Birch Gold Group Review 2025: Ratings, Fees, Pros, Cons & More
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Birch Gold Group, like other best gold IRA companies, has a long history of dealing in gold IRAs and precious metals IRAs since 2003.
Recession worries are sweeping across the country. Prices are rising and the stock market is riding ups and downs.
Is there anything you can do to protect your investments?
Gold and other precious metals are often a place investors put part of their portfolio to protect themselves against inflation.
Adding precious metals can help to strengthen your investments through diversification.
Birch Gold Group is one of the strongest companies helping people invest in precious metals.
Keep reading to find out all about precious metals investing through this Birch Gold Group review.
Birch Gold Group: All You Need to Know
Birch Gold Group is a leading dealer of precious physical metals. Its headquarters is in Burbank, California, and focuses on trading in the United States.
Birch Gold Group is serving over 14,000 customers to discover how gold, silver and other precious metals can help protect their lifestyles in the face of current and coming economic instabilities.
The team at Birch Gold Group has many experts from different financial industries. They have come together to help customers learn about the power of diversification through precious metals.
In this review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about investing with Birch Gold Group.
By the end of this review, you’ll be able to make an informed decision regarding whether or not Birch Gold Group is the best fit for you.
Its Purpose and Advertising Focus
The company abides by a strong set of standards they incorporate in all their dealings:
- Customer Empowerment
- Transparency
- Ethical
- Empathy
- Efficiency
- Educational
Birch Gold advertises on many different platforms and has several well-known endorsements such as:
- Ben Shapiro
- Steve Forbes
- Ron Paul
- Michael Knowles
- Dan Bongino
- Peter Schiff
These endorsements and advertising have helped Birch Gold Group to grow and connect with thousands of people.
What Services Do They Offer?
When looking at a guide to Birch Gold Group, you find that they stay focused on just a few areas. These areas help them to offer expertise to their customers and keep their costs down.
Education
Birch is serious about the education side of its business. They send out info kits to anyone who wants one. These kits help to educate people about precious metals and the importance of diversification.
Their website is full of resources designed to educate people about the economics of precious metals. They focus on education before selling and even tell people that precious metals should not be the whole focus of a portfolio.
Purchasing Precious Metals
Helping people purchase and own their own physical precious metals is one of the main things Birch does. They only offer actual precious metals and won’t offer ETFs or shares of precious metals.
Precious Metals IRAs
The other main thing Birch Gold Group does is help people start a self-directed precious metals IRA. These IRS-approved IRAs are designed to help you diversify your retirement savings.
Customers can open the IRA or transfer funds from a current IRA or 401k with no penalty. The Birch team has one-on-one counselors who help their customers walk through each step.
The four precious metals Birch deals with have IRS approval for IRAs. When purchased for an IRA, the customer has the option of which depository to put the metals in to maintain them.
These depositories are necessary to comply with all IRS regulations. They have locations across the country and even offer the opportunity for you to visit your investments and see them in person.
Your precious metal assets are kept in the hands of a custodian. Custodian is a trusted financial institution who tracks assets moving into and out of the account.
Birch Gold Group works with either STRATA Trust Company or Equity Trust Company as their primary custodians. If you have any other preferred custodian, Birch Gold Group is always willing to work with them. However, the custodian company you choose should preferably specialize in Precious Metals IRAs and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
The Precious Metals IRAs you investested in are stored in a depository, where they are legal as well as secure.
The custodian companies also handles IRS reporting and paperwork.
If you’re not sure on which precious metals to invest in, a Birch Gold Group representative can assist you.
