How to Evaluate a Gold IRA Company: A Neutral Checklist
Evaluating a gold IRA company comes down to seven checkable things: who holds the account and the metal, whether the fee schedule is written, how the markup over spot is disclosed, whether the proposed metals meet IRS eligibility rules, what the public complaint and enforcement record shows, how the sales conversation is conducted, and what the exit terms are. Each of those can be documented before any money moves, and each can be verified against a source outside the company itself.
This is a framework, not a ranking. We do not score, rate, rank, or compare named gold IRA companies anywhere on this site, and nothing here is an endorsement of any firm. The purpose is to give you a repeatable set of questions and public sources so that the conclusion is yours rather than ours.
Important: This page is educational and general in nature. It is not investment, tax, or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Company practices, fees, and terms change over time — confirm everything directly with the firm and with the primary sources listed below.
Seven things you can check before you decide
Each item below is deliberately observable: it is either a document you can be handed, a number you can be quoted, or a record you can look up. Impressions and marketing language are excluded on purpose.
Who actually holds the account, and who holds the metal
A gold IRA involves at least three distinct parties: the IRA custodian (the trustee that administers the account), the depository (the facility that stores the metal), and the dealer (the firm that sells you the coins or bars). Some firms handle only the dealer role and introduce you to a custodian; others present a bundled experience. Ask which entity is the custodian of record, which depository is used, and whether you may choose a different custodian or depository. IRS rules require that IRA metals be held by a qualified trustee or custodian — not by you personally.
A written fee schedule, before you fund anything
Ask for the full fee schedule as a document, not as a verbal summary. It should itemise the one-time setup fee, the annual custodian or administration fee, the annual storage fee, and any wire, transaction, or account-closing fees. Confirm whether storage is flat-rate or a percentage of account value, and whether metals are held segregated or commingled. If a promotion waives fees, confirm in writing how many years the waiver covers and what the fee becomes afterwards.
How the price of the metal itself is disclosed
The dealer markup — the difference between the spot price of the metal and the price you pay — is usually the largest single cost in a gold IRA, and it typically does not appear on any fee schedule because it is built into the per-coin price. Ask the firm to state, in writing, the markup over spot for the specific products being proposed. Compare the same product across firms rather than comparing different products, since premiums differ substantially between common bullion coins and limited-mintage or proof issues.
Whether the proposed metals are actually IRA-eligible
26 U.S. Code § 408(m) sets out which coins and bullion an IRA may hold, including minimum fineness standards. Certain collectible, graded, or numismatic items fall outside those rules. Ask the firm to identify each proposed product and confirm its eligibility, then verify the fineness standard independently rather than relying on the sales description alone.
The public record: registrations, complaints, and enforcement
Physical bullion dealers are generally not registered broker-dealers, so a FINRA BrokerCheck record often will not exist. That absence is normal and is not itself a finding. What you can review: state securities and consumer-affairs regulators, the Better Business Bureau complaint history, the CFTC and FTC press-release archives for enforcement actions, and court records. Search the company name together with terms such as “complaint”, “lawsuit”, and “settlement”, and check for prior business names.
How the sales conversation is conducted
A well-run process answers procedural questions directly, puts numbers in writing, and continues to be available after you decline. Note whether a representative can explain the custodian relationship without deflecting, whether pricing questions are answered with figures, and whether the conversation continues comfortably when you say you want time to review documents. Sales conduct is observable evidence you can record while it is happening.
Exit terms: buyback, liquidation, and distribution
Most accounts are eventually closed, sold, or distributed in kind, so the exit terms matter as much as the entry terms. Ask whether the firm offers a buyback, whether that buyback is a contractual commitment or a stated intention, how the buyback price is calculated relative to spot, how long settlement takes, and what happens if you prefer to sell to a third party. Also ask what an in-kind distribution of the physical metal involves and what it costs.
Twelve questions to ask, in writing
A useful test is simply whether the answers arrive in writing. Firms that document their terms as a matter of routine tend to make the rest of the evaluation straightforward.
- Which entity is the IRA custodian of record, and may I choose a different one?
- Which depository will hold the metal, and is storage segregated or commingled?
- May I have the complete written fee schedule, including account-closing fees?
- Is storage flat-rate or a percentage of account value?
- If fees are waived, for how many years, and what is the fee afterwards?
- What is the markup over spot on each specific product you are proposing?
- Which IRC § 408(m) fineness standard does each proposed product meet?
- Do you offer a buyback, and is it contractual or discretionary?
