Gold offers a shiny, tangible appeal not provided by traditional stocks or bonds. Retirement-focused investors buy gold as a long-term investment strategy to diversify their holdings beyond the usual suspects — stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
The best Gold IRA companies allow investors to diversify their retirement portfolios and grow tax-advantaged savings. Gold IRAs are best when used in conjunction with other retirement savings accounts for greater market exposure and reduced market risk. However, custodial fees tend to be higher than regular IRA fees.
Best Gold IRAs
- Best overall: Goldco
- Best for customer support: Lear Capital
- Best for smaller balances: Rosland Capital
- Best for large balances: American Hartford Gold
- Best for investor resources: Birch Gold Group
- Best for beginners: Priority Gold IRA
- Best for fee transparency: Augusta Precious Metals
Compare Gold IRAs
Best Overall
None
Call company representative for more information
- Gold and silver IRAs
- Supports rollovers for 403(b)s, thrift savings plans, savings accounts, and IRAs
- You can request to have gold directly delivered to you
- You can either receive distributions as physical gold, or have Goldco convert the gold into cash for you
- No mobile app
Goldco is one of the best gold IRAs. It offers gold self-directed IRAs, as well as silver IRAs.
GoldcoGoldco sticks out from other gold IRA companies for having no minimum requirement to open a Gold IRA (usually requiring investors to invest a couple of thousand) or directly buy gold.
As for its coin selection, you can invest in Gold American Eagle, Gold American Eagle Proof, Gold Liberty, Gold Phoenix, Gold Independence Hall, and more.
Plus, you don't necessarily need an IRA to buy gold at Goldco. You can also request to have gold delivered directly to you, but physical gold in your possession can't be held in your IRA as it counts as a taxable distribution.
Goldco promotes an "education first" approach to help investors expand their knowledge of the economy and the ins and outs of gold IRAs. Beginners can get Goldco's free gold IRA kit for info about IRAs, gold assets, and wealth protection.
Pros of Goldco
- Huge selection of precious metal coins and bars
- "Education first" approach is well-matched for beginner gold investors
- No minimum requirement
Cons of Goldco
You must call a company representative for a full disclosure of fees.
Best for Customer Support
$5,000
One-time $280 setup fee and $200 annual fee; free set-up and storage for certain users investing in limited mintage coins
- Gold IRAs and silver IRAs available
- Free IRA set-up and storage (for qualifying purchase amounts of limited mintage coins)
- Offers precious metal analyzer, portfolio comparison calculator, inflation calculator, and more
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android devices
- High set-up fees
Lear Capital offers both an IRA gold investment and silver IRA option, and you can take advantage of free IRA setup and storage
Lear Capital is a top gold IRA for customer service and quality assurance. It has a reputation for exceptional service, focusing on customer education and transparency, offering a 24-hour risk-free purchase guarantee on all orders and no-fee buybacks. Customers get a free investment kit and bonus coins when joining.
The Lear Advantage IRA offers free gold and silver guides, a price match guarantee, free metal evaluations, and a huge selection of precious metal tools and analyzers. Lear supports rollovers from IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and thrift savings plans.
Lear Capital has a minimum and an annual $200 fee.
Pros of Lear Capital
- Large selection of precious metal tools and analyzers
- 24 hour risk-free purchase guarantee
- Bonus coins when you open an account with Lear Capital
- Mobile app available
Cons of Lear Capital
- Set-up fees are higher, with a one-time $280 fee (waived for eligible IRAs and mintage coins).
Best for Smaller Balances
$2,500
$50 one-time set-up fee, $125 annual maintenance fee, a storage fee of $100 or $150, and a $60 paper statement fee (if you choose to receive paper statements)
- Low set-up fee ($50)
- Supports gold, silver, and platinum
- Relatively low minimum balance requirement
- Offers users $1,000 in free gold for on orders above $20,000 (up to $15,000 in free products)
- New users receive a free, informational gold kit
- No mobile apps
- No way to open account without speaking to a representative
- Limited information on company website
Rosland Capital's investment selection consists of gold, silver, and platinum, so the platform is perfect for precious metals-minded investors.
