Choosing a gold IRA company is one of the larger financial decisions a retiree makes. The problem is that most review sites apply vague standards (“we liked their service”) or rank companies based on who pays the highest affiliate commission. Goldiew uses a documented evaluation framework built around verifiable, public data. Below is the exact methodology we apply to every company in our directory, plus a checklist you can use on your own.
Goldiew evaluates every gold IRA company against the same 8 public, verifiable criteria
Goldiew applies a documented framework to every gold IRA company in the directory: BBB accreditation and complaint history, full fee disclosure before commitment, segregated storage availability, whether advisors are salaried or commissioned, quality of educational materials, a clear buyback policy, years in business, and any active FTC, CFTC, or state attorney general complaints. The framework draws on IRS Publication 590, FINRA investor guidance, and SEC enforcement actions. No legitimate company should hesitate to answer questions on any of these points.
Our Evaluation Framework
Every gold IRA company in the Goldiew directory is evaluated against these eight criteria. A strong company meets the majority of them. Partial or weak performance on even two or three criteria is enough to drop a company to a lower tier, regardless of marketing spend or name recognition.
None of these criteria is a marketing claim. All of them are checkable by any investor using public databases, the company’s own website, and 2-3 hours of research. The point of this guide is to show you exactly where to look.
Criterion 1: BBB Rating and Complaint History
The Better Business Bureau accreditation system is not a guarantee of quality, but the complaint history it records is the closest thing to a public audit that the precious metals industry has. A clean record over 10+ years is genuinely meaningful. A pattern of unresolved complaints is a serious warning.
What to look for
Start at bbb.org and search the company by name. Focus on three data points: the letter rating (A+ is the highest), the number of complaints filed in the last 3 years, and whether those complaints were resolved or left open. An A+ rating with a low complaint count since accreditation is the gold standard. A company can technically hold an A+ rating even with a small number of complaints if it resolved them promptly, so read the complaint summaries, not just the grade. The date of BBB accreditation matters too: a company accredited since 2012 has a longer verified track record than one accredited in 2022.
- A+ rating with BBB accreditation since at least 2014
- A low complaint count over the last 3 years
- Any complaints that were filed show a documented resolution
- Accreditation date predates the company’s current marketing push
- No BBB accreditation at all
- Unresolved complaints in the last 12 months
- Pattern of complaints about misrepresented products or fees
- Rating dropped from A+ in the last 2 years
Example Among the companies Augusta Precious Metals carries an A+ BBB rating. Birch Gold Group also holds a BBB A+ rating and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance (source: birchgold.com/about/, 2026). Consult each company’s current BBB profile before making any decision, as complaint histories change.
Criterion 2: Fee Transparency
Gold IRA fees are one of the most confusing elements for new investors, and some companies exploit that confusion deliberately. A company that will not provide a clear, written fee schedule before you open an account has a structural incentive to charge more than you expected.
The five fee categories to demand in writing
Account setup fees (typically one-time), annual custodian fees (the IRS-approved custodian holding your account must charge a fee for that service), annual storage fees (the depository charges separately), transaction fees when you buy or sell, and the markup on the metal itself above the spot price. That last category is especially common and rarely disclosed upfront. Ask specifically: “What is your markup over spot price for the metals I’m buying?”
A company should be willing to give you numbers on all five categories before you commit. “Our fees are competitive” is not a fee disclosure. “Our annual custodian fee is $100, storage is $150, and our standard markup is 3% over spot” is a fee disclosure. One of these is useful to you; the other is a marketing phrase.
- Written fee schedule available before you ask
- Specific dollar amounts for setup, custodian, and storage
- Clear disclosure of metal markup or premium structure
- Fee waiver programs with explicit qualifying terms
- Vague “low fee” or “competitive fee” claims with no numbers
- Fees buried in fine print after verbal commitment
- Refusal to disclose metal markup before purchase
- Fee terms that only appear in the custodian agreement after signing
Example Augusta Precious Metals publicly advertises a multi-year fee waiver for qualifying rollover accounts, with specific terms discussed during the consultation process. Their model emphasizes full fee disclosure before any account is funded. Ask any company you are evaluating to send a written fee breakdown before filling out paperwork. For a detailed fee comparison across top companies, see our gold IRA fees breakdown guide.
