Disclosure
Affiliate Disclosure
The Retirement Index may earn compensation from some outbound provider links on this site. When a link is paid, we label it near the link with language such as “Paid link — we may earn a commission.”
A separate disclosure page is not a substitute for disclosure near a recommendation or call-to-action.
How we make money
When you click a paid provider link, request an information kit, schedule a call, open an account, or complete another tracked action, The Retirement Index may receive compensation.
Compensation may be a flat referral fee, lead fee, account-opening commission, or other referral payment, depending on the partner. You do not pay us directly for using the site. A provider’s compensation offer does not determine whether it is included, excluded, ranked, or recommended.
Which links are paid links
Paid links are usually provider call-to-action buttons, such as:
- Request information
- Visit provider
- Request free info kit
- Start account request
- Speak with a provider
Paid links use rel="nofollow sponsored noopener" and are labeled next to the link. Internal links, government-source links, citation links, and links to non-commercial educational sources are not paid links unless clearly labeled otherwise.
How we keep rankings independent
Rankings are determined against the published methodology before any commission discussion takes place. Commission rates do not change ranking order.
We may review companies with which we have no affiliate relationship. We may exclude companies that would pay us if they fail our methodology. Companies that promote personal-possession or “home storage” Gold IRA arrangements, manufacture urgency, make misleading tax claims, refuse written fee disclosure, or push inappropriately marked-up products inside an IRA can be excluded regardless of what they would pay.
Current paid provider relationships
The Retirement Index currently has active or pending affiliate or referral relationships with the following providers. The existence of these relationships did not determine inclusion, ranking, or editorial conclusions.
- Augusta Precious Metals
- Goldco
- American Hartford Gold
- Birch Gold Group
- Noble Gold Investments
- Advisor-matching partners (fee-only and fiduciary advisor referral networks) — The Retirement Index may receive a referral fee if you use an advisor-matching link on this site. The referring party does not select your advisor and does not receive ongoing compensation tied to your account.
For affiliate or partnership inquiries, contact partnerships@theretirementindex.com.
Specific vendor relationships
Where a specific company-level relationship materially affects how a review was produced, that relationship is disclosed in the relevant review itself. Examples include paid access to a company’s account-opening process, reimbursement for mystery-shopping costs, a referral relationship, or a direct affiliate agreement.
What companies cannot buy
- Placement
- Ranking position
- Favorable language
- Removal of accurate criticism
- Editorial approval rights
- Advance review of conclusions
- Reviewer credentials
- Inclusion after failing the methodology
Flagging concerns
If you believe an affiliate relationship has influenced our coverage, or if a disclosure on this site is unclear, email editorial@theretirementindex.com.
For our full editorial process, scoring rubric, conflict-of-interest policy, and corrections process, see our editorial standards page.