Want to enhance your retirement savings? Investing in gold or cryptocurrency could be the solution.
Incorporating these assets into your IRA account can provide tax advantages, helping you save more money.
But can you invest in both gold and crypto in one account?
That’s where iTrustCapital comes in. It’s a platform that lets you easily invest in both precious metals and cryptocurrencies through a self-directed IRA.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, iTrustCapital makes the process simple and quick.
In this iTrustCapital review, I’ll look at its features, pricing, and areas to improve, helping you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
iTrustCapital: A Brief Overview
I think iTrustCapital is an interesting company. It’s based in Irvine, California, and was started by CEO Morgan Steckler in 2018.
The company’s goal is to help people avoid the high costs and old-fashioned ways of investing in IRAs. With iTrustCapital, you can invest in cryptocurrencies, gold, and silver as part of your retirement plan.
Since they began, they’ve helped with over $6 billion in transactions and aim to assist 10 million people in safely investing in blockchain assets.
iTrustCapital wants to inspire and empower millions of investors. Their mission is to provide safe and easy access to the future of blockchain technology. They focus on trust, transparency, and excellence in technology.
Their vision is to change how people invest and manage alternative assets. They want to help create financial independence and success for everyone.
From what I understand, iTrustCapital is very committed to their clients. They aim to deliver great value and service while prioritizing clients’ financial well-being.
They work with trusted partners and innovate so that investing in alternative assets is simple and secure. They’ve partnered with Fortress Trust, a top-rated self-directed IRA custodian, to ensure your investments are safe.
One of the coolest things about iTrustCapital, in my opinion, is their 24/7 trading at spot prices, so you can quickly buy cryptocurrencies or precious metals.
But, there are some downsides, like a limited range of products and the fact that it’s only available to US-based investors.
iTrustCapital is changing the old ways of self-directed IRAs by using technology to make investing in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies easier and cheaper.
Their focus on innovation and security helps break down barriers, making them a good choice if you want to diversify your retirement plan.
Partners
This section details their strategic collaborations, focusing on key partnerships that facilitate their growth and enhance their offerings.
By aligning with industry leaders and innovators, they are able to leverage shared expertise and resources, driving mutual success and delivering exceptional value to their clients.
USA Athletic
The partnership between iTrustCapital and USC Athletics is really exciting. iTrustCapital is now the Official Crypto Platform of the USC Trojans, and you’ll see this new collaboration featured at the famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Galen Center.
USC Athletics has a strong history, with 133 national championships and 8 Heisman Trophy winners. iTrustCapital is proud to celebrate this legacy.
The partnership aims to educate the Trojan community—students and alumni—about retirement savings and investments, supporting USC’s focus on student-athletes.
On game days, iTrustCapital makes things even more fun with special events and activities for fans, making the excitement of football and basketball seasons even better.
EverFree
I believe the partnership between iTrustCapital and EverFree is truly inspiring. EverFree is a nonprofit organization working to end human trafficking and help survivors live in freedom and dignity. They have important programs in places like Uganda and the Philippines.
This partnership is more than just business; it’s a shared vision to make a real change. Inspired by EverFree’s hard work, iTrustCapital is committed to supporting its mission.
iTrustCapital will donate money to EverFree for every new client account, showing how financial solutions can support important social causes.
Team Behind the Company
The success of iTrustCapital is due to its team of skilled and experienced leaders. Each team member brings valuable knowledge from different industries to guide the company’s vision and strategy.
Kevin Maloney: CEO
Kevin Maloney is the CEO of iTrustCapital. He works with the board and team to set the company’s goals and direction.
With 25 years of experience in leadership roles in technology, real estate, blockchain, and finance, Kevin is great at building strong teams.
Kevin has led over 1,100 investor meetings and raised more than $250M for start-ups. He has worked at big companies like PIMCO and First American Trust.
Kevin holds a BA from UC Irvine and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He lives in Newport Beach with his wife and two children.
Blake Skadron: Co-Founder
Blake Skadron is the Chief Visionary Officer and co-founder of iTrustCapital. With over 20 years of experience in sales and financial services, he leads the company’s efforts in customer experience, marketing, and branding. Blake aims to make Crypto IRA investing easy and provide excellent customer service.
Before iTrustCapital, Blake held senior sales roles, improving product awareness and customer onboarding. He lives near Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
Trever Gregory: COO
Trever Gregory is the COO of iTrustCapital. He oversees the company’s operations and works closely with marketing, engineering, and product teams.
Trever has led operations at Indi and the marketing team for Rakuten North America, helping rebrand Ebates to Rakuten.
