When you open a new IRA with Birch Gold Group, the process is completed in about one business day. Any delays that occur are often on the end of the original custodian of the account from which you are transferring. In these cases, you could experience average delays of two weeks depending on your previous custodian.
Birch Gold Group Review
The best about Birch Gold Group
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Wide range of IRA products
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Setting up an account is quick and easy
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Alot of free educational resources for their clients
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Their customer service team maintains an excellent and open communication line with their clients
Ready to Protect Your Retirement Savings?
Visit Birch Gold GroupBefore we get started with this review:
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Birch Gold Group gold IRA Company Review
Birch Gold Group is ranked #4 out of our top recommended gold IRA companies
In this Birch Gold Group company review, we’ve rated the company in the lower portion of our scale because the nature of Gold IRAs can be somewhat volatile and unfamiliar for those who are more used to traditional asset holdings. While customers should know that is expected for this market, it’s not for everyone.
Despite great reviews concerning their exceptional customer service, the company does utilize some high fees, and it requires a more extensive level of investment with high minimums, which may exclude some potential clients who find it too expensive.
Today, we’ll dive into the inner workings of the Birch Gold Group and review their products and services as well as customer care and reliability. But first, here’s our summary of what we’ve found out about the company’s pros and cons.
Birch Gold Group Pros & Cons
Benefits
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According to customers, the company’s customer service earns top marks
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The company also holds exceptional standing with investment companies and professionals and not just clients
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For transfers over $50,000, customers forego fees for their first year
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The company has many educational resources for its clients, and good communication is one of its top priorities
Disadvantages
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There may be some hidden fees. The company’s website references both annual fees and set-up fees without giving actual figures since they are subject to change
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High minimum investment amounts apply for orders and IRAs
Birch Gold Group Key Summary
| PRoducts & Services | |
| YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT | 2003 |
| Assets Offered | Gold coins, bars, and bullion Silver coins and bars Platinum coins Palladium coins and bars |
| Products and Services offered | Gold IRA, Silver IRA, 401(K) Rollover, Precious Metal Acquisition, Tradition and Roth Planning, SER and Simple IRA planning |
| Annual Fees | $80 |
| Storage Fees | $100 |
| Minimum IRA Investment | $10,000 |
| Minimum Non-IRA Investment | $5,000 |
| Promotion | $10,000 |
| Customer Service | Phone, Email |
| Ratings | |
| BBB Rating (A+ to F) | A+ |
| BBB Complaints | 8 |
| BCA Rating (AAA to F) | AAA |
| BCA Complaints (last 3 years) | 2 |
| Trustlink Rating | 5 out of 5 Stars |
| GENERAL | |
| Preferred Depository | Delaware Depository Services Co |
| Preferred Custodian | Self-Directed IRA Services |
| Physical IRA Application | Yes |
| Digital IRA Application | No |
| Fees | |
| Set Up | $50 for setup + $30 for the wire transfer |
| Admin (annually) | $80 |
| Storage (annually) | $100 |
Birch Gold Group Category Ratings
In our Birch Gold Group Review, we’ve tested several major competitors on the market to determine how Birch Gold Group compares.
| Product Range and Services | 4.7/5 |
| Pricing | 4.7/5 |
| Customer Care | 4.6/5 |
| Company Reliability | 4.8/5 |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7/5 |
| Total | 4.6/5 |
The Bottom Line - Do We Recommend Birch Gold Group?
Birch Gold Group is a precious metals dealer that helps customers create and hold Gold and Precious Metals IRAs. This company is both a seller of precious metals and a resource, using its IRA department to help customers with their retirement investments outside of the parameters of traditional assets.
You won’t find any groundbreaking or out-of-the-ordinary services here. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a quality group. What sets Birch Gold Group apart, according to customers, is its exceptional customer care education efforts.
What sets Birch Gold Group apart, according to customers, is its exceptional customer care education efforts.
– CEO – GoldGuide.com – Mikael Jonson
Invest in Gold & Silver | Request Free Investment Kit from Birch Gold Group
Product Range and Services
Compared to other precious metals investment companies, Birch Gold Group offers an impressive range of precious metals for customer purchase. The company has a host of many different offerings in gold and silver, with offerings also in the rare categories of palladium and platinum bullion.
