- A+ BBB rating
- Low minimum investment
- 30,000+ customer reviews
- Commitment to customer education
- No online purchases
- Limited to U.S. investors
Invest in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with an affordable $10,000 minimum investment and low account maintenance fees.
It has an excellent reputation and numerous endorsements.
My in-depth Birch Gold Group review shows how to start investing with one of the highest-rated precious metals IRAs.
The Verdict for Birch Gold Group
I’ve given them a rating of 9.1 out of 10.
Birch Gold Group is one of the few companies that offer gold, silver, and alternative precious metals for additional diversification.
It also works with the most reputable IRA custodians and depositories to enjoy hands-on help.
| Criteria | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Product & Service Offerings | 9.5 |
| Pricing & Fees | 9 |
| Guarantees | 8.5 |
| Customer Experience | 9.5 |
| Storage & Security | 9.5 |
| Account Setup & Maintenance | 9 |
| Reputation & Reviews | 9.5 |
| Overall Rating | 9.1 |
In this review of Birch Gold, I’ve followed GIC’s detailed criteria for evaluating the precious metals IRA company.
About Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group was founded in 2003 and has served over 31,000 customers with precious metals IRAs and non-retirement orders for physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Laith Alsarraf is the company’s founder. Its headquarters are in Des Moines, Iowa, and operates in all 50 states.
Customers seeking flexibility should consider Birch Gold Group for these advantages:
- Portfolio diversification: Most gold IRA companies only offer gold and silver. I like that you have access to platinum and palladium too. You can start with a free information kit.
- Multiple depositories: You can choose from four depositories instead of just one or two as most competitors offer. The extra options make minimizing fees and a convenient storage location easier.
- Low investment minimums: The $10,000 minimum investment lets small investors get exposure to physical metals sooner in tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Along with investor flexibility, this precious metals company has one of the longest lists of celebrity endorsements I know of, including former congressman Ron Paul.
Most paid ambassadors are popular political commentators and radio show hosts such as Dan Bongino, Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Megyn Kelly, Jordan B. Peterson, and George Noory.
Precious metals expert
There’s an old piece of Wall Street wisdom: “Put 10% of your money in gold and hope it doesn’t go up.”
My customers who own gold cheer when gold’s price goes down, because they know that means their other investments are probably going up.
And during the really bad times, well, that’s usually when gold really shines.
Phillip Patrick
Spokesman and Educator at Birch Gold Group
These various endorsements and media features are why Birch Gold Group is one of the most well-known gold IRA companies.
Thankfully, many positive customer reviews praise the company’s hands-on support and education.
However, it’s vital to compare order premiums and storage fees. As a reminder, gold-buying services don’t provide investment advice.
Birch Gold Group has an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and has been BBB-accredited since 2013. It rates 4.32 out of 5 stars with 103 customer reviews.
Product & Service Offerings
You can choose from an above-average selection of bullion coins, bars, and IRA-eligible precious metals.
Physical gold bullion
Gold coins, bars, and rounds from the United States Mint and international mints with ample availability.
I also like that you can choose bullion or numismatic coins, allowing you to focus your investment potential on melt value or collector demand.
Some of the gold investment options include:
- American Eagle Gold Proof Coin
- American Gold Eagle Bullion Coins
- Australian ¼ oz. Gold Florin Coin
- Britannia Gold Coins
- Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin
- Gold Krugerrand Coins
- Goldbacks
- Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coins
- Valcambi CombiBars
Birch Gold Group easily has one of the most diverse arrays of gold choices. Most have a 0.995 purity level, making them eligible for your Birch Gold IRA.
However, you will want to compare premiums to maximize your upside potential and reach your breakeven point sooner.
Silver & alternative precious metals
You can add a few other metals to your portfolio:
- Silver: Bullion coins including American Silver Eagles and Silver Britannia Coins. Numismatics and proofs include Morgan Silver Dollars and Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollars. Non-currency rounds and bars are available for silver IRAs as well.
- Platinum: Bullion coins (U.S. Mint and Perth Mint), rounds, and bars with a minimum 99.95% purity level.
- Palladium: Bullion coins (U.S. Mint and Royal Canadian Mint), rounds, and bars with IRA-eligible purity.
While not every investor wants to invest in silver or secondary metals, the additional options make it easier to diversify your portfolio to hedge against depreciating currency.
Precious metals IRA
You can obtain your metals of choice through a self-directed IRA by first converting an existing IRA or 401(k) balance of at least $10,000.
The precious metal company ensures you purchase IRA-eligible purity levels by working one-on-one with a Birch Gold IRA specialist throughout the signup process.
Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company are Birch’s preferred IRA custodians. Both have competitive fees, an excellent reputation, and extensive experience coordinating precious metal investments.
You can work with other approved custodians, too, and your Birch customer representative remains your liaison for the life of your investing career.
I like that Birch Gold Group provides several IRA custodian and depository options to personalize your experience.
Having multiple choices can instill confidence and prevent portfolio management headaches.
Home delivery
You can also buy metals with a minimum $10,000 order and opt for home delivery. Consider this option for non-retirement investments and products ineligible for an IRA.
Pricing & Fees
Cash and IRA purchases require a $10,000 minimum order. To receive current product pricing, you must call Birch Gold Group which is industry standard practice.
| Setup fee for IRA | $50 |
| Wire transfer fee | $30 |
| Custodian administration fee | $180 annually |
| Storage fees | Varies by depository ($100 annual average) |
Most customers pay a $225 average in annual custodian and storage fees. New account balances exceeding $50,000 can waive the first year of fees.
