Quick answer: The Entrust Group is a well-regulated, Oakland-based SDIRA custodian in business since 1981, one of the longest operating in the country. For a gold IRA, it handles paperwork, IRS reporting, and fund transfers at $0 per precious metals transaction. Annual fees start at $219 and cap at $2,299 regardless of account size. It does not sell you gold: you work with a separate dealer for that. If you want the custodian and dealer coordinated in one experience, Augusta Precious Metals guides you through the entire process.
What Is The Entrust Group?
The Entrust Group has administered self-directed retirement accounts since 1981. That 40-plus-year operating history makes it one of the oldest dedicated SDIRA custodians in the United States, predating most of the gold IRA companies that rely on custodians like it.
The company is headquartered at 555 12th Street, Suite 900, in Oakland, California. Founder Hugh Bromma continues to serve as CEO, an unusual sign of continuity in a sector where private equity acquisitions and rebranding are common. The operating custodial entity is The Entrust Trust Company, chartered in Tennessee, which gives it the legal standing to hold title to retirement assets and meet IRS qualification requirements for self-directed IRAs.
Key figures from the company’s public profile:
- 24,000+ investors served
- Approximately $4 billion in assets under administration (industry-reported estimate)
- BBB Accredited with an A+ rating
- Annual financial audits by Stovall Grandey and Allen, LLP
The regulatory oversight layer is substantive. The Entrust Group operates under SEC regulation (for securities held in accounts), CFTC oversight, IRS retirement account compliance requirements, Department of Labor rules for retirement plans, and FinCEN requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act. This is the standard compliance framework for a registered trust company handling retirement assets in the United States.
One point that causes consistent confusion in search results: The Entrust Group is not the same company as Equity Trust Company. Equity Trust is a much larger custodian based in Westlake, Ohio, with a different ownership structure, different fee schedule, and a completely separate corporate history. If you see “Equity Trust” in a gold IRA company’s paperwork, that is a different custodian. The similar names are a coincidence, not a merger or rebrand. This distinction matters when comparing fees and services.
The Custodian’s Role in a Gold IRA (And Why It Matters)
Before reviewing The Entrust Group’s specifics, it’s worth being clear about what a custodian does and what it does not do. This is the most misunderstood aspect of the gold IRA setup process, and conflating the two roles leads to unrealistic expectations.
Under IRS rules, a self-directed IRA holding physical precious metals must have an IRS-qualified custodian responsible for:
- Holding legal title to the assets on behalf of the IRA
- Maintaining required IRS records and filing tax forms (Forms 1099-R, 5498)
- Processing purchase and sale transactions from the IRA
- Coordinating with the IRS-approved depository where metals are stored
The custodian does NOT sell you gold. It does NOT advise you on which metals to buy. It does NOT choose your dealer or depository. Those decisions are yours. The Entrust Group states this plainly on its website: “Dealers accumulate inventory and sell precious metals. Account holders negotiate transaction terms with the dealer of their choice.” Entrust then handles the documentation and wires IRA funds to the dealer you’ve selected.
Gold IRA Services: What The Entrust Group Handles
The Entrust Group supports all four IRS-approved precious metals for self-directed IRAs: gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
IRS Publication 590-A sets the fineness minimums. The Entrust Group’s published requirements match these standards exactly:
| Metal | Minimum purity | Example eligible coins |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | .995 fineness | American Eagle, American Buffalo (uncirculated), Australian Kangaroo/Nugget, Austrian Philharmonic, Canadian Maple Leaf; accredited refiner bars |
| Silver | .999 fineness | American Eagle, Australian Kookaburra, Austrian Philharmonic, Canadian Maple Leaf, Mexican Libertad; accredited bars |
| Platinum | .9995 fineness | American Eagle, Australian Koala, Canadian Maple Leaf, Isle of Man Noble; accredited bars |
| Palladium | .9995 fineness | Accredited manufacturer bars only |
One category explicitly excluded: “slabbed” coins (graded and encased by PCGS, NGC, or similar third-party graders). The IRS classifies these as collectibles, making them ineligible for IRA inclusion regardless of their actual gold content or melt value. This is a surprisingly common trip-up for coin collectors entering the gold IRA space.
