Saving for retirement is an extremely important way to safeguard your future. However, with increasing inflatio and the turbulent economic situation, it is difficult to feel secure.
Investing in precious metal IRAs is a great step in giving you peace of mind for the future. The most important decision you will make is which precious metal IRA brokerage company to make your investments.
This guide will review two of the best options in the industry: Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold.
Both companies are precious metals brokers, deal with gold and silver IRAs, and have excellent reviews. We will look at each company in-depth to determine the best option for you.
Overview: Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals was founded in 2012 as a precious metals brokerage company. Augusta is well-known in the industry for honest, transparent business practices, no hidden fees, extensive educational resources, and excellent customer service.
Augusta sells gold and silver bouillon, coins, and bars. It offers price matching with competitors and also has a buy-back program when you are ready to cash out your precious metal IRA account.
Augusta is highly rated by customers and industry regulatory bodies such as the Better Business Bureau, Business Consumer Alliance, TrustLink, and ConsumerAffairs.com.
They have excellent reviews from their current and former customers with an overall average satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
 | $50,000 Minimum Investment Free portfolio reviews for all clients | *Most Professional *Best Pricing |
Overview: Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold is a precious metals IRA company that was founded in 2003. It has nearly two decades of experience in the industry and a stellar reputation. It is well known as a leader in education and for exceptional customer service.
Birch has a minimum investment of $10,000, but they also offer ongoing promotions that may qualify its customers for up to $10,000 in free precious metals. It sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products.
Birch has excellent ratings both with customers and industry regulatory bodies. The Better Business Bureau rates it A+ and 5 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews. ConsumerAffairs.com rates Birch Gold 4.8 out of 5 stars and TrustLink rates it 5 out of 5 stars. Its comprehensive rating is a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Augusta Precious Metals & Birch Comparison Chart
Header | Augusta Precious Metals | Birch Gold Group |
|---|---|---|
Company Founded | 2012 | 2003 |
Minimum Investment | $50,000 | $10,000 |
Avg Comprehensive Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
Precious Metals Available | Gold & silver | Gold, silver, platinum, & palladium |
Is Price Matching Available? | Yes | No |
Assistance with Current IRA Rollover? | Yes | Yes |
Average Delivery Time | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
Customer Support Level | Life-long comprehensive and personalized support | Comprehensive and customized support |
Buy-Back Program? | Yes | No |
Rollover Opportunities: Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals offers assistance with rolling over most traditional types of retirement accounts. This includes traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, and other common retirement accounts. Augusta will assist customers with the required steps to roll accounts into Gold and Silver IRAs.
Rolling over existing accounts is the easiest way to fund the new precious metals IRAs. It is also a tax-advantageous process. With the assistance of Augusta’s industry experts, the process is stress-free and streamlined.
Rollover Opportunities: Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group’s customer service agents assist with the rollover process. They can help customers in rolling over most types of accounts, including 401(k), 403(b), 457, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), as well as all traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts.
Birch has a step-by-step process to help simplify the rollover process. Its customer service agents are well versed in all of the requirements and they can keep things straightforward and reduce the time the process takes.
 | $10,000 Minimum Investment |
Fees: Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals is exemplary in the industry for its transparency in its fee structure. Augusta openly publishes all of the types of fees that it charges as well as the amount.
Unlike many competitors that have hidden and variable fees, Augusta is upfront and transparent with its customers.
This is a comprehensive list of Augusta’s one-time and annual fees:
Header | Augusta Precious Metals |
|---|---|
One-time account setup fee | $50 |
Annual custodial fee | $80 |
Annual depository storage fee | $100 |
Shipping and transit costs | Waived |
Minimum investment | $50,000 |
Cost of precious metals | Fluctuates according to market value |
Fees: Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold mentions only a limited number of its fees on its website. Additional fees do apply and are variable depending on several factors.
Header | Birch Gold Group |
|---|---|
Annual custodial fee | $75-$100 |
Minimum investment | $10,000 |
Choosing Between Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group
Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold are somewhat similar gold IRA companies. They both offer IRA rollover opportunities, excellent customer service including assistance in rolling over existing accounts, and extensive educational resources. Both have a comprehensive rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars or higher. The real decision comes down to the differences between the two.
Birch Gold Group does not offer price matching and they do not have a buy-back program. It has a lower minimum investment of $10,000 as well as ongoing promotions for up to $10,000 in free precious metals. Birch offers gold and silver as well as platinum and palladium products. It does not disclose a list of its fees on its website.
Augusta Precious Metals has exceptional life-long customer service available to all customers. It has a reputation for transparent and honest business practices. There are no hidden fees, either. Augusta offers both price matching and buy-back. Its minimum investment is higher than many of its competitors at $50,000.
Both companies are excellent choices for new or veteran investors. However, Augusta Precious Metals is the better of the two options.
 | $50,000 Minimum Investment Free portfolio reviews for all clients | *Most Professional *Best Pricing |
