Gold IRA companies are essentially brokers that sell IRS-approved coins and bars of gold and other precious metals so you can invest a gold IRA. Many of these companies also sell non-IRA precious metal coins and bars to collectors. Most gold IRA companies don’t charge a commission for buying or selling gold. However, many add a premium to the spot price, which is essentially their job to facilitate the transaction.
Some companies are transparent about their markup and others aren’t. Companies that buy directly can eliminate the middleman so they can reduce their markup. A gold IRA works like a traditional IRA, which allows investors to use their money before paying taxes to invest in gold or other precious metals. Gold is a source of steady and stable growth compared to the more volatile stock market, which is why more and more retirement investors are turning to gold IRAs.
These companies enable new clients to set up Gold IRAs in a matter of days or less and offer qualified support from investment professionals. If you’re looking for a gold investment company to back your IRA, choosing a company with a positive reputation in the industry can ensure that you have a positive experience overall. Instead, these companies require that you either transfer money from an existing IRA or withdraw money from an existing account and deposit it into a new IRA. Gold IRA retirement accounts offer benefits if you want to leave your investments to your heirs or a charity.
A first-class IRA Gold company only works with carefully vetted, reputable external storage companies or secured depositories. If your existing retirement accounts haven’t gained much value since they were opened, look for a Gold IRA company with low minimum investment requirements. While there are fewer companies that offer gold IRAs than other types of IRAs, you still have multiple options. It therefore makes sense to work with a Gold IRA company that offers a diverse selection of gold, silver, and other precious metal products.
Before choosing gold or other precious metals for your portfolio, you should make sure that it meets the guidelines and standards for admission to gold IRAs. We reviewed 18 companies based on their consumer ratings using the Business Consumer Alliance and Consumer Affairs and selected nine companies with the highest ratings in each case (AAA with BCA and five stars with CA). While Advantage Gold appeals to gold IRA investors of all types, it is particularly attractive to first-time buyers. Once you’ve opened a self-employed gold IRA, you can transfer cash to the account to fund your purchase of physical gold.
While you can gain exposure to gold in a normal retirement account by owning stocks or funds, you can’t hold the physical asset in an IRA or 401 (k). These companies can ship your gold straight to your door and offer insurance to reduce transportation risks.