Precious Metals IRA Comparison · 2026
Eight providers compared by verified fees, all four IRA-eligible metals, account minimums, regulatory record, and the round-trip cost drag most articles never show you.
The best precious metals IRA companies in 2026 depend on two things: your rollover size, and whether you want only gold and silver or all four IRA-eligible metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium).
The part that matters more than the ranking:
In this industry, the written quote is worth more than the logo on the kit. A $225 annual fee is small compared to a 12% premium over the spot price on a “premium” coin that should have been a 5% premium on standard bullion. That’s the real money. We show you how to ask for it in writing — and what to walk away from.
Take our free 60-second matching tool →| If this is you… | Start here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want all four IRA-eligible metals | Birch Gold Group | All four metals, $5K initial purchase, 20+ year track record |
| Have $50,000+ for gold/silver | Augusta Precious Metals | Education-first, transaction agreement discloses pricing in writing |
| Have $25,000–$50,000, want a known brand | Goldco | Established 2006, A+ BBB, strong rollover support |
| Have $10,000 and want a lower entry | American Hartford Gold | $10K minimum, price-match guarantee, 5-year storage offer |
| Want segregated storage by default | Noble Gold Investments | Fees published, $275/yr with segregated storage |
| First time buying, want simple onboarding | Preserve Gold | 24-hour cancellation, zero liquidation fees, A+ BBB |
| Considering Lear Capital | Read the regulatory disclosure first | Material 2023 multi-state settlement — facts you need before deciding |
| Not sure a precious metals IRA fits your plan | Take our matching tool | We'll tell you if it doesn't fit — before you talk to a sales rep |
What we actually verified for this page
As of :
From provider-published pages:
From primary regulatory sources:
What we did not do: We did not open a live account at every provider. Dealer premiums over spot, current promotion terms, and exact buyback offers all move daily. We tell you exactly what to ask for in writing.
Master Comparison Matrix
This is the table that combines verified fees, all four metals, and documented regulatory record in one place. The dealer premium over spot, the buyback spread, and current promotion terms are not in this table because they move with every quote — those are in the cost section below.
| Provider | Founded | Minimum | Setup & wire | Annual fees | Storage | Metals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Gold Group | 2003 | $5K initial / $10K rollover | $50 setup + $30 wire | $125 management | $110 storage/insurance | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
| Augusta Precious Metals | 2012 | $50,000 | ~$50 custodian setup | $125 custodian | $100 commingled / $150 seg | Gold, silver |
| Goldco | 2006 | $25,000 | $50 setup | $125 admin | $100 non-seg / $150 seg | Gold, silver (platinum/palladium — confirm) |
| American Hartford Gold | 2015 | $10K IRA / $5K cash | $50 custodian setup | Varies — free storage up to 5 yrs qualifying | Varies — quote required | Gold, silver (confirm platinum/palladium) |
| Noble Gold Investments | 2017 | $20,000 | Confirm in writing | $125 custodial | $150 segregated (standard) | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
| Preserve Gold | 2022 | Confirm with provider | No setup/liquidation/hidden fee claim | May be waived by account size | Texas PMD, Delaware, IDS | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
| American Bullion | 2009 | $10K recommended | $25 setup (STRATA) | $160 (STRATA annual) | Varies; free yr-1 on $50K+ rollovers | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
| Lear Capital ⚠ Read regulatory disclosure | 1997 | $10,000 | $50 app + $30 wire | $125 maintenance | $110 non-seg / $160 seg | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
Annual fees are recurring after year one. Many providers waive year-one fees on accounts above a threshold (commonly $50,000 or $100,000). Confirm current promotion terms in writing before funding. Sources: each provider’s own published documentation, verified May 2026.
The Most Important Section on This Page
When you open a precious metals IRA, you don’t just pay an annual fee. You pay several costs, and most of them are buried in the written quote — if the company gives you one. Here are the three that matter.
The premium over spot
Spot is the live wholesale price of the metal. Premium is what you pay above it. On standard bullion coins (American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics) and LBMA-approved bars, the typical premium is roughly 3% to 8% depending on the product, dealer, and market conditions. On "premium" coins — proofs, limited mintage, "exclusive" allocations — premiums can run substantially higher. The IRS does not require numismatic-grade coins. Any dealer who steers you toward them without explaining the markup premium should be asked why, in writing.
