Goldco Review

Companies featured here may provide compensation for click throughs. This is how I maintain free research for consumers. My full disclosure of who I invested with is on this page for transparency.

By Tim Schmidt Sr.
Accredited Investor and Gold IRA Specialist

Goldco is an industry leader and a precious metals company recommended by me, someone who has many years of experience in the precious metals industry. This is a company that focuses on the education and assistance of its customers, and though a very simple process, you, too, can start using Goldco as your chosen company to buy gold and silver, as well as to start a gold IRA for your retirement.

Goldco is a legitimate and trustworthy company that has been around since 2006. One of the things that really stands out about Goldco is the exceptional customer service and the amazing incentives it offers. Unlike its competitors, Goldco has a moderate minimum purchase requirement of $25,000, and it offers expert guidance throughout the entire process of investing.

Many invest in precious metals for wealth protection, and Goldco is an excellent option for that. I fully recommend Goldco, and if you are considering investing your retirement savings in a gold IRA, I think you should definitely consider it.

Before you do, however, please make sure to read my full Goldco review:

Key Facts About Investing in Gold and Silver with Goldco

Focus: Gold and silver coins, bars, and bullion, and gold IRAs.

Minimum purchase: Typically $25,000

Average Fees for Goldco

• Setup fee – $50 – one-time fee
• Annual fee – Custodian – $80 – $100
• Annual fee – Storage – $100 – $150
• Total for the first year is around $230 – $300, and then $180 – $250 per year

Reputation: A+ with BBB, strong reviews on consumer sites

>> Visit Goldco

Pros and Cons of Goldco

Pros

• Solid reputation – Goldco has been in business for almost 20 years.
• High ratings – Goldco has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance.
• Goldco is trusted by investors – They have handled more than $3 billion in transactions for their customers.
• Personalized support is more than just an illusion – Goldco truly cares about its clients, and the customer service reps offer customized guidance and help.
• Goldco provides educational resources and a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for beginners in precious metals investing.
• Goldco also offers efficient processes – it is very easy to set up gold and silver IRAs with Goldco, and they work through the process with you step-by-step.
• When it comes to fees, Goldco is very transparent about what you pay, and they never apply inflated internal pricing.
• Goldco has an industry-leading buyback guarantee, too, so you can sell gold and silver back to them if you need to liquidate.
• The rollover process couldn’t be easier. Goldco helps rollover your retirement assets from one account into your new IRA quickly.
• One of the things that really makes Goldco stand out is the promotions it offers, like free silver to qualified buyers.
• Finally, Goldco is also known for its friendly and competent customer service agents.

Cons

• Goldco doesn’t offer real-time pricing on its site, and we don’t know how Goldco determined pricing for any of its metals. You must call for pricing.
• Though in general, Goldco has a proven track record for customer service, some customers have reported that they were slow to get a response when needed.
• Goldco offers physical gold and silver, but not platinum or palladium. It is not the only precious metal company to do this, but some people want more than simple gold and silver investing.
• Goldco doesn’t waive any storage fees. Some companies do, especially for customers who make substantial purchases.
• There are limited coins listed on the Goldco website. To learn about all the metals it offers, you must call.
• Services from Goldco are only available for US-based investors.

Goldco Company Overview

To really see why Goldco is so highly recommended, I think it’s important to take a good look at the company and everything it offers. After all, anyone who is going to invest their personal funds deserves transparency.

First, I want to make sure I mention that, unlike other companies out there, Goldco truly helps its customers, step-by-step, through the process of opening a precious metals IRA and buying metals. Goldcos model shifts wealth from cash to metals in a quick process, seamless, of course, that by the end, you will feel confident and understand exactly how your precious metals purchase can safeguard your portfolio.

Goldco provides educational resources and a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for beginners in precious metals investing. The company helps to build trust with its present and future customers by offering a strong level of support and amazing assistance, plus it prioritizes teaching investors about how precious metals IRAs work. This way, you will always have the knowledge of how your precious metals are performing.

