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GoldenCrest Metals Review: One of the best Gold IRA Companies?
GoldenCrest Metals is a precious metals dealer founded in 2023 and headquartered in Calabasas, California. The company specializes in Gold and Silver IRAs with a focus on transparent pricing, widely recognized bullion products, and boutique-level customer service. GoldenCrest requires a minimum investment of $20,000 for IRA accounts and partners with Entrust Group as custodian and Delaware Depository for storage.
GoldenCrest covers up to 10 years of IRA fees (custodian and storage) for qualifying accounts and offers a 10% free silver promotion worth up to $25,000 on new accounts. The company holds 5-star ratings across Trustpilot, Google, and the BBB. CEO Rich Jacoby personally follows up with every customer.
In this review, we analyze GoldenCrest's fee structure, product selection, storage options, buyback program, and how it compares to established competitors like Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, and Goldco. GoldenCrest is newer than most companies on our list, and we address both the advantages and risks of working with a young but fast-growing provider.
Disclosure: BestGoldMoney.com participates in GoldenCrest's affiliate program. This does not influence our analysis. We apply the same evaluation criteria to every company we review.
What Is GoldenCrest Metals?
GoldenCrest Metals is a precious metals dealer, not a custodian or depository. The company helps you select and purchase IRS-approved gold and silver for your retirement account, while Entrust Group and your metals administrator store the IRA itself at Delaware Depository.
The company was founded by CEO Rich Jacoby, whose team brings over 20 years of combined experience in precious metals and financial services. Unlike most Gold IRA companies, GoldenCrest is backed by private equity, which provides the liquidity to honor its buyback commitments even during periods of high market volatility. This is a meaningful distinction, smaller dealers without financial backing have historically struggled to process buybacks during gold price spikes.
GoldenCrest only sells widely recognized bullion from major mints, including the U.S. Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, and PAMP Suisse. The company does not offer private-label coins, "exclusive" products, or numismatic collectibles.
This is a deliberate choice: standard bullion tracks closely to spot price, making it easier to buy at fair value and sell without steep discounts. Investors who have been burned by overpriced "exclusive" coins at other dealers will appreciate this approach.
The company currently serves IRA accounts with a minimum investment of $10,000 and also offers direct (non-IRA) purchases with free, fully insured shipping.
Silver Bonus Visualizer
Use our free silver bonus visualizer to see exactly how many ounces of free silver you receive with GoldenCrest Metals' 10% promotion. Enter your investment amount and the current silver spot price to calculate your bonus in ounces and dollar value.
The tool also compares GoldenCrest's silver bonus with what you would receive from Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, Noble Gold, Goldco, and American Hartford Gold. GoldenCrest's 10% bonus is capped at $25,000 in value on a $250,000 investment, which means up to $25,000 in free silver added to your account.
GoldenCrest Free Silver Bonus Visualizer
See exactly how much free silver you receive with GoldenCrest's 10% promotion
Key Differentiators
What sets GoldenCrest apart from competitors is not one single feature but the combination of several that no other company on our list matches simultaneously.
- Fee coverage: GoldenCrest covers up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees for qualifying accounts. Augusta Precious Metals offers a similar 10-year promotion, but requires a $50,000 minimum. GoldenCrest starts at $10,000, making the same benefit accessible to a wider range of investors.
- Silver bonus: New qualifying accounts receive 10% of their investment in free silver, up to a maximum value of $25,000. A $100,000 rollover means $10,000 in additional silver at no cost. This is one of the most aggressive new-account promotions in the Gold IRA industry.
- No private-label products: GoldenCrest only sells standard bullion from recognized mints. This matters because private-label and "exclusive" coins, which some competitors push heavily, carry markups of 30% to 80% above spot price and are difficult to resell at fair value. Every product in GoldenCrest's catalog tracks closely to spot price.
- CEO-level service: Rich Jacoby personally follows up with every customer after their transaction. No other Gold IRA company on our list offers direct CEO contact as a standard practice.
- No-pressure sales culture: Customer reviews consistently describe their experience as educational rather than salesy. GoldenCrest does not use fear-based marketing or urgency tactics.
These are not marketing claims; they are verifiable through customer reviews, the company's published promotions, and direct conversations with their team. For investors who have been frustrated by hidden markups and aggressive sales tactics at other providers, GoldenCrest represents a genuine alternative.
