Experiencing market crashes destroy savings made me realize the necessity of diversifying assets beyond traditional currency.
To protect your retirement, you could evaluate companies such as Goldco that focus on including gold and silver investments in your portfolio.
Through this review, I’m going to present my findings on Goldco’s offerings and credibility to help you determine whether they fit your retirement security needs.
Table of Contents
- 1 An Overview of Goldco
- 2 What Does Goldco Offer?
- 3 How Do Goldco Gold and Precious Metal IRAs Work?
- 4 Goldco Account Minimums and Fees
- 5 Goldco Pros and Cons: What We Do and Don’t Like About this Company
- 6 What Makes Goldco Different?
- 7 Who Should Consider Goldco?
- 8 What Do People Say About Goldco?
- 9 My Judgement: Is It Worth Investing in Precious Metals with Goldco?
- 10 Frequently Asked Questions
- 10.1 Q1: Can I keep my gold and silver at home?
- 10.2 Q2: Is the value of the precious metals I purchase for my IRA guaranteed?
- 10.3 Q3: Can I withdraw anytime from my Goldco IRA?
- 10.4 Q4: Am I free to use any custodian and storage service?
- 10.5 Q5: Which precious metal is better for IRA investments: Gold or silver?
- 10.6 Q6: How much time does it take to convert a regular IRA to a gold IRA?
- 10.7 Q7: How do buybacks work?
- 11 Conclusion
An Overview of Goldco
Goldco is a national leader in retirement planning and gold IRA rollovers. It is a precious metals IRA company that allows investors to hold gold, silver, and other precious metals in their retirement accounts.
Trevor Gerszt established Goldco over a decade ago, and since then it has become one of the largest and most well-known precious metals IRA companies in the United States.
With over a decade of experience, Goldco helps customers protect their retirement savings and take advantage of the benefits of gold ownership, including tax advantages and wealth protection.
When Gerszt founded Goldco, his goal was to provide a solution that would allow even novice customers to set up their own self-drive IRA accounts and buy gold and silver assets.
Goldco offers a risk-averse business strategy, so if you’re looking for a company to invest in gold and other precious metals, Goldco is an excellent option.
What Does Goldco Offer?
Goldco’s Precious Metals IRAs are mostly made up of silver and gold IRAs. You need to understand that Goldco solely functions as a broker for purchasing and selling precious metals.
They’ll only help you to acquire IRS-approved coins and bullion for your precious metals IRAs.
They won’t handle your IRA account’s custodianship. However, they promise to help complete the paperwork and coordinate the purchases with the storage facility.
Additionally, they may help you convert your present retirement funds to a precious metals IRA.
Products and Services
Goldco’s products and services can be divided into three categories:
- Gold Individual Retirement Accounts: Goldco provides guidance on setting up a gold IRA and suggests metals to invest in. Some of Goldco’s IRA-approved gold coins are American Eagle, Australian Striped Marlin, American Eagle Proof, Liberty Coin, Maple Leaf, American Gold Buffalo, American Bald Eagle, Military Guinea, British Lunar Series, Australia Saltwater Crocodile, and Gold Bars.
- Silver Individual Retirement Accounts: Goldco provides guidance on setting up a silver IRA and information on which silver coins are best to invest in getting the highest return. Type 1 and 2 Silver American Eagle and Chuck Norris 1-ounce silver coins are the most common silver coins suggested by Goldco. They also make Silver Bars available.
- 401(k) Rollovers: Goldco helps you convert your traditional or alternative IRA (Individual Retirement Account) into a Precious Metals IRA.
Additional Services
In addition to gold IRAs and silver IRAs, you may invest in:
- Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plans: Goldco responds to questions about SEP IRA eligibility criteria and contribution limits.
- Simple IRA Plans: Goldco explains how to set up a Simple IRA and the guidelines of the Simple silver IRA and Simple gold IRA.
- Traditional-Based IRA & Roth-Based IRA: Goldco offers resources and information on the distinctions between a Traditional and a Roth IRA, as well as help in rolling them over to a Precious Metals IRA.