Goldco’s Products – Physical Gold and Silver

I’ve already mentioned that Goldco only offers gold and silver directly, and not other precious metals like platinum or palladium. That being said, the product selection it does offer is quite large. Here, you will find most, if not all, of the most popular coins on the market including American Eagles and Buffaloes, Canadian Maple Leafs, gold bars, silver bars, and other gold and silver products that can go into an IRA.

I also want to mention that all of the gold and silver products that are listed on Goldco fully meet the IRS’s rules on purity.

Goldco’s Rollover Assistance – Part of Its Exceptional Customer Service

Goldco is different from other gold IRA companies, and believe me, I have worked with a lot of them. With Goldco, the process really is smooth and straightforward.

One of the very interesting facts about Goldco is that, when you start the process, you get a dedicated precious metals specialist to guide you through every step…and beyond. Many other companies don’t do this, and you really have no idea what’s happening thanks to their carefully worded confusion and high levels of sales pressure. Goldco is so different though. They manage most of the paperwork for you, and they ensure that everything is compliant with the IRS.

Goldco’s customer service is noted for being responsive and providing detailed information, which is a competitive advantage over some other companies.

Another thing about Goldco is that in addition to helping their customers open an IRA, they also offer precious metals that you can buy for home storage needs. These are not able to be put into an IRA, but there are still many benefits for investors when they buy precious metals and store them at home or in a bank vault.

As a privately held company, Goldco can price their services at whatever they want, but I think it’s really refreshing that they stay competitive, especially when it comes to the minimum buy. Currently, the minimum precious metals purchasewith Goldco is $25,000, which may sound like a lot, but remember, this is your retirement savings. So, if you have been saving for a few years and contributing to existing retirement accounts, like an IRA or 401(k), it’s likely that you have enough to invest…and if you don’t, it’s okay. I have other suggestions for you at the end of this review.

Minimum Purchases for Gold IRA’s

Here’re a few of Goldco’s competitors to see how they stack up:

• Goldco – $25,000 minimum
• Augusta Precious Metals – $50,000 minimum
• GoldenCrest Metals – $10,000 minimum
• Noble Gold – $20,000 minimum
• American Hartford Gold – $10,000 minimum

The Goldco team is very accessible if you have questions, and you won’t have to worry about any confusing talk or jargon. Believe me – you will leave that first conversation feeling confident that you are on the right path.

What happens if you need to liquidate? Well, no worries here, either. Goldco offers a buyback guarantee. This means that customers can sell their originally purchased gold and silver back to Goldco at the highest price available. This way, you don’t need to worry about finding a buyer yourself.

When you purchase precious metals for an IRA, you also need to work with a custodian, and Goldco has chosen to partner with one of the best in the industry; Equity Trust. You will also need to store your metals in a secure facility. Again, Goldco raises the bar by partnering with both Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services for exceptional security. Both of these depositories are approved by the IRS and insured by Lloyd’s of London.

Now that you know what Goldco does, let’s look at its reputation, fees, ratings, and more.

>> Visit Goldco

Goldco Reviews, Reputation and Trustworthiness

Goldco has been around for almost two decades now, and though it has been praised by publications like the Los Angeles Business Journal and won two American Business Awards, the most important thing to look at is how its customers feel about it. Goldco has received thousands of five-star reviews across multiple review platforms.

Let’s take a look at some ratings:

• Google – 4.9/5 stars
• Better Business Bureau – A+ Rating and 4.83/5 star consumer rating
• Business Consumer Alliance– AAA Rating
• Trustpilot– 4.7/5 stars

Those are very impressive numbers, and it’s even more impressive to know that Goldco has maintained its A+ rating with the BBB for over a decade. This is a sign of trust, clear communication, honesty, and a great response to its customers’ needs.

