Goldco is listed first because its placement is paid; Augusta is the secondary partner. This is a limited comparison of published rollover-relevant facts, not a market-wide ranking or a recommendation to leave your current retirement plan.
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Which gold IRA rollover company is best for my account?
The best fit depends on eligibility, the receiving custodian and your written quote. This guide compares two paid partners, with Goldco first as paid placement and Augusta second; it does not identify a market-wide winner. Compare published minimums, charges and service providers below, then request the missing spread and full purchase terms.
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| What to check | 01GoldcoFirst position is paid | 02Augusta Precious MetalsSecondary affiliate partner |
|---|---|---|
| Rollover / purchase minimum | $25,000 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source | $50,000 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source |
| Account opening | $50 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source | $50 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source |
| Annual administration | $125 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source | $125 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source |
| Standard annual storage | $110 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source | $110 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source |
| Published dealer spread | Not published Checked 2026-10-29 | Not published Checked 2026-10-29 |
Goldco pays for qualifying inquiries and purchases; its first placement is paid. Payment details.
01 · Paid first placement
What does Goldco publish for a rollover?
Its dated records below identify the named service providers, buyback wording and recorded complaints or legal matters. Follow each field’s source for its scope.
- Custodian mentioned
- Equity Trust Company (one of several; Goldco does not publish a full list) Checked 2026-10-29 · Source · Partial record Goldco page (modified 2025-06-11) explains statements 'provided by your IRA Custodian, not Goldco' using Equity Trust's explanation and calls Equity Trust one of its custodians ('straight from one of them'). Goldco's custodian page (2024-09-03) says customers choose 'from among the custodians we work with'. Third-party reviews also name STRATA Trust - unverified.
- Storage location mentioned
- Delaware Depository (featured by Goldco; not stated as exclusive) Checked 2026-10-29 · Source · Partial record Goldco article (updated Nov 2025) promotes Delaware Depository for IRA storage but does not say all Goldco IRAs use it. Goldco's buy page says metals go 'to an independent insured depository'.
- Published buyback wording
- 'Buy Back program guaranteed at the highest price'; 'highest buyback guarantee PLUS no fees when you're ready to liquidate'. Checked 2026-10-29 · Source Marketing claim; conditions (e.g. holding period) not stated on page. Third-party claims of a 3-year condition are unverified.
- BBB complaints closed in three years
- 72 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source BBB 'complaints closed in last 12 months': 34
- Court record in the data
- Summerton v. Goldco Direct LLC, W.D. Wis. 3:23-cv-00238 — TCPA class action (text messages) — Final approval order signed 2026-03-26 (Judge William M. Conley); judgment 2026-04-16 approving $2,000,000 to the settlement class, $666,666 attorneys fees and costs, $7,500 service award; claims dismissed on the merits with prejudice. Checked 2026-10-29 · Source Docket entries via PacerMonitor (mirror of PACER). Settlement website: https://www.goldcotcpasettlement.com/ . Preliminary approval order on GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-wiwd-3_23-cv-00238/USCOURTS-wiwd-3_23-cv-00238-0 . A settlement is not an admission of liability unless the order says so.
Worth a closer look if
Your balance meets its stated rollover minimum and you want to ask how the dealer and custodian divide the paperwork.
Set it aside if
You need a public spread schedule before speaking to a salesperson. The checked record does not contain one.
The buyback wording above is the company’s marketing claim. Ask for the actual bid and contractual conditions; it is not a promise of a profit. The court entry is a text-message marketing settlement, not a finding about metal returns.
Goldco pays for qualifying inquiries and purchases; its first placement is paid. Payment details.
02 · Secondary partner
What does Augusta Precious Metals publish for a rollover?
Its dated records below identify the named service providers, buyback wording and recorded complaints or legal matters. Follow each field’s source for its scope.
- Custodian mentioned
- Equity Trust Company Checked 2026-10-29 · Source
- Storage location mentioned
- Delaware Depository Checked 2026-10-29 · Source
- Published buyback wording
- Buyback not obligatory either way; no separate liquidation fee when Augusta repurchases; Equity Trust $30 processing fee; claims 'never denied a buyback since 2012'. Checked 2026-10-29 · Source
- BBB complaints closed in three years
- 1 Checked 2026-10-29 · Source BBB 'complaints closed in last 12 months': 1
- Regulatory record in the data
- Minnesota Department of Commerce — 2019-08-21 — Consent order (cease and desist), documents 139512-A and 88916-A: 'Respondent sold bullion products to Minnesota consumers in amounts exceeding statutory thresholds, without having first registered with the Department of Commerce'; civil penalty $3,000 plus $45 investigative costs. No admission language beyond consent; waived hearing. Checked 2026-10-29 · Source Primary record read on MN Commerce CARDS 2026-10-29 (order PDF downloaded). Registration violation; the order alleges no misrepresentation or customer loss.
Worth a closer look if
You meet its initial purchase requirement and want to compare its published third-party account charges.
Set it aside if
Your proposed purchase is below its stated minimum, or you want a published spread percentage before a sales conversation.
