Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are from sponsors. The list below is an honest review gathered from thorough research, experience, and consumer-based feedback.
To Put it Simply: Birch Gold Group is one of the leading providers for precious metal IRA investments and physical purchases. They offer low investment minimums to tailor to most investors.
Some Key Points of Birch Gold Group's Services & Products:
- Over 17 years of experience
- Outstanding customer service
- Physical products offered
- Low fees
- Great client feedback
Birch Gold Group Rating: 4/5
4.8/5 TrustPilot Rating
A+ BBB Rating
Pros:
Cons:
Birch Gold Group is a gold and precious metals IRA company founded in 2003. They broker the sale of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Birch has a focus on assisting customers in rolling over existing IRAs, 401(K)s, and other types of retirement accounts into a self-directed precious metal IRA.
Birch offers four types of metals in bars, coins, and rounds which allows for a more diverse precious metals IRA than some other competitors- the best however happen to be Augusta Precious Metals and Goldco.
No investment is risk-free but Birch wants their customers to understand the pros and cons of diversifying their investment portfolios.
Birch is reviewed amazingly well by customers that praise their communication, educational resources, customer service, and ease of use.
Birch is highly rated with business monitoring organizations like the Better Business Bureau and the Business Consumer Alliance.
A Top Gold IRA Investor | $10,000 Minimum Investment |
About Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group was founded in 2003 as a precious metals broker.
Their mission statement says that they are committed to six ideals that make them stand out from the crowd: customer empowerment, education. empathy, ethics, transparency, and efficiency.
Birch is one of the oldest businesses, aside from Noble Gold, in the precious metal IRA industry having been in business for 18 years.
They are considered an industry leader with a reputation for exceptional service and trustworthy practices.
Their team consists of a wide breadth of experts that are former wealth managers, financial advisors, and commodity brokers who understand the industry and are committed to meeting the needs of their customers.
Birch offers the ability to set up self-directed precious metal IRAs:
They will assist in rolling over certain other types of IRAs. Many types of retirement accounts can be transferred including IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b), TSP, SEP, and annuities.
Birch has an excellent reputation in the industry. They are well-reviewed both by consumer organizations such as the Better Business Bureau and the Business Consumer Alliance.
They also have glowing reviews from customers that praise their communication, education, and efficiency.
Birch brokers the sale of the precious metals gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. These are available in the form of bullion coins, rounds, and bars.
The full breadth of their product availability is available on their website.
Birch has a partner company that also deals in cryptocurrency IRAs including but not limited to Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Ethereum (ETH).
Birch Gold Group has a frank, direct approach to the process.
They want their customers to understand the pros and the cons, the benefits, and the risks, that come with a precious metal IRA.
IRA Custodian Fees
These fees are charged by the custodian Birch Gold Group sets many of its customers up with
Set-up Fees | $50 |
Maintenance Fees | $80 |
Storage Fees | $100 |
Birch Gold Group Special Rates
Birch advertises ongoing special promotions for all first-time gold buyers. The availability of these promotions is subject to change.
First-year fees are waived for precious metal IRAs funded of $50,000 or more.
Free shipping for cash purchases of $10,000 or more.
Up to $10,000 in free metal with qualifying purchases.
Investment Minimums
Minimum Investment: | Price: |
Precious Metal IRAs | $10,000 |
Cash Purchases | $10,000 |
Products Offered
Birch Gold Group offers physical purchases and IRA investments in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Gold has been a physical asset with undeniable intrinsic value for centuries.
While not all precious metal products are approved by the IRS for IRA accounts, Birch’s products are of the highest quality and meet IRS standards.
Who would be a Best Match to Invest With Birch Gold Group?
Birch Gold Group is best suited to individuals that are interested in rolling over their existing IRAs, 401(K)s, and other retirement accounts into a precious metals IRA.
They are also best suited to individuals who wish to diversify their retirement accounts by adding a physical asset IRA.
Birch offers self-directed precious metal IRAs meaning that the investment choices and power always lie with the client.
Birch works with Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company as custodians of their precious metal IRA accounts.
Birch is committed to education and ethical business practices.
This makes them appropriate for both long-time investors in precious metals, first-time buyers of precious metals, and even individuals that have never purchased investments at all.
