Investment Rarities Review

Investment Rarities incorporated (IRI) is a financial services company that has been in business for over four decades. The company specializes in offering gold Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), which allow individuals to invest in physical gold as a way to diversify their retirement portfolio and potentially protect against inflation.

IRI offers a range of gold IRA products, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs. The company assists customers in setting up their gold IRA, choosing the right type of gold to invest in, and managing their accounts.

This Investment Rarities review aims at helping you decide if it is the right investment choice for you that provides a hedge against market volatility and economic uncertainty.

Our Rating Categories:

Our rating categories for this Investment Rarities Review are as follows;

1. Product Range and Services

2. Pricing

3. Customer Care

4. Company Reliability

5. Customer Reviews

Investment Rarities Review

Investment Rarities can be a great way to diversify your retirement portfolio. The company offers a variety of investment options, including gold, real estate and energy.

The Investment Rarities Gold IRA was created to help investors hold gold in a self-directed account. It is designed to help investors diversify their investment portfolio and protect against inflation. The fund also provides access to an experienced group of financial advisors who can assist you with your individual needs.

Review of Investment Rarities: Overall Rating: 3/5

The Bottom Line

From this review summary, there is no doubt that Investment Rarities incorporated (IRI) is a legitimate company that has been in operation for many years. They are accredited and has completed a significant number of transactions, which speaks to its credibility and experience in the industry.

It appears that in recent times, IRI has focused more on maintaining relationships with its existing clients rather than actively seeking out new ones.

To learn more about the IRI and its direction, we recommend subscribing to their newsletter. This may provide valuable insights and updates about the company's services and future plans. It is always a good idea to thoroughly research and consider all available information before making any investment decisions.

Product Range and Services

Investment Rarities does offer a wide range of products for individuals to invest in through precious metals IRA. This includes gold and silver in various forms, such as coins and bullion, as well as platinum and palladium. Customers can choose from a variety of different weights and denominations to suit their investment goals and budget.

It is worth noting that Investment Rarities primarily focuses on gold and silver investing, so the range of other products offered in their precious metals IRA may be more limited compared to some other IRA providers. For instance, neither Palladium nor Platinum is available with an IRA with IRI.

Investment Rarities Gold IRA Services

1. Gold coins and silver coins

Investment Rarities offers a variety of gold coins as well as silver coins for customers to choose from, including American gold Eagle, American silver eagle, American Gold buffalo, Canadian gold Maple Leaf, Canadian Silver Maple leaf, Gold Austrian Philharmonic and South African Krugerrand.

2. Gold and silver bars

IRI offers a variety of gold and silver bullion for customers to choose from as part of their precious metal IRA investment options. These bars are available in a range of sizes and weights, allowing customers to select the option that best fits their investment goals and budget.

Gold bars are available in weights ranging from 1 gram to 1 kilogram, and are produced by a variety of reputable mints such as the Perth Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint. Silver bars are also available in a range of weights, from 1 ounce to 100 ounces.

Investment Rarities offers both new and secondary market silver bar. Including the numismatic coins which they place in a consignment inventory and sell them for you, allowing customers to choose between the lower premiums of secondary market bars or the added security of new bars.

3. IRA setup and management

Investment Rarities helps customers set up and manage their precious metal IRAs, including choosing the right type of metal to invest in and managing the account.

Pricing - Is Investment Rarities Gold IRA a great value for money?

Investment Rarities partners with GoldStar Trust Company to help its clients set up IRAs. The fees for these accounts are coordinated by GoldStar, which charges a sliding scale fee based on the number of precious metals deposited in the account.

It's important to note that these fees may be higher than those of other options, which could impact the overall profitability of your investment.

However, a standout feature of Investment Rarities. (IRI) is their commitment to physical delivery, meaning that you will receive the actual gold, silver, or other precious metal that you purchase from the IRI. This is in contrast to other investment options that involve leverage or borrowing money to increase the potential return on your investment

It's important to thoroughly understand all available options and associated fees before moving forward with the creation of an account.

Investment Rarities Gold IRA costs/fees

GoldStar Trust company is a custodian that partners with Investment Rarities to help clients set up IRAs. As a custodian, GoldStar trust company is responsible for handling the administration and management of these accounts, including the collection and disbursement of funds.

GoldStar charges a fee for its services, which is typically based on a sliding scale that increases as more precious metals are deposited in the account. The specific fee structure will depend on the specific terms of the IRA.

GoldStar Trust company charges the following fees for IRA accounts:

• Annual maintenance fee

A base fee of $75, typically the total market value of the assets in the account is subject to a fee of 0.0008. GoldStar charges this yearly maintenance fee for its IRA accounts, which covers the cost of administering the account and maintaining account records.

