When it comes to preparing for retirement, selecting the right Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is crucial for maximizing savings and achieving long-term financial goals. With numerous options available, it can be overwhelming to identify the best IRA accounts that align with your specific needs.

In this comprehensive article, we delve into the world of Self-Directed IRAs backed by alternative assets, evaluating various factors such as fees, investment options, customer service, and account features to compile a curated list of the best IRA accounts. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting your retirement planning journey, this guide will provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions and secure a financially stable future.

Disclosure: The owners of this website may be paid for sales or leads generated from recommendations or links to various investment opportunities. We strongly recommend seeking the advice of your financial adviser before making any investment.

What Is An IRA?

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in the United States is a type of individual retirement plan provided by many financial institutions that give investors certain tax advantages for retirement savings.

Benefits Of Owning An IRA Account

An IRA is similar to a savings account in the sense that you can continually add to your growing portfolio. There are many benefits to owning a dependable IRA account including:

  • The ability to make annual tax-deductible contributions
  • A savings account which grows tax-free or tax-deferred until retirement

Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA

Roth IRA 401k Nest Egg

With a Traditional IRA, contributions are tax-deferred. Withdrawals are taxed as income.

With a Roth IRA, contributions are taxed up front. Thereafter, all transactions within the IRA have no tax impact, and withdrawals are tax-free. As of 2019, the maximum contribution annually is $6,000. If you are age 50 or older the maximum is $7,000.

“I love the Roth IRA. Tax-free income in retirement is a truly great deal.” – Suze Orman, Host of The Suze Orman Show

Take Full Control Of Your Retirement With A Self-Directed IRA

A Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account is a specialized IRA that lets the owner invest in a larger selection of investment assets. The owner has full control over the investment strategies and decisions made within the account.

Self-Directed IRAs are set up by a dedicated custodian using a standard application that can often be signed and completed digitally.

What Are The Best IRA Accounts For Beginners?

When it comes to finding the best IRA accounts for beginners, several factors come into play, including fees, ease of use, investment options, customer support, and educational resources. Whether you decide to open a cash or alternative asset-backed IRA account is entirely up to you, however, it is important to understand the differences between the two.

It’s important for beginners to consider their own investment goals, risk tolerance, and desired level of involvement in managing their IRA accounts. Conduct thorough research, compare fees and services, and consider seeking guidance from financial professionals to determine the best IRA account that aligns with your individual needs and preferences.

What Assets Can I Store Inside Of An IRA?

Within an IRA it is possible for you to invest in all sorts of traditional financial assets such as stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds. Alternative assets like commodities, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, real estate, and LLCs can be stored within a Self-Directed IRA.

Why You Should Invest In Alternative Assets

Alternative assets are an excellent hedge against stocks and bonds. Most billionaires and hedge fund managers hold alternative assets to diversify their portfolios for all weather conditions. Alternative assets provide peace of mind in the event of economic and sociological uncertainty and terrorist threats. This guide focuses on two of the more popular types of alternative asset IRAs: Gold IRA and Bitcoin IRA.

When choosing a custodian to set up a Self-Directed IRA account for alternative assets make sure they are properly licensed, insured and bonded so your assets remain safe and pass all regulatory and auditory exams.

Best Alternative Asset IRA Accounts

If you are seeking an alternative from your existing 401k or IRA account then a rollover may be an option for you. The best rollover IRA accounts are usually the ones that offer the lowest fees and let you hold the assets you actually want for your retirement.

The Best Gold IRA Companies Reviewed

Gold IRA Rollover
Gold is a dependable and popular alternative asset for investors

Gold is historically one of the safest alternative assets to own due to its popularity as a safe haven in times of economic crisis or deflation. Gold creates protection for your portfolio as a store of wealth and has outlasted the world’s currencies.

CompanyHeadquartersPhoneMinimum InvestmentStorage & Security
Birch Gold Group icon
Birch Gold Group
Burbank, CA(888) 877-0740$10,000Brinks, DDSC
GoldSilver icon
GoldSilver
New York, NY(888) 319-8166$10,000Brinks
American Bullion icon
American Bullion
Los Angeles, CA(888) 987-6318$10,000DDSC
GoldCo icon
GoldCo
Woodland Hills, California(844) 515-4982$20,000Brinks, DDSC, IDS Texas

#1. Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group has been in business since 2003 and is a leading dealer of precious metals and precious metal IRAs in the United States. They have a team of experienced professionals, wealth managers, financial advisors, and commodity brokers to help customers diversify their portfolios with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

With Birch Gold, you have a Precious Metals Specialist assigned to you to help make the entire purchase process smooth and simple.