Many of Goldco’s competitors can’t say this — but Goldco can — it has had a clean record without any controversies or legal disputes for many years, and thousands of people have left the company 5-star reviews like these:

In addition to all of the above, Goldco totally stands out from most of its competitors thanks to the following:

• Since it was founded, Goldco has facilitated more than $3 billion in transactions.
• The company has held an A+ rating with the BBB since it was accredited over a decade ago.
• For 8 years in a row, Goldco has been listed on Inc. 5000’s list of the fastest-growing private companies.
• The Business Consumer Alliance has awarded Goldco with its highest rating – AAA.

I also want to mention endorsements. These are also very important. Though an endorsement doesn’t ensure a business’s success, Goldco has gained a lot of attention by partnering with the following:

• Sean Hannity – A well-known conservative commentator
• Chuck Norris – An actor and martial artist
• Ben Stein – An economist, lawyer, and conservative commentator
• Dennis Quaid – An actor
• Shawn Ryan – A podcaster and former Navy SEAL
• Other figures including Jesse Kelly, Candace Owens, Ty & Charlene Bollinger, and Dana Loesch

All of these connections have made Goldco more visible in the media, especially among those who want an alternative to their conventional retirement strategy.

Goldco’s Fee Structure

All of the companies in the precious metals industry add charges for almost everything they do and sell. This gets confusing, especially because custodians typically list metals at spot price, but there is always a markup. Goldco doesn’t list fees nor prices on its website, so the only way to get up to the minute prices is to call.

I was able to call Goldco for this review, and spoke with a representative. For what I chose, it was a $275 fee for the first year. This covers the custodian services, storage fees, purchase processing, and wire transfers.

After the first year, Goldco would charge $225 for my chosen custodian and depository. This covers storage and maintenance fees. If you want to store your metals at the Texas Depository, there is an additional $50 fee.

Storage and Security Solutions

The IRS has guidelines in place that state where metals in an IRA can be stored. Goldco follows these regulations and it has partnered with some of the most reputable storage facilities in the country: Brinks and Delaware Depository

Both of these depositories are IRS-approved storage facilities, and they are insured by Lloyd’s of London. They offer much more protection than a typical bank safety deposit box, and have the highest-level security features including:

• Class III Vaults – These vaults have reinforced walls, advanced locking mechanisms, and internal barriers. All of these things require several levels of verified access.
• High-Tech Security Systems – All facilities are equipped with UL-rated alarms and superior surveillance, which include motion, heat, vibration, and sound detection. These are all monitored 24/7 by remote security teams.
• Armed On-Site Security – Both Brinks and Delaware Depository have around the clock armed security.
• Strict Access Rules – Entry to these depositories requires biometric verification, and there are multi-person access procedures. This is to protect against both external breaches and internal ones.

Segregated and Non-Segregated Storage

When choosing a storage facility, you will be able to choose from segregated or non-segregated storage.

With non-segregated storage, which is around $100, your metals are stored safely alongside the metals of other investors. They are identified by serial number and precise weights.

With segregated storage, which is about $150, your metals are stored in their own compartment with unique labels, away from the assets of others.

This comes down to preference. No matter what you choose, your metals are extremely safe and secure.

>> Visit Goldco

Insurance of Precious Metals

When you work with Goldco, you get a lot of peace of mind, including full asset protection, audits, and access to reports on performance. You also get statements about your holdings through Equity Trust, the custodian.

It’s important to remember that your precious metals purchase is fully insured, no matter which storage facility you choose.

Audits are done on a regular basis, and records are always verified.

Customer Support and Education

Goldco has a strong commitment to customer service, and it’s even been praised by Money.com for being the top gold IRA provider for outstanding customer care for two years in a row.

Unlike some competitors, Goldco assigns a dedicated representative to your account, which ensures you get a fully personalized experience and the following:

• A single point of contact from your first call through to your full account setup.
• A representative who understands your unique needs.
• Quick answers when you need them from a person who is familiar with your account.
• Tailored advice that is based on your situation.

Goldco’s support team always is quick to respond, offers clear and thorough answers to customer questions, and they are there when you need them.

