WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.040 All right, so we'd love to get your suggestions 00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:05.740 for deep dives. And this one came from a lot 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:07.299 of you. Yeah, a lot of interest in this one. 00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:09.000 Yeah, a lot of people sent this in. And it's 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.919 a comparison of three of the biggest names in 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.679 gold IRAs, Augusta, Precious Metals, Gold Co., 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.899 and American Hartford Gold. And I think it's 00:00:18.899 --> 00:00:21.179 really interesting, right, because we talk about 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:25.199 investing a lot on this show. Gold IRAs are something 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.460 we've touched on but we haven't like gone super 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:29.679 deep and never done a full comparison like this 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.060 Yeah, so I think it's a great A great idea to 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:35.460 kind of like really unpack this comparison article 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:37.659 that was sent in and it's by Doug Young, right? 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:40.240 That's right called Augusta versus Gold Co versus 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.759 American Hartford gold comparisons Yeah, and 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:44.899 he really seems to know his stuff when it comes 00:00:44.899 --> 00:00:47.700 to you know, all things precious metals and IRAs 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:50.270 Yeah, he does It really is at a very comprehensive 00:00:50.270 --> 00:00:51.729 comparison. Yeah, and that's what we're gonna 00:00:51.729 --> 00:00:54.189 do today is really like go past the surface level 00:00:54.189 --> 00:00:57.909 like what are the key differences between These 00:00:57.909 --> 00:01:00.329 companies because they all offer gold IRAs, right? 00:01:00.409 --> 00:01:03.020 Yeah, but what are the like? you know, kind of 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:05.519 like nitty gritty differences that actually matter 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:07.239 to you as an investor. What are the nuances? 00:01:07.420 --> 00:01:09.019 What are the things that are going to actually 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:11.599 impact your decision? Right, exactly. Because, 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:13.799 you know, it can be overwhelming, right? You 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:15.620 go to these websites, you see all the, you know, 00:01:16.019 --> 00:01:18.680 the shiny gold and the, you know, promises of 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:21.019 security. But we got to figure out what's actually 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:23.319 real. What's the substance behind the marketing? 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:27.939 Exactly. Yeah. So let's jump right in. The article 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:30.180 starts off with a pretty bold statement. It says 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:33.260 Augusta Precious Metals has been ranked as the 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:36.739 top overall gold IRA company for the past three 00:01:36.739 --> 00:01:40.859 years By Money magazine, which is like Wow. That's 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:42.599 a pretty impressive accolade. Yeah, that's a 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:44.799 big deal. That's a high bar It does so right 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:46.159 away. You're like, okay, what are they doing? 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.280 Right? What's what's so special about them, right? 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:50.579 So that begs the question what sets them apart? 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:52.739 Yeah, and to answer that the article goes into 00:01:52.739 --> 00:01:54.879 these like individual overviews of each company 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:57.849 Okay, and with Augusta You know, what's interesting 00:01:57.849 --> 00:02:00.530 is they really emphasize education. They actually 00:02:00.530 --> 00:02:04.209 have these one -on -one webinars with a Harvard 00:02:04.209 --> 00:02:06.549 -trained expert, which you don't see every day. 00:02:06.549 --> 00:02:08.729 That's not your typical customer service rep. 00:02:08.930 --> 00:02:10.849 No, it's not. And it makes you think like they're 00:02:10.849 --> 00:02:13.689 serious about, you know, making sure their customers 00:02:13.689 --> 00:02:15.629 really get it. It's not just a transaction. They 00:02:15.629 --> 00:02:18.460 want you to be informed. Exactly. Yeah. And they 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:20.580 also talk a lot about transparency and customer 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:23.360 service, which seems to be backed up by the fact 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.020 that they have a perfect record with the BBB. 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:30.580 Oh, wow. And the BCA, zero complaints. That's 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:33.560 unheard of. It's pretty amazing, especially in 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:35.159 finance, where there's always someone complaining 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:37.379 about something. Right. It speaks volumes about 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:40.810 their commitment to customer satisfaction. Yeah, 00:02:40.930 --> 00:02:42.229 and then on top of that, they even talk about 00:02:42.229 --> 00:02:45.009 like a really streamlined account setup process. 