Augusta Precious Metals Review: Should You Bite?

As a small investor and blogger who delves into the world of business, I’m excited to discuss something interesting with my readers – the topic of gold IRA investing. In particular, I want to introduce you to Augusta Precious Metals, a company that can get you started with investing in physical precious metals such as gold and silver.

If you didn’t know, investing is also useful among individuals and small business owners. It’s not just a thing for the super-rich people and you don’t need millions.

By investing, you get a chance to build wealth and stay ahead of inflation. Choosing a precious metal like gold is particularly wise, given its history of serving as a hedge against inflation and the unfortunate fall of notable currencies.

This Augusta Precious Metals review will explore the gold and silver IRA company’s services and offerings and provide insight into their investment options. You’ll also learn about Augusta’s customer experience, educational resources, and trustworthiness, as well as the pros and cons of working with this company.

Whether you’re a retirement saver, a seasoned investor, or new to the world of investing, this review aims to provide valuable information to help you make informed decisions about your financial future.

Read also: Best Gold and Silver IRA Companies

August Precious Metals Overview

I’ll begin with a summary of the company and what it can do.

What Is Augusta Precious Metals?

Augusta Precious Metals is a company that specializes in helping individuals invest in physical precious metals, such as gold and silver. It was founded in 2012 and has since gained the trust of thousands of investors.

Most of the users are individuals and families with $100K or more saved for retirement. This company offers a range of services, including gold and silver IRAs, and provides educational resources to help people understand the benefits of investing in precious metals.

In other words, you get all the information you need about precious metals to know whether it’s the right investment for you. The company aims to assist you in diversifying your investment portfolios and protecting your wealth by investing in tangible assets.

Who Is the Founder of Augusta Precious Metals?

The founder of Augusta Precious Metals is Isaac Nuriani. He is also the current CEO of the company.

Isaac Nuriani (CEO)

Isaac Nuriani has been involved in the precious metals industry for many years. He has played a key role in establishing Augusta Precious Metals as a reputable and trustworthy company in the field of precious metal investments.

Under his leadership, the company has focused on providing the required resources to help individuals make informed decisions about securing their finances. He even graduated with honors from the University of Los Angeles with a degree in economics.

But Isaac isn’t the only leader of Augusta Precious Metals. He runs it with the help of a few more bright minds in the world of precious metals and investing.

Devlyn Steele (Director of Education)

Devlyn Steele is the Director of Education at Augusta Precious Metals. With over three decades of experience in financial services and economics, he has processed financial assets worth over $2 billion in his career.

At Augusta, he leads the education team, which provides highly informational resources and information to clients about precious metal investments.

Devlyn Steele is known for accurately predicting the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent surge in gold and silver prices. He has used his expertise to help clients navigate the complex world of precious metal investments and protect their wealth.

Howard Smith (Chief Financial Officer)

Howard Smith, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, brings with him two decades of experience in the banking industry. He became a part of the team in 2018, driven by his passion for the company’s mission and values.

Howard is a certified CPA and holds a degree in economics and finance from the University of Toronto. His expertise and dedication make him an invaluable asset to the company.

Where Is Augusta Precious Metals Located?

Augusta Precious Metals is located in Beverly Hills, California. The company’s headquarters is at 8484 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 515, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

This friendly location allows Augusta Precious Metals to serve clients across the United States. The company’s physical presence in Beverly Hills underscores its commitment to providing personalized service and expertise in the precious metals investment industry.

How to Get Started with Augusta? How Does It Work?

