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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$0
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
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Promotion:
Up to $10,000 or more in free silver
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Promotion:
Up to $10,000 or more in free metals
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Do you want to hedge against inflation by investing in gold? A gold IRA can help you do just that.
This Goldco vs. Birch Gold Group review covers the fees, product offerings, storage solutions, and customer service of two leading gold IRA providers.
Keep reading to learn more.
Goldco vs. Birch Gold Group: At a Glance
| Criteria | Goldco | Birch Gold Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.5/10 | 9.1/10 | Goldco |
| Product Offerings | 9 | 9.5 | Birch Gold Group |
| Pricing & Fees | 9 | 8 | Goldco |
| Guarantees | 9.5 | 10 | Birch Gold Group |
| Storage & Security | 9 | 9.5 | Birch Gold Group |
| Account Setup & Maintenance | 9 | 9 | Tie |
| Reputation & Reviews | 10 | 9.5 | Goldco |
| Customer Experience | 9.5 | 9.5 | Tie |
| Resources & Tools | 9 | 9.5 | Birch Gold Group |
| Flexibility & Investment Options | 8 | 8 | Tie |
| Ease of Rollover & Transfer Process | 9 | 9 | Tie |
Goldco
Based in California, Goldco is a highly-regarded precious metals dealer specializing in gold IRAs. The company’s mission is to help Americans achieve financial security by providing access to precious metals.
Since its founding in 2011, Goldco has facilitated over $2 billion in gold and silver transactions since its inception.
The company offers gold IRAs with no investment minimum and has excellent customer service ratings on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.
Pros & Cons
A+ BBB rating
Over 6,000+ 5 star reviews
Highest buy back guarantee
Excellent customer service
Only can invest within U.S.
No online purchase available
Best For
Goldco is ideal for investors who want to add precious metals to their retirement savings to hedge against inflation and diversify their portfolio.
Investors can make a direct purchase from Goldco or open an IRA.
Birch Gold Group
Founded in 2003, Birch Gold Group offers a variety of precious metals and prioritizes educating investors on the benefits of investing in physical assets like gold and silver.
The company emphasizes transparency and affordability, making it a good option for investors who want to get started investing in precious metals.
Pros & Cons
A+ BBB rating
Low minimum investment
30,000+ customer reviews
Commitment to customer education
Only can invest within U.S.
No online purchases
Best For
Birch Gold Group is best for new investors who want to get started investing in precious metals and values a company that is transparent and offers quality educational resources.
As a leading national dealer of precious metals, Birch Gold Group helps Americans diversify their savings with physical gold and silver.
Product Offerings
Goldco and Birch Gold Group offer coins and bars that can be purchased for inclusion in precious metals IRA or for home storage. Both companies also offer products in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Some IRA-eligible items both companies offer include:
- Gold and silver American Eagle coins
- Gold and silver Canadian Maple leaf coins
- Gold and silver American Buffalo coins
Birch Gold Group offers more products, including the British Brittania coin and the South African Krugerrand coin. You can also select platinum and palladium products as well. Neither company offers numismatic coins.
Birch Gold Group sorts its offerings based on IRA-eligibility, but it does not include pricing or availability. Both companies require you to call and speak to a representative to learn more about what’s available.
Both Goldco and Birch Gold Group offer high-purity products. Bars and coins must meet IRS purity standards of 99.5% for gold and 99.9% for silver.
✅ Winner: Birch Gold Group
Pricing & Fees
Goldco and Birch Gold Group offer similar pricing structures for their gold IRAs but differ in minimum investment requirements and annual fees.
| Fee | Goldco | Birch Gold Group |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | $0 | $10,000 |
| Setup Fee | $50 | $50 |
| Annual Maintenance Fee | $125 | $180 |
| Storage Fees | $100 non-segregated $150 segregated | Starts at $100 |
| Transaction Fees | No commission | No commission |
| Other | $30 wire fee | $30 wire fee |
Goldco doesn’t have an investment minimum, while Birch Gold Group has a lower minimum of $10,000. Goldco also has a lower setup fee and annual maintenance fees, reducing total costs.
Both companies lack pricing transparency. You will need to call and speak to a representative for prices and availability.
✅ Winner: Goldco
Guarantees
Goldco and Birch Gold Group offer a competitive buyback policy. Goldco allows you to sell back your gold at competitive rates, offering one of the best guarantees in the industry.
Birch Gold Group offers a similar promise, ensuring you can liquidate your gold when you need to.
Unlike Goldco, Birch Gold Group offers price protection against market fluctuations. They’ll lock in a price with you to guard against sudden changes in the market.
They also offer refunds for counterfeit coins within 90 days of purchase.
Both companies offer full insurance during transit and at partner depositories that store investor’s gold.
✅ Winner: Birch Gold Group
Storage & Security
Goldco and Birch Gold Group prioritize secure storage solutions to meet IRS requirements. Both companies offered segregated and non-segregated storage at IRS-compliant depositories.
Each company works with partner depositories that adhere to strict security measures. This includes 24/7 surveillance, armed security, and routine audits.
Goldco partners with Delaware Depository while Birch Gold Group partners with several different depositories:
- Delaware Depository
- Brink’s Global Services
- International Depository Services
- Texas Precious Metals Depository
Both companies are fully insured to protect investors from damage or theft.
Any time, Birch Gold Group investors can visit their gold or request home delivery to take possession of their gold.