00:02:45.129 --> 00:02:46.889 Okay, so they're trying to make it easy for you. 00:02:46.930 --> 00:02:49.150 Yeah, like hassle -free. So if you're someone 00:02:49.150 --> 00:02:52.050 who values simplicity and ease of use, that could 00:02:52.050 --> 00:02:55.110 be a big plus. Absolutely. Okay, so that's Augusta. 00:02:55.409 --> 00:02:57.830 Now let's look at GoldCo. They kind of have a 00:02:57.830 --> 00:03:00.050 different angle. Okay. Their big thing is they 00:03:00.050 --> 00:03:02.810 offer a really wide array of gold and silver 00:03:02.810 --> 00:03:05.289 IRA options. Oh, so they're all about choices. 00:03:05.710 --> 00:03:08.710 Yeah, like if you have very specific preferences 00:03:08.710 --> 00:03:12.409 for the types of coins or bars or whatever you 00:03:12.409 --> 00:03:14.949 want to hold. Or if you want to diversify across 00:03:14.949 --> 00:03:17.250 a broader range of assets. Exactly. They seem 00:03:17.250 --> 00:03:19.349 to have you covered. And they also highlight 00:03:19.349 --> 00:03:21.699 competitive pricing. and even have promotions 00:03:21.699 --> 00:03:23.879 for new investors, which is always nice. Sure, 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.699 always enticing. Yeah. And when it comes to customer 00:03:26.699 --> 00:03:28.659 service, they also have really good ratings on 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:31.379 sites like TrustPilot and TrustLink. And they 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:33.939 emphasize this personalized service, so it seems 00:03:33.939 --> 00:03:35.539 like they really want to make sure you feel taken 00:03:35.539 --> 00:03:37.840 care of. So they're focused on that individual 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:39.939 attention and making sure your needs are met. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:42.180 Exactly. And then the third company is American 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:45.259 Hartford Gold. And their big focus seems to be 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:47.719 on education too, but maybe in a slightly different 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:50.520 way than Augusta. Oh, okay. How so? They provide 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:52.879 like a ton of resources. They have market updates. 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:54.740 They have all these guides. They do individual 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:57.360 consultations. So it's more of a multifaceted 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:59.319 approach to education. Yeah, like they want to 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:01.919 equip you with all the knowledge you need. Exactly. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.259 And they also highlight the personalized customer 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:06.840 support with dedicated account representatives. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:09.240 So that seems to be a common thread among all 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.340 three companies. It does seem like that personal 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:13.560 touch is important in this industry. Yeah. I 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:15.379 think it makes sense, right? You're dealing with 00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:17.600 your retirement savings. You want to know that 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.959 there's someone there who's got your back. Absolutely. 00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:22.740 OK. So we've got a sense of each company's overall 00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:26.019 vibe now. Let's get into the actual gold IRA 00:04:26.019 --> 00:04:29.509 services themselves. OK. At the core, all three 00:04:29.509 --> 00:04:31.610 companies are offering essentially the same thing. 00:04:32.230 --> 00:04:34.709 They help you diversify your retirement portfolio 00:04:34.709 --> 00:04:38.110 by adding physical precious metals. Right. And 00:04:38.110 --> 00:04:41.250 the idea is that gold and silver can act as a 00:04:41.250 --> 00:04:44.250 hedge against inflation. Historically, they've 00:04:44.250 --> 00:04:46.370 tended to hold their value pretty well, even 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:49.040 when other assets are, you know. tanking. Right, 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:51.019 they can provide a sense of stability during 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:53.680 turbulent times. Exactly. So let's break it down 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.860 by company. So with Augusta's Gold IRA service, 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.879 they really double down on that simplicity and 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:02.639 clarity that we talked about earlier. They have 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.560 a very clear fee structure. So you know exactly 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:07.860 what you're paying for upfront. and they assist 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:09.779 you with every step of this setup and management 00:05:09.779 --> 00:05:12.459 process. So it's like that hassle -free experience. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:14.279 So they're handling all the details, taking care 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:16.139 of the logistics. Yeah, like hand -holding you 00:05:16.139 --> 00:05:17.980 through the whole thing, which can be really 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:21.180 appealing to people who are maybe new to this 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:23.019 or just want things to be easy. So it takes the 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:25.500 stress out of the equation. Exactly. Now, Goldco, 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:29.220 with their Gold IRA, they emphasize the flexibility 00:05:29.220 --> 00:05:32.000 that they offer. you can choose from all these 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.699 different types of gold and silver products. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:36.459 Oh, so they're catering to investors who want 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:38.800 more control over their holdings. Yeah, like 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.439 maybe you have a preference for, you know, American 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:43.600 eagle coins or Canadian maple leaves or, you 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:45.079 know, whatever it is. Or you have a specific 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:47.899 strategy in mind. Exactly. And they provide guidance 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:50.779 on the benefits and risks of each type of metal. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:52.899 So you can make an informed decision. So it's 00:05:52.899 --> 00:05:55.699 about tailoring the portfolio to your individual 00:05:55.699 --> 00:05:59.060 needs and preferences. Precisely. And then with 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:02.339 American Hartford Gold, their approach to gold 00:06:02.339 --> 00:06:05.180 IRAs is all about personalized guidance. Okay, 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:07.439 so they're leveraging their educational resources 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:09.720 to help you make the right choices. Yeah, they 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:12.180 want you to understand all the options and feel 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:14.199 confident in the decisions you're making. So 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.839 they're emphasizing education and personalized 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.839 support throughout the process? Exactly. Okay, 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:21.800 so we've looked at the overall picture now. Let's 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:24.899 talk about the actual process of setting up and 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:28.519 managing one of these gold IRAs. The article 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:30.720 makes it sound like all three companies aim for 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:33.839 a smooth and straightforward experience. Okay, 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:36.220 so they're trying to make it as painless as possible. 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:38.519 Yeah, but of course each company has its own 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:42.180 little nuances. So with Augusta, they continue 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.300 that focus on education even during the setup 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:46.040 phase. So they're not just going to open the 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.540 account for you, they're going to walk you through 00:06:47.540 --> 00:06:49.399 it. Yeah, they want to make sure you understand 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:51.100 everything and how it works. But you're not just 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:52.920 signing on the dotted line, you're actually learning 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:55.930 something. Exactly. GoldCo, on the other hand, 00:06:56.389 --> 00:06:59.069 really highlights the personalized guidance and 00:06:59.069 --> 00:07:01.149 that wide array of options that are available. 00:07:01.529 --> 00:07:03.490 So right from the start, you're getting that 00:07:03.490 --> 00:07:05.970 tailored experience. Yeah, it's all about figuring 00:07:05.970 --> 00:07:08.910 out what's the best fit for you and your specific 00:07:08.910 --> 00:07:11.509 goals. So they're taking a consultative approach. 00:07:11.689 --> 00:07:14.470 Yeah, and then with American Hartford Gold, they 00:07:14.470 --> 00:07:17.069 really lean into that hands -on support with 00:07:17.069 --> 00:07:19.370 their dedicated account representatives. Okay, 00:07:19.470 --> 00:07:21.990 so you have someone there with you every step 00:07:21.990 --> 00:07:24.279 of the way. Yeah, from the initial setup all 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:26.319 the way through ongoing management. So they're 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:28.319 providing that ongoing support and guidance. 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:30.560 Exactly. Okay, so now let's get into the juicy 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.420 stuff. What are real customers saying about these 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:35.079 companies? Right, let's look at the customer 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:37.040 feedback. Yeah, the article has a whole section 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:39.500 on this and for Augusta it's pretty much all 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:42.360 positive. Unsurprising given their top ranking. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:46.060 Yeah, people consistently praise their educational 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:48.769 approach. Make sense. Yeah. And they say they 00:07:48.769 --> 00:07:51.129 feel more secure and they trust the company more 00:07:51.129 --> 00:07:52.569 because they feel like they understand what's 00:07:52.569 --> 00:07:55.209 going on. So that education translates to trust 00:07:55.209 --> 00:07:58.550 and peace of mind. Absolutely. With Goldco, their 00:07:58.550 --> 00:08:00.569 customers seem really happy with the personalized 00:08:00.569 --> 00:08:03.110 service and the expertise of their representatives. 