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Birch Gold Group Review
Founded in 2003, Birch Gold Group is an established provider for both gold IRAs and cash purchases of precious metals for clients across the U.S.
Birch Gold Group (BGG) is one of many gold firms in a crowded space. What's unique about this company? How does Birch Gold Group compare with the other gold IRA providers looking to earn your business?
In this Birch Gold Group review, we'll dive into everything you need to know about the company, their services, fees, online ratings, storage options, and more.
Birch gold group
Discover how precious metals like gold and silver can supercharge your retirement savings.
About the Company
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Birch Gold Group's executive team of former wealth managers, financial advisors, and commodity brokers have completed thousands of IRA and cash transactions for clients across fifty states.
While their core business is adding physical gold, silver, platinum, or palladium to your retirement, they can also facilitate cash purchases with precious metals delivered directly to your home.
Over the last seventeen years, they've grown into one of the more recognized gold IRA firms. BGG's been endorsed by Ron Paul, Ben Shapiro, appeared in NewsMax, and featured regularly in major news and media outlets.
Related: Request Your 20+ Page "Insider" Report from Ron Paul's Gold & Silver Company
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Birch Gold Reviews, Reputation, & Ratings
One of the best way to research a gold firm is to review feedback from their actual clients. We've compiled links to Birch Gold reviews from trusted third party review websites. For the most up-to-date information, click on the links below and visit the verified review sites directly:
- Better Business Bureau: Birch Gold Group has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2011. They company currently has an A+ rating with the BBB and an average 4.58 Star rating from their 130 listed client reviews.
- Business Consumer Alliance: BGG holds an AAA rating (their top rating) with the BCA and a 5 star average rating based on 7 customer reviews.
- Consumer Affairs: BGG is an accredited partner with Consumer Affairs. The company has a 4.9/5 star rating (their top rating) based on 126 verified customer reviews.
- TrustLink: Birch Gold Group holds a 5 (out of 5) star rating based on 134 customer reviews and complaints.
- TrustPilot: Birch boasts a 4.2 out of 5 star rating with TrustPilot based on 134 client reviews.
- Yelp: The company also has a 4 (out of 5) star rating on Yelp (based on 4 reviews).
Screen shot: TrustLink verified customer reviews
When reviewing a company with thousands of clients and transactions going back almost two decades, it's expected to find a small handful of negative reviews. Birch Gold Group has maintained high rankings across all of these customer watchdog review sites.
Their consistently positive online reputation played a big part in our decision to add Birch Gold to our short list of recommended gold IRA dealers for 2023.
Related: Diversify Your Savings and Protect Yourself Against a Stock Market Crash with Gold & Silver
Discover how precious metals like gold and silver can supercharge your retirement savings.
BGG's Fees, Custodians, & Storage Options
Account Minimums
As mentioned above, BGG can facilitate both cash purchases and gold IRA deals. Whether you'd like metals held in an IRA or delivered to your home, the company has an account minimum of $10,000.
Gold IRA Fees: Your IRA Custodian
Gold IRA fees can vary depending on your self-directed IRA custodian. Birch is flexible and can work with your IRA custodian of choice. If you do not have a preference, BGG currently recommends working with Equity Trust.
With Equity Trust, you can expect to pay:
- $50 setup fee (this is a one-time fee for new accounts)
- $30 wire transfer
- $80 annual maintenance fee
Equity Trust is one of the more widely used self-directed IRA custodians. Their SDIRA fees are reasonable when compared with other providers in the industry.
Related: Free 20+ Page Gold Investor Guide - Safeguard your IRA or 401(k) with this IRS "Loophole"
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Gold IRA Storage Options
Birch Gold Group has a few options for the storage of your gold IRA:
- Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) is a trusted gold IRA depository in the United States. Birch Gold offers non-segregated vault storage through DDCS for the flat rate of $100 per year.
- Brinks is also a widely used and trusted name for gold IRA storage. BGG offers non-segregated storage via Brinks for a flat rate of $100 per year.
- International Depository Services (IDS) Clients that prefer segregated vault storage have the option of using IDS. This top gold storage facility charges $150 annually for segregated storage.
Among these options, Birch Gold can facilitate your precious metals IRA storage in Delaware, New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seal Beach, California.
Segregated Vs. Non-Segregated Vault Storage
Gold IRA storage is slightly more expensive if you decide to go with the segregated storage.
This is your decision. Just know that you should expect to pay at most between $100-$150 annually for the storage of your metals.
If you choose to work with BGG or a competitor, consult with your account executive to weigh the pros and cons of both storage options. They can walk through all questions or concerns you might have about your IRA storage options.
Related: The Home Storage Gold IRA - Scam or IRS-Approved?
Total Gold IRA Fees
Below are the total setup, storage, and custodial fees that you can expect when you create a new precious metals IRA account with Birch Gold.
Account Setup Fees | Wire Fees | Maintenance Fees | Storage Fees | Total Setup Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$50 | $30 | $100 | $100-$150 | $280-$330 |
Important note: BGG waives shipping fees on all purchases.