How Do Goldco Gold and Precious Metal IRAs Work?
Goldco’s gold IRAs provide greater security than the U.S. Dollar, which has lost over 98 percent of its purchasing power since 1971. Meanwhile, gold, silver, or precious metals’ purchasing power has remained mostly consistent.
If you understand the value of precious metals, holding them in an IRA can be a wise choice. According to historic trends, your IRA may outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, according to Goldco.
If you’re considering investing with a silver or gold IRA to get such returns, it’s important to understand the steps to set them up. Fortunately, you need to complete only three easy steps for any of the precious metals’ IRAs:
Step-1: Open Your First Precious Metal IRA with Goldco
The first step in safeguarding and diversifying your retirement funds is to create a precious metals IRA. You need to sign a contract with Goldco to purchase precious metals.
Once you’re done, Goldco will ask you to sign a new form acknowledging and accepting your agreement to its business terms.
That’s all you need to start an IRA. Don’t worry if you don’t completely understand this; Goldco will appoint one of its precious metal specialists to this contract. You can ask for help anytime you need it.
Step-2: Fund Your Precious Metal IRA
Next, you need to fund your Goldco precious metal IRA after which you can start buying precious metals like gold and silver.
Most gold and silver IRAs require users to move money from their retirement accounts, TSP accounts, 401(k), or 403(b) accounts to their precious metals IRAs since they are self-directed accounts.
However, you should speak with your accountant about your tax obligations since you could have to pay more based on your circumstances— for example, if you are under 59.5 years old and still employed..
To avoid spending excessive amounts of money in taxes when setting up your gold IRA, you must check with a tax adviser before making any of those modifications.
Step-3: Invest in Your Preferred Gold or Silver
Finally, you may add precious metals to your retirement account by buying gold with IRA funds. Goldco offers a wide range of precious metals from which you may pick. If they have your preferred precious metals in stock, they will ship them to your chosen depository.
The most excellent thing about dealing with Goldco is that their staff assists you at every stage of the procedure. You are never left in the dark about what comes next.
At this point, we bet you want to know about Goldco’s transaction minimum and fees.
Goldco Account Minimums and Fees
The fees Goldco charges aren’t stated on their website because many variables come into play while investing with Goldco. These include storage and precious metal types. However, as we have dealt with the company before, we know firsthand about the fees they charge.
Annual maintenance is $100, and storage is $150 for segregated storage or $100 for non-segregated storage.
Fees for gold storage and custodianship can vary depending on the company you select to handle these services (required by the IRS, as all IRA assets must be managed by a custodian). Depending on the Custodian, storage fees can range from $10 to $60 per month, or as a percentage of assets, from 0.35% to 1% annually.
Goldco does not charge any storage fees for cash transactions over $25,000.”
Overall, the costs and fees associated with Goldco are very reasonable. They are designed to be as low as possible to maximize profits and keep your money where it belongs (your pocket) when you buy or sell gold.
Goldco Pros and Cons: What We Do and Don’t Like About this Company
Goldco offers a variety of advantages to customers who want to convert their retirement funds into gold IRA accounts.
On the other hand, the firm does have some shortcomings. You need to consider both to start investing with Goldco.
Pros:
- No Fees.
- New investors can take advantage of promotional discounts.
- Informative resources are free for both new and old customers.
- Their onboarding process is straightforward, simple, and stress-free.
- There are no transaction fees for non-IRA precious metals.
- They have the finest buyback program with the best price.
- Their executives have long investing experience.
- A gold IRA at Goldco offers you the same tax advantages as a standard IRA.
- A Goldco gold or silver IRA takes no guessing; your account administrator offers you a portfolio of current coins and bars, and you pick what you want to purchase.
- Their customer service and the whole setup process are highly rated by customers.
Cons:
- Your existing precious metals cannot be added to your Goldco portfolio. Any assets for your Goldco IRA must be bought via Goldco.
- There isn’t a list of available coins and bars on the website.
- There is no way to open your account online.
- The recommended minimum deposit amount of $25,000 is much higher than the competitors’ $5,000.