The buyback spread
When you eventually sell back to the dealer or take a Required Minimum Distribution, the dealer pays below spot. The gap between what you paid above spot and what they pay below spot is the round-trip spread. Augusta Precious Metals publishes a transaction agreement that discloses pricing, spread, and buyback policy in writing — using a 5% spread as an example. Most dealers don't put their buyback spread in writing at all. Make them. It's on the 12-item checklist below.
The fixed-fee trap on small accounts
A flat $225/year fee sounds reasonable on a $100,000 account (0.225%). The same fee on a $5,000 account is 4.5% per year — before any market movement. Below $10,000, a gold or silver ETF inside your existing IRA is almost always a better structure. Above $25,000, the flat-fee math improves rapidly.
Picture a $50,000 rollover. You pay:
| Cost item | Dollar amount | % of $50K |
|---|---|---|
| 7% purchase premium | $3,500 | 7.00% |
| One-time setup fee | $50 | 0.10% |
| Year-1 custodian + storage | $225 | 0.45% |
| Year 1 total drag | $3,775 | 7.55% |
| Years 2–5 fees (4 × $225) | $900 | 1.80% |
| 5% buyback spread on exit | $2,500 | 5.00% |
| Total round-trip drag (5-yr hold, flat gold) | $7,175 | 14.35% |
The annual fee everyone obsesses over ($225) is the smallest line item. The premium over spot ($3,500) is roughly 15× larger. Most articles don’t tell you this.
The fix: the written quote
A 4% premium instead of 7% on that same $50,000 rollover saves $1,500 in immediate drag. A 3% buyback spread instead of 5% saves another $1,000 on exit. Same provider category. Different written quote. The checklist below is how you get there.
12-Item Written Quote Checklist
A complete written quote from any precious metals IRA company should include all 12 of these. Email it. Get the answers back in writing. If a sales rep won’t put any one of them in writing, end the call.
Exact product name
"1 oz American Gold Eagle, 2025 mint" — not "1 oz gold coin"
Metal and fineness
Gold .9999, silver .999, etc. (American Gold Eagle is the .9167 statutory exception)
Quantity
How many coins or bars
Spot price used
The live wholesale price at the time and date of the quote
Premium over spot
Both the dollar amount and the percentage
Total dollar markup
Premium plus any other dealer charges
Custodian name
The IRS-approved trust company (Equity Trust, STRATA, GoldStar, etc.)
Depository name
Where the metals will actually sit (Delaware Depository, Brink's, IDS, Texas Precious Metals Depository)
Storage type
Commingled or segregated
Annual all-in fees
Custodian + storage + insurance — the year-one promotion details AND the year-two recurring cost
Current buyback policy
What they pay below spot, how fast they pay, whether there is a minimum holding period or other conditions
All other fees
Wire fees, shipping fees, liquidation fees, transaction fees
Save the email — that is your evidence if anything ever goes sideways.
15-Question Buyer’s Checklist
These are the questions that separate a fair sales rep from one trying to steer you into high-margin coins. Ask them in order. Don’t accept hand-waving.
What metals am I actually buying? Bullion, proof, semi-numismatic, or numismatic?
Is every item on this quote IRA-eligible?
What's the spot price right now, and what's my premium over spot?
What's your total dealer markup in dollars on this order?
Who is the IRA custodian, and what does the custodian charge per year?
Which IRS-approved depository will store my metals?
Will my metals be segregated or commingled? What does each cost?
If I want to sell back within 12 months, what would your current buyback offer be?
What's your typical buyback spread today?
Are there liquidation, wire, or shipping fees I haven't seen yet?
Will you put all of this in writing — including the spot price and time — before I fund?
What happens if the price of gold drops 20% between today and when the metals are delivered?
If I'm under 59½ and need an emergency distribution, what's the process and tax impact?
When RMDs apply to my account, how do I take them — in-kind delivery or cash?
Are you a registered investment adviser, a broker-dealer, a commodity professional, or a metals salesperson — and what legal standard applies to this recommendation?(Most callers never ask this — it’s the most important one.)
8 Provider Deep Dives
We tell you who each company actually fits, what the honest dealbreaker is, and where to go if it is not your fit.