Birch Gold Group will also
waive all setup fees
for new accounts over $50,000.
Your gold IRA account executive can discuss your eligibility for any incentives or promotions they're offering. If you do not qualify to have setup fees waived, here are your totals:
After your first year, there are recurring annual fees in order to maintain your IRA. These fees are paid to the storage depository and the IRA custodian. These fees again may vary depending on your choice of custodian and type of vault storage you choose for your investments.
Below are the total annual costs to maintain your Birch Gold IRA with Equity Trust.
Annual Maintenance | Annual Storage Fees | Total Annual Costs |
|---|---|---|
$100 | $100-$150 | $200-$250 |
If setting up a precious metals IRA seems intimidating, it's really not...
The top gold IRA specialists have streamlined their services to make it painless for both investors and their employees. Birch Gold (and several other reputable gold firms) can have your self-directed IRA setup and funded in about a week.
If you're ready to get started, visit Birch Gold Group and request their free Gold IRA investor kit now.
Discover how precious metals like gold and silver can supercharge your retirement savings.
How to Setup an IRA with BGG
The team at Birch Gold will hold your hand through every step of the gold IRA process. Here's an idea of what to expect if you choose to work with Birch Gold Group.
1. Request your Birch Gold IRA guide. This detailed guide is your introduction to the company. Compare it with informational guides from other gold firms you're researching.
2. An IRA specialist from BGG will reach out to you over the phone. This is a great time to get a feel for how the company does business. This is your first point of contact with the company. Are they professional and knowledgable? They will be able to answer any questions you have about your gold IRA.
3. If interested in moving forward with Birch, your IRA specialist will review your current retirement account and confirm your IRA rollover eligibility.
4. If eligible for a gold IRA rollover, BGG will help you create an account with a self-directed IRA custodian that handles precious metals. Your BGG account representative can help with completing all of the required paperwork.
5. Your Birch IRA account rep will then assist in rolling over funds from your existing retirement account to your new self-directed IRA account.
6. With funds in your new SDIRA, your Birch Gold specialist can facilitate the purchase of your precious metals. Not sure what precious metals to invest in? BGG can provide assistance and ensure all of your purchases are IRS-approved to be held in an IRA.
7. Your precious metals are then shipped and stored on your behalf at your chosen storage facility and insured up to one billion dollars.
That's the entire process. BGG does most of the heavy lifting and walks you through all of it.
>> Request a Gold IRA investor kit from Birch Gold Group now.
Cash Purchases: What to Expect?
Some investors aren't interested in a gold IRA and prefer "gold they can hold." If you opt to have gold investments delivered directly for self storage, Birch Gold can help. This is their process for cash purchases.
1. Speak with a precious metals specialist to discuss your investment needs.
2. If interested in buying from Birch, send funds via check or bank wire.
3. BGG can facilitate the purchase of your desired precious metals.
4. Metals are shipped (fully insured) directly to you, the customer.
The company can facilitate your physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium purchases, but what happens when you want to sell your precious metals?
Gold Buyback Options
If and when you're ready to sell any of your holdings, BGG will offer a competitive price to buy back your precious metals. As the owner of your gold and silver, you have the option to compare offers, but Birch will always be available to buy back if needed.
Ongoing Promotions
A Birch Gold Group review would be incomplete without mentioning company promotions. After you request your free gold IRA investor guide, someone from BGG will reach out to you over the phone. When asking questions, make sure to ask about ongoing promotions they may have available.
At the time of this writing, Birch Gold is offering up to $10,000 in free precious metals on qualified IRA purchases. They also waive all gold IRA setup fees on eligible accounts, and offer free shipping on cash purchases over $10,000.
When comparing and researching top gold IRA providers, these ongoing promotions may be enough incentive to tilt your decision to working with one firm over another.
>> Click here to get your 20+ page gold and silver investor kit from Birch Gold Group Today.
Discover how precious metals like gold and silver can supercharge your retirement savings.
BGG Review: Pros and Cons
What we like about Birch Gold:
When researching gold IRA companies, BGG checks all the right boxes:
- Founded in 2003. The company is established. They've been around for almost two decades and are a recognized name in the industry.
- Top rated firm. Verified customer reviews from the BBB to Yelp reveal a track record of glowing feedback from their current and past clients.
- Ongoing promotions and competitive buyback program. They offer incentives for bringing on new customers and take care of their clients if they choose to sell.
- $10,000 Gold IRA minimum. This is a modest amount when it comes to gold IRAs. Many competitors require account minimums of $20,000-$50,000.
What we don't like about Birch Gold:
The only criticism is that Birch only does business in the United States. Some of BGG's competitors have expanded globally. As of now, investors outside of the U.S. are not able to do business with Birch Gold Group.
Birch Gold Review: Final Thoughts
There are a lot of gold dealers in the United States that claim to specialize in gold IRAs. If you're researching firms, BGG is a well established and highly rated firm that you should consider.
A good place to start is by visiting their website. Request their free information kit.
We always recommend that you request investor guides from at least two to three top gold IRA firms. Review their material, compare all costs and fees before making any investment decision.
