If you’re looking to invest in gold or silver, it’s important to pick a company that can help you. Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals are two top names when it comes to investing in these metals.
Each company has its way of helping customers grow their savings with these precious investments. We’re going to look at what each company offers.
Like how trustworthy they are, what kind of gold and silver they sell, how they treat their customers, and what it’s like to work with them.
By comparing these two, I’ll help you determine which company might best match your money goals and what you like. Let’s check out what makes these two companies different from each other.
Quick Overview
- CEO: Trevor Gerszt
- BBB: 4.8/5 Out of 1,027 Customer Reviews
- Available Metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium
- Minimum Investment: $25,000
- Promotions: Get Up to $10,000 in Free Silver on Qualified Purchases
- Free Kit Available: Yes
What is Goldco?
Goldco is a top company helping people add gold and silver to their retirement savings. This helps protect their money from market ups and downs and tough economic times.
Goldco started by giving people personalized help and teaching them the benefits of investing in precious metals. Since then, Goldco has grown significantly and is known for its expertise in helping with retirement investments.
Founder
Trevor Gerszt founded Goldco in 2006. He loved precious metals and knew a lot about the economy. He aimed to make a reliable company to help people keep their retirement savings safe from big financial problems.
Location
The company is based in Calabasas, California, where it tries to help people in the entire US. This location puts it right in the middle of America’s money and investment world.
Mission and Reputation
Goldco’s mission revolves around providing secure investment options in gold and silver tailored to meet its customers’ retirement planning needs.
The company is acclaimed for its dedication to customer service and has built a solid reputation based on trust and the high quality of its advisory services.
Endorsements
Several well-known personalities endorse Goldco:
- Sean Hannity: Mentioned that he has always put a percentage of his earnings in gold and silver and recommends Goldco.
- Chuck and Gena Norris: Stated that Goldco is the only company they trust for their gold and silver investments.
- Ben Stein: Described Goldco as a great company that is trustworthy, dependable, and dedicated to customer service.
Accolades and Achievements
- Rated ‘A’ by the Better Business Bureau.
- Rated ‘Triple A’ by Business Consumer Alliance.
- Earned over 6,000 5-Star Customer Ratings.
- Money.com has recognized it for having the best customer service in 2024.
- Ranked No. 17 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Pacific region’s fastest-growing private companies in 2024.
- Gold Stevie Award as the Fastest Growing Company of 2024.
- Recipient of the Inc. 5000 Award for seven consecutive years.
What is Augusta Precious Metals?
This well-known company specializes in gold and silver IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) and other precious metals products for retirement savings. The company is 12 years old, demonstrating a strong history in the precious metals industry.
Founder
Isaac Nuriani is the founder of Augusta Precious Metals. He established the company to educate people about precious metals investments and to provide opportunities to diversify their retirement savings.
Location
Augusta Precious Metals is based in Casper, WY, US. This location serves as their operational base, although they reach clients nationally through their strong online presence.
Reputation and Mission
Augusta Precious Metals has a strong reputation for being open and honest. It focuses on teaching customers about investing in precious metals. Its mission is to help customers understand the benefits and risks of their investment choices.
Endorsements
The company is endorsed by retired NFL quarterback Joe Montana, which adds much to its credibility. Montana was so impressed that he endorsed them after his financial team recommended them.
Media Mentions
The company has received praise from well-known magazines, including being named the “Best Overall Gold IRA Company” by Money Magazine in 2023. This recognition boosts its credibility and highlights it as an industry leader.
Educational Commitment
Led by Devlyn Steele, who studied economics at Harvard, the company places a strong focus on education. They offer webinars, articles, and videos to help clients understand the economic factors that affect the precious metals market.
Comparison of Goldco with Augusta Precious Metals
When looking at these companies, both help people save for retirement by investing in metals like gold and silver, but they do this in different ways.
Goldco makes buying and selling back metals easy, and they help customers understand their investments. Augusta Precious Metals provides its customers with extensive information and one-on-one guidance to help them make smart choices about their future savings.
Services
These both focus on helping customers invest in precious metals, specifically through IRAs tailored to gold and silver.
Here are the services each company offers:
Goldco
- Types of Precious Metals IRAs: Goldco helps clients add gold and silver to their retirement funds, focusing on these metals to diversify savings.
- Buyback Programs: They offer a strong buyback service, meaning Goldco will buy the metals back when clients wish to sell.
- Education Resources: Goldco provides plenty of learning materials and one-on-one advice to help clients understand investing in precious metals.
- Storage and Custodian Services: Goldco uses trusted custodians and secure storage to keep investments safe and follows IRS rules closely.
Augusta Precious Metals
- Types of Precious Metals IRAs: Like Goldco, Augusta also deals with gold and silver IRAs and helps manage the buying process according to IRS standards.
