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Augusta Precious Metals leads the pack when it comes to gold IRAs. It also offers physical gold and silver at competitive prices. The company has been consistently voted as the best gold IRA firm because of its outstanding track record, performance, and customer satisfaction ratings. Augusta Precious Metals Reviews are 100% positive. Here’s our own review to help you decide if it is the right company for you.
Who Is Augusta Precious Metals?
Augusta Precious Metals is your best ally if you’re thinking of opening or diversifying your individual retirement portfolio. The firm is committed to helping you navigate through the process - from precious metal selection up to the time of asset liquidation. Suffice it to say that when you sign up for an account with Augusta Precious Metals, you enjoy the highest standard of long-term services.
The family-owned company believes that investing is a marathon, and not a sprint. It has a well-trained staff that is committed to helping you achieve your financial and retirement goals. It knows that investing requires preparation, guidance from experts, knowledge of current trends, and trust. The unique approach of conducting webinars to make you familiar with the company, services, products, risks, and rewards of investing is a big factor when making the right decision.
Augusta Precious Metals was built in 2012 by CEO Isaac Nuriani. Its primary office is located at 5830 East 2nd Street, Casper, WY, United States. The prime purpose of Augusta is to help retirement savers protect their investments by adding gold, silver, or other precious metals. It provides personalized services to ensure that every client decides on the right option and plan. All paperwork is handled by an account specialist assigned to you, making your investing experience stress-free.
Furthermore, its own compliance department is composed of three people, including the chief compliance administrator who is selected from outside the company to ensure fair practices.
(AMERICAN HARTFORD GOLD) | A+ BBB Rating • Buy Back Commitment • Solid selection of Gold and Silver bullion • Steller Customer Service.
What Services Do They Offer?
Augusta Precious Metals has a wide selection of IRA-approved gold and silver coins and bullion bars. These products hedge your investment against future inflation and global economic concerns that decline the value of the dollars.
Gold & Silver IRA
This is a self-directed IRA where an investor can optimize the benefits of owning physical gold and silver to back up their assets. This type of investment is allowed by the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act to help individuals have another option to protect their retirement savings, and grow their wealth. With a gold or silver IRA, the owner enjoys a tax-deferred privilege.
Augusta’s team will keep you well-informed about the benefits and features of a gold IRA. Once you are ready, an agent will assist you when filling up the necessary forms and initiating the funding process of your new account. After purchasing your preferred metal, it will be transferred free of charge with no-cost travel insurance to your chosen storage facility. Augusta will represent you as your liaison to the custodian.
Gold & Silver Cash Purchases
This is for people who want to own physical gold or silver coins, and store them in their vaults. Having them in possession allows personal control and management of precious metal assets. You can store the precious metals at home or rent a bank vault. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that you can see and hold them whenever you want to.
As a trusted dealer of precious metals outside of IRAs, Augusta offers collectible coins that are certified by several independent grading firms such as Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). There is a designated department that will handle your purchase, helping you decide which among the options fits your needs.
When you purchase gold or silver in cash, you are entitled to a high level of service from the company’s precious metals specialists and its specialized departments. With lifetime access to gold and silver professionals, you can further explore the potential and advantages of buying more alternative assets. This means you will be enjoying the exclusive mentorship via web conferences.
Paying cash for selected gold or silver bars and coins helps you avoid the digital recording and mainstream banking systems. Augusta will handle the delivery, providing free shipping and no-cost transit insurance. Even the delivery person does not know the content of the package. To purchase, you simply need to fund your account with cash, buy gold or silver from Augusta’s Order Desk, and sign the delivery form.
Lifetime Client Support Section
What makes Augusta Precious Metals apart from most of its competitors is the continual access to the precious metals professionals once you decide to purchase from them. As long as you have an active account, you can seek assistance from Augusta’s team of investment advisors. Navigating the investment path can be overwhelming and challenging, but with passionate people at your side from start to finish, investing becomes manageable.
It provides the following services:
Answers your questions or concerns regarding precious metals via phone or email and connect you with other departments.
