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Gold 401(k) Companies at a Glance

Most U.S. employers will entice you with a generous 401k retirement plan.

However, many 401k holders have become increasingly concerned in 2022. As of December 05, 2022, the average 401k declined 23% year-to-date, and more pain could come in 2023.  

As inflation sticks around and the Fed continues hiking rates, the IMF projects weak or no growth in 2023 for most major economies, including the United States.  

However, this could be a generous prediction. Already the U.K. is on the brink of its “longest-ever recession,” and it could soon reach U.S. shores. Bloomberg Economics calls the probability of a U.S. recession within the next 12 months 100% and “effectively certain.” At the same time, Goldman Sachs forecasts the bear market in stocks to intensify, with U.S. stocks still trading at similar levels to the dot-com bust. 

Furthermore, as Wall Street legends like Marc Chaikin warn of a “financial reset,” geopolitics look as unstable as they have in decades. The potential for nuclear war has not looked this realistic since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. 

As investors become progressively fearful and the world crumbles, many choose to protect their retirement accounts by investing in physical gold.

Gold, for 5,000 years, has proven to be a tangible store of value and a “crisis commodity.” It also offers diversification, inflation hedging, risk protection, and some very enticing tax benefits if held in a retirement account. 

So is now a good time to invest in a gold 401k?

Yes.

But there’s a problem. There’s no such thing as one.

If you want to invest in a gold 401k, your best bet is to roll over your 401k into a gold IRA. We will explain how to do it and the best companies to work with to make it happen.   

401ks vs. IRAs

401ks are employer-sponsored retirement accounts. They automatically deduct some money from your paycheck, and your employer will match the contributions. While 401ks are often used interchangeably with individual retirement accounts, otherwise known as IRAs, they have two big differences.

First, only employers can start a 401k for you. In comparison, if you woke up today and felt like opening an IRA account, you could.

The other big difference? 401ks won’t invest in physical commodities like gold. IRAs, namely self-directed IRAs, can. 

Explaining a Self-Directed IRA

Conventional IRAs are tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts that people invest in for the long term. 

There are Traditional IRAs which invest pre-tax dollars that grow tax-deferred, and Roth IRAs, which invest after-tax dollars that grow tax-free.

Like 401ks, these IRAs only hold stocks and bonds. 

However, you can start a self-directed Roth or Traditional IRA if you want to hold alternative investments, like gold.

So What About Investing in a Gold 401k?

Instead of worrying about how to invest in a Gold 401k, start learning about gold IRAs, the rollover process, and the best gold 401k companies that specialize in rollovers. 

A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds IRS-approved gold bullion, bars, and coins. Because it is a self-directed IRA rather than a 401k, it is your best bet to protect your retirement income with tangible precious metals like gold. 

Why the Best Gold 401k Investment is a Rollover 

Because of gold’s properties as a tangible store of value, many choose to start a gold IRA to diversify their portfolio and protect their nest egg from inflation and global turmoil. 

Most importantly, gold IRAs offer upside potential during turbulent times with tax advantages. 

History repeats itself, especially in economics. When you work with one of the best gold 401k investment companies, you can best exploit the following advantages that are less accessible with a conventional IRA or 401k. 

Inflation and “Stagflation” Protection

Reuters mentions that throughout history, gold has protected against inflation, excessive asset price increases, and currency debasement.  

Of course, this is very relevant today, with inflation taxing the purchasing power of Americans, regardless of their net worth. When the value of your purchasing power erodes, the value of your dollar today is worth less tomorrow.  

Protecting your retirement money with gold can mitigate these risks. However, it’s becoming increasingly urgent to do it.   

Although the CPI figures may “cool” on the surface, figures still point to intense inflationary pressures and overall price increases.

Yet the real worry is a little something called “stagflation.”  

During the 1970s, stagflation plagued the U.S. economy. As the Vietnam War ended, other wars and irresponsible monetary policy led to the following: 

• Two recessions
• 20% interest rates
• High unemployment
• Budget deficits
• New York City teetering on the edge of bankruptcy 
• Oil embargos and surging prices
• Negative stock returns.

