Birch Gold Group Review 2025: Pros, Cons & How It Compares

Invest in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with an affordable $10,000 minimum investment and low account maintenance fees.

It has an excellent reputation and numerous endorsements. Birch Gold Group also boasts high ratings on major review platforms, reflecting strong customer satisfaction and trust.

Birch Gold Group offers a range of precious metals investment options, making it a reliable choice for those seeking alternatives to traditional investment providers.

My in-depth Birch Gold Group review shows how to start investing with one of the highest-rated precious metals IRAs.

Birch Gold Group Review: My Verdict

I’ve given them a rating of 9.1 out of 10.

Birch Gold Group is one of the few companies that offer gold, silver, and alternative precious metals for additional diversification.

This range of options allows investors to tailor their precious metals portfolio to better align with their specific financial goals.

It also works with the most reputable IRA custodians and depositories to enjoy hands-on help.

When choosing a provider like Birch Gold Group, considering fees and asset selection is essential for developing an effective investment strategy.

Criteria	Rating (out of 10)
Product & Service Offerings	9.5
Fees & Minimums	9
Guarantees	8.5
Customer Experience	9.5
Storage & Security	9.5
Account Setup & Maintenance	9
Reputation & Reviews	9.5
Overall Rating	9.1

In this review of Birch Gold, I’ve followed CEP’s detailed criteria for evaluating the precious metals IRA company.

About Birch Gold Group

Founded in 2003, Birch Gold Group has helped over 31,000 customers invest in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. They offer both gold IRAs and direct purchases for non-retirement accounts.

The company is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and serves customers in all 50 states. It was founded by Laith Alsarraf and is known for its strong reputation in the gold IRA industry.

Why customers choose Birch Gold Group

1. More ways to diversify your portfolio – Unlike many gold IRA companies that only offer gold and silver, Birch Gold also offers platinum and palladium, giving you more ways to protect and grow your retirement savings.
2. Choice of Secure Storage Locations – You can choose from 4 IRS-approved depositories. More options mean you can pick a location that’s closer to home or more cost-effective, helping reduce fees and improve convenience.
3. Lower minimum investment: With a $10,000 minimum, Birch Gold makes it easier for smaller investors to get started with precious metals in a tax-advantaged IRA.

Industry endorsements

Birch Gold has earned support from several well-known public figures, including former Congressman Ron Paul.

Other media personalities who endorse the company include Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, Matt Walsh, Megyn Kelly, Jordan B. Peterson, and George Noory.

These endorsements, along with frequent media features, have made Birch Gold one of the most recognized names in the gold IRA space.

Commitment to customer service

Birch Gold’s team offers hands-on support, helping you every step of the way—from opening your account to choosing metals and setting up secure storage.

Many positive reviews highlight their helpful and educational approach.

However, it’s important to compare storage fees and order premiums to make sure you’re getting good value, especially if you’re focused on maximizing returns.

And remember—Birch Gold does not offer personalized investment advice, so it’s wise to speak with a financial advisor if you need guidance.

Trusted and highly rated

• A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• BBB-accredited since 2013
• 4.32 out of 5 stars from over 100 customer reviews

Product & Service Offerings

You can choose from an above-average selection of bullion coins, bars, and IRA-eligible precious metals.

Physical gold bullion

Gold coins, bars, and rounds from the United States Mint and international mints with ample availability.

I also like that you can choose bullion or numismatic coins, allowing you to focus your investment potential on melt value or collector demand.

Some of the gold investment options include:

• American Eagle Gold Proof Coin
• American Gold Eagle Bullion Coins
• Australian ¼ oz. Gold Florin Coin
• Britannia Gold Coins
• Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin
• Gold Krugerrand Coins
• Goldbacks
• Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coins
• Valcambi CombiBars

Birch Gold Group easily has one of the most diverse arrays of gold choices. Most have a 0.995 purity level, making them eligible for your Birch Gold IRA.

When considering purchasing precious metals, it’s important to understand both the benefits and risks before making a decision.

However, you will want to compare premiums to maximize your upside potential and reach your breakeven point sooner.

Silver & alternative precious metals

You can add a few other metals to your portfolio:

• Silver: Bullion coins including American Silver Eagles and Silver Britannia Coins. Numismatics and proofs include Morgan Silver Dollars and Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollars. Non-currency rounds and bars are available for silver IRAs as well.
• Platinum: Bullion coins (U.S. Mint and Perth Mint), rounds, and bars with a minimum 99.95% purity level.
• Palladium: Bullion coins (U.S. Mint and Royal Canadian Mint), rounds, and bars with IRA-eligible purity.

While not every investor wants to invest in silver or secondary metals, the additional options make it easier to diversify your portfolio to hedge against depreciating currency.

Precious metals IRA

You can obtain your metals of choice through a self-directed IRA by first converting an existing IRA or 401(k) balance of at least $10,000, which is the minimum investment required to open an IRA account with Birch Gold Group.

The precious metal company ensures you purchase IRA-eligible purity levels by working one-on-one with a Birch Gold IRA specialist throughout the signup process.

A specialist can also help you fund your IRA and guide you through the entire funding process, providing personalized assistance every step of the way.

Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust Company are Birch’s preferred IRA custodians. Both have competitive fees, an excellent reputation, and extensive experience coordinating precious metal investments.