Precious metals transaction fee: $0. This is a genuine differentiator. Many custodians charge a flat fee ($50-$150) or a percentage of the transaction value each time you buy or sell metals. The Entrust Group lists precious metals buy and sell transactions at $0. The $30 wire fee applies when funds are wired to a dealer, but the transaction processing itself carries no additional charge.
Depository options. The Entrust Group works with seven depository partners offering segregated or allocated storage. Named partners include:
- A-Mark Global Logistics (Las Vegas, NV and Dallas, TX)
- Dakota Depository Company (Fargo, ND)
- Delaware Depository Services (Wilmington, DE)
- Idaho Armored Vaults (Nampa, ID)
Depository fees are paid from your IRA funds directly to the storage provider. These are separate from Entrust’s custodian fees; ask your chosen depository for its current schedule before committing.
One IRS rule to understand clearly: taking physical delivery of metals held in your IRA is treated as a taxable distribution. The metals must remain in an IRS-approved depository for the duration of the IRA. Entrust values metals at the daily spot price for IRS reporting purposes.
Fee Schedule: The Full Breakdown
The Entrust Group publishes its fee schedule on its website. Here is the complete structure relevant to gold IRA investors:
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Account establishment | $50 (one-time) | Per account, paid at opening |
| Annual fee, single asset, under $50,000 | $219/year | Billed quarterly ($54.75/quarter) |
| Annual fee, single asset, $50,000+ | $219 + 0.17% of assets above $50,000 | See examples below |
| Annual fee, two or more assets, under $50,000 | $329/year | Applies if account holds both metals and cash, or multiple asset types |
| Annual fee, two or more assets, $50,000+ | $329 + 0.17% of assets above $50,000 | |
| Annual fee cap (all accounts) | $2,299/year maximum | No matter how large the account, you never pay more than this per year |
| Precious metals transaction (buy or sell) | $0 | No charge to process metals purchases or sales |
| Wire transfer (in or out) | $30 | Per wire; applies when funding account or paying dealer |
| ACH transfer (in or out) | $0 | |
| Check request | $10 | |
| Account termination | $250 | Waived if you transfer to another custodian rather than liquidating |
| Rush processing | $150 | Per expedited request |
What this costs in practice (single-asset account, gold only):
Annual Entrust custodian fee by account size (one-time $50 setup excluded)
Formula: $219 + 0.17% × (account value – $50,000). Cap applies at approximately $1.27M for single-asset accounts. Depository storage fees are separate and paid directly to your chosen depository.
The cap at $2,299 is a meaningful benefit for investors with larger accounts. A $2 million account still pays $2,299 rather than the $3,570 that the percentage formula would otherwise produce. For context, some custodians use unbounded percentage-based fees with no cap, which becomes expensive at scale.
Cash held in your account is not subject to the 0.17% fee, regardless of the amount. Only the asset value (metals in the depository) counts toward the percentage component.
Account Types and Eligibility
The Entrust Group supports the following self-directed retirement account types:
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- SEP IRA
- SIMPLE IRA
- Individual 401(k) (Solo 401k)
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Education Savings Account (ESA)
For gold IRA investors, Traditional and Roth IRAs are the most common. Rollovers from employer-sponsored plans (401(k), 403(b), 457(b)) and transfers from existing IRAs are supported through the standard rollover process.
No published minimum investment. The Entrust Group does not advertise a minimum account size on its public website. This is a genuine open-door policy compared to many gold IRA dealer companies, which often specify minimums of $10,000 to $50,000. That said, the $219 annual fee floor makes very small accounts economically impractical: on a $10,000 account, that fee represents a 2.2% annual drag before any investment performance.
For IRA contribution limits and rollover rules, the authoritative source is IRS Publication 590-A. For 2025, the annual contribution limit for IRAs is $7,000 ($8,000 for investors 50 and older). Rollovers from existing retirement accounts are not subject to these annual contribution limits.
Customer Service and Technology
The Entrust Group operates a client portal where account holders view holdings, manage fee payments, and track transaction history. The portal is accessible through the company’s website and is the primary self-service tool for account management.