As a fan of blockchain, Trever focuses on growing the business and advancing crypto investing. He lives in Orange County, CA, with his wife and three children.
Chris Franks: CFO
Chris Franks is the CFO of iTrustCapital. He has over 20 years of experience in finance and has worked as CFO and advisor to many startups. Chris is skilled in strategic finance, corporate development, and capital markets.
He was previously CFO at jaris and FastPay and worked in venture investing at TWP/Stifel. Chris graduated from Duke University and holds an MBA from UC Berkeley.
He is also a CFA charterholder. Originally from Philadelphia, he now lives in San Francisco with his wife and three children.
Rest of the Team
The leadership team at iTrustCapital includes skilled professionals who drive the company’s success.
Carol Medel, the COO, makes sure custodial operations run smoothly. Todd Kolker, SVP of Marketing, works to make the brand well-known and attract new customers.
Jared Feldman, SVP of Operations, improves everyday processes. Marichelle Angeles, VP of Finance, keeps the finances stable.
Jarryd Van Hoy, VP of Engineering, builds and maintains the tech systems. Adrian Glen, Director of Product, develops products to meet customer needs.
Mike Teitelbaum, Creative Director, designs the company’s look. Viviane Le, HR Director, creates a positive work environment.
Zachary Santore, Director of Client Experience, ensures great customer service, and Shawn Noad, Director of FinOps, makes financial operations efficient.
Why Choosing iTrustCapital?
Choosing iTrustCapital means you are working with a team that values honesty and puts customers first. Their Crypto IRA platform stands out with great features and benefits that make investing easier for you.
Here are the main reasons why people pick iTrustCapital:
- Top-Rated Crypto IRA Platform: Known as the best overall Crypto IRA platform with over 5000 “Excellent” reviews.
- Low Costs, No Monthly Fee: Pay less in fees with no startup costs or monthly fees. The fee structure includes a 1% fee for cryptocurrency transactions and specific fees for gold and silver trades.
- Helpful Customer Support: Their US-based support team is friendly and doesn’t work on commission. They are here to help you without any sales pressure.
- Secure Asset Management: Your assets are safely managed and never used for profit by iTrustCapital or their partners.
- Strong Partnerships: Endorsed by reputable partners like USC Athletics, which shows the quality and reliability of their platform.
When you choose iTrustCapital, you partner with a trusted team dedicated to helping you reach your financial goals.
How Does iTrustCapital Work?
iTrustCapital is a platform that lets you invest in different types of assets using your retirement accounts, like IRAs and 401ks.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can do:
1. Precious Metals
iTrustCapital offers an easy way to invest in gold and silver. They use VaultChain™, a system where your investment is backed by real gold and silver stored at the Royal Canadian Mint. Ownership is tracked using secure blockchain technology.
This means you can buy and sell gold and silver any time, 24/7, through iTrustCapital’s platform. All transactions are handled by Kitco, a trusted name in the precious metals market.
Why iTrustCapital’s Gold and Silver are Great
You can easily buy and sell from your own dashboard, just like any other asset on the iTrustCapital platform. Your investments are backed by real, physical gold and silver, not by securities, derivatives, or futures contracts.
Low Cost
- Gold: $50 over the market price per ounce.
- Silver: $2.50 over the market price per ounce.
- No commissioned sales reps.
- No overpriced coins.
How it Works and Their Partners
- Kitco Metals: Kitco Metals is a top dealer in gold and silver. iTrustCapital works with Kitco because of their access to high-quality precious metals. Kitco uses Tradewind, a tech platform, to track gold and silver ownership using blockchain technology. This system allows you to own fractions of precious metals, making investment more flexible.
- Royal Canadian Mint: The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) makes Canada’s coins and is famous for high-quality bullion coins. The RCM safely stores the physical gold and silver for Kitco. It is also ISO 9001-2008 certified, ensuring top quality in their services.
- Tradewind: Tradewind is a tech platform that uses blockchain to make trading and owning precious metals safe and easy. Their VaultChain™ platform tracks ownership of gold and silver down to fractions of ounces, giving you more flexibility in your investments.
2. 401k Rollover
Do you want to know how to move your 401(k) to an iTrustCapital IRA? Follow these three easy steps below:
Step 1: Submit Funding Request
- Create an account on iTrustCapital.
- Enter your personal details and choose the type of account you want.
- Pick “Employer Plan Rollover” as your funding method.
- Fill out the application with details like your current plan admin, your account type, total balance, and the amount you want to move.
- Submit your application and contact your current plan admin to start the rollover.
