Updated October 12th, 2023
Birch Gold Group Review
Best Precious Metals IRA Company for Conservatives, Minimum Investment, and Customer Support
Costs, Fees, Storage Options, BBB Ratings, Pros and Cons
Disclaimer: Precious Metals Investment Portfolio may receive compensation from many or all of the companies listed, including Birch Gold. This is how we maintain our free service for consumers.
Quick Summary
Birch Gold Group is a self-directed precious metals IRA company based in Burbank, California, founded in 2003 by Laith Alsarraf.
- It’s promoted as “best” for conservative retirees, those wanting low minimum investments, and customers who value strong support.
- Its reputation is solid: A+ rating from BBB, AAA from Business Consumer Alliance, and good reviews on Trustpilot, Google Business, etc.
- Birch Gold offers more than just gold & silver—platinum and palladium are options.
- The minimum to invest via Birch Gold is ~$10,000.
- Storage options are credible, including Delaware Depository and Brink’s.
Table of Contents
- Who Owns Birch Gold Group?
- Is Birch Gold Group Legit?
- Trusted Customer Service and Support
- How Does Birch Gold Group Work?
- IRA Rollovers
- Self-Directed Gold IRA
- Precious Metals Diversification (Platinum & Palladium)
- Physical Possession
- What are Birch Gold Fees & Investment Minimums?
- Birch Gold Storage Options
- Delaware Depository
- Brink’s Global Services
- IRA-Approved Coins & Bars (Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium)
- Pros and Cons of Gold Investing with Birch Gold Group
- Gold IRA Company Comparisons
- FAQs
Who Owns Birch Gold Group?
Birch Gold Group BBB Ratings
Birch Gold Group is a gold and precious metals IRA investment company located in Burbank, California, and specializes in self-directed gold IRAs. Founded in 2003 by CEO Laith Alsarraf, Birch Gold holds an impressive and wide variety of IRA-eligible gold and precious metals, including palladium and platinum investments. This sets Birch Gold Group apart from its competitors whose products are limited to gold and silver investments.
The company holds an A+ Plus rating from BBB, a Triple A rating from Business Consumer Alliance, as well as high marks from Trust Link, Trustpilot, and Google Business.
Is Birch Gold Group Legit?
Trusted Customer Service and Support
Birch Gold Group provides its customers with retirement accounts with a broad range of IRA investment products, including both IRA rollover services and physical metals for personal investment. The company will guide you through the process and clear up any confusion along the way. Whether you'd like to buy gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, Birch Gold can expedite this process with ease and transparency.
Birch Gold’s self-directed IRA is a type of retirement account where the account holder makes the investment decisions, specifically where to invest and how much. You have more flexibility and control of your investment decisions than a conventional IRA. You are not restricted to the most common of assets such as stocks, bonds, CDs, and mutual funds. Birch Gold Group's aim is client empowerment.
To set up a new account with your personal funds, a wire process is available. For rolling over an existing account, a Precious Metals IRA custodian partnered with Birch Gold Group can assist in this process. Birch Gold Group works with custodian companies Equity Trust Company and Goldstar Trust Company.
Birch is made up of experienced professionals from high-profile companies such as Citigroup and IBM. Clients can be confident and assured that their gold IRA is being managed and backed by solid expertise.
Start Safegaurding Your Savings. Click the Button Below to Request Your Birch Gold Information Kit
How Does Birch Gold Group Work?
IRA Rollovers
If you have an existing traditional or simple IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457, or TSP plan, you can roll it into a Gold IRA. Your dedicated specialist at Birch Gold can provide you with information and even make recommendations based on your current situation and investment positions. Just specify which IRA eligible gold, silver, platinum, or palladium you want to invest in and how much money you want to invest and Birch will take care of the rest.
Self-Directed Gold IRA
Precious Metals Diversification. Palladium and Platinum Investments.
Protect your hard-earned retirement wealth from inflation and economic uncertainty by investing outside of gold and silver. Birch Gold offers a broader selection of precious metals such as platinum and pallidum to better diversify your precious metal investments.
With similar histories to gold and silver, these two precious metals are still used heavily in industrial processes.
Physical Possession
Safeguard your savings against the unknown by taking direct possession of your gold and silver. Purchase the coins or bars you would like, and Birch will ship them to your front door, fully insured against loss or damage.
What are Birch Gold Fees & Investment Minimums?
