Equity Trust Company Review

Equity Trust Company offers a flexible self-directed IRA ideal for investors seeking alternative investments like gold.

While fees for larger portfolios can be high, its robust security and wide range of investment options make it a solid choice for investors.

Read this Equity Trust review to learn more.

The Verdict for Equity Trust Company

I’ve given them a rating of 7.5 out of 10.

Equity Trust Company is one of the oldest self-directed IRA custodians in the country.

While it gives investors the option to invest in a variety of alternative assets, its fee structure can be high for large portfolios.

The company makes it easy to track investments but there is a learning curve to managing alternative assets in a portfolio.

Category	Rating (out of 10)
Investment Options	9
Pricing & Fees	6
Account Setup & Maintenance	8
Customer Service & Support	6
Security & Compliance	10
Reputation & Reviews	6
Resources & Tools	8
Overall Rating	7.5

In this review of Equity Trust, I’ve followed GIC’s detailed criteria for evaluating the self-directed IRA custodian.

About Equity Trust Company

Equity Trust Company was founded in 1974 by Richard Desich.

An expert in self-directed IRAs with over 35 years of experience, Equity Trust was created to empower investors to take control of their financial futures by providing them with the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions.

Equity Trust Company’s mission is centered around inspiring, educating, and supporting investors in achieving their financial goals.

Through a commitment to education, the company helps clients navigate complex asset classes, including private equity, precious metals, and cryptocurrency.

Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Equity Trust has managed $45 billion in assets and 334,000 accounts under custody and administration.

The company is the preferred custodian for a number of gold IRA companies and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Investment Options

Equity Trust Company Equity specializes in self-directed IRAs (SDIRA), including traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and health savings accounts.

Aside from individual retirement accounts, the company assists clients with low-cost 401(k) rollovers and custodial accounts for individuals and businesses.

Equity Trust’s Universal IRA provides investors with the flexibility to invest in a variety of assets.

This allows investors to invest in alternative asset classes, including real estate, private equity, cryptocurrency, and precious metals alongside more traditional options like stocks and bonds. 

Equity Trust partners with gold IRA companies like Goldco and Advantage Gold to provide IRS-compliant custodian services.

Once you know which assets to add, you can submit a purchase request to Equity Trust.

This process is essential to make sure the correct paperwork is completed and complies with all IRS rules.

As your custodian, Equity Trust will process your request on your behalf.

Instead of holding an asset directly like you would in a traditional brokerage account, Equity Trust will hold the asset in the name of your SDIRA on your behalf.

Equity Trust will provide you with account statements and process administrative tasks for you, but it is up to you to keep track of any assets in your account to monitor their performance.

Pricing & Fees

Equity Trust charges a $50 one-time setup fee for accounts opened online and $75 for investors opening an account with a paper application.

The company also offers a Gold Level Service program that ranges from $249 to $499 per year.

After your Equity Trust account is opened, there is an annual maintenance fee. This ranges from $225 to $2,250 per year.

The fee varies based on the value of your portfolio:

Portfolio Value	Fee
$1 to $14,999	$225
$15,000 to $24,999	$320
$25,000 to $49,999	$350
$50,000 to $99,999	$425
$100,000 to $199,999	$500
$200,000 to $299,999	$700
$300,000 to $399,999	$750
$400,000 to $499,999	$1,075
$500,000 to $599,999	$1,750
$600,000 to $699,999	$1,850
$700,000 to $799,999	$1,950
$800,000 to $899,999	$2,000
$900,000 to $999,999	$2,050
$1,000,000 to $1,999,999	$2,150
$2,000,000+	$2,250

There are also separate fees for precious metals. Equity Trust charges $100 for non-segregated storage and $150 for segregated storage. 

When a precious metal is liquidated, the company charges $10 per asset up to $30. There is a $10 handling fee for coins and a $50 fee for each in-kind distribution.

Account termination comes with a $250 fee. Distribution of assets cost $100 per asset.

Compared to other SDIRA custodians, Equity Trust is transparent, publishing its fee schedule on its website.

The entry-level price to open an account is on par with other custodians, but the fees are more expensive for accounts with larger portfolios.

Account Setup & Maintenance

Equity Trust makes it easy to open an account online. Go to the myEQUITY portal on Equity Trust’s website.

To open an account you’ll need to validate the following information:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your Date of Birth
• Your Legal Address

You’ll also need to provide a copy of your driver’s license to prove your identity.

After your account application is submitted it’ll take around three business days to fully open your account. This may take longer if there are mistakes on your application.

Once your account is opened you’ll need to fund it. You can do that with a rollover, a transfer, or a direct contribution. 

