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If you're like most Americans, you're contributing to an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan that doesn't allow for the purchase of physical precious metals.
If you want to diversify your retirement savings into alternative assets like gold and silver, you can either go at it yourself, or turn to a company that specializes in these precious metals IRA accounts.
Goldco is one of these gold and silver specialists ready to facilitate your new precious metals IRA. In this Goldco review, we'll look at their products, reputation, online ratings, fees, storage options, and more. Is Goldco worthy of your business? Let's dive in.
Goldco
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Goldco
Goldco is a privately held precious metals company located in Calabasas, California. With more than ten years in business, the gold dealer has specialized almost exclusively in precious metals IRAs.
They pride themselves on being a full-service firm. Outside of gold and silver IRAs, they also handle direct sales of precious metals to customers across the U.S.
Gold IRAs
"Gold IRA" is a general term for a self-directed IRA that holds precious metals. The bulk of Goldco's dealings are in these gold and silver IRAs. Customers can transfer or rollover a portion of their retirement savings into physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars and coins.
The company has a team of account executives that handle every step of the process from setting up a self-directed IRA, to moving funds between custodians, and purchasing the precious metals to be held in the new account.
How to Set Up a Gold IRA with Goldco
Over the last decade, Goldco has streamlined the process of opening your new gold IRA. Here's what to expect from making your initial contact to finalizing your gold IRA rollover:
Their expert team will work directly with you and the custodian of your existing account to determine exactly what is required for the safe and efficient transfer of funds to your new self-directed gold IRA.
- 1Claim your free Goldco IRA Kit: Just fill out this quick form on Goldco's website.
- 2A Goldco representative will reach out to confirm your mailing address in order to ship out your gold IRA informational kit. These kits normally ship within 2-3 business days.
- 3Review your informational kit when it arrives. If you decide to open an IRA with Goldco, you can call and ask to speak with a precious metals specialist within their IRA department.
- 4Your account exec will work directly with you to open your self-directed IRA.
- 5They will also work with the custodian of your existing retirement account to determine what is needed to ensure safe and efficient transfer or funds to your new self-directed IRA.
- 6After funds are transferred, you can select from Goldco's list of IRA-eligible precious metals to purchase with your IRA funds. If you're not sure what to buy, you can consult with your Goldco account executive.
- 7Your Goldco rep will then arrange to have your metals shipped (fully insured) directly to the storage depository of choice. The whole process is quick and easy.
Goldco's team opens new gold IRA accounts every day. They will hold your hand through the entire process which can take as little as one week.
Request Your Free Gold IRA Guide Today
Protect Your Retirement Savings with Physical Gold & Silver.
Goldco's Gold IRA Fees
Gold IRA Custodial Fees
For the most up-to-date information on storage and custodial fees, we contacted Goldco directly. According to Goldco:
The required minimum purchase at Goldco to open a precious metals IRA is $25,000. Goldco’s preferred Custodian charges a flat annual account service fee which includes a one-time IRA account set-up fee of $50, as well as a $30 wire fee. Annual maintenance is $100, and storage is $150 for segregated storage or $100 for non-segregated storage.
Fees for gold storage and custodianship can vary depending on the company you select to handle these services (required by the IRS, as all IRA assets must be managed by a custodian). Depending on the Custodian, storage fees can range from $10 to $60 per month, or as a percentage of assets, from 0.35% to 1% annually. Goldco does not charge any storage fees for cash transactions over $25,000.
Related: Gold as the Safe Haven in Economically Turbulent Times
What is a Custodian? Below is an explainer video by Equity Trust Company, a popular gold IRA custodian used by many of the top precious metal IRA companies.
Gold IRA Vault Storage Options
The company can work with any of the top gold IRA storage depositories in the U.S. Usual suspects include:
- Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) is one of the largest precious metals IRA depository in the United States. DDSC offers non-segregated storage for a flat rate of $100 per year and segregated vault storage for $150 (total) each year.
- Brinks is one of the most widely recognized precious metals IRA depositories. Goldco offers non-segregated storage via Brinks for a flat rate of $100 per year. If you choose segregated storage, Brinks too can support your needs for an additional $50 annually.
- International Depository Services (IDS) is a full-service precious metals depository. Clients that request segregated vault storage have the option of using IDS. The company's storage fees are less straight forward, but still comparable to their competition..
Many customers choose the less expensive non-segregated vault storage option. You can discuss these options with your precious metals specialist and decide which makes the most sense for you.
Annual Custodial Fees | Annual Storage Fees | Total Annual Costs |
---|---|---|
$100 | $100-$150 | $200-$250 |
Very important to note: Goldco often runs promotions and other customer bonuses or incentives. For 2024, customers can receive up to $10,000 in free silver with qualifying accounts.
When you speak with your Goldco precious metals specialist, make sure to ask about this or any other current promotional offers.
Request Your Free Gold IRA Guide Today
Protect Your Retirement Savings with Physical Gold & Silver.
Buyback Program
If and when you choose to sell, take distribution, or liquidate your account, customers have the freedom to sell to any buyer. If you do not want to find a buyer on your own, Goldco has a generous buy-back program. To date, Goldco has never refused to buy back metals from any of their customers.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
In our Goldco company review, we've curated actual customer ratings from trusted third party websites. What do their actual customers say about the firm?
Below, you'll find links to third party verified reviews:
- Better Business Bureau: The company has been accredited with the BBB since 2011. At the time of this review, they have an A+ rating and 1,033 customer reviews. Their verified customer reviews average 4.81 out of 5 stars.
- Business Consumer Alliance: Goldco has a AAA rating with the BCA (their top rating).
- TrustLink: Goldco Precious Metals boasts a 5 Star average rating with TrustLink. This is based on 254 verified customer reviews.
- Trustpilot: The Gold IRA specialists also have a 4.8 Star average rating with TrustPilot based on 1,451 customer reviews.
- Google Reviews: The company has racked up 2,345 Google reviews with a total average rating of 4.9/5 stars.
- Consumer Affairs: They've racked up a 4.8/5 Star average rating based on 1,687 customer reviews.
- Yelp: The company has only 15 reviews on Yelp so far, with a 3.7/5 star average rating from these customers.
Note: The team at GoldIRASecrets will do our best to keep these ratings displayed on third party sites updated. Visit each review website directly to find the most updated rankings and verified customer reviews.
Related: Traditional vs. Roth IRAs? What Gold and Silver Investors Need to Know
Pros and Cons
If you're on this site, you're likely doing the smart thing - researching reviews, ratings, and complaints for some of the top gold IRA dealers in the industry.
What We Like About the Company
Based on our review, we've placed Goldco at the top of our list for precious metals IRA dealers for 2024. The company has been in business for over a decade (not a fly-by-night company), their fees are competitive, they've racked up thousands for glowing reviews from past customers, and they have a generous buyback program. They also have a wide selection of IRA-eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products to choose from.
Goldco Complaints: What We Don't Like
The only criticism we have of this company is that they have high minimums for their gold and silver IRAs. The company will not open a new IRA for under $25,000. While $25,000 is modest for a gold IRA rollover, this threshold to do business could price-out some potential customers.
There are competitors such as Birch Gold or American Hartford Gold that will open new accounts for as low as $10,000, allowing a wider range of buyers the opportunity to diversify into precious metals.
Goldco Review
We've actually got on the phone and spoke with members of their team to get a feel of how they do business. We were very pleased with the relaxed, no-pressure approach from their employees.
We are pleased to promote Goldco and have placed them at the top of our list of best gold IRA dealers for 2024.
Visit Goldco's website to claim your free Gold IRA Kit today.