When it feels more difficult than ever to tell where the world is going, diversifying your investment portfolio is like giving your financial future a whole new layer of protection.
Many investors are turning to precious metals for their portfolios. However, it can be a daunting process to determine which precious metal IRAs firms you can trust, and which ones you can’t.
If you make the wrong decision, you can’t just shrug it off, like you would if you bought a ticket to a lousy movie. This takes a lot more due diligence.
This time around, we’re going to examine Birch Gold Group, one of the highest-rated companies around.
Although they do have an excellent staff and strong history of customer satisfaction, we’re not just going to throw emotional praise on them. There are pros and cons to everything in life, so we’ll also tell you about some of Birch's weaker aspects also.
You may have dabbled quite extensively in precious metals IRAs or not even know what IRA stands for. Our review covers both ends of the spectrum and everything in between so that you can make the right decision for you.
IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE STARTING:
We understand that selecting a company to invest with is a critical decision. Our team has spent thousands of hours researching and reporting on the good, bad, and ugly of hundreds of gold dealers.
We take great pride in providing the most in-depth, researched, and comprehensive information as possible so you can make the best decision for yourself and/or family.
Out of the hundreds of dealers that we review, there are only 5 companies that we'd feel comfortable investing in ourselves.
-----> Find out which dealers made the top 5 gold companies this year
Did Birch Gold make the top 5? Read the above review to find out.
Who is Birch Gold Group?
As discussed, Birch Gold Group deals in precious metals, offering gold, silver, palladium, and platinum.
These metals can be purchased for physical holding or put in an IRA. They started in 2003 and is based in California. However, they’re an internet-based company.
Their main focus revolves around keeping your portfolio safe from inflation.
Other kinds of investments can be hit hard by market changes. The same thing doesn’t happen with precious metals, which tend to rise in value when the market goes down.
Birch is also worth using because of their focus on customers, including their learning resources. You can get your investments tailored to your needs instead of having to plug them into a restrictive mold.
They tell you about this in a straightforward manner, with no messy phrasing.
Services They Offer
They give you many means for investing, such as IRA rollovers and owning physical metals.
They don’t limit themselves to gold. Platinum, silver, and palladium are on the table as well. You can choose between different kinds of physical products as well, like coins and bullion.
There are quite a few types of coins to pick from, so take your time with your decision.
The Numismatic Guarantee Corporation and Professional Coin Grading Service take care of coin authentication.
It’s not just taking a quick glimpse at the coin to determine if it’s real. They’ll weigh it, see how much of it's made of precious metal, and consider other things.
If you have a 401(k) but want to try other retirement options, they let you roll it over into an IRA.
They also care a lot about transparency with their clients. They have educational tools with all of their rollover plans.
They give you many choices for who your custodian is and how deposits are handled. No matter how much you’re investing in, or what kind of precious metals, a custodian is required.
It’s not always easy to figure out who the right custodian is. That’s why it’s good to know this company has close ties with reputable organizations like Equity Trust.
With precious metals, you need IRS-sanctioned storage. Some of the places that let you store your Birch-purchased metals are the International Depository Services, Delaware Depository, and Brink’s.
These depositories are all in American locations, including major cities like New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
Birch Gold Fees and Minimums
Any type of IRA or other investment plans will come with fees, some greater than others.
However , a gold IRA typically includes additional fees since it’s a more complicated type of IRA. They work with custodians that usually keep their fees at a pretty low rate, comparable to competing custodians.
Birch Gold Prices |
|---|
Services | Minimums: | Yearly Fees: |
Precious Metals IRA | $10,000 | $180 |
Non-IRA Account | $10,000 | $0 |
Account Setup |
|---|
Their main custodian partner is Equity Trust Company. They charge $50 for setup.
This can seem a little high if you’re used to a traditional or Roth IRA’s setup fees. However, as far as precious metals are concerned, there’s really nothing egregious about it.
There’s also a $30 wire transfer cost with Equity Trust.
Storage |
|---|
We discussed this earlier, but it must be understood that gold purchased in an IRA has to be kept in an IRS-allowed depository. Storage fees also need to be factored in.
Their clients usually pay $100 per year for storage, along with an extra $80 in maintenance fees. Those costs can fluctuate based on what kind of storage you have.
Are You A Good Fit?
You might be interested in precious metals, but you may also wonder what makes Birch Gold the best option for you?
These are some of the reasons to consider using them:
- You want to increase your understanding of precious metal investments for present and future plans. This is so you can both make the right financial decisions, and so you can know what not to do with precious metal investing.
