8 Best Gold IRA Companies of 2023

For investors looking for a simple way to add diversification to their retirement savings, gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs) offer a great way to gain exposure to the precious metals industry while providing the same tax benefits as a traditional IRA. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium are considered hedges against inflation and stock market volatility, and investing with the best gold IRA companies allows you to diversify and protect your portfolio. These companies offer educational resources, responsive customer service and competitive pricing and easy account set up.

We evaluated more than a dozen gold IRA companies and have highlighted the best options for various investing needs. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned investor, our guide to gold IRAs and the best gold IRA companies will help you make the right choice before investing.

Our Top Picks for Best Gold IRA Companies of 2023

• Augusta Precious Metals - Best Overall
• Goldco - Best for Customer Service
• American Hartford Gold - Best for Low Fees
• Orion Metal Exchange - Best for Small-Balance Investors
• Birch Gold Group - Best for Fee Transparency
• Oxford Gold Group - Best for Beginners
• Noble Gold Investments - Best for Diverse Storage Options
• Advantage Gold - Best for Customer Popularity

Best Gold IRA Company Reviews

Why We Chose It: Founded in 2012, Augusta Precious Metals offers gold and silver investment options and customer education. It uses Delaware Depository — a popular choice among gold IRA providers — to hold customer assets such as gold coins and gold bars.

Augusta Precious Metals has a library of investor resources online. One of the attributes that makes this company rise to the top of our picks is its video-blog series of reasons why not to own gold. Many gold IRA companies use scare tactics or play on investors’ fear of a (highly unlikely) meltdown of the entire financial system and a wholesale collapse of U.S. currency.

Read full review>>

Why We Chose It: Goldco, founded in 2006, has an A+ grade from the BBB and a tremendous number of glowing reviews exhibiting customer satisfaction on the BBB and TrustPilot websites, many of which reference the company’s exemplary customer service.

Goldco uses Brink’s Global Services and Delaware Depository for precious metals storage. For non-IRA gold, you also have the option of having your precious metals stored at Goldco’s own storage facility if you don’t want to keep your gold coins or bullion at home. (Gold IRA home storage runs afoul of IRS rules.)

A company representative says Goldco charges no fees of its own, but the gold IRA custodian charges a $50 setup fee, and $80 for annual maintenance. Storage fees are $100 per year for unsegregated storage, or $150 per year for segregated storage.

Read full review>>

Why We Chose It: American Hartford Gold doesn’t charge gold IRA customers extraneous fees. The company, founded in 2015, charges no fees for setups or transfers, and it runs frequent promotions during which customers can get storage fees waived for two or three years. You do have to pay a $50 fee for the account custodian to establish your precious metal IRA, and the company charges an annual IRA fee of $75 for accounts valued at $100,000 or less and $125 for accounts at $100,001 or more. Additionally, there is a $100 annual storage fee.

American Hartford offers a no-fee buyback program — but keep in mind that buyback prices are lower than purchase prices. A representative says the company primarily works with custodian Equity Trust Company, and when you set up your account, you have the choice to keep your precious metals in either segregated or unsegregated storage.

The company has a relatively low minimum threshold of $10,000 for establishing an IRA, or $5,000 if you plan to buy precious metals for home storage (gold IRA investments can’t be stored at home as per IRS rules).

Read full review>>

Why We Chose It: Orion Metal Exchange does not charge fees for setting up an account, annual maintenance or transferring funds. The company, founded in 2017, runs limited-time promotions for free storage.

If you think you need big bucks to open a gold IRA, think again: Orion has an order minimum of $5,000 — some other gold IRA companies have minimums of $50,000. The company touts no fees, although there is a $50 setup fee that you pay to the custodian. If your precious metals IRA is worth $500,000 or less, your combined annual cost for custodial administration, storage and insurance is a flat $170, according to the company.

Read full review>>

Why We Chose It: Many precious metals IRA companies have little or no information about fees on their websites. Birch Gold Group, in business since 2003, is one of the few gold IRA companies we came across that includes fees on its site. We found it had the most detail about both one-time and recurring annual fees. It also has an A+ rating from the BBB.

Birch Gold Group charges a flat-rate annual fee rather than a percentage of the account value, which could benefit high-balance gold IRA investors. You can choose between Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company as the account custodian, and Delaware Depository or Brink’s Global Services for your precious metals storage.

Read full review>>

Why We Chose It: Oxford Gold Group offers comprehensive customer education resources and tools. Its website says customers can set up their account quickly, often within 24 hours. The company works with Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services, and charges an annual fee of $180, according to the website.