Why Invest With Birch Gold Group?

  • Excellent and attentive service from start to finish.
  • You are matched with a personal precious metals specialist 1-to-1 who will get to know you and your specific needs and goals.
  • Endorsed by Ben Shapiro, host of the Ben Shapiro Show and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Wire.
  • Decades of combined experience, including past positions with Citigroup, Dun & Bradstreet, and IBM.
  • Maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, an AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance and 5-star ratings on Consumer Affairs and GoldDealerReviews.com

Summary: The people at Birch Gold Group are very easy to work with. They are one of the best and most experienced precious metals dealers in the country. They have good ratings across the board and a very knowledgeable customer support team.

Birch Gold Group Company Information

Address: 3500 West Olive Avenue, Suite #300, Burbank, California 91505

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (800) 355-2116

International: 001-800-355-2116

Website: birchgold.com


#2. GoldSilver

GoldSilver Logo White

Founded by Mike Maloney in 2005, GoldSilver is a globally renowned gold and silver bullion dealer serving every region of the world.

GoldSilver sells precious metals in all forms including bars, bullion, and jewelry. They have many resources for those who want to learn more about the industry.

GoldSilver is a great option if your current 401k or IRA custodian doesn’t allow physical precious metals. With GoldSilver, investors are able to rollover their existing 401 or IRA and buy physical gold and silver bullion. If your IRA is one of your primary investment vehicles, your gold and silver can grow tax-free within it.

Why Invest With GoldSilver?

  • GoldSilver is a worldwide leader in educating investors on gold and silver.
  • Simplified 4-step self-directed gold IRA rollover process.
  • 100% allocated and segregated private vault storage and insurance operated by Brinks.
  • Gold and silver bullion ships in nondescript packaging.
  • International shipping is available for every country in the world.

Summary: GoldSilver is a first-class precious metals company to work with. They have excellent customer support and a large selection of bars and bullion to choose from (in addition to jewelry). To place a gold IRA or silver IRA order contact a sales representative at GoldSilver.

GoldSilver Company Information

Address: 909 3rd Avenue #8525 New York, NY 10150

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (888) 319-8166

International: 001-888-319-8166

Website: goldsilver.com


#3. American Bullion

American Bullion Logo

American Bullion is a pioneer in bringing the original Gold IRA into existence. They are still leading retirement investors by teaching them how to build and protect their hard-earned assets. The company helps clients transfer existing IRAs or 401ks into a physical gold IRA, hassle-free.

American Bullion is a U.S. Mint Dealer since 2010, and also a Royal Canadian Mint Registered Bullion DNA Dealer. They are a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), as well as ICTA, PCGS, NGC and more. The company was selected as the “Bullion Dealer Of The Year” in 2017 with a special reward as “The Gold Retirement Specialists”.

Why Invest With American Bullion?

  • Delivers millions of dollars’ worth of gold and silver monthly to clients.
  • Carries all U.S. and European pre-1933 coins, as well as modern gold and silver bullion.
  • Offers a wide array of precious metal coins and bars for sale, insured and delivered to your chosen location.
  • Works with the Delaware Depository to ensure compliance with IRS requirements.
  • Maintains a $1 billion policy in all-risk precious metals insurance underwritten by Lloyds of London.

Summary: American Bullion is a proven Gold IRA specialist that takes great pride in its customer service. They are a leader in adding precious metals to individual retirement accounts.

REMEMBER: Rollovers require approximately 10-15 business days to complete. The process is dependent on your current IRA or 401(k) custodian and their procedures for releasing your funds.

American Bullion Company Information

Address: 12301 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 305, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (888) 987-6318

International: 001-888-987-6318

Website: americanbullion.com

Free Gold Guide: americanbullion.com/freegoldguide


#4. GoldCo

GoldCo Logo

GoldCo specializes in helping its clients diversify their IRA, 401(k), TSP or other qualified retirement accounts into gold, and silver protecting them from runaway inflation, future stock market crashes, and government debt.

GoldCo provides expert “white glove service” from start to finish for precious metals IRA and non-IRA transactions.

First-year fees are waived for orders over $50,000. You also get 5% back in free metals on any qualified order over $50,000.

The company has strategic partnerships with the most experienced and reliable custodians and depositories. They are willing to provide personalized service for every client they take on.

Why Invest With GoldCo?

  • With a Goldco® Self-Directed IRA account, you can invest in gold just like stocks or bonds in a conventional IRA.
  • GoldCo uses Equity Trust Company as its custodian for precious metals accounts.
  • When you open a Goldco Precious Metals IRA, your gold, silver and other precious metals are transferred to a secure vault in an IRS-approved depository.
  • Provides free storage for non-IRA transactions.
  • Maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and 5-star ratings on consumer trust sites like Consumer Affairs, Trustlink, and TrustPilot.

Summary: Customer service is where Goldco really shines! GoldCo promises personalized attention for every client they take on and is one of the leading precious metals dealers in the country.

REMEMBER: Once funds are received into the account, the customer will speak with their Account Executive to choose the metals to be purchased and held in the IRA. The precious metals will be placed directly into the account at the customers chosen depository for storage within a few days, or 3-4 weeks if they need to be ordered.

GoldCo Company Information

Address: 21215 Burbank Blvd #600, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (844) 515-4982

International: 001-844-515-4982

Website: goldco.com

Free Gold IRA Guide: goldco.com/freegoldiraguide


Benefits Of Opening A Bitcoin IRA Account

Bitcoin IRA Rollover

Bitcoin is the world’s first Blockchain-backed digital currency and is used by investors to hold value within a dependable public ledger in which you get to securely store your own private keys.

One of the keys to Bitcoin’s value is its issuance model. Miners are paid each time they append a new block of transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain. With only 21 million Bitcoins, available, to ever be mined this built-in scarcity is inherent in Bitcoin’s value.

Opening a Bitcoin IRA offers several benefits for investors looking to diversify their retirement portfolios with cryptocurrencies. Here are five key advantages:

  1. Potential for Growth: Bitcoin has demonstrated significant growth over the years, and including it in an IRA allows investors to potentially benefit from its future appreciation.
  2. Portfolio Diversification: Adding Bitcoin to a retirement account provides diversification beyond traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds, reducing overall risk and potentially enhancing long-term returns.
  3. Tax Advantages: Bitcoin IRAs offer the same tax advantages as traditional IRAs. Contributions may be tax-deductible, and earnings can grow tax-free or tax-deferred until withdrawal during retirement.
  4. Hedge against Inflation: Bitcoin’s limited supply and decentralized nature make it an appealing hedge against inflation, providing a potential safeguard for retirement savings.
  5. Security and Control: By utilizing a self-directed IRA, investors have full control over their Bitcoin holdings and can securely store their digital assets using hardware wallets or secure custodians.

It’s important to note that investing in Bitcoin carries risks, including price volatility and regulatory uncertainties. Consulting with a financial advisor or tax professional before opening a Bitcoin IRA is advisable to ensure it aligns with one’s overall retirement strategy and risk tolerance.

The Best Bitcoin IRA Companies Reviewed

Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a popular alternative asset class for IRA accounts

Bitcoin has demonstrated substantial growth since its inception, often outperforming traditional assets like stocks and bonds. Its limited supply and increasing demand have contributed to significant price appreciation, making it an attractive investment for long-term growth.

CompanyHeadquartersPhoneMinimum Investment
Bit IRA icon
BitIRABurbank, CA(877) 465-2950$5,000
Bitcoin IRA icon
Bitcoin IRASherman Oaks, CA(818) 381-0254$3,000

#1. BitIRA

BitIRA Logo - Cryptocurrency IRA Investment Company

BitIRA is a company based in the United States that gives investors access to the growth potential of cryptocurrency, on a tax-deferred basis. Investors who want a self-directed Digital Currency IRA account with BitIRA can rollover any type of eligible retirement account including an existing 401(k), 403(b) or any IRA classification, such as Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE.

As the world’s most secure Digital Currency IRA, BitIRA offers an IRA that is fully-insured against any cases of hacks, fraud, theft, and mistakes.

Why Invest With BitIRA?

  • Fully compliant with the Cryptocurrency Security Standards (CCSS).
  • Your cryptocurrency assets are fully insured against any cases of hacks, fraud, theft, and mistakes, and are housed inside Class III vaults at a state-of-the-art depository, with UL & ULC-rated, multi-redundant security systems, and protected by armed guards around the clock.
  • Each investor has their own personal, encrypted cold storage hardware device that can only be accessed through multi-signature security.
  • BitIRA gives investors access to purchase eight cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Ripple, Litecoin, Zcash, and Stellar Lumens.
  • Learn how to supercharge your IRA with a free guide.

Summary: For those with an existing 401k or IRA, BitIRA has developed a way for investors to enjoy tax-deferred growth with digital currencies. As an investor working with BitIRA, you will have your own personal multi-signature hardware wallet. Your investment will be secured with cold storage inside of Class-III vaults, making it one of the world’s most secure digital currency IRAs. With a $20k minimum requirement, we recommend the BitIRA company for serious investors who want an ultra-secure IRA to invest in digital currencies. Learn more today.

BitIRA Company Information

Address: 3500 West Olive Avenue, Suite #300 Burbank, CA 91505

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (877) 465-2908

Website: www.bitira.com


#2. Bitcoin IRA

Bitcoin IRA Company Logo

Bitcoin IRA is the first and only full-service solution that gives investors in the United States the ability to invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum Classic with an IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 403b, or 401k into a self-directed Bitcoin IRA account.

The company mission of Bitcoin IRA is to help smart investors achieve their goals by making the complex process simpler and safer by being fully transparent and straightforward.

Why Invest With Bitcoin IRA?

  • Support staff will walk you through the process from start to finish.
  • Easily roll over funds from an existing IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 403b, or 401k into a self-directed Bitcoin or Ethereum IRA account.
  • Your investment is protected by a 3-keyed “Cold Storage” IRA wallet exclusive to Bitcoin IRA, powered by BitGo – the leader in multi-signature encryption technology.
  • One-time fee for complete services of setting up your account, rolling over funds, executing the exchange, and securing your funds.
  • Freedom to choose your portfolio % between Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Litecoin, Ripple, ZCash, Stellar Lumens and more.
  • Investment is licensed, bonded and fully insured for up to $1 million dollars with the Lloyds of London.

Summary: Bitcoin IRA is a one-of-a-kind investment opportunity. Those with an existing 401k or IRA will find a plethora of options available for a retirement portfolio. Not only will you get to decide what you want in your custom portfolio, but you will have a specialist to walk you through every step of the way. With a $3,000 minimum requirement Bitcoin IRA is a great company for investors who want to set up a simplified cryptoasset portfolio.

Bitcoin IRA Company Information

Address: 15303 Ventura Boulevard, Suite #1060 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (818) 381-0254

Website: www.bitcoinira.com

#3. CoinIRA

Coin IRA - Cryptocurrency IRA Services

CoinIRA is a BBB accredited Bitcoin IRA Company for investors who want to buy cryptocurrency with an IRA, 401k, 403b, SEP, or TSP. Investors can choose between a number of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. CoinIRA is a subsidiary of GoldCo and maintains the highest of standards for customer service with 5-star ratings on consumer trust sites such as Consumer Affairs, Trustlink, TrustPilot, and the aforementioned BBB.

Why Invest With CoinIRA?

  • Your self-directed IRA will reap the benefits of tax-deferred withdrawals.
  • CoinIRA is endorsed by former congressman Ron Paul which is fully approved by the IRS.
  • Fully insured in case of disaster or theft and secured in case of a physical or natural disaster.
  • Provides individuals with the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency with extremely low fees.
  • Employs a fully dedicated staff of personal consultants that will walk you through every step of the process.

Summary: CoinIRA makes it simple to access your assets; not only do they have great customer support, but also the dashboard simplifies the transaction process by only requiring a password to access your private keys. They give clients the option between a hardware wallet or online wallet to secure the investment. We recommend CoinIRA for investors who are looking for a reputable cryptocurrency exchange that can hold your assets within an IRA.

CoinIRA Company Information

Address: 21215 Burbank Blvd Suite 600, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Country: United States

Phone: +1 (888) 998-COIN (2646)

Website: www.coinira.com

“Bitcoin is a classic network effect, a positive feedback loop. The more people who use Bitcoin, the more valuable Bitcoin is for everyone who uses it, and the higher the incentive for the next user to start using the technology.” – Marc Andreessen, Co-Founder of Andreessen Horowitz


Additional Alternative Asset IRA Accounts To Consider

An Ethereum IRA will give you access to the advantages of the Ethereum Virtual Machine for protecting your assets within a decentralized blockchain. Depending on the custodian you go with you may also be able to invest in other types of alternative assets.