Products and Services
GoldenCrest Metals offers a focused catalog of IRS-approved gold and silver products from globally recognized mints and refiners. All gold products meet the IRS minimum purity requirement of 99.5%, and all silver products meet the 99.9% purity threshold.
- Gold Coins: American Gold Eagle, American Gold Buffalo, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Austrian Philharmonic
- Silver Coins: American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Austrian Philharmonic, Australian Kangaroo
- Gold Bars: PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Perth Mint, and other LBMA-approved refiners (available in 1 oz, 10 oz, and fractional sizes)
- Silver Bars: 1 oz, 10 oz, and 100 oz bars from Engelhard, Johnson Matthey, and Royal Canadian Mint
For investors who want physical possession outside of an IRA, GoldenCrest offers direct cash purchases with free, fully insured shipping on all orders. Fractional gold coins and bars are also available for investors who want smaller, more flexible increments.
- Custodian: Entrust Group, a leading self-directed IRA administrator.
- Depository: Delaware Depository, COMEX-certified with 100% insurance coverage.
GoldenCrest does not offer platinum or palladium for IRA accounts. Investors who want all four IRS-approved precious metals should consider Birch Gold Group or Noble Gold as alternatives.
GoldenCrest Metals Savings Calculator
See how much you save with GoldenCrest's 10-year fee promotion and free silver bonus
GoldenCrest Metals Snapshot
- Founded: 2023
- Headquarters: Calabasas, California
- CEO: Rich Jacoby
- Minimum investment: $10,000 (IRA), direct purchases available with free shipping
- Custodian: Entrust Group
- Depository: Delaware Depository (COMEX-certified, 100% insured)
- Custodian fee: $199/year (flat)
- Storage fee: 0.005% of account value annually
- Fee promotion: Up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees covered
- Silver bonus: 10% free silver on qualifying accounts (up to $25,000 value)
- Metals offered: Gold and silver (coins and bars from U.S. Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, PAMP Suisse)
- Platinum/Palladium: Not available for IRA
- BBB rating: A-
- Trustpilot: 5-star average
- Google Reviews: 5-star average
- Buyback program: Yes, backed by private equity
- Endorsed by: Michael Savage
- Best for: Investors with $10,000+ who want transparent pricing, no private-label coins, and boutique-level service
GoldenCrest Metals — Our Rating
How we score GoldenCrest across the 6 categories that matter most to Gold IRA investors
Fees & Promotions
GoldenCrest Metals publishes a clear fee structure through its custodian and depository partners. Here is what you pay:
- Custodian fee: $199 per year (flat), paid to Entrust Group for IRA administration and IRS reporting.
- Storage fee: 0.005% of your account value per year, paid to Delaware Depository for COMEX-certified, 100% insured vaulting. On a $100,000 account, that works out to approximately $50 per year.
- Setup fee: GoldenCrest's FAQ lists setup fees in the $50 to $100 range. Confirm the exact amount directly with the company before committing.
- There are no management fees, no wire transfer fees, and no hidden charges beyond custodian and storage.
- Fee promotion: GoldenCrest covers both custodian and storage fees for up to 10 years on qualifying accounts. On a $100,000 account paying approximately $249 per year ($199 custodian + $50 storage), that represents up to $2,490 in savings over the life of the promotion.
- Silver bonus: Qualifying new accounts receive 10% of their investment value in free silver, up to a maximum of $25,000. A $100,000 rollover would receive approximately $10,000 in additional silver at no extra cost. A $250,000 rollover would receive the full $25,000 cap.
All IRA shipments to the depository are fully insured at no additional cost.
How GoldenCrest compares on fees:
- Augusta Precious Metals charges $225 per year but also covers up to 10 years of fees (minimum $50,000). Birch Gold Group charges $200 per year flat with a first-year waiver of over $50,000.
- Noble Gold charges $275 per year with no multi-year fee coverage.
- GoldenCrest's percentage-based storage fee makes it cheaper than most competitors on smaller accounts, but costs increase proportionally as your account grows.
Buyback Program & Liquidity
For many retirement savers, one of the biggest concerns with a Gold IRA isn’t the buying process — it’s what happens when it comes time to sell. Some firms make the buyback process slow, opaque, or even punitive, leaving customers uncertain about how easily they can access their funds.
