Orion Metal Exchange is ideal for investors seeking a transparent, beginner-friendly gold IRA service.
The company offers competitive fees and easy online account management.
While it excels in customer support, you’ll need to work with a representative to get started.
Read this Orion Metal Exchange review to learn more.
Orion Metal Exchange Review: My Verdict
I’ve given them a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The 8.6 out of 10 score is based on a scale that evaluates service quality, fees, and customer experience.
Orion Metal Exchange is ideal for new investors who want a helping hand when they’re just getting started with gold.
The company excels in customer support, fee transparency, and satisfaction guarantees like its fee-free buyback policy.
However, product availability details and storage cost options aren’t available unless you speak to a representative.
It’s best for those who value flexibility and hands-on support when getting started.
Category | Rating (out of 10) |
---|---|
Product & Service Offerings | 9 |
Fees & Minimums | 9 |
Guarantees | 9 |
Customer Experience | 9 |
Storage & Security | 8 |
Account Setup & Maintenance | 8 |
Reputation & Reviews | 9.5 |
Overall Rating | 8.6 |
In this review of Orion Metal Exchange, I’ve followed CEP’s detailed criteria for evaluating the precious metals IRA company.
About Orion Metal Exchange
Founded in 2017 by Jacob Blalock, Orion Metal Exchange is a full-service precious metals company based in Los Angeles.
The team brings decades of experience helping people invest in gold, silver, and other metals.
Orion’s mission is simple — to make gold investing easy, transparent, and trustworthy.
They offer a wide selection of coins and bars, clear pricing with no hidden fees, and a reliable buyback program so you can sell your metals back at fair market rates.
Their in-house experts are available to answer questions, explain your options, and guide you through setting up a precious metals IRA or making a direct purchase.
Orion also provides educational resources so you can make informed decisions about your retirement savings.
The company has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is recognized as one of the top gold IRA providers in the U.S.
They’re a member of the NRA Business Alliance and an authorized dealer for PCGS and NGC, two of the most respected coin grading services.
With strong customer reviews and a focus on service, Orion Metal Exchange has built a reputation as a trusted partner for gold and silver investors.
Product & Service Offerings
Orion Metal Exchange gives you two main ways to invest in precious metals:
- Buy directly from their website.
- Open a self-directed IRA to hold gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.
A self-directed IRA offers more flexibility than traditional retirement accounts and can provide tax advantages.
Orion assigns you a dedicated representative to walk you through the process—whether you’re funding a new account or rolling over an existing 401(k) or IRA into a gold IRA.
Gold options
Orion offers a variety of gold products, including:
- Gold American Eagle coins
- Gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins
- Special edition Royal Canadian Mint coins (Grizzly Bear, Arctic Fox)
- U.S. Gold Commemorative coins
- IRA-approved gold bars
Other precious metals
You can also invest in silver, platinum, and palladium.
Options may include:
- Silver, Platinum, or Palladium American Eagle coins
- Silver America the Beautiful coins
- Canadian Maple Leaf coins in silver, platinum, or palladium
- Special edition Royal Canadian Mint silver coins (Grizzly Bear, Arctic Fox)
- Special edition platinum coins (2019 Humpback Whale, War of 1812)
- IRA-approved bars in silver, platinum, and palladium
Storage & security
Orion offers segregated and non-segregated vault storage in IRS-approved facilities. These secure vaults protect your metals while keeping them compliant with IRS rules.
For a gold IRA, coins and bars must meet strict purity standards—gold must be at least 99.5% pure to qualify.
Fees & Minimums
Orion Precious Metal doesn’t charge a setup fee to create an account or transfer fees to rollover funds from an existing retirement savings account.
It does, however, charge a $30 wire transfer fee.
Setup fee for IRA | $0 |
Wire transfer fee | $30 |
Custodian administration fee | $90 annually |
Storage fees | $100 to $175 annually (depending on the depository) |
The minimum investment requirement for rollovers and online purchases is $10,000.
New gold IRAs are capped at the IRS contribution limit of $7,000 (or $8,000 if you’re age 50 or older).
There is a $90 annual maintenance fee as well as separate fees for storage. Customers can expect to pay annual storage fees of $100 for a non-segregated account or $175 for a segregated account.
If you invest at least $10,000 you are eligible to get a free year of storage.
Orion Precious Metals offers a no-fee buyback policy. They don’t charge extra fees or commissions to buy your precious metals.
They even guarantee to offer a better price than any of their competitors.
Guarantees
Orion Metal Exchange offers a fee-free buyback policy.
If you buy coins or bars from them, they’ll buy them back later without charging extra fees.
When it’s time to sell, Orion will:
- Arrange the sale
- Handle secure pick-up
- Send your proceeds quickly and safely
You’ll get the current market value for your gold. While this avoids extra fees, the price may be higher or lower than what you originally paid.
For gold IRA clients, Orion provides specialized in-house support to answer questions and guide you through the process.
