Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals

No matter where you turn you will find that Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals are tops in the industry for Gold IRAs dealers. But your difficult decision in determining which of these two Gold IRA Dealers is the right choice for you. 

That decision can be an arduous and one that The Plug intends to help you clear up. It's hard to know who is the best choice. When weighing the pros and cons, sometimes the decision isn't the company as a whole, but that one thing offered that you can't get from the other.

Or maybe one dealer does something just a little bit better than the other. You will need to be comfortable with your decision. The Plug knows one thing about these two Gold and Silver IRA Dealers, the likelihood you will be disappointed with either company, is slim. 

If you qualify for both Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals' minimum requirements, then the decision could boil down to the difference in fees or education, maybe you just like having the opportunity to get $10,000 in Free Silver or your IRA fees waived for the next 10 years. Either way, these two "top dogs" in the precious metals industry have what you need and can help you facilitate your Gold IRA. 

Are you educated on the precious metals market and its impact on one's retirement savings? 

As an alternative investment opportunity, buying physical gold and silver to hedge inflation and reduce the downside risk of the devaluation of the dollar, is a good choice. Both of these companies are excellent at educating their clients about precious metals investing and each will not pressure you into making a decision.  

What questions should you ask a gold IRA dealer? Check out our Top Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Bullion from a Gold IRA Dealer article where we give you 42 different questions to arm yourself before entering a conversation.

A difficult decision is upon you, you want to choose the right dealer, and with so many companies bombarding your television and magazines, how do you know who to choose?

Top 5 Reasons Why Goldco or Augusta Precious Metals Should Be Your Gold IRA Dealer:

1. Commitment to the Clients - 100% commitment to education and satisfaction
2. Best Education for Gold IRA Companies - *Augusta has a Harvard-trained economic analyst on staff*
3. Offer the Highest Quality Bullion for Your Account - IRA Approved Gold and Silver
4. Ease of Doing Business - walk you through the process
5. Highest Industry Standards - check their reviews - customers are educated and are satisfied with how they are taken care of. 

When you are investing in a commodity like precious metals you don't want to work with a company that says they know about precious metals, you want to work with the best gold IRA company, one that has the track records, reviews, and reputation of being the best.

Truth is, you could interchange our top choices and not see a significant difference. Our #1 choice is Goldco, not only because they have professional customer service, or they have few complaints, but when comparing these two top Gold IRA dealers they (Goldco) has removed any initial investment minimums.

Yes, you heard correctly, GOLDCO has NO Minimum Purchase Requirements. Don't forget to ask about their FREE Silver Offer for Qualified Accounts. 

If everything else is equal the initial investment differences between these two absolutely excellent Gold IRA Dealers is with Goldco you don't have a minimum investment requirement. 

Get Started Today with Goldco by getting your FREE Ultimate Guide to Gold and Silver for 2025

Our #2, Augusta Precious Metals, is second only because they have the highest initial investment requirement for Gold IRA Dealers. Their educational materials are top notch and their commitment to their clients is evident because they have ZERO customer complaints. 

Starting a Gold IRA is a decision that could make sense for those currently retired or those nearing retirement that are looking to move cash to a physical asset as a means of more security and control of their retirement savings.  If you experienced the market crash of 2008, or you have family and friends who lost everything and started over, you know the risk of holding all your retirement savings in paper assets. Could you leave a lasting legacy for your family by adding physical gold and silver to your portfolio?

Overview of the Two Best Gold IRA Companies

Sitting on the bench enjoying your retirement comes from making the right decisions throughout your lifetime. You worked hard to get where you are and while you are set to enjoy your golden years, you cannot stop managing your savings when you retire.

Now may be the hardest time to manage your portfolio with high inflation, the government increasing its debt limits, the U.S. Dollar in decline, and our cost of living increasing. Having enough for the future and beyond is important. Are you ready to take on the management of your retirement savings? 

You don't have to be alone in this process. Both Goldco and Augusta can partner with you on this journey. They cannot make financial decisions for you and they will not give any guarantees, but they can and will give you the most current and accurate information possible for owning physical precious metals.  

Comparison of Goldco vs. Augusta:

* Restrictions do apply for eligibility - check with an account representative when you have your first call. 

