How We Review Gold IRA Companies

What we evaluate

Criterion	What we look for
Fee transparency	Setup, custodian, and storage fees published or provided in writing before you commit.
Markup disclosure	Will they put the price over spot in writing, as a percentage, for each product?
Product mix	Do they readily offer common IRA-eligible bullion, or steer customers toward high-markup proof or "premium" coins?
Buyback terms	A clear, written buyback policy and how far below spot it pays.
Complaint history	Patterns in Better Business Bureau complaints and how they were resolved.
Regulatory record	Any enforcement actions by the CFTC, SEC, FTC, or state regulators against the company or its principals.
Sales practices	Do reps pressure or rush people, use fear about the economy, or promise returns? Where we can, we contact companies as an ordinary prospect to see it first-hand.
Partners and minimums	Which IRA custodians and depositories they work with, and their minimum purchase.
Education quality	Do their materials explain costs and risks honestly?

Our process

Collect each company's published fees, disclosures, and agreements.
Request information and quotes as an ordinary prospect, and ask our 10 questions.
Search regulator databases and complaint records.
Score each company on the criteria above and write up the reasons, including the downsides.
Re-check our recommendation regularly, and promptly if we learn of an enforcement action or a change in terms.

What can't influence a review

Whether a company pays us, how much, or whether it even has an affiliate program. The same criteria apply either way. If a company stops meeting our standards, we'll remove the recommendation, even if that costs us income. We don't accept payment for placement or ratings.

Limits of any review

Prices change. So do fees and staff. A review reflects what we found when we looked, so always get current fees and the markup in writing, and read the account agreement before you sign.