As 2022 comes to a close, we could approach a similar historical period.

80% of economists surveyed by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association believe stagflation is the economy’s greatest long-term threat. Deutsche Bank analysts also call it a realistic possibility. 

Two economic experts, Simon Baptist and ​​Nouriel Roubini, go a step further and believe that stagflation today will be worse than in the 1970s. 

Thus, because of this, the case for gold looks even stronger. 

Stocks not only fell 95% relative to gold between the late 1960s and the early 1980s. 

Gold skyrocketed 2300% from $35 an ounce in August 1971 to a record high of $850 an ounce by ​​January 1980.

A Store of Value  

According to Edmund C. Moy, chief strategist for Fortress Gold and former United States Mint director, gold “has a 5,000-year history of being a store of value.” 

Think of everything that has happened over the last 5,000 years that gold witnessed. The collapse of empires, the default of sovereign bonds, the demise of companies, world wars, recessions, depressions, and global pandemics. 

Yet gold has maintained its ability to preserve generational wealth and has proven to have an essentially perpetual shelf life. 

Physical gold will never go bankrupt. The main reason why? It is a tangible resource in limited supply with consistent demand. For instance, why do you think central banks always hold mass reserves in gold?  

Diversification

A balanced portfolio is diversified and spreads its holdings between different investments and asset classes. When one sector rises, another will fall; traditionally, gold, commodities, and stocks are inversely correlated.

A Bloomberg study corroborates this and reveals that in the 12 months before and the 12 months after the last seven recessions, gold outperformed the S&P 500 by an average of roughly 50%.

However, you can take this type of upside with diversification to another level by investing in a gold IRA and holding a well-rounded and tax-advantaged retirement portfolio.  

Protection Against War and Systemic Risks  

Buying physical gold can protect your retirement funds against global financial calamity, geopolitical risks, and wars.

Nicknamed the “crisis commodity,” gold often performs best when world tensions rise, and government confidence declines.  

For example, in the decade following 9/11, buoyed by the continuous war on terror and financial crisis, gold’s price increased by over 575%.

Source: Yahoo! Finance

Most recently, gold’s correlation to war and conflict could be seen in the weeks leading up to and after Russia’s February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine.

Between January 1, 2021, and ​​March 8, 2022, gold’s price increased by over 11%. In comparison, the S&P fell almost the same amount, while the Nasdaq plunged over 15%.  

Source: Yahoo! Finance

With Ukraine recently attacking deep within Russian territory and hitting bases with nuclear bombers, some believe this war is a warmup for a much bigger global conflict. Perhaps, even WWIII. 

It may be wise to start monitoring the price of gold a bit more closely as things progress and potentially worsen. 

Tax Advantages Like a Conventional IRA

A gold IRA offers the same tax advantages as a conventional IRA. However, in the case of a gold IRA, you can invest in tangible physical assets and let them appreciate with three primary tax benefits:

• Tax-Deferred or Tax-Free Growth

A Self-Directed IRA enables you to keep physical gold in a retirement account. You can watch these physical assets either grow with deferred taxes (Traditional IRA) or tax-free (Roth IRA).  

• Relief from Inheritance Taxes

Some Self-Directed IRAs will allow assets to be passed along to beneficiaries with few or no tax implications after an asset holder passes away.  

• Saver’s Tax Credit

The IRS has the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit or saver’s credit. Under this credit, the IRS allows you to take a tax credit for making eligible contributions to your gold IRA of up to 50% of your contributions.    

Explaining a Gold 401k Investment Rollover 

So now that we’ve gone through the major benefits of adding gold to your retirement account, let’s dive deep into a gold IRA rollover. 

First, here are a few basics to know.

1. You can roll over from another IRA, employer-based 401(k), 403(b), or TSP.
2. You can roll over multiple tax-advantaged accounts into a single gold IRA.
3. You can invest in real, physical metals unlike a 401k or a conventional IRA.
4. You will receive similar tax advantages as a 401k while owning tangible precious metals.
5. You can hold as many IRAs as you want.
6. Pre-owned gold cannot be put into a new gold IRA.

