Best Gold IRA Companies Review 2021
The best Gold IRA companies in 2021 are Regal Assets, Noble Gold, Lear Capital, Birch Gold Group and Goldco. In this guide we will take a look at each one and walk you through the steps involved in opening a Gold IRA account, rolling over your funds and purchasing gold. The process is simple and now is the time to diversify your retirement portfolio.
The Top 5 Gold IRA Companies
I’ve been doing the research and evaluating the various custodians out there and narrowed it down to the top five gold IRA companies in 2021: Regal Assets, Noble Gold, Lear Capital, Birch Gold Group and Goldco. Here’s a quick overview of each:
1: Regal Assets
- Top Industry Ratings: Business Consumer Alliance AAA rating, Better Business Bureau A+ and 5 stars on TrustLink based on over one thousand reviews.
- Segregated Storage: secure segregated asset storage at very competitive rates.
- Precious Metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium.
- Minimum Investment: $5,000
- Location: Beverly Hills, CA
- Fees: waived 1st year, (source: consumeraffairs)
2: Noble Gold
- Secure Storage: Segregated storage is available and assets are held at the International Depository Services.
- Precious Metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium.
- Minimum Investment: $2,000
- Location: Pasadena CA, (source: consumeraffairs)
3: Lear Capital
- Good Online Feedback: Lear has a reputation for delivering good customer service.
- Secure Storage: Assets stored at Delaware Depository.
- Precious Metals: Gold and Silver.
- Minimum Investment: $10,000.
- Location: Los Angeles CA, (source: consumeraffairs).
4: Birch Gold Group
- Good Industry Rating: Better Business Bureau A+.
- Precious Metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium.
- Location: Burbank CA, (source: consumeraffairs).
5: Goldco Gold IRA
- Good Industry Ratings: Better Business Bureau A+ rating, Consumer Affairs 5-star based on 200+ reviews.
- Precious Metals: Gold and Silver.
- Minimum Investment: $25,000.
- Location: Woodland Hills CA, (source: consumeraffairs).
The best gold IRA company is the one that works best for you and your individual needs. Everyone’s requirements are different and the best custodian is the one that is the best fit for you and your retirement portfolio. Here are some key points to consider when assessing your options and choosing the custodian that best suits you:
Gold Investment Experience
When it comes to choosing a gold IRA company you want to choose one that has a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. Some companies specialize in gold investment and managing gold IRAs, while others offer gold as an investment option as a small part of a much larger business.
When it comes to choosing a gold IRA company it is best to go with a specialist within the industry, a company that centers on gold. That way you are getting a custodian that is focused on the precious metal market and is totally geared to managing gold investments.
Range of Services Offered
Take a look at the range of services offered by each gold IRA company. Each custodian offers a different spectrum of services in terms of account setup, fund rollover and managing the investment. Will you require assistance setting up the new gold IRA? Will you need advice when it comes to investing in gold and precious metals?
Do you require a company that will process the purchasing of gold from beginning to end? How will the gold be stored and what fees can you expect to be charged? Take a look at what you need and determine which one is the best fit for you.
Fees
As with the management of any account you will need to consider the fees you will be charged for your gold IRA. For a detailed breakdown of the fee schedule, you may need to contact each company directly. Some companies charge fixed fees while others charge a percentage based fee to manage your account.
Ratings & Reviews
Take a look at the feedback available online. A quick google search will give you an overview of how the companies are performing in terms of industry ratings and customer reviews. Some of the sites you can check are the Business Consumer Alliance, the Better Business Bureau, and the professional services customer feedback site TrustLink.
Storage & Security
Dig a little deeper to see where exactly your gold and precious metal assets will be stored. All the best gold IRA companies should be using IRS approved depositories and secure segregated storage for all gold investments.
How to Rollover to a Gold IRA
The first thing you need to do is open a new Self-Directed IRA that allows you to invest in gold. Traditional IRAs or 401k accounts do not allow for investment in alternative assets, so you need to open a new self-directed gold IRA account.
You are legally obliged to engage a custodian to manage your account, so once you have chosen preferred gold IRA company they will assist you in getting your new account setup and having funds rolled over from your existing account if you have one.
The steps involved in creating the account will vary from one custodian to the next but in general, you will have to complete the following:
- Account Application Form & Plan Document: Captures your personal data: name, address, social security number & beneficiary information.
- Fee Schedule: Details of the fees you can expect to be charged for the managing of your account.
- Account Holder Disclosure & Hold Harmless: Outlines the responsibilities of you, the account holder and the custodian.
- Transfer Funds Document: This document gives instructions for the transfer of funds from your existing IRA or 401k into your new gold IRA.
- Government ID: Some form of identification will be required, eg: drivers license or passport.
Direction of Investment – w once the account is up and running this form is used to instruct your custodian to purchase gold on your behalf.
