with a required minimum distribution (RMD) mandate. This means that you must begin taking annual distributions from your IRA starting at the age of 72.

2. Roth-Based Gold IRA

In contrast to a traditional IRA, with a Roth gold IRA, the contributions you make are NOT tax-deductible. This means there is no tax benefit generated from your account contributions that you will enjoy during your working years.

However, when you make withdrawals from your Roth IRA, you do not have to pay taxes on the distributions as you do with a traditional IRA.

Roth IRAs may be a prudent account choice for those individuals who believe the tax bracket they’re in during their working years is lower than the one they’ll be in once they retire.

They will not receive a tax benefit from their contributions while they’re still working, but they won’t pay taxes at all on their withdrawals during retirement when they’re in a higher tax bracket.

Additionally, there is no required minimum distribution feature for a Roth IRA. Something else to be aware of: As of 2023, your modified adjusted gross income must be less than $153,000 in order to contribute to a Roth IRA.

Please be aware that the guidelines presented here for both traditional and Roth IRAs are very broad. Before choosing between a traditional and Roth IRA, you should consult with your tax advisor to ensure you’re making the best decision on behalf of your own particular tax profile.

Do I Need To Pay Taxes On My Gold IRA?

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By investing in a gold IRA, you will diversify your retirement portfolio on a tax-deferred basis and maintain the tax preferential treatment.

For this reason, transferring or rolling over a portion of your existing IRA account into a gold IRA will not trigger any tax implications. In other words, you do not have to pay taxes on your contributions until you withdraw them.

However, there are limitations on how much you can contribute to these accounts each year, but these limits can change from year to year. Your gold IRA company will be updated on these rules.

What Are The Fees Of A Gold IRA?

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A precious metals IRA or gold IRA often comes with higher fees than a traditional or Roth IRA that invests solely in paper assets.

Typically, there are 3 sets of fees charged with a gold IRA:

1. Account Setup Fee

The one-time account setup fee is around $50 to $150. For example, Goldco only charges $50 in the setup fee.

Additionally, some companies waive this fee if the account size is big enough. To give you two examples, Augusta Precious Metals has a promotion where they will reimburse up to 10 years of fees to your IRA in premium silver coins. And Birch Gold Group waives all setup fees for new accounts over $50,000, plus shipping fees on all cash purchases of $10,000 and more.

2. Admin/Custodial Fee

Except for the setup fee, there is also an annual administrative or custodial fee, ranging from $50 to $150 depending on the account’s size.

3. Storage Fee

Lastly, storage fees are also charged by the depository ranging from $100 to $150 annually, depending on the amount of gold being stored. Plus, if you prefer segregated storage or non-segregated storage.

*4. How Do Gold IRA Companies Make Their Money

In most cases, companies charge a markup/commission to make money.

Instead of the regular commission for purchasing or selling gold, most gold IRA companies add a “markup” to the spot price, which is essentially their take to facilitate the transaction.

Should I Buy Gold Bars Or Gold Coins?

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When purchasing gold for your gold IRA, you can choose between bullion bars and sovereign coins.

The IRS has established guidelines for metal “fineness” standards to determine whether gold or silver in the form of bullion bars or coins is acceptable for a gold IRA.

This means that the IRS only allows specific gold and silver coins and bars, such as:

• Gold or Silver American Eagles
• Gold or Silver American Eagles (Proof coins)
• Gold or Silver American Buffalos
• Gold or Silver Canadian Maple Leafs
• Gold or Silver Austrian Philharmonics
• Silver America the Beautiful Coins
• Gold or Silver Bullion Bars
• American Silver Eagles
• And more.

No matter what bullion or coins you choose, a reliable gold IRA company knows what is and what is not acceptable for a gold IRA. While both are essentially valued in the same way—per ounce based on the spot price of gold, coins may be easier to trade and tend to sell at higher premiums than bullion bars.

Besides, the markups are often higher on small bullion bars. And large bars are more suited for institutional investors. However, all the gold IRA companies (listed above) offer favorable buy-back programs for both coins and bullion.

How Do I Fund My Gold IRA?

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Opening a gold IRA is great, but having it funded with an existing plan is even better. All gold IRA companies listed in this article assist with performing rollovers of various kinds, including:

• The full or partial rollover of a 401(k) or similar retirement account
• The full or partial rollover of a 401(k), TSP, or similar inactive retirement account
• Rollovers of less common plans and accounts, such as SIMPLE or SEP IRA

When working with any of these gold IRA companies, rollovers are not as troubling as they may seem.

The rollover is handled by a specialist on behalf of the custodian company, as well as any administration that the gold IRA company may employ. And the new gold IRA can be funded by several IRAs or receive only part of the funds that would go into another IRA.

Can I Rollover My 401(k) Into Gold?

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Yes.

In fact, many people who choose to invest in a gold IRA are using funds they acquired while using a traditional IRA or company-managed 401(k). Additionally, retirees also make the switch to gold with accounts they take with them upon leaving the workforce.

Many choose to roll over just a portion of their IRA or 401(k) to a gold IRA as a way to diversify their nest egg, which should always be the way to go. Learn more in our ultimate gold IRA guide.

Where Should I Store The Gold In My IRA?

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IRS regulation has mandated that the bullion in your IRA rests with a certified depository, an entity separate from the custodian who will manage your daily paperwork. Needless to say, you cannot keep your IRA gold in a home safe, safety deposit box, or under the mattress.