Oxford Gold Group has considerable resources available for new precious metals investors, including an encyclopedia to explain terms about gold prices like “spot price,” and an A+ rating from the BBB.

Read full review>>

Why We Chose It: Noble Gold Investments, founded in 2016, includes an accessible blog along with a comprehensive catalog of coins, like the American Eagle, and bars you can buy for precious metals investments.

Real-time account information is available through the gold IRA custodian. Customers pay two annual fees: an $80 account fee and a $150 fee for insurance and segregated storage, in which customers’ holdings are stored individually rather than pooled together.

In addition to Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services, two well-known precious metals depositories, Noble Gold also has its own depository in the state of Texas, giving customers an additional choice for storing their precious metals.

Why We Chose It: Advantage Gold, founded in 2014, has top-notch reviews, including more than 1,500 reviews on TrustPilot alone. Nearly all — 98% of them — are five-star ratings.

Advantage sells gold, silver, platinum and palladium. It uses STRATA Trust Company and Equity Trust Company as gold IRA account custodians, and Brink’s Depository and Delaware Depository vaults.

Read full review>>

Other Gold IRA Companies We Considered

Red Rock Secured

Red Rock Secured is not on our main list because its website doesn’t have enough information about costs and fees to make a comprehensive evaluation.

• Offers gold, silver, platinum and palladium
• Founded in 2009
• 4.8 Trustpilot rating
• AAA BCA grade

Silver Gold Bull

Silver Gold Bull is not on our main list because its website has very little information investors need to know about IRS-approved precious metals investing.

• Founded in 2006
• A+ BBB grade
• 4.8 Trustpilot rating
• Site says no order cancellations

Read full review>>

Rosland Capital

Rosland Capital is not on our main list because it has a larger spread (the difference between the prices at which it sells and buys precious metal) than some gold IRA providers. It also has a higher number of BBB and BCA complaints.

• Offers gold, silver, platinum, palladium
• Founded in 2008
• A+ BBB grade

Lexi Capital

Lexi Capital is not on our main list because its site says the company does not keep “regular” phone hours but requires exchanges or returns to be approved by phone within three days. It has very few customer reviews on the BBB.

• Founded in 2010
• A+ BBB grade — very few customer reviews or ratings
• AAA BCA grade
• Price quotes include 3% discount for cash payments

Patriot Gold Group

Patriot Gold Group is not on our main list because it employs scare tactics to sell precious metals. It has very few customer reviews on TrustPilot and the BBB.

• Founded in 2016
• A+ BBB grade
• AA BCA grade
• Site says 24-hour account set-up

Read full review>>

Gold IRA Guide

A gold IRA is a niche investment product. This specialized IRA can help diversify a portfolio because precious metals, including gold, are often considered an investment to beat inflation. But it’s crucial to research whether a precious metals IRA makes sense as part of your overall retirement savings plan.

In addition to gold, many precious metals IRA companies sell IRA-approved silver, platinum and palladium in their IRAs. A gold IRA is distinctive because you own the actual precious metals, as opposed to stocks or shares of funds in gold or precious metals mining companies.

What is a gold IRA?

Like a traditional IRA where you might hold stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds or mutual funds, a gold IRA is a tax-preferred investment vehicle — and the only option for holding physical precious metals in an IRA. You might also come across the term “precious metals IRA” used instead of gold IRA.

Per the IRS, gold IRAs are self-directed IRAs, which means they can hold alternative investments such as precious metals. (In their tax treatment, a gold IRA is different from a Roth IRA, which is an after-tax savings vehicle. See Money's picks for best Roth IRA accounts.)

What is a gold IRA custodian?

In addition to the gold IRA company you choose, you’ll also have to work with a gold IRA custodian. This company provides the essential administrative functions required by the IRS to keep your IRA compliant with the agency’s rules.

There are multiple companies that serve as gold IRA custodians. Two of the largest are Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company. Some gold IRAs work with more than one custodian and will let you choose. Others will recommend or require that you work with a custodian of their choosing.

What is a gold IRA company?

Gold IRA companies are essentially brokers that sell IRS-approved precious metals coins and bars you can put in a gold IRA, along with non-IRA precious metals bought by collectors.

Although some gold IRA companies present themselves as advisory in nature, be aware that the customer service and sales representatives you talk to are not registered investment professionals. Many are paid via sales commissions, so the more you buy, the bigger their paycheck.

How does a gold IRA work?

To set up a gold IRA, open an account and make your selection of gold or other precious metals from a company like the ones featured in this guide. If you elect to fund the account with assets currently in another IRA, the gold IRA company will help you manage the rollover (more on that process below).