Gold IRA Explained

Since 1997, precious metals have been allowed to be purchased within a retirement IRA. Owning physical metals in a self-directed IRA gives control to the owner of the retirement account. Unlike an employer 401(k) or a traditional or Roth IRA where others control the investments and the only investment options are stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, a self-directed IRA has allowed investors to buy physical assets and non-paper metals.

A gold or silver IRA are both terms used for a self-directed IRA. Precious metals dealers are either educators (like Goldco or Augusta) or they are online gold retailers providing products without education. 

There are many benefits from storing your metals in an SDIRA including having tax-advantaged savings with the same benefits as other traditional or Roth IRAs. By avoiding mainstream banking restrictions and uncertain investing digital systems, owning physical gold and silver can be an advantage. 

When you open a new Gold IRA, you have the option of opening a traditional self-directed IRA or a Roth self-directed IRA. The choice of which retirement account you open will depend on if you plan to roll over from an existing account. As a pre-tax contribution, the traditional IRA should be rolled over to a traditional SDIRA. While any post-tax contributions placed into a Roth IRA should also be rolled over to a Roth SDIRA. 

The gold and silver professionals and your custodian can assist in opening the correct retirement self-directed IRA for you. 

How Does a Gold IRA Company Help Me

Once you decide owning physical gold and silver is right for you and a self-directed IRA is a good option, then it's time to get an account opened. 

A custodian is a company that works with you to complete the paperwork and assist in completing and keeping accurate documentation of your purchases. You can establish your custodian through research or you can choose to work with a dealer who specializes in Gold IRAs. 

An experienced gold dealer that works with investors specifically on their SDIRA, works to educate and offer IRA-approved gold and silver products. They have existing relationships with custodians that are familiar and experienced with precious metals. Having that relationship gives individuals the ability to get an account opened quickly and provides them the knowledge that the custodian is competent in working with Gold IRA products.

Once a custodial account is established, the gold IRA dealer can confirm funds are in your account and help work with you on selecting the metals right for your IRA. In addition, the gold IRA company also has experience and knowledge of the best storage facilities for your metals. 

When you purchase with a SDIRA you are not allowed to store your metals at home. You are required to store at a secured depository. Again, working with a company that has all the contacts necessary to get you set up and stored can provide comfort and guidance. 

What Do Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals Do Right?

When we're talking just a few differences then we know there are several areas both of these companies are great at. Customer service, education, buy-back options, and rollover experience are top-of-the-line for these two. 

 - Each provides competitive pricing and no purchase is necessary to get their educational sources. Augusta has several additional steps of education that are for clients only including a one-on-one session.

 - Both educate their clients before selling any products. 

 - Both only provide the highest quality Bullion approved for IRA purchase. 

• 99.5% pure Gold
• 99.9% pure Silver
• 99.95% pure Platinum
• 99.95% pure Palladium
• Gold American Eagle bullion and proof coins are the only gold coins that are an exception to the purity guidelines. They have a fineness of .9167

 - Both provide IRA-approved gold and silver coins and bars to purchase for non-retirement purposes.

 - Both are excellent at walking customers through the rollover process. Offering assistance to set up the IRA along with a step-by-step guide making the process as easy as possible. 

 - Each has a FREE information source for any individuals looking for more information and to get started. Get your FREE information by clicking the box below.

Who is Goldco? The Plug's #1 Gold IRA Choice

Goldco is a precious metals dealer that prides itself on offering clients the best "white glove" service. With their extensive education platform, including their 2025 Gold and Silver Kit, individuals can keep up with the most comprehensive information regarding physical metals investing. 

"Goldco is the only precious metals company recommended by major media leaders like Sean Hannity, Chuck Norris, Ben Stein and Laura Ingraham. Goldco is honored to be the only precious metal company they recommend to their audience, family and friends."

Goldco Precious Metals Specialists can assist those individuals who wish to fund their self-directed IRA with a rollover. Working with knowledgeable specialists can help you understand the rollover process and let you know if your current IRA, prior employer 401(k), 403(b), TSP, or other retirement accounts are eligible. 

While specializing as a gold IRA dealer, Goldco Precious Metals Specialists are also knowledgeable and competent to work with those individuals who wish to purchase gold and silver with Savings outside of a retirement account. Working with a company capable of providing high-level education and support does not require only a self-directed IRA account. 