1 — All Four Metals · $5,000+ Initial
Answer capsule
Birch Gold Group is the strongest fit for the precious metals IRA buyer who wants exposure to all four IRA-eligible metals — gold, silver, platinum, and palladium — at a $5,000 initial-purchase minimum (or a $10,000 threshold to roll over from an eligible retirement account), with a flat published fee structure of approximately $235 per year after the first-year promotion. Birch has operated continuously since 2003, longer than any major competitor except Lear Capital.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-time setup | $50 |
| Wire fee (one-time) | $30 |
| Annual management | $125 |
| Annual storage and insurance | $110 |
| Year 2+ recurring | ~$235 |
Source: birchgold.com/precious-metals-ira, verified May 2026. Accounts over $50,000 may have first-year fees paid by Birch — confirm current promotion terms in writing.
Custodian and depository:Birch states it frequently works with Equity Trust Company and GoldStar Trust as the IRA custodian. Storage options Birch names include Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Service, and Texas Precious Metals Depository.
Honest weakness:Birch’s pre-purchase education is solid, but it is not the structured 1:1 web conference that Augusta runs. If you specifically want a long pre-purchase education process before you buy, Augusta is a better fit. Birch wins on metal selection, flexibility, and tenure — not on hand-holding.
2 — Education-First · $50,000+
Answer capsule
Augusta Precious Metals is built for the gold/silver IRA buyer with $50,000+ who wants the clearest pre-purchase education in the industry. Augusta’s transaction agreement discloses pricing, spread, and buyback policy in writing — using a 5% spread as an example on its public spread page. The $50,000 minimum is the only meaningful dealbreaker.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-time custodian setup | ~$50 |
| Annual custodian | $125 |
| Annual storage — commingled | $100 |
| Annual storage — segregated | $150 |
| Year 1 all-in (commingled) | ~$275 |
| Year 2+ recurring (commingled) | $225 |
What stands out:Augusta’s pre-purchase web conference — led by a Harvard-trained economic analyst — is unusual in this industry. There is no charge, no obligation to buy, and reviewers consistently describe the tone as educational rather than transactional. The Business Consumer Alliance lists Augusta at AAA, its highest rating.
Honest weakness: Augusta does not offer platinum or palladium. If all four metals matter, Birch Gold Group or Noble Gold fits better. And the $50,000 minimum locks out a large share of buyers.
3 — Recognized Brand · $25,000+
Answer capsule
Goldco is the most established gold and silver IRA option for buyers with $25,000 to $50,000 — A+ BBB, founded in 2006, with a heavily marketed buyback program. Goldco’s highest-price buyback guarantee applies after three years from initial purchase and no specific rates are guaranteed. Read that condition carefully.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-time setup | $50 |
| Annual account administration | $125 |
| Annual storage — non-segregated | $100 |
| Annual storage — segregated | $150 |
| Year 1 all-in (non-seg) | ~$275 |
| Year 2+ recurring (non-seg) | $225 |
Honest weakness:Goldco’s biggest marketing reach is in gold and silver coins. The official product menu can support more metals, but the deal-by-deal availability depends on inventory. If you want the broadest all-four-metals selection with the least friction, Birch Gold Group or Noble Gold is a more natural fit.
4 — Lower Entry Point · $10,000+
Answer capsule
American Hartford Gold (AHG) is the best precious metals IRA option for buyers starting at $10,000 who want a written price-match guarantee and the option of free storage on qualifying accounts. AHG’s FAQ confirms a $10,000 minimum for a self-directed Gold IRA and $5,000 for cash purchases. Exact dealer premiums, custodian and storage fees, and current promotion terms require a written quote.
5 — Segregated Storage · $20,000+
Answer capsule
Noble Gold Investments is the cleanest precious metals IRA option for buyers who specifically want segregated storage as the default. Noble’s support content puts the published annual fee at around $275 ($125 custodial + $150 segregated storage). Noble references a $20,000 IRA minimum on its recent content.
Important: setup fee and custodian inconsistency
Noble’s published content has internal inconsistencies on setup fees and custodian relationships that other providers do not have. One page references a setup fee; another references no setup fees. One cites Equity Trust; another cites New Direction IRA. None of this is disqualifying — it just means: get every fee and party in writing before relying on it.
Noble Gold also offers all four metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium) and has a Texas depository option via International Depository Services — useful for buyers who prefer storage outside the traditional Delaware Depository network.