- You need help with working with different parts of the investing process, such as custodians and storage. You’re looking for an experienced and reliable company that can help you navigate through these processes.
- You want to keep your investment portfolio in strong shape with help through precious metals. This could be through IRA financing or through having total ownership of your metals. The company you work with should know about both precious metals and investments overall.
Birch Gold doesn’t want to limit their clientele. They want to work with sharp people with all sorts of backgrounds.
What Do Customers Have To Say? Any Complaints?
Lots of clients have spoken highly of this company, on platforms such as the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. Birch Gold reviews are plentiful, and overwhelmingly positive.
What Makes Them Unique?
Birch Gold does a lot of what you’d expect with a precious metals IRA firm, but they also have qualities that help them to stand apart.
Education Commitment
They know that clients deserve transparent service. They’re committed to listening and offering thorough responses. You’ll get your inquiries answered and get your finances handled in a way that’s appropriate to your needs, including whatever the future has in store.
Specialize in IRA's
A gold IRA is different from other types, but different doesn’t have to mean complicated. They show you how to get yours launched more smoothly. With their IRA Department, you don’t have to be in the dark about how IRAs work. Their IRA specialists are thoughtful individuals who will always take the time to figure out what you need and offer you plenty of essential advice.
Excellent Reputation
Their team comprises all sorts of financial experts, from wealth managers to commodities brokers and advisors. Since starting in 2003, Birch has helped people throughout the United States, from their home base in Burbank to every other state in the union.
Worldwide Recognition
When you saw Birch Gold Group’s name, did you pause in recognition, trying to figure out where you’ve heard them before? You might’ve seen them mentioned on television. An endorsement doesn’t mean everything, but it’s a reason to trust a company more.
Pros and Cons
Let’s see what this company does really well and what they could stand to work on:
Pros
Cons
FAQ
Co-mingled is also knows as non-segregated storage. With this option, your precious metals are kept in a vault with ones held by different investors.
In segregated storage, you have your own storage facility. Although this is a more secure option, it’s also a costlier one.
You don’t have any fees to worry about when transferring money from a 401(k) or another IRA to a new IRA. You’re limited to a single rollover per year out of a 401(k), but there’s no limit for how many you can do between IRAs.
Once the money is taken out of an account, known as a distribution, you need to put it into your precious metals IRA within 60 days.
They have storage agreements with International Depository Services, Brink’s, Delaware Depository.
These are located in Delaware, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and Seal Beach.
They have a strong partnership with Equity Trust, but you can choose a custodian on your own.
Most traditional and Roth IRAs can be rolled over, as can 401(k)s, 457s, and 403(b)s.
Yes, they will repurchase your precious metals if you need to sell them. Their buy-back prices are fair, and you’ll learn them when you make your initial purchase.
You won’t be buried under mountains of paperwork. They do an excellent job of making things relatively smooth and straightforward.
Current Promotions
These promotions are all available currently:
- Fee-free first year for IRAs worth more than $50,000
- No-cost shipping for purchases greater than $10,000
- Free precious metals worth as much as $10,000 for some purchases
They can run different promotions at different times. Keep tabs on this through their website.
How To Get Started?
These are the five steps for starting your account.
Step 1
Speak with one of their specialists to talk about your plans.
Step 2
Finding out your retirement plan’s rollover eligibility with help from an IRA specialist.
Step 3
Starting account with help from custodian.
Step 4
Rolling over funds into IRA.
Step 5
Having precious metals purchased and stored.
Should you be executing a cash purchase, these are the steps to take:
Step 1
Discussing plans with precious metals specialist.
Step 2
Sending money through check or bank transfer.
Step 3
Birch buys precious metals.
Step 4
Metals get sent to storage space.
With every option, Birch is there to help.
Final Verdict: Should You Invest?
When you’re opening an IRA, especially a precious metals IRA, you need guidance, and that’s only possible with a company you can trust.
Birch Gold Group has a professional and experienced team, helping you to decide the right course for your money, whether you’re buying gold, silver, or something else.
While they are a solid choice to consider, the biggest question is are they the best option for you? With thousands of dealers out there it's hard to decide, so we've compiled a list of the 5 best around.
-----> See the complete gold dealer rankings right here
Or you can continue to Birch Gold's website and get started with them now.
Great for Education
First Glance
Great education about Precious Metals
Excellent company reputation
Solid reviews from customers
Overall Rating
4/5
BBB Rating: A+
Trust Pilot Average Rating: 4.9/5