The gold IRA company also connects you with the account custodian, which handles administrative duties, as well as the depository institution where the precious metals you purchase are held. (The IRS won’t let you keep IRA gold at home.)

Gold IRA companies differ in that some let you choose between multiple custodial firms and depositories, while others require you to use custodians and depository services of their choosing.

Gold IRA rollover

Many types of retirement accounts can be used to fund a gold IRA via a rollover. You can roll over money held in a 401(k), 403(b), 457, pension or Thrift Savings Plan account without triggering a tax liability or penalties. You can also transfer money from an existing IRA to a gold IRA. But you’ll want to do your research, and make an informed decision about whether or not this is the right move for you.

Is a 401(k) to gold IRA rollover right for me?

A gold IRA is a product best suited for sophisticated investors with experience in precious metals investing. If you have questions, consult with a financial advisor who is a fiduciary to decide whether gold makes sense in the context of your existing retirement accounts. Gold IRA companies are not fiduciaries and should not be relied on for financial advice.

If, when determining your investment process, you decide to roll over a 401(k) to a gold IRA — as in, sell the entire balance of a conventional account containing stocks, bonds and/or mutual funds in order to invest in gold — you’re making a very big change to your investment profile. Doing so should be extensively researched beforehand. If you're unsure, take some time to learn the difference between an IRA vs. 401(k).

A conventional retirement account holding stocks and bonds gives you the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of assets, which confers the following benefits:

• Generating income via dividends

• Establishing a diversified investment mix to mitigate the impacts of market volatility

• Using market liquidity to adjust your allocation to your investing goals

Some gold IRA companies refer to their offerings as "diverse" because you can hold more than one kind of precious metal in it. From an investing perspective, this is not diverse. Precious metals — even different ones — are part of the same asset class and do not generate income, unlike dividend-earning assets.

Some gold IRA companies also refer to stocks and bonds as “paper assets” and imply they are a single asset class. This is not the case. You can have a well-diversified portfolio with a mix of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds.

Be sure to factor in the costs of cashing out as well: When you reach the age of 73 and must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your retirement accounts, you need to have your gold coins and gold bullion sent to you. That entails paying for shipping and insurance, or liquidating some of your gold.

Most gold IRA companies will buy back precious metals you bought from them, but buybacks are generally at the wholesale price, which often is around 30% lower than prevailing retail gold prices.

Before opening a gold IRA, consider the context of your broader wealth-management strategy, and set realistic expectations about how much you anticipate your investments growing, and how long you should plan to hold those assets.

Also, it’s important to note that financial advisors recommend allocating no more than 5%–10% of your portfolio to precious metals in order to maintain properly balanced and diversified holdings.

How does a 401(k) to gold IRA rollover work?

If you’ve decided a gold IRA is right for you, you can contact your retirement plan administrator or have the gold IRA company do so. An institution-to-institution transfer is recommended because you never take control of the funds yourself, which spares you the risk of a potential tax penalty.

If you do choose to handle that distribution yourself, the IRS has a strict 60-day window from the date you receive the funds to roll that money over into another qualified retirement account, or the IRS will treat that distribution as a withdrawal and charge you taxes plus an early withdrawal penalty if you are younger than 59 ½ years old.

You can roll over just part of a retirement account balance to fund your gold IRA — although keep in mind that some gold IRA companies have minimum investment requirements as high as $50,000, which might limit your ability to retain enough funds in your old account to maintain a portfolio allocation that will sustain you in retirement.

Why should I roll over my 401(k) into a gold IRA?

Unexpected losses from investing in gold could derail your retirement plan. Rolling over a 401(k) into a gold IRA is not a decision you should make lightly. You should consult with an independent financial advisor to discuss your investing timeline, goals and risk tolerance to determine whether a gold IRA investment or a silver IRA deserves a place in your retirement portfolio.

Keep in mind that you are buying your IRA gold with pre-tax dollars, so you are taxed when you take distributions, as you would be with 401(k)s and other tax-deferred retirement accounts. If you have to take required minimum RMDs and don't have the money to pay taxes owed at the time you take distributions, you could have to liquidate some of your precious metals.

If the value of those metals has dropped, you could experience a loss when you sell. And keep in mind, if you sell your gold back to the gold IRA company, you could make up to 30% less than the price of gold, thanks to the “spread” that gold IRA companies charge.

Investing in a gold IRA

The precious metals in a gold IRA are generally coins and bars approved by the IRS for IRA investing. You can choose a mix of gold and silver, and some gold IRA companies also let you add platinum and palladium to your IRA. When you must begin taking RMDs, you can choose to liquidate the gold or have it shipped to you. In most cases, you will pay for shipping, so make sure to factor in that expense.