Criterion 3: Depository Options and Segregated Storage
IRS regulations require that metals held in a gold IRA be stored at an approved depository, not at your home or in a personal safe. This is non-negotiable under IRS Publication 590-B. What is negotiable is which depository you use and whether your metals are stored in a segregated account (your specific coins and bars, set apart) or a commingled account (a pool of metals where you own a share).
Segregated vs. commingled storage
Segregated storage costs more, typically $50-$100 more per year than commingled, but you receive back your specific metals when you take a distribution. With commingled storage, you receive equivalent metal, not necessarily the same pieces. For standard bullion (American Gold Eagles, Canadian Maples, IRS-approved bars), commingled is functionally identical to segregated for most purposes. For numismatic or collectible coins, where the specific coin’s characteristics affect its value, segregated storage is the only option that makes sense.
Ask any company you are evaluating: “Which specific depositories do you work with, and is segregated storage available at each?” A company that works with only one depository gives you less flexibility if that depository faces operational problems. Companies that work with three or more IRS-approved depositories across different geographic regions reduce concentration risk.
- Multiple IRS-approved depository partners named publicly
- Segregated storage available as an option at stated cost
- Depository carries insurance for full replacement value
- Depositories are geographically distributed across regions
- Only one depository option with no alternatives offered
- No written confirmation that storage is IRS-compliant
- Any suggestion that home storage is acceptable for IRA metals
- Depository is affiliated with the dealer (potential conflict of interest)
Example Birch Gold Group publicly lists multiple depository partners including Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services, International Depository Services, Texas Precious Metals Depository, and Texas Bullion Depository (source: birchgold.com, 2026). Noble Gold Investments operates its own Texas-based depository as a differentiator (source: noblegoldinvestments.com/gold-ira/, 2026). Always verify current depository options directly with the company before opening an account.
Criterion 4: Customer Service Model, Salaried vs. Commissioned
This criterion directly affects whether the advice you receive during the sales process is in your interest or the advisor’s. A commissioned salesperson earns more money when you buy more, buy a larger account, or choose premium coins instead of standard bullion. A salaried advisor earns the same regardless of what you purchase. Weighing Augusta against Lear Capital on this point? The Augusta vs Lear Capital comparison maps their advisor structures side by side.
Why this matters more than it sounds
FINRA has published repeated guidance on conflicts of interest in investment sales, specifically around situations where sales incentives diverge from client outcomes. In the precious metals context, the most common conflict is upselling from standard IRS-approved bullion (thin margins) to proof or collectible coins (far larger premiums). A commissioned salesperson has a financial reason to make that upsell. A salaried advisor does not.
Ask directly: “Are your account representatives salaried or do they earn commissions on my purchase?” A company willing to answer this question clearly is signaling transparency. A company that deflects or gives a non-answer is signaling the opposite. You can also look for this information on the company’s public website before your first call.
- Salaried representatives, stated publicly on the company website
- No-pressure policy explicitly committed to in writing
- Advisors encourage you to take time before deciding
- “Decide only if it makes sense for you” framing in sales process
- Commission-based pay structure for the sales team
- Pressure to commit on the first call
- Repeated follow-up calls pushing toward higher-premium products
- Advisor unable or unwilling to disclose their compensation structure
Example Augusta Precious Metals states on its public website that customers “speak one-on-one with a salaried, non-commissioned educator” (source: augustapreciousmetals.com, 2026). This is one of the few companies in the industry that makes compensation structure a public-facing differentiator. It is a meaningful data point worth weighing alongside the other criteria in this guide.
Criterion 5: Education Resources
A gold IRA is a self-directed retirement account with distinct IRS rules, custodian requirements, and storage obligations. Investors who make this decision without understanding the mechanics regularly encounter surprises: unexpected fees, prohibited transaction rules, RMD complications at age 73. Good companies help you understand what you are buying before you buy it.
What strong educational materials look like
At a minimum, a gold IRA company should provide written materials covering: what a self-directed IRA is, which metals are IRS-approved under IRS Publication 590-A, how rollovers work (direct vs. indirect), the 60-day rollover rule and its tax consequences, annual contribution limits, and Required Minimum Distribution rules after age 73 under the SECURE 2.0 Act. Materials that go deeper, such as walking through a real account setup example or explaining the difference between a custodian and a dealer, indicate a company that has thought seriously about investor outcomes.