Assists you on matters of fees, paperwork, or processing steps at no charge. This involves concerns about contributions, transfers, distributions, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and liquidations.
Educates you about economic recap or investment updates
Helps you when you want to buy more gold and silver. This also includes administering precious metals buybacks.
Confirms your purchases.
Augusta’s outstanding customer service is famous in the industry. It has a 24-hour assistance center via phone call or online chat. New clients are assisted by their assigned agents to make the onboarding process convenient.
Augusta Precious Metals Pros and Cons
Pros
Easy setup of account
Competitive pricing of gold and silver bullions
Transparent fee structure
No sales commission
A streamlined approach that starts with educating the client
Excellent reviews
Lifetime customer support of dedicated and expert specialists
Cons
Minimum investment of $50,000
Limited metal selection as it offers gold and silver only
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Minimum Investment & Fees
Start-up
Anyone who wants to set up an IRA account needs at least $50,000. The high minimum threshold places Augusta Precious Metals in the premium status of gold IRA companies. It does not impose maximum investment.
There is also a one-time $50 application fee when you open your gold IRA. Other fees to expect are:
$125 administration fee annually if your account is up to $100,000
$75 administration fee annually if the account is more than $100,000
Custodial Fees
There is an annual custodian maintenance fee of $100. However, during the first year, the charge would be $250.
Shipping and Storage
Augusta Precious Metals offers a free shipping fee for qualifying orders of precious metals. However, the company imposes a $100 annual storage fee.
Bid and Spread
Augusta is known for being transparent when it comes to the selling prices of gold and silver. It provides customers with real-time prices which helps clients know the spread during the bidding.
What Makes Augusta Precious Metals Unique
If you are a collector of coins, Augusta Precious Metals is for you. It has an extensive array of the purest, finest, and most popular gold or silver coins. Unfortunately for those looking for platinum and palladium, this company does not include them in their list of precious metals.
When you choose to set up a metal precious IRA with Augusta, you need to decide which asset to back up your retirement policy. You can select gold, silver, or a combination of two metals to maximize your financial goals.
This award-winning company has the highest fineness and quality levels of physical gold and silver coins or bullions. The value of gold bullions is based on their weight and gold content. The gold coins or bars must meet the purity standards of precious metals before they can be considered for tax-advantaged individual retirement accounts (IRAs). All available gold bars and coins in IRA are 99.5% pure, except the American Gold Eagle coin which is only 91.67% pure.
The Silver Products of Augusta Precious Metals are 99.9 pure, which is considered the IRA Silver “gold standard.” All silver bars and coins in precious metal IRAs are 99.9% pure. Silver coins with 999 fineness are 99.9% pure. Silver bullions are not 100% pure because there are traces of copper in them. Copper makes them durable. The value of silver depends on the coin’s weight and the silver content.
Here are the coins you can purchase for your IRA:
American Eagle (gold)
American Eagle Proofs (gold)
Canadian Maple Leaf (gold)
Gold Canadian Eagle
American Buffalo (gold)
Australian Striped Marlin (gold)
Canadian Silver Soaring Eagle
Canadian Silver Eagle with Nest
American Silver Eagle
Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
Augusta Precious Metals is also known for transparency in terms of prices and fees. Its fee structure is straightforward. To guarantee fair pricing, it offers 7-day price protection and 100% return of money for new customers. There is no commission added to the prices of their gold or silver coins. Moreover, Augusta has an amazing buy-back policy program when you want to liquidate your assets.
The gold and silver products of Augusta are classified into Premium and Common. Their value may decrease or increase in value. The prices of Common Bullion Products depend on the value of the metal content.