6 — First-Time Buyers · All Four Metals
Answer capsule
Preserve Gold (founded 2022) is the newest entrant in our top eight, but it has built a clean record quickly. The 24-hour purchase cancellation right and zero liquidation fees on buyback are unusual protections in this industry. Preserve Gold supports all four IRA-eligible metals and uses Texas Precious Metals Depository, Delaware Depository, and IDS for storage.
7 — STRATA Structure · $10,000+
Answer capsule
American Bullion (founded 2009) is one of the more tenured operators in the precious metals IRA space and uses STRATA Trust Company as custodian alongside Delaware Depository for storage. The $160/year STRATA annual fee is slightly higher than the $125 standard at most competitors, but the first-year free storage and no custodian fees on $50,000+ rollovers can offset this depending on account size.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-time setup (STRATA) | $25 |
| Annual STRATA custodian fee | $160 |
| Storage | Varies (free yr-1 on $50K+ rollovers) |
| Recommended minimum rollover | $10,000 |
Source: American Bullion FAQ and offer page, verified May 2026. Confirm current promotion terms for first-year free storage in writing.
8 — Read Regulatory Disclosure First
Regulatory disclosure (read before requesting a kit)
In August 2023, Lear Capital reached a $5.5 million multi-state settlement with regulators from Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Vermont, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, the District of Columbia, and additional NASAA member states. The settlement resolved allegations relating to sales practices and disclosures. Lear Capital did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement.
Primary sources: Iowa Insurance Division (August 8, 2023) and Wisconsin DFI (August 1, 2023), plus parallel releases from California DFPI, Vermont DFR, Texas State Securities Board, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and Georgia Secretary of State.
Lear Capital remains an operating precious metals IRA dealer (founded 1997 — the longest tenure in our eight). Verified 2026 fees: $50 application + $30 wire (one-time); $125 annual maintenance; $110 non-segregated storage or $160 segregated; $10,000 minimum. All four metals supported.
If you decide to proceed with Lear Capital, apply the full 12-item written quote checklist and get every fee and product detail in writing before funding anything.
Not sure which provider fits your situation?
Our free 60-second matching tool accounts for your account size, time to retirement, metal preferences, and whether a precious metals IRA actually fits your overall plan.
Find My Retirement Path →Sales Scripts to Walk Away From
The CFTC published a joint advisory in 2024 warning retirees about these exact tactics — affinity fraud, high-pressure cold calls, deceptive telemarketing, and “free gold kit” funnels routing to aggressive call centers. The Red Rock Secured federal judgment was built on this playbook.
"Collectible coins are safer than bullion."
Numismatic and premium coins typically carry markups well above standard bullion. The dealer makes more on the collectible. You don't.
"Guaranteed returns" or "no risk."
Gold can drop 30% in a year. Silver can drop 50%. There are no guarantees. Anyone who says otherwise is selling you something. Federal regulators specifically flag this language as a fraud indicator.
"The government could seize your retirement assets."
This is a fear-based sales script that traces back to the 1933 gold confiscation order. It is used to create urgency and panic. Run.
"Do the rollover first — we'll explain the products later."
No. Get the written product quote first. The rollover is a simple administrative step once the quote is signed and you are satisfied with the terms.
"Our exclusive limited-mintage coins are IRA-eligible."
IRS eligibility requires meeting fineness standards under IRC §408(m)(3). It does not require, and the IRS does not endorse, premium or numismatic products. Exclusivity is a marketing claim, not a compliance certification.
Sources: CFTC Press Release 8881-24 (2024 precious metals fraud joint advisory); CFTC Press Release 8898-24 (Red Rock Secured consent order, April 2024); FINRA investor education materials on physical precious metals.
Due Diligence
Before opening a precious metals IRA, run this five-step check. Every link below goes to the primary source.
