Best Gold-Backed IRAs: The 3 Most Reputable Companies

A gold backed IRA account (IRA stands for ‘Individual Retirement Account’) offers investors an easy way to invest in physical gold and obtain financial security.
Via your personal gold IRA account, you can purchase gold coins, gold bars, physical gold bullion, and various other assets backed by physical gold.

But, why should an investor explore the world of gold IRA investing?

Well, it’s no secret that the global economy is dangerously close to falling into a deep recession in 2023.

Even the World Bank has come out and said that it expects the global economy to expand by less than 2% this year.

These are some reasons why traditional investments like gold IRAs & precious metals investing in general, are growing in popularity.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of gold IRA investments.

You’ll learn why so many individual and institutional investors are investing in physical precious metals and precious metals IRAs.

We’ll also list the three most reputable gold IRA companies in the world.

You’ll also learn how to upgrade & safeguard your individual retirement account via gold IRA investing with these highly-rated gold IRA companies.

The Rising Popularity of Gold Backed IRAs

Investors have always relied on gold and silver during periods of economic uncertainty.

Historically, gold, silver, platinum & other physical precious metals have generated positive returns in bad economic times.

Gold prices in particular have a unique tendency of remaining stable, even under harsh economic environments.

Gold investments tend to always have a negative correlation to risky paper assets like equities, whenever these assets sell-off during economic emergencies.

For example, during the global financial crisis of 2008, equities and other risky paper assets dropped sharply in value, as did most commodities, real estate investments, and hedge funds.

These were the “diversifiers” that people were encouraged to include in their retirement portfolios. Gold prices, on the other hand, increased by 21% during this period (December ‘07 to February ‘09).

Here’s a figure from Gold Org that demonstrates the negative correlation that gold coins, gold bars, physical gold bullion, and other gold-backed assets have with risky paper assets like stocks and equities:

Since the global financial crisis of 2008, over the past decade, gold prices have increased a lot.

But, the price increases haven’t been as dramatic as with the S&P 500. Between 2013 & 2023, gold prices have risen from approximately $1,300 to $2,000/ounce.

In the same period, the S&P 500 index increased in price from approximately $1,500 to $4,000.

Does that mean noble gold investments & precious metals investments have decreased in popularity over the past decade?

Yes, but this trend isn’t permanent.

In fact, this trend started reversing in 2022. Between the spring of ‘22 and ‘23, the S&P index generated an annualized return of -7% . In the same period, gold prices increased by 0.5%.

This may seem like a minor uptick. But, if your other investments are heavily underachieving, your noble gold investments can potentially save your individual retirement account or your retirement funds.

That’s why investor sentiment towards gold, silver, platinum, palladium & other precious metals, is improving rapidly.

In a recent survey conducted by the World Gold Council, 61% of US-based retail investors claimed that gold is their most effective hedge against inflation.

Even institutional investors are planning to buy more physical gold and increase their exposure to gold-backed paper assets.

According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in 2022, hedge funds in the US increased their net-long positions in gold futures, options, and gold-backed paper assets by up to 16% in 2022.

If you’re a long-term investor, it pays to protect yourself from economic risks through diversification.

If you’re a smart, long-term investor, you’re likely to diversify your retirement portfolio with the safest and the most popular asset of all: gold and gold-backed assets.

Here are the most popular ways to add gold to your retirement portfolio:

Gold IRAs: Like a traditional Roth IRA, a gold IRA gives you the chance to diversify your retirement portfolio by specifically investing in gold. With a gold-backed IRA, you can indirectly add gold coins, gold bars, physical gold bullion, and other gold-backed paper assets to your retirement portfolio.
Gold ETFs: Similar to investing in stock market ETFs, gold ETFs allow investors to buy physical gold (e.g., physical gold bullion) without physically owning any of the precious metal.
Physical Gold Bullion: This is perhaps the least popular way of adding gold to your retirement portfolio. Buying physical gold bullion means buying gold coins, gold bars, etc., from certified gold investment companies. Since physical gold and silver products come with multiple storage-related hassles, buying physical gold bullion is not a popular practice.

Which of these ways is the best for adding gold to your retirement portfolio in 2023?