What Makes Goldco Different?
Goldco has much to offer against its competitors, which is why they’re so highly regarded in the precious metal IRA industry. Here are some of the features that set them apart:
1. Strong Focus on Customer Service
Goldco has always emphasized growing and maintaining its customer. They provide many first-time customer benefits, such as eliminating all first-year fees and a 10% refund on all silver purchases.
The company consistently delivers a high level of customer service by ensuring that a customer has access to helpful information and advice when needed.
2. Variety of Investment Products
When investors open IRA accounts with Goldco, there is a wide range of gold products available to buy for their portfolios, including gold bars, coins, and bullion from all around the world.
Goldco requires their products to have a minimum fineness of .995 percent to be eligible for inclusion in the gold IRA package.
This requirement ensures that the products offer the best value and enables the company to provide one of the best buyback guarantees in the market.
3. Best Buyback Program
Goldco offers a very high price on their buyback program. It eliminates the need to seek cunning coin merchants who provide lowball prices for your gold or silver coins.
You may sell the actual coins or bars you purchased from Goldco back to the firm when it’s time to liquidate your gold IRA, or if you want to get rid of them.
Just ask the assigned representative for help, and all you have to do is wait for the payment! However, you can also turn down the offer made by the company at any time.
4. Rollover Services
Rolling over IRA accounts is sometimes challenging for investors who know little about this subject. Goldco provides this service to investors who wish to convert intangible assets into tangible ones.
Goldco has a working connection with various depository and storage experts, including Brinks and Delaware Depository.
Their account representatives can easily take care of 401k plans by working with custodians from other investment companies.
5. Specialists in IRAs on Call
Goldco stands out above all due to the accessibility of its IRA precious metals specialists. At the start of the procedure, each customer is allocated an expert who works with them through the whole process.
In addition to being a subject matter expert, this specialist is dedicated to the customer’s interests and is accessible to respond to queries, outline the procedure, and allay any worries. They are not just salesmen who only want to close the deal and receive commissions.
6. Free Informative Resources
Goldco provides informative materials directly on its website. You can access these resources anytime for free. They’re great for beginner investors and those who want to remain updated with the most current news on the economy and investment.
You may also ask Goldco for a free kit to learn more about how precious metals investments might help you safeguard your money. The set includes printed copies and audio and video guides.
Who Should Consider Goldco?
Goldco is the best match for:
1. People Who are New to Investing in Precious Metals
Goldco is a good option for people who don’t know much about precious metal IRAs and want to engage with a business that will educate them and treat them with respect.
2. Seniors Who Want to Diversify Their Holdings
Investors have a wide range of IRA-approved gold items to choose from after a Goldco gold IRA is set up. The precious metals are of certified quality and originate from around the globe.
3. People Who Like to Own Tangible Assets
Unlike investments in U.S. Dollars (which have no backing whatsoever) or the volatile stock market, precious metals have been of consistent value for hundreds of years and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
4. People Who Want to Save Their Funds Against a Crisis
Many reliable investors believe that the United States is about to see one of its worst financial catastrophes due to the devaluing of the U.S. Dollar; in fact, two-thirds of CEOs see a recession on the horizon.
What Do People Say About Goldco?
Goldco has been a Better Business Bureau (BBB) member since 2011 and has a perfect A+ rating. Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) has rated Goldco a perfect AAA (highest rating).
Additionally, Trustpilot, Trust Link, Consumer Alliance, and Google Reviews have excellent things to say about Goldco. Most of their reviews are positive.
- ConsumerAffairs: There are 1,689 reviews with an overall rating of 4.8/5 stars.
- TrustLink: There are 254 reviews with an average rating of 4.8/5 stars.
- Trustpilot: There are 1,581 reviews with an overall rating of 4.8/5 stars.
- Google Reviews: There are 2,904 reviews with an average rating of 4.9/5 stars.
Also, some celebrities have warmly promoted Goldco as their go-to investment partner:
- Sean Hannity is a well-known talk show personality in the United States. Goldco is the precious metals firm he recommends to his loved ones, close friends, and viewers.
