Best Gold IRA Companies: What to Look For When Choosing a Custodian

The gold IRA industry has grown considerably over the past two decades, and with that growth has come a wide range of companies competing for your rollover dollars. Some are excellent—transparent, well-regulated, and genuinely investor-focused. Others use high-pressure sales tactics, bury fees in fine print, or push non-standard products that inflate their margins at your expense.

This guide does not rank specific companies. Rankings go stale quickly as companies change ownership, fee structures, and practices. Instead, it arms you with the criteria and questions that separate the good from the bad—so you can do the evaluation yourself.

Understand the Two-Party Structure

Before evaluating any company, understand how the industry is structured. A "gold IRA company" typically plays the role of a precious metals dealer and/or account facilitator. The actual IRA custodian—the regulated entity legally holding your account—is usually a separate company (often a trust company or bank) that the dealer works with.

When you see a firm advertising "gold IRAs," ask clearly: are they the custodian, or are they the dealer who processes your metals purchases while a separate custodian holds the IRA? Most gold IRA companies are the latter. There is nothing wrong with this structure, but you should know who you are dealing with and what each party's fees are.

Regulatory Standing and Licensing

A legitimate gold IRA custodian must be regulated. Look for these markers:

• IRS approval: The custodian must be an IRS-approved non-bank trustee or a chartered financial institution. You can verify IRS-approved non-bank trustees on the IRS website (Publication 590-A).
• State licensing: Many custodians are chartered as trust companies in states like South Dakota, Nevada, or Wyoming, which have favorable trust laws. Verify they are in good standing with their state regulator.
• BBB rating and history: The Better Business Bureau rating alone is not definitive, but the complaint history can be revealing. Look at the nature and resolution of complaints, not just the letter grade.
• Industry associations: Membership in organizations like the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) indicates engagement with industry standards, though membership alone is not a guarantee of quality.

Fee Transparency

Fees are one of the most important differentiators among gold IRA companies, and they are also where the most obfuscation occurs. A reputable company will provide a complete, written fee schedule before you open an account. Be wary of any firm that is evasive about fees or only discloses them after you have signed paperwork.

The fees you should ask about specifically include:

• Account setup fee: A one-time charge for opening the IRA. Ranges from $0 to $250+ depending on the custodian.
• Annual custodian fee: Paid to the IRA custodian for record-keeping and compliance. Typically $75–$300/year, sometimes scaled to account size.
• Storage fee: Paid to the depository. Can be flat ($100–$300/year) or percentage-based (0.5%–1% of assets annually). For large accounts, flat fees are far more cost-efficient.
• Metals dealer markup (spread): The difference between the spot price of a metal and the price at which the dealer sells it to your IRA. This is not always disclosed as a "fee" but is effectively a transaction cost. Ask what the spread is on specific products.
• Transaction fees: Some custodians charge a fee per purchase or sale of metals within the IRA.
• Wire transfer fees: For moving cash in or out of the account.
• Termination/closeout fees: Charged when you close the account. Some companies waive these; others charge $150–$250.

Depository Relationships

Ask which depositories a company works with and whether you have a choice. Reputable depositories include Delaware Depository, Brinks Global Services, IDS (International Depository Services), and a handful of others. A quality depository will be insured through Lloyd's of London or a comparable insurer, offer both segregated and commingled storage, and provide regular account statements showing your specific holdings.

Some companies only work with a single depository and may have revenue-sharing arrangements that create a conflict of interest. Others give you a choice of multiple depositories and storage locations. Geographic diversification of your physical holdings can be valuable, particularly for large accounts.

Product Selection and Purity Compliance

A reputable company will only offer IRS-approved metals—those meeting the purity thresholds established by IRC Section 408(m). Ask specifically whether all products they offer qualify for IRA investment. Some companies push numismatic or collector coins, which carry higher markups and may not qualify for IRA investment. If a sales representative is steering you toward coins with "rarity value" or "collectibility premium," that is a red flag.

Stick to bullion coins and bars with clear spot-price-based pricing. The premium you pay above spot should reflect fabrication and distribution costs, not artificial scarcity claims.

Buyback Programs

Consider how easy it will be to sell your metals when the time comes—whether for an RMD, a rollover to a different account, or simply to exit the position. Some companies offer a buyback guarantee at or near spot price, making it straightforward to liquidate. Others have no formal buyback program, leaving you to find a buyer on your own or sell through the depository at potentially less favorable terms.

Ask these questions before opening an account:

• Do you have a buyback program? At what price relative to spot?
• How long does it take to liquidate and receive cash?
• Are there any fees or penalties for selling metals back to you?

Customer Service and Education

A gold IRA is a long-term, relatively illiquid investment. You want a company that will be accessible and responsive over a period of years or decades, not just during the initial sale. Evaluate their customer service before you commit:

• Call their customer service line and assess wait times and the quality of answers you receive
• Ask technical questions about IRS rules and see whether the representative answers accurately or deflects
• Look at their educational resources—companies that invest in investor education tend to prioritize long-term relationships over one-time transactions
• Check for pushy or high-pressure sales tactics, which are a consistent warning sign in this industry

Watch Out for These Common Red Flags

"Inflation-proof" or "guaranteed" language. No investment is guaranteed. Any company making absolute performance promises is misrepresenting gold as an asset class.

Unsolicited contacts pushing immediate decisions. Legitimate companies do not cold-call you with urgency-based pitches ("gold prices are spiking, you must act now").

Pressure to roll over your entire 401(k). A responsible advisor will acknowledge that precious metals should typically represent a minority allocation of a diversified portfolio. Anyone pushing you to move 100% of your retirement savings into gold is not acting in your interest.

Vague or oral-only fee disclosures. Get everything in writing before you sign anything.

The Bottom Line

There is no single "best" gold IRA company because the right fit depends on your account size, how often you plan to transact, which depository locations matter to you, and what level of hand-holding you need. What is universal: you want a company that is transparent about fees, works with regulated and insured depositories, offers IRS-compliant metals only, and has a verifiable track record with real customer feedback.

Take your time. This is a long-term decision involving your retirement savings. Requesting information kits from two or three companies and comparing their fee schedules side by side is always a worthwhile exercise before committing.