For outside IRA, here are the available coins and bullions:
Gold Premium
2022 St. Helena Gold Sovereign
2018 The Rose Crown Guinea
2017 Great Britain ¼oz Gold Year of the Rooster
2016 Great Britain ¼oz Gold Year of the Monkey
2015 Canadian .25 Gold $10 Polar Bear and Cub
2014 Canadian .25% Gold $10 Arctic Fox
American Gold Buffalo Proof
Gold American Eagle Proof
Certified American Eagle
Certified American Buffalo
$20 Saint Gaudens
$10 Indian
Silver Premium
American Silver Eagle 1oz BU (random year)
Canadian Siler Maple Leaf
Austrian Philharmonic Silver
Silver Round 1oz – Our Choice Hallmark
America the Beautiful
Canadian Silver 5 Blessings
Silver 50% Bag (various face values)
Silver Bar
Common Gold Bullion
Gold American Eagle
Gold America Buffalo
Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
Austrian Gold Philharmonic
South African Gold Krugerrand
Gold Bar 10oz and Gold Bar 1oz (Our Choice Hallmark)
Common Silver Bullion
American Silver Eagle
Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
Austrian Philharmonic Silver
Silver Round 1oz
America the Beautiful (Cumberland Gap, Fort Moultrie, or Effigy Mounds)
Canadian Silver 5 Blessings
Silver 90% Bag (in $100, $250, $500, $1,000)
Silver Bar (10oz, 100oz) Our Choice Hallmark
(AMERICAN HARTFORD GOLD) | A+ BBB Rating • Buy Back Commitment • Solid selection of Gold and Silver bullion • Steller Customer Service.
Augusta Precious Metals IRA Custodian Section
IRS mandates gold IRA companies to store the backup precious metals at their approved and recommended third-party depository. Augusta Precious Metals does not offer in-house IRA custodianship, but recommends its partners across the United States. The storage facilities can be found in Las Vegas, NV; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Nampa, ID; Salt Lake City, UT; South Fargo, ND; Shiner, TX; New Castle, DE; Bridgewater, MA; Dallas, TX; and Wilmington, DE.
It outsources the gold and silver to its recommended custodians. Its preferred depository is the Delaware Depository, an IRC-408n authorized IRS storage and is insured by Lloyds of London for $1 billion.
Augusta’s recommended custodians are:
Equity Trust – With over 30 years of experience and serving 50 states as a provider of self-directed IRAs, this custodian company has managed more than $25 billion in assets.
GoldStar Trust Company – It has approximately 38,000 self-directed IRAs and is part of the Happy State Bank in Texas. GoldStar receives an A+ rating from BBB.
Kingdom Trust – Managing around $12 billion in assets, it has been a long-time partner of Augusta in the custodianship of precious metals. It is serving more than 100,000 clients and specializes in providing unique and innovative custody solutions.
If you decide to store it in another facility because it is more convenient for you, you can tell your account agent. After confirmation, your purchased precious metals will arrive for safekeeping within 7 to 10 days. While in the custody, you can visit the facility to see your assets or withdraw them. However, take note that early withdrawal is subject to certain penalties and taxes as stated in your IRA policy.
All depository storage facilities are safe and secure. They are mostly located far from political and financial centers. Augusta makes sure that they are legally documented and well-trusted by the industry. These privately-owned facilities are not in any way associated with the company. Each facility employs tight access-control protocols and uses top-of-the-line security systems.
Security features include:
Class 3 security vaults
Fortified building
Strict inventory controls
Insured to $1 billion
Compliant with industry rules and regulations
Direct contact with the staff
Augusta Precious Metals 2022 Reviews, Ratings, and Complaints Section
Its decade-long presence in the savings and investment industry has solidified the positive reputation of Augusta Precious Metals. It earned the highest ratings from independent review organizations. Its exemplary performance earned the company the most coveted business awards – the Stevie Award for Customer Service Success and the Sales Distinction of the Year Award. It is a registered member of Ethics.net.
Reviews
Overall, Augusta Precious Metals Reviews are highly-impressive. There was one poor review from Sitejabber’s unverified customer in the past, but since the identity was not established, it was unreliable.
5.0 (5 Stars) from TrustLink and has been included in the “Best of” list for many years
4.9 ratings (5 stars) from Google My Business
5.0 ratings from Consumer Affairs
4.8 ratings (Very High Rating) from Facebook
5.0 ratings from Yelp
Here are some excerpts:
Hall of Fame Quarterback recipient Joe Montana has nothing but praises. “Augusta Precious Metals has been a great company to work with.” “I want to applaud Augusta for their team approach, professionalism, and efficiency.”