Rosland CapitalRosland Capital stands out for its low purchase requirement, making it a great option for those with smaller balances. Rosland is a competitively-priced gold and silver IRA firm with transparent fee structures and a strong reputation of trustworthiness. It's a great option for investing in specialty and premium coins for greater portfolio diversification.
Compared to similar gold companies, Rosland Capital charges lower, flat-rate fees. Rosland Capital charges a $50 one-time set-up fee, $125 annual maintenance fee, a storage fee of $100 or $150, and a $60 paper statement fee (if you choose to receive paper statements).
When people new to gold IRA investing sign up, they can benefit from a free information gold kit. Orders above $20,000 also get $1,000 in free gold. IRA rollovers require a $10,000 minimum.
Pros of Rosland Capital
- Low $2,500 purchase requirement
- Doesn't charge a fee when buying back precious metals
Cons of Rosland Capital
- The website lacks extensive information
- Only way to open an account is by calling a representative
Best for Large Account Balances
$5,000
$230 application fee and $200 annual fee for storage, insurance, and custodian services
- Invest in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars
- Competitive gold selection
- Supports rollovers from traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, thrift savings plans, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457 plans
- Buyback commitment with no liquidation fee
- Free consultations are available
- Some fees can be waived with larger opening deposits
- Fees are not easily found on the website
- High minimums to make purchases: $5,000 in a cash account and $10,000 in a gold IRA
- You might be able to waive fees with a large opening deposit, but you must talk to a rep about your situation to find out
American Hartford Gold is perhaps best for investors who want to convert significant portions of their retirement assets to gold or other metals, as larger sums can qualify for certain fee waivers with AHG. For those who may be on the fence about investing in gold, want to find more educational resources, or prefer a more digital and automated experience, there are better options available.
American Hartford Gold- Open a cash account or gold IRA with American Hartford Gold
- Hold precious metals in your IRA and hold them in a storage facility; precious metals are shipped to your home with a cash account
- With the buyback commitment, AHG doesn't guarantee it will buy back your metals — but if it does, it will arrange payment/shipping and not charge any transaction fees
- Call AHG to open an account, or use an online form to open a gold IRA
American Hartford Gold is one of the top gold IRA custodians, offering a competitive selection of gold and other precious metals like silver, platinum, and palladium.
Its cash accounts allow non-retirement investors to buy gold directly through AHG and have assets shipped to their homes.
There's a minimum to open a cash account.
Assets in American Hartford Gold precious metal IRAs are shipped and held at a secure facility. AHG supports rollovers. There's a $10,000 minimum to open a gold IRA.
AHG also charges a $230 application fee and $200 annual fee for storage, insurance, and custodian services. However, investors with larger opening deposits may get some of their fees waived or reduced after talking with an AHG representative. To speak with a representative, call the number listed on the AHG website.
American Hartford Gold doesn't provide exact fees on its website; it says depository storage fees vary based on account size and the particular precious metals you've got in your account. You can get more information by contacting the firm's account representatives.
Pros of AHG
- You may be able to get some fees waived or reduced after talking with an AHG representative
- Buyback commitment with price match guarantee
- Offers free consultations
Cons of AHG
- High $10,000 minimum to open a gold IRA
- You must call a representative to ask about fees
Best for Investor Resources
$10,000
Contact company representative
You can roll over existing retirement accounts into a gold IRA — or a silver, palladium, or platinum IRA, if you choose — at Birch Gold Group.
Birch Gold Group allows you to roll over existing retirement accounts into a gold IRA — or a silver, palladium, or platinum IRA.
Like many other precious metal companies on this list, Birch Gold Group provides users with a free information kit on gold and gold IRA investing. Investors also get a free gold bar with every $10,000 purchased.
In addition, the company pairs you with a precious metals specialist to ease the set-up process and track your investments' performance.
Another advantage is that it stores your gold in insured depositories (it currently uses Brink's Global Service). It also uses the Delaware Depository, which offers insurance of up to $1 billion.