Getting started with Augusta Precious Metals is nothing complicated. You just need to do the following:

• Sign up for an account: Visit Augusta Precious Metals’ website and create an account. You simply provide your basic information such as name, email, and contact details.
• Meet your representative: After signing up, you’ll be assigned a dedicated representative. They will be your point of contact throughout the process. They can guide you through the various options available, understand your investment goals, and provide personalized assistance.
• Receive education: Investing in precious metals like gold and silver requires a solid understanding of the market, trends, and how these assets fit into your portfolio. Augusta Precious Metals often provides educational resources such as guides, webinars, and one-on-one consultations to ensure you’re well-informed before making any investment decisions.
• IRA processing: If you’re interested in setting up a precious metals IRA, Augusta Precious Metals can assist with this process. This involves understanding IRA rules, selecting the type of IRA that fits your needs, and facilitating the rollover or transfer of funds from existing retirement accounts, if applicable.
• Order desk: Once you’ve made your decision on what precious metals to invest in, you’ll work with Augusta’s order desk to place your order. Your representative will help you navigate the available products, pricing, and any additional questions you might have.
• Confirmation: After placing your order, you’ll receive confirmation details. This will include information about the purchased metals, the price, shipping details, and any other relevant information. Review this carefully to ensure accuracy.

Again, throughout this process, your representative will be available to provide guidance, answer questions, and ensure you have a smooth experience. Always take your time to understand the investment, ask questions, and feel comfortable with your decisions before proceeding.

Augusta Precious Metals Reviews and Ratings

One thing about Augusta Precious Metals that impressed me is how good of a reputation it has built over the years. Below are some quick facts about this gold and silver IRA company.

• A+ rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• 4.97/5 stars on BBB and an average of 119 customer reviews
• No customer complaints on BBB
• 4.5 rating and 18 reviews on Trustpilot
• 4.9 rating and 137 reviews on ConsumerAffairs
• 4.9 rating and 417 reviews on Google Business

I could go on and on. According to my research, most users had a good experience with the company.

Here’s a video of Joe Montana, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, talking about Augusta Precious Metals:

Augusta Precious Metals Customer Service

Augusta Precious Metals is known for its excellent customer service, which is designed to support customers throughout their investment journey. The good service is fueled by things such as:

• Access to educational resources: For example, upon signing up, the company offers a free web conference that covers topics such as the benefits of investing in precious metals, market trends, and portfolio diversification strategies. These resources are designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your investments and staying up-to-date on market developments.
• Account representative: Each customer gets a dedicated account representative who can provide personalized guidance and support. This allows you to ask questions, get advice, and receive assistance with your account as needed.
• Lifetime account support: This means that customers can rely on the company’s support team for help and guidance throughout the lifetime of their account.

Through the many customer reviews I’ve read online, many people praise the customer support they get from Augusta. This explains the good ratings the company has gotten on major review sites.

Augusta Precious Metals Complaints

Augusta Precious Metals has more than 130 positive reviews on Consumer Affairs, most of which are accompanied by 5 stars. I combed through the few 4-star reviews to find out what those users were saying about the company.

I came across an interesting review online from a customer who recently opened a precious metals IRA through Augusta Precious Metals. Based on their experience so far, they said the sign-up process was straightforward to complete.

However, one thing they noted was that transferring all of their metals over to the custodian took longer than they had anticipated or hoped. While the customer didn’t provide specifics on how long it took, they implied it was a longer wait than what they expected the timeline to be.

Even though the extended transfer period was a bit of an inconvenience according to the reviewer, they did say that once the transfer was finally completed they were satisfied overall with the services from APM. And they still left the review recommending the company to other investors.

One other 4-star review on ConsumerAffairs revolved around an unclear revenue generation model. The user wasn’t fully satisfied that they didn’t know how Augusta made their money, given they don’t charge transaction fees.

Augusta Precious Metals Lawsuit

There’s not much about lawsuits concerning Augusta. Still, the thing is that most established companies in any industry will encounter some level of legal issues over time.

Augusta isn’t an exception. I managed to find one on Unicort, where the company was the complainant.

The lawsuit information provided details about a case filed on March 30, 2017. The plaintiff, or party filing the lawsuit, was listed as AUGUSTA PRECIOUS METALS. The defendant, or party being sued, was RED ROCK SECURED LLC.

This lawsuit had one complaint regarding the violation of the Computer Data Access and Fraud Act. All in all, the current status of the case is described as “Disposed – Dismissed.”