Well, since the US Federal Reserve has been very laissez-faire with interest rates throughout 2022 and 2023, gold-backed IRAs have grown massively in popularity among investors looking to preserve their wealth against rising inflation.

Plus, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has no major restrictions regarding investors who want to hold and purchase gold via self-directed IRAs.

So, if you’re planning for retirement in 2023, making a gold IRA investment is the perfect way to safeguard your retirement portfolio or retirement account from the fluctuations that the money markets are currently undergoing.

A gold IRA account is both a tax-advantaged investment & an effective hedge against hyperinflation and other potential downturns in the money markets.

On top of that, there are no major counter-party risks.

Unlike publicly traded company stock, there’s no risk of gold coins, gold bars, or any other paper asset backed by physical gold going bankrupt.

The only major consideration investors have to make before setting up a gold Roth IRA is selecting the right gold IRA company.

That’s where we can help.

We’ve conducted in-depth investigations on the three best gold IRA companies in the world.

By “best” we mean that these top gold IRA companies score highly in various departments & they simplify the process of making gold IRA investments.

Let’s assess each of these gold IRA providers in great detail to help you choose the right gold IRA company.

3 Best Gold IRA Companies At A Glance:

Best Overall & Most Reputable: GoldCo
Best for New Investors: Augusta Precious Metals
Best at Providing Alternatives: Birch Gold Group

The 3 Most Reputable Gold IRA Providers: Detailed Overview

1) Best Overall Gold Backed IRA: GoldCo

GoldCo is a Los Angeles-based, privately held precious metals company founded in 2006.

This gold IRA company has over ten years of experience assisting customers protect their retirement accounts.

This premier gold IRA company has a suite of products/services.

More importantly, for customers seeking to make gold or silver IRA investments, GoldCo assigns specialists to help them navigate the process.

Suppose you have a tax-advantaged retirement account (e.g., IRA, 401(k), or 403(b)).

In that case, financial advisors from this gold IRA company can help you safeguard those assets by helping you open a precious metals IRA account in a time and cost-effective manner.

Gold IRA investors at GoldCo even receive videos, e-books, & other educational info for free.

These customer-friendly features make it easier for first-time gold IRA investors to build up their precious metal portfolios from ground zero.

They also make Gold-co a highly reputable gold IRA company among newer investors. In addition to providing self-directed IRAs, the company also sells precious metals.

No, Gold-co doesn’t fall under the category of gold mining companies. But, the company does offer direct sales of gold/silver to customers.

Is it safe to buy gold or bullion coins from GoldCo? Well, this gold investment company has an “AAA” rating (highest rating) from the Business Consumer Alliance & an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, so yes.

GoldCo’s reliability, quality of customer service, and ethical business practices cannot be questioned.

The precious metals company has thousands of positive reviews from content customers online & it has been honored publicly by several institutions.

Products & Services

Gold-co is a precious metals broker that specializes in helping investors buy physical gold and gold-backed paper assets.

Like any traditional IRA, gold or silver IRA investments require a certified gold IRA custodian to manage the related paperwork.

GoldCo serves this critical function for thousands of customers & helps them diversify their 401 (k) and traditional IRAs.

Gold-co works with gold mining companies & mints across the world to source and secure high-quality gold coins and gold bullion that are qualified for investment through gold-backed IRAs.

When older customers want to sell their IRA-approved gold coins, GoldCo buys them back at the highest market prices.

You can acquire the following types of IRA-approved gold coins (i.e., approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission) via a self-directed gold IRA from GoldCo:

Gold American Eagle gold coins
Canadian gold maple leaf coins
Gold Freedom Coins
Gold Hope coins
Gold bars

Ease of Opening & Operating a Precious Metals IRA account

Gold-Co has simplified the process of opening precious metals IRA accounts. To open a self-directed IRA with Gold-co, you only need to take the following steps:

Open your self-directed IRA by signing up with GoldCo. A financial advisor from the precious metals company will assist you throughout this process.

Fund your self-directed IRA by rolling over your existing assets from your individual retirement account. Note: this gold IRA rollover will not cause a tax penalty & you’ll receive indirect tax benefits.

