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- Phone : (800) 355-2116
- URL :
- Global Rating
- Very Good
User Rating
- 0 No reviews yet!
Birch Gold was founded in 2003, and since then has become one of the leading Precious Metals IRA specialists. They have a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars. Curiously, the company is not forthright about its management team at all (unlike most other precious metals retail websites). However, it consistently lauds its partnership with Ben Shapiro, a vocal, conservative political commentator.
Pros:
- Birch Gold has a wide selection of IRA-approved gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products
- Clients have the option of choosing from self-directed IRA custodians Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, and Goldstar Trust
- Vault storage is provided by world-renowned Brink’s Global Service and the Delaware Depository
Cons:
- The company provides no transparency whatsoever regarding its management team
- Higher premiums on some items
Birch Gold Company Info & Background
| Founded | 2003, by Laith Alsarraf |
| Headquarters | Des Moines, Iowa |
| IRA minimum | Commonly reported at $10,000. Confirm directly, published figures vary |
| Metals offered | Gold, silver, platinum and palladium |
| Custodians | Equity Trust, GoldStar Trust, STRATA Trust |
| Depositories | Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services, International Depository Services |
| Typical annual cost | Around $50 setup, roughly $125 maintenance and about $110 storage |
| Fee waiver | First year fees commonly waived on transfers above $50,000 |
| BBB | A+, accredited since 2011 per Birch, some sources cite 2013 |
| Customers served | Reported at more than 30,000 since 2003 |
Birch Gold Management Team
Unlike other precious metals dealers, Birch Gold provides no information regarding its management team. The company’s website does mention, “our dynamic team of former wealth managers, financial advisors, and commodity brokers continue to help customers diversify their portfolios with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium”. Birch Gold heavily promotes its apparent partnership with conservative political commentator, Ben Shapiro on its website. LinkedIn does list Karlo Vartan as the Chief Financial Officer of Birch Gold.Birch Gold Custodians and Storage
Birch Gold has partnered with self-directed IRA custodians Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, and Goldstar Trust. Regarding storage facilities, the company works with the esteemed Brink’s Global Service and the Delaware Depository. Brink’s Global Service offers facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, Los Angeles, New York City, Consumers who decide to utilize the Delaware Depository, have the option between a vault facility located in Wilmington, Delaware, or one in Seal Beach, California.Birch Gold Products
Birch Gold has a wide range of popular IRA-approved gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars available to its customers. Examples of available gold coins include the Gold American Eagle and the Gold American Buffalo. In addition, the company also offers gold bars and rounds of different weights. Regarding silver bullion, Birch Gold has IRA-approved options such as the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Silver American Eagle, to cite a few, and silver bars and rounds. Platinum products offered include the Platinum American Eagle coin, bars, and rounds. Lastly, with regard to palladium offerings, the company has a selection of bars and rounds, in addition to the Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf coin.
Birch Gold Precious Metals IRA Info
| Company | Birch Gold |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | Variable |
| Metals Available | Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion products |
| Partnered Custodians | Equity Trust, Goldstar Trust, and STRATA Trust Company |
| Partnered Storage Vaults | Delaware Depository and Brink’s Global Service |
| Scaled or Flat Fees? | Flat Fees |
| Years in Business | 18 years (2003) |
Birch Gold Reviews, Ratings, and Complaints
Below we offer a diverse selection of reviews, ratings, and complaints that you can read on Birch Gold from trusted consumer reporting and rating agencies sites. Simply click on the links provided to study the reviews in greater detail.- BBB Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (“A+” and 4.56 Star Rating based on 144 Customer Reviews)
- BBB Complaints: 7 complaints closed in the last 3 years (Details)
- BCA Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (“AAA” and 5 Star Rating based on 7 Customer Reviews)
- BCA Complaints: 0 complaints in the last 3 years (Details)
- TrustLink: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Star Rating based on 135 Customer Reviews)
- Trustpilot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5 Star Rating based on 154 Customer Reviews)
- Yelp: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Star Rating based on 4 Customer Reviews)
- Facebook: 41,000+ “Likes” (Details)
Premiums Over Spot: The Thing to Ask Birch Before You Buy
Birch does not publish per product pricing. You get a quote from a specialist, which is standard for advisor led desks but means the premium over spot is invisible until you ask for it. Across published reviews, standard bullion through Birch is generally described in the region of 8 to 12 percent over spot, which is normal for this kind of service. The complaints, where they exist, are about a different product category.