Step 2: Contact Your Current Plan Admin
Check your email or iTrustCapital account for detailed rollover instructions. If moving pre-tax funds to a Roth IRA, use the special instructions emailed to you.
Call your current 401(k) admin with the provided contact numbers and instructions. Rollovers usually take 5-10 business days. Physical checks may slow it down.
Step 3: Follow Up
iTrustCapital will send you an email when your IRA is funded. If you don’t get a confirmation email, contact your old 401(k) admin to check if they sent the funds.
3. Cryptocurrency
iTrustCapital lets you buy and sell various cryptocurrencies anytime within a special retirement account called an IRA.
They keep your digital money in safe, regulated accounts and do not include it on their balance sheet, making it extra secure.
With iTrustCapital, there is no setup or monthly fees, and you only pay 1% for each transaction. You can also trade other valuable items like gold and silver using a feature called Conditional Transactions.
iTrustCapital offers several benefits:
- Tax Benefits: Trades you make in the IRA are tax-free, but you might still have some taxes to pay based on your situation. It’s a good idea to talk to a tax or financial expert.
- Low Costs: You won’t pay any setup or monthly fees, and each trade only costs 1%.
- Anytime Trading: You can trade cryptocurrencies all day, every day of the year.
Asset Safety
Your assets are kept in special custodial accounts managed by a trusted, regulated entity and are not on iTrustCapital’s balance sheet, making them extra secure.
Conditional Transactions
This tool lets you specify conditions for your trades, such as buying or selling, when the digital asset’s price hits a certain point.
Here’s how it works:
- From your homepage, click on the “Place Conditional Transaction” tab.
- Choose the digital asset for your transaction.
- Set the price at which you want the transaction to happen.
- Input the amount of money you want to spend on the asset.
- Review your transaction details.
- Submit your transaction.
- Confirm the transaction in the popup that appears.
iTrustCapital offers a simple and cost-effective way to invest in cryptocurrencies within a special tax-advantaged IRA, available all the time. The Conditional Transactions feature adds flexibility to your trading, and your assets are kept extremely secure.
How to Get Started with iTrustCapital
This section will help you start using iTrustCapital. I’ll go through setting up your account, adding funds, and making your first trades in this one.
1. Simple Setup
Getting started with iTrustCapital is easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide in simple English:
Step 1: Create an Account
- Go to the iTrustCapital homepage and click on “Open Account.”
- Fill in your details and click “Create Account.”
- You’ll get a confirmation email. Open it and click the link to verify your email.
- Log in to start your account application.
Step 2: Account Application
- Complete the application by entering the required info and clicking “Continue.”
- Review and confirm your details.
- On your dashboard, click “Open Retirement Account.”
- Choose the type of IRA you want and how you want to fund it.
- Enter the amount you want to fund and any other details you need.
Step 3: Your Account Dashboard
- Agree to the terms to access your dashboard. Here, you can see and manage your investments anytime.
- Your application will be submitted, and the first funding event will be created. To add more funds later, click “Add Funds” on your homepage.
Step 4: Questions and Support
- Your application is being processed. You’ll get emails with any questions from the processing team.
- Need help? Contact the iTrustCapital client support by submitting a support request or calling them.
iTrustCapital makes it simple to set up and manage your investment account with plenty of support to help you along the way.
2. Funding Your Account
Wondering how to add funds to your iTustCapital account? They’ve got you covered. Once in your dashboard, select the account you wish to fund and click the “Add Funds” button.
The 3 Ways to Add Funds
There are three ways to fund your account:
- Cash Contribution: Directly add cash to your account.
- Transfer from Other IAS: Move funds from other Investment Advisory Services.
- Rollover from Previous Employer Plans: Shift funds from your previous employer’s retirement plans.
Next, select your desired funding source:
- Electronic Debit
- Bank Wire
- Check
Submit all other necessary information that follows. Once your form is filled out, click the “Submit” button.
Additional Details
- Cash Contribution: Your funding instructions will be located under the “Funding Instructions” section within your account homepage.
- Rollover: They will email you the appropriate funding instructions once the process is initiated.
Lastly, they are not able to fund these accounts with crypto unless they are coming from another Crypto IRA.
3. Buy & Sell
The Buy & Sell feature on the iTrustCapital platform makes it simple to trade digital assets. Here’s how to use it step by step:
Step 1: Check Funds
First, make sure you have enough money in your account. From your dashboard, pick the account you want to use for trading.
Look at the USD section to see the available funds. If there’s no money, click ‘Add Funds’ and choose from cash contribution, transfer, or rollover methods.
Step 2: Choose Assets
After confirming your funds, go to the ‘Market Assets’ tab to see a list of assets you can trade. Click on any asset to see more details.