Beyond its physical precious metals for purchase, the company offers the usual investment services one would expect through its IRA department.
Birch Gold Group Services
Birch Gold Group makes it easy to open a Gold or Silver IRA. Here, you can complete the whole process in one place. Firstly, Birch will help you set up a custodian licensed to handle your Precious Metals IRA. Although Birch has preferred custodians, they’ll work with you if your preferred custodian is certified.
Next, to set up the Birch Group Silver and Gold IRA, the company helps you acquire the physical precious metals for your IRA and guides you through the process. Because the IRS does not accept all precious metals for IRA holding, Birch Precious Metals Specialists take care of the whole process, ensuring that your IRA is created correctly.
Once you purchase the precious metals (offered in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium), Birch will oversee their shipping and storing with the company’s preferred secured storage facilities, ensuring that your investment is safe. Once your precious metals are stored, Birch continues providing customer service and communication for your peace of mind.
Birch Gold Group also offers rollover assistance to help you convert many different kinds of investments. If you are looking to roll over on your Roth IRA, SEP IRA, Simple IRA, or eligible 401(k), 403(b), and more, Birch offers the services to get your funds efficiently and legally transitioned.
Gold Guide Rating: 4.7/5
Pricing
For the diversification security and investment opportunities it offers, our Birch Gold Group review shows that is an excellent value for the money. Although the precious metals market can sometimes be volatile, precious metals hold their value against inflation better than the dollar does.
When building your retirement account, this is especially important. You likely already know the benefits of diversifying your investment portfolio, but including precious metals adds a level of security, stability, and confidence to your portfolio.
Gold, in particular, has a proven inverted-value relationship with the dollar. In other words, when the U.S. dollar or stock value drops, the value of gold rises. This makes precious metals the ideal companion to your stock or bond investments, guaranteeing a rounded-out return over time. You can learn more about Gold IRA’s here
Birch Gold Group Costs and Fees
Birch’s fees and prices are somewhat consistent for all of these benefits that precious metals investment can offer. One-time fees include an account set-up fee of $40, wire transfer fees of $30, and transaction fees of $40.
Other fees include a yearly insurance and storage fee of $100 and a yearly management fee of $75. It’s worth noting, too, that your set-up fee can fluctuate based on which custodian you choose for your account and which storage service you select as well.
Minimum Investment
The minimum transaction amount for a Birch Gold Group Gold IRA is $10,000. However, the company often runs promotions that give customers $10,000 worth of free precious metals based on their order amounts.
Gold Guide Rating: 4.7/5
Birch Gold Group Customer Care
One of Birch Gold Group’s highest-ranking areas is that of customer education and care. Customers are overly satisfied time and time again with the company’s communication and efforts to help customers understand their investments both with and beyond the company itself.
For instance, the company explains on its website that precious metals, while a great complementary addition to any diversified investment portfolio, should not be the only investment asset you have.
Offering information and education without bias is one reason why customers love the attention to detail and dedication of Birch Gold Group.
Educational Materials
Chief in Birch Gold Group’s educational materials is their free 2021 Info Kit. Inside, customers will find everything they need to know about investing in precious metals and why gold and silver stand up so well to inflation. Customers can request the informational kit with no obligation of partaking in the company’s services.
Beyond this, Birch offers a wealth of information about the types of precious metals themselves and their functions for investors. This way, customers can understand the process and be knowledgeable about it in case they decide to open a Precious Metals IRA.
Even better, Birch does all it can to educate potential customers and makes sure that they are informed and confident during the process. Precious Metals Specialists are experienced staff members who help customers make informed and wise personal decisions about their investments.
Gold Guide Rating: 4.6/5
Company Reliability
Since 2003, Birch Gold Group has been working to change how Americans view precious metals investments and offer them a way to break into this great investment opportunity with all the information they need to be successful.
The customer satisfaction rates are proof of the company’s reliability. They also have a large number of top ratings on many review sites like the Better Business Bureau, the Business Consumer Alliance, Trust Pilot, and GoldDealerReviews.com.