Once your self-directed IRA is fully-funded, you can start to buy gold backed assets & other assets backed by precious metals (e.g., silver IRAs)

Overall, the process of acquiring approved precious metals on GoldCo is quite seamless.

Gold IRA Fees

Like most gold IRA companies, GoldCo has a minimum purchase limit. It’s $15,000 which is relatively high compared to other gold IRA companies.

GoldCo charges flat annual fees not percentage cuts on assets. We’d like to share more details about these fees but details on this matter are not published on the GoldCo website . Other gold IRA fees on the platform include:

$50 one-time fee for setting up the self-directed gold IRA, silver IRA, or any other precious metals IRA
$30 one-time wire fee (during the transfer of retirement funds)
$80 annual maintenance fee
$150 storage fee for segregated storage or $100 fee for non-segregated storage

Storage

Opening a precious metals IRA means indirectly storing all of your precious metals in a secure vault under the guardianship of a certified gold IRA custodian.
GoldCo is great at this.

The premier gold IRA company has partnerships with some of the best storage providers in the USA. Delaware Depository is GoldCo’s primary storage partner.

The company is famous for using state-of-the-art security technology and highly sophisticated vaults to provide maximum security for the precious metals investments of thousands of customers.

Every other storage provider in GoldCo’s storage network is also certified by the IRS & the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Customer Reviews

Positive customer reviews have been the key to GoldCo’s ascent as a reputable gold IRA company.

Online forums, social media platforms, and the gold IRA company’s website are full of positive reviews from precious metals and gold IRA investors.

Here’s the general rating of Gold-Co’s customer service:

Here’s an example of a recent review from a gold IRA investor on Gold-Co:

Most reviews on this precious metals IRA provider speak about things like ease of transaction, professional staff, strong emphasis on providing swift support to precious metals IRA account holders, personalized service, and convenient access to educational resources.

Gold-Co’s customer care line (1-855-472-8494) & email ID (customercare@goldco.com) are both easily accessible and responsive.

Our Pros and Cons

Here are the pros of choosing Gold-Co as your precious metal IRA provider:

Reliability: Excellent market reputation of over 10 years. Gold-Co also has good ratings from most agencies (e.g., the Better Business Bureau)

Safety of Funds: The buyback program incentive eliminates the risk of liquidation. Gold-Co promises to buy back gold, silver, and other precious metals from its customers whenever they think it's time to sell. Gold-Co offers fast and fair price quotes that make investors less worried about resale risks.

Personalized Assistance: Access to a dedicated financial advisor who provides personalized assistance at every step of setting up & managing your self-directed IRA.

Consistent Accessibility: Gold-Co provides customers with multiple layers of support. The company’s representatives are available via phone, email, & the company’s website.

Here is my only con of choosing GoldCo as your precious metal IRA provider:

High Minimum Investing Threshold: Compared to other precious metals IRA providers, GoldCo has a quite high minimum investment threshold of $15,000. Not everyone is super-comfortable investing such a large amount the first time they team up with this precious metal IRA provider.

Final Verdict:

In the past decade, GoldCo has established itself as one of the best gold IRA companies in North America.

It’s currently a leader in attracting noble gold investments, especially from retirees who are eager to convert their retirement funds into safe gold-backed IRAs.

If you’re just starting off your journey into the world of precious metals investing, GoldCo is one of the top gold IRA companies that should be on your radar.

>>> Start Investing In Gold Today With GoldCo <<<

2) Best RunnerUp: Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals is one of the most renowned gold IRA companies in the world.

Founded in 2012, this California-based gold IRA provider specializes in helping investors diversify their investment & retirement portfolios.

Augusta has a 4.97/5 rating from the Better Business Bureau & an “AAA” rating (highest rating) from the Business Consumer Alliance.

Augusta also has won many awards from institutions & earned countless positive reviews from investors on the Internet.

So, why is Augusta Precious Metals so highly-rated?

Well, the firm is ultra-reliable at giving investors swift access to precious metals IRAs & gold IRAs.

But, the key quality that makes Augusta Precious Metals stand apart from most gold IRA companies is education.

Augusta Precious Metals is one of the few gold IRA companies to focus heavily on customer education.

