Investing in precious metals is a great way to protect your retirement savings. However, it can be hard to know how to get started and which company provides the best service.
In this article, we will take a closer look at Augusta Precious Metal’s offerings and see how they can help you achieve your financial goals. We will also answer some specific questions and address concerns that you may have about the company and precious metal IRA in general.
About The Company
Augusta Precious Metals is a company that specializes in helping investors purchase gold and other precious metals for retirement accounts. It allows customers to open an IRA account and then use it as a vehicle to buy gold and other precious metals.
The Beverly Hills-based company was established in 2012 by Isaac Nuriani. Isaac founded the company to offer retirement savers a solution that safeguards and diversifies their wealth via precious metals, which he sees as an essential part of any long-term portfolio strategy. His passion for integrity shines through in everything he does, such as his involvement with ICTA (Industry Council for Tangible Assets) and Ethics.net.
The company’s popularity could be because of the three commitments they make to customers. They promise to be transparent, offer lifetime service, and provide simple services that are easy to understand.
The company offers many different services, including gold IRA rollovers, the physical storage of bullion, online account management tools, precious metal trading platforms, and more.
Gold IRA Account Overview
The Security and Exchange Commission advises retirement advisers to diversify their portfolio. Investing in Gold or Precious metals IRA is one great way to do so.
Augusta Precious Metals, which specializes in precious metals such as gold and silver, offers a tax-advantaged account funded by these long-term investments. This service is accessible to anyone who desires competitive fees and easy access to their retirement savings.
The company makes all information accessible on its website to ensure customers are informed before making any investments. The company has dedicated a considerable effort to streamline opening an account, funding, and distributing the returns. The efficiency that resulted from this process transfers to cost savings for the investors.
Pros
- Lifetime cust support
- Simple setup
- Streamlined approach
- Competitive pricing
- Comprehensive educational materials for free
Cons
- Large minimum – At least $50k for IRA
- No small lost coins and bars
- No online orders – not fully listed on the website – you have to contact them
- No palladium or platinum
Products & Services
Augusta Precious Metals helps investors find a suitable investment for their needs. They offer a wide selection of silver and gold IRA-approved bullion bars and coins but not platinum or palladium.
If you’re looking to invest in collectible pieces, Augusta offers premium coin sets graded by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). Their coin collectors list also features commemorative coins, certified coins, collector sets that include proof versions.
Augusta Precious Metals has teamed up with the Royal Canadian Mint to provide you a purer coin at lower prices than other mints. The partnership is one of the strategic directions that Augusta has taken to ensure its investors are getting the best deal and excellent value out of their trust in the company.
How to set up and fund a Gold or Silver IRA account with Augusta Precious Metals?
Setting up and funding a Gold or Silver IRA account with Augusta Precious Metals is easy, thanks to the customer support team’s assistance, making an otherwise complicated process simple. They also handle the majority of the client’s paperwork.
The three simplified and fully assisted steps are:
1) Register online for a self-directed IRA account with Augusta Precious Metals.
2) Fund the account by rolling over (from an existing 401k, traditional IRA, or other retirement accounts) or bank transfer.
3) Purchase eligible gold and silver bullion from Augusta vetted custodian/trust
Augusta Precious Metals vetted several custodians and recommended Equity Trust, Goldstar Trust, or Kingdom Trust because of their high level of integrity, compliance, and experience. Customers will also enjoy Augusta’s preferred pricing on bullion when dealing with these custodians.
Download the IRA Kit to get started.
Exclusive Benefits
Customers who decide to invest with Augusta Precious Metals enjoy some exclusive benefits that are not typical in the industry. These perks help Augusta Precious Metals stand out from competitors.
7-Days Price Protection Program
If buying premium metals, customers can lock in the rate as soon as it is confirmed by phone. They can also cancel the same order within seven days, no questions asked. For bullions, however, the confirmation only happens once your account has received the payment.
Bonus For New Accounts
If you open a gold IRA or make other qualifying investments, you could receive up to $2,000 worth of silver as a bonus.
Buy Back Program
The company is also proud to offer an excellent buyback program. You can sell back any precious metals that you purchased from them at competitive prices.
Customer Support
Augusta Precious Metals is a service-oriented company with competent and fully trained agents who work with clients throughout the investment journey.
Augusta Precious Metals is dedicated to making long-term relationships with each customer. They have their specialist for every account and assist at any stage of the buying journey, from first inquiry through distribution.
Customers get to work with various support personnel, such as an assigned support agent, the Augusta Precious Metals Economics team led by a Harvard Business Analytics Program member, and the order processing team.
The group works together to process 95% of the paperwork on behalf of their customers. This way, customers can focus more time and energy on making important investment decisions.
Website, Information, and Transparency
The majority of investors are not aware of the benefits and risks associated with precious metals. Many do not know how to invest in gold and silver, where to purchase them, or what storage options exist.
The first-timers don’t know how to invest in precious metals due to a lack of information. So how does their website hold up?
The website’s first impression is that it is intuitive, easy to navigate, and modern. The site dedicates an educational section with information about topics such as why you should invest in gold or silver, how to buy them, the simple process of identifying eligibility, and their storage options. They also have comprehensive articles on the benefits of owning gold and silver, inflation protection, and effective diversification.
Site visitors can also find a wide range of tools that help them with research, planning, and quicker decisions. The Tools & Resources section boasts an online calculator, free price chart, and current market news.
One of the most valuable resources for first-timers would be their free info kit which is a great resource and packs all the essential information to get you started.