- How is a buyback price calculated, and how long does settlement take?
- What does an in-kind distribution of the physical metal cost and involve?
- Has the company operated under any previous names?
- May I have all of this in writing before any funds are moved?
Four common evaluation mistakes
Comparing annual fees while ignoring the markup
Annual custodian and storage fees are visible, similar across the industry, and measured in the low hundreds of dollars. The markup is invisible on a fee schedule, varies widely, and is charged against the full amount funded. Comparing only what is easy to see can invert the actual cost ranking between two firms.
Treating a “top 10” list as independent research
Many published rankings in this category are affiliate-funded, and placement can correspond to commission rather than to any assessment. Reading the disclosure on a ranking page — and noting whether it explains how positions were determined — is part of evaluating the ranking itself.
Comparing different products across firms
A quote on a common bullion coin and a quote on a limited-mintage or proof issue are not comparable, because their premiums differ by design. Holding the product constant is what makes a price comparison meaningful.
Leaving the exit unexamined
Buyback terms, settlement timing, and in-kind distribution mechanics are rarely discussed at the point of opening an account, yet they determine what the account is like to unwind. Asking about them early costs nothing.
Where to verify things independently
Every source below is a government agency, a regulator, or a public complaint database — none of them sell precious metals.
- 26 U.S. Code § 408(m) — Investment in collectibles (bullion exception)The federal statute defining which coins and bullion an IRA may hold, including fineness standards.
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to IRAsOfficial IRS rules on IRA contributions, rollovers, and the trustee requirement.
- CFTC — Customer advisories and fraud articlesFederal advisories on precious metals sales practices and enforcement actions.
- SEC Investor.govFederal investor-education resources and tools for checking registration status.
- FINRA — Investor InsightsIndependent investor-education articles from the securities-industry regulator.
- NASAA — Contact your state securities regulatorDirectory for checking a firm against your own state regulator’s records.
- Better Business BureauPublic complaint history, prior business names, and company responses.
Frequently asked questions
Do you rank or recommend specific gold IRA companies?
No. This page is a neutral due-diligence framework, not a ranking, scorecard, or endorsement. It describes what to examine and what to ask so that you can reach your own conclusion, and it points to independent public sources you can check yourself.
What is the difference between a gold IRA custodian and a gold IRA dealer?
The custodian is the IRS-qualified trustee that administers the account, holds title on behalf of the IRA, and files the required reporting. The dealer is the firm that sells the coins or bars. They are separate roles and are often separate companies, even when a single brand handles the whole conversation with you.
Why can I not find a gold IRA company on FINRA BrokerCheck?
Physical bullion is not a security, so most precious metals dealers are not registered broker-dealers and will not appear in BrokerCheck. The absence of a record is expected and is not a finding in itself. State regulators, BBB complaint history, and CFTC or FTC enforcement archives are more relevant public sources for this category.
What single number is most worth comparing between firms?
The markup over spot on the identical product. Annual custodian and storage fees are usually similar across the industry and modest in dollar terms, while markups vary widely and are paid on the entire amount you fund. Comparing the same coin or bar across firms makes the difference visible.
Should I get anything in writing before funding the account?
Written documentation is what makes any of the above verifiable later. At minimum, that generally means the fee schedule, the identity of the custodian and depository, the specific products with their fineness, the quoted markup or total price per unit, and the stated buyback terms.
About this guide
Published and maintained by Metals Retirement Audit · Last reviewed July 2026
Metals Retirement Audit publishes educational reference material on precious-metals retirement accounts for U.S. savers. Guides are written and maintained under the organization’s name rather than attributed to an individual, and they are reviewed on a recurring schedule so the rules, limits, and figures they cite stay current.
Sourced from primary documents
Rules and figures are drawn from IRS publications, the U.S. Code, and federal regulators such as the SEC, CFTC, and FINRA — cited on each page so you can check them yourself.
Reviewed and dated
Every guide carries a visible review date. Tax figures and contribution limits are re-checked against the current year’s official guidance when that date changes.
Corrections welcome
Spotted something out of date or inaccurate? Tell us and we will review it. Accuracy matters more to us than page count.
This page is educational and general in nature. It is not investment, tax, or legal advice and does not account for your individual circumstances. It does not rank, rate, or endorse any company. Fees, terms, and company practices vary and change over time — confirm current details directly with the firm before making any decision.
Disclosure: We may earn a referral fee when you connect with a precious metals company through this site, at no additional cost to you. This does not influence the educational information above. We are not a financial advisor, broker, or dealer.