Birch Gold Group Reviews
The reviews on Birch Gold Group come from many different resources that they list on the website. Birch has strong reviews and they want to show them off.
| Name | Logo | Review Score |
|---|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau |  | With A+ rating, 4.69 stars out of 5 (based on 65 reviews) |
| Business Consumer Alliance Inc. |  | With AAA rating, 5 stars out of 5 (based on 7 reviews) |
| TrustLink |  | 4.69 stars out of 5 (based on 129 reviews) |
| Trustpilot |  | 4.8 stars out of 5 (based on 122 reviews) |
| Google Reviews |  | 4.9 stars out of 5 (based on 220 reviews) |
| ConsumerAffairs |  | 4.8 stars out of 5 (based on 114 reviews). |
Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a nonprofit organization providing a place for consumers to see business ratings. Its goal is to build marketplace trust between companies and consumers.
They give Birch Gold Group an A+ rating with 4.69 stars out of 5. This rating comes from 65 total reviews.
Business Consumer Alliance Inc.
The Business Consumer Alliance Inc. (BCA) is a non-profit rating organization based out of Los Angeles. They have been around since 1928 and help consumers review and get help with complaints.
BCA rates Birch Gold an AAA rating with a full five stars based on 7 reviews. Birch Gold also handles the complaints on the site through appropriate action.
TrustLink
Trustlink is a consumer direct review site where people can read reviews written by other consumers. They have over 129 reviews of Birch Gold Group and give them a 4.9 star rating.
Trustpilot
The digital review site Trustpilot is a free and open source review site offering complete transparency for consumers. Its goal is to empower consumers to review and give insights about businesses around the world.
The reviews on Trustpilot give Birch Gold Group a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating. This is based on 122 total reviews so far.
Google Reviews
Google reviews offer consumers on the web a chance to rate their dealings with businesses across the world. They give consumers free access to reviews and give companies the opportunity to respond.
The 220 Google reviews total 4.9 stars out of 5. You can read the individual reviews and see responses from Birch to them.
ConsumerAffairs
At consumneraffairs.com they have a score of 4.8/5 from 114 customer reviews as of 27th July 2022
Birch Gold Group Fees and Account Minimums
Birch Gold Group services have two main focuses of their business which makes their fee structure very simple. They also have account minimums that are low for the industry.
| Minimum Investment | $10,000 |
| IRA Setup Fees (One Time) | $50 |
| Wire Transfer Fees (One Time) | $30 |
| Maintenance Fees (Annual) | $80 |
| Storage Fees (Annual) | $100 |
One-Time Fees
Birch has a one-time setup fee of $50 to have an account with them. This covers their administrative costs for your account. They also have a wire transfer fee of $30 when you make a purchase of precious metals.
Annual fees
When you set up your precious metals IRA, there are a few yearly charges that come with it. The Birch Group has a yearly management fee of $100. This fee is the same no matter how many assets you have under their management.
This is a big benefit over companies that charge based on a percentage of assets under management. There is another $100/year fee for the storage and insurance of your precious metals for your IRA.
The metals are collected and kept by professional private storage locations. You can choose which location company you want to deal with. The yearly fee covers their costs and the insurance that goes along with it.
Account Minimums
Birch Gold has a minimum amount of $10,000 for the purchase of its four precious metals. You can mix and match the metals you buy, but the total has to come to $10,000.
They also have a $10,000 minimum to open the precious metals IRA with them. If you transfer over $50,000, Birch Gold will waive the fees (initial setup, maintenance and wire fees) for the first year of your IRA.
What Makes Birch Gold Group Unique?
Birch Gold Group doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. They keep their business streamlined so they can focus on their customers and their main values.
Knowledge
When you get on the Birch Gold Group investment site, you will see that they focus on education. There are tons of resources for consumers to learn about all aspects of investing and precious metals.
They offer a realistic perspective on the potential risks and rewards of precious metals investing. Their site also gives consumers great education about the many scams and fraudulent schemes offered online.
One-on-One Care
Birch takes personal relationships seriously by assigning every investor their own precious metals specialist. The specialists will work directly with the investor so you don’t have to go to social media for answers.
Each investor keeps the same specialists so they can build a relationship. The specialists get to know you and your specific investing goals. This individual attention helps to set Birch Gold Group apart from other similar companies.