Getting Started:

The process is easy to get started: Goldco Specialists will work with you:

1. Get Your FREE IRA Guide and See if You Qualify for FREE Silver  --->Click Here <---
2. Speak with a Goldco Specialist
3. Open an account - IRA Account - or CASH Account - Goldco Specialist will walk you through the paperwork
4. Fund Your Account - Rollover or Cash Savings Transfer
5. Purchase Your IRA Approved Gold or Silver Coins or Bars
6. Establish a Depository
7. Goldco Ships Metals to Depository
8. Review Statements

While we've made the process 8 steps, the truth is you can get this accomplished in only a few minutes of your time. 

Who Does Goldco Partner With for Your SDIRA?

When opening a precious metals IRA you must work with a custodian to open the account and you also must work with a depository or vault to store your metals. 

Goldco is a precious metals dealer and is not a custodian. They have preferred custodians which could be Equity Trust or Self Directed IRA Services. However, if you have a custodian currently, you can still purchase bullion from Goldco and they will be happy to work with your custodian. 

Metals that are purchased through your IRA are required to be stored in a secured depository. These facilities are insured and secured. Not having access to your metals will keep your IRA in compliance with the IRS. Goldco's preferred depository is the Delaware Depository. The facilities have state-of-the-art security and their staff are experienced, responsive, and engaging. 

Working with Goldco's partners can be an advantage, but not required. You can pick a custodian or depository of your choosing and still work with Goldco to purchase your precious metals. 

What Are Goldco's IRA Fees?

Recently Goldco has removed any minimum purchase requirements. No other Gold IRA company is know to offer a zero minimum requirement.

Goldco’s preferred Custodian charges a flat annual account service fee which includes a
one-time IRA account set-up fee of $50 as well as a $30 wire fee. Annual
maintenance is $100, and storage fees are $150 for segregated storage or $100 for
non-segregated storage.

Fees for gold storage and custodianship can vary depending on the company you
select to handle these services (required by the IRS, as all IRA assets must be
managed by a custodian). Depending on the Custodian, storage fees can range
from $10 to $60 per month, or as a percentage of assets, from 0.35% to 1%
annually. Goldco does not charge any storage fees for cash transactions over
$25,000.

Consult a Goldco specialist and the customer care team to confirm current fees.

Who Recommends Goldco?

What is Goldco's Reputation?

While not squeaky clean, the reputation of Goldco is one of the best in the industry. Separate Goldco's business model, as a gold IRA dealer, from other online retailers and you will see they have thousands of positive reviews and few that indicate a trend in distrust placing a black eye on the precious metals industry.

Other precious metals businesses have given the industry a bad reputation. Many complaints of precious metals companies are negative and many are believed to be crooks because they use bait-and-switch tactics, delay or never deliver products, and even worse they offer one-of-a-kind items that have extremely high premiums. You will not see these types of reviews or complaints at Goldco.

By educating their customers, Goldco can work with individuals and help them learn about investing in gold and silver. Buying coins and bars is not the type of investment for the short term. Individuals looking to hold for metals for short-term gains could be greatly disappointed in their return. Having an understanding of what gold and silver do for retirement savings is key to making informed decisions. 

Reputable gold dealers recommend a hold of 10 years or more for precious metals.  The minimum hold period is typically recommended at 5 years. Anything short of that is speculative and with price fluctuations in this market, an individual could see positive or negative gains. Past metals pricing performance does not indicate the same future expectations. Be informed and knowledgeable of the precious metals market before making any buying decisions.

Goldco has taken a few shots on the chin, and yet they keep on providing excellent customer service and support to their clients. While the exception is not necessarily the norm. Individuals who have provided their experiences in a negative light have been approached by Goldco to rectify the situation. In many cases, they have satisfied the complainant. Goldco prides itself on customer satisfaction and takes the right measures to ensure its clients are well-informed to make the appropriate decisions themselves. 

Who Is Augusta Precious Metals? The Plugs #2 Choice for Gold IRA Companies

Augusta Precious Metals is a Gold IRA company, whose experience and specialty is facilitating precious metals IRAs - both 401(k) rollovers and IRA transfers. As the liaison between you and your custodian, they assist you in the setup of your gold IRA and deliver your metals to your depository once your purchase is complete.