The gold IRA provider has a dedicated department of education headed by Harvard-trained economist Devlyn Steele.

This department provides aspiring gold IRA investors with all the guidance they need to get started with gold IRA investing & precious metals investing.

Augusta Precious Metals even has blogs dedicated to helping the average investor avoid gold or silver IRA scams.

These qualities prove that the company isn’t just selling gold and silver products. It’s actively trying to help customers achieve their retirement portfolio goals through education.

Products & Services

Augusta Precious Metals provides a variety of services, including managing mutual funds.

But, the company’s main expertise is in precious metals investing & most investors use the company to acquire IRS-compliant gold IRAs, precious metals IRAs, & physical gold and silver products.

Registering for gold or silver IRAs on the platform is super easy.

From paperwork to selecting the right precious metals to selling your assets, financial advisors from Augusta Precious Metals will guide you every step of the way.

Overall, this precious metals IRA provider has five main product categories:

Common Gold Bullion: Includes gold products, such as gold bars, gold American buffalo coins, gold American eagle coins, & other types of gold bullion.
Common Silver Bullion: The products available under this category include – Canadian silver maple leaf coins, silver round coins, silver bars, and more.
Premium Gold Coins: Augusta Precious Metals offers a variety of premium gold coins to clients which include – Canadian Gold Arctic Fox coins, Liberty coins, etc.
Premium Silver Coins: These coins include - the Royal Canadian Mint silver soaring eagle coin, the Ben Franklin half-dollar coin, and many more
IRA Eligible Coins: The company offers a variety of IRA-eligible gold and silver coins like -American Eagle Proofs, American Silver Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, etc.

Ease of Opening & Operating a Precious Metals IRA Account

The account opening process is similar to GoldCo’s. But, some may argue that Augusta offers better-personalized support to customers.

From opening your account to transferring your funds: expect complete assistance from Augusta’s financial advisors every step of the way.

You’ll have a personal custodian who will oversee all of your transactions whenever you purchase precious metals.

These custodians will ship your precious metals to a storage depository of your choice for zero fees.

Gold IRA Fees

A $50,000 minimum balance is obligatory for investing with Augusta Precious Metals.

Unsurprisingly, this high figure is a turn-off for many investors.

But, once you fund your precious metals IRA account on Augusta, it’s smooth sailing from thereon. The precious metals IRA account setup cost is only $50.

For accounts with funds less than $100,000, the annual maintenance fee is only $125. For accounts with more funds, that cost is only $75.

Custodian/storage fees vary based on the storage partner you select. But, expect to pay somewhere around $100/year for custodianship & $100/year for storage ($200 in total).

For gold IRAs, Augusta Precious Metals has a spread of 5% which is significantly lower than most gold IRA companies.

But, don’t worry, for premium purchases, these spread rates can go up to 33%.

Augusta Precious Metals’ pricing on their gold and silver products is quite reasonable. The company offers a price protection program to investors.

Under this program, investors can lock in on prices while buying precious metals on a 7-day notice.

In a fluctuating market, this 7-day guarantee proves to be extremely helpful for customers.

Storage & Custodianship

Augusta Precious Metals has partnerships with hundreds of IRS-approved precious metals storage facilities in the US.

There’s an Augusta-friendly storage facility in every major state of the US: from Nevada to California to Texas to Massachusetts & North Dakota.

The company also has a wide network of custodial partners which include the likes of Equity Trust Company, Gold-Star Trust Company, Kingdom Trust Company, and more.

Customer Reviews

As stated above, Augusta Precious Metals’ key strength is its ability to educate customers. It provides dedicated account representatives to all investors.

The Gold IRA company also offers 24-hour online assistance on its website.

You can reach out to the firm via email or call. The firm’s email ID is info@augustapreciousmetals.com & its phone number is 1-800-700-1008.

Our Pros and Cons

Here are the pros of choosing Augusta Precious Metals as your precious metal IRA provider:

Education: The precious metal IRA provider has a strong focus on customer education & it’s very beginner-friendly.
Lifetime Support: From opening your account to transferring your funds to selling your assets: expect complete support from Augusta’s financial advisors every step of the way.
Transparent Fee Structure: The gold and silver IRA provider has an easy account setup process & a transparent fee structure.
Buyback Options: Just like Gold-Co, Augusta Precious Metals also offers gold buybacks to customers.

