Birch Gold Group vs Augusta Precious Metals 2024 | Side by Side Comparison

Investing in gold IRAs is a sound strategy for protecting your retirement. This review compares Birch Gold Group and Augusta Precious Metals based on fees, precious metal options, reputation, and more.

What is Augusta Precious Metals?

Augusta Precious Metals is a provider of gold and silver IRAs. Established in 2012, the company seeks to protect retirement investors from inflation and stock market fluctuations by supporting them in diversifying their portfolios. It also provides customer support and a market for non-IRA precious metals.

What is Birch Gold Group?

Since its founding in 2003, the Burbank, California-based Birch Gold Group has made a name for itself in the gold investment industry. The company emphasizes client education to ensure that clients know the advantages and risks of investing in precious metals while taking care of their investment goals.

What is the similarity between what Birch Gold Group and Augusta Precious Metals offer?

Augusta Precious Metals offers:

  • Their main product is the Physical Gold and Silver IRA. They offer self-directed precious metals IRA holdings of physical gold and silver.  
  • Investors can use their tax-advantaged retirement accounts to acquire gold and silver.
  • They also offer coins and bars that are IRA-eligible.
  • They provide the option to roll over the funds in any existing retirement accounts.

Birch Gold Group offers:

  • The precious metals IRA is one of their most popular products.
  • They allow you to buy precious metal products for physical possession, apart from gold and silver IRAs.
  • Their offering mimics a Traditional IRA. Rather than keeping paper assets, they hold gold bars and coins.
  • Customers who already hold retirement accounts can choose to roll over all or part of their funds into the Gold IRA that the company opens for them.

What does Augusta Precious Metals offer that Birch Gold Group does not?

  • Before investing in the company, Augusta Precious Metals invites the custodians of its gold IRAs to private online conferences where they can learn about investing in IRAs and precious metals.
  • Augusta provides educational resources on the economy and precious metals.
  • Customer service from Augusta is available for life.
  • They also grant access to a qualified analytics team.

What does Birch Gold Group offer that Augusta Precious Metals does not?

  • Since 2003, Birch Gold has offered its services to open IRA accounts for precious metals. Birch Gold deals in more precious metals, including gold, silver, palladium, and platinum.
  • You can transfer funds to Birch from Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, or other qualified retirement accounts.
  • The Birch Gold Group has been in existence for almost two decades. Augusta is a relatively new firm.

Fees

Augusta Precious Metals Fees

  • $50 account setup fee, paid once.
  • The annual custodian maintenance fee is $80.
  • The depository storage fee is $100 per year.
  • For non-IRA precious metals purchases, a $50,000 minimum investment is required.
  • You need to deposit $100,000 for a silver or gold IRA.
  • Bullion coins have a 5% markup.
  • Augusta offers free shipping and covers transit insurance.

Birch Gold Group Fees

  • The Custodian fee for one time is $30 for wire transfers and $50 for account setup.
  • The annual Custodian fee is $100 for storage and insurance, and $80 management fees.
  • IRAs over $50,000 have no first-year fees.
  • You can open an account with a minimum investment of $10,000.
  • The shipping is free and fully insured by Birch.

How trustworthy is Augusta Precious Metals?

The company has a flawless online reputation and zero complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance.

Joe Montana, a Hall of Fame quarterback, serves as the organization's corporate ambassador. Per his web page, Joe met with Augusta's analytics team and its lead analyst, a member of the Harvard Business School, and was encouraged to increase the physical gold and silver in his portfolio. 

Customer evaluations of Augusta Precious Metals are also available on many review websites. Augusta has an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau. Four years running, Augusta has received awards from TrustLink as "Best of," and IRAGoldAdvisor.com crowned them as "Most Trusted Gold IRA Company in the US."

How trustworthy is Birch Gold Group?

The Birch Gold Company is one of the top businesses that offer IRA account services, not just in terms of investments but also past customers' actual purchases from the company. Investors value the firm's long history in the sector, services that include physical products, courteous and knowledgeable customer service agents, affordable fee structures, and excellent client feedback and reviews. Since 2011, Birch Gold Group has held accreditation and has received numerous favorable reviews from Google, Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, and the Business Consumer Alliance.

Who is behind the Augusta Precious Metals?

Isaac Nuriani, Founder and CEO, established the company in 2012 with the mission to help diversify their customer's savings through investments in precious metals.

Who is behind the Birch Gold Group?

Laith Alsarraf founded the company in 2003 with a mission to inform customers about investing in precious metals.

What are the ways in which Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group educate customers?

  • Augusta stands out as a group of exceptionally skilled experts. The numerous free resources available, the simple and streamlined process, and the advantages of this specialization demonstrate its value.
  • Birch Group has a top-notch client education system. Customer service, educational support, easy investment options, and communication are among Birch Gold's top advantages in the eyes of its clients. Experts are available to answer any questions you may have.

The Verdict: Which company is better for a gold IRA investment?

Birch Gold Group is the firm to choose if you want to diversify your investments into platinum and palladium apart from gold and silver. You can only invest in gold and silver through Augusta Precious Metals.

The Birch Gold Group has been around for almost 20 years, whereas Augusta Precious Metals has been in business for ten years. Nonetheless, both are well-known and trustworthy service providers.

Compared to Birch Gold Group, Augusta Precious Metals has a higher minimum investment requirement. But people with adequate funds may favor Augusta Precious Metals for its flawless reputation, awards, and education.

The main thing is that you can't go wrong with either business. Just pick the one that best suits your financial objectives and personal preferences.

About the author Greg Lorenzo

Greg is a financial expert who has been advising his audience on loans for over 10 years. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area, and he is passionate about helping people get the best possible deal on their loans. Greg is an expert in negotiating loans, and he has a proven track record of getting his clients the best possible terms. He is also a strong advocate for financial literacy, and he regularly gives workshops and seminars on the topic.

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