Lear Capital Review 2025: Pros, Cons, and How It Compares

My Lear Capital review shows how to invest in gold, silver, and platinum with one of the oldest gold IRA companies.

Lear Capital has been in the industry for over two decades, demonstrating extensive experience and reliability.

Glenn Beck is a customer and spokesperson for Lear Capital. The company is also frequently featured on the Glenn Beck program, which has helped build credibility and attract investors familiar with his audience.

Lear Capital offers a couple of price guarantees and helpful educational tools, although it’s worth paying attention to the potential investment fees.

In this review, I also consider Lear Capital’s track record of customer satisfaction and reliability.

Lear Capital Review: My Verdict

I’ve given them a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Service quality played a significant role in this rating, as it impacts customer experience and reflects the reliability and client satisfaction provided by Lear Capital.

Criteria	Rating (out of 10)
Product & Service Offerings	9.5
Fees & Minimums	7
Guarantees	8
Customer Experience	8
Storage & Security	7
Account Setup & Maintenance	9
Reputation & Reviews	7
Overall Rating	7.4

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

About Lear Capital

Lear Capital has been helping Americans invest in gold and silver since 1997. The Los Angeles–based company has managed more than $3 billion in precious metals transactions.

Founded by Kevin DeMeritt, a former international banker, the company is now led by CEO John Ohanesian, an experienced business leader.

Reputation & Credentials

• Over 20 years in business with many long-term customers, including radio host Glenn Beck (a paid spokesperson and client for more than 20 years).
• Authorized dealer with the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and follows Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) standards.
• Member of the Industry Council of Tangible Assets (ICTA).

Product & Service Offerings

Lear Capital offers a wide range of precious metals for both retirement accounts and direct purchases, making it easy for investors to buy, store, and manage gold, silver, and platinum.

The company specializes in precious metal investments, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, providing options for both precious metal IRAs and physical holdings to help diversify and secure your portfolio.

Whether you’re setting up a gold IRA or buying coins and bars to store at home, you’ll have personal guidance every step of the way, with a strong commitment to client education to help you make informed decisions about your precious metal portfolio.

Precious Metals IRAs

Gold IRAs and precious metal IRAs are key investment options for retirement savings, allowing you to invest in gold, silver, and platinum with potential tax benefits like tax deferral or deductions.

Metals are stored at Delaware Depository, an IRS-approved vault.

Common IRA-eligible products include:

• American Eagles (gold & silver)
• Gold Buffalo (24-karat)
• Canadian Maple Leaf (gold & silver)
• British Sovereign coins
• Liberty Gold Coins (pre-1933)
• Morgan Silver Dollars (pre-1921)
• Gold bars (1 oz., 10 oz., 1 kilo)
• Silver bars (10 oz., 100 oz.)

Precious metal IRAs offer tax advantages similar to traditional IRAs, such as tax deferral on investment gains and potential deductions, helping you optimize your retirement savings and reduce tax liability.

Setup time:

• 1 day for a new IRA account
• ~5 business days for IRA or 401(k) rollovers

Bonus: Investing an initial deposit or initial deposit amount of $10,000+ may waive setup fees and storage and setup fees. Storage and setup fees are typically determined by the amount of your initial deposit, so higher deposit amounts can qualify you for fee waivers and lower overall costs for your gold IRA.

Direct purchases of gold, silver & platinum

If you prefer non-IRA investing, you can buy coins and bars directly and have them securely shipped to you.

Many investors have benefited from having purchased gold through Lear Capital, citing the ease and security of the process.

Silver options:

• 1 oz. American Eagles (bullion & proof)
• Pre-1965 U.S. coins (90% silver dimes, quarters, half dollars)
• 1 oz. rounds & 2 oz. Royal Canadian Mint coins (e.g., Orca, Britannia)
• Silver bars (various sizes)
• Silver coins are a key purchase option for investors seeking to diversify their precious metals holdings.

Silver investments play an important role in a diversified precious metals portfolio, offering both stability and growth potential.

Platinum options:

• Platinum American Eagles & Canadian Maple Leafs
• 1 oz. bars from private or official mints
• A selection of platinum products is available for both direct purchase and IRA investment.