The recorded consent order concerns bullion-dealer registration. It does not allege customer losses or misrepresentation. A buyback quote remains a separate decision from opening the account.
Which published account costs continue after the rollover?
Administration and storage continue after the money arrives; an opening charge is a separate cost of establishing the account. The bars below calculate first-year and ongoing subtotals using the preserved schedules.
Published account charges on one shared dollar scale
First year Each following yearScale: $0–$300
What are the account costs at $25,000?
At this illustrative balance, the published flat charges produce the subtotals below. The input records and exclusions follow the chart.
What are the account costs at $50,000?
At this illustrative balance, the published flat charges produce the subtotals below. The input records and exclusions follow the chart.
What are the account costs at $100,000?
At this illustrative balance, the published flat charges produce the subtotals below. The input records and exclusions follow the chart.
These are account subtotals, not complete transaction quotes. Ask the old institution about rollover exit charges, wires and processing stages, and obtain the actual metal invoice before deciding.
Who actually handles the account and the metal?
The dealer, IRA custodian and storage provider perform different jobs. Check IRS payment-route guidance alongside the account agreements. Ask who accepts the retirement payment, who executes your purchase instruction and who confirms custody. [2]
Gold held in an IRA must fit the statutory coins or bullion exception. Qualifying bullion must be in the physical possession of an eligible trustee. Confirm the custodian's accepted metal and storage arrangements before purchase. [2]
- 01Old retirement accountEligible money leaves the old plan or IRA.
- 02Self-directed IRA custodianThe receiving IRA holds the funds.
- 03Metal purchaseYou direct a dealer purchase through the IRA.
- 04Custodial depositoryEligible metal is held under the trustee’s storage arrangements.
A dealer’s use of a custodian’s name does not mean every customer uses the same provider or receives the same storage terms. Goldco’s checked custodian and depository records are partial; we show that limitation. Obtain the actual agreements for your proposed account.
What should you ask each company to put in writing?
Ask for the exact product price and every party’s fee schedule before consenting to a rollover or a metal order. An information request is the beginning of a sales conversation, not account approval.
Request the full purchase price and a same-day repurchase quote for the exact metal. The gap is a cost of entering and leaving the position; a low account fee does not remove it. [1] Take those answers to the cost and timeline comparison; do not treat the published account subtotal as a complete price.
How is this company comparison assembled?
We select the two companies with which this publication has affiliate relationships and compare their dated records on the same rollover questions. We do not assign stars, numerical scores or customer-test results.
Goldco is first as paid placement. Augusta is second. The order is commercially influenced and is not an independent judgment of the whole market.
Company figures come from the preserved verified dataset. Each displayed figure keeps its source link and checked date. A missing field is shown as “Not published.”
Published wording can be incomplete or change after the check date. We have not opened accounts, tested the call process or examined the reader’s personal plan.
Complaints and legal matters are context, not a performance measure. A settlement is not automatically an admission. Missing records do not prove a clean history.
A financial connection that could affect how readers assess a recommendation should be disclosed clearly and conspicuously. [3] Read which inquiries and purchases pay the publisher before using a partner link.
When is neither company the right next step?
Neither is the right next step while eligibility, affordability or the reason for holding physical gold is unresolved. A dealer comparison cannot decide those questions for you.
Gold can fall in price and pays no income. Dealer pricing, custody and storage add costs; FINRA says self-directed IRA fees are typically higher than directed-IRA fees. A rollover is not right for everyone. [1] Return to the account-first rollover process if you have not yet established the route from your current plan.
What else should you check?
Check the account-specific rule and the conditions in each answer before approving a payment.
Which gold IRA rollover company is best for my account?
The answer depends on distribution eligibility, the receiving custodian’s acceptance and your written quote. This limited comparison covers two affiliate partners; Goldco is first as paid placement, not a market-wide winner.
What should gold IRA rollover reviews disclose?
They should disclose payment relationships, evidence dates, missing costs and the limits of any testing claim. This guide has not opened a customer account with either partner.
Is Goldco first because it scored highest?
No. The first position is a paid placement. This guide has no scoring system and does not claim to rank every dealer in the market.
Does a published buyback program promise that I recover my cost?
No. Obtain the current bid and the actual conditions. The resale price can be lower than the purchase price, and account or processing charges can still apply.
Which sources support this guide?
Rule sources checked November 2, 2026; access dates are shown below. Company records carry their own checked dates beside the figures.
- FINRA/CFTC: questions before buying physical metalsAccessed 2026-11-02.
- 26 USC 408(m): coins, bullion and trustee possessionAccessed 2026-11-02.
- FTC Endorsement Guides: 16 CFR Part 255Accessed 2026-11-02.
Change log · November 2, 2026
Retargeted the comparison to rollover company selection and reviews, with published cost arithmetic moved here from the rollover-execution cost guide.
Pre-launch check: metadata, answer order, link wording and publication dates reviewed. Release state: pre-launch; no production baseline.
Where should you go next?
Choose the next guide for the decision in front of you.