Most gold IRA companies partner with different custodians that are carefully vetted and will make sure your metals are stored safely.

But if none of them are what you find suitable, you can introduce a depository of your own to the mix, provided it is compliant with regulations.

For example, Brink’s, the Delaware Depository, and IDS are fairly similar. While only IDS among the three offers segregated storage, all three have a similar set of bonuses:

• A standalone facility where the bullion is processed
• Both the facility and its vaults are managed using the best technology available to the depository
• They have security measures like high-defense vaults and electronic systems
• Adding to that, their assets are insured with a multi-fold policy

Generally, the company handles transportation logistics as well as insurance coverage.

Note: It is up to you to confirm that any company you invest with has all the required licenses, registrations, insurance, and bonds to protect your investment. So, ask for verification of those licenses and other information.

When Can I Take Distributions?

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If you are at the qualified age to start getting disbursements from your account (usually 59 ½ ), you can choose to take funds in cash value. Or you can have the actual metals shipped to you directly

But be aware that you will be taxed accordingly and be responsible for any liability to the IRS for early withdrawals. The bottom line is that you should treat a gold IRA as a long-term investment for retirement and hold it to maturity.

Note: Remember that you have to start taking payments at 70 ½.

How To Start A Gold IRA

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To begin the process of opening a gold IRA is simple, especially when you partner with precious metals experts who know the ins and outs of this type of IRA.

Let us show you the easy 4 steps when opening a gold IRA next:

	1. Select Your IRA Plan For starters, to invest in precious metals you have to start with a self-directed IRA. As an investor, you can begin a new IRA account or roll over from an existing retirement account. It is key to speak with a tax advisor and precious metals expert to make sure that you follow regulations and that any retirement accounts you currently hold are eligible for a gold IRA transfer or rollover, or other precious metals IRA.
	2. Select A Precious Metals Custodian Second, gold IRA assets need to be stored with a custodian per IRS regulations. So, working with precious metals investing professionals, like those at Goldco or Augusta Precious Metals, will help you find a custodian experienced with gold IRA investing. That way, you’ll ensure that your self-directed IRA is set up correctly.
	3. Select Your Precious Metals When choosing precious metals, it is important to remember that they need to meet certain IRS rules and regulations to avoid retirement mistakes when investing. Working with a precious metals specialist will ensure that you are choosing the right types of gold, other precious metals or crypto.
	4. Purchase Precious Metals Once you have chosen your desired metals as an investment, you can purchase them and work with your custodian regarding storage. The custodian will keep your assets safe and secure at a bullion depository so that they will be available when you need them.

How To Manage The Precious Metals In Your Account?

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After the account is open and funded, getting started can feel a bit prohibitive. Even the die-hard gold investor might find some disagreements over the coin denomination to invest in. Those with less intent can succumb to external factors more easily, and in finance, these are always within arm’s reach.

All precious metals fulfill the same purpose in your account relative to other assets. More than likely, they are a form of hedge and were bought with safety in mind. But relative to each other, precious metals can have very varied utility.

Reasons for wanting your gold IRA to include:

Gold

• The most defensive of the four and the safest pick. Gold has the least volatility to the downside, therefore often lacking explosive price action. It behaves remarkably in any crisis scenario, even when the setting is unprecedented.
• The industrial aspect is present but limited. Though gold has plenty of utility and uses in manufacturing in a range of industries, it is mostly viewed as an investment metal. Even those buying gold jewelry often think about its pricing in weight down the line.
• The widest range of investment options, in an IRA and outside it, and the most represented of the precious metals. Collectors and IRA investors alike will be strapped for choice when picking items from the inventory.

Silver

• On the precious metals scene, oftentimes gold’s opposite. It is always both a safety play and a defensive one, as the metal never leaves this role on a broader scale. But within the precious metals spectrum, silver behaves differently from gold despite following its price.
• Those who buy silver do not do it because it is cheaper than gold, as the saying goes, but because of its specific range of benefits. The metal has a huge manufacturing side, with green technology growing more popular. Any significant impacts in demand from the manufacturing sector would greatly benefit silver’s price.
• A similarly varied range of investment options for gold, including many new and old coin varieties that can either be held in an IRA or outside it. Gold and silver both have a very pronounced sector of coin enthusiasts compared to the other two precious metals.

Platinum and Palladium

• Within the context of precious metals, these could be considered industrial metals. They are every bit as volatile as silver but for different reasons. Palladium’s valuations exceed gold these days. Meanwhile, platinum, historically gold’s equal in price, sits around roughly half it.
• Both platinum and palladium have a strained mine supply. Not a lot is being mined, and mining is highly localized. In palladium’s case, for example, nearly 40% of annual production comes from one country. This has contributed to the metal soaring to new all-time highs. Despite a dearth of supply, technologies making use of both platinum and palladium are on the rise.
• One might think that platinum and palladium will have few investment options, but that is not the case. Besides a range of bars, plenty of investors are interested in sovereign coins made from either platinum or palladium.

Final Thoughts: Building A Gold IRA That Lasts

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When it comes to your retirement, a gold IRA can help you diversify, protect, and grow your retirement savings account, as well as help you hedge against a weaker dollar and increasing inflation.

Even though your current investment situation and future goals are all unique, each of these gold investment companies has the expertise and knowledge to help you achieve the retirement of your dreams.

So, start by requesting any of these companies’ gold IRA information kits/guides, and a representative will reach out to you and provide you with all the information you’ll need to make the best investment choice for your future.