Having reliable data is essential before putting money into precious metals like gold and silver. While several precious metals investing firms operate online, you might need help selecting the most suitable one. If you need help deciding, check out our evaluation of American Bullion.
We conduct thorough buyer research to help you weigh your alternatives. While assessing gold brokers, we compare several factors, including costs, offers and more. Read on if you're seeking guidance on selecting a trustworthy gold IRA.
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Defining Gold IRA
A gold or precious metals IRA is an individual retirement account allowing holders to purchase and sell Bullion or other physical commodities. Custodial costs for these vehicles are often higher than standard IRAs due to the former's greater space and maintenance requirements.
Gold IRAs can be established with the help of a custodian, either as traditional IRAs or as Roth IRAs, with pre-tax funds (post-tax). Various gold IRAs do not provide actual gold for their clients to purchase. Some businesses trade speculative mining stocks and mutual fund shares.
Those under 50 are limited to making annual contributions of $6,500 to their retirement accounts since the IRS caps gold investments at those levels. Many still opt to put their retirement savings into gold IRAs, even though precious metals' market value seldom drops during economic uncertainty.
High minimum contributions required by some firms may discourage potential IRA contributors from making long-term financial commitments. Gold's increasing value, however, warrants attention. During certain years, investors anticipate gold demand to increase by 19% from the quarterly average.
History of American Bullion
American Bullion formally commenced operations in 2009. Nevtan Akcora and Orkan Ozkan, both seasoned commodities investors, intended to launch a business in Los Angeles that simplified the process of buying and selling precious metals. To do this, they emphasize online customer support and introduce the possibility of including bullion coins and bars in individual retirement accounts.
Regarding gold IRAs, American Bullion was the first to accept Bitcoin payments in 2013. Some people were taken aback by this development because Bitcoin was still a relatively new currency at the time (its price had only recently hit $1 two years previously). Even so, American Bullion remained head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, with the largest gold IRA accounts anywhere in the globe.
American Bullion is widely regarded as an early adopter of gold IRAs among today's gold investors. With the help of STRATA Trust Company, the firm may help clients open self-directed IRAs. Moreover, American Bullion assists clients in converting paper assets such as 401(k)s, into gold IRAs.
CEO Nevtan Akcora still oversees company operations. Before he founded his firm, he held the posts of Chief Operating Officer and President at the prestigious Onstar Global. Erman Ebren, a systems engineer for Siemens and now Akcora's digital marketing manager, also assists with staff management.
American Bullion is subject to periodic criticism and difficulties like any other company. Nonetheless, at first appearance, the company's track record of success continues to excite investors, tax experts and competitors.
American Bullion Minimum Investment Amount
American Bullion provides a low investment entry point like many gold IRA providers. The pricing system is straightforward, which is great. After the first year, custodial account holders are charged $95 plus the initial $50 setup cost. Also, a brand new customer's initial gold IRA investment is a minimum of $50k.
The price tag may be too high for certain people. On the other hand, the organization permits new clients to move that initial deposit from other accounts. Also, American Bullion provides a storage charge waiver for the first year for new customers.
Thousands of people every year visit the site specifically for these perks. Finally, accounts having a balance of above $100,000 per year will incur an annual charge of $150 to cover administrative and maintenance expenses.
Products Offering
Products from American Bullion consist of precious metals like platinum and gold coins and proof versions of such coins. American Bullion, in particular, sells paper money from the United States and Europe from the turn of the twentieth century. However, standard bullion coins aren't the only ones this firm deals in.
Their common coins are extremely pure (often over 99% gold). These brands are known worldwide, making them easy to liquidate for investors. Moreover, their worth stays relatively constant relative to the price of gold on the market.
They also produce high-quality bullion coins for collectors. Yet because these coins may no longer be in circulation, speculators may sell them at a substantial markup. Novice investors needing help should consult with gold IRA specialists on the worth of these physical commodities before committing.
Visitors to American Bullion's website will be disappointed to learn that no product catalog is available. Clients must make direct phone contact to get information about the products and their prices.
The American Bullion Gold IRA
American Bullion allows customers to diversify their gold IRA portfolio with precious metal items that meet IRS guidelines. In accordance with IRS requirements, the business transfers full title to the gold and other precious metals to the buyer.
IRA-Eligible Precious Metals
American Bullion offers a variety of IRA-eligible gold and silver bars and coins, which the Internal Revenue Service has approved for use in individual retirement accounts.
Gold Bars and Coins:
Silver Bars and Coins:
American Bullion Storage Options for Precious Metals
To guarantee that their clients have access to secure product storage, American Bullion collaborates with STRATA and the Delaware Depository. The physical goods are securely delivered to either site and other security measures are kept under close watch.
Nonetheless, others still need help with the pace of their gold withdrawals. Delivery of gold from the Delaware Depository to the vault might take a few weeks. Customers must make an appointment to view their gold once it has been safely stored.
Customer preferences vary; however, some people would rather keep their money safe at home. Yet, this strategy is fraught with dangers. Hundreds of dollars, if not more, might be lost due to disasters and theft. In any case, American Bullion will assist in setting up home delivery if required.
Why Gold IRAs Are a Great Investment Choice
The gold IRA is an excellent option for people who want to diversify their portfolio with more precious metals. This type of Bullion can be invested in without raising red flags at the IRS, making it an excellent choice for those still trying to decide if they qualify as an individual or joint account holder.
Diversification of Your Portfolio
Gold IRAs offer a great opportunity to diversify and keep your portfolio balanced. Having gold in an IRA can reduce portfolio risk as gold is one of the only virtually unmovable investments. There are very few instances where it can be hacked or stolen. Because of this, American Bullion has a lot of confidence in their gold IRA strategy; they would only recommend something they felt confident recommending to their clients.
Tax Benefits
For an investor to be able to contribute gold to their IRA, it must be in the form of a dorcel, bullion bars or coins. By investing in these items, investors will not have to pay any capital gains taxes when they cash out of the gold. This can save their families thousands of dollars annually and make them incredibly wealthy.
Immediate Access to Your Money
If something other than a gold IRA is for you, there is also the option of a savings account to allow you access to your money immediately. If you wanted to do this, American Bullion would still provide you with a safe place to store your gold and even store it in their vault if that was what you were looking for.
Hedge Against Market Downturns
Investing in gold can help you to avoid market downturns. Having gold in the IRA can help keep your portfolio stable and less susceptible to bad situations in the market. Investors can hedge their portfolio risk with gold so that they are not left at the mercy of an economic downturn on a daily basis.
Estates Planning
Investing in a gold IRA is great for estates and long-term planning. Many investors want to secure their family's future when they invest in gold. Some investors that have been just investing in stocks or commodities may want to avoid being only invested in one industry or one type of investment because they want to be able to sleep at night.
Investing in gold is a great way to diversify your investments and ensure that your loved ones would not be left with nothing if you were to pass away. Investing in gold is also great for those looking to ensure they don't get stuck paying estate taxes on their assets.
Long-Term Investment
Most investors need more time to worry about saving for retirement and investing. With a gold IRA, you can start investing in something that will increase in value over time. This means your IRA will grow and be worth more yearly until you retire.
IRA Rollover
Let's say you are unable to pay cash for precious metals. In such a situation, American Bullion may assist you with converting your existing regular IRA, Roth IRA or another type of IRA into a gold IRA.
Before having your broker buy precious metals on your behalf, you must initiate the rollover procedure. Like other reputable gold dealers, American Bullion offers a contract including costs, storage choices, risk factors and more. Consider consulting a tax or legal expert if this is your first time dealing with an IRA firm.
Self-directed IRA Services also require you to provide identification. American Bullion will verify your gold IRA rollover once you've finished all the necessary steps. Some people prefer the freedom of choice that comes with managing their retirement assets and for them, that means opening a self-directed IRA. A precious metals IRA provider serves as a broker that executes your orders.
Other IRA Services Offered by American Bullion
American Bullion's website still has the instructional materials that have become standard fare for the company. This gold IRA firm offers retirement savings advice, bullion review blogs and free gold-buying guides for those looking to save for retirement.
There are several scholarship programs, but the American Bullion Scholarship program stands out. They started a program in 2014 to teach students about precious metals and how to use them to improve their retirement savings. American Bullion executives give $1,000 in scholarships to deserving students each year.
Applying for the scholarship requires the prospective students to:
Every candidate is limited to a single essay submission per calendar year. Typically, entry deadlines occur around the end of October.
American Bullion Third-Party Reviews
There are other websites out there that also provide reviews on American Bullion. Organizations like the BBB and the Business Consumer Alliance, which value consumer feedback, keep taking it. What follows is a compilation of opinions:
Better Business Bureau
The BBB has given American Bullion an A+ rating, with only one consumer complaint in the past three years. American Bullion responded immediately to the problem and as a result, they have earned a four-star rating from its patrons on this site.
Several reviewers have said that the company's helpful service and extensive learning materials are the main reasons to recommend it. Most reviewers agree that American Bullion is a respectable business if you have IRA or account transfer issues.
Trustpilot
Here, current and former American Bullion customers may share their opinions on the company. About two hundred customers have given the firm a 4.5-star rating, which is quite a feat. Investors in precious metals will find American Bullion highly recommended by Trustpilot users. Several customers have mentioned that they trusted agents enough to complete deals with them.
TrustLink
TrustLink is a community where consumers can rate and evaluate businesses like gold dealer businesses. Users' opinions on American Bullion were mostly favorable. Several five-star reviews have lauded the company's professionalism. Investors in precious metals for their retirement accounts have found American Bullion informative and attentive.
Business Consumer Alliance
The firm is rated perfect by BCA. Clients report that their precious metals agents kept them in the loop and even uncovered some missing cash. As a result of American Bullion's track record, tenure in the industry and dependability, the company was awarded BCA's highest grade of AAA.
Final Thoughts
The precious metals section of your retirement portfolio might be an excellent place to start with American Bullion because of the company's high customer satisfaction rating and the hundreds of positive reviews they have received.
When investing in gold and other commodities like silver and platinum, American Bullion is unrivaled in its ability to equip customers with the information they need to make educated decisions. This Los Angeles gold dealer has been in business for over a decade, during which time they have been adept at significant financial transactions and client care. In addition, we give them good marks for the wide range of products they provide and the scholarships they provide to students.
There are excessive account maintenance fees and minimum investment requirements, both of which we find unacceptable. It might take American Bullion a while to get consumers their orders, which is an issue for many. Our verdict is that American Bullion is still a viable option. A new investment would do well to consider this reliable, customer-centric business.
However, we have other best reputable gold IRA companies we highly recommend you check out. They offer great customer service, competitive prices with low minimum investment requirements and are among the best in the business.
Don't forget to take advantage of our research if you are going to be making an investment of your hard earned money!
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