Trust
Trust is a bedrock for Birch Gold and is seen in each aspect of how they operate. They offer full transparency on all their transactions and fees. They don’t have surprise “gotcha” fees hidden in their transactions.
They also protect your data with industry-standard protections and a company-wide refusal to sell data to third parties.
Birch Gold Group IRA Custodian
One of the main things Birch is known for is its precious metals-based IRAs. They specialize in helping investors protect their retirement by putting part of it into precious metals.
Available Precious Metals
For IRAs, the IRS has specific restrictions on the type of precious metals you can use for investing. There are four metals that you can use:
- Gold
- Silver
- Platinum
- Palladium
This is one of the main reasons Birch Gold Group only works with these four metals. The IRS also has specific restrictions on the types of bars and coins that you can use for IRA investing.
The gold, silver, palladium, and platinum coins and bars are required to meet to be held in self-directed IRAs as per IRS regulations and U.S. tax code.
Gold coins and bars must be 99.5 percent pure.
Silver coins and bars must be 99.9 percent pure.
Platinum and palladium coins and bars must be 99.95 percent pure.
The categories that meet the stringent regulations are:
Gold
Silver
Platinum
Palladium
Birch only works with the right kind of precious metal types so you don’t have to worry. All forms of precious metals they use for the IRAs are acceptable to the IRS
Why Precious Metals IRAs Are Smart
Birch does a great job of explaining why putting some of your IRA in precious metals is wise. They help you understand the importance of diversification.
Diversification is spreading your investments out so if one goes down it doesn’t hurt your overall portfolio.
Precious metals have proven over time that they help investors hedge against inflation. Your precious metals are not dependent on a government for their value. Market fluctuations for currency are different from metals.
Precious metals retain value at all times. Currency is a piece of paper with no intrinsic value but metals are different. They often act to balance currency because when currencies go down, precious metals often go up.
The Rollover Options
The reason an IRA makes sense for your precious metals investing is they bring some tax benefits to you. You can also roll over part of your current retirement into a precious metals IRA with no financial penalty.
The IRS allows rollover from many different retirement accounts:
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- SIMPLE IRA
- SEP IRA
- Eligible 401(k), 403(b), 457, and other retirement plans
This means you can roll over a portion of one of your retirement funds into a self-directed IRA without paying hefty penalties.
You also have the option of choosing what metals you want to invest in with your precious metals IRA. You can split between the four different metals or go with just one metal.
Safe Storage
There are four different storage options for you when you use the Birch Gold Group Self-Directed Precious Metals IRA. Each one is independent, certified, and chosen by Birch because of its safety and reliability:
- Delaware Depository
- Brink’s Global Services
- Texas Precious Metals Depository
- International Depository Services
Most of their clients choose the Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services, but Birch gives you the option.
These storage facilities hold your actual precious metal and have regular accounting and auditing. This means it is safer than if you stored it at your own house.
Can I Store My Precious Metals IRA at Home?
You may think that storing your precious metal IRA at home is the best spot. Well, the IRS would disagree and they have set up strong regulations about home storage.
Here are a few of the many regulations that you have to follow just to qualify to have a Home Storage IRA:
- You must have a Limited Liability Corporation
- You must keep a lawyer on retainer
- You must have yearly audits from an accountant
- You must have a public place of business
These are just a few of the regulations that are involved with having a home storage IRA. This is why having an IRA custodian is the best way to go for your precious metals investments.
Personal IRA Consulting
One of the strengths of Birch Gold Group is its passion for education. They assign every customer a Precious Metals Specialist to help them fully understand all aspects of their investments.
This specialist will help you understand how the precious metals IRAs work and answer all your questions. They will explain all the costs and details involved in the process.
They can also help you find the right fund to roll over to a precious metals IRA. You will also understand each of the metals and what investing in them can do for your IRA.
