Birch Gold Group was founded with the goal of promoting and educating the public about alternative forms of investment. The company has carved out its own niche in the precious metals industry, particularly when it comes to self-directed precious metals IRAs. Birch Gold Group has stellar reviews from numerous customer review sites, including an A+ Rating from the BBB and an AAA Rating from the BCA.
When set up properly, precious metals IRAs are an excellent way to secure your financial future. Working with a reputable company like Birch Gold Group is one of the best ways to protect yourself against scammers or improper investments.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers an affordable investment minimum.
- Provides customers with sufficient educational materials to improve their IRA investment knowledge.
- Offers a wide range of precious metals for investors to choose from, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
- Has a solid background, decades of experience, and a great reputation.
Cons
- Customers can’t perform a direct online purchase, instead, they need to get in touch with a representative to make a purchase.
Top Features
Birch Gold Group places significant emphasis on the quality of the customer service offered to its clients. The Group:
-
Offers an extensive selection of precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
-
Requires a relatively-low investment minimum of $10,000.
-
Provides rollover and buyback services.
-
Waives first-year custodial fees for purchases over $50,000.
-
Places significant emphasis on customer education.
Overview
- BBB A+ 72 Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- TrustLink 4.9/5 Stars 129 Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- TrustPilot 4.9/5 Stars 125 Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- BCA AAA 7 Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Google Reviews 4.8/5 Stars 220 Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to Open a Gold IRA
Step 1: First, you should request a free info kit from Birch Gold Group to help you understand the nature of precious metals IRAs. Then, you should contact the customer agents from Birch Gold Group. They can provide you with answers to questions or concerns that you may have.
Step 2: Your Birch Gold Group customer service representative can help you open an account. If you want to transfer your funds from another traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or similar retirement plan, the agent can help ensure your paperwork is in order to conduct a rollover. Additionally, it is advisable to speak with a tax advisor to avoid IRS-related issues or tax penalties.
Step 3: After opening your Birch account and funding it, the third step is choosing your metals. Ensure you are well-read on the merits of each metal; that way, you can make an informed decision. Of course, you may also opt to diversify your investment portfolio by choosing all metal types offered by the Birch Gold Group, including gold, silver, palladium, and platinum.
Step 4: After making your purchase, Birch requires you to select a custodian from four third-party storage companies it partners with. These storage partners include Delaware Depository, Texas Precious Metals Depository, International Depository Services, and Brink’s Global Solutions. After you choose your storage company, your precious metals will be sent to their facility for safekeeping (if they allow it, you can even visit your collection). As time progresses, you can follow up on the status of your IRA with your contact agent at the Birch Gold Group.
Fees & Commissions
Birch Gold Group is one of the most affordable precious metals IRA companies, and it emphasizes the quality of its services, which is why its pricing covers all eventualities. Birch even covers wire transfer and maintenance fees, which is uncommon in the industry.
The minimum investment to open a Birch account is $10,000. Birch offers a waiver on the first year’s custodial fees if you transfer an IRA account over $50,000 from another traditional IRA. Both the initial set-up and the wire transfer fees are one-time costs. Therefore, aside from the first year, the annual charges for a Birch Gold Group precious metals IRA account total $180.
|
Initial Set-up fee |
$50 |
|
Wire Transfer fee |
$30 |
|
Annual Maintenance fee |
$80 |
|
Annual Storage fee |
$100 |
Investment Kit 2024
Available Eligible IRA Metals and Coins
Because precious metals are a physical asset, the IRS governs their trade, investment, and storage. If you invest in a self-directed precious metals IRA, then you must ensure the metals you purchase are approved for investment by the IRS. You also must store the metals securely at an IRS-approved facility. Birch Gold Group meets those requirements, as it offers its customers a wide selection of IRA-eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium metals. It also works with four reputable storage companies. Your selection of precious metals with Birch includes:
|
Gold |
Silver |
|
Gold Bars and Rounds Australian Gold Florin American Gold Eagle Bullion American Gold Eagle Proof Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Gold Rose Crown Guinea Canadian Gold Twin Maples Goldbacks Valcambi CombiBars |
Silver Bars and Rounds Australian Silver Florin American The Beautiful Silver Series American Silver Eagle Bullion American Silver Eagle Proof Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Saint Helena Napoleon Bee Silver Rose Crown Guinea Canadian Silver Twin Maples Saint Helena Silver Standing Lion |
|
Platinum |
Palladium |
|
Platinum Bars and Rounds American Platinum Eagle Australian Platinum Florin |
Palladium Bars and Rounds Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf |
Final Thoughts
Birch Gold Group is an excellent choice for customers who want to work with an experienced industry leader to open a gold IRA. Birch has used its decades of experience to create one of the best customer experiences in the industry. The company offers affordable pricing, secure storage options, excellent buyback services, a wide range of precious metals options, and educational resources to its clients.
Investment Kit Screenshots
Contact Info
3500 W. Olive Ave., Suite 300 Burbank, CA 91505
FAQs
Q: Is Birch Gold Group a legitimate business?
A: Birch Gold Group is a legitimate, registered business that was established in 2003 and accredited with BBB in 2011. The company continues to provide customers with quality precious metals investment services, operating in compliance with the law and following tax regulations and requirements imposed on the trade of precious metals as a retirement investment.
Q: What precious metals can I buy from Birch Gold Group?
A: Birch Gold Group provides customers with an extensive selection of precious metals, including gold, palladium, platinum, and silver.
Q: Can I take my precious metals home after purchase?
A: If you purchase the metals from the Birch Gold Group for any other purpose that retirement IRA investment, the company can ship the metals to you. However, if the metals are purchased as a retirement investment or with the intent to trade, then you are required by IRS law to store the metals in an IRS-certified facility.
Q: Where does Birch store my metals?
A: Birch Gold Group does not directly house the metals, instead storing them through one of the four custodial companies with which it works. The companies – Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services, Texas Precious Metals Depository, and International Depository Services – are reputable and have been cleared by the IRS for precious metals storage. You can visit your gold, silver, platinum, or palladium in person if you choose the Delaware Depository, International Depository Services, and Texas Precious Metals Depository, as these companies all have visitation privileges.
Q: Can I make my purchase from the Birch Gold Group website?
A: Unfortunately, the Birch Gold Group does not allow its customers to perform direct digital purchases from the website. Instead, you must speak to an assigned specialist and perform the purchase through this representative.
Q: How do I sell my metals?
A: Depending on circumstances or market conditions, if you wish to liquidate your assets, Birch Gold Group offers a buyback service in which it purchases the metals directly from you. This saves you from the hassle of having to find your own buyer, transportation, etc. to sell your gold, platinum, silver, or palladium.
App Store
Google Play