Step 3: Buy Digital Assets
To buy an asset, click the ‘Buy’ button. A form will pop up where you can enter the amount you want to spend. Use the green button at the bottom of the form to check your info before confirming the buy order.
Step 4: Sell Digital Assets
To sell an asset, click the ‘Sell’ button. A form will pop up for you to enter the amount you want to sell. Use the green button to review your info before confirming the sell order.
Settlement Time
Self-trades are done in about 45 seconds and completely settled in around 2 minutes. You can watch the progress from your account dashboard.
Conditional Transactions for Placing Conditional Transaction
From your account homepage, click the ‘Place Conditional Transaction’ tab to set up a conditional buy or sell. Enter the price (when you want the transaction to happen) and the amount.
- Conditional Buy: To buy, enter the amount in USD.
- Conditional Sell: To sell, enter the amount in tokens.
You can review and confirm the details before submitting. You can also cancel the transaction anytime unless it has been done.
You can see your transaction history in the ‘History’ tab of your account. With these steps, you can easily manage your digital asset trades on the iTrustCapital platform.
iTurstCapital Costs and Fees
With iTrustCapital, the prices are straightforward and clear. There are no monthly account fees or startup fees, making it easy to keep track of your costs.
If you trade cryptocurrencies, there is a 1% fee for buying and selling. For those interested in precious metals, the fee for buying gold is $50 over the market price per ounce, and for silver, it is $2.50 over the market price per ounce.
Additionally, if you want to convert a Traditional IRA or SEP IRA to a Roth IRA, there is a one-time fee of $75. This conversion will also be a taxable event.
iTrustCapital Affiliate Program: How Does it Help?
The iTrustCapital Affiliate Program is a great way to make money by telling people about iTrustCapital’s services.
If you join the program, you can earn cash whenever someone in the US uses your special referral link to open and fund a Crypto IRA account with iTrustCapital.
The goal of this program is to make Crypto IRAs more popular, and they have made sure it’s easy and rewarding for affiliates.
To join, you need to fill out an application form. Once you’re approved, you’ll get access to the iTrustCapital affiliates portal. This portal gives you a unique referral link, tools to track your progress, and ways to get paid.
After you’re set up, you can promote iTrustCapital by sharing your referral link with your audience using the marketing content found in the portal.
One of the best parts of this program is the regular updates. iTrustCapital gives you up-to-date marketing materials and product information to make your job easier.
The offer is highly attractive because both you and the people you refer get paid when they open and fund an account. It’s a win-win situation.
As an affiliate, you can track how well you’re doing anytime through the portal. This feature lets you see your performance in real time, and you’ll receive your earnings electronically every month.
The iTrustCapital Affiliate Program provides many resources to help you succeed, whether you’re new to affiliate marketing or experienced.
Referral Program
“Refer, Reward, Repeat.” This simple phrase sums up the iTrustCapital Referral Program. It’s a great way to earn rewards while getting your friends to join the platform.
Here’s the easy way to understand what you can get from it:
Every time a friend signs up using your special referral link and puts money into their iTrustCapital account, you get $100. Your friend will also get $100. This means both of you win!
How it Works
- Refer Friends: Send your unique referral link to your friends and wait for them to start signing up.
- Friend Signs Up and Funds Their Account: Your friend needs to use your referral link to open an iTrustCapital account and add money to it.
- Receive Reward: When these steps are complete, iTrustCapital will give both you and your friend $100 each.
Why Should I Join?
Getting $100 when your friends add money to their iTrustCapital account is a big reason to join. iTrustCapital also helps you save on taxes with different types of IRAs like SEP, Roth, or Traditional IRAs. By referring friends, you’re not just earning money; you’re also helping them benefit.
Customer Reviews and Ratings for iTrustCapital
I think iTrustCapital mostly has great reviews from its users, showing that people are happy with its service.
- On Google My Business, there are 1,461 reviews, and they have a fantastic rating of 4.9 out of 5.
- Trustpilot has even more reviews, with 3,880, and it also has a great rating of 4.9 out of 5.
- On Birdeye.com, things look just as good, with 3,511 reviews and the same high score of 4.9 out of 5.
- However, I noticed a difference on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Here, iTrustCapital has an “F rating” based on only three reviews and a score of 2.33/5. This could mean there were a few issues, but with only three reviews, it’s hard to say.
Overall, I think positive reviews of iTrustCapital highlight much better customer service over time.
People praised representatives like Ashley, Julian, and Joseph Kim for being knowledgeable, patient, and quick to help with rollovers and questions.
