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Talk to a gold IRA company, prepared

So you've decided a gold IRA fits your plan. This page is about taking the next step on your own terms. Read it through first, and only ask for information once you're ready.

Before you contact anyone

  • Take the gold IRA quiz to check the fit.
  • Run the fee calculator so you know what a fair quote looks like.
  • Know which account the money would come from, and roughly how much you'd move.
  • Set a limit before anyone gives you a quote. Many people keep metals to a small slice of their savings.
  • Keep the 10 questions to ask open while you talk.

Our recommendation

Our recommended gold IRA company

The company we currently recommend to readers who have decided a gold IRA fits their plan, chosen using our published review criteria. Compare its written quote with our fee calculator before you decide.

  • Requesting information doesn't commit you to open an account or buy anything
  • A specialist from the company will likely contact you; you can ask for answers in writing and take your time
  • Ask for every fee, the markup, and the buyback terms in writing before you decide

We are completing our review of gold IRA companies. Until we publish a recommendation, use the 10 questions to ask to compare any company you are considering.

How we review companies

What happens after you request a kit

  1. You receive the information kitUsually by email right away, with a printed copy by mail.
  2. A specialist may contact youExpect questions about your goals and accounts. You can ask for answers in writing, or just say you're not ready yet.
  3. You compare the written quoteRun the markup over spot, the yearly fees, storage and buyback terms through our calculator.
  4. If you go ahead, a custodian opens your IRAThe company helps with the forms, and the money moves by direct rollover or transfer.
  5. You choose your metals, and they're storedThe metal goes to an approved depository, and you'll get confirmations and statements.

The longer version: What happens after you request a free gold IRA kit.

A man in his sixties taking notes during a phone call at home

You stay in control

Asking for a kit doesn't commit you to anything. Take as long as you like. Ask for every number in writing, and say no whenever you want to. A reputable company will respect that. If someone pressures or rushes you, warns that you'll "lose everything," or promises returns, end the conversation and walk away. We keep a list of warning signs to watch for.

Common questions

Do I have to speak to someone on the phone?

Most companies will offer one, because moving retirement money means paperwork. You can ask for information by email first and book a call only when you're ready.

Is there a minimum amount?

At many gold IRA companies, yes, and it's often in the tens of thousands of dollars. Ask before you begin.

Does Heirloom Money see my information?

We don't collect the details you enter. Requesting a kit means filling out the company's own form on its website, so its privacy policy applies. The company may tell us that a referral came from our site and whether it qualified. That's how we get paid.