Many companies featured on Money advertise with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and
in-depth research may determine where and how companies appear. Learn more about how we make money.

Published: Jan 05, 2024 10 min read

Money is not a client of any investment adviser featured on this page. The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Money does not offer advisory services.


Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are tax-advantaged and can help you save for retirement. A precious metals self-directed IRA holds physical gold or other precious metals under guardianship for the IRA account holder, instead of paper assets.

Goldco is one of our best gold IRA companies. Read on to see our full review of the company’s offerings.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAds by Money disclaimer

Qualify for up to 10% in FREE silver

All customers qualify for up to $10k in FREE silver*
  • Diversify your portfolio by investing in a precious metal IRA or buy gold and silver directly
  • Over 5,700 5 star customer ratings
  • Highest price buyback guarantee
  • Available Goldco specialists to help guide you in the process
  • A+ Rating from BBB, AAA Rating from Business Consumers Alliance

 

*Up to $10k or more in free silver with qualified account. 

Top Ranked Precious Metals Company on the Inc. 5000

Top Ranked Precious Metals Company on the Inc. 5000
  • Lowest price guarantee and no buyback fees
  • Exclusively recommended by Bill O'Reilly, Rick Harrison, & Others
  • Up to $15,000 in free silver on qualified accounts
  • Available customer service team dedicated to help you through every step of the process
  • A+ Rating from BBB

Price match guarantee and no fees on buybacks

Longest time in business with 27 years of experience
  • Recommended by Glenn Beck and Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
  • Up to $15,000 in bonus coins on new orders
  • Risk-free guarantee, zero buy back fees
  • Trusted by over 90,000 customers
  • Rated excellent on Truspilot & AAA on Business Consumer Alliance

Provides Guide on Gold IRA Company Scams

Provides Guide on Gold IRA Company Scams
  • Augusta representatives available for 1 on 1 sessions
  • Recommended by Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana
  • Available help from Augusta representatives while creating an account
  • Up to 10 years fees reimbursed to your IRA in premium silver coins

Most IRAs Qualify for “No Fee For Life”

Most IRAs Qualify for “No Fee For Life”
  • 50 years of collective, combined experience in the markets
  • Expert guidance to open a gold IRA account 
  • Low-Cost Bullion, IRA eligible, and numismatic coins available
  • A+ Rating from BBB

Best for customer service

Goldco has many reviews on both the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website and TrustPilot, and dozens of those reviews highlight the company’s excellent customer service.

Goldco IRA pros and cons

Pros
  • A+ BBB rating
  • 4.8 TrustPilot rating
  • Provides educational resources on their website
Cons
  • Lack of information about fees on the site
  • Preferred minimum to open a gold IRA is $25,000

Goldco pros explained

A+ BBB rating

The BBB rates companies using several factors, including customer complaints, operational practices, time in business, advertising and government actions. Goldco has earned the BBB's highest rating of A+ and has been BBB-accredited since 2011. According to the BBB website, Goldco receives 4.81 stars out of 5 based on 695 customer reviews.

4.8 TrustPilot rating

Goldco also has a 4.8-star rating out of 5 on TrustPilot. With more than 1,200 reviews, 91% of users have rated the company five stars. Many of the reviews call out Goldco’s impressive customer service.

Provides educational resources on its website

Thanks to a robust educational section of Goldco's website, customers and prospects alike can find ample news and articles on the precious metals market. Visitors to the Goldco website can learn how to buy gold in an IRA and find information on topics ranging from the Federal Reserve to Social Security and how to pay off debt in retirement. Goldco even has a three-part guide on gold IRAs that covers how gold IRA works, including rules you need to know before investing in one and actionable tips for diversifying your retirement portfolio.

Cons explained

Lack of information about fees on the site

While the company has plenty of FAQs and educational information on its site, it is not transparent about fees. Prospective clients should call to ask about any charges they could face.

Preferred minimum to open a gold IRA is $25,000

Goldco’s preferred minimum investment to open a gold IRA is $25,000. However, if you’re looking to add precious metals to your portfolio and not open a gold IRA, the company’s website says you can purchase those directly from them.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAds by Money disclaimer
Take control of your financial future by investing in Gold
Achieve greater financial security by providing effective solutions that can help protect your wealth. Click below to start investing today!
Invest in Gold

Goldco Gold IRA offerings

Goldco offers its customers precious metals IRAs and the option to purchase gold and silver directly.

Gold IRA

A gold IRA can hold physical gold in various forms such as bars, ingots, rounds and coins. Goldco says it works with mints around the world to source gold coins and bars that are IRA-eligible, meaning they’re 99.5% pure. The company offers a buyback guarantee for IRA-approved gold coins as well.

To ensure owners are following contribution limits, age requirements and other rules, the IRS mandates that all IRAs must have custodians whom the IRA owner authorizes to manage and protect the assets. Goldco stores your gold assets in a secure depository, which the IRS also requires for precious metal IRAs. Once you reach the age of 59 1/2, you may begin to withdraw the assets without penalty either in their original form or as cash raised by sales of the precious metals.

Silver IRA

Similar to the gold IRA, Goldco's silver IRA allows you to deposit silver coins and bars into your Goldco precious metals IRA. The same is true for palladium and platinum. Silver coins must be 99.99% pure to be eligible for your IRA. Goldco has been known to offer a special silver bonus to customers who open a precious metals IRA.