Lear Capital also offers rare coins for collectors looking for historical value and potential long-term growth.

Premium rare coins are exclusive, high-quality collectibles that can provide diversification and the potential for value appreciation within your investment portfolio.

Investor tools & education

Lear Capital provides easy-to-use tools to help you track and manage your investments:

• Spot Price App – check live gold, silver, and platinum prices.
• Historical price charts & rare coin performance comparisons.
• Precious metals encyclopedia & financial calculators.
• Free investor kit – explains market trends and events that can affect metals prices.

Whether you’re rolling over a retirement account into a gold IRA or simply buying coins to hold, Lear Capital makes the process simple, secure, and transparent with plenty of guidance along the way.

Fees & Minimums

Lear Capital makes pricing simple and transparent. You can see real-time prices for most products right on their website—something many gold IRA companies don’t offer without a phone call.

There are no hidden fees; all costs, including storage and setup fees, are clearly disclosed upfront so customers know exactly what they will pay.

IRA setup fee	$280 (one-time)
Wire transfer fee	$30
Custodian admin fee	$200 per year
Storage fees	$100 (non-segregated) or $150 (segregated) per year
Minimum investment	$7,500 (both IRA accounts and direct cash purchases)

These fees are in line with most gold IRA providers and there are no hidden charges.

For larger investments, Lear Capital may reduce or waive certain fees, making it more cost-effective for clients with substantial assets.

When it’s time to sell:

• Free evaluations for metals you own—even if you bought them elsewhere or inherited them
• No-fee buybacks with competitive offers when you’re ready to sell

How to get free IRA setup & storage

You can waive the setup fee and up to three years of storage fees with a qualifying deposit:

Minimum Deposit	Fee Savings
$10,000 to $25,000	$50 IRA setup fee
$25,000 to $50,000	First year’s fees
$50,000 to $75,000	First and second year’s fees
$75,000 or more	First, second, and third year’s fees

The more you invest, the more you save on fees—making larger deposits more cost-effective in the long run.

Guarantees

Lear Capital offers several guarantees to help you feel confident in your gold or silver purchase. These policies are designed to give you fair pricing, flexibility, and peace of mind.

24-hour risk-free purchase guarantee

• You have 24 hours after your purchase to cancel for a full refund, credit, or replacement.
• Some states allow an even longer cancellation window.

Most other gold IRA companies consider all sales final unless the product is damaged or counterfeit—so this is a standout policy.

Price match guarantee

• If you find a lower price from a competitor within 24 hours, Lear Capital will match it.
• If they can’t match, they’ll cancel your order at no cost to you.

Their price advantage guarantee includes:

1. A written account agreement
2. Phone confirmation of the order
3. Written confirmation of the final price

This transparency helps you track your exact purchase price and know your break-even point right from the start.

Customer Experience

Lear Capital focuses on making investing in precious metals easy and stress-free, especially for retirees and new investors.

• Phone support: Available Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. You’ll work with dedicated account representatives who provides ongoing, personalized guidance throughout your investment journey.
• Specialist assistance: A dedicated Lear specialist can walk you through each step—helping you understand your options, assisting with account setup and fund transfers, and making confident investment decisions.
• 24/7 chat support: A live chatbot is available anytime for quick questions, but calling is often the best way to get clear, detailed answers.
• Email support: Great for non-urgent questions, with prompt response times.
• Educational tools: Lear offers monthly and quarterly updates, short educational videos, and in-depth resources about gold and silver investing.
• Mobile app: Lets you track your portfolio and stay up-to-date with the latest precious metals news wherever you are.
• Investment process: A Lear Capital representative will guide you through each step, ensuring your experience is smooth and well-supported.

Lear Capital stands out for its hands-on customer support, quick response times, and wide range of educational resources—making it a strong choice for investors who want both guidance and control.

Lear Capital ensures each transaction is smooth and hassle free for investors, providing professional support and peace of mind.

Storage & Security

The IRS requires vault storage for precious metals IRA holdings at approved vaults nationwide, ensuring the secure storage of physical metals such as physical gold.