- Buyback Programs: Augusta doesn’t directly buy back metals but helps clients learn how to sell them effectively in the marketplace.
- Education Resources: Augusta stands out for its strong focus on educating clients, offering personal expert advice and regular webinars to ensure investors make informed decisions.
- Storage and Custodian Services: Augusta ensures the security and legality of the metals by partnering with reputable custodians and using IRS-approved storage facilities.
Products
Both are well-known companies in the world of precious metals. They offer a wide range of products to help people with their investments.
Let’s look at what each company offers!
Goldco
Types of Metals Offered
- Gold: Goldco sells various gold coins and bars, including well-liked options like the American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf, plus its own high-quality gold bars.
- Silver: They have a large selection of silver items, with favorites being the American Silver Eagle and Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, which are popular among collectors and investors.
- Platinum and Palladium: Though not as popular as gold and silver, Goldco also has options for those interested in platinum and palladium.
Popular Products
Gold:
- American Gold Buffalo
- Gold American Eagle
- Gold American Eagle Proof
- Gold Maple Leaf
Silver:
- Silver American Eagle
- Silver Maple Leaf
- Silver Great Barrier Reef | Stingray
- Silver First Moon Landing
Precious Metals IRA: Following IRS rules, Goldco helps people add precious metals to their retirement accounts. Their selection of metals makes it easy to diversify IRAs.
Direct Sales: In addition to IRAs, Goldco sells physical metals for direct ownership, offering a tangible way to invest.
Augusta Precious Metals
Types of Metals Offered
- Gold: Augusta offers high-quality gold coins and bars like the American Eagle and Australian Kangaroo, both known for their design and value.
- Silver: They provide a strong selection of silver products, including the British Silver Britannia and American Silver Eagle.
Popular Products
Gold:
- Gold American Eagle
- Gold American Buffalo
- Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
- Austrian 1 oz Gold Philharmonic BU
Silver:
- American Silver Eagle
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
- Austrian Philharmonic Silver
- America The Beautiful – 5oz Cumberland Gap
Precious Metals IRA: Augusta excels at including precious metals in IRAs, providing expert advice and seamless processing. They focus on teaching customers to make smart investment choices with metals.
Direct Sales: Augusta lets investors buy physical metals for direct delivery, ensuring secure shipping to add value to personal collections outside typical markets.
Fees and Costs
When considering investing in precious metals through companies such as these two, it is crucial to understand their fee structures and associated costs.
Below, I’ll summarize the fees and costs you might encounter with these firms:
Goldco
Fee Category: | Description: | Amount: |
Account Setup Fee | One-time initial account setup | $50 |
Annual Account Fees | Yearly account maintenance | $25 |
Gold IRA Storage Fees: | ||
– Non-Segregated Storage | Assets pooled with others | $100 per year |
– Segregated Storage | Specific assets stored separately | $150 per year |
Investment: | ||
– Minimum Investment | Required initial investment | $25,000 |
Annual Fees on Minimum Investment: | ||
– Total Annual Fees | (Non-Segregated Storage) | $225 |
– Effective Annual Fee Rate | For $25,000 investment | 0.90% |
– Effective Annual Fee Rate | For $100,000 investment | 0.23% |
Augusta Precious Metals
Item: | Cost/Requirement: |
One-Time Fees: | |
– Custodian Application Fee | $50 |
– First-Year Custodian Annual Fee | $100 |
– First-Year Sample Depository Fee | $100 |
– Total One-Time Setup Fee | $250 |
Annual Fees (After First Year): | |
– Custodian Annual Fee | $100 |
– Sample Annual Storage Fee | $100 |
– Total Recurring Annual Fees | $200 |
Minimum Investment: | |
– Minimum Contribution | $50,000 |
Payment Methods: | |
– Bank Wire | No limit |
– Personal Check | Up to $50,000 |
– Retirement Rollover | Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b) |
Total Initial Cost to Invest: | |
– Minimum Contribution + Setup Fee | $50,250 |
Annual Costs After First Year: | $200 |
Storage Options
If you’re considering investing in precious metals through either company, understanding their storage options is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of your investments.
Here’s an overview of the storage options provided by both companies:
Goldco
Goldco keeps your gold and silver safe by working with Delaware Depository, a trusted place to secure your precious items.
This place is very careful about following rules for storing precious metals correctly. It is located conveniently, making it easy to transport and ensuring top-notch safety for your valuables.
Your Storage Choices
Goldco offers you two ways to store your precious metals:
- Non-Segregated Storage: This is where your gold and silver are kept safely with others’ investments. It’s a good, affordable way to store your valuables.
- Segregated Storage: If you like things more personal, this option keeps your items separate from everyone else’s. Your gold and silver have their special spot, giving you extra security and a sense of personal space.
Choosing between these two types of storage is all about what feels right for you, giving you peace of mind.
Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals doesn’t keep these metals at their own location. Instead, they suggest storing your metals at Delaware Depository, a trusted storage facility protected by Lloyd’s of London insurance up to $1 billion.
If you prefer a different location, Augusta has options in various cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York among others.
They partner with trusted custodians like Equity Trust, GoldStar Trust Company, and Kingdom Trust to ensure your investments are safely stored.
These facilities are highly secure and fully licensed, and they use advanced security to protect your assets. Augusta ensures your precious metals investment is safely stored away from political and financial centers, ready for you to access or view on request.
Customer Service and Support
Here is an overview of the customer service and support they provide.
Goldco
Goldco helps people invest in gold and silver. They’re known for really good customer service.
- Personal Helper: You get your own expert who helps you with all your questions from the start.
- Learning Materials: They’ve got easy-to-understand articles and videos to teach you about gold and silver.
- Call for Help: You can phone them if you need answers quickly.
Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta is another company that’s great with gold and silver investments. They’re super open and clear with everyone.
- Your Own Guide: They give you an investment guide who knows everything you need.
- Web Classes: There are online lessons where a smart money person teaches you about investing.
- Help Team: They promise not to hide any extra costs and are always ready to answer your questions.
Both of them are loved by their customers. They give personal advice, teach you about investing, and always tell you what you’re paying for. Their honesty and helpfulness have earned them lots of trust and praise from their customers.
3rd Party Reviews
They both have earned positive 3rd party reviews, highlighting their reliable customer service and transparent investment processes.
Below is a comparison table of these companies across different review platforms:
Platform: | Goldco: | Augusta Precious Metals: |
Better Business Bureau: | A+ with 1021 reviews | A+ with 106 reviews |
TrustLink: | 5/5 from 254 reviews | 5/5 from 287 reviews |
Trustpilot: | 4.8/5 from 1440 reviews | Not Listed |
ConsumerAffairs: | 4.9/5 from 1687 reviews | 5/5 from 139 reviews |
Google Reviews | 4.9/5 from 2559 reviews | 4.9/5 from 459 reviews |
Business Consumer Alliance: | Not Listed | AAA from 99 reviews |
Facebook: | Not Listed | 4.8-star rating |
Pros and Cons
Understanding the pros and cons of both companies can help us make smarter choices.
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons:
Goldco
Pros:
- Experts in Gold and Silver: Goldco really knows its stuff when it comes to investing in these metals, giving solid advice to investors.
- Simple to Get Started: Goldco makes it easy for anyone to begin investing in metals, even if you’re moving money from retirement funds.
- Guides and Tips: They share a lot of useful information to help investors understand their options, which is great for new and experienced folks alike.
- Trusted by Many: Goldco has built a strong reputation over the years, earning trust through good reviews and recommendations.
- Safekeeping for Investments: Goldco works with trusted partners to keep your investments in gold and silver safe and sound.
Cons:
- Fewer Choices: Goldco doesn’t offer as many types of metals as some of its competitors, limiting some investment possibilities.
- Minimum Investment Required: To start investing with Goldco, you need a significant amount of money, which could be a barrier for some.
Augusta Precious Metals
Pros:
- Straightforward About Costs: Augusta makes it clear what you’ll pay, ensuring no surprise fees, which helps build confidence.
- Learning Opportunities: They provide education through webinars and one-on-one sessions, empowering people to make informed investment decisions.
- Ongoing Support: Augusta offers continuous help, not just at the beginning, which is helpful for managing investments over time.
- High Satisfaction Among Customers: Many people are happy with Augusta, indicating they’re doing something right.
Cons:
- Limited to Gold and Silver: Augusta specializes in these two metals, which might not fit everyone’s investment strategy.
- More Info Needed Online: Their website could provide more details about their products, meaning you might need to contact them for more info.
Which Company is the Right for You?
When considering these two gold investment companies for your investment, your choice depends on your preferences and goals.
Goldco is ideal for beginners wanting straightforward guidance and simple rollover processes, with personalized support throughout. It’s less suited for those seeking a wide array of metal options or low initial investment thresholds.
Augusta Precious Metals suits detail-oriented investors who value transparent pricing and ongoing educational support, which is beneficial for long-term investment strategies.
It may not be the best fit for those wanting a quick start or a broader metal selection. Choose based on your need for simplicity, education, and investment variety.
Conclusion
When looking at both, it’s clear that both offer great options for investing in precious metals. Goldco is known for its helpful educational materials and focus on customers. Augusta Precious Metals is praised for its clear, one-on-one service.
Both are good choices for investors wanting to add metals like gold and silver to their savings, depending on what they need most.