Company History and Background
Birch Gold Group is American-based and has been working with customers since 2003 to help give them peace of mind about their retirement accounts. They began as a leading dealer of precious metals and then expanded their company to bring resources and education to clients in helping them build precious metals IRAs.
Housed in Burbank, California, right across from the Warner Brother Studios, they serve customers nationwide with their values of education, empathy, ethics, transparency, and efficiency. Their active mission is to empower customers and the general public to feel more confident with market factors that affect their investments and retirement funds.
Their staff has a wide range of experience, coming from companies like Citigroup, IBM, and Dun & Bradstreet. These employees comprise their Specialist group, which provides one-on-one care and optimized communication to answer all customer questions and earn trust.
Gold Guide Rating: 4.7/5
Customer Reviews
Clients who rate and review Birch Gold Group are often extremely satisfied, especially with the company’s customer service and education. While many customers have been thrilled with the website’s ease of use and educational resources, some provided negative customer responses. These are centered around several topics, including dissatisfaction with the commission costs, the volatility of the market, and the resulting losses.
Customer complaints on review websites seem to range from pricing and transparency to unresponsiveness to questions and over-responsiveness in pressuring them to do business. As with many companies, customer reviews often seem to contradict each other but can be critical indications of weak spots within a company.
Birch Gold Group Independent Third Party Customer Reviews
Among the third-party customer reviewing sites, Birch Gold Group tends to have high ratings and long-standing approval. For example, Birch maintains 4.8/5 review rankings with Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and Trust Link.
BBB
Overall, the company has a score of 4.86/5 on the Better Business Bureau’s website, with four customer feedback complaints closed in the previous twelve months and nine closed within the previous three years. They have an A+ accreditation score and have had accreditation since 2011.
However, the Better Business Bureau website features the most customer complaints of any other third-party review site.
Despite high satisfaction scores, customers still took to the site to complain about the commission structure, which one anonymous reviewer felt was deceitful, discrepancies in communication that were blamed on COVID-19, and extensive contact that bordered on scamming.
On the website, Birch Gold Group did respond to each of the complaints and attempted to resolve them with the dissatisfied customers, leaving no negative customer review unanswered or unresolved.
Consumer Affairs
On the Consumer Affairs website, out of 114 reviews, Birch Gold Group received a majority of five-star ratings. Most of these reviews mentioned the company’s outstanding customer service efforts, consistency in answering questions, availability for assistance, and transparency about purchases.
In the majority of cases, customers said they would recommend Birch Gold Group to friends.
However, the several negative reviews left by customers on the website focused on up-charged pricing compared to other companies and a vested interest in convincing customers to buy products not based on what they truly needed but what the company most wanted to sell.
Again, Birch Gold Group was careful to reach out to negative and positive reviewers alike on the Consumer Affairs website in attempts to clear the air. However, at the time of writing, some negative reviews were still left unanswered and unresolved on the site, which can be frustrating for customers and serve as confirmation for their communication-related complaints.
Trust Pilot
On the Trust Pilot website, Birch Gold Group garnered 95% “excellent” ratings, 3% “great” ratings, and 2% “bad” ratings, which is the lowest possible rating.
Positively-rating customers mention the ease of precious metals purchase they experienced with the company, the comfort they felt, and the personalized attention they received. Many satisfied customers also mentioned specific employees by name to call out their excellent service.
Customers on this site were especially impressed with the long-running service that Birch Gold Group offered. One customer mentioned that he needed to make some adjustments to his IRA after a year and found the same attentiveness and helpfulness that had drawn him to do business with Birch in the first place.
Frustrated customers who left “bad” ratings were dissatisfied with pricing, which they claimed was a rip-off in which they lost money so Birch Gold Group could make it. Unlike most of the other review sites, there is no evidence that the company attempted to reach out to dissatisfied customers on the Trust Pilot website.
Average star ratings
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Trustpilot: 4.8 stars
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BBB: 4.85 stars
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TrustLink: 4.9 stars
Gold Guide Rating: 4.7/5
How Does Birch Gold Group Compare to Other Top-rated Gold IRA Companies?