Lear Capital stores your metals at the Delaware Depository locations in Wilmington, Delaware and Boulder City, Nevada, both known for secure storage of physical metals.  

You can choose from two vault storage methods:

• Non-segregated storage: More affordable but your metals are stored along with other depositors. As a result, you may not get the exact same coins and bars back but it’s the same quantity and quality.
• Segregated storage: Pricier but your metals are kept apart from other deposits so you receive back the same ones that you originally deposited. Choose this option for more peace of mind.

Secure storage is essential for protecting your physical metals, providing insurance, compliance, and peace of mind for investors.

In addition to being a secure location with routine inventory audits, your vault assets are fully insured by Lloyds of London.

Account Setup & Maintenance

Your dedicated account representative makes the streamlined and accessible investment process quick and easy:

1. Free investor kit: First, you provide your name, email, and phone number to receive a complimentary consultation and informational guide. The first conversation usually occurs within 24 hours.
2. Complete paperwork: Your representative assists with the majority of the paperwork. Typically, it takes up to five business days for your existing retirement account to transfer.   
3. Place order: You have five days to provide funding from your order’s placement date. Lear will send electronic and written purchase agreements confirming your purchase price.
4. Deliver metals: Lear Capital IRA metals will go to the Delaware Depository. Cash transactions have the flexibility of home storage. 
5. Ongoing support: You can contact your assigned representative to place future orders, sell holdings, request free market insights, and track your investment performance. As part of account management services, clients receive regular financial statements, providing transparency and reassurance.

Lear Capital doesn’t provide personal advice or serve as a fiduciary advisor.

Throughout your investment journey, Lear Capital offers guidance and support to help you make informed decisions at every step of the entire process.

Reviews & Reputation

Lear Capital has received high marks on most review platforms:

• Business Consumer Alliance: 5/5 stars, AAA rating
• Trustpilot: 4.8/5 stars
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): A+ rating, 2.89/5 customer score

These ratings highlight Lear Capital’s credibility and long track record in the precious metals industry.

What customers say

Many investors recommend Lear Capital for its trustworthy service and clear explanations.

Clients appreciate the personal guidance from representatives, who walk them through account setup and investment choices.

Several reviews highlight positive experiences with staff members like Frank and Jason Jeremy, noting their professionalism and attention to detail.

First-time investors often say they felt secure and confident knowing the process was handled step by step.

Why it stands out

Customers value Lear Capital’s educational resources and ongoing support.

The company clearly lists fees and avoids deceptive marketing, helping protect investors from gold IRA scams common with less reputable dealers.

Compared with other gold IRA providers, Lear Capital stands out for its reputation, transparency, and customer satisfaction.

Lear Capital Alternatives & Competitors

It’s also worth comparing the investment options, IRA custodian partners, and storage locations with these gold IRA companies, many of which also offer precious metals IRAs.

When evaluating alternatives, consider each company’s experience and reputation in the precious metals industry, as this can impact the trustworthiness and reliability of their services.

Goldco

Goldco offers gold and silver with no minimum investment. Annual fees are between $175 and $225 depending on your chosen custodian and depository.

It also offers a buyback guarantee so you likely receive the highest price.

Request Goldco’s free gold & silver kit

Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group has a $10,000 minimum investment and a flat $225 annual fee on all account balances.

You can choose from four IRS-approved depositories to more likely find a secured vault near you. There isn’t a buyback guarantee but they desire first right of refusal.

Request Birch’s free gold info kit

Noble Gold Investments

Noble Gold Investments needs a $20,000 minimum investment and a competitive $225 annual fee.

Enjoy a guaranteed buyback program and the flexibility of storing your metals at the Texas Depository or with International Depository Services (IDS).

Request Noble’s free gold guide

Is Lear Capital a reputable company?

Lear Capital is a leading gold IRA company with transparent fees, best price guarantees, and hands-on investor education tools.

Choosing Lear Capital is an important financial decision, so it’s essential to consider how their offerings align with your individual investment goals.

Many customer reviews report helpful support from their assigned representative. Lear Capital also provides resources and guidance to help clients make an informed decision.

While it’s fully resolved, you might be hesitant due to the recent bankruptcy settlement.

FAQs