Evaluating a Gold IRA company before committing comes down to a short list of concrete, checkable facts — not overall impressions from a video or ad.

Confirm the company is actually a custodian (or works with one) rather than just a metals dealer — some firms sell metal but rely on a separate custodian to administer the IRA itself, and it matters which entity holds legal responsibility for your account. Ask for the specific depository used, whether storage is allocated or unallocated, and request the fee schedule in writing rather than relying on a sales call.

Check how long the company has operated and look for its Better Business Bureau rating and any regulatory actions — the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and state attorneys general have brought enforcement actions against precious metals dealers using deceptive high-pressure sales tactics, so a clean regulatory history is worth confirming, not assuming.

Finally, get a straight answer on the buyback process — how selling metal back actually works, how fast funds are released, and whether there’s a spread between buy and sell price. A company that’s transparent about all of this upfront, in writing, is a stronger signal than any testimonial or growth statistic in a marketing video.