The term gold IRA refers to a specialized individual retirement account (IRA) that allows investors to hold gold as a qualified retirement plan. Investors with gold IRAs can hold physical metals such as gold bars or coins as well as securities related to precious metals in their portfolio. Gold IRAs are specialized individual retirement accounts that hold precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium. Like traditional IRAs, these accounts typically allow pre-tax contributions and have similar income and contribution limits.
Augusta Precious Metals was named Best Overall by Money Magazine, Most Transparent by Investopedia, A+ by BBB and AAA by Business Consumer Alliance (BCA). Goldco is a precious metals company recommended by major media leaders such as Sean Hannity, Chuck Norris, Ben Stein, and Stew Peters. Birch Gold Group has been active in the precious metals industry for a long time. It was even described as one of the best gold IRA companies available by media figures such as Ben Shapiro.
These companies enable new clients to set up Gold IRAs in a matter of days or less and offer qualified support from investment professionals. If you’ve decided that a Gold IRA is right for you, you can contact your retirement plan administrator to initiate the rollover, or have the Gold IRA company carry out a direct rollover between the two companies. Some investors think this is safer, an opinion that gold IRA companies sometimes misleadingly hold. Many of these companies allow investors to buy precious metals, which include silver, platinum, and palladium in their IRAs in addition to gold.
We’ve rated the websites of Gold IRA companies together with consumer protection organizations Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance, as well as websites with customer reviews such as TrustPilot. Gold IRA companies are essentially brokers that sell IRS-approved coins and bars of gold and other precious metals so you can invest a gold IRA. Gold IRA companies also often offer training and professional advice on precious metal investments. Sometimes Gold IRA companies recommend specific custodian banks, but their customers can store their precious metals at any reliable custodian bank.
Most gold IRA companies buy back gold or other precious metals they’ve sold you, but buybacks are generally made at the wholesale price, which is around a third cheaper than the retail price. Some gold IRA companies describe their offerings as diverse because you can hold more than one type of precious metal in them. It is therefore important that investors look for IRA gold companies to select a reputable custodian bank for their retirement savings. Gold IRA companies are not investment companies that have a fiduciary obligation to act in your best interest.