The recurring theme in critical reviews is premium and proof coins recommended at markups reported at 40 percent or more over spot. That is not unique to Birch, and it is the single most common complaint pattern across every full service dealer we cover. But there is a timing detail in the Birch feedback that is worth understanding, because it explains why the aggregate scores look so healthy.
Most positive reviews come from customers in their first year. Most critical reviews appear two or more years later, when someone tries to sell. A premium coin bought at a wide markup can be worth noticeably less than the purchase price even when the spot price of gold has held steady or risen, because the premium itself does not carry over to the resale. That gap is not a Birch problem specifically, it is a product problem, and it is avoidable.
The practical step is the same one we recommend for every dealer on this site. Ask what the premium over spot is, as a percentage, on the exact product being quoted, and ask for it in writing. If the answer is a widely recognised bullion coin such as an American Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf at a single digit or low double digit premium, that is the normal range. If the answer is a limited mintage or proof coin at a much wider premium, that is a choice you can still make, but make it knowing what you are paying for the packaging rather than the metal.
Birch Gold Group Review: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birch Gold Group legit?
Yes. Birch Gold Group has operated since 2003, holds an A+ rating with the BBB, carries the highest AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance, and has reported serving more than 30,000 customers. Over a recent three year window it recorded eight BBB complaints, all responded to and resolved, which is a low figure for a company of that size. As of early 2026 there were no lawsuits on record against it.
What is the minimum investment for a Birch Gold IRA?
Most published sources put the precious metals IRA minimum at 10,000 dollars, which is lower than Goldco at 25,000 and Augusta at 50,000. A few sources report a lower entry point, so confirm the current figure directly with Birch before planning around it. Birch does not always publish the number on its own site.
What fees does Birch Gold Group charge?
Birch uses flat fees rather than fees scaled to your account balance. Typical figures are around 50 dollars for account setup, roughly 125 dollars annually for maintenance and about 110 dollars annually for storage and insurance, so most accounts land near 235 to 285 dollars a year. First year fees are commonly waived on transfers above 50,000 dollars. Flat pricing matters most on larger balances, where a percentage based schedule costs considerably more.
Who is the custodian for a Birch Gold IRA?
Birch works with three custodians rather than tying you to one: Equity Trust, GoldStar Trust and STRATA Trust. Storage runs through Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services or International Depository Services. Having a choice of custodian is a genuine advantage, because it lets you compare their fee schedules against each other rather than accepting a single one.
What are the most common Birch Gold Group complaints?
Two patterns show up. The first involves premium and proof coins recommended at markups reported at 40 percent or more over spot, where customers later found the resale value well below what they paid. The second is slower account manager responsiveness after the initial purchase period. Positive reviews cluster in the first year, critical ones tend to appear two or more years later when someone tries to sell.
Does Birch Gold Group buy metals back?
Birch says it will help customers sell metals back, but it does not publish buyback pricing, so the figure you are offered is quoted at the time. This is normal across the industry. The practical consequence is that the wider the premium you paid at purchase, the wider the gap is likely to be when you sell, since the premium does not transfer to the buyback price.
Which metals can I hold in a Birch Gold IRA?
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium, which is a wider selection than several competitors that offer gold and silver only. Metals must meet IRS purity standards to be IRA eligible, and they must be stored with an approved depository rather than at home.
Birch Gold Contact Information
- Phone: (800)355-2116
- Address: 309 Court Ave, Suite 809, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Email: info@birchgold.com
- Website: www.birchgold.com
- Phone : (800) 355-2116
- URL :
- Global Rating
- Very Good
User Rating
- 0 No reviews yet!
Birch Gold was founded in 2003, and since then has become one of the leading Precious Metals IRA specialists. They have a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars. Curiously, the company is not forthright about its management team at all (unlike most other precious metals retail websites). However, it consistently lauds its partnership with Ben Shapiro, a vocal, conservative political commentator.
Sarah Bauder is a financial writer with over a decade of experience at numerous online publications, writing about alternative investments, retirement, US politics, world economy and more.
