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Asset Strategies International was founded in 1982 by Michael Checkan and the late Glen O. Kirsh. Most precious metals dealers have been around for ten to twenty years. ASI has been operating for over four decades, guiding investors through precious metals purchases and IRA structures since before most of its current competitors were founded. The company has been facilitating self-directed precious metals IRAs since the IRS first permitted them.
What that history built is genuine depth. Five named custodian partners. Eight-plus global storage locations across North America, Europe, the Pacific, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. A product range that covers standard IRA bullion, pre-1933 U.S. coins, numismatics, ancient coins, and the Perth Mint Certificate — a government-backed IRA-eligible product that almost no competitor offers. And expertise in foreign currencies and Rare Tangible Assets that extends well beyond the standard gold-silver-platinum-palladium framework.
The gaps are familiar: no product pricing on the website, no published fee schedule, not BBB accredited, and thin review volume. For investors who want maximum upfront disclosure before picking up the phone, those are real friction points. For investors who value operational depth and want a firm with institutional experience managing complex IRA structures, ASI has few peers in the retail category.
#1 Rated Gold Company for 2026
Before going further into Asset Strategies International, know that our top recommendation for U.S. retirement investors in 2026 remains Noble Gold Investments. Noble Gold names its custodians and storage partners, publishes its fees, and assigns a dedicated IRA specialist to every account. Their free 2026 Gold IRA guide covers the full process with no pressure.
Quick Company Snapshot
| Company | Asset Strategies International — ASI (assetstrategies.com) |
| Founded | 1982 (43+ years in operation) |
| Founder / CEO | Michael Checkan (co-founded with the late Glen O. Kirsh) |
| Originally Named | International Financial Consultants, Inc. |
| Headquarters | 1700 Rockville Pike Ste 400, Rockville, MD 20852 |
| Phone | (800) 831-0007 |
| infoasi@assetstrategies.com | |
| Metals Offered | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium; also Rare Tangible Assets and Foreign Currencies |
| IRA Support | Yes — self-directed precious metals IRAs |
| Unique Offering | Perth Mint Certificate (government-backed, IRA-eligible) |
| Website | www.assetstrategies.com |
ASI at a Glance
ASI has been in continuous operation since 1982. What this means is that ASI’s founders have weathered a wide array of commodity market cycles, IRA regulations, custodian arrangements, and physical storage technologies during the past four decades. The institutional knowledge represented by such longevity is very difficult to duplicate.
Storage network would represent the second key differentiation factor. This includes eight-plus storage facilities located in the USA, Canada, Cayman Islands, UK (London), Switzerland (Zurich), Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, UAE and New Zealand. When investors desire geographic diversification of physical assets, ASI offers unique choices compared to any other business examined in this series. The third unique feature is the Perth Mint Certificate offering – a government backed certificate of precious metals ownership available for investment in self-directed IRA accounts fully insured and stored offshore in Western Australia.
However, the complexity is also the challenge. Five custodians, eight-plus storage locations, a range of products and no published fees. In a case when a first time Gold IRA investor seeks a straightforward process, ASI may offer a bit more than he or she needs. If, on the other hand, a more sophisticated individual looks for a global storage network, extensive numismatics selection, foreign currency investing opportunities in addition to precious metals, then ASI represents a very limited number of firms able to do so.
Pros & Cons
Company Background
International Financial Consultants, Inc. was established in 1982 by Michael Checkan and the now-deceased Glen O. Kirsh. It was later renamed Asset Strategies International in keeping with the evolution of the firm from being an advisor for a single asset type into a specialist in alternative assets management including precious metals, foreign currency, and Rare Tangible Assets.
ASI is one of the first firms to assist individuals with self-directed precious metals IRAs, a task that it started doing at a time when self-directed precious metals IRAs were still relatively new products. ASI’s own material notes that they have been providing advice to clients on how to open a self-directed precious metals IRA “since the IRS first gave the green light nearly 40 years ago.”
The company publishes a twice-weekly newsletter, maintains live spot price charts for all four metals, and operates a substantive FAQ section. It is also active in precious metals industry associations and regularly publishes market commentary. For a broader view of how ASI fits against the competitive landscape, see our precious metals IRA reviews page.
Management Team
Founder & CEO — Michael Checkan
Asset Strategies International was founded in 1982 by Michael Checkan and the now-deceased Glen O. Kirsh. Checkan has been CEO of Asset Strategies International ever since and continues to participate in consulting with clients and commenting about the market. Checkan’s investing strategy, built up over more than four decades, hinges upon geographic and asset diversification as a starting point for safeguarding investments from risks related to politics and currency.