GoldenCrest Metals has worked to address this worry head-on with a straightforward, reliable buyback program. Customers can liquidate their metals quickly and at competitive rates, without hidden fees or unnecessary delays.
Because the company only deals in widely recognized bullion coins and bars — such as American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and LBMA-approved bars — resale values track closely to the spot price of gold and silver. That means customers don’t face the headaches of trying to offload overpriced “exclusive” coins that few buyers recognize.
A major advantage here is GoldenCrest’s private equity backing, which provides the financial strength to honor buybacks even during periods of high market volatility. While some dealers have been accused of dragging their feet on repurchases when demand spikes, GoldenCrest’s funding ensures it has the liquidity to follow through quickly and consistently.
For retirement savers, this creates genuine peace of mind: not only can they acquire metals at fair prices, but they also have confidence that their holdings can be converted back to cash smoothly whenever needed.
Customer Reviews & Reputation
GoldenCrest Metals has a smaller review footprint than established competitors, but the consistency is notable. As of 2026, every posted review across Trustpilot, Google, and the BBB is five stars. The company has one resolved BBB complaint on file.
The most common themes in customer reviews are: no-pressure guidance where questions are answered thoroughly without rushing toward a sale; smooth IRA rollovers even on larger accounts, with the team walking clients through every step; fast responsiveness with phone calls returned promptly, and proactive follow-ups after paperwork is complete; and direct CEO involvement where Rich Jacoby personally calls customers after transactions to confirm satisfaction.
For context, Augusta Precious Metals has over 3,000 reviews averaging 4.9/5 across all platforms. Birch Gold Group has hundreds of reviews with an A+ BBB rating over 20+ years. GoldenCrest does not yet have this volume, and investors should weigh that when making their decision.
A company with 50 perfect reviews is promising, but not the same as one with 3,000.
That said, the early pattern is strong, and the combination of unanimous five-star ratings with zero unresolved complaints is a positive signal for a company less than three years old.
GoldenCrest vs Augusta vs Birch Gold: Head-to-Head
How GoldenCrest Metals compares to the two highest-rated Gold IRA companies on our list
| Feature | GoldenCrestFounded 2023 | AugustaFounded 2012 | Birch GoldFounded 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | $10,000 Tied lowest |
$50,000 | $10,000 Tied lowest |
| Annual Fees | $199 + 0.005% ~$249/yr on $100K |
$225/yr flat | $200/yr flat Lowest flat |
| Multi-Year Fee Coverage | Up to 10 years | Up to 10 years | 1st year only Over $50K |
| Free Silver Bonus | 10% up to $25,000 Best offer |
✗ | ✗ |
| BBB Rating | A- | A+ (zero complaints) | A+ |
| Total Reviews (all platforms) | 5-star (limited volume) | 3,000+ reviews Most reviewed |
Hundreds |
| Years in Business | ~3 years | 13 years | 22+ years Longest |
| All 4 Precious Metals | ✗ Gold & Silver |
✗ Gold & Silver |
✓ Au, Ag, Pt, Pd |
| Educational Webinar | ✗ | ✓ Harvard economist |
✗ |
| CEO Personal Follow-Up | ✓ Unique |
✗ | ✗ |
| No Private-Label Coins | ✓ | ~ Premium coins available |
~ Some premium options |
| Buyback Program | ✓ PE-backed liquidity |
✓ | ✓ |
| Custodian | Entrust Group | Equity Trust | Equity Trust / STRATA |
| Storage | Delaware Depository | Delaware + 9 locations | Delaware + Brink's + IDS + TX |
| Our Rating | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.7 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Up to 10 years of IRA fees covered — industry-leading promotion worth thousands in savings
- 10% free silver bonus on qualifying accounts, up to $25,000 in value
- Low $10,000 minimum — same as Birch Gold Group and American Hartford Gold
- Only sells widely recognized bullion — no overpriced private-label or "exclusive" coins
- Transparent, market-based pricing without hidden markups
- Strong buyback program backed by private equity liquidity
- CEO Rich Jacoby personally follows up with every customer
- No-pressure, educational sales approach consistently praised in reviews
- 5-star ratings across Trustpilot, Google, and BBB
- