Top 3 Gold IRA Companies With the Lowest Fees (And Strongest Reputation) in 2024!
In a hurry? Here’s the list with minimum requirements:
1. Goldco — #1 recommendation (min $25,000)
2. Augusta — for high net worth folks (min $50,000)
3. Birch Gold — for smaller investors (min $10,000)
If not in a hurry, then keep on reading :)
Here’s a fact:
Since 1971, the dollar has lost 86% of its purchasing power, while gold has increased over 4600%.
To put that in perspective, what cost $1 in 1971 now costs $7.33. While $1 of gold in 1971 would be worth $46 today.
Investing in gold would have not only protected your buying power but also increased it by six times.
For that reason, many people are turning to precious metals to protect the value of their retirement savings during the time of rising inflation.
And with changes in IRS regulations, it’s easier than ever to diversify with gold and silver in your IRA account.
However, gold IRA fees are fixed, unlike mutual funds that charge a percentage of your account value.
And there can be a significant variation between gold IRA companies, making it a challenge to find one you can trust and that also has low fees.
But we’re here to help.
Below you’ll find the top 3 gold IRA firms with the lowest fees in 2024, so you can get started with precious metal investing right away.
We focused not only on the fees but also on reputation, management experience, third-party reviews and ratings, and competitive pricing.
1. Goldco: Our #1 Recommendation
Goldco is a reputable gold IRA company located in the greater Los Angeles area.
They have over ten years of experience helping investors diversify their portfolios with high-quality precious metal coins and bars.
This firm has AAA rating from Business Consumer Alliance based on their positive customer reviews for service, dependability, and ethical practice.
Goldco has a long tradition of high ethical standards and customer service, and offer some of the lowest fees in the industry.
Recommended by both Sean Hannity and Chuck Norris, Goldco received the coveted Stevie Silver Medal Award winner for Business Excellence in 2022 and 2023, and they have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
For the past six years, they have been named to Inc’s 500 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies list.
In addition, they recently reached the milestone of placing over $1 billion in precious metals.
Goldco IRA Fees
The required minimum purchase at Goldco to start a gold 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.
We also recommend that you check with your representative because they periodically offers promotions to reimburse or waive your fees.
Be sure to check out their FREE comprehensive kit here.
It includes a printed guide, an audio file, and a video, and it will answer some of the most common questions you might have about investing in precious metals.
More importantly, you’ll learn how you can do it 100% tax and penalty free.
All in all, it is a reliable gold IRA company that provides excellent customer service and a wide range of gold and silver products.
Goldco Pros
- Easy account set-up
- Excellent third-party reviews and ratings
- Free gold IRA investor kit
- Up to 10% back on money for qualified orders
- Large selection of gold and silver coins
Goldco Cons
- Minimum contribution amount of $25,000
- Need to inquire about platinum or palladium products
2. Augusta Precious Metals: Best Runner-Up
This is yet another popular Gold IRA company.
Now…
Right off the bat I will warn that it’s for high net worth investors who are ready to invest/rollover a minimum contribution amount of $50,000.
Headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, Augusta Precious Metals has worked with thousands of customers wanting to reduce their portfolio risk by diversifying with physical gold and silver.
Their goals are transparency, simplicity, low fees, and excellent customer service — not only during, but before and after the purchase.
This commitment to excellence is reflected in the thousands of positive customer reviews.
Augusta has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
In addition, they have a Triple-A rating with Business Consumer Alliance and a perfect 5-star rating with TrustLink.
All without a single complaint being filed against them in over a decade. Impressive!
But there’s more:
In 2022 and 2023, Money Magazine named Augusta Precious Metals as the “Best Overall Gold IRA Company.”
On top of that, this firm has won not one but two Stevie Awards for excellence in customer service and sales.
Augusta Precious Metals Fees
So…
When it comes to fees, Augusta charges a one-time set-up fee of $50. Annual custodial fees are $100 and another $100 for storage — a total of $200/year.
Again, you would need a minimum of $50,000 to invest or rollover.
Here’s the good news:
Even if you buy a substantial amount of gold, let’s say worth a couple million dollars, you’ll still be paying only $200/year.
That is why it’s actually in your favour to invest more because regardless of your order amount, the fees are fixed.
Be sure to call them 833–989–1952 and ask them if you’re eligible to have your fees waived!
To get started:
Visit their website to request the free gold IRA guide that convinced Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana to diversify his retirement with precious metals.
Augusta Precious Metals Pros
- Free one-on-one web conference call
- Award-winning customer service
- Named “Best Overall Gold IRA Company” by Money Magazine
- Account lifetime support
Augusta Precious Metals Cons
- High minimum investment of $50,000
- No online purchases
3. Birch Gold Group: Best for Smaller Investors
Now about Birch.
This would be one of the best Gold IRA companies if you have a smaller amount to invest.
Birch only requires a minimum of $10,000 — which is quite a big difference compared to Goldco or Augusta.
Located across from Warner Studios in Burbank, California, Birch Gold Group has been in business since 2003.
They are one of the largest precious metals IRA specialists in the United States.
Over the past two decades, they have helped over 13,000 customers diversify their retirement savings with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
The company is dedicated to empowering customers to take control of their financial futures while charging minimal fees for their services.
Birch Gold Group has an A+ rating with the BBB, Triple-A rating with BCA, and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating with Trust Pilot.
On their website, you’ll find endorsements from notable figures such as:
- Ben Shapiro, host of the Ben Shapiro Show and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Wire,
- Ron Paul, a medical doctor, U.S. Air Force veteran, former Congressman, author, and educator,
- Candace Owens, a conservative author, an activist, and a host of her rapidly-growing political talk show.
On top of that, there are a bunch of other celebrities and personalities, like Dr. Ben Carson and Larry Elder, among others, who also recommend Birch Gold Group.
When you work with Birch Gold, you’ll be assigned a specialist who will be with you for your entire relationship with the company.
They will take the time to get to know you and understand your needs and goals.
One of the best ways to do so is to request a free information kit from Birch Gold to get first-hand knowledge of what they offer.
Birch Gold Group Fees
This can vary by custodian, but here are fees for the one that most of Birch Gold customers use:
- $50 setup and $30 wire transfer (one-time fees)
- $100 storage and $100 management (annual fees)
You might want to take advantage of their ongoing promotions, such as:
- First year fees waived on IRAs over $50,000
- Free shipping for cash purchases over $10,000
- Up to $10,000 in free precious metals on qualified purchases
(Please always confirm with their team on what the current promos are.)
Birch Gold Group Pros
- Low minimum deposit of $10,000
- Dedicated Precious Metals Specialist
- Flat-rate charge structure
- FREE gold IRA information kit
- Good customer service
- Wide range of precious metals to choose from (gold, silver, palladium, and platinum) that are IRS-approved
Birch Gold Group Cons
- Few customer reviews on third-party platforms
- Flat fee structure may not be beneficial for small investors
We can’t really find a lot of cons for this gold IRA company.
The only problem we found is the few reviews it has across various third-party platforms.
But given its glowing reviews and prompt response to complaints, we can safely assume that its customers weren’t too keen on leaving them reviews.
How Much Do Gold IRAs Cost?
Look:
There is often a set-up fee and annual fee to hold a precious metals IRA, some of which may be waived depending on your initial contribution amount.
There may also be costs associated with precious metals storage, as well as liquidation fees and transfer costs.
Best Gold IRA Companies with the Lowest Fees
There you have it.
This is our top 3 list of the top gold IRA companies with the lowest fees in 2024 (that have the best reputation).
As you can see, there are a few reputable firms that offer minimal fees, and you can usually expect to pay around $200–300 per year.
Some of them even can get your fees waived!
Grab their free guides here:
Gold IRA providers get their cut from the precious metals they sell to you, so they don’t need to charge management fees in order to make money.
If you bump into a company that charges more than $300–400 a year, or even worse, charges any kind of percentage from your investments, we highly recommend staying away from them — it’s most likely a scam.
Now, we’d like to hear from YOU:
- Have you dealt with any of these businesses before?
- What is your list of the best Gold IRA companies with the lowest fees?
Let us know in the comments below!
