Custodian hunt - who's everyone using these days?

Andrew Roberts

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Custodian hunt - who's everyone using these days?

andrew_roberts👑Elite (1m-5m)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•I'm rethinking my custodian setup for my Gold IRA and curious to hear which custodians others here are using, especially those with larger accounts.
•I’m thinking there might be more cost-effective options out there that still offer the robust security and reporting I need.
•I’m sitting on close to $2M in precious metals between my IRA and a separate vaulted account, and the current fees feel a bit… excessive .

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I'm rethinking my custodian setup for my Gold IRA and curious to hear which custodians others here are using, especially those with larger accounts. I've been with Equity Trust for a fair few years now, and while they haven't been terrible, the fees start adding up pretty quick once you're past the seven-figure mark in physical metal. I’m thinking there might be more cost-effective options out there that still offer the robust security and reporting I need. I’m sitting on close to $2M in precious metals between my IRA and a separate vaulted account, and the current fees feel a bit… excessive.

My main concerns are obviously security, fee structure (ideally a flat fee, or at least a much lower tiered percentage when you hit certain balances), and ease of transactions should I need to take a distribution or make a rebalance. I know some custodians have preferred depositories, so experiences with those would be helpful too. I'm based in Palm Beach, so proximity for occasional checks isn't a huge deal, but knowing they have secure vaulting options is paramount. My current setup utilizes Delaware Depository for a good chunk of it.

Anyone have strong recommendations or warnings? I’ve heard whispers about Strata Trust and Kingdom Trust – good, bad, or indifferent experiences? I’m also weighing the pros and cons of staying with a big-name versus exploring smaller, more specialized providers. This isn't my first rodeo with alternative asset custodians, but the gold and silver IRA space does feel a bit unique. What's been your experience with their customer service when you actually needed them?

On a related note, for those of you who've been in the game a while, what are your thoughts on gold's long-term play against traditional equities? I was just looking at the Gold vs Stocks Comparison tool, which is pretty insightful across different timeframes. It reinforces my conviction, but always good to hear other perspectives. Appreciate any insights you all can offer!

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5 comments

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Best Answer▲ 17 upvotes

paul_hill🏆Advanced (250-500k)

I keep going back and forth between gold and silver allocations. The gold-to-silver ratio right now is making silver look attractive.

Comments (5)

frank_rivera💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Dude, I hear you on the Equity Trust fees. It's like they have a secret algorithm to extract maximum dollars the more assets you have. I wasn't with them for a gold IRA, but for a real estate IRA, and it was the same story. Eventually, I switched to Kingdom Trust and found their fee structure a lot more palatable, especially for a bigger account. They're pretty good with communication too, which is a massive plus.

kenneth_parker💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Interesting, you mention Equity Trust. For those of us with slightly smaller accounts, do you feel their fees are still pretty competitive, or do they really only start disproportionately affecting larger balances?

james_wilson👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Interesting, I've heard similar things about Equity Trust with larger accounts. Have you looked into Advantage Gold or Strata Trust Company? I know a couple of people who've had good experiences with them, particularly with their fee structures being a bit more palatable for higher balances. Might be worth a look if you're feeling the pinch.