✅ Winner: Birch Gold Group
Account Setup & Maintenance
Both Goldco and Birch Gold Group make setting up a gold IRA as easy as possible.
Each company offers a gold information kit to learn more about setting up an account. Account setup is usually completed within two weeks at both companies.
When you’re ready to get started you’ll be paired with a dedicated account specialist.
They walk you through everything you need to know about opening an account, including completing application materials and providing a government-issued ID to confirm your identity.
Both companies allow you to rollover an existing retirement savings account into a gold IRA.
You can make rollover from:
Goldco and Birch Gold Group each offer secure, user-friendly online portals to give you quick and easy access to your account.
From the portal you can manage your portfolio and make any necessary payments.
✅ Winner: Tie
Reputation & Reviews
Goldco and Birch Gold Group have strong reputations for going above and beyond with customer service.
They each have an A+ rating from the BBB, but Goldco has far more 5-star reviews than Birch Gold Group.
Both companies have a good reputation within the industry. Birch Gold Group is endorsed by individuals like Ron Paul who advocate fiscal responsibility.
Goldco is regarded for its professional staff and transparency. Birch Gold Group is known for providing hands-on support when setting up an account and offering a wealth of resources to educate investors on precious metals investing.
Goldco has faced complaints about shipping delays and sales pressure, while Birch Gold Group customers have taken issue with the fees and price discrepancies.
Both companies try to work quickly to resolve complaints when they arise.
Both companies are active on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Birch Gold Group also provides informational content to investors on LinkedIn.
✅ Winner: Goldco
Customer Experience
Both Goldco and Birch Gold Group offer phone, email, and live chat support (although Birch Gold Group’s chat support is powered by AI).
Birch Gold Group customer support is available Monday through Friday 8 am to 7:30 pm CST. Goldco customer support is available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm PST.
Both companies provide quick response times and support staff are knowledgeable and professional when answering questions.
Each company offers investor kits and dedicated account specialists offer one-on-one consultations, giving you tailored advice.
✅ Winner: Tie
Resources & Tools
Goldco and Birch Gold Group are both committed to helping investors learn how to incorporate precious metals into their investment strategy.
Goldco offers a comprehensive educational library with articles, guides, and ebooks covering gold investing and retirement planning.
Birch Gold Group provides informational articles on its website as well as a newsletter to update you on market conditions.
There isn’t a live webinar schedule but both companies post educational videos to their YouTube channels. Both companies offer market analysis and provide updates on the news.
Birch Gold Group offers some additional resources including an RMD calculator.
✅ Winner: Birch Gold Group
Flexibility & Investment Options
Both companies offer a wide range of investments but Birch Gold Group offers more options.
You can purchase gold, silver, platinum, and palladium for inclusion in an IRA or to be sent directly to your home.
While Goldco offers platinum and palladium products they don’t disclose what those items are on their website.
Neither company publishes product availability on their website so you’ll need to call a representative to get the most up-to-date information.
For the most flexibility, both companies allow investors to open up a self-directed IRA with a partner custodian.
This allows you to not only invest in gold or silver, but to add other alternative investments to your portfolio including private equity deals, real estate, or crypto.
Investors can customize their accounts to hold precious metals that align with their financial goals.
Both companies offer competitive buyback programs, making it possible to liquidate gold if you need to.
✅ Winner: Tie
Ease of Rollover & Transfer Process
Rolling over an existing retirement account into a gold IRA with either Goldco or Birch Gold Group is a straightforward process.
Both companies offer dedicated support specialists to walk you through the process. They’ll make sure you comply with IRS regulations during the transfer process.
To complete a rollover, fill out an application with either company and verify your identity with a government ID and Social Security Number.
You will also need to provide account information from your existing account if you want to do a rollover.
Goldco and Birch Gold Group process rollovers in about two weeks. Birch Gold Group can take up to four weeks which is slightly longer than Goldco.
Some customers report long wait times processing transfers.
Customers from both companies report a good experience working with knowledgeable staff to guide them through the process.
✅ Winner: Tie
Standout Features for Goldco
Lower fees
Goldco has a lower setup fee and a lower annual maintenance fee. While there is a higher minimum investment requirement, lower fees allows you to protect more of your initial investment.
Buyback program
Goldco offers an industry-leading buyback program with competitive pricing. This gives investors the option to convert their savings into cash when they need it.
Investor education
Goldco provides educational resources, including guides, webinars, and reports, to help investors make well-informed decisions.
Standout Features for Birch Gold Group
Broader selection
Birch Gold Group offers more products on its website including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. This gives investors more diversification options within their IRAs.
Lower minimum
Birch Gold Group has a lower minimum investment requirement of $10,000. This makes it a more accessible option for investors with smaller portfolios.
Price protection program
Birch Gold Group offers a price protection program that allows investors to lock-in a price. This can help mitigate the impact of market fluctuations.
Birch Gold Group vs. Goldco: My Verdict
Goldco and Birch Gold Group are both industry leaders, with good customer service and exceptional one-on-one support.
While both companies have a similar value proposition, Goldco’s lower fees makes it a clear winner.
Birch Gold Group offers a lower minimum and a broader variety of products to invest in. The company also provides educational resources to help you get started.
Goldco offers one-on-one support and lower fees. It is ideal for investors who want a cost-conscious way to diversify with gold.