To rollover an existing account, initiate a rollover with your current plan administrator.

Request they send your funds to Equity Trust. Be sure to complete your rollover within 60 days to avoid taxes and penalties.

When your account has funds available you can begin investing. You can submit a purchase request using the Transaction Tracker feature in the myEQUITY portal.

The platform comes with an easy-to-monitor platform to help you keep track of your purchases.

Customer Service & Support

Equity Trust Company’s customer support team is available via phone, chat, or email.

A representative can be reached by calling 888) 382-4727 Monday through Friday, 8 AM–6 PM Eastern Time. Online chat is available Monday through Friday, 8 AM–4 PM Eastern Time

You can also contact Equity Trust via email at any time at [email protected].  

Customers report difficulty getting a representative on the phone and long wait times to process account information.

Some report inconsistent service due to working with a different person each time they call.

Security & Compliance

Equity Trust prioritizes the security of personal data and investment assets.

The company employs advanced security protocols to safeguard investor information and adheres to strict regulatory standards to ensure assets are well-protected.

Equity Trust uses military-grade cybersecurity tools, practices, and technology to protect client data.

This includes the use of 256-bit Secure Socket Layer encryption to safeguard sensitive information, as well as multi-factor authentication to verify client identities and prevent unauthorized access. 

As a state-chartered trust company, Equity Trust is regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking.

It complies with all applicable state and federal regulations, including IRS guidelines governing retirement accounts.

This includes performing an annual audit and following the professional standards set by the American Institute of CPAs.

Equity Trust’s Deposit Management Program partners with 16 FDIC-insured banks to hold your uninvested cash.

This provides investors with $4 million of FDIC insurance coverage.

Reputation & Reviews

Equity Trust Company has provided SDIRA and custodian services since 1974.

It has a longstanding reputation as a custodian provider for gold IRA companies.

The company has 3.09 stars out of 5 on the Better Business Bureau and 2.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. 

In the last 12 months, Equity Trust has processed 40 complaints. The primary issues include managing estates, executing rollovers, the inability of customers to access or liquidate their accounts, and undisclosed reductions in account value.

Equity Trust Company maintains social media profiles on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X.

Resources & Tools

Equity Trust Company provides a number of educational resources for investors. This includes a blog and free live investing events.

The company also maintains a robust online academy. These include paid advanced courses on how to manage an SDIRA and incorporate alternative assets into your portfolio, like flipping houses.

To stay up to date on market trends, investors can subscribe to Equity Trust Company’s newsletter.

Equity Trust Alternatives

While Equity Trust is one of the most well-known SDIRA companies that investors can work with, there are several others to consider.

Rocket Dollar

Rocket Dollar is a low-cost SDIRA provider that’s ideal for cost-conscious investors. It offers two types of accounts: a self-directed IRA or a self-directed 401(k).

Rocket Dollar gives investors the option to “bring your own deal.” This allows investors to access a wide range of alternative assets, as well as for those who prefer more autonomy in managing their investment deals.

Get started with Rocket Dollar today!

Alto IRA

Alto IRA is ideal for investors who want to maintain an SDIRA for crypto. Alto integrates with Coinbase giving investors access to a variety of cryptocurrencies.

Uninvested cash kept in a crypto IRA account is insured by the FDIC, adding an extra layer of security for investors. Digital assets are securely held through a combination of hot and cold storage, managed by Coinbase.

The Entrust Group

The Entrust Group is an SDIRA provider that’s best suited for investors interested in real estate and private equity. Their online portal makes it easy to track deals and keep track of your investment records.

Compared to its competitors, The Entrust Group is an affordable option. The company charges a $50 set-up fee and an annual fee of $199 which increases with account size.

Is Equity Trust a good company?

With 50 years of experience, Equity Trust is one of the most reliable SDIRA providers in the industry.

It’s a trusted partner of many gold company IRA providers and its digital client portal makes it easy for investors to manage a variety of alternative assets in their portfolios.

Equity Trust offers a variety of investment options including alternative assets like real estate, cryptocurrency, and precious metals.

With transparent fees, strong security protocols, and over $45 billion in assets under management, the company provides investors with the tools and support needed to take control of their financial futures. 

Equity Trust’s fees are on par with the industry, but slightly higher for investors with large account portfolios.

Some investors report difficulties working with customer service representatives to access their accounts and issues managing accounts held by trusts. 

Overall, Equity Trust’s decades of experience and library of educational resources make it a trustworthy partner to consider.

Before opening a self-directed IRA, read through the company’s website and sign up for a consultation to determine whether it’s right for you.

FAQs