Pros of Birch Gold
- Precious metals specialists assist with the set-up process
- Up to $1 billion in gold insurance
- Gold-insured depositories through Brink's Global Service
Cons of Birch Gold
- High $10,000 minimum to open a gold IRA
Best for Beginners
$20,000
$50 set up fee and an annual $125; storage costs between $100 to $175 annually
- History of reputable customer support
- Guidance on IRA rollovers
- One year of free storage and no administration fees ($50,000 minimum to unlock)
- You can only purchase precious metals over the phone
- Platinum and palladium assets not listed on website
Priority Gold is a reputable gold IRA company that offers an extensive selection of educational content suitable for gold traders of all levels.
It is well-known in the gold IRA industry by both consumers and businesses for its dedicated customer support and real-time pricing.
Priority Gold's user-friendly IRA set-up and educational resources make purchasing precious metals easy. After signing up, you will be assigned to a dedicated company representative to guide you through the investment process.
A qualified specialist is available to help you facilitate an IRA rollover with the help of its partnered custodian, Preferred Trust Company.
An IRA rollover of $50,000 gets you one free year of storage and no administration fees. But, you only need to meet the required $20,000 minimum to open an IRA. Gold storage costs between $100 to $175 per year.
Pros of Priority Gold
- Library of educational content for all kinds of gold traders
- Gold specialists assist you through the investment process
- Offers IRA rollovers
Cons of Priority Gold
- Costly $20,000 minimum to open a gold IRA
- Priority Gold offers platinum and palladium products, but they are unavailable on the company's website
- Free storage requires a minimum rollover of $50,000 (otherwise $100 to $175)
Best for Fee Transparency
$50,000
0% management fee; contact representative for set-up and storage fees
- Provides gold and silver IRAs
- Investors can can purchase common gold bullion and premium gold
- 0% management fees
- Gold coins and bars listed are 99.5% pure
- $50,000 minimum order requirement for IRAs
- No mobile apps
Augusta Precious Metals offers gold and silver IRAs, and gold-focused investors can take advantage of common gold bullion and premium gold.
Augusta Precious Metals offers gold and silver IRAs, and gold-focused investors can take advantage of common gold bullion and premium gold.
As for the platform's gold selection, you can buy assets like American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, American Eagle Proofs, Gold Canadian Eagles, American Buffalo, and Australian Striped Marlin.
Augusta ensures that the gold coins and bars it provides are 99.5% pure, with one exception: the American Gold Eagle coin, which is 91.67% pure. You'll pay zero management fees but must account for IRA set-up fees and depository storage fees.
Pros of Augusta Precious Metals
- Ongoing support from a dedicated team of gold professionals
- Waives up to 10 years of annual fees for gold and silver IRAs
- Transparent fee structure available on website
- Free shipping on all orders
Cons of Augusta Precious Metals
- Minimum order requirement of $50,000 for IRA purchases
Pros of Gold IRAs
- Portfolio diversification: Holding gold as part of your retirement plan further diversifies your asset allocation, mitigating potentially volatile swings.
- Inflation hedge: Historically, as the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar falls, the value of gold rises.
- Tax advantages: Gold IRAs offer the same special tax treatment as standard IRAs. Contributions made to traditional self-directed IRAs are tax-deductible. Qualified withdrawals from Roth accounts are tax-free.
- Long-term stability: Gold is largely regarded as a safe investment. However, it may experience volatility over the short term.
Cons of Gold IRAs
- Higher fees: You can't keep your gold at home or in a bank's safe deposit box. Instead, you must pay a custodian to store, insure, buy, ship, and transport your precious metals in the IRA.
- Doesn't pay interest: Gold bullion doesn't pay interest, dividends, or other returns. You'd only get a break on any capital gains from selling your gold at a profit.
- Funding restrictions: You're not allowed to move any precious metals you already own into your Gold IRA, nor are you personally allowed to buy precious metals and send them to your IRA. A custodian must take care of all the transactions on your behalf.
- Limited liquidity: Physical gold isn't very liquid, but then neither are IRA holdings (although Roth IRAs provide slightly more liquidity than Traditional IRAs). Given that it's a long-term, buy-and-hold sort of investment, gold is well-suited to an IRA.
Gold is one of the few commodities the IRS allows IRAs to invest in. However, before you go on a bullion-buying spree, you should understand the ins and outs of how to invest in Gold IRAs.
Watch the following video to learn more about investing in gold.
What Is a Gold IRA?
Traditional and Roth IRAs don't usually hold physical gold or other precious metals. You must open a separate, special gold IRA account to invest in gold as part of your retirement plan.
"It's simply advantageous to weigh and think about acquiring gold — and silver and other precious metals — to serve one well within a diversified, well-rounded investment portfolio," says Collin Plume, president and CEO of Noble Gold Investments, a precious metals dealer and depository. "The operative word being diversified."
Definition of a Gold IRA
Also called a precious metal IRA, a gold IRA works similarly to a standard IRA account with the same contribution limits and distribution rules. Instead of holding paper assets like stocks and bonds, gold IRAs hold physical bullion — coins or bars of gold and other approved precious metals, including silver, platinum, and palladium.
Gold IRAs can also contain:
- Gold stocks (shares of gold mining/production companies)
- Gold mutual funds that invest in bullion or stocks (or both)
- Gold ETFs that track gold indexes
Other alternative investments are gold futures and options, which offer risk management opportunities and leverage for greater diversification and market exposure.
Gold IRA Custodian
A Gold IRA custodian is an IRS-approved financial institution (bank, trust company, or brokerage), but many of the best online brokerages don't support precious metal IRAs. So, you will need to seek out specialized gold custodians.
How Does a Gold IRA Work?
Let's unpack how a gold IRA works.
Approved Metals for Gold IRAs
In a Gold IRA, you can invest in a variety of metals, including:
- Gold (99.5% purity)
- Silver (99.9% purity)
- Platinum (99.95% purity)
- Palladium (99.95% purity)
Precious metals can bought as bars, coins, and rounds through an accredited gold manufacturer, refiner, and assayer.
Gold IRA Depositories
Gold purchased in a Gold IRA is stored in an IRS-approved depository or recognized financial institution for safekeeping. The IRS prohibits investors from keeping precious metal IRA assets in their own homes, as that would be considered taking a distribution.
Gold IRA storage facilities follow strict regulatory and recordkeeping practices that the government monitors to ensure safety.
Gold IRA Contributions
Gold IRA contributions and distributions work the same as with regular IRAs.
In 2024 and 2025, you can contribute up to $7,000 in a gold IRA. If you are 50 or older, you can contribute an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 for a total contribution amount of up to $8,000.
Gold IRA Distributions
You can withdraw Gold IRA distributions penalty-free, either as physical gold or as cash, starting at age 59½. Otherwise, a 10% withdrawal penalty applies. Traditional Gold IRAs are also subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) starting at age 73. Roth IRAs, including Gold IRAs, are not subject to RMDs.
Setting Up a Gold IRA
Here are the following steps to set up a gold IRA.
1. Choose a Reputable Custodian
If you want to hold physical gold in an IRA, the first step is to open a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) — one that you manage directly — with a reputable custodian.
To find a gold IRA custodian, compare precious metal offerings, storage fees, educational resources, reputation, and customer service. Also, select a precious metal dealer that can make the actual gold purchases for your IRA (your custodian may be able to recommend one).
Not every self-directed IRA custodian offers the same investment choices, so make sure physical gold is one of their offerings before you open an account.
2. Fund Your Account
The next step is to fund the account with a contribution (subject to contribution limits), a transfer, or a rollover from a qualified plan, such as 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan.
Afterward, you can select investments for the account, and your custodian and metals dealer will complete the transactions on your behalf.
3. Purchase Gold
You can't just buy any bar or ingot. Physical metals must meet IRS "fineness" standards as their purity and weight, and be stored in an insured IRS-approved depository. When it comes to coins, you are limited to bullion coins issued by certain government mints.
How to Choose the Best Gold IRA Company
Remember that not every self-directed IRA custodian offers the same investment choices, so make sure physical gold is one of their offerings before you open an account. The best gold IRA for you depends on your goals, financial limitations, and investment style.
Gold IRA fees
Fees associated with gold IRAs tend to be higher than those associated with traditional IRAs because of the cost of physically storing, shipping, and insuring physical assets. Still, there are plenty of cost-effective ways to invest in gold. Gold-associated stocks and ETFs are budget-friendly alternatives.
Fees commonly associated with gold IRAs include setup, storage, transaction, shipping, administrative, and insurance fees.
The cost of these fees varies by platform, so it's crucial to compare different gold provider offerings to ensure you get the lowest fees possible for your needs.
While more user-friendly platforms are transparent about fees and pricing, gold IRA platforms can be difficult to navigate and often require customers to call on the phone. Although it's more of a hassle for potential investors, it's not uncommon to have to call a representative to learn about fees, as is common for most precious metal dealers.
Gold IRA Storage Options
You can't move any precious metals you already own into your gold IRA or buy them and send them to your IRA. Whenever you want to make a transaction for your gold IRA, your custodian must execute it.
Some of the most popular gold IRA storage options in the US include the Texas Precious Metals Depository and the Delaware Depository. Depositories usually provide gold investors with insurance protection against loss, damage, and theft.
Depending on the gold IRA company you invest through, you may get access to certain storage facilities., It's best to familiarize yourself with the platform's preferred custodian to ensure you know how your gold will be transported, stored, and handled.
Gold IRA BuyBack Programs
Gold IRA providers often offer buyback programs for those who wish to sell their precious metals. Access to these programs increases the liquidity of your gold holdings, as you can convert your assets back to cash. The process also tends to be smoother, and investors are likelier to receive a fair market value for their gold.
However, additional fees may be associated with a gold provider's buyback program. Before investing, ensure you know of any potentially high fees or limitations related to a company's buyback program.
Gold IRA Customer Service
Most gold IRA companies have high customer service ratings, typically higher than traditional online brokerages and investment platforms. Gold IRA websites tend to lack information and user-friendliness, but the accessibility and responsiveness of customer service can make up for it.
Properly review and analyze a company's reputation for customer service. For example, has high customer reviews regarding its friendly, helpful, and transparent customer support.
Educational resources and access to other personalized guidance may also be worth considering. , for example, is another popular gold IRA company that connects customers with senior precious metal specialists at no additional cost.
Why You Should Trust Us
We applied Business Insider's rating methodology for investing platforms to over a dozen exchanges to find the best options for gold and precious metal IRAs, low fees, asset/account security, user interfaces, and mobile access. Investment platforms are given a rating between 1 and 5.
We also explored whether exchanges offered services both for individuals and institutions, and we paid close attention to other account options like liquidity, accessibility, and precious metal selection.
FAQs
Can I store the gold in a gold IRA myself?
No, you cannot store the gold in a Gold IRA yourself; otherwise, it's considered taking a distribution. When you purchase gold for retirement savings purposes, the gold is stored in a secure facility with IRS approval and oversight.
What are the tax implications of a gold IRA?
Gold IRAs have the same tax implications as regular IRA accounts. You can purchase gold either with pre-tax or after-tax dollars. Gold purchased with pre-tax dollars will be taxed as income upon withdrawal during retirement. After-tax purchased gold is withdrawn tax-free.
Are gold IRAs a good investment?
Gold IRAs can be a good investment for hedging against inflation and combating market volatility. However, you shouldn't invest all of your savings into a gold IRA as you lose the opportunity to benefit from other areas of the market.
What are the disadvantages of a gold IRA?
The disadvantages of a gold IRA are that it doesn't award dividends and doesn't typically yield high returns and various fees. These fees for gold IRAs include ongoing maintenance, storage, custodial, and set-up fees.