If you qualify, you can choose home delivery for your metals. All shipments are insured until they arrive.
Orion also follows a transparent pricing policy—you’ll see the product price upfront with no hidden commissions.
Customer Experience
You can reach Orion Metal Exchange by phone at 1-800-559-0088 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST) or by email at [email protected].
Many customers say they did thorough research before choosing Orion, which gave them confidence in the company.
Reviews often describe the support team as professional, knowledgeable, and friendly.
Representatives take time to explain the gold IRA process, answer all questions, and help clients feel comfortable and informed.
Orion’s online platform is easy to use. You can set up a gold IRA in just a few minutes, purchase precious metals, or manage your portfolio right from your computer.
The company also has a dedicated in-house IRA department to help with account setup, rollovers, and fund transfers—making the process smooth from start to finish.
Storage & Security
When you open a gold IRA with Orion Metal Exchange, you can choose an IRS-approved custodian and depository to store your metals.
You’ll also decide between:
- Segregated storage – your metals are kept separately.
- Non-segregated storage – your metals are stored with other clients’ metals.
Orion will help you pick the right storage option and works with trusted facilities like Brinks, Delaware Depository, and International Depository Services.
All partnered depositories are insured by Lloyd’s of London, and your annual storage fee includes full insurance coverage for the value of your metals.
For online account access, Orion uses advanced encryption and extra security checks to protect your information.
This includes identity verification steps to confirm you—not a bot—are signing in.
Account Setup & Maintenance
Working with Orion Metal Exchange is simple if you are looking to open a precious metals IRA account.
- Schedule your consultation – Visit the “Contact Us” page on Orion Metal Exchange’s website or call their team directly. Speak with a representative to learn about fees, account options, and the setup process.
- Provide required information – Submit a valid form of ID (such as a driver’s license) and your Social Security number to verify your identity. Your representative will tell you if any other documents are needed.
- Open your account – Decide whether to contribute new funds or roll over money from an existing retirement account. If rolling over, transfer your funds within 60 days to avoid taxes and penalties.
- Fund your account – Your Orion representative will guide you through the funding process, whether it’s a direct contribution or a rollover.
- Choose your precious metals – Select IRA-approved gold, silver, platinum, or palladium coins and bars. Your representative will help you choose an IRS-compliant custodian and depository for secure storage.
- Get online access – Once your account is set up, you’ll receive login credentials for Orion’s online portal.
Manage your investments online or continue working with your representative for ongoing support.
Reviews & Reputation
Orion Metal Exchange has an excellent track record with customers. It holds 4.95 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot (based on 212 reviews) and 4.95 out of 5 stars on Google (based on 251 reviews).
The company is A+ accredited by the Better Business Bureau and carries a 5-star BBB rating.
While there was one undisclosed complaint in the past year, overall feedback points to high-quality service and strong customer trust.
Many customers praise the easy purchasing process, especially for beginners, and say representatives are patient, clear, and helpful when answering questions.
Orion Metal Exchange also connects with customers through its Facebook, Instagram, and X pages.
Orion Metal Exchange Alternatives & Competitors
Orion Metal Exchange is one of top rated gold companies out there, however it might not be the right fit for all investors.
There are companies that offer benefits and features that might be more aligned with your financial goals.
Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
4.5
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Our Rating:
4.2
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$0
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$2,000
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Minimum for IRA transfers:
$10,000
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Goldco
Goldco is a good option for investors with larger portfolios. It requires no minimum investment and charges a $50 setup fee.
Request free gold and silver guide
Noble Gold Investments
Noble Gold Investments is best for investors who want to save for retirement while also hedging their wealth against inflation. Noble Gold offers gold IRAs as well as Royal Survival Packs that can be shipped straight to your door.
Request Noble’s free gold guide
Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group is best for investors who are new to gold investing and have an existing account they want to rollover. Birch Gold accepts rollovers from Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s.
Request Birch’s free gold info kit
Is Orion Metal Exchange a legit company?
Orion Metal Exchange is a legit company. Customers laud it for its outstanding service representatives and the ability to purchase products and manage your account right online.
Compared to other gold IRA companies, Orion Metal Exchange offers a lot of flexibility for low fees making it a good option for beginners.
Call one of Orion Metal’s in-house experts to learn more about how gold IRAs work and whether or not opening one is right for you.
FAQs
Who owns Orion Metal Exchange?
Jacob Blalock is the co-founder and CEO of Orion Metal Exchange. There is no other additional public information about other co founders of the company.
Does Orion Metal Exchange have any pending lawsuits or complaints?
Orion Metal Exchange has one undisclosed complaint on the BBB website and open litigation with another gold company, but it does not have any pending lawsuits filed by customers.
Where is Orion Metal Exchange located?
Orion Metal Exchange is located at 12301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California.
Orion Metal Exchange
Orion Metal Exchange is a top gold and silver investment company, offering a platform to investors looking to invest in and store precious metals.
Product Brand: Orion Metal Exchange
4.3