Plain answers about gold IRAs, without the sales pitch
Plain Talk Retirement is an independent research site for Americans who are thinking about holding physical gold or silver inside a retirement account. We explain how gold IRAs work, what they really cost, and how the major companies compare, in language you do not need a finance degree to follow.
Gold IRA marketing is loud. The facts are usually buried.
Search for “gold IRA” and you will find radio ads, fear-based headlines and “free silver” offers. What is much harder to find is a straight answer to basic questions: How much will I pay in total? What is the dealer’s markup? Who holds the metal? What happens when I want to sell?
Federal regulators have warned about this too. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has published advisories about precious metals dealers charging large, poorly disclosed markups, and the IRS has specific rules about which metals can go into an IRA and where they must be stored. We built this site to put those facts in one place.
What you will find here
Company comparisons
Head-to-head breakdowns of minimums, fees, buyback terms, storage options and track records, sourced from each company’s own published materials and public records.
Cost explainers
Clear breakdowns of setup fees, annual custodian and storage fees, and the dealer spread that most companies do not advertise.
Rules and process guides
How rollovers and transfers work, the 60-day rule, withholding, RMDs and the IRS rules on approved metals, with links to the IRS itself.
Scam and red-flag guides
What regulators warn about, the sales tactics to watch for, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
Important limits you should know about
- We are not a financial advisor, broker-dealer, IRA custodian or precious metals dealer.
- We do not sell metals, hold accounts or take your money.
- Nothing on this site is personal investment, tax or legal advice. Gold and silver prices can fall as well as rise, and a gold IRA is not the right fit for everyone.
- Before moving retirement money, talk to a licensed financial professional who knows your full situation.
We are paid by one company we write about, and we say so
Our compensation, in plain words
Plain Talk Retirement is a member of the Augusta Precious Metals affiliate program. If you click a link to Augusta on this site and later request information or open an account, we may be paid. This costs you nothing extra. We do not receive compensation from Birch Gold Group, Goldco, American Hartford Gold or the other companies we compare.
Because we are paid by Augusta, you should read our Augusta coverage with that in mind. We try to earn your trust by showing our sources, listing Augusta’s drawbacks (such as its $50,000 minimum and its gold-and-silver-only lineup) as clearly as its strengths, and telling you when a different company may fit you better. Full details are on our Affiliate Disclosure page, and our research method is on How We Review Gold IRA Companies.
The editor
Found an error? Tell us.
Company fees, minimums and promotions change. If you see something on this site that is out of date or wrong, please let us know through our contact page. We review every correction request and update the page, including the “last updated” date, when a fact changes.
Related: How We Review · Affiliate Disclosure · Privacy Policy · Contact