World-Class Precious Metals IRA Service – client Ryan S “They’re knowledgeable, thorough, thoughtful, and responsive. You’d do well to consider this unparalleled opportunity w/ a wonderful company.”
Augusta Precious Metals educates – client Richard G “Working with Augusta Precious Metals was very informative, educational, professional...The financial transactions were smooth and fully explained. Again, their patience and expertise were evident.”
Augusta Metals are great – Thomas S “When you work with them, you’re treated like family.”
Consummate professionals with integrity- Greg R “They are consummate professionals, I recommend Augusta Precious Metals without any hesitation whatsoever, and I remain grateful to those two gentlemen (Sean and Frank) whose professionalism was outstanding.”
Honest, reliable, and saved me lots of time – Jayson T “Augusta is the company to go to when it comes to customer service and gold IRAs.”
First-time buyer – Armen A “As a 1st time buyer of precious metals, I really knew nothing. An informative, pressure-free, and clear presentation explained all the options…in the end, I felt quite comfortable & well informed with the process.”
The kind of company I look forward to doing business with – Gregory W “You couldn’t ask for a more straightforward presentation and Q & A in a short amount of time.”
Excellent company – Louise S “We were very impressed with the company…with great confidence, they handle the processing of the account completely and make it easy.”
Extremely happy – Tamara W “They took a lot of time with us, handled everything very well, and built up our confidence…”
Ratings
A+ rating (4.97%) from Better Business Bureau (BBB)
AAA rating from Business Consumer Alliance (BCA)
Most-Trusted Gold IRA Company in the United States by IRAGoldAdvisor.com
Reviews from verified reviewers of BBB, Consumer Affairs, and Facebook:
Todd U says – “Very solid and professional presentation.”
Alain of New York – “Very educational from the beginning learning the ins and outs of a Gold and Silver IRA. I highly recommend Augusta Precious Metals.”
Stephanie Drum recommends Augusta – “I would like to express that was a great presentation. It was informative and interesting.”
Complaints
Augusta’s track record is very impressive. There is no negative complaint against the company in Business Consumer Alliance. However, in 2019, there was an allegation that it had sold bullion products more than the allowed statutory thresholds. The company didn’t register the sale with the authority first. This legal issue between Augusta and the Minnesota Department of Commerce was handled by the Better Business Bureau. The matter was resolved already, but it was unclear if the company has paid the $3,000 fine or it was waived.
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How to Get Started with Augusta Precious Metals
Before the clients can open an IRA with Augusta Precious Metals, they need to undergo a one-on-one web conference with Devlyn Steele, the director of the department handling education. Everything you need to know is included in the presentation such as setting up an account, fees, economic factors that influence the market price of gold and silver, and strategies that other gold IRA firms employ to gain investors. You can ask for clarification in the Q & A portion.
Opening a self-directed IRA is straightforward. You just need to follow these 3 steps:
Step 1: Create your new IRA. It requires filling up a form to open an account.
Step 2: Fund your IRA. It involves rolling over the funds from your existing IRA, Roth IRA, 401 (k), 403 (K), or other types of retirement account. You will be guided by an account executive to ensure a smooth rollover process.
Step 3: Purchase gold or silver. Buy IRS-approved, US-minted coins like the American Gold Eagles or American Silver Eagles. You can also check the list of coins that are minted by other countries but approved by the IRS. The prices depend on the market rates.
Final Thought - Augusta Precious Metals Reviews
At this juncture, we can honestly say that when it comes to the Augusta Precious Metals Reviews, stellar track record, trustworthiness, performance, transparency, and customer service, it is among the best gold IRA companies in the United States. Its education-first approach sets it apart from the rest. This gives would-be clients advanced knowledge on what to expect about gold IRA, its benefits, and risks. Its gold IRA transfer or rollover is also simple and uncomplicated.
In general, Augusta is the perfect company for people who want a company that lives up to their expectations and delivers its promises.