Leading the organization is Isaac Nuriani who advocates for silver and gold IRAs as a hedge against inflation and to help retirement savers.

Committing to excellence in precious metals, Devlyn Steele manages the educational materials, is the creator of the educational Augusta Precious Metals gold and silver conference, and has over three decades of financial services and economics experience. A member of the Harvard Business School analytics program and staff economic analyst at Augusta.

While highly recognized as one of the country's best gold dealers, Augusta Precious Metals works with metals buyers to purchase gold, silver, platinum, and palladium for their IRA. While there is no advisory role, Augusta Precious Metals makes sure you have the educational resources and information necessary to make informed decisions.

• ZERO fees for up to 10 years. Everyone qualifies.
• A+ BBB rating. AAA from Business Consumer Alliance. 1000s of 5-star rankings.
• 2022 & 2023 Money magazine: “Best Overall Gold IRA Company.” Investopedia: “Most Transparent.”
• Elite VIP approvals: Mark Levin, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Ben Ferguson. Even hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana is a customer and superfan. 
• YOU choose your gold & silver. Select from the most popular products – you’re in charge. 

Getting Started:

The process is painless to start and Augusta Precious Metals as Specialists will make the process easy: 

1. Get Your FREE Gold IRA Guide
2. Speak with an Augusta Specialist
3. Open an account - IRA Account or CASH Account - Paperwork Augusta Specialist will assist with all paperwork
4. Fund Your Account - Rollover or Cash Savings Transfer
5. Purchase Your IRA Approved Gold or Silver Coins or Bars
6. Establish a Depository
7. Augusta Ships Metals to Depository
8. Review Statements

While we've made the process 8 steps, the truth is you can get this accomplished in only a few minutes of your time. 

Who Does Augusta Precious Metals Partner With for Your SDIRA?

When opening a precious metals IRA you much work with a custodian to open the account and you also must work with a depository or vault to store your metals. 

Augusta Precious Metals is a precious metals dealer and is not a custodian. Their preferred custodian is Equity Trust. However, if you have a custodian currently, you can still purchase bullion from Augusta and they will be happy to work with your custodian. 

Metals that are purchased through your IRA are required to be stored in a secured depository. These facilities are insured and secured. Not having access to your metals will keep your IRA in compliance with the IRS. Augusta's preferred depository is Delaware Depository. The facilities have state-of-the-art security and their staff are experienced, responsive, and engaging. 

Working with Goldco's partners can be an advantage, but required. You can choose a custodian or depository of your choosing. 

What Are Augusta Precious Metal's IRA Fees?

Fees include $50 one time to open an account, and annual fees of $100 each for administration of the IRA account by your custodian and for storage of metals in the depository. But you can get zero fees for up to 10 years (everyone qualifies).

Minimum investment: $50,000. Augusta Precious Metals recommends customers have $100K+ saved for retirement in an IRA, 401(k), or other certified retirement accounts before rolling over some of their savings to physical gold and silver. They also recommend customers hold their gold for at least five to 10 years.

Shipping and transit insurance are free to all customers.

Who Recommends Augusta?

What is Augusta Precious Metals Reputation?

The precious metals industry has had countless criticism over the years for sneaky practices, high fees, large commissions, and overpriced metals. You can take 10 different gold IRA dealers and find only one whose reputation is the best. While not perfect, Augusta Precious Metals has a positive reputation and excellent customer reviews of satisfied experiences. 

By educating its customers and working with only clients who qualify, Augusta Precious Metals can limit its exposure in the industry. 

Augusta recommends a hold of 10 years or more.  The minimum hold period is typically recommended at 5 years. Giving this information, they are open and honest with their clients giving all the education necessary to make informed decisions.

Final Thoughts on Goldco vs. Augusta Precious Metals

When it comes to which is the best option for you, either of these two companies can provide the best service and IRS approved gold or silver bullion. The benefit of Goldco is the lower initial required rollover or cash purchase.

Augusta provides the highest level of information and only work with the highest qualified investor. This allows them, and you, the ability to take risk and wait for the best returns without penalizing their retirement portfolio.

If you are interested in investing in a gold or silver IRA but don't have the minimum requirements these two companies require, we have additional options for you. Check out our comparison of the 5 Best Gold IRA Companies.