Augusta Precious Metals Offerings

Depending on your needs and preferences, you can start your journey with Augusta and precious metals in two ways:

• Physical gold and silver IRA
• Physical gold and silver cash purchases

Physical Gold and Silver IRA

Augusta Precious Metals offers a self-directed Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that allows you to hold physical gold and silver within your retirement accounts. This type of IRA, often referred to as a gold or silver IRA, provides investors with the opportunity to diversify their retirement savings by including precious metals in addition to traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

With a self-directed gold and silver IRA from Augusta Precious Metals, you can make investment decisions and hold physical gold and silver coins or bars in a tax-advantaged retirement account. This can provide a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainties, as well as potential long-term growth opportunities for retirement savings.

All you need to do is create your new IRA with Augusta’s preferred self-directed IRA custodian, fund your account with money from your existing retirement account, and then buy gold or silver with the help of Augusta’s order desk.

Physical Gold and Silver Cash Purchases

If you want to purchase physical gold and silver as part of your investment strategy, Augusta Precious Metals offers the opportunity for you too. These purchases typically involve acquiring physical gold and silver coins or bars, which can be held directly by the investor.

Unlike a self-directed IRA, which involves holding precious metals within a tax-advantaged retirement account, purchasing physical gold and silver allows you to own these assets outside of a specific retirement account.

For many people, physical gold and silver are often viewed as a safe haven during times of economic uncertainty and can provide a form of wealth protection.

Suppose you’re someone who is concerned about the potential devaluation of fiat currencies or who is seeking to preserve purchasing power over the long term. In that case, you may find physical gold and silver purchases appealing.

Purchasing physical gold and silver with cash on Augusta Precious Metals comes with benefits like:

• Access to Augusta’s gold and silver professionals whom you can reach out to and ask questions through video conference
• Free shipping and transit insurance, such that you’re not responsible if anything happens along the way but rather after receiving the assets
• Private and secure delivery whereby the driver doesn’t even know what they’re delivering

August Precious Metals Gold and Silver Products

Augusta Precious Metals offers a range of gold and silver products, including gold and silver coins, bars, and bullion. These products are typically designed for investors who are interested in adding physical precious metals to their investment portfolios.

Augusta’s gold and silver products include:

• Common gold bullion
• Common silver bullion
• Premium silver
• IRA eligible coins

You don’t have to worry much because Augusta has numerous representatives at your disposal to explain all the available gold and silver products. It’s possible to even do a combination of both precious metal categories upon gathering their expert insights!

Note: Augusta doesn’t list any other precious metals besides gold and silver. There’s no platinum, palladium, or the other less popular ones.

We reached out to Augusta for an explanation as to why they don’t list all 4 common metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium) like other similar companies.

As per their response, the company has established connections with both private and government mints. They’re able to acquire any type of metal that a customer may desire.

However, rather than displaying every option on its website, the company has chosen to limit its online inventory to the most in-demand gold and silver products that its customers usually ask for.

Many new investors tend to be overwhelmed when choosing the right metals to invest in. Augusta narrows down your choices according to what’s in demand from them to help you get started as soon as possible.

Common Gold Bullion

These are well-recognized gold bars or coins that are typically bought and sold based on their gold content and weight. These are standard forms of gold investment and often serve as a store of value.

• Gold American Eagles
• Gold American Bufallos
• Gold Britannia
• Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
• South African Gold Krugerrand

Common Silver Bullion

Common silver bullion refers to widely traded silver bars or coins that are bought and sold based on their silver content and weight. Similar to gold bullion, silver bullion is a popular form of investment and has value because of its precious metal content.

• American Silver Eagle
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
• Austrian Philharmonic Silver
• America the Beautiful coins
• Silver 90% Bags

Premium Silver

Premium Silver consists of silver coins or bars that carry a higher premium above the current spot price of silver. These products may have numismatic value, unique designs, or limited mintage, which can make them more collectible and potentially more valuable than standard silver bullion.