Here are some cons of choosing Augusta Precious Metals as your precious metal IRA provider:

No Online Orders: The company’s website is lacking in features & it currently doesn’t offer premium purchases.
Compliance Issues: On Augusta Precious Metals’ BBB profile , it says that the company was accused of selling gold bullion without a license in Minnesota. Minnesota has strict regulations regarding gold bullion selling. So, it’s not surprising to see Augusta Precious Metals face trouble with the Minnesota govt. Thankfully, the trouble did not result in Augusta getting branded as dishonest or deceptive. Instead, they had to pay $3,000 in fines to clear their name.
High Minimum Investing Threshold: The minimum investment threshold of $50,000 prices out many new investors from Augusta.

Final Verdict

Overall Augusta Precious Metals is a reliable provider of gold IRAs with a customer education & support team that’s miles ahead of other gold IRA companies.
If you’re a wealthy investor looking to explore the world of gold IRA investing, this education-focused premier gold IRA company will be perfect for you.
But, if you’re working with limited funds, there are cheaper alternatives out there.

>>> Start Investing In Gold Today With Augusta Precious Metals <<<

3) Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group has been a reliable noble gold IRA provider since 2003.

But, the firm gained huge popularity a few years ago in 2020 when eminent personalities like Newt Gingrich & Steve Bannon endorsed the gold IRA company.

Are these endorsements genuine and is the Birch Gold Group worth all the hype?

Going by the Gold IRA company’s track record in helping investors diversify their individual retirement accounts, the answers are yes & yes.

Based in Burbank, CA, the Birch Gold Group is led by an experienced team of wealth managers.

The firm’s primary product offerings are gold IRAs, silver IRAs, & other types of precious metals IRAs.

The Better Business Bureau has given the Birch Gold Group an A+ rating & the Internet is full of positive reviews from customers who appreciate the firm’s dedication to educating customers on the benefits of precious metals & noble gold investments.

The Birch Gold Group’s 1-on-1 approach to assisting customers is also loved by its customers, especially new investors.

Products & Services

The Birch Gold Group provides a variety of precious metals IRAs. Opening a self-directed IRA and making precious metals & noble gold investments with Birch is super-easy.

All the paperwork is overseen by financial advisors from the firm.

These financial advisors also help customers connect with certified custodians & purchase precious metals at spot rates.

Here are some gold and silver products that Birch Gold Group gives users easy access to:

Australian 1/4 Ounce Gold Florin
The American Gold Buffalo (24-karat gold bullion coin)
American Gold Eagle Coin (91% gold)
The Gold American Eagle
The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin
Gold bars and silver coins priced at the metals’ melt value

The Birch Gold Group will send any product you buy to a storage address of your choice in discreet packaging & provide you with a clear receipt of your purchases.

Birch Gold Group: Ease of Opening & Operating a Precious Metals IRA Account

Opening & funding a gold IRA account or a precious metals IRA account is very easy with the Birch Gold Group.

Incoming clients need to fund at least $10,000 to start investing with the firm.

The firm also provides gold IRA rollover services.

That means users with existing retirement accounts can roll over & reuse these funds without any penalties with Birch.

Once your gold IRA account or precious metals IRA account is funded, choose a custodian and wait for them to accept your request.

The Birch Gold Group has a long list of trustworthy, A+-rated custodial partners including the likes of STRATA Trust Company & Equity Trust Company.

From helping you pick the right gold, silver, platinum & other precious metals IRAs to sending regular account statements to keep you up to date: you can expect total assistance from Birch’s financial advisors every step of the way.

Overall, the process of opening & operating a precious metals IRA Account with Birch is super-easy.

Gold IRA Fees

The fee structure on the Birch Gold Group website is clear & transparent. Here are the basic gold IRA fees that apply to customers:

$10,000 minimum purchase limit
$50 basic setup fee
$30 bank wire transfer fee (applies for every purchase/sell transaction you initiate)
$200/year (total) on annual maintenance and storage fees

If you invest $50,000 or more into your first Birch gold IRA account, the firm will cover all of these fees for the first year.

