Goldco is a Woodland Hills, California company, founded in 2006, that focuses on moving 401(k) and IRA balances into precious metals IRAs. It lists a $25,000 minimum and a buyback program. This review looks at the rollover process, the published fees and the questions to ask about the buyback.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Rollover processing listed at 7-10 business days
- Buyback program offered (get the terms in writing)
- Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium available
- 16+ years in business with an A+ BBB rating listed
- Dedicated rollover specialists guide each step
Considerations
- $25,000 minimum investment requirement
- Initial consultation is phone-based only
- Fewer educational resources than Augusta
Company Overview
Goldco was founded in 2006 and specializes in moving 401(k) and IRA balances into precious metals IRAs. It is headquartered in Woodland Hills, California.
Goldco works with established custodians and IRS-approved depositories. Ask which custodian and which depository will hold your account, because those two choices set most of your annual fees.
Rollover Process
Goldco's rollover specialists handle the paperwork and coordinate with your current plan administrator. When the rollover is a direct one, the funds move between institutions and no tax or penalty applies.
Goldco lists a typical rollover time of 7-10 business days and supports rollovers from 401(k), 403(b), TSP and traditional IRA accounts. The home page guide puts the typical range at 5-15 business days, so treat 7-10 days as a target rather than a promise.
Direct Rollover, Transfer or 60-Day Rollover: What to Request
When you move money from a 401(k) or another IRA, the method matters as much as the company. A direct rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer sends the funds from your old plan straight to the new custodian, with no withholding and no 60-day deadline. An indirect rollover pays you first: a 401(k) distribution carries 20% mandatory withholding and you must redeposit the full amount within 60 days.
Tell the Goldco specialist you want a direct transfer, then confirm in writing how your old plan administrator will send the funds. Direct rollovers and transfers do not count toward the one-indirect-rollover-per-12-months limit.
- 401(k): ask your plan administrator for its direct rollover form
- 403(b) or TSP: the same direct rollover logic applies; check the plan's own paperwork
- Traditional IRA: a trustee-to-trustee transfer between custodians
- Anything paid to you personally starts the 60-day clock
Fee Structure
Goldco explains its fees during the initial phone consultation, and the table below lists the figures published on this site. Setup fees are sometimes waived through promotions; ask for any waiver and its conditions in writing.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Minimum | $25,000 |
| Setup | $50 (often waived) |
| Annual | $80 (custodian fee) |
| Storage | $100-175/year |
| Buyback | Guaranteed buyback (ask for written terms) |
Buyback Guarantee
Goldco lists a guaranteed buyback program for the day you want to sell. The details that matter are the price formula and the timing.
Ask whether the buyback price is based on the spot price on the day of sale, whether a spread or fee is deducted, and how many days pass before the proceeds reach your IRA.
Year-One Cost Math at $25,000
Using the numbers listed on this page, Goldco's custody costs are a $50 setup fee (often waived), an $80 custodian fee and $100-$175 per year for storage. That is about $180-$305 in year one, or roughly 0.7%-1.2% of a $25,000 account, before dealer premiums and the sell-back spread.
The storage range is wide. Ask which figure applies to your account and what drives it, such as storage type or account value.
When Goldco Is Not the Right Fit
Goldco is built around rollovers, so a different company may suit you better in these cases:
- Your balance is under $25,000: American Hartford Gold lists $10,000, Birch Gold Group $5,000 and Noble Gold $20,000
- You want in-depth education before speaking with a representative: Goldco's first consultation is by phone and it publishes fewer educational resources than Augusta
- You want the widest list of fee waivers in writing: Goldco's setup waiver is described as 'often', not guaranteed
Red Flags and How to Verify
Be wary of pressure to move quickly, of claims that rare or collectible coins make better IRA investments (IRC Section 408(m) bars collectibles), and of any request to send rollover funds to you rather than directly to the custodian.
Check the company's Better Business Bureau profile and your state regulator, get fee and buyback terms in writing, and compare written quotes from at least two of the other companies on this site before you fund.
Our Verdict
Goldco fits investors with at least $25,000 who want a rollover-focused process and a listed buyback program. Its 7-10 business day rollover target and 16+ years in business count in its favor; confirm the fees and the buyback terms in writing before you proceed.