• Royal Canadian Mint
• John F. Kennedy Half Dollar
• Ben Franklin Half Dollar
• Walking Liberty Half Dollar
• Mercury Dime

IRA Eligible Coins

These are specific gold and silver coins that meet the criteria set by the IRS for inclusion in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). These coins are approved for investment within a self-directed IRA and are often chosen for their purity and recognized value in the precious metals market.

What this means is that not all coins are eligible for an IRA. For informational purposes, some coins that can be purchased for IRA on Augusta are American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs.

Augusta Precious Metals Fees

Let’s explore the cost of using Augusta Precious Metals.

Minimum Investment

Augusta Precious Metals has a minimum investment requirement of $50,000 for individuals looking to establish a self-directed gold or silver IRA. This minimum investment amount may seem high compared to other investment options, but it is in line with the requirements of many precious metals dealers and IRA custodians.

While the minimum investment amount may limit the number of prospects, Augusta Precious Metals is focused on working with a smaller group of determined investors who have significant savings and are ready to invest in physical gold and silver. This approach allows the company to provide personalized service and support to each client and ensure that their investment goals and needs are met.

Setup Fees

The listed setup fee is $50. But Augusta Precious Metals offers a unique incentive for individuals looking to set up a self-directed gold or silver IRA.

As part of their offering for new customers, the company covers 100% of the IRA setup fees for the first year, providing a cost-saving benefit for new clients.

Additionally, depending on the size of the account, Augusta Precious Metals may cover all fees for an extended period, potentially up to 10 years. This fee coverage can be an attractive feature for individuals considering the establishment of a precious metals IRA, as it helps reduce the initial costs associated with setting up and maintaining the account. 

Still, it’s wise to review the specific terms and conditions of the fee coverage offer, including any requirements related to account size and the duration of the fee coverage. You can confirm the details with your account rep and even ask about any ongoing promos for new investors on the platform.

Read more: Augusta Precious Metals Promo

Custodian Fees

Augusta can cover all your expenses beyond the initial year. However, keep in mind that the custodial fees you pay may differ based on the gold IRA custodian you select.

For a rough estimate of expenses, Augusta suggests considering Equity Trust Company. With years of experience serving American investors, Equity Trust provides top-notch service for $100 per year.

Shipping Costs and Transit Insurance

To make their products more accessible and affordable for customers, August Metals offers free shipping and transit insurance within the continental US on all orders. This helps eliminate unexpected shipping fees that can sometimes drive up the total cost of an order.

The zero shipping costs apply to any size order. Whether you need a small sample or large volumes of metal, shipping is included at no extra charge when using the standard transportation.

Storage Fees

Customers have the option to select any private, non-bank precious metal depository for storage. There’s no need to worry because your Augusta representative will assist you in locating a vault depository near your home or preferred location.

Some commonly recommended options for gold IRA storage include Delaware Depository, Brinks, and International Depository Services. The annual storage fees typically range between $100 (non-segregated) and $200, based on your assets’ value.

Opting for segregated storage for your metals (separate from other metals) will place you on the higher end of this range. The reason is that your assets will be distinct from those of other people because of special handling and dedicated vault space.

Be sure to inquire about this with your account representative. Regardless of the storage location, you can rest assured that your assets are safe and insured.

Total IRA fees: The total Augusta metals fees come to $250 for the first year and $200 for the subsequent years. This is assuming you cover the $50 setup fee, $100 custodian fee, and $100 non-segregated storage cost.

Augusta Precious Metals Refund Policy

There are two ways to protect your investment in Augusta’s gold and silver in case you change your mind.

Augusta Return Policy

The company offers a 7-day return policy for first-time customers who purchase premium gold and silver coins. This policy allows customers to cancel their premium product transactions within 7 days from the date of the transaction.

This means that if a customer is not satisfied with their purchase, they have the option to return the coins and receive a refund within the specified timeframe. However, it’s important to note that subsequent premium product orders are considered final after a recorded confirmation call.