Direct and Indirect IRA Rollover:
When it comes to the actual rollover from 401k or existing IRA to your new gold IRA it can be done in one of two ways – Direct Rollover or Indirect Rollover. Direct means the funds move from your old account to your new self directed IRA directly without you laying your hands on them.
This is the safest way if you want to avoid incurring any harsh tax penalties. An indirect rollover involves the administrator of your existing account issuing a check to the value of the funds you wish to withdraw.
This check is then sent to you by post and it is your responsibility to deposit it in your new gold IRA. However, if for any reason you fail to deposit it within 60 days the IRS will class the funds as a taxable withdrawal. At this point, you will be subject to some stringent tax penalties.
To avoid falling into this trap, we recommend you perform a direct rollover to your new self directed IRA. For more information read our guide: 401k to Gold IRA Rollover.
How to Buy Gold with an IRA
Once your account is set up and your funds have been rolled over you can begin buying gold or precious metals. The process is easy. There are two ways it can be done depending on the custodian you have chosen.
You Strike a Deal with a Gold Broker
The first method involves you contacting a gold broker directly and hammering out a deal with them. Once a deal has been agreed you will contact your custodian and instruct them to complete the transaction.
They will have the agreed value of funds transferred to the gold broker and the broker will have the gold shipped to a storage location in your name. Actual physical gold will be shipped and held in an account in your name in an IRS approved secure depository.
You cannot receive the gold or store it securely yourself. It must go to one of these depositories and be held in an account in your name. All gold bought using a precious metals ira cannot be held personally.
Custodian Strikes a Deal with Gold Broker
The second method involves a more hands-off approach. Here your custodian does all the work for you. You complete a Direction of Investment form to initiate the process and to instruct them on how much gold you wish to buy.
They will then contact the gold broker on your behalf and agree a deal for you. Funds will leave your account and gold will be shipped to a depository and held in your name as in the example above.
Why Invest in Gold?
Diversification is key when it comes to protecting your retirement portfolio against the effects of an economic crisis. Given the turbulent times we live in traditional investments such as bonds, currency, and real estate are not as secure as they once were.
These conventional assets are liable to collapse in value in the event of another global financial crisis. Industry experts are warning that the indicators are already here and the next crisis is just around the corner.
Gold and other precious metals may be an excellent alternative to help secure your wealth into your retirement years. Financial advisors regularly recommend that at least 10% of any portfolio be held in gold.
However, those that believe a crisis is imminent lean toward much higher values of up to 60%.
- Gold Protects Wealth: When the house of cards comes tumbling down, you want to be holding precious metals. Gold has historically seen its value increase as the value of traditional assets falls. It is a trusted asset for hedging your bets against an economic or political crisis. Investing in gold is a strategy for safeguarding wealth. It is a non-speculative long term option. Gold has been used to protect wealth for thousands of years and here are some of the key reasons it should be considered as an alternative investment option.
- Portfolio Diversification: When it comes to protecting your retirement portfolio diversification is key. We are entering into very uncertain economic times with spiraling national debts across the world and the decline in the US dollar. The world banking system is craking and conventional assets are now high risk. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the US national debt will hit a staggering 98% of GDP by 2030 with annual budget deficits of $1 trillion a year for at least the next 11 years. These are very worrying figures and paint a picture of an economy on the brink. If your IRA is invested solely in traditional assets then it’s time to reconsider how your account is managed.
- Trusted & Proven History: Gold has been used throughout history to protect wealth. It is an excellent investment option for hedging against inflation and economic crisis. It has a long proven track record of protecting personal wealth during turbulent political and economic times. With the global financial system creaking and the uncertain political times we live in many are predicting the onset of the next financial crisis. Gold can be used to protect wealth as currencies, financial institutions and political structures falter.
- Protects Against Inflation: Gold can be used to protect your investment against the onset of inflation. The gold bullion market trades globally in US dollars and as the value of the US dollar falls, the value of gold increases. An inverse relationship exists in terms of value. This provides a type of safety net when it comes to inflation and the falling value of the dollar. This feature makes it very attractive to the longterm investor – for an IRA.
- High Demand & Limited Supply: Gold boasts persistent high demand globally. It is an incredibly popular commodity. The two emerging superpowers of China and India are showing ever-growing demands for the precious metal. Also, the supply of gold is limited. The market cannot be flooded with cheap gold. This guarantees its intrinsic value and makes it an ideal asset for the longterm store of wealth. Central banks across the world are currently buying up gold bullion to bolster their reserves.
If you want to protect your retirement funds for the years ahead and are concerned about the future of the global financial system it is time to consider investing in gold and determining the best gold IRA company to manage your account.
For more reading on precious metals IRAs visit thewealthbuilder.club/regal-assets
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