We already explained that a rollover is the only answer to the question of how to invest in gold 401k. No gold 401ks exist; if you own a 401k and want to add gold to your retirement account, you must roll it over. 

A gold IRA rollover is a straightforward process. You are simply shifting funds from one retirement account, your 401k, to another, your gold IRA.  

The best part is that it’s easy to avoid penalties when completing a gold IRA rollover since it’s considered a transfer, not a withdrawal. Just ensure you finish the entire rollover process within 60 days to avoid paying penalties or early withdrawal fees!

What You Need For a Successful Rollover

A successful gold IRA rollover requires compliance with several strict IRS requirements.  

Step one is to work with an all-in-one IRA provider with an outstanding reputation and specialized knowledge in precious metals.

The best ones can help you navigate the following requirements to complete your IRA rollover successfully.  

• Working With a Custodian

The IRS requires you to work with a custodian if you want to own gold in a retirement account. Custodians oversee your account, handle administrative tasks, ensure you follow the rules, and meet all regulations, dates, and deadlines.  

• Picking IRS-Approved Gold Assets

The IRS has strict standards for the gold you hold in an IRA account. You must own physical assets minted in a sovereign state with a bank or non-bank trustee, and/or they must be described under 31 USC Section 5112. 

Gold bullion, bars, and coins must be produced to exact weight specifications and have 99.5% purity. 

Coins have even more strict requirements because many are considered ‘collectibles.’ So make sure you work with an IRA provider who understands which ones are IRA-eligible. Otherwise, you will pay a hefty fine. 

• Finding Your Depository and Storage

The IRS mandates that you store your gold in an IRS-approved vault. But even if it weren’t an IRS requirement, it would be reckless and frankly unsafe to hold such valuable assets at home. 

You want a fully insured depository with physical security and segregated storage. Segregated storage will separate your gold from everyone else’s precious metals. While commingled storage may be cheaper, it will hold your gold with other precious metals and assets from different owners.  

The Best Gold 401k Companies 

Who you choose to work with to oversee and complete your rollover is the most critical decision you can make. 

There are many different factors to consider and rules and regulations to follow. Moreover, many scammers exist, and you always want to protect yourself. 

The best IRA providers are all-in-one and can simplify a complex process. They can provide access to custodians, the best selection of IRA-eligible precious metals, the safest storage facilities, and industry leaders.  

Evaluating the best gold 401k companies to complete your rollover, goes far deeper than what IRA-eligible precious metals they have to sell and low fees. Always evaluate companies based on their transparency, reputation, flexibility, and qualifications. 

Now that we’ve gone through the ins and outs of investing in gold for retirement, here are our Top 10 picks for the best gold 401k companies and who’s best suited to complete your rollover. 

#1 – Augusta Precious Metals – Best Overall Gold 401(k) Company

Advantages

• No sales commission fees
• Only provider with in-house IRA Compliance Department
• Run by a Harvard-educated economist

Disadvantages

• The company does not offer any platinum or palladium products
• No transparent pricing available on the company website

Annual Fees: $180

Augusta Precious Metals is a Casper, Wyoming-headquartered family-owned business that’s been a top-rated Gold IRA provider since its 2012 inception.

First and foremost, Augusta doesn’t charge any sales commission fees, shipping, or insurance fees. This is unheard of for a gold IRA provider. 

Furthermore, it works with one of the best, if not the best, custodians in the industry (Equity Trust) and a top-notch storage facility (Delaware Depository).

We could talk about its portfolio containing the most popular IRA-eligible gold and silver coins or bullion and how easy it is to buy them. Or how its website contains outstanding educational resources and real-time market news and data.

Yet it’s its customer ratings and reputation that genuinely stand out. It has a 4.97/5 rating from the Better Business Bureau, the highest possible rating from TrustLink, and a ranking as 2022’s Best Overall Gold IRA Company by Money Magazine.  

Augusta Precious Metals is the best overall gold IRA company by almost any metric possible. 