What that means is that for future premium product purchases, once the customer has confirmed their order via a recorded call, the transaction becomes final. However, it’s worth noting that certain state laws may provide for a longer cancellation period, and customers should be aware of their rights under these laws.

Given the significant investment, this return policy demonstrates Augusta’s commitment to providing a level of flexibility and satisfaction for their customers, particularly for first-time buyers. It gives you peace of mind when making your initial premium product purchases, knowing that you have a window of time to evaluate the investment and decide based on your satisfaction.

Augusta Buyback Program

Augusta Precious Metals offers a buyback program for common bullion and premium gold and silver products, allowing customers to liquidate their precious metal assets when needed. However, it’s important to note that the buyback program doesn’t guarantee that Augusta Precious Metals will repurchase a customer’s assets.

The decision to buy back assets is at the discretion of the company and is subject to market conditions and other factors. Similarly, sale prices and buyback prices for precious metals are set internally by Augusta Precious Metals and may change at any moment.

This means that the prices at which customers can sell their assets back to the company may fluctuate based on market conditions, inventory levels, and other variables. Before engaging in a buyback transaction, it’s best if you carefully review the terms and conditions of the buyback program and understand the possible implications of selling back your assets.

On a brighter note, over a ten-year history, Augusta has never refused a buyback request. According to customer feedback, Augusta’s buyback program is equitable, and customers are offered a reasonable price for their gold and silver bars and coins.

Augusta Precious Metals Pros and Cons

Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of Augusta Precious Metals.

What I Like about Augusta Precious Metals

• Augusta is a highly-rated precious metals IRA company with a large and satisfied customer base, having facilitated billions of dollars in transactions over a decade of operation
• They stand out as the only gold IRA company with no BBB complaints
• There’s a free, no-pressure personal web conference with a senior member of Augusta’s gold IRA educational team, among other easily accessible educational resources
• No hidden or additional management fees

What I Don’t Like about Augusta Precious Metals

• One concern about the company, the minimum investment of $50,000, may ditter some customers
• The company doesn’t show upfront gold and silver prices
• There are no platinum and palladium listings

Read more: Pros and Cons of Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals FAQs

What Makes Augusta Precious Metals Unique?

Augusta Precious Metals stands out in the industry for several reasons, making it unique among precious metals dealers. Some of the key factors that set Augusta apart include:

• Focus on education: It’s not a nice feeling when someone tricks you into something. That’s why Augusta Precious Metals places a strong emphasis on educating its customers about the benefits of investing in precious metals using a wealth of educational resources (web conferences, articles, and guides).
• Buyback program: Augusta Precious Metals offers a buyback program for common bullion and premium gold and silver products. You always have an option to liquidate your precious metal assets.
• Transparency and integrity: Augusta gold IRA has wide recognition because of its commitment to transparency and integrity in its business practices. The company strives to provide clear and honest information to its customers.

Is Augusta Precious Metals Legit?

Augusta Precious Metals is a legitimate and reputable company in the precious metals industry. The company has been in operation for many years and has established a strong track record of providing high-quality services and products to its customers.

One thing to explain its legitimacy is its good ratings and customer reviews. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has consistently maintained a high rating with the organization.

Augusta Precious Metals Review 2024: Conclusion

Hope you enjoyed this Augusta gold IRA review!

As you can see, Augusta Precious Metals is one of a kind. Joining its community which entails thousands of gold and silver investors can be among the best decisions you’ll ever make in your life.

I would recommend that you explore the platform further here and interact with some of its leadership members and team to gain further understanding. You can learn as much as you need before choosing their gold and silver IRA service or cash purchases.

As long as you have significant savings for retirement and want to invest in something tangible, Augusta is the place for you. Plus, there are good chances that you can back out if you ever change your mind (something I doubt will happen!)

Read also:

• American Hartford Gold Review
• Noble Gold Investments Review
• Preserve Gold Review