Establishing Trust in a Gold IRA: How to Vet a Precious Metals Dealer

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Investing Gold Share Share Close Mail Page URL https://money.com/establishing-trust-in-a-gold-ira-how-to-vet-a-precious-metals-dealer/ Link copied! Establishing Trust in a Gold IRA: How to Vet a Precious Metals Dealer By: Marc Guberti Marc Guberti Marc Guberti is a personal finance writer who hosts Breakthrough Success, a podcast where he teaches listeners how to grow their businesses and achieve personal transformations. Has also written: The Anxiety Many Savers Have — and How to Lower It How to Buy Crypto and Bitcoin Anonymously or Without Verification 5 Warning Signs You May Be Buying an Overhyped Stock Learn Vanguard Legend Jack Bogle’s Investing Advice: Trim Fees, Stay the Course and Compound Worried About Market Volatility? Do These 4 Things and You'll be OK See full bio Editor: Jordan Chussler Jordan Chussler Editor, Investing & Banking | Joined June 2023 Jordan is an investment editor and CPFC who specializes in traditional equities, gold and other precious metals, retirement savings and income investing. He combines his personal and professional interests in finance and education to help readers increase their financial literacy and make better investment choices. Has also written: Gold Prices Today: March 24, 2026 War, Market Volatility and $100 Oil: Is Now the Right Time to Buy Energy Stocks and ETFs? War in Iran Sends Gold and Oil Prices Soaring.

Gas Could Be Next Ignore the 4% Rule: This Is the Best Retirement Investing Strategy for Most Americans Gold Isn't the Only Metal Soaring in Price in 2026 See full bio Published: Mar 24, 2026 7 min read Money is not a client of any investment adviser featured on this page. The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Money does not offer advisory services.

Getty Images Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdGold can be the key to safeguarding your retirement for your golden years. Unlock the protection of precious metals investments with Thor Metals Group’s expert guidance. Gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs) allow investors to accumulate precious metals while enjoying significant tax advantages. While traditional gold IRAs let investors take advantage of pre-tax benefits, Roth gold IRAs let investors avoid taxes on capital gains since contributions are made with after-tax dollars. But before deciding which type of gold IRA is the right fit for you, you need to conduct significant due diligence into the companies that provide them. That vetting enables you to identify if an IRA provider is charging excessive fees, offering limited precious metal purchasing options and more. With gold outperforming the S&P 500 by a wide margin over the past year, interest in owning the physical asset has increased. If you are considering adding it to a well-diversified retirement portfolio, here’s what you should compare when vetting precious metal dealers offering gold IRAs. Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdSponsored by:All that glitters is not gold?

Thor Metal Group agreesDon’t let your retirement be at the mercy of unstable economic times. Instead, invest in precious metals and protect your hard-earned savings. Select your state to get started.LEARN MORETerms and conditions apply.HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas Understanding gold IRA fees You should only do business with a gold IRA provider that makes its fees transparent. It’s normal to find a fee schedule on a company’s website, and if you can’t find it right away, request a fee schedule from the gold IRA provider. This schedule lists all of the fees and how much they cost. Having this document removes the risk of hidden fees eroding your precious metal holdings over time. However, receiving a fee schedule does not mean that a gold IRA is serving in your best interests. Some of the fees may be excessive and you can find better options. While there is some variety among gold IRAs, you mainly have to focus on the following fees: Set-up fee Transaction fees Storage fees Wire transfer fees Some gold IRA providers do not have set-up fees but may have higher transaction fees. Comparing several options can help you narrow your list of potential gold IRAs. Gold IRA investment options Most gold IRAs don’t just offer gold exclusively. These companies often provide investors with the option of buying additional precious metals. For instance, Thor Metals Group lets people buy gold, silver and platinum in its precious metals IRAs. You can also choose from different types of coins and bars for each of those precious metals. Although gold acts as a valuable hedge against inflation, limiting yourself to the most recognized precious metal can limit its upside potential. For instance, silver prices have more than doubled over the past year as its role not only as a precious metal but also as an industrial metal with applications in AI infrastructure and renewable energy has contributed to heightened demand. The price of platinum has also more than doubled over the past year. Just as investors diversify stock portfolios with individual picks and exchange-traded funds, some gold IRAs let you diversify across multiple precious metals. Check online reviews of gold IRAs Don’t just take a gold IRA provider at face value. You can read online customer reviews to see how people feel about their experiences. While a mix of good and bad reviews is expected, sites like Trustpilot let people see the average rating and can help you identify any common themes among users’ complaints. You can also filter reviews by the most recent ones to see if the company’s services have recently changed in quality. It’s also good to check a gold IRA company’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. An A rating is optimal as it demonstrates high trust. You can also check reviews and complaints on the BBB website for any IRA firm. Look for gold IRAs that offer educational resources Reputable gold IRAs don’t stop with providing investment options. These companies also tend to give investors access to a wealth of educational resources that can help them make better investment decisions. For instance, an IRA provider may have a free eBook available for prospective customers who want to learn how to invest in gold. They may also post educational articles that can help investors understand gold trading strategies and the benefits of accumulating precious metals. While educational resources aren’t a make-or-break part of the analysis, this type of content serves as a nice bonus when deciding on a potential gold IRA provider. Precious metal buyback policies Selling physical gold isn’t as liquid as selling stocks, but some gold IRAs compensate for that by offering attractive buyback policies. This framework establishes how much a gold IRA provider will pay to buy your gold, silver and other precious metals if you want to sell them. Not every IRA provider has a buyback policy, but it can act as an extra form of insurance in case precious metals become less liquid or end up with wider spreads. The Gold IRA's team and experience While you can get a lot of information by vetting for the aforementioned qualities, getting to know a gold IRA’s team and experience can also play a key role in the vetting process. A gold IRA company that has been in business for 20 years has more credibility than a company that has been around for two weeks. And if its management team has extensive industry experience, that often translates into precious metals expertise. There are a bevy of new gold IRA firms that are headed by industry veterans who have decades of experience under their belts. You can often find the key players of a gold IRA provider on the company’s about page. Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdThe golden road to wealth preservationThor Metals Group can be the guide you need to strengthen your retirement or investing strategy. Discover how precious metals can be the key to a solid financial future. LEARN MORETerms and conditions apply. Sponsored by: More from Money: Best Gold IRA Companies Best Online Gold Dealers How to Buy Gold