#2 – Noble Gold – Low Minimum Investment Requirement

Advantages

• Low minimum investment investment
• Excellent buyback program
• No IRA set-up fees

Disadvantages

• High premiums on some coins
• Departure of co-founding partner

Annual Fees: $80-$250 (depending on investments and storage selection)

Noble Gold is our number two option. There is a low minimum investment requirement, a fantastic buyback program, and, most importantly, no IRA set-up fees. 

Although the co-founding partner recently departed, founder Collin Plume is fully capable of steering the ship. He has more than 15 years’ of experience working in the financial services industry and oversees a staff with an impressive network in the precious metals industry. Noble also has personal concierges who will work hand-in-hand with you and guide you step-by-step through the 401k rollover process. 

Noble offers an impressive variety of the most popular IRS-approved gold and silver coins and bullion, as well as a small selection of platinum and palladium coins and bullion. The website also provides valuable educational materials, precious metals market news, and commentary. 

Furthermore, its reputation is generally positive as it has many positive online reviews, including an A+ rating from the BBB and a five-star rating on TrustLink.

#3 – American Hartford Gold – Low Price Guarantee

Advantages

• Excellent customer service
• No 401(k) rollover fees
• Low Price Guarantee on coins

Disadvantages

• No platinum or palladium products
• No online price listings

Annual Fees: Approximately $180 + storage (varies by custodian trustee and storage fees)

Looking for one of the best gold 401k companies? Look no further than American Hartford Group. Although American Hartford has been in business only since 2016, it’s developed a sterling reputation as an excellent, affordable option to oversee your rollover.

Consider the following:

• No rollover fees 
• IRA rollovers qualify for up to three years of free maintenance and storage 
• A low price guarantee – American Hartford will meet or beat any competitor’s price on gold and silver coins

Perhaps that’s why American Hartford was ranked #1 in Inc. 5000’s precious metals list and why it’s handled over a billion dollars in transactions. 

One thing American Hartford is known for is outstanding customer service. The Company does not outsource, and you are guaranteed to speak to a real-live American Hartford IRA specialist. There is a lot of context to that A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and five-star rating, with more than a thousand reviews, from TrustPilot.

Yet, while American Hartford’s broad selection of gold and silver investments is undoubtedly attractive, you should also consider that it has no platinum or palladium.

#4 – Gold Alliance – Wide Selection of Coins

Advantages                                              

• 7-day Moneyback Guarantee
• IRA-eligible products are clearly marked on the site
• Lots of collectible coins on offer

Disadvantages

• Only 5 years old
• TrustPilot score only 3.8
• Only gold and silver on offer

Annual Fees: $180

Gold Alliance is one of the youngest companies on this list. Still, it has outstanding leadership and a staff of gold and silver investment experts. For example, the Company’s CEO, Joseph Sherman, is a founding member of the Precious Metals Retail Association (PMA) and belongs to the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA). 

So is it really fair to call this Company inexperienced? 

Three things stand out for this excellent firm. One, it offers clients a seven-day money-back guarantee on its services. Two, it has a strong gold buyback program. Three, it has a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion, including some of the rarest and hard-to-find coins.

Moreover, IRA-eligible products are clearly marked.  

While the Gold Alliance website contains valuable educational research, news, and commentary, there are still a few things to consider. The $20,000 minimum investment to start an IRA isn’t the cheapest, and its 3.8/5 score on TrustPilot is mildly concerning. 

Having said that, Gold Alliance does have an A+ rating from the BBB and a 4.92/5 score from the Business Consumer Alliance.

#5 – Silver Gold Bull – Comprehensive Service

Advantages

• Comprehensive in-house IRA services
• Focused solely on IRA-eligible products
• Offers IRA rollovers to new accounts

Disadvantages

• Not fully transparent about leadership team
• Some items quickly sell out after listing online

Annual Fees: $190+

Silver Gold Bull has quickly grown into a prominent multinational enterprise with offices in Alberta, Canada, and Las Vegas, Nevada. While their platinum and palladium selection is a bit limited, Silver Gold Bull offers the lowest possible rates for gold bullion, usually a hair the spot price of the day.

What’s more, the company specializes in IRS-approved coins and bullion bars and has one of the most robust selections in the entire market. This means you can rest assured that you’ll have a variety of products that you can add to your IRA without incurring any fees or penalties for including a “collector’s item” or any other IRA-ineligible item.