Their experts are committed to full transparency and strive to answer every question and concern that the customer may have.
Birch also stresses the importance of purchasing physical gold instead of “paper” gold.
Owning the physical asset means that there is always an intrinsic value.
Paper gold includes gold ETFs, mining stocks, and gold certificates which have no intrinsic value and can be as risky as stocks and bonds.
Birch Gold Group stresses that its primary concern is to develop and maintain trust with its customers.
More than anything they strive to demonstrate integrity, transparency, and the highest standard of ethical behavior.
Industry Standings
Birch Gold Group holds high ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA).
Birch has an A+ rating with the BBB.
At the time of writing, they have had 9 complaints filed with the BBB, all of which are resolved. Only one of these complaints is from the last 12 months.
Birch has a AAA rating with the BCA.
At the time of writing, they have had 2 complaints filed with the BCA, both of which are resolved. Neither of these complaints is from the last 12 months.
Customer Feedback
Birch Gold Group is highly praised by customers. Birch has a 4.85 out of 5 stars with the BBB and 5 out of 5 stars with the BCA.
Birch is praised for its dedication to educating its customers, ensuring that their customers feel entirely comfortable with their decisions, and for their exceptional communication.
What Makes Birch Gold Group Different
Birch Gold Group was founded with a focus on ethics and customer empowerment built into its mission statement, as compared to other companies like Lear Capital and JM Bullion.
Their first priority is not making a sale but instead educating potential customers on the benefits and risks of precious metal IRAs and placing the control and decision-making into the customers’ hands.
They believe that by empowering people they are helping to set them up for long-term success.
Birch brokers the sale of precious metals including gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the form of coins, bars, and rounds.
Because not all precious metals are approved by the IRS for IRAs Birch’s experts work with clients to ensure that they are only purchasing products approved for IRAs.
Birch specializes in helping clients to rollover IRAs, 401(K)s, and other tax-advantaged retirement accounts into self-directed precious metal IRAs. With nearly two decades of experience they are industry experts.
Birch Gold Group allows you to select the storage facility of your choice from locations in Delaware, Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas, and Seal Beach, CA.
They partner with Delaware Depository, Brink’s, and International Depository Services for custodial and storage services.
Birch is also willing to work with alternative storage service providers upon request of the client.
How to Get Started
Step 1
Open the self-directed precious metals IRA account by signing up with them HERE.
Determine how it will be funded.
There are several ways to fund the account including rollover from other retirement accounts with no penalties.
Birch’s experts can assist in rolling over these accounts as well as setting up other sources of funding.
Opening the new IRA account typically takes no more than one day.
Transferring funds into the account can take a few business days depending on your bank.
Rolling over existing accounts takes longer and depends on the current custodian of your IRA. Most accounts can be rolled over in about two weeks, some can take as long as a month to process.
Step 2
Choose the precious metals that you wish to purchase.
Birch’s experts will advise the best combination of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium to meet your needs.
You will select the metals as well as the form from bars, coins, and rounds.
Step 3
Complete the purchase.
Your representative will review your order with you before completing the purchase.
You will be informed when your order has been processed.
Step 4
Birch will transfer your precious metals to a secure storage facility.
The storage facilities that Birch partners with are all highly rated and insured for up to $1 billion.
Their preferred partners are Brink’s Global Service and Delaware Depository with facilities in Delaware, Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas, and Seal Beach, CA.
Step 5
Monitor your investments.
Although your precious metals IRA is self-directed Birch Gold Group experts are available to you even after your transactions are completed. They will help you to monitor your investments’ performance and are available to make changes and to answer any questions you may have.
Our Final Word
Birch Gold Group is a trusted name in the Gold IRA company industry with 18 years of experience.
They remain highly reviewed by customers, have good standing with consumer monitoring organizations, and have minimal complaints filed against them.
-There are no known lawsuits filed against them.
-Birch makes the buying process as simple as possible.
-Their experts are there at every step in the process to assist.
From setting up the account, funding it, making purchases, and answering questions every step of the way, they ensure that their customers are taken care of.
Birch’s commitment to customer empowerment, education, ethics, and honesty are why I rate them at 4.5 out of 5 stars.