BBB lookup
Go to bbb.org and search the company name. Look at the letter rating, accreditation status, and complaint count over the past 3 years.
bbb.org→SEC litigation search
Go to sec.gov/litigation and search the company name. If they appear, read the complaint or release.
sec.gov/litigation→CFTC enforcement search
Go to cftc.gov/press-releases and search the company name. Precious metals dealers fall under CFTC jurisdiction for many commodities-related claims.
cftc.gov/press-releases→NASAA state regulator check
Go to nasaa.org and use the Contact Your Regulator tool to find your state's securities regulator. Many multi-state actions in this industry — including the Lear Capital settlement — were led by state regulators.
nasaa.org→FINRA BrokerCheck and SEC IAPD on the individual
If someone holds themselves out as an investment adviser, broker, or financial advisor, look them up at BrokerCheck and SEC IAPD before accepting personalized advice. If they are only a metals salesperson, treat the recommendation as a sales claim and demand written pricing.
brokercheck.finra.org→IRS Rules 2026
Under IRC §408(m), eligible metals must meet these fineness standards. Source: IRS Publication 590-A and IRC §408(m)(3).
| Metal | Required fineness | Common IRA-eligible examples | Notable exceptions / exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 99.5% (.995) | American Gold Eagle*, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, PAMP Suisse bars, Credit Suisse bars | *American Gold Eagle is 91.67% but is a statutory exception under IRC §408(m)(3)(A)(i). South African Krugerrand is excluded. |
| Silver | 99.9% (.999) | American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Austrian Philharmonic, Australian Kangaroo | Pre-1965 junk silver (90% pure) and 1965–1970 Kennedy half-dollars (40%) are excluded. |
| Platinum | 99.95% (.9995) | American Platinum Eagle, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, PAMP Suisse platinum bars | Confirm each specific product with custodian in writing. |
| Palladium | 99.95% (.9995) | Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf, PAMP Suisse palladium bars | Confirm each specific product with custodian in writing. |
Numismatic and limited-mintage coins generally do not provide IRA eligibility advantages over standard bullion. A “premium” coin is not more IRA-eligible than a standard American Eagle — it just costs more. Confirm any specific product with your custodian in writing before the IRA purchases it.
2026 IRA contribution limits (source: IRS IR-2025-111, November 13, 2025): $7,500 (under age 50) or $8,600 (age 50+ with $1,100 catch-up). These limits apply only to new contributions. Rollovers from a 401(k) or existing IRA have no dollar cap and do not count against the contribution limit.
FAQ
A gold IRA is industry shorthand for a precious metals IRA focused on gold. A broader precious metals IRA can hold gold, silver, platinum, and palladium if the products meet IRA-eligibility rules and the provider and custodian support them. If you want all four metals, look for providers that explicitly support all four -- Birch Gold Group, Noble Gold, Preserve Gold, American Bullion, and Lear Capital all do. If you only want gold and silver, the field opens up to include Augusta, Goldco, and American Hartford Gold.
Under IRC Section 408(m), eligible metals generally must meet fineness standards -- commonly 99.5% for gold (with the American Gold Eagle as a 91.67% statutory exception), 99.9% for silver, and 99.95% for platinum and palladium. Certain coins fall within statutory exceptions and may be IRA-eligible even when their purity differs. Numismatic and limited-mintage coins, South African Krugerrands, and pre-1965 silver U.S. coins are generally not IRA-eligible. Source: IRS Publication 590-A and IRC Section 408(m)(3).
The safest practical answer is no. IRC Section 408(m) and IRS guidance both require the metals to be held by a qualified trustee or custodian and stored in an approved depository. Home storage gold IRA structures rely on legal interpretations the IRS has not endorsed; personal possession can create distribution and prohibited-transaction tax risk, including income tax on the full distribution amount and a 10% penalty if you are under age 59.5. The U.S. Tax Court ruled in McNulty v. Commissioner (2021) that home storage by an IRA owner -- even through an LLC structure -- constitutes a taxable distribution of the entire IRA balance. Do not use a home-storage structure without written CPA or tax-attorney review.
Verified 2026 minimums vary by provider. Augusta requires $50,000. Goldco generally requires $25,000. Noble Gold references a $20,000 minimum. American Bullion recommends $10,000. American Hartford Gold publishes $10,000 for the IRA and $5,000 for cash. Lear Capital requires $10,000. Birch publishes a $5,000 initial-purchase minimum and a $10,000 threshold to roll over from an eligible retirement account. Below $10,000, fixed annual fees create too much drag -- a gold ETF inside your existing IRA is usually a better starting point until you have more to allocate.
The 2026 contribution limit for traditional and Roth IRAs combined is $7,500, or $8,600 if you are age 50 or older (IRS announcement, November 13, 2025, IR-2025-111). Rollovers from a 401(k) or another IRA do not count toward this limit, which is how most people fund a meaningful precious metals IRA position.