We also reviewed some other Gold IRA companies and evaluated them on the same criteria as Birch Gold Group . Here is how Birch Gold Group compared with them:
| RATING 1-5 WHERE 5 IS BEST | Goldco | Augusta Precious Metals | American Hartford | Birch Gold Group | Noble Gold |
| RANKING | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
| PRODUCT RANGE AND SERVICES | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.4 |
| PRICING | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| CUSTOMER CARE | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| COMPANY RELIABILITY | 5 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| CUSTOMER REVIEWS | 4.9 | 5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| TOTAL RATING | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
Alternatives to Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group vs the competition
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Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium
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$10,000
$5,000 non IRA
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80$
80$ Annually
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$100
Annually
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A+
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AAA
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None
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Gold & Silver IRA
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$25,000
$3,500 non IRA
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$50 + $30
$100 Admin Annually
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$150 Segregated
$100 Non Segregated
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A+
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AAA
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Get 10% back in FREE silver
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Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium
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$50,000
$50,000 non IRA
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$50
$200 Admin Annually
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$125
Annually
-
A+
-
AAA
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None
-
Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium
-
$10,000
$3,000 non IRA
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$0
$80 Admin Annually
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$150
Annually
-
A+
-
AA
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First-year fees waived for qualifying IRAs
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Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium
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$10,000
$10,000 non IRA
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$0
$80 Admin Annually
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$110
Annually
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D-
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AA
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Get a 10 year anniversary silver coin if you request the free investor kit
Alternatives to Birch Gold Group
If you find that Birch Gold Group is a bit beyond your price range, consider the two alternatives below as less expensive avenues for diversifying your portfolio with precious metals.
Both alternative companies score high in customer service and education efforts, which is a vital component that draws customers into the more expensive Birch Gold Group. Therefore, except for a few noted differences, the services of these companies should be comparable.
Alternative #1: GoldCo
GoldCo is our top-rated gold IRA investment company. They have incredible security for your assets at fair prices. The company started operating for over 15 years, and their IRA team offers unequaled professionalism, ensuring more straightforward and faster account management.
The company is one of the few gold investment firms that are client-focused. It prioritizes the interests of its customers and educates them on all issues before they invest. It also uses a client-centered approach, which gives customers more control over their money and accounts.
Goldco provides various storage options, high-quality IRS-approved precious metal goods, and complete fee transparency before signing contracts. They are a dependable business with a long list of satisfied customers.
Read our full review of Goldco
Alternative #2: Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals is known for its no-nonsense assistance for customers wanting to rollover on their IRAs or 401(k)s. The company also offers free portfolio reviews to help you decide what kind of diversification you need.
Specializing in gold and silver IRAs, Augusta Precious Metals has a minimum investment amount of $100,000, with yearly fees amounting to $180. For non-IRA services, these fees are lower. Also, in comparison to Birch’s offering of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, Augusta’s offerings of just gold and silver are somewhat narrow.
A unique benefit of working with Augusta Precious Metals is its price-check program, which allows comparative pricing in the purchase of precious metals. The company is also transparent about its commission practices and other fees and rates.
Augusta has incredible customer service; however, its IRA-opening process, although simple, can take up to two weeks to take effect.
Read our full review of Augusta Precious Metals.
Alternative #3: Noble Gold Group
As a relatively newer company, Noble Gold Group may not have the reputation that other precious metals dealers may have, but it makes up for it with customer service, education, and exceptional rates.
The minimum investment for Noble Gold Group is $2,000, which is a much more easily attainable threshold for anyone who wants to get started with precious metals investing.
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5/5 rating from Consumer Affairs, Noble Gold Group is also great at empowering customers and helping them without pushing products on them.
Noble Gold Group also offers hassle-free, no-brainer Royal Survival Packs, which pair the best types of precious metals together for easy purchasing to protect your investments.
If Noble Gold Group sounds like it may be a good fit for you, check out the full review here.