Silver Gold Bull gives clients maximum assistance and personal care. For instance, if you’re a new IRA client who wants to roll over your 401k, you can do so for free. You’ll also pay no administrative or storage fees in the first year.

One of the best things about Silver Gold Bull is that they have rave reviews from customers and third-party reviewers. For instance, they boast an A+ rating with the BBB, and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance., and a total of 290,000 5-star verified user reviews.

#6 – Advantage Gold – Great Investor Education Resources

Advantages

• More platinum and palladium products
• Extensive investor education resources
• Highest rated gold company by TrustLink

Disadvantages

• Highest minimum investment required
• Online purchases not available

Annual Fees: $225

In less than a decade, Advantage Gold has quickly made a name for itself as a prominent player in the industry. Led by three partners who are industry leaders and frequent guests on Bloomberg and Fox Business, Advantage Gold is a company with invaluable gold IRA expertise. 

Advantage Gold has some of the best investor education resources on the planet. It includes information about investing in gold and silver, IRAs, retirement planning, and more. It also consists of the latest market news and plenty of informative videos.

It also has a wide selection of gold and silver bullion and coins for IRAs and considerably more platinum and palladium products approved for IRAs than many other gold IRA providers.  

It also has an A+ rating from the BBB and a perfect 5/5 rating on TrustLink. This is the third consecutive year it scored such a rating.

Having said that, there are two significant weaknesses for Advantage Gold. One, it’s expensive. The minimum investment for a 401k rollover to gold is $25,000, and many of its coins come with high price points.

Two are its need for more comprehensive services. Although Advantage makes the rollover process easy, you will have to find and arrange custodial services independently. 

#7 – American Bullion – Fast Service

Advantages

• Official U.S. Mint-listed gold dealer
• No first-year IRA fees
• Several leading industry awards to its name

Disadvantages

• High minimum investment required
• Limited investment products on offer

Annual Fees: $75-150 + storage

Founded in 2009, American Bullion is a pioneering and award-winning company led by former commodity futures brokers that understand the complexities and intricacies of the gold and silver market.

The Company is an official US Mint-listed dealer and belongs to the Industry Council for Tangible Assets and the American Numismatic Association.

In addition, American Bullion has captured several industry awards, including two “Bullion Dealer of the Year” awards and a “Best Of Industry” award from TrustLink in 2016. It also became the first gold IRA company to accept bitcoin as payment in 2013. 

American Bullion is known for its educational resources, fast service, no fees during the first year with a gold or silver IRA, and a guaranteed precious metals buyback program. Perhaps, that’s why it has 5/5 stars on TrustLink and Trustpilot and top ratings from the BBB and the Business Consumer Alliance. 

Yet, there are some weaknesses. 

One, it has a limited selection of precious metals available for IRAs. 

Two, its required minimum investment is $50,000, one of the priciest ones on this list. 

#8 – Goldco – Highly Rated Buyback Program

Advantages

• Low annual fees
• Excellent no-hassle buyback program
• Lots of gold and silver offerings in their catalog
• 15+ years of industry experience

Disadvantages

• Higher coin prices than average
• High minimum investment required

Annual Fees: $80 + storage

Goldco began as a precious metals dealer in 2006 and evolved into an award-winning IRA provider. The LA Business Journal, in fact, voted it as LA’s Top Gold IRA company in 2015.

Goldco is best known for its buyback program, which guarantees clients the highest prices. It also has a streamlined IRA process, free shipping, and minimal fees.

Keep regular tabs on this Company, too, as it frequently runs promotions like free silver when you buy a certain amount of gold.

Perhaps that’s why Ben Stein, Fox News’ Sean Hannity, and Chuck Norris, all endorse the Company. 

Moreover, Goldo not only has A+ ratings from both the BBB and the Business Consumer Alliance. It hasn’t received a single complaint since 2011.

Goldco has plenty of news, investor education resources, and a decent selection of gold and silver bullion bars and coins. However, there do not appear to be any platinum or palladium products.