One reviewer suggested giving the team a raise for their friendly and competent service. On the other hand, negative reviews mention very high execution prices and poor customer service.
Complaints include staff not being trained well, inconsistency, and unresolved issues like pending transfers and no real limit orders. Overall, some customers are very happy, while others are dissatisfied with service and costs.
What are Customers Saying About the Company?
Scott Burnam thanked Chad, a Relationship Manager, for his quick and helpful responses to many questions while he was waiting for funding.
Linda Brockmiller and Donna Guthrie appreciated Lindsay’s patient and clear guidance during their account setups.
Susan Cote found Jonathan very helpful in opening her account. Dave praised Joseph Kim for his outstanding support in processing a rollover transfer.
Samuel Kharpatin liked the platform’s user-friendly design and low fees, and he appreciated Chad Poulos’s friendly help during setup.
Marvin Garriott strongly recommended iTrustCapital, particularly noting Ashley’s knowledge and patient assistance.
Users highlighted the platform’s easy-to-use mobile app, no monthly fees, and low transaction costs. Video reviews from clients like Brian, Desiree, and Jacob praised the platform’s security and ease of use.
Editorial reviews from Benzinga, Investopedia, Business Insider, and WallStreetZen also praised iTrustCapital for its low fees, high security, and excellent options for investing in cryptocurrencies and precious metals, making it a great choice for long-term investors.
Pros and Cons of iTrustCapital
I’ll look at the pros and cons so you can decide if you can trust this platform or not for your investment.
Pros:
- Low Fees: iTrustCapital charges just 1% per transaction, which is one of the lowest in the crypto IRA space.
- Large User Base: Over 200,000 active users trust the platform, showing its reliability.
- Good Support: Real customer support is available, which is rare for crypto platforms.
- Tax Benefits: There are various tax advantages for regular traders and long-term holders.
- Popular Cryptocurrencies: You can invest in the most well-known cryptocurrencies.
- Advanced Trading Tools: Features like stop loss and limit orders add more control.
- No Monthly Fees: Invest without monthly account fees.
- Lots of Tokens: Over 25 different crypto tokens are supported.
Cons:
- High Risk: The crypto market can be very volatile, meaning you need to be okay with taking risks.
- No Private Wallets: You can’t hold your crypto in a private wallet.
- Only in the US: The platform can only be used by people in the United States.
By looking at the pros and cons I’ve discussed, you can decide if this option fits your financial goals and how much risk you’re willing to take.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is iTrustCapital a good company?
iTrustCapital is seen as a good company for investing in precious metals and cryptocurrency. People like its low fees and strong security. However, experiences can differ, so it’s important to do your own research and maybe talk to a financial advisor.
Q2. Is iTrustCapital FDIC insured?
Yes, USD funds in an iTrustCapital account are FDIC insured. This is because Fortress Trust, iTrustCapital’s third-party custodian, deposits the USD funds into Provident Bank, which is an FDIC-insured bank.
Q3. Who owns iTrustCapital?
iTrustCapital is privately owned by its founders along with various investors. The company was co-founded by Todd Southwick and Blake Skadron, both of whom have extensive experience in finance, technology, and asset management.
Q4. What banks does iTrustCapital use?
iTrustCapital uses Fortress Trust as its custodian. Fortress Trust deposits client USD funds into FDIC-insured banks like Provident Bank and Cross River Bank, ensuring those funds are protected.
Q5. Has iTrustCapital been hacked?
iTrustCapital has not publicly reported any hacks. The platform emphasizes strong security measures to protect user assets.
Q6. How do I withdraw from iTrustCapital?
To withdraw from iTrustCapital, log into your account, navigate to the withdrawal section, and follow the provided instructions.
Confirm necessary details and beneficiaries, if required. Withdrawal periods and requirements may apply based on the type of IRA.
Q7. What crypto does iTrustCapital have?
iTrustCapital offers a variety of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and others.
The platform frequently updates its available assets, so it’s recommended to check their official website for the most current offerings.
Q8. Who is the custodian for iTrustCapital?
iTrustCapital uses Fortress Trust to hold clients’ assets. Fortress Trust is a regulated company that manages assets in retirement accounts specifically for iTrustCapital’s clients.
Conclusion
iTrustCapital is a great choice for people who want to invest in cryptocurrencies and precious metals through their retirement accounts.
The platform is easy to use, has reasonable fees, and offers many investment options. It also takes security seriously, so users can feel safe while trading.
Although no platform is perfect, iTrustCapital’s helpful features and good customer service make it a strong option for those looking to add different kinds of assets to their retirement savings.