• Application fee 

$25. This is the applicable fee for setting up a new IRA account with GoldStar precious metals dealer

• Transaction fee

GoldStar charges a transaction fee for any trades or purchases made within the IRA account. Typically $40 for each purchase or sale of precious metals.

•  Storage fee

Depends on the type and amount of precious metals being stored. For example, the fee for storing gold bars is $1.50 per year per ounce, and the fee for storing silver coins is $0.50 per year per ounce.

Minimum investment

It is unclear what the minimum investment requirements are for Investment Rarities, as the company has not disclosed pricing information for its assets on its website or any other online resources.

This lack of transparency raises questions about the company's services and leads to speculation that their may be hidden fees and prices for individual assets, such as certified gold and silver coins and bullion, may be inflated. It is important to carefully research and consider all available options before making any investment decisions.

Customer Care  - Does Investment Rarities Gold IRA offers customized service and education?

It is true that Investment Rarities provides answers to frequently asked questions on their website, but it lacks an extensive resource of educational materials that may be helpful to clients and visitors.

While the company's founder has written two books focused on the precious metal market, this may not be sufficient to provide the level of education and guidance that many investors are seeking.

An updated library, such as a blog with regularly published articles, and videos, would be a valuable resource for clients looking to make informed investment decisions.

While Investment Rarities has a long track record of providing services in the precious metal market, expanding their educational resources could be an area for improvement.

Investment Rarities Gold IRA Educational materials

Investment Rarities (IRI) offers periodic newsletters to help keep investors informed about the current state of the precious metal market. In addition to these newsletters, the company's website also features a helpful FAQ section and two books written by Jim Cook that delve into the gold and silver market. These resources are available to investors at no extra cost.

Company Reliability 

Investment Rarities Gold IRA has been in business since 1974. Investment Rarities Gold IRA has been operating in the precious metals industry for nearly 50 years. This long history is a testament to the reliability and stability of the company, as it has consistently provided investment opportunities to its clients for decades.

Over the course of its 48 years in operation, Investment Rarities (IRI) has completed 400,000 transactions for 60,000 customers, totaling $3 billion in sales and deliveries. This extensive track record demonstrates the IRI's experience and reliability in the precious metals industry

The fact that Investment Rarities Gold IRA has been in business for such a long time suggests that it has a strong reputation and a track record of success. This can give potential investors confidence in their ability to handle their investment needs and provide a good return on their investment.

In addition to its long history, Investment Rarities Gold IRA is a well-established company that has likely navigated numerous market fluctuations and challenges over the years. This resilience and adaptability is another indication of the company's reliability and its ability to provide a stable and secure investment option.

Investment Rarities Gold IRA Company history and background

Investment Rarities Inc. (IRI) is a precious metals dealer based in the United States. The company was founded in 1974 by James U. Blanchard III, who is also known as Jim Cook.

Since its inception, IRI has focused on providing investors with access to physical gold, silver, and other precious metals as a way to diversify their investment portfolios and protect against economic downturns.

Throughout its history, IRI has gained a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy source for precious metal investments. The company works with both individual investors and financial institutions and offers a range of investment options including gold and silver coins, bullion, and rounds.

IRI is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has a network of authorized dealers located throughout the United States. The company is a member of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) and the American Numismatic Association (ANA), and adheres to the highest ethical standards in the industry.

Customer Reviews - Is Investment Rarities Gold IRA top-rated by clients?

It is strange that Investment Rarities incorporated (IRI), a company that has been in business for over 40 years, has only a few user rating and customer reviews available online. This may be a concern for potential investors who want to thoroughly research a company before investing in a Gold IRA through them.

While there are some positive reviews featured on the IRI website, it is important to consider reviews from independent sources as well in order to get a more well-rounded understanding of their services.

Unfortunately, the few reviews that are available online from various sources do not paint a particularly positive picture of IRI. Many reviewers have reported that the company charges higher prices compared to other precious metal dealers, which could be a deterrent for some investors.

It is important to carefully research and compare prices and services from multiple companies before making a decision about where to invest. While IRI may have a long history and some positive reviews, it is important to carefully consider all available information before making any investment decisions.

Investment Rarities Gold IRA independent 3rd party customer reviews

Here is a summary of 3rd party review websites for Investment Rarities incorporated (IRI) available on Yelp, Trustlink, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website:

• Yelp

IRI has a rating of 2 out of 5 stars based on 2 reviews. One customer gave a 5-star review and praised IRI's customer service and knowledge, stating that they had a "wonderful experience" with IRI.

However, the other customer gave a 1-star review and reported that they were "very disappointed" with the IRI's pricing and sales tactics, stating that they felt "taken advantage of."