Additionally, the minimum investment for opening a Gold IRA is $25,000.

#9 – Birch Gold Group – Wide Range of IRA and Collectible Coins

Advantages

• Well-established company (founded 20+ years ago)
• Partnership with Dr. Ron Paul
• Offer a broad selection of collector’s coins

Disadvantages

• High minimum investment required
• Higher than average coin prices
• Little price transparency available online

Annual Fees: $180-230

Founded in 2003, Birch Gold Group is one of the best-established companies on this list and is known as one of the U.S.’s top precious metals dealers.

Birch Gold not only is led by an exceptional staff of former financial advisors, commodity futures brokers, wealth managers, and gold and silver specialists. It has a partnership with former Congressman Ron Paul, a long-time vocal proponent of investing in gold.

Birch also has one of the most comprehensive investor education libraries available, including interviews and expert insights from investing gurus like Steve Forbes, Peter Schiff, and gold expert Doug Casey.

Birch has plenty of IRA-approved coins, bullion bars, and rounds, including some of the rarest coins many gold IRA companies do not carry. The $10,000 minimum investment is also cheaper than many competitors.  

However, there’s a catch. Many of its precious metals products charge a higher markup than many other gold IRA companies. 

Additionally, while Birch has strong relationships with major custodians and quality storage companies, it doesn’t offer comprehensive, direct in-house services like Augusta Precious Metals. 

Yet, despite these drawbacks, Birch Gold has an A+ rating from the BBB and Business Consumer Alliance rating and thousands of positive reviews on TrustLink and TrustPilot.

#10 – Rosland Capital – Exclusive Specialty Coins

Advantages

• Exclusive specialty coins on offer
• Tons of IRA-eligible investments in supply
• Clearly marked pricing
• Strongly committed to charity and local causes
• Selling precious metals since 2008

Disadvantages

• High annual fees relative to others
• No segregated storage options for IRA investors
• No listed storage partners

Annual Fees: $225

Rosland Capital is a multinational gold IRA provider with headquarters in Los Angeles and satellite offices in London, Munich, Hong Kong, and Paris. 

While it lacks the comprehensive educational resources that many other gold IRA providers have, Rosland stands out because of its strong commitment to philanthropy and charity.

Rosland is more known for selling non-IRA eligible precious metals coins and exclusive specialty coins. Yet it has only maybe about a dozen IRA-eligible gold, silver, and precious metals products. 

Be that as it may, it will help you create a gold IRA using the same custodian and storage company as Augusta Precious Metals (Equity Trust and Delaware Depository). 

Although the minimum investment required to open an IRA at Rosland Capital is only $10,000, the $225 annual gold IRA fees are higher than many. There are also storage fees and high sales commission fees.

Additionally, while Rosland has an A+ rating with the BBB and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance, it only has 4 out of 5 stars on TrustLink. On top of this, it also has more complaints than many other previously mentioned gold IRA companies.  

Conclusion 

We live in a time comparable to the 1970s when stagflation, geopolitical unrest, and economic uncertainty caused one of the most furious gold bull markets in history. Stocks fell 95% relative to gold between the late 1960s and the early 1980s, and gold skyrocketed 2300% from $35 an ounce in August 1971 to a record high of $850 an ounce by ​​January 1980.

In a perfect world, you could invest in a gold 401k and protect the retirement funds you earn from your job with some precious metals. Particularly with the average 401k declining 23% year-to-date and with more pain on the horizon for 2023. 

However, because gold 401ks do not exist, your best course of action is to roll it over into a gold IRA. 

While you should always do your own research when looking for the best companies for gold IRAs and rollovers, based on several criteria such as fees, precious metal selection, services provided, and more, Augusta Precious Metals is far and away the best overall. It offers comprehensive service, precious metals expertise, a broad selection of IRA-eligible products, outstanding educational resources, and relatively low Gold IRA fees.

Money is tight these days, and your retirement funds are too vital to risk. Consider all your options and do your homework regarding your financial strategy. Considering Augusta Precious Metals and evaluating why a gold IRA can work for you should be an option.

Best Gold 401(k) Company Summary Table

Gold 401(k) Companies Compared