Brochures heavy on price charts, performance claims, and endorsements but light on mechanics are telling you something about that company’s priorities. Goldiew does not provide financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making retirement decisions.
- Free, ungated educational content on IRS rules and rollover mechanics
- Materials explain both benefits and limitations of gold IRAs
- Content cites IRS publications, not just internal marketing
- Education-focused consultation before any sales discussion
- Educational materials gated behind personal information capture
- Heavy emphasis on fear-based messaging about economic conditions
- Performance or return promises embedded in “educational” content
- No explanation of IRA rules, only product promotion
Criterion 6: Buyback Policy
At some point, you will need to liquidate some or all of your metals. Required Minimum Distributions kick in at age 73, and you may need to take distributions in kind or in cash. The buyback policy determines how much friction, delay, and cost you encounter when that moment arrives.
What a strong buyback policy looks like
A clear buyback policy should specify: whether the company buys back metals directly (versus leaving you to find a third-party buyer), at what price they buy relative to spot, how quickly the transaction completes, and whether the buyback price is confirmed at the time of the call or locks in later. Some companies offer “no questions asked” buybacks on metals they originally sold you, which reduces friction significantly.
Ask: “If I need to liquidate in the next 5 years, how does your buyback process work, and what price will I receive relative to spot?” A company that cannot answer this clearly has not thought through the customer’s full lifecycle. A company that answers with specific numbers and a written process has. Get the buyback terms in writing before you fund your account, not after.
- Direct buyback program, no need for third-party dealers
- Published buyback pricing tied to spot price
- Buyback process documented in writing before account opening
- Settlement timeline of 5-7 business days or faster
- No stated buyback program; you are told to “find your own buyer”
- Buyback price significantly below spot without justification
- Long delays (30+ days) before funds are returned
- Buyback terms differ substantially from initial purchase terms
Example Augusta Precious Metals describes its liquidation options as part of the onboarding process. For any company you are evaluating, request written documentation of the buyback program, including price relative to spot and settlement timeline, before you fund. Policies can change, and verbal assurances are difficult to enforce. For more detail, see our guide on Augusta’s buyback policy.
Criterion 7: Longevity in Business
The precious metals IRA space has seen a steady stream of companies that open, collect customer fees, and close or change ownership within a few years. Longevity does not guarantee quality, but it is a basic filter for stability. A company operating continuously for 10+ years has processed thousands of accounts, navigated full market cycles, and handled Required Minimum Distributions for customers who opened accounts a decade ago.
How to verify a founding year
Do not rely on a review site or marketing brochure for the founding year. Go directly to the company’s website, usually the About or History page. Cross-check with their BBB profile, which records the date of accreditation and sometimes the date of business formation. For a deeper check, search the SEC EDGAR database and the state corporation database for the state where the company is incorporated. Many precious metals companies are incorporated in Wyoming or Delaware; both states have free online lookup tools.
Watch specifically for companies that claim “decades of experience” on their marketing but have a corporate entity formed much more recently. Industry experience within a founder’s prior career and the operational history of the specific company you are opening an account with are two different things.
- Continuous operation under the same name and ownership for 10+ years
- Founded year consistent across BBB profile, state records, and website
- Management team with verifiable industry backgrounds
- History of operating through a full market cycle (2018, 2020, 2022)
- Company under 5 years old with no distribution-phase track record
- Founding year unverifiable or contradicted by state records
- Multiple name changes or ownership transfers in recent history
- Management team with no verifiable industry background
Example Augusta Precious Metals has operated since 2012 (source: augustapreciousmetals.com, “Trusted by American Retirees Since 2012”). Birch Gold Group has operated since 2011 (source: birchgold.com, “trusted by 40,000+ Americans since 2011”). Both founding dates are consistent with their BBB accreditation records verified in 2026. Always verify independently using the sources described above.
Criterion 8: Regulatory Complaints, FTC, CFTC, and State AG Actions
The Better Business Bureau covers consumer disputes that companies can resolve voluntarily. Regulatory databases are different. A complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or a state attorney general reflects a case where a government body investigated or acted against a company. These records are public, searchable, and carry significantly more weight than BBB data alone.
Three databases to check before committing
FTC enforcement actions: The FTC’s enforcement actions database is searchable by company name. Precious metals fraud, telemarketing fraud, and investment scam enforcement are among the most frequently filed categories. An FTC action indicates that a federal agency found the company’s conduct serious enough to investigate formally.
CFTC enforcement actions: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulates commodity trading, and precious metals fall under CFTC jurisdiction in several contexts. The CFTC maintains a public enforcement database. A company with a CFTC action in its history is a serious red flag for any gold IRA investment.
State attorney general records: State AG offices maintain consumer protection enforcement databases. California, Texas, and New York are particularly active in precious metals enforcement. A search for “[company name] attorney general” combined with the company’s home state usually surfaces any actions quickly. The National Association of Attorneys General links to every state AG office. This check takes 10 minutes and no legitimate company in our top tier has active enforcement actions.
- No results in FTC enforcement database for the company name
- No results in CFTC enforcement database
- No state AG consumer protection actions in company history
- Clean FINRA BrokerCheck record for any registered advisors
- Any open FTC or CFTC enforcement action
- Settled state AG action in the last 5 years
- FINRA BrokerCheck records showing disciplinary history
- Company appears in SEC investor alerts for precious metals fraud
For context on what regulators consider fraudulent in this space, FINRA’s investor alert on precious metals fraud is the clearest plain-language summary available. Read it before evaluating any company.
Your Evaluation Checklist
Use this checklist for any company you are seriously considering. You can complete it in 2-3 hours. The companies that clear all eight criteria are a short list.
Gold IRA Company Evaluation Checklist
- BBB rating and complaint history: Confirm A+ rating at bbb.org. Read complaint summaries, not just the grade. A low complaint count since accreditation is the standard to match.
- Fee transparency: Request a written fee schedule covering setup, annual custodian, annual storage, and metal markup before signing anything. “Competitive fees” is not an answer.
- Depository options: Ask for the names of specific IRS-approved depositories they work with. Confirm segregated storage is available if you need it. Get this in writing.
- Customer service model: Ask directly whether account representatives are salaried or commission-based. Check the company’s website for a public statement on compensation structure.
- Education resources: Evaluate the depth of their IRA mechanics content. Look for IRS citations, rollover mechanics explanation, and clear disclosure of limitations, not only promotional material.
- Buyback policy: Request written documentation of how their buyback program works, at what price relative to spot, and the settlement timeline. Verify before you fund.
- Longevity: Verify founding year on the company’s BBB profile and cross-check with state corporation records. Continuous operation for 10+ years under the same name and management is a meaningful filter.
- Regulatory record: Search the FTC enforcement database, CFTC enforcement database, and your state AG’s consumer protection records. Any active or recent enforcement action is disqualifying.
Our best gold IRA companies comparison applies this exact framework and shows the results side by side. The three companies that consistently meet the most criteria in our evaluation are Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, and Noble Gold Investments.
Who this checklist is not intended for
This framework assumes you have at least $25,000 in an eligible retirement account (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or similar) and are approaching or in retirement. If your savings are under $25,000, a gold IRA is unlikely to be cost-effective given annual fee structures. If you need access to your retirement savings within the next 5 years, a gold IRA’s illiquidity may not fit your timeline. These are factual constraints, not recommendations. Consult a licensed financial advisor for your specific situation.
Featured Company
Augusta Precious Metals
Don’t pick a gold IRA company without this checklist Free from Augusta’s 2026 Gold & Silver IRA Info Kit · 5 questions and the red flagsFrequently Asked Questions
How do I check a gold IRA company’s BBB rating and complaint history?
Go to bbb.org and search the company by name. The profile page shows the letter rating, whether the company is BBB-accredited, the date of accreditation, and a log of complaints filed in the last 3 years. Click into the complaint log to read what customers complained about and whether those complaints were resolved. An A+ rating with a low complaint count since accreditation is the top tier. A company can hold an A+ rating with a small number of resolved complaints, so read the complaint text alongside the grade.
What is segregated storage, and do I need it for a gold IRA?
Segregated storage means your specific coins and bars are stored separately from other customers’ metals, identifiable as yours. Commingled storage means your metals are pooled with others’ and you own a share of the pool by weight. Segregated storage typically costs $50-$150 more per year. For standard bullion (American Gold Eagles, IRS-approved bars), commingled storage is functionally identical at distribution time. For numismatic or collectible coins, where the specific coin’s characteristics affect its value, segregated storage is the practical choice. Ask your custodian what the annual cost difference is before deciding.
What fees should I expect to pay for a gold IRA each year?
Annual gold IRA costs typically include three core components: a custodian fee (industry-reported around $75-$100 per year for standard accounts), a storage fee (industry-reported around $100-$175 per year depending on the depository and whether storage is segregated), and transaction fees when buying or selling. The largest variable is the markup on metals above spot price at the time of purchase. Get all five fee categories in writing before opening any account. Consult a tax advisor for the implications specific to your account type and tax situation. Equity Trust is a widely used custodian option; the Equity Trust Gold IRA review details their fees and processing speed.
How do I verify that a gold IRA company has no regulatory actions against it?
Search three public databases: the FTC enforcement actions database at ftc.gov/enforcement, the CFTC enforcement actions database at cftc.gov, and your state attorney general’s consumer protection enforcement records. For any advisors registered with FINRA, use BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org. These are all free, public searches. A company operating legitimately for 10+ years with no results across these databases has cleared a meaningful filter. Any open or recent action is disqualifying under our methodology.
Is home storage of gold IRA metals allowed by the IRS?
No. IRS Publication 590-B requires that physical assets in a self-directed IRA be held by a qualified IRA custodian, not by the account holder directly. Storing IRA metals at home or in a personal safe constitutes a prohibited transaction under IRC Section 4975, which would disqualify the IRA and result in a taxable distribution plus potential penalties. Any company that suggests home storage is a legitimate option for IRA metals is providing information that conflicts with IRS rules. Verify the rules directly at irs.gov/publications/p590b.
What metals are IRS-approved for a gold IRA?
IRS-approved metals for self-directed IRAs include gold coins and bars meeting a minimum 0.995 fineness (with an explicit exception for the American Gold Eagle, which is 0.9167 fineness but specifically permitted by the IRS), silver at 0.999 fineness, platinum at 0.9995, and palladium at 0.9995. Collectible or numismatic coins are generally not IRA-eligible. The full approved list is in IRS Publication 590-A. Ask any company you evaluate to provide their complete list of IRA-eligible products with fineness specifications before you purchase.
What is the difference between a gold IRA custodian and a gold IRA dealer?
A custodian is the IRS-approved financial institution that holds your self-directed IRA account and keeps the records. They do not sell you metals. A dealer is the company that sells you the physical metals, which the custodian then arranges to store at an approved depository. Many gold IRA companies you interact with are dealers, not custodians. The custodian is a separate entity. When evaluating any company, ask separately: “Who is the custodian for my account?” and “Who is the depository?” These are different companies from the dealer, and all three must meet IRS requirements. STRATA Trust is one commonly paired custodian; the STRATA Trust Gold IRA review covers their fees and what most investors miss.
At what age do Required Minimum Distributions begin for a gold IRA?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act (effective 2023), Required Minimum Distributions for traditional IRAs begin at age 73. For Roth IRAs, no RMDs are required during the account holder’s lifetime. When taking an RMD from a gold IRA, you can receive the distribution in cash (the custodian liquidates the required amount of metals) or in kind (you receive physical metals). The in-kind option has specific paperwork requirements and tax implications. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation before making any RMD decisions.
How does a 401(k) to gold IRA rollover work?
A direct rollover moves funds from your 401(k) custodian directly to the new IRA custodian without the funds passing through your hands, and there are no immediate tax consequences when done correctly. An indirect rollover moves the funds to you first, and you have 60 days to deposit them into the new IRA. Missing the 60-day window makes the distribution taxable income. The IRS allows only one indirect rollover per 12-month period across all your IRAs combined. Most gold IRA companies assist with the direct rollover paperwork. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our 401(k) to gold IRA rollover guide. Consult a tax advisor before initiating any rollover.
Sources and Methodology
This guide draws on the following public institutional sources. Company-specific facts are verified against each company’s public website and BBB profile.
- IRS Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements
- IRS Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements
- FINRA Investor Alert: Precious Metals Fraud
- SEC Investor.gov: Physical Commodities Overview
- FTC Enforcement Actions Database
- CFTC Enforcement Actions Database
- Better Business Bureau Company Profiles
- FINRA BrokerCheck
- National Association of Attorneys General
- Augusta Precious Metals public website (checked 2026)
- Birch Gold Group public website (checked 2026)
- Noble Gold Investments public website (checked 2026)
Goldiew does not provide financial advice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Consult a licensed professional before moving retirement funds.