Gold coins

You have the option to purchase gold coins outside of a precious metals IRA. If you don't open a gold IRA, you can buy these coins directly from a Goldco specialist, and your assets will either be delivered to a depository of your choice or directly to your home. You can choose from coins sourced from mints in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Netherlands and New Zealand. For example, you can call Goldco to order the U.S. Mint's 2023 Gold American Eagle coin, the Gold American Eagle Proof coin, the 2020 Australian Striped Marlin coin or the Royal Dutch Mint's Gold Valor coin.

Gold bars

Goldco offers gold bars that, like its coins, are IRA-eligible or available for private purchase. These gold bars have various producers and come in several different sizes and weights. As with its coins, you must speak to a specialist to purchase these assets, and you can have them placed in your IRA, sent to a depository or mailed to your home for safekeeping.

Silver coins

Silver coins offered by Goldco include the U.K.'s Silver Britannia series, the Australian Crocodile, the Silver Veteran and the Silver WWI and WWII coins. You even have the option to purchase a 1 oz. Chuck Norris "Five Principles" silver coin minted in New Zealand. This coin is mailed in a wooden box with a certificate of authenticity; however, it isn't IRA-eligible.

Silver bars

Just like their gold counterparts, Goldco's silver bars can be purchased for use in your precious metals IRA or to be privately held. These bars also come from various producers and are available in different weights.

Goldco Gold IRA pricing

When it comes to Goldco's pricing, its website isn't transparent. However, a company representative previously told Money that Goldco charges no fees of its own, but the gold IRA custodian charges a $50 setup fee and $80 for annual maintenance. Storage (including insurance) ranges from $150 to $200 annually.

Gold IRA financial stability

Goldco is a California-based, privately held business. The firm has earned an A+ rating from the BBB and, according to its site, has placed over $1 billion in gold and silver.

Gold and other precious metals are often considered stable investments since they can help hedge against inflation and market volatility, which is one of the biggest risks people face in retirement. But gold prices are not guaranteed to increase over time and don’t pay dividends, so financial advisors recommend investing just a small portion of your portfolio — like 5% or less — to precious metals.

Goldco Gold IRA accessibility

Availability

There is a $25,000 preferred minimum initial investment to open a gold IRA with Goldco. Goldco customers must have a company representative walk them through the process of opening an account and, as previously mentioned, excellent customer service is part of what makes Goldco one of our best gold IRA companies.

Contact information

Goldco offers basic information about gold and other precious metals IRAs on its website. You can also request a free kit of printed, audio and visual information, which the company will mail to you. For any other questions, you can get in contact with Goldco by phone or using the chatbot on its website. To open an account, you must call an account representative by phone at 1-855-450-1394. To receive the fastest response, the company says to call Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST.

User experience

While easy to navigate, the Goldco website mostly focuses on advertising and marketing itself. Users can view testimonials, endorsements and a collection of articles about general investing, retirement planning and banking regulations. If you want specific information (e.g., pricing or product selection), you'll need to call Goldco's customer support and speak to a representative.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAds by Money disclaimer
Worried about protecting your hard-earned financial assets?
Gold IRAs help you protect your investments by providing the asset diversification and stability you need. Click below to start investing today!
Invest in Gold

Goldco Gold IRA customer satisfaction

Goldco receives positive reviews from several consumer rating sites. Thousands of customers across multiple third-party review platforms rate Goldco a consistent 4.8 stars out of five. Goldco customers often mention the company's strong communication, quick processes, specialist knowledgeability and accommodative nature. A small percentage of reviewers complain about high markups, misleading information and delayed payouts, with 45 complaints filed with the BBB in the last three years, all of which Goldco has responded to.

Goldco Gold IRA FAQs

What is a gold IRA (individual retirement account)?

chevron-down
chevron-up
A gold IRA is a type of self-directed individual retirement account that holds physical precious metals instead of traditional assets like stocks, funds or bonds. They are sometimes known as precious metals IRAs, as they can include silver, platinum and palladium in addition to gold. With a gold IRA, an IRS-approved custodian administers and manages your physical assets.

What are Goldco's storage options?

chevron-down
chevron-up
By law, your gold must be held in a recognized depository, which Goldco arranges. A Goldco representative explained to Money that storage (including insurance) fees range from $150 to $200 annually.

How we evaluated the Goldco Gold IRA

We evaluated Goldco based on the following factors:

  • Account offerings, including what kinds of metals customers can invest in
  • Information (or lack thereof) on pricing
  • Customer experience and satisfaction according to trusted third-party review sites such as the BBB
  • Availability across the U.S.

Summary of Money's Goldco Gold IRA review

Building a diversified investment portfolio that aligns with your goals, timeline and risk tolerance is one of the best money moves you can make. It can help protect your retirement savings from inflation and market volatility. A Goldco gold or precious metals IRA is one way to get exposure to gold and diversify your portfolio.

The California-based company consistently receives excellent customer reviews on trusted sites like the BBB. Additionally, Goldco provides educational resources on its website at no cost. That being said, investing in a precious metals IRA with Goldco may not be for everyone as there is a high preferred investment minimum. Financial advisors recommend you not invest more than 5% of your portfolio in alternative assets like precious metals, since they won't earn dividends and their values aren’t guaranteed to increase over time.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
Goldco can help you take control of your financial future