Storage

The Birch Gold Group has partnerships with several affiliated & non-affiliated depositories & storage providers.

Most Bitch customers choose to work with custodians & storage providers recommended by Birch because these providers charge flat fees.

Birch Gold Group: Customer Reviews

This company has been in business for 20+ years so clearly, they’re doing something right. On the Birch Gold Group website, there are several positive customer reviews. Here’s an example:

Even the BCA has given the highly-rated gold IRA company an AAA rating and a 5-start customer service score.

The company’s email (info@birchgold.com) & phone line ((800) 355-2116) are managed by responsive & friendly customer service professionals.

Our Pros and Cons

Here are the pros of choosing the Birch Gold Group as your precious metal IRA provider:

Non-Affiliated Depositories: The Birch Gold Group works with non-affiliated depositories which is a great feature for people who already own gold, silver, platinum & other precious metals.
Silver Platinum and Palladium: If you’re interested in diversifying your retirement portfolio beyond gold backed IRAs, the Birch Gold Group offers many customer-friendly silver, platinum, and palladium IRA options.
Minimum Investment: The $10,000 minimum investment limit is very investor-friendly, especially for those who are new to noble gold investments.

Here are some cons of choosing the Birch Gold Group as your precious metal IRA provider:

US-Centric: The Birch Gold Group is strictly set up to serve US-based investors. It has no reach in other countries in North America.
Tedious Transaction Clearing Process: Since the minimum investment limit at the Birch Gold Group is quite low, many new, retail investors apply with the firm. Hence, the transaction clearing process can take a while.

Final Verdict: The Birch Gold Group has a proven system of managing precious metals IRA accounts, especially gold IRA accounts.

The firm’s financial advisors are quite reliable & the flat-rate fee structure is hugely beneficial for investors who regularly purchase precious metals in large quantities.

Birch is also one of the best gold IRA companies at providing rare silver, platinum, and palladium products (e.g., palladium coins) & IRA options.

>>> Start Investing In Gold Today With Birch Gold Group <<<

Conclusion

In 2023, everyone is looking for ways to protect their retirement funds from inflation.

The three top gold IRA companies discussed in this list provide easy solutions for such customers.

Whether you’re looking to transfer assets from a 401(k) or IRA or set up a brand-new gold IRA account: these three gold IRA companies can help you achieve these tasks with minimal effort.

After evaluating the reputation, usage-related factors, customer reviews, & fee structures of these three gold IRA companies, here are our rankings:

GoldCo: The most reputable gold IRA company in business right now.
Augusta Precious Metals: Ideal for new investors who want to learn the art of gold IRA investing.
Birch Gold Group: Best at providing alternatives to gold-backed IRAs such as - silver, platinum, and palladium IRA options.

Which of these three gold IRA companies are you interested in?

Choose one & start diversifying your portfolio today!

The earlier you start your gold IRA investing journey, the better you’ll be able to reduce the risk & volatility of your retirement assets!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Invest in a Gold Roth IRA?

Any precious metals IRA account offers numerous benefits like tax-deferred growth & the potential for long-term profits. With gold IRA accounts, you get all of that and the stability of gold prices.

As stated above, gold is an everlasting asset that retains its status as a reliable store of value, even during economic recessions.

With a gold IRA account, you can buy all types of gold-backed assets with stable values. They include gold coins, gold bars, or any other asset backed by physical gold.

Is it the right time to invest in a gold Roth IRA?

In an unstable economic market (like the one we’re in right now) a gold Roth IRA can add immense stability and even growth to your retirement portfolio.

Your gold IRA account will also provide tax benefits.

Any profit you make from selling assets in your gold-backed IRA accounts is tax-free. That’s because when you acquire gold bullion through a Roth IRA, you don’t pay taxes on your gains, only the original contributions.

What are some drawbacks of gold IRA investing?

High storage fees and relatively low returns (in comparison to other alternative investments like stocks & crypto) are the two drawbacks of gold IRA investing.

Can I store precious metals at home?

No. As per the IRS, all gold IRA & precious metals investments must be stored with IRS-approved custodians.

Disclaimer : The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.