I find that Birch Gold Group is one of the more affordable gold IRA companies thanks to its low order minimum and competitive custodial and storage fees.
Still, some customer reviews suggest that the flat fee is relatively expensive for small balances as the fee structure benefits larger accounts that might pay percentage-based fees elsewhere.
As a leading national dealer of precious metals, Birch Gold Group helps Americans diversify their savings with physical gold and silver.
Guarantees
Birch Gold Group only provides refunds for counterfeit coins when you return them within 90 days of purchase. It also guarantees that you only receive genuine precious metals.
The company doesn’t mention a buyback guarantee or best price matching when the time arrives to sell an asset, as some competitors offer.
However, Birch requests the first right of refusal, which may allow you to incur smaller premiums or reduced liquidation fees.
I wish its buy back policy becomes more aggressive to provide more confidence in selling at the highest price hassle-free.
Customer Experience
Live phone support is available from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) Monday to Friday.
These hours make it easy for most customers to receive help and place orders, regardless of the time zone.
Birch Gold Group’s website has an AI-powered chatbot and many helpful articles to answer general investment questions.
Potential customers can request a free 24-page gold kit and work one-on-one with the same specialist to help you set up and manage your account.
I like that you can receive hands-on phone and email support from the same agent long-term, although human live chat is more personable as you initially compare IRA gold companies.
Storage & Security
Birch Gold Group works with four different precious metal depositories:
- Delaware Depository
- Brink’s Global Services
- International Depository Services
- Texas Precious Metals Depository
I think this flexibility helps you choose a safe gold storage location that meets your security and geographic needs.
In comparison, most only have one or two depository partners.
Account Setup & Maintenance
New customers can receive hands-on help from a dedicated specialist through the following steps:
- Request a free info kit: Receive a 24-page guide and converse with a dedicated IRA specialist after providing your name, email address, and phone number.
- Choose an IRA custodian: Your specialist will help you complete the necessary paperwork to roll over or transfer existing retirement accounts. The specialist is your liaison for account maintenance, allowing you to build a long-term personal relationship.
- Order precious metals: Your agent provides current pricing by phone for IRA-eligible metals and helps schedule shipping to your storage location.
- Pay account maintenance fees: You will pay your one-time account opening and annual fees. Birch Gold Group can assist with future orders, liquidations and home storage.
Reviews & Reputation
Most Birch Gold Group reviews provide excellent ratings on the BBB, TrustLink, and Trustpilot.
Several first-time precious metal investors praise the step-by-step help from their dedicated representatives and excellent explanations about the investment process.
A common complaint is that the flat annual fee hurts small investors. Additionally, some competitors have slightly higher customer ratings on the various platforms.
Specifically, a few negative reviews suggest customers have short-term investment horizons or their IRA custodians track asset values with less accuracy than Birch Gold Group.
The company responds to complaints quickly and provides in-depth resolutions. It also has a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA), reflecting exemplary reliability in customer satisfaction.
Birch Gold Alternatives & Competitors
These alternatives offer gold and silver IRAs with stronger buyback guarantees and various membership perks.
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Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
4.5
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Our Rating:
4.4
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$0
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$2,000
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$50,000
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Goldco
Goldco offers gold and silver IRAs with a $25,000 order minimum. Its annual fees are between $175 and $225.
The company also has one of the best buyback guarantees by offering the highest price when you’re ready to sell.
Request Goldco’s free gold & silver kit
Noble Gold Investments
Noble Gold Investments only requires a $2,000 minimum investment for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products to investors worldwide.
Annual fees are up to $150 for gold IRAs and $225 for silver IRAs to secure segregated storage at the depository. You may also enjoy the no-qualms buy back program to sell your metals at competitive values.
Request Noble’s free gold guide
Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals sells gold and silver but has a relatively high $50,000 order minimum. You can enjoy lifetime account support and frequent educational updates from a Harvard-trained economist.
The company also offers a price match guarantee and may waive liquidation fees when selling metals you buy from them.
Request Augusta’s free gold guide
Is Birch Gold a reputable company?
Birch Gold Group is a legit precious metals IRA provider with an affordable $10,000 minimum investment, numerous investment options, and competitive fees.
Its partnerships with four depositories provide ultimate flexibility in choosing a secure vault across the United States.
I’m sometimes hesitant about brands with many celebrity endorsements as the extra publicity may set expectations too high.
Thankfully, Birch Gold Group is an excellent fit for most households as many customer reviews highlight the long-term hands-on help.
Request a free Birch Gold Group info kit to open your precious metals IRA.
FAQs
Who owns Birch Gold?
Laith Alsarraf is the founder and CEO of Birch Gold Group.
Does Birch Gold Group have any pending lawsuits or complaints?
There are no known lawsuits against Birch Gold Group.
Where is Birch Gold Group located?
Birch Gold Group’s headquarters are at 309 Court Avenue, Suite 809, Des Moines, IA 50309.
As a leading national dealer of precious metals, Birch Gold Group helps Americans diversify their savings with physical gold and silver.
Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group helps Americans protect their savings by diversifying into physical precious metals, such as gold and silver.
Product Brand: Birch Gold Group
4.5