Yes. Most old employer retirement accounts -- 401(k), 403(b), 457, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and Thrift Savings Plan -- can be rolled into a self-directed precious metals IRA. The cleanest path is a direct custodian-to-custodian transfer, not an indirect rollover where you take a check personally (which triggers 20% mandatory withholding and a 60-day clock). Confirm the rollover treatment with your plan administrator and a tax professional before moving funds.
Most are not. Most precious metals IRA companies are metals dealers, not registered investment advisers. Ask the person you are speaking with whether they are a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer representative, commodity professional, or metals salesperson -- and what legal standard applies to the recommendation. If you want a fiduciary recommendation about whether a precious metals IRA fits your overall plan, match with a financial advisor and verify their Form ADV on the SEC's IAPD database (adviserinfo.sec.gov) before relying on personalized advice.
Commingled storage means your metals are held in the depository alongside other clients' identical metals -- you own a specific quantity, not specific coins. Segregated storage means your specific coins or bars are physically separated, labeled, and stored in their own location. For most buyers, commingled is fine; it is an accounting structure, not a security difference. Segregated typically costs $50 to $100 more per year. Noble Gold is one of the few major providers that includes segregated storage as the standard option rather than charging an upcharge.
Spot is the live wholesale price of the metal. Premium is the amount above spot you pay when buying. Spread (or buyback spread) is the amount below spot the dealer pays when you sell back. Standard bullion premiums commonly run 3% to 8%. Premium coins can run substantially higher. The 2024 CFTC consent order against Red Rock Secured (CFTC Press Release 8898-24) found markups of 91.89% to 129.97% on certain coins that customers were told had 1% to 5% markups. Always get the premium and the buyback spread in writing before funding.
Not while the metals are inside the IRA. When you take a distribution at or after age 59.5, you can take in-kind delivery (the depository ships the metals directly to you) or a cash distribution at the current buyback price. Under age 59.5, any distribution generally triggers ordinary income tax on the full distribution amount plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
Traditional IRA Required Minimum Distributions generally begin at age 73 under current IRS guidance. SECURE 2.0 moves the required beginning age to age 75 for people born in 1960 or later. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. You can satisfy an RMD by taking in-kind delivery of metals worth the required amount, or by selling metals back to the dealer at the current buyback price. Either way, the distribution is reported on Form 1099-R and taxed as ordinary income for a traditional IRA. Verify the RMD age that applies to your birth year with a CPA before relying on it.
No. FDIC insurance covers bank deposits, not commodities. Physical metals held in an IRS-approved depository are typically insured against theft, fire, flood, and similar perils through the depository's commercial insurance policy -- but not by the FDIC. Ask the depository for its insurance carrier and coverage limits in writing.
Precious metals IRAs themselves are a legitimate retirement account structure authorized by Congress under IRC Section 408(m). But the industry has documented sales-practice issues -- the Red Rock Secured federal enforcement action (over $76 million combined SEC judgment plus the parallel CFTC consent order), the Lear Capital multi-state settlement ($5.5 million across 30+ states, 2023), and dozens of state-level enforcement actions tracked by NASAA. The legitimate providers covered on this page are operating within the law. Your job as a buyer is to use the written quote checklist -- the 12 questions that get the real costs in writing before you fund anything.
Verification Log
Last verified: · Next scheduled re-verification: August 2026 (provider fees, BBB ratings, regulatory updates) · January 2027 (IRS contribution limits, RMD ages)
Regulatory enforcement records verified
IRS primary sources verified
Three paths, depending on where you are:
1. You know your account size and metal preference
Request a free information kit from the matched provider: Birch for all four metals, Augusta for $50K+ gold/silver, American Hartford Gold for $10K+ entry, Goldco for $25K+ guided rollovers, Noble Gold for segregated storage, or Preserve Gold for first-time buyers.
2. You have a quote and want to compare
Use the 12-item written quote checklist and the 15-question buyer’s checklist on every provider you’re considering. Email both lists. The provider that responds clearly and completely is usually the right one.
3. You’re not sure a precious metals IRA fits your plan
That’s the most honest place to be. Our free 60-second matching tool shows the 1–2 provider routes that fit your inputs and flags when a fiduciary financial advisor consultation is the cleaner next move.
Take the Free 60-Second Matching Tool →