Investment Minimum
$10,000
Fees
Initial Setup Fee - $50
Annual Maintenance Fee - $80
Annual Custodian Fee - $125
Birch Gold Storage Options
Precious Metals IRAs are valuable and should be treated as such, so it is important to utilize industry professionals to protect them. Birch Gold Group offers its clients two IRS-approved storage options for their precious metals held in an IRA. Birch works with Brinks Global Services and Delaware Depository.
Delaware Depository is widely recognized for its storage, security, and processing capabilities. Customers choosing to store their precious metals with the Delaware Depository have two facilities to pick from, one located in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Boulder City, Nevada. Both locations are rigorously fortified using cutting-edge security.
Brink's has a valued reputation in the bank security industry and is headquartered at a number of locations in major U.S. cities. When choosing Brinks, most Birch Gold customers select from locations in New York City, Salt Lake City, or Los Angeles. Brink’s also guarantees the secure transport of assets by air or by sea.
Both companies assume full liability for any loss or damage that occurs to your stored assets. You can trust that your gold, silver, platinum, and palladium investments will be safe and secure with Birch Gold's chosen partners.
Birch Gold Group’s wide selection of IRA-approved coins includes but is not limited to:
Gold Investments
Silver Investments
Platinum Investments
Palladium Investments
Pros and Cons of Gold Investing with Birch Gold Group
Pros
✓Ranked #1 for trusted customer service
✓Best for fee transparency
✓Platinum and palladium precious metals are available.
✓Wide range of gold IRAs with metals from around the world.
✓An excellent one-on-one process, where specialists explain gold investments.
✓You can also purchase precious metals for personal investment in addition to the IRA-approved coins
Cons
✓No overseas depository options
✓Some initial setup fees aren’t clearly displayed
Gold IRA Company Comparisons
Birch Gold Group vs. Other Gold IRA Companies
- Annual Fee: $180
- Minimum Investment: $50,000
- Promotion: See official site
- Annual Fee: $225 - 250
- Minimum Investment: $10,000 for direct transfers, $20,000 for IRA/401k rollovers
- Promotion: 1st-year fees waived for qualifying IRAs
- Annual Fee: $180
- Minimum Investment: $10,000
- Promotion: Free Storage and custodian fees for the first year
Summary
Birch Gold Group is the trusted choice for conservative retirees and investors. The company’s proven track record for sustained long-term relationships with its customers through the life of their physical precious metal portfolios makes up the bedrock of the company’s well-earned reputation.
Birch Gold Group’s mission and philosophy focus on a commitment to understanding your needs and finding the right fit for you. Their process is not cookie-cutter, but personalized. The company will advise you on the best choice at any point, whether it is in a bear market or the economy’s inevitable cycles of inflation and recession.
Their highly talented and experienced team will work with you to develop a custom financial plan that serves your long-term goals, and preferences. With the company’s wide range of precious metal offerings and investment products, you are sure to find the option that meets your needs.
To get started protecting your hard-earned retirement savings with Birch Gold Group, click the banner below to visit their official site and receive a free gold IRA guide:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Birch Gold Group?
Birch Gold Group is a precious metals investment firm founded in 2003. It helps individuals diversify retirement savings through self-directed IRAs backed by physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
2. Is Birch Gold Group a legitimate company?
Yes. Birch Gold Group has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), an AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance, and strong customer reviews on Trustpilot and Google Business.
3. What types of precious metals can I invest in with Birch Gold?
Investors can buy gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in the form of IRA-approved coins and bars.
4. What is the minimum investment with Birch Gold Group?
The minimum investment requirement is approximately $10,000.
5. What fees does Birch Gold Group charge?
While specific fees vary, typical costs include account setup fees, annual custodial fees, and storage fees depending on the chosen depository.
6. Where are Birch Gold Group’s storage options?
Birch Gold partners with IRS-approved depositories including Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services for secure, insured storage.
7. Can I take physical possession of my metals?
Yes. Investors can choose to take physical delivery of their metals or keep them stored in an approved depository within their IRA.
8. How does a Birch Gold IRA rollover work?
Birch Gold assists clients with rolling over funds from existing retirement accounts (such as 401(k) or IRA) into a self-directed precious metals IRA.
9. What are the pros and cons of Birch Gold Group?
- Pros: Strong reputation, multiple storage options, wide selection of metals, excellent customer support.
- Cons: Minimum investment of $10,000 may be high for some investors, fees are not fully transparent online.
10. Who is Birch Gold Group best suited for?
Birch Gold is ideal for conservative investors, retirees, and those seeking portfolio diversification with physical precious metals.
FAQs
Adam ONeill
Author, lifelong investor, and creator of PreciousMetalsInvestmentPortfolio.com.