You can work with other approved custodians, too, and your Birch customer representative remains your liaison for the life of your investing career. 

I like that Birch Gold Group provides several IRA custodian and depository options to personalize your experience.

Having multiple choices can instill confidence and prevent portfolio management headaches. 

Home delivery

You can also buy metals with a minimum $10,000 order and opt for home delivery. Consider this option for non-retirement investments and products ineligible for an IRA.

Birch Gold Group is a reliable provider for those looking to purchase precious metals, making it a trustworthy choice for investors seeking to diversify their portfolios.

Fees & Minimums

Cash and IRA purchases require a $10,000 minimum order. To receive current product pricing, you must call Birch Gold Group which is industry standard practice.

Setup fee for IRA	$50
Wire transfer fee	$30
Custodian admin fee	$180 annually
Storage fees	Varies by depository ($100 annual average)

Most customers pay a $225 average in annual custodian and storage fees. New account balances exceeding $50,000 can waive the first year of fees.

I find that Birch Gold Group is one of the more affordable gold IRA companies thanks to its low order minimum and competitive custodial and storage fees. 

Still, some customer reviews suggest that the flat fee is relatively expensive for small balances as the fee structure benefits larger accounts that might pay percentage-based fees elsewhere.

Guarantees

Birch Gold Group only provides refunds for counterfeit coins when you return them within 90 days of purchase. It also guarantees that you only receive genuine precious metals. 

The company doesn’t mention a buyback guarantee or best price matching when the time arrives to sell an asset, as some competitors offer.

However, Birch requests the first right of refusal, which may allow you to incur smaller premiums or reduced liquidation fees.

I wish its buy back policy becomes more aggressive to provide more confidence in selling at the highest price hassle-free.

Customer Experience

Live phone support is available from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) Monday to Friday.

These hours make it easy for most customers to receive help and place orders, regardless of the time zone.

Birch Gold Group’s website has an AI-powered chatbot and many helpful articles to answer general investment questions.

Potential customers can request a free 24-page gold kit and work one-on-one with the same specialist to help you set up and manage your account.

I like that you can receive hands-on phone and email support from the same agent long-term, although human live chat is more personable as you initially compare IRA gold companies.

Storage & Security

Birch Gold Group works with four different precious metal depositories:

• Delaware Depository
• Brink’s Global Services
• International Depository Services
• Texas Precious Metals Depository

I think this flexibility helps you choose a safe gold storage location that meets your security and geographic needs.

In comparison, most only have one or two depository partners.

Account Setup & Maintenance

New customers can receive hands-on help from a dedicated specialist through the following steps:

1. Request a free info kit: Receive a 24-page guide and converse with a dedicated IRA specialist after providing your name, email address, and phone number. 
2. Choose an IRA custodian: Your specialist will help you complete the necessary paperwork to roll over or transfer existing retirement accounts. The specialist is your liaison for account maintenance, allowing you to build a long-term personal relationship. 
3. Order precious metals: Your agent provides current pricing by phone for IRA-eligible metals and helps schedule shipping to your storage location.
4. Pay account maintenance fees: You will pay your one-time account opening and annual fees. Birch Gold Group can assist with future orders, liquidations and home storage. 

Reviews & Reputation

Most Birch Gold Group reviews provide excellent ratings on the BBB, TrustLink, and Trustpilot.

Several first-time precious metal investors praise the step-by-step help from their dedicated representatives and excellent explanations about the investment process. 

A common complaint is that the flat annual fee hurts small investors. Additionally, some competitors have slightly higher customer ratings on the various platforms.

Specifically, a few negative reviews suggest customers have short-term investment horizons or their IRA custodians track asset values with less accuracy than Birch Gold Group. 

The company responds to complaints quickly and provides in-depth resolutions. It also has a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA), reflecting exemplary reliability in customer satisfaction.

Birch Gold Alternatives & Competitors

These alternatives offer gold and silver IRAs with stronger buyback guarantees and various membership perks.

When considering different providers, it’s important to explore the precious metals market to find the best fit for your individual financial goals.

Goldco

Goldco offers gold and silver IRAs with a $25,000 order minimum. Its annual fees are between $175 and $225.

The company also has one of the best buyback guarantees by offering the highest price when you’re ready to sell.

Request Goldco’s free gold & silver kit

Noble Gold Investments

Noble Gold Investments only requires a $2,000 minimum investment for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products to investors worldwide.

You may also enjoy the no-qualms buy back program to sell your metals at competitive values.

Request Noble’s free gold guide

Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals sells gold and silver but has a relatively high $50,000 order minimum. You can enjoy lifetime account support and frequent educational updates from a Harvard-trained economist.

The company also offers a price match guarantee and may waive liquidation fees when selling metals you buy from them.

Request Augusta’s free gold guide

Is Birch Gold a reputable company?

Birch Gold Group is a legit precious metals IRA provider with an affordable $10,000 minimum investment, numerous investment options, and competitive fees.

Its partnerships with four depositories provide ultimate flexibility in choosing a secure vault across the United States. 

I’m sometimes hesitant about brands with many celebrity endorsements as the extra publicity may set expectations too high.

Thankfully, Birch Gold Group is an excellent fit for most households as many customer reviews highlight the long-term hands-on help. 

Request a free Birch Gold Group info kit to open your precious metals IRA.

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