Storage Options and Security
Augusta takes the security of your precious metals seriously. That’s why it partners with the International Depository Services Group (IDS) and Brinks Global Services to store your gold, silver in an IRS-approved facility that meets all of the government guidelines for precious metal storage.
Per regulations, you cannot keep this valuable asset at home – it needs to be stored by someone who will ensure it stays safe while accruing interest on its value over time through compounding growth rates.
The Facilities are privately owned and not associated directly with Augusta Precious Metals Investments group, but the company can arrange for the investors to visit and see their investments.
Customers can securely store your gold and silver in one of their seven highly-secured, IRS-approved facilities across the United States and Canada. In just seven to ten days after finalizing the purchase from the company, the package will arrive at any of the customer-preferred facilities.
These storage sites have been equipped with all necessary features to keep them compliant and insured for maximum protection against unforeseen natural disasters or events.
Some security features include 24-hour surveillance cameras, electronic locks on doors that require biometric scans, and fail-safe alarms throughout the facility.
For non-IRA private purchases or personal investments, Augusta Precious Metals can ship Gold and Silver to your home or PO box anywhere in the US. It is fully insured domestic shipping with 100% free insurance, so you never have to worry about anything happening during shipment. If it gets lost (never happened yet), they will refund the buying price in full.
However, storing Gold and Silver at home or in a PO box isn’t a good idea for security and safety reasons.
Costs And Fee Structure
Fees and costs can be a significant consideration for investors. While it may seem like the fees are manageable at first, they can quickly add up to a substantial amount over time. It is wise to consider all of the potential expenses and fees beforehand to make an informed decision.
It can be challenging for some people to figure out what kind of fee structures they should expect when investing with an IRA company – especially those who have never done it before.
Fortunately, Augusta Precious Metals has a standard cost structure, which aligns with other industry custodians. Furthermore, they offer competitive pricing schemes and reduced costs that contribute to their popularity with investors of all types.
We’ve researched Augusta Precious Metal’s fees, and the breakdown below will give you a general idea of what you can expect. Please be aware that some costs are not openly declared on their website, so be sure to contact customer service for up-to-date information.
Admin and Miscellaneous Fees
When you invest with Augusta Precious Metals, there are a few initial fees to take into consideration. The initial account opening fee is $50. The annual custodian fees vary depending on your portfolio size. It starts at USD75 for accounts up to $100,000 or going up to USD125 if your portfolio is over that amount.
The depository storage fee and handling and handling charges are $100 annually, but shipping plus insurance are provided free for qualified orders.
Precious Metals Prices
Gold and silver’s actual cost depends on the current market price, which fluctuates. Augusta Precious Metals is upfront about their markup, which currently stands at around five percent over cost for silver and gold coins and bullions.
Apart from the markup, there are no additional commission fees added to quoted prices. There’s a price match guarantee of up to ten days after the precious metals purchase. If you could source a better price elsewhere, then Augusta will match that price.
Gold and silver IRA accounts require a minimum investment of US$50,000, while non-IRA accounts need at least $25,000 to get started.
Rating, Accreditation, Complaints and Scam reports
According to an independent review site IRAGoldAdvisor.com, Augusta Precious Metals is the most trusted gold IRA company in America. From BBB and AAA ratings from BCA with a 5/5 rating on Trustlink- which named Augusta Gold as their best of 4 years running, the company had only one complaint.
The company has been highly rated by industry professionals and customers alike for its impeccable customer service standards.
If you want a hint of Augusta Precious Metals’ company culture, take a look at glassdoor.com, where the reviews are rated at an almost perfect score of four and a half stars.
Many reviewers appreciated their structured service, while others enjoyed being treated with respect by the company.
Common Questions
How to check my gold ira performance?
You can quickly go to the website and log in to your account to take a look. The company also provides quarterly statements on investment performance so that their clients know exactly where all of the funds are going.
How to withdraw my investment?
There are many ways to withdraw your investments at Augusta Precious Metal. You can either take a full or partial distribution anytime, and you have the option of taking physical metal from storage or receiving cash wire value directly wired by Augusta. However, be aware that there is an early withdrawal penalty for doing so as regulated by IRS.
If you’re 70-½ or older, it’s crucial to take RMDs (required minimum distributions) from your investments. The Augusta Precious Metal site has an RMD calculator that can help determine the amount of money needed for these withdrawals. Make sure to consult with a qualified tax professional before doing anything.
How much can I earn?
Investing in gold and silver can be a great way to balance your investment portfolio. Historically, both metals have performed well as long-term investments; however, there is always the risk of loss like any other type of asset you chose.
However, investing in precious metal IRA could effectively hedge against rising prices that devalue paper assets if inflation occurs.
Are there any hidden fees?
The company is very transparent about its pricing and refund policies.
Augusta’s website spells out many details about their products, but certain information like the metal costs will need to be called into their customer service.
To get a complete understanding of the fees, it is recommended to talk to their helpful customer support and then read the transaction agreement for any changes or updates that may be made.
How long is the purchase process?
The process to purchase the precious metals can take anywhere from 5 up to 10 days. It also depends on how fast the bank or the IRS releases the funds.
Conclusion
Augusta Precious Metals is an industry leader in gold IRA services. They’ve been around for almost half a century and have the experience to back up their expertise. With such high customer satisfaction rates, it’s no surprise that they’re one of the most trusted names in this field.
This company offers first-time buyers experienced investors everything from bulk purchase discounts and lifetime customer service. If you want more information about what they can do for your retirement portfolio or need help deciding how much gold to invest in, request their free Gold Guide to get started.