Most gold IRA companies will buy back gold or other precious metals they sold you, but these buyback programs are generally conducted at the wholesale price, which is about a third cheaper than the retail price.

How do you hold physical gold in an IRA?

Unlike gold ETFs, which track the performance of gold or hold gold-mining companies, a gold IRA lets you hold the physical precious metals, provided you keep them in an IRS-approved depository institution. If you want more flexibility with your precious metals or want to keep them at home, learn about how to buy gold outside an IRA. If you don't want the complications of investing in physical gold, you can research how to buy a gold ETF.

Gold IRA cost

Gold IRAs typically charge higher fees than those charged for other asset classes you may find in an IRA, like index funds composed of stocks. If you have a gold IRA, you will incur costs to manage the account, as well as maintenance fees, and costs for secure storage and insuring your gold. Precious metals prices can also be volatile over time and aren’t guaranteed to increase in value.

IRA-eligible gold

There are a number of types and forms of precious metals the IRS has approved as IRA-eligible. Certain coins and bars manufactured by the U.S. Mint, the corresponding agency of certain other countries, or designated private minting companies, can be held in a gold IRA.

Is a precious metals IRA the same as a gold IRA?

The term “gold IRA” may be used interchangeably with the phrase “precious metals IRA.” Although the latter is technically accurate, “gold IRA” is often used as shorthand to refer to self-directed IRAs that hold a combination of gold, silver, platinum and/or palladium.

What are precious metals?

Precious metals for purposes of IRS-approved gold IRA investing include just four metals. The IRS has extremely detailed regulations that dictate which coins and bars can be held in a gold IRA. The aim of these precise requirements on size, weight, design and metal purity is to ensure that retirement savers are keeping investment-grade assets, rather than collectibles, in their accounts.

Precious metals list:

• Gold
• Silver
• Platinum
• Palladium

How to invest in precious metals

There are a few ways to invest in precious metals outside of an IRA. Money’s guide on how to buy gold provides details about buying physical gold, as well as gaining exposure to gold via gold ETFs, gold mutual funds and gold futures contracts, or stocks in gold-mining companies.

If you want to hold physical gold and silver like gold and silver coins, it's crucial to buy from a reputable source. While many people who hold physical gold do so because they believe it to be safer, you need to carefully research the company you plan to purchase from to avoid scams. Also, be aware that even legitimate gold dealers add markups to the prices of the precious metal they sell.

If the storage and security requirements of holding physical gold seem like a hassle, you can add gold to your investment portfolio in other ways. Gold ETFs, for instance, provide many options. You can invest in gold ETFs that own physical gold, such as the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) and the iShares Gold Trust (IAU), or that invest in gold mining companies, such as the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) or the Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SDGM). Alternatively, you can purchase shares of ETFs that own gold futures (although this type of commodities investment is less common today than it once was).

You can also get exposure to gold-mining companies (also sometimes simply referred to simply as gold companies) more directly by buying their stocks. For example — Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) and Newmont Corporation (NEM) — the two largest gold-mining companies in the world, are publicly traded and pay market-beating dividends.

Unlike holding physical gold, these options offer you the opportunity to earn dividends, but buying and selling should be conducted strategically according to your investing goals.

Each of these investments should be considered in the broader context of your retirement income needs and retirement portfolio composition, as well as other goals for your financial future.

How We Evaluated the Best Gold IRA Companies

We evaluated gold IRA companies’ websites, along with consumer advocacy organizations like the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance, as well as consumer review sites such as TrustPilot. We considered each of the gold IRA companies’ reputation, transparency and whether or not they provide high-quality online education and resources.

Additionally, we compared the companies' respective fee structures and minimum balances, when available, as well as how easy it was to find this information from their websites. We also analyzed the user-friendliness and responsiveness of their customer service.

We regularly update our list of best gold IRA companies to ensure that our highlighted picks continue to meet these requirements.

Summary of Money’s Best Gold IRA Companies

• Augusta Precious Metals - Best Overall
• Goldco - Best for Customer Service
• American Hartford Gold - Best for Low Fees
• Orion Metal Exchange - Best for Small-Balance Investors
• Birch Gold Group - Best for Fee Transparency
• Oxford Gold Group - Best for Beginners
• Noble Gold Investments - Best for Diverse Storage Options
• Advantage Gold - Best for Customer Popularity

More from Money:

Should You Open a Gold IRA?

How to Start Investing in Gold for Beginners

Everything You Need to Know About Gold ETFs