Simple Fee Structure
Birch Gold’s passion for simplicity has led them to keep their fee structure simple. This applies to all aspects of their investments. The fees are simple and get explained upfront.
If you choose to do something different, a different fee may apply and they will let you know that upfront. This honest pricing has helped them maintain their strong reviews with customers.
How to Get Started With Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group makes it easy to get started with them. Their website has many resources to help you understand investing in precious metals. They also send out a free informational newsletter each week.
One of the best resources they use is a free information kit. You sign up for the kit and they send it out so you understand what precious metals investing is all about.
They can also set up a time for you to talk to a precious metals specialist. They will take the time to answer your questions and concerns. They also help you look at your portfolio and see how to incorporate precious metals into it.
All of these options come with no obligation to you because they really do focus on education first.
Setting Up a Gold or Silver IRA Account With Birch Gold Group
Setting up a precious metals IRA account is simple and easy with Birch Gold Group. You and your personal precious metals specialist will walk through these steps together.
Step #1: Start Your Account and Pick Your Source
You start by opening your account at Birch Gold and having all the paperwork in order. Then you choose the amount to fund the IRA. You pick which fund you want to roll over and how much you want to invest.
Step #2: Pick the Metals to Invest In
Your IRA percentages are picked by you and your specialist. You choose how much you want to invest in each metal. This is a starting point because you have the option to always change the percentages later.
Step #3: Purchase and Pick Storage
Your specialist will handle all the details and will get confirmation from you before anything is purchased. Then you pick which storage facility you want to hold your metals in.
Step #4: Consult on Performance
You do have a real relationship with your specialist. At any time, you can call to find out how your IRA is performing. Your specialist can help you make any changes you want to make over the years.
Buyback Policy
Birch Gold has a strong buy-back policy they offer to all their customers purchasing precious metals. If you buy precious metals from them, they will always buy them back from you based on current value.
They don’t add extra fees or charges on the buybacks as some other companies do. This gives their customers assurance in case they need to sell their metals.
Shipping and Transit Policies
Birch Gold focuses on the safety of your metals when it comes to shipping. Every shipment is insured against any losses or damages to the package.
They pack the shipments in discreet plain packaging and don’t list the contents on the labels. For the IRAs, the metals are also insured and protected as they go to the storage site.
Pros and Cons of Birch Gold Group
One of the strengths of Birch Gold Group is its desire for transparency. They let you know up front what they do and how they do it. Here is a quick list of the pros and cons of working with them:
Cons
You can see from the many glowing reviews that Birch backs up their core values with action. This helps their pros outweigh their cons in every aspect of the business.
Birch Gold Review: Worth Your Investment?
Birch Gold has lasted over twenty years through consistent customer service and a passion for education. They serve clients and help them strengthen and diversify their portfolios.
Many companies exist that will help you buy precious metals, but not many have this combination of services. If you want to make informed decisions about precious metal investing, Birch Gold Group is a strong candidate for you.
You can look into it and find out for yourself. The free information kit is a great way to understand and check into precious metals investing. You can also speak to a specialist to learn more before you open an account.
Birch Gold Group vs. Competitors
Augusta Precious Metals
- Annual Fee: $180
- Minimum Investment: $50,000
- Promotion: Non-commission Sales & Free Gold IRA Guide
Goldco
- Annual Fee: $175-$225
- Minimum Investment: $25,000
- Promotion: 5% back on metals over $50k
Sailing Into Economic Uncertainties
As you look at the economic confusion in the market today, you may have considered diversifying through precious metals. Birch Gold Group is a partner who can help you make the right decisions when it comes to metal investing.
You don’t have to worry about getting ripped off or tricked because they are an established company with a strong reputation.
Get to know them more by getting the Birch Gold Free Information Kit. It is a simple way to understand the precious metals world and how investing in it can help your overall portfolio.
Contact Birch Gold Group
309 Court Ave, Suite 809
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (800) 355-2116
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