00:08:03.250 --> 00:08:05.269 So they feel supported and guided throughout 00:08:05.269 --> 00:08:07.269 the process. Yeah, like they have someone they 00:08:07.269 --> 00:08:09.550 can rely on. Right, a trusted advisor. Yeah. 00:08:09.649 --> 00:08:12.230 And then with American Hartford Gold, they get 00:08:12.230 --> 00:08:14.730 high marks for their extensive educational resources 00:08:14.730 --> 00:08:17.329 and the tailored advice that they offer. So similar 00:08:17.329 --> 00:08:19.389 to GoldCo, they're focused on providing that 00:08:19.389 --> 00:08:22.209 individual support and expertise. And it seems 00:08:22.209 --> 00:08:25.189 like this approach helps them build like strong 00:08:25.189 --> 00:08:27.709 lasting relationships with their clients. People 00:08:27.709 --> 00:08:30.209 appreciate feeling understood and well taken 00:08:30.209 --> 00:08:32.909 care of. Yeah, for sure. All right. So now let's 00:08:32.909 --> 00:08:36.620 get into some of the more like nitty gritty comparison 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:38.960 points. Okay, the hard facts. Yeah, starting 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.419 with trust signals. You know, what are the indicators 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:44.159 that these companies are legit? and reliable. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.539 Right. Are they trustworthy? And it's actually 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:48.799 pretty reassuring to see that all three companies 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:52.080 have an A plus rating with the BBB and a triple 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.580 A rating with the BCA. That's a good sign. Yeah. 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:56.840 And they all have five out of five stars on trust 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.039 length. So that suggests a pretty high level 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.000 of customer satisfaction across the board. So 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:03.200 they all seem to be reputable companies with 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:06.059 happy customers. Yeah. But then when we look 00:09:06.059 --> 00:09:09.799 at how long they've each been in business, there 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:12.559 are some differences. GoldCo is the oldest they 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:16.620 were founded in 2006. Augusta came along in 2012. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:19.059 And American Hartford Gold is the youngest they 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:21.919 were founded in 2015. So there's a range of experience 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:26.059 there. Yeah. And it's not necessarily like a 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:28.919 deal breaker if a company is newer. Right. But 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:33.470 longevity can sometimes indicate stability. a 00:09:33.470 --> 00:09:35.509 proven track record. Yeah, and you know, maybe 00:09:35.509 --> 00:09:37.769 more established processes and systems and things 00:09:37.769 --> 00:09:39.629 like that. Right. They've had more time to work 00:09:39.629 --> 00:09:42.149 out the kinks. Exactly. But now this is where 00:09:42.149 --> 00:09:44.110 it gets really interesting when we look at the 00:09:44.110 --> 00:09:47.049 minimum investment required for an IRA. OK, this 00:09:47.049 --> 00:09:49.870 is a big one. Huge Gold Co. actually has no minimum 00:09:49.870 --> 00:09:52.090 investment at all. Wow. So you could literally 00:09:52.090 --> 00:09:54.450 start with just a few dollars. Yeah. Which is 00:09:54.450 --> 00:09:56.490 amazing if you're just starting out or you don't 00:09:56.490 --> 00:09:58.149 have a lot of money to invest right away. That 00:09:58.149 --> 00:10:01.169 makes them very accessible. Totally. Yeah. American 00:10:01.169 --> 00:10:04.750 Art for Gold has a minimum of $10 ,000. OK. And 00:10:04.750 --> 00:10:07.350 Augusta has the highest minimum at $50 ,000. 00:10:07.529 --> 00:10:10.049 So that's a significant difference. Huge. I mean, 00:10:10.049 --> 00:10:11.629 that could be a deal breaker for a lot of people 00:10:11.629 --> 00:10:14.629 right there, depending on their financial situation. 00:10:14.710 --> 00:10:17.710 It's a major factor to consider. Absolutely. 00:10:18.090 --> 00:10:20.389 And now let's talk about complaints. OK. Everyone 00:10:20.389 --> 00:10:22.730 wants to avoid those. Yeah. So the article actually 00:10:22.730 --> 00:10:25.879 breaks down The number of complaints that each 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:29.320 company has had with the BBB and the BCA. Alright, 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:31.820 let's hear it. And this is where Augusta really 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:35.559 shines. Okay. They have zero complaints. Zero. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:37.799 All time. That's incredible. Isn't it amazing? 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:39.879 Especially in an industry where it seems like 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:41.899 everyone has a complaint about something. Yeah, 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:44.159 it really speaks to their commitment to customer 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.840 service and, you know, resolving issues before 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.259 they escalate. Right. It's about proactive problem 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:52.419 solving. Exactly. So in comparison, Goldco has 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:55.399 had 48 complaints closed in the last three years. 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.179 OK. And 28 of those were in the last 12 months. 00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:01.519 Right. And American Heart for Gold has had 36 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.679 complaints closed in the last three years. OK. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:07.000 and 21 of those were in the last 12 months. So 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.919 they've both had a fair number of complaints. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.899 Yeah. But it's important to note that they are 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.759 closing them, so they are addressing those issues. 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:15.840 Right. It's not like they're ignoring them. But 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:19.559 still, Augusta's record is just so impressive. 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:22.120 It's hard to beat zero complaints. Yeah. OK. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:24.340 So now let's talk about fees, because obviously 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:26.720 that's a big factor when you're choosing any 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.639 kind of financial product. Absolutely. Everyone 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:30.480 wants to know what it's going to cost them. Right. 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:33.500 So for the initial setup fees, All three companies 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:36.620 are pretty similar. Okay. Augusta charges a $50 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:40.000 setup fee plus a $30 wire transfer fee. Right. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.399 Gold Co. has the same structure, $50 setup fee 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.500 plus $30 wire transfer fee. Okay. And American 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:50.600 Hartford Gold charges a flat $50 setup fee. So 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:53.419 the upfront costs are pretty comparable. Yeah, 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:55.559 there's not a huge difference there. But when 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:57.740 we look at the annual administrative fees, that's 00:11:57.740 --> 00:12:01.070 where we start to see some variation. Okay. Augusta 00:12:01.070 --> 00:12:04.309 and Gold Co. both charge $80 per year, while 00:12:04.309 --> 00:12:06.929 American Hartford Gold charges $100 per year. 00:12:07.570 --> 00:12:10.470 So a little bit more expensive. Yeah, and over 00:12:10.470 --> 00:12:12.730 time that can add up. Sure, especially if you're 00:12:12.730 --> 00:12:15.129 holding your IRA for a long time. And then for 00:12:15.129 --> 00:12:17.049 storage fees, all three companies have the same 00:12:17.049 --> 00:12:21.129 structure. $150 per year for segregated storage, 00:12:21.690 --> 00:12:24.509 and $100 per year for non -segregated storage. 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:26.919 Now, can you explain the difference between those 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:29.559 two types of storage? Yeah. So segregated storage 00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:33.019 means that your specific gold or silver holdings 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:36.279 are kept physically separate from other investors' 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:38.860 assets. OK. So it's like your own little vault 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:41.139 within the vault. Right. So there's no commingling 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:43.440 of assets. Exactly. And that can give you a higher 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.799 level of security and peace of mind because you 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:47.799 know exactly where your stuff is. Makes sense. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:50.500 Non -segregated storage, on the other hand, means 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:53.019 that your assets are pooled with those of other 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:55.649 investors. OK. So it's like everyone's stuff 00:12:55.649 --> 00:12:58.029 is kind of mixed together in one big pot. And 00:12:58.029 --> 00:13:00.090 that can be more cost effective, but you don't 00:13:00.090 --> 00:13:02.129 have that same level of individual tracking. 00:13:02.370 --> 00:13:05.230 Right, exactly. So it really comes down to your 00:13:05.230 --> 00:13:07.570 personal preferences and how much you're willing 00:13:07.570 --> 00:13:10.110 to pay for that extra level of security. So it's 00:13:10.110 --> 00:13:12.330 a trade -off between cost and peace of mind. 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:14.759 Yeah. And then the article also mentions withdrawal 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:17.860 charges. And it says that Augusta is very transparent 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:20.940 about these fees. But for Gold Co. and American 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:23.600 Hartford Gold, you need to like really dig into 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.620 their terms and conditions to find the details. 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:28.759 So Augusta is being upfront about their fees 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.279 while the other two are a bit more opaque. Yeah. 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.960 And that's always something we watch out for. 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:35.120 You know, you don't want any surprises when you're 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.059 trying to access your money in retirement. Right. 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.850 Transparency is key. Absolutely. Okay, so now 00:13:39.850 --> 00:13:41.789 let's go back to client education and resources, 00:13:41.870 --> 00:13:43.250 because we talked about this a little bit earlier, 00:13:43.289 --> 00:13:46.029 but let's get into some specifics. Okay. So with 00:13:46.029 --> 00:13:49.009 Augusta, their big thing is those one -on -one 00:13:49.009 --> 00:13:52.750 educational webinars with a Harvard -trained 00:13:52.750 --> 00:13:56.470 expert, which is just so unique. It's a pretty 00:13:56.470 --> 00:13:58.509 high level of expertise. Yeah, and they also 00:13:58.509 --> 00:14:00.269 have this retirement calculator, which can be 00:14:00.269 --> 00:14:02.970 really helpful for projecting the potential growth 00:14:02.970 --> 00:14:05.250 of your goal investments. So they're providing 00:14:05.250 --> 00:14:06.929 you with the tools and the knowledge to make 00:14:06.929 --> 00:14:08.929 informed decisions. Exactly. Now GoldCode doesn't 00:14:08.929 --> 00:14:11.690 have a Harvard consultant, but they do offer 00:14:11.690 --> 00:14:14.669 a wider range of resources. They have guides, 00:14:14.889 --> 00:14:17.250 they have expert consultations, they have real 00:14:17.250 --> 00:14:20.190 -time price trackers, they have market analysis. 00:14:20.529 --> 00:14:22.809 So they're giving you a more comprehensive suite 00:14:22.809 --> 00:14:26.169 of tools? Yeah, it's like a one -stop shop for 00:14:26.169 --> 00:14:28.990 gold IRA information. So you can stay informed 00:14:28.990 --> 00:14:31.309 and make educated choices. And then American 00:14:31.309 --> 00:14:34.269 Heart for Gold... focuses on those personalized 00:14:34.269 --> 00:14:37.149 consultations with their dedicated account representatives. 00:14:37.230 --> 00:14:39.590 OK, so it's that one on one guidance again. Yeah, 00:14:39.590 --> 00:14:41.690 and they also provide market updates and other 00:14:41.690 --> 00:14:43.610 educational content. So they're keeping you up 00:14:43.610 --> 00:14:45.529 to date on the market and helping you navigate 00:14:45.529 --> 00:14:48.470 it. Exactly. So it seems like all three companies 00:14:48.470 --> 00:14:51.039 are committed to educating their clients. but 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.639 they just have slightly different approaches. 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:54.779 Different strokes for different folks. Yeah. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:56.879 Now let's talk about customer service and support 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.820 beyond those dedicated account reps. OK. The 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:02.240 article mentions that all three companies offer 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.740 support lines, and they all prioritize being 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:08.120 responsive. But it specifically calls out Augusta 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:10.820 for their really quick and efficient responses. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:13.000 So if you have a question or a problem, you can 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.600 expect a prompt resolution. Yeah, which is really 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.139 important, right, when you're dealing with your 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:19.080 retirement savings. You don't want to be waiting 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:21.639 around for days or weeks for an answer. Absolutely. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:24.159 Time is money. Exactly. And then it's also worth 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.679 noting that Augusta and GoldCo and American Heart 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.720 for Gold, they all offer a customer loyalty program. 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:32.840 Oh, nice. So they reward you for sticking with 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:35.679 them. Yeah, you can get discounts on fees or, 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:38.519 you know, free gold or other perks. So they're 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:40.740 incentivizing long term relationships. Yeah, 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.299 for sure. Okay, now let's talk about guarantees 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:46.539 because, you know, peace of mind is really important 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:48.320 when you're investing your hard -earned money. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.799 Absolutely. You want to feel secure in your decision. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.980 Exactly. So Augusta offers a seven -day money 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:56.980 -back guarantee. Okay. And they also have this 00:15:56.980 --> 00:16:00.000 100 % satisfaction guarantee. Wow. That's pretty 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.559 bold. It is. And it even allows you to switch 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.000 providers without penalty if you're not completely 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.220 happy. So they're really putting their money 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:09.559 where their mouth is. Yeah, they're that confident 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:12.460 in their service. And the article says that GoldCo 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:15.259 and American Heart for Gold also offer guarantees, 00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:17.940 but it doesn't give the specifics. So that's 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:19.480 something you'd want to look into. Right. You 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.179 always want to read the fine print. Exactly. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.159 OK, so the last thing we're going to talk about 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:25.840 is buyback programs. OK, so what happens when 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:28.679 you want to cash out? All three companies offer 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.960 buyback programs so you can sell your gold or 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.899 silver back to them when you're ready to take 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:35.879 distributions in retirement. Makes sense. But 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.679 Augusta actually highlights their highest buyback 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:41.299 guarantee. Oh, so they're guaranteeing you the 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:43.600 best price. Yeah, they say they'll buy back your 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.940 metals at the highest price available in the 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:47.940 market. That's a pretty good deal. It is. It 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.720 gives you a lot of flexibility and security. 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.720 Yeah. Knowing that you're not going to get ripped 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:53.360 off when you're ready to sell. Right. You're 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.299 protected from market fluctuations. Exactly. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:57.419 OK, so we've covered a lot of ground. We have. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.960 What are the key takeaways here? OK, so if we 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:02.960 look at everything we've discussed. It seems 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.279 like Augusta Precious Metals is the clear winner 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:09.700 in terms of reputation and customer satisfaction. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:11.519 Yeah, they have that spotless record with the 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:14.380 BBB and the BCA and their customers just rave 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:16.539 about their service. And their educational resources 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:20.200 are top -notch. Yeah, that Harvard -trained expert 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.420 is a pretty big selling point. It is, but they 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:24.460 do have that high minimum investment requirement. 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:26.950 Right, $50 ,000 is a lot of money. So they're 00:17:26.950 --> 00:17:30.710 definitely catering to a more affluent clientele. 00:17:30.849 --> 00:17:32.670 Yeah. But if you can afford it, they seem like 00:17:32.670 --> 00:17:35.190 a really solid choice. Absolutely. Now, Gold 00:17:35.190 --> 00:17:37.390 Co. is a good option if you're looking for flexibility 00:17:37.390 --> 00:17:39.589 and choice. Yeah. They have that huge selection 00:17:39.589 --> 00:17:43.089 of gold and silver products. And no minimum investment. 00:17:43.230 --> 00:17:45.470 Right. So you can start small and gradually build 00:17:45.470 --> 00:17:47.549 up your portfolio. And they have good customer 00:17:47.549 --> 00:17:50.569 service, too. Yeah. Their customers seem happy 00:17:50.569 --> 00:17:52.450 with the personalized attention that they get. 00:17:52.589 --> 00:17:56.220 So they're a good all -around choice. Yeah. American 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.819 Hartford Gold is also a solid contender. Yeah, 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:01.740 they have a strong focus on education and personalized 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:04.579 support. And they have a lower minimum investment 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:08.200 than Augusta. Right, $10 ,000 is more manageable 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.299 for many people. Yeah, so they're kind of like 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:12.380 a middle ground between Augusta and GoldCo. Yeah, 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:14.640 a good balance of features and affordability. 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:17.440 So ultimately, the best choice for you is going 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.099 to depend on your individual circumstances. Right, 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:24.579 your financial goals, your risk tolerance. your 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:26.819 investment strategy. Yeah, and you know how much 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:29.779 hand holding you need. Exactly. Some people want 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:32.200 to be more hands on while others prefer a more 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:34.720 hands off approach. So we always recommend doing 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:37.259 your own research. Yes. You know, go to the websites, 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.579 read customer reviews, maybe even talk to some 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:42.599 representatives from each company. Get a feel 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:45.000 for their culture and their approach. Exactly. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.180 And, you know, think about what peace of mind 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:49.900 really means to you in this context. Right. Is 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:52.319 it about the lowest fees, the most comprehensive 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.380 educational resources, the strongest reputation? 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:57.660 Whatever it is for you, let that guide your decision. 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:00.160 And don't be afraid to ask questions. Yeah. The 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:02.420 more you know, the better equipped you'll be 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:05.460 to make a smart choice. Exactly. So happy investing, 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:07.900 and we'll see you next time on The Deep Dive.