- Stew Peters has endorsed Goldco Precious Metals for gold and silver IRAs.
- Chuck Norris openly supports Goldco and has been a confirmed customer. Goldco even sells a limited-edition silver coin featuring Chuck Norris.
- The prestigious American Business Awards selected Goldco as the financial services category’s firm of the year for 2021.
Customers praise Goldco for its excellent customer service, usability, and educational offerings. However, don’t just believe what we say blindly. Listen to what the consumers have to say. Be sure to check the customer reviews online and then make your decision!
Complaints About Goldco
Writing an honest review also means pointing out customer complaints about the company. I looked at the negative reviews of Goldco on different review sites. The good thing is that most of the issues raised on their Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile were satisfactorily addressed.
The most common complaints customers reported are – unwanted calls!
The other criticism we noticed was that people thought the value of the coins wasn’t accurate. Goldco made the offer to the customer in a number of these instances to purchase the coins back at a profit.
My Judgement: Is It Worth Investing in Precious Metals with Goldco?
When it comes to investing in precious metals, there are a lot of options out there. But is Goldco a good option? Here’s what I think.
- One of the things I like about Goldco is that they offer a wide range of services. If you’re not sure what you want to do with your precious metals, they can help you figure it out. They can buy and sell gold and silver on your behalf.
- Another thing I like about Goldco is that they’re a reputable company with over 15 years of experience. They have a good track record in terms of customer satisfaction. I feel confident in recommending them to my readers.
- Their prices are competitive. They offer various payment options, making it easy to invest in precious metals. Their website is very user-friendly.
So, if you’re thinking about investing in precious metals, Goldco is definitely worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I keep my gold and silver at home?
No. Goldco follows IRS regulations that restrict storing precious metals in IRAs at home or in a conventional safety deposit box.
The storage facility imposes access restrictions and ensures separate storage for each customer’s precious metals. This ensures that the metals you buy are distributed legally and returned to you (or paid in).
Q2: Is the value of the precious metals I purchase for my IRA guaranteed?
No. Like other investments, the future value of precious metals is not guaranteed and is subject to change based on market conditions.
Q3: Can I withdraw anytime from my Goldco IRA?
Yes, you can make unlimited withdrawals from your precious metals IRA with Goldco at any time. However, there is a catch. If you withdraw before you are 59.5 years old, you’ll have to pay a 10% penalty.
After this age, there are no taxes. As per IRS laws, you must also take minimum distributions when you turn 72.
Q4: Am I free to use any custodian and storage service?
Yes. You can choose your own custodian and storage companies; however, Goldco suggests Sterling Trust for storage and Self-Directed IRA and Equity Institutional as custodians.
Q5: Which precious metal is better for IRA investments: Gold or silver?
Both gold and silver have their advantages, and both are generally safe. Ultimately, it depends on what you want from an IRA precious metals investment.
Gold doesn’t face the same levels of volatility as other precious metal IRAs, so it is generally safer. However, when it comes to long-term wealth preservation, silver is considered a superior investment to gold.
Due to its limited supply, silver will ultimately outperform gold in value, which appeals to many investors.
Ask your Goldco representatives this question at the third step while buying precious metals. They’ll be able to offer better direction on this.
Q6: How much time does it take to convert a regular IRA to a gold IRA?
It takes about two weeks to convert your regular IRA to a gold one with Goldco. However, every application is different, and processing time may vary from case to case.
Q7: How do buybacks work?
Buyback is when you sell your assets before they mature. With Goldco IRAs, you can offer it to the company if you need to get your money back before selling the gold on the open market. They promise to always provide you with the best deal on your buyback.
Conclusion
I have analyzed at least a dozen gold IRA service providers and found no other option as good or as safe as Goldco for precious metals IRA.
Their precious metal specialists do a fantastic job. Once you contact them, you’ll feel like a king or queen. They will answer all of your questions; they know it all.
So, now it’s your time to buy gold and silver. The next crash might happen soon. You must act quickly if you want to be assured that your hard-earned riches are safe.