How To Invest With Birch Gold Group
At the end of the day, Birch Gold Group makes it easy to invest in precious metals. The first step is to visit the education page on the company’s website and request the freed 2021 Info Kit. After reviewing the information, reach out to their Precious Metals Specialists, who will walk you through the five easy steps of investing:
5 Easy steps:
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You’ll decide which fund source you want, from IRA to 401(K)
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Next, you’ll pick which precious metals you want to buy
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Review your order and purchase
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Decide how you want to store your metals
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Watch your IRA perform
From there, all you have to do is sit back and let Birch Gold Group take over.
How You Can Buy Gold to Protect Your Savings with Birch Gold Group
Do We Recommend Birch Gold Group?
Overall, our Birch Gold Group review whose that the company has excellent customer service ratings and marketplace trust compared to other companies and is committed to customer education. Their goal is to take the guesswork and hesitancy out of precious metals investing and empower customers to make intelligent changes to diversify their portfolios.
Like any other company, the Birch Gold Group company relies on commissions from its precious metals sales, which leads to some customers being upset that their IRA does not preserve the entire purchase price of their precious metals. However, utilizing resources to understand the way the market works can help customers to know what to expect.
Birch Gold Group does have high minimums and can have high fees compared to other groups, based on the services you choose. The transaction and order minimums could dissuade some potential customers from going through with purchases.
We would recommend Birch Group Gold for investors who have the funds necessary to contribute to the minimums for a Precious Metals IRA through the company. For those who don’t mind the associated high costs, Birch Group Gold offers fantastic customer service and communication that is well worth the price.
Overall, it’s essential to read for yourself and review Birch Gold Group based on the tremendous amount of information on their website to judge whether or not they would be a good fit for your investment goals.
Our Verdict : 4.6/5
Birch Gold Group’s excellent customer service education initiatives set them apart from the competition. Get in touch for a free consultation
Visit Birch Gold
Ready to Protect Your Retirement Savings?
Birch Gold Group's FAQs
1. What is the minimum investment for Birch Gold Group Gold Precious Metals IRA?
The minimum investment for all transactions with Birch Gold Group Precious Metals IRA is $10,000.
2. What type of metals should I have with my Birch Gold Group Gold IRA?
What types of metals you choose to purchase is up to you! However, it’s wise to diversify the types of metals you invest in, much like it’s wise to diversify your portfolio at large. If you’re unsure of which metals best suit your investment, Birch Gold Group’s educational website pages offer an explanation of which metals are best for which kinds of investments and why.
3. When would I be qualified for the Birch Gold Group Gold IRA distributions?
The current Required Minimum Distributions age begins at 72. However, it can vary based on the year you were born. At that age, the law requires minimum distributions. When you reach the legal age, you must take RMDs by lump sum or a series of regular withdrawals.
4. Is there a buy-back program for Birch Gold Group Gold IRA?
Yes! While your custodian can supply you with buy-back rates, the ones you will receive by request from your Precious Metals Specialist will be more accurate and up to date.
5. What storage options do I have with Birch Gold Group?
Birch Gold Group works with two metals depositories: Delaware Depository outside of New York City and Brink’s, which has several locations across the US.
6. Why would I need a custodian to handle precious metals in my Birch Gold Group Gold IRA?
Because the IRS requires that all IRAs have a custodian to manage assets, it is necessary by law to have a custodian that handles your precious metals with Birch Gold Group.
7. Who is the custodian of Birch Gold Group Precious Metals Gold IRA?
Birch Gold Group’s preferred custodian partners are Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company. These both have Better Business Bureau ratings of A or better.
8. How long will it take to roll over my IRA to the Birch Gold Groups Precious metals Gold IRA?
9. Can I Store My Precious Metals At Home After Purchasing them From Birch Gold Group?
In an IRS, gold, silver, and other precious metals must remain in the physical possession of any IRS-sanctioned trustees or bank.
However, if you didn’t purchase your precious metals via an IRA, you may keep them anywhere you choose. But we will recommend that you don’t store such valuables at home for security reasons.
10. Are There Any Guarantees From Birch Gold Group On The Precious Metals I Have In My IRA?
Several factors make it almost impossible to accurately predict the future of precious metals because they have no guarantee of future values. Hence, the company may not be able to guarantee your precious metal’s value at any particular time.
Because it is challenging to develop an investment without experiencing value fluctuations, precious metals investments are best suited as long-term investments.
