The CFTC, FINRA, and NASAA have jointly warned retirees about precious metals fraud targeting retirement accounts. This checklist provides a structured framework for evaluating any company before transferring savings — and illustrates what credible providers look like across 7 measurable criteria.
Key Takeaways
- Precious metals fraud disproportionately targets retirees. The CFTC has pursued cases involving more than $500 million in overpriced metals sold to consumers over the past decade. A structured due diligence process — not a “best of” list — is the most reliable defense.
- The 7 criteria in this checklist are drawn from CFTC and FINRA investor advisories, BBB evaluation standards, and common patterns in documented fraud cases. Each criterion includes a specific action item and, where relevant, an example of a company that performs well on that measure.
- Among the established providers, Lear Capital (founded 1997), Birch Gold Group (founded 2003), and Rosland Capital (founded 2008) offer the longest operational track records.
- No single company excels on every criterion. The purpose of this checklist is to give retirees a repeatable, evidence-based process for evaluating any provider — including ones not named here.
The Checklist: 7 Criteria That Retirees Should Verify
1. Years in Business and Transaction Volume
Why it matters: Longevity alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but it demonstrates regulatory survival. A company operating for 20+ years has weathered multiple market cycles, changes in IRS rules, and the scrutiny that comes with scale. Firms that routinely defraud customers tend not to last decades.
What to check: Look for the founding year on the company’s website and verify it against BBB accreditation records. Ask about total transaction volume if it’s not published.
Example: Lear Capital has operated since 1997 and has served over 100,000 customers. Birch Gold Group has been in business since 2003 and has served over 39,000 customers
2. BBB Accreditation and Rating
Why it matters: The Better Business Bureau evaluates companies on 16 variables including complaint history, transparency, and responsiveness. An A+ rating indicates compliance with BBB standards; it does not mean zero complaints. Complaint patterns — and how a company responds — matter more than the rating letter itself.
What to check: Visit bbb.org and search the company name. Review both the letter grade and the star rating (customer reviews), which can diverge. Read the actual complaints, not just the count. Look at whether the company responded and whether resolutions were reached.
Current ratings (as of early 2026):
| Company | BBB Rating | BBB Accredited Since |
| Lear Capital | A+ | 1997 |
| Priority Gold | A+ | 2001 |
| Rosland Capital | A+ | 2008 |
| Augusta Precious Metals | A+ | 2012 |
| Birch Gold Group | A+ | 2003 |
| Preserve Gold | A+ | 2022 |
| Noble Gold Investments | A+ | 2016 |
Sources: Individual BBB business profiles. All seven providers currently hold the same top-level grade, which underscores why looking beyond the letter rating is essential.
3. Third-Party Review Consistency
Why it matters: A company with 4.9 stars on Trustpilot but 2.5 stars on the BBB’s customer review section warrants closer examination. Large gaps between platforms may indicate that positive reviews cluster around the initial sales experience, while negative reviews surface later — around pricing, buyback, or account management.
What to check: Compare ratings across at least three platforms: Trustpilot, Google Reviews, BBB customer reviews, and ConsumerAffairs. Read negative reviews specifically — they reveal the failure modes that positive reviews obscure.
4. Fee Transparency and Written Disclosure
Why it matters: The single most common element in CFTC enforcement cases against precious metals dealers is undisclosed or misleading fee information. A reputable company discloses all fees — setup, annual administration, storage, wire transfer, and dealer markup — in writing before you commit funds.
What to check: Ask every company you’re evaluating to provide a complete, written fee schedule that separates custodian fees, storage fees, and the dealer’s markup over spot price. If a company declines to put its fees in writing before you purchase, treat that as a disqualifying signal.
Example: Birch Gold Group publishes its full fee schedule on its website, including one-time and annual charges. Lear Capital also publishes an itemized breakdown of first-year and recurring fees on its knowledge base, including application fees, maintenance, and storage by type.Both practices exceed the industry norm.
During research for this article, we attempted to locate published fee schedules on the websites of every company profiled. Priority Gold, Preserve Gold, Rosland Capital, and Noble Gold do not publish itemized fee breakdowns online; each requires a phone consultation for specific numbers. Augusta discloses its setup fee but directs prospective clients to a call for the rest.
5. Custodian and Depository Partnerships
Why it matters: Your gold IRA company is the dealer — it sells you metals. The custodian holds the account; the depository stores the physical metal. Knowing who these partners are lets you independently verify their credentials.
What to check: Ask for the name of the custodian and depository before opening an account. Verify the custodian is an IRS-approved financial institution. Verify the depository is IRS-approved and carries adequate insurance. Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Services are the two most commonly used across the industry.
6. Sales Process and Pressure Tactics
Why it matters: The CFTC specifically identifies high-pressure sales tactics and urgency-based messaging as hallmarks of precious metals fraud. A legitimate company gives you time to compare options and never implies that a market crash is imminent or that you must act immediately.
What to check: Pay attention to the initial call. Does the representative ask about your goals and financial situation, or immediately push products? Are they willing to send written information and let you call back? Do they encourage you to consult a financial advisor?
7. Post-Sale Support and Account Access
Why it matters: A gold IRA is a long-term holding. You need ongoing access to account information, responsive support for RMD processing, and assistance if you decide to liquidate, transfer, or add to your holdings years later.
What to check: Does the custodian provide online portfolio access? How are quarterly statements delivered? Is there a dedicated contact person, or will you reach a general call center?
Applying the Checklist: A Step-by-Step Process
For retirees ready to evaluate providers, here is a practical sequence:
Step 1: Narrow your list to three companies. Request information from each without committing.
Step 2: Request written fee schedules from each remaining company. Compare custodian fees, storage fees, and — critically — the markup on specific products you’ve been quoted, calculated against the same-day spot price.
Step 3: Score each company across all 17 criteria. You may weigh certain criteria more heavily based on your priorities. An investor with a $25,000 rollover might prioritize low minimums and fee waivers; a retiree with a $200,000 account might prioritize long-term support.
Step 4: Consult a fee-only financial advisor or tax professional before finalizing a rollover. Precious metals dealers are not fiduciaries and are not licensed to provide investment advice.
FAQ
Q: Which precious metals company is best for retirees? There is no universal answer. Lear Capital combines the longest operating history (since 1997) with a $10,000 minimum, published fee disclosures, and a dedicated IRA processing team. Birch Gold Group offers the lowest entry point at $5,000 with transparent published fees. Priority Gold (founded 2001) earns strong marks for patient, non-pressured service and first-year fee waivers on larger rollovers. Evaluate each against the 7 criteria in this checklist.
Q: Should I worry about a company that has had BBB complaints? Not necessarily. Every high-volume company receives complaints. What matters is the pattern and the response. A company with dozens of resolved complaints over 25 years of operation and thousands of transactions has a different profile than a company with the same number of complaints over two years. Read the specific complaints to understand whether they reflect systemic issues or isolated incidents.
Q: Can I use this checklist for companies not named in this article? Yes. The checklist is designed to be applied to any precious metals company. The companies referenced here are illustrative examples, not an exhaustive list.
This article reflects publicly available information as of February 2026 and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Regulatory records, fees, ratings, and company policies can change. Always verify current information directly with the company and relevant regulatory bodies before making investment decisions.