Contact options from the company’s public pages:
- Phone: 1-800-392-9653
- General email: [email protected]
- Client services (fees, portal): [email protected]
Founder Hugh Bromma’s stated philosophy centers on investor education: “We focus on providing resources to help educate investors in their responsibilities for self-direction.” The company runs periodic “Power to Invest” workshops, educational events for investors interested in alternative assets. A learning center on the website covers SDIRA fundamentals, eligible investments, and prohibited transaction rules.
The technology experience reflects the company’s traditional SDIRA custodian model. The client portal handles fee viewing and payment. The account opening and transaction process involves forms and documentation that investors transitioning from brokerage accounts may find more manual than they expect. This is not specific to The Entrust Group; it is characteristic of the SDIRA custodian category generally. Newer fintech-adjacent custodians have invested more in digital workflows, and this is the main area where Entrust shows its age relative to competitors that launched in the last decade.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Founded 1981: one of the longest-operating SDIRA custodians in the US
- BBB Accredited, A+ rating
- $0 precious metals transaction fees (buy or sell)
- Annual fee capped at $2,299 (protects large accounts)
- All four IRS-approved metals supported
- Seven depository partners, segregated and allocated storage available
- Strong regulatory oversight: SEC, CFTC, IRS, FinCEN, DOL
- No published minimum account size
- Annual independent financial audits
Cons
- Annual fee increases with account size (0.17% on assets above $50k)
- Online experience dated compared to newer custodians
- $250 account termination fee if liquidating
- Does not sell metals: you manage the dealer relationship separately
- Transaction process involves manual forms and documentation
- No 24/7 digital support channel advertised
Which Gold IRA Dealers Work With The Entrust Group?
The Entrust Group does not publish a directory of affiliated gold IRA dealers, and most gold IRA companies don’t prominently disclose which custodians they use by default. The custodian relationship is typically set up during the account-opening process, not marketed as a headline feature.
From publicly available information, we could not confirm which specific gold IRA dealers listed in the Goldiew directory use The Entrust Group as their preferred or default custodian. The Entrust Group services more than 24,000 accounts, so the investor base is broad. The investor-directed model means you can, in principle, use any IRS-qualified dealer to purchase metals through an Entrust-held account; there is no pre-approved list you must follow.
A practical note: most full-service gold IRA companies have established custodian relationships that they recommend to clients. If you’re working with a specific dealer, ask them which custodians they support and whether The Entrust Group is on that list. For investors who prefer to pick both their custodian and dealer independently, The Entrust Group’s open model is an advantage. For investors who want one coordinated experience, working with a dealer who manages the custodian relationship is simpler.
Looking for a gold IRA dealer recommendation? Our highest-rated option is Augusta Precious Metals (operating since 2012, BBB A+ with zero complaints, Money Magazine’s Best Overall Gold IRA Company 2022-2026). Augusta coordinates the custodian and depository relationships as part of its onboarding process. For a broader comparison, see our best gold IRA companies guide.
Alternatives to The Entrust Group
Four custodians come up most often when investors compare The Entrust Group to alternatives:
Equity Trust Company (Westlake, OH): The most common point of confusion, as noted above. Equity Trust is a completely separate company, significantly larger by account volume, and is the default custodian for several major gold IRA dealers. Fee structures differ. If a gold IRA company has partnered with a custodian, they’ll tell you during the onboarding process; don’t assume it’s The Entrust Group based on name similarity.
STRATA Trust Company (Waco, TX): Formerly Self Directed IRA Services. A competitive SDIRA custodian with a simplified flat-fee structure for certain account types. A viable alternative for investors comparing fee schedules directly.
Madison Trust Company (Sioux Falls, SD): Known for a streamlined digital experience and competitive flat annual fees. Often cited by investors who want a simpler, more modern custodian interface than traditional SDIRA administrators provide.
Kingdom Trust (Murray, KY): A larger custodian with a significant alternative asset book, including both self-directed IRAs and equity-based custodial accounts. Popular with investors who hold diverse alternative assets alongside precious metals.
No single custodian is universally best. The right choice depends on which gold IRA dealer you’ve selected (and whether they have a preferred custodian), your account size, and how much importance you place on a modern digital experience versus a long operational track record.
Is The Entrust Group Right for You?
Verdict: Strong custodian for self-directed investors, less practical for first-timers
Want direct control over custodian, dealer, and depository independently. Have accounts above $150,000 (the fee cap structure becomes advantageous at scale). Value a 40-year regulated track record. Are experienced SDIRA investors who don’t need hand-holding through the process.
