Steve Rand
General Manager / Sr. Precious Metals Advisor
Steve Rand is the General Manager and a Sr. Precious Metals Advisor at Scottsdale Bullion & Coin. He brings over 20 years of experience in the physical precious metals markets.
The gold IRA company you work with impacts everything from the security and privacy of the account to the quality of the precious metal assets in which you invest. An investment decision with this much influence demands a high level of due diligence. You want to make sure you’re working with a professional, reputable, and knowledgeable provider that has your best interests in mind.
What is a gold IRA company?
Gold IRA companies specialize in helping investors set up self-directed retirement accounts. More commonly referred to a precious metal IRA, these accounts allow you to purchase precious metal assets while securing the tax-deferred benefits of mainstream accounts. These specialists also support clients in finding the best investments based on their unique goals and budgets.
Self-Directed IRA Custodian vs Administrator
Many people confuse IRA custodians and administrators when researching gold IRAs. These professionals play different yet equally important roles in establishing, maintaining, and supporting your precious metals retirement account. Understanding the difference between an IRA custodian vs administrator will make it easier to know what to look for when choosing a gold IRA company.
IRA Administrator
An IRA administrator works directly with investors to help establish, maintain, and optimize gold IRAs. These customer-facing entities act as the liaison between you and custodial companies responsible for structuring the retirement accounts. Administrators often handle the paperwork, filing, and maintenance demands on behalf of their clients. When seeking out the top gold IRA companies, you’re more accurately looking for an IRA administrator.
IRA Custodian
An IRA custodian, sometimes referred to as an IRA trustee, is in charge of handling, protecting, and overseeing the assets purchased through your gold IRA. These custodians must meet stringent IRS guidelines which permit them to maintain custody of investor assets. Although your custodian may reach out to you directly, they’ll typically tend to communicate directly with your IRA administrator. Regardless, these entities are crucial in securing your physical metal assets.
Tips for Finding the Best Gold IRA Company
Finding the right gold IRA company without knowing what to look for is a needle-in-the-haystack scenario. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, but you can effectively narrow your search with some specific criteria.
Experience
Typically, gold IRA companies that have established themselves for years or even decades will have more expertise, smoother processes, and a greater array of asset options when compared to newer organizations.
Expertise
Numerous IRA companies provide generic retirement account services rather than honing in on a specific type such as gold IRAs. Taking the time to find a company that specializes in your unique investment goals leads to more effective asset management.
Personalization
Even within the context of a gold IRA, your investment goals are going to differ from those of other investors. Solid gold IRA companies understand these key differences and offer custom-tailored approaches instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Asset Diversity
Diversification is even important within your precious metal portfolio. Choosing a gold IRA company with access to a wide range of IRA-eligible metals including bullion bars, bullion coins, and proof coins makes for a more robust and stable nest egg.
Positive Testimonials
Client reviews can give you an accurate idea of what it’s like to work with a particular gold IRA company. Some providers publish these reviews on their sites, although you should be able to check aggregate sites such as BBB & Google for reviews.
Look Out for Dealer-Exclusive Coins & Claims of Free Gold or Silver
There are plenty of red flags to keep an eye out for when researching the top gold IRA companies. For instance, a business with poor customer feedback, little-to-no experience, and a non-existent online presence should ring the alarm bells. While those are fairly obvious problems, some gold IRA companies have all the legitimate qualifications yet still engage in misleading tactics to convince clients to do business with them.
If you ever come across claims of free gold and silver in exchange for setting up a gold IRA, trust that inner voice that says it’s simply too good to be true. These grand claims are compelling but not completely true. Usually, the dealer finds a way to shift around the cost of the “free” offer by increasing other costs. In the end, you may wind up paying more than you would with a reputable gold IRA company that relies on results rather than tricky sales language.
When searching for precious metals to add to your gold IRA, beware of so-called dealer exclusive coins. Some coin dealers secure rights to sell unique coins from a reputable mint just to label them as “exclusive”. While the dealer-exclusive label only refers to that agreement, some buyers are misled into believing the coins have numismatic value beyond their weight in gold which isn’t the case.
If you’re interested in learning more about setting up a gold IRA, contact one of our Precious Metal Advisors by calling toll-free at 1 (888) 812-9892 or using our live chat function. They’ll be more than happy to answer all your questions and devise an investment strategy aligned with your goals and budget.