• Trustlink

Investment Rarities incorporated (IRI) has a rating of 3 out of 5 stars based on 2 customer reviews on Trustlink which is one of the top review websites online.

One customer gave the company a 5-star review and praised their customer service, stating that they had a "great experience" with IRI and that the staff was "friendly and helpful."

The other customer gave the company a 1-star review and reported that they were "very disappointed" with their experience, stating that the company's prices were higher compared to other precious metal dealers and that the sales representative was "pushy."

• BBB

IRI has a BBB rating of A+ based on 3 customer reviews. Two customers gave the company a 1-star rating and reported BBB complaints concerning issues with the company's pricing and sales practices, as well as difficulty getting a refund or receiving their orders in a timely manner.

The third customer gave a 3-star rating and reported that their experience with the company was "okay," but noted that they felt the prices were higher compared to other precious metal dealers. BCA complaints are not listed, Citysearch has 2 reviews.

It’s noteworthy that IRI doesn’t have any reviews on Trustpilot, Ripoff report, Yellow pages or even a claimed business profile in these top review websites.

Overall, it appears that customers have had mixed experiences with IRI as seen by the varying ratings. Some customers have praised the customer service and others have expressed their frustration with the company's pricing and sales practices. It is important to carefully consider all available information, including independent customer reviews, before making any investment decisions.

Alternatives to Investment Rarities

If Investment Rarities Gold IRA so far said doesn’t sound like the right gold investment platform for you, consider the two Investment Rarities alternatives below;

>>CLICK HERE to read our list of the top gold investing companies.<<

• Alternative 1- Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals is a US-based company that offers precious metal Individual Retirement Account (IRA) services, including a wide range of options such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

In addition to offering a diverse selection of investment options, they also provides educational resources, including written and video materials, to help clients make informed decisions.

However, it's worth noting that Augusta Precious Metals has a minimum investment requirement of $50,000 and charges several transaction fees. These include a one-time setup fee of $50, an annual custodian fee of $100, and an annual depository fee of $100. The combined cost of these fees can add up to a relatively high setup cost of around $50,250 in the first year. It's important to carefully consider the costs and fees associated with any investment account before making a decision.

Read the full review of Augusta

•  Alternative 2 - Goldco

For over a decade, Goldco has been helping investors diversify their portfolios and protect their retirement savings through gold and precious metal investments.

As a leading provider of gold Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) in the United States, Goldco is committed to delivering top-quality services and helping clients grow their wealth through these types of investments.

When working with Goldco, there are several costs to be aware of, including a one-time IRA setup fee of $50, a wire fee of $30, and an annual maintenance fee of $80. The company also offers two storage options for your gold and precious metals investments: a segregated storage option for $150, or a non-segregated storage option for $100.

Read the full review of Goldco

How to invest in Investment Rarities

Opening an IRA account with IRI requires paperwork. To open a precious metal IRA account with Investment Rarities Inc. (IRI), you will need to complete the following steps;

1. Visit the Goldstar Trust website, scroll down to the "Account Application Kit - Precious Metals" section.

2. Download the PDF application form and fill it out completely, making sure to provide accurate and verifiable information.

3. Scan and submit the completed form back to Goldstar Trust.

4. You should be contacted within a few days, typically within 14 working days, to complete the account setup process.

Please note that IRI partners with Goldstar Trust to set up IRAs, so you will be interacting with their website platform for the majority of the account setup process. It is important to carefully read and follow the instructions provided in the application kit in order to ensure a smooth and efficient account setup process.

Do We Recommend Investment Rarities?

Based on our research, we do not recommend Investment Rarities Inc. (IRI) for the following reasons;

• Higher-priced investments

Many reviewers have reported that IRI charges higher prices compared to other precious metal dealers, which could make it a less cost-effective option for some investors.

• High fees through Goldstar Trust partner

IRI partners with Goldstar Trust to set up IRAs, and some reviewers have reported that the fees associated with this process are higher than those charged by other companies.

• Time-consuming and outdated paperwork process

Some reviewers have reported that the process of setting up an IRA account with IRI can be time-consuming and involves outdated paperwork procedures.

• Dominance of poor reviews by frustrated clients

While there are some positive reviews of IRI available online, the majority of the reviews that can be found are negative, with many reviewers expressing frustration with the company's services.

• Limited information available online

There are relatively few reviews of IRI available online, which could make it difficult for potential investors to get a clear picture of the company's services and reputation.

Given these factors, we believe that IRI may not be the best option for investors, particularly those who are new to the world of retirement portfolios. We recommend considering other options that may offer more competitive pricing, streamlined processes, and more information available online.

Our Verdict : 3/5