How to Reach Goldco

Goldco offers a number of ways to get in touch with them, including the following:

• Live online chat – Available Monday – Friday, 8am to 6pm PT – typical response time is 5 minutes.
• Phone support – Available Monday – Friday, 8am to 6pm PT – typical response time is 15 minutes.
• Call-back requests – Available Monday – Friday, 8am to 6pm PT – typical response time is the same business day.
• Email – Available 24/7 – typical response time is within one business day.

Keep in mind that during major market swings or after economic breaking news, response times could be longer due to more people trying to get in touch with Goldco.

The primary priority for Goldco is to educate and inform clients – not make sales. This is especially helpful for those who are new to precious metals investing. Goldco offers:

• Free guides on precious metals investing
• Frequent updates on new market trends and insights
• Video content that breaks down different retirement account options
• Clear and easy to understand breakdown of IRS rules

This ensures that investors who are focused on their retirement get the information they need to make the best possible decisions.

Some of the educational resources offered by Goldco include downloadable books that cover a range of topics, information on retirement account mistakes, reasons to consider precious metals IRAs, and strategies for getting the most out of it. Investors can also request a free guide that explains self-directed IRAs and how they work with precious metals.

Goldco’s Precious Metals IRA Option

When you choose a precious metals IRA from Goldco, you can invest in gold and silver while, at the same time, enjoying the tax perks that come with a Roth IRA or a Traditional IRA, whichever you choose.

These accounts will let you postpone the taxes you have on growth, and then potentially claim credits for contributions – plus, in certain cases, they can transfer to heirs without estate taxes.

Once you set up the account, you can deposit cash to buy metals, or you can transfer funds from one retirement account to a new IRA account.

By holding some of your retirement assets in metals, you can help to reduce the risk from drops in the market, as precious metals tend to rise in value when cash and stocks fall. This ensures your account can still keep some value.

Precious metals have shown that, historically, they will maintain their worth due to their rarity and applications. Plus, they can be sold quickly because there is always a demand for precious metals.

>> Visit Goldco

Goldco’s Free Silver Promotion

Many companies in the precious metals industry offer free silver as promotions, and Goldco is no exception. Oftentimes, the company offers this promotion to investors who make a qualifying purchase.

Typically, Goldco offers 5% back in free gold or silver if you purchase $50,000 to $99,999 in precious metals or 10% in gold and silver when you purchase $100,000 or more.

How to Set Up a Gold IRA With Goldco

I’ve already mentioned that opening a gold IRA with Goldco is very easy. The company has created a series of steps that ensures everything is in alignment with the IRS.

Here’s a basic step-by-step process of what you can expect when opening a gold IRA with Goldco:

Step 1: Opening an Account

To open an IRA with Goldco, the process starts by requesting a free gold IRA kit. This will help you determine if a gold IRA is right for you. The only thing you need to do is go to the website and fill out the form.

This kit has a lot of useful information about Goldco and how it works as well as information about gold IRAs, the requirements, your eligibility, tax information, information about IRA-approved gold, and much more.

Before you move forward, you will also need to consider what type of gold IRA is best for you. With Goldco, you can choose a traditional gold IRA or a Roth gold IRA.

If you decide to continue working with Goldco, one of the representatives will send a form to you. You can fill out the form, submit your proof of identity, and share information about any existing retirement accounts you have that you can use to fund the new IRA.

Once you submit the application, you can then sign an agreement with Goldco to confirm that you understand it all, and then you can choose your custodian services.

Goldco partners with Equity Trust, but you can also work with other custodians, like STRATA Trust. The custodian will manage the day-to-day operations of your IRA. Typically, approval takes about 3-business days.

Step 2: Adding Funds to Your Account

Now that your account is set up, you need to fund it. This is typically done through a rollover or transfer. Generally, you do a direct transfer or a rollover, but you can also do a cash contribution.