The Perth Mint Certificate — A Unique Offering
The Perth Mint Certificate forms a part of the special products of ASI that require specific mention. They are issued by The Perth Mint of Western Australia and stand for gold, silver, or platinum deposits abroad in Australia and have the backing of the Government of Western Australia. Features include:
- Government guarantee on metal holdings from the State of Western Australia
- No storage fees — unlike a physical IRA, certificates carry no annual vault charge
- Can be placed in an existing self-directed IRA
- Fully insured at full replacement value
- Available in gold, silver, and platinum
Products Available
The selection of products from ASI is one of the widest. The collection of coins consists of regular bullion that is IRA-eligible and also a wide collection of numismatics that includes ancient coins, rare U.S. coins, and gold coins issued before 1933. All prices can be obtained through a phone call only.
IRA-Eligible Bullion (Examples)
- Gold American Eagle, Gold American Buffalo, Gold Canadian Maple Leaf, Gold Austrian Philharmonic
- Silver American Eagle, Silver Australian Kangaroo
- Platinum American Eagle, Platinum Australian Koala
- Palladium Canadian Maple Leaf
- Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars in various weights
Numismatics and Collectibles
- Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins
- Rare U.S. numismatic coins
- Ancient coins from world history
- Certified collectible coins
Other Products
- Perth Mint Certificates (gold, silver, platinum) — government-backed, IRA-eligible
- Foreign currency holdings
- Rare Tangible Assets
For guidance on how standard IRA bullion selection works within a retirement portfolio, see our guide to precious metals investing.
Noble Gold Is Our #1 Pick for 2026
Asset Strategies International brings 43 years of operating history and a storage network that spans five continents. For retirement investors who also want published fees, a guided rollover experience, and maximum upfront clarity, Noble Gold Investments covers more of those bases from the first call. Their free 2026 guide takes minutes to request.
Who Asset Strategies International Is Best Suited For
Worth a Closer Look If You Are:
- An investor seeking true geographic diversity of your precious metals investments through many nations and jurisdictions.
- Someone interested in the Perth Mint Certificate as a government-secured, storage-free option to physical IRA investments.
- A collector or numismatist looking for IRA-approved bullion as well as rare ancient coins, American coins, and gold bars dating back to before 1933.
- Someone placing importance on 43 years of IRA investment expertise under the guidance of an executive-owned business.
- A potential client looking into investing in foreign currency or Rare Tangible Assets along with precious metals in the same relationship.
Look Elsewhere if You Are:
- A beginner investor in a Gold IRA hoping for a clear and easy setup process without having to consider five custodians and eight or more vaults.
- Seeking pricing and fees information online prior to contact with the company.
- Placing a lot of emphasis on BBB certification.
- Seeking a large number of customer reviews online.
- A beginning investor with a relatively small account to start with.
For a full competitive comparison, see our precious metals IRA reviews page. For the case for gold in a retirement portfolio, our articles on inflation risk, inflation hedges, and the role of commodities in portfolio allocation are useful context.
Start With the #1 Rated Company of 2026
Asset Strategies International is a legitimate, historically rooted company worth serious consideration for investors who value global storage reach and product depth. For the most guided, fee-transparent Gold IRA setup available in 2026, Noble Gold Investments is where we recommend starting. Request their free guide before speaking with any rep.
Final Verdict
Asset Strategies International is one of the most operationally credible precious metals companies in the United States. Forty-three years of continuous operation, five custodian partnerships, eight-plus global storage locations, the Perth Mint Certificate program, and a product range that extends from standard IRA bullion to ancient coins to foreign currencies — there is nothing else quite like ASI in the retail precious metals space.
The company’s gaps are real but narrow. No published pricing, no published fee schedule, thin consumer review volume on major platforms, and no BBB accreditation. For investors who can tolerate those transparency gaps and are willing to conduct due diligence by phone, ASI delivers a level of global sophistication that no direct competitor we reviewed matches.
If ASI interests you, call and ask specifically about the Perth Mint Certificate program alongside the standard IRA options. Get custodian fee schedules and storage costs in writing for the two or three options that best fit your geographic and cost preferences. Then compare the all-in numbers against Noble Gold Investments and at least one other provider before committing retirement funds.
For almost four decades, Asset Strategies International (ASI) has provided clients with a means for precious metals investment. Founded in 1982, the company offers a diverse catalog of both gold, silver, palladium, and platinum IRA-eligible products and numismatic coins. Via its ASI Precious Metals Direct (ASIPMD) online platform, the company enables clients to invest precious metals in a self-directed IRA. Additionally, ASI will help customers establish a self-directed IRA in three seamless steps. Preferred custodians include GoldStar Trust Company, Kingdom Trust Company, The Entrust Group, Equity Institutional, and Millenium Trust Company. Moreover, ASI has eight referral facilities for secure vault storage options. Unfortunately, the company website does not provide any product pricing information. 
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Mohammed Saqib is a finance professional and CFA Level II Candidate with a Master of Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University. He specializes in financial content covering equities, alternative assets, precious metals, and capital markets.