Are setting up their first gold IRA and want one company to coordinate everything. Prefer a fully digital, app-based experience. Are investing under $25,000 (annual fee represents meaningful drag at small account sizes). Need a custodian their specific dealer already works with.
The 40-year operating history, strong regulatory standing, and $0 precious metals transaction fees are legitimate credentials. The manual documentation process and fee structure that scales with account size are genuine drawbacks to consider relative to newer competitors. For most first-time gold IRA investors, partnering with a full-service gold IRA company that coordinates the custodian relationship is the more practical path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Entrust Group the same as Equity Trust Company?
No. These are two entirely separate companies with different ownership, headquarters, fee structures, and operating histories. The Entrust Group is based in Oakland, California, founded in 1981, and led by founder/CEO Hugh Bromma. Equity Trust Company is based in Westlake, Ohio. The name similarity is a coincidence. If you see “Equity Trust” referenced in a gold IRA company’s paperwork, that is a different custodian with different fees.
What does The Entrust Group charge for a gold IRA?
A one-time $50 account setup fee, then an annual fee starting at $219/year for accounts under $50,000 holding a single asset class. For accounts above $50,000, the annual fee is $219 plus 0.17% of assets above $50,000. The annual fee is capped at $2,299 regardless of account size. Precious metals purchase and sale transactions carry no fee ($0). Wire transfers cost $30 each. Depository storage fees are separate, paid directly to your chosen depository.
Does The Entrust Group sell gold?
No. The Entrust Group is a custodian only. Its role is administrative: it holds legal title to the assets in your IRA, handles IRS record-keeping and reporting, and processes fund transfers. You purchase gold from a separate dealer you select; Entrust wires the funds from your IRA to that dealer and records the transaction. You must arrange the dealer relationship independently.
What gold coins are eligible in an Entrust-administered IRA?
The IRS sets the eligibility rules, not Entrust. Eligible gold coins include the American Eagle, American Buffalo (uncirculated versions only), Australian Kangaroo/Nugget, Austrian Philharmonic, and Canadian Maple Leaf. Gold bars from accredited refiners that meet the .995 fineness minimum are also eligible. Certified (“slabbed”) coins (graded and encased by PCGS or NGC) are not eligible, because the IRS classifies them as collectibles regardless of their gold content.
Can I roll over my 401(k) into a gold IRA through The Entrust Group?
Yes. The Entrust Group supports rollovers from 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and other qualified employer plans, as well as direct transfers from existing IRAs. A direct rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer is not a taxable event. An indirect rollover (where funds pass through your hands before being deposited) must be completed within 60 days to avoid income taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. See IRS guidance on rollovers for the full rules.
Is The Entrust Group regulated?
Yes, under multiple regulatory layers. The operating entity, The Entrust Trust Company, is chartered in Tennessee as a state trust company, which is the legal requirement to act as an IRA custodian. Oversight spans the SEC (for securities held in accounts), CFTC, IRS, Department of Labor, and FinCEN (Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering requirements). The company conducts annual financial audits through Stovall Grandey and Allen, LLP.
What happens if I close my Entrust gold IRA?
Account termination carries a $250 fee if you’re liquidating the account entirely. If you’re moving to a different custodian, a direct custodian-to-custodian transfer avoids the termination fee. Assets transfer without being distributed to you, which also avoids the taxable event that a liquidation would trigger. Before closing, confirm the process directly with Entrust at 1-800-392-9653 to understand the exact steps and timeline.
Sources consulted for this review (accessed May 2026):
- The Entrust Group. “Fee Schedule.” theentrustgroup.com/fees.
- The Entrust Group. “Precious Metals IRA.” theentrustgroup.com/alternative-investments/precious-metals.
- The Entrust Group. “About Us.” theentrustgroup.com/about-us.
- The Entrust Group. Homepage. theentrustgroup.com.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements. 2024 edition.
- Internal Revenue Service. Rollovers of Retirement Plan and IRA Distributions.
- Internal Revenue Service. IRA FAQs: Investments (Coins and Precious Metals).
- Better Business Bureau. The Entrust Group business profile. bbb.org.