• A direct transfer typically takes 1-2 weeks, and the money moves from one IRA to another, seamlessly
• A 401(k) rollover generally takes 2-3 weeks, but it might not be available from your employer.
• Cash deposits take 3-5 days, but keep in mind that this follows the yearly IRA limits on contributions, which is set by the IRS. Currently, those are set at $7,000 or $8,000, if you are 50 or older.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

• Some of these transfers must occur within 60 days to avoid penalties.
• You can’t rollover required minimum distributions.
• New deposits will stick to standard annual caps.
• Traditional IRAs may require minimum distributions starting at age 73, while Roth IRAs offer tax-free withdrawals if the account has been open a minimum of 5 years after the age of 59 1/2.

Step 3: Picking Your Precious Metals  

Now that your account is funded, you can begin to choose the precious metals to add to your IRA. Goldco will let you know which ones are IRA-approved and those that match your investment goals.

Many Goldco customers choose coins like the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leafs, or American Buffalo, but feel free to look at all of the options.

Oftentimes, you can also choose from coins like a 2023 gold Space Shuttle coin, gold Washington Monument coin, or Australian Striped Marlin coin, which are also all IRA-eligible.

To be eligible, gold coins must be 99.5% pure and silver must be 99.9% pure. There is one main exception; American Gold Eagles. You can also choose to add gold bars to your account, too.

Step 4: Arranging Storage and Monitoring Your Portfolio 

When you have chosen your metals, reviewed your options, and then approve the purchase through your chosen custodian, you then need to arrange for storage. Remember – Goldco works with some of the best depositories in the country, so whatever you choose, you can’t make a bad decision here.

Once you choose your storage facility, it will take two to four weeks for shipping and placement. From there, your gold and silver is safe, secure, and insured.

>> Visit Goldco

Goldco’s Buyback Program

If you ever need to liquidate, Goldco offers an exceptional buyback program. They will repurchase your precious metals at a fair market price.

This offers a number of advantages:

• You have peace of mind about turning your metals into cash, quickly
• You don’t have to look for a buyer yourself
• Selling is a smooth experience
• You can use this service if you have an IRA with Goldco or if you simply buy precious metals through Goldco.

To start the liquidation process, you simply need to contact Goldco and get a quote. They are based on current market values. Typically, you will get your money within 5 business days.

Alternatives to Goldco

I really like Goldco and I highly recommend Goldco. That said, it might not be for everyone. Here are some other precious metals companies that I also highly recommend:

Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals is always at the top of my list when I recommend a gold IRA company to people. It is known for its exceptional white-glove service and its transparent fees. However, there is a high, $50,000 investment minimum, which isn’t for everyone.

This is a gold IRA company that is geared towards people who are serious about investing. For those who can meet the requirements, Augusta is an amazing option.

American Hartford Gold

Another strong option I recommend is American Hartford Gold. Like Goldco, AHG will help through the whole process, but this company offers more metal choices. It, too, is on the Inc. 5000 list of fast-growing companies.

GoldenCrest Metals

For those looking for something new, modern, and different, consider GoldenCrest Metals. Though it’s fairly new, it’s really making a name for itself in the gold IRA industry. It offers a lot of promotions, like free storage, and it has a lower minimum investment, which is good for investors who might be new to gold IRAs, especially those who may not have $25,000 or $50,000 to invest.

Who Should Choose Goldco?

Investors who have $5,000 or more to invest in precious metals and who have an investment strategy that is more long term, Goldco might be a great option for you. However, if you are more interested in investing in precious metals for home storage, I recommend other companies, as Goldco simply doesn’t have a lot of inventory.

After working with many precious metals companies over the years, I definitely recommend Goldco. It is a legit company that is very reliable, and it continues to have a solid reputation after being in the industry for almost two decades.

Goldco has a strong commitment to customer service, it offers a clear breakdown of fees, and it partners with the best custodians and storage facilities in the country.

The customer service reps have a low-pressure, educational approach to sales, and they will be upfront and honest about which metals will work to help you meet your financial goals. They will do all of this while also sticking to IRS guidelines.

If you are ready to get started, the first step is to request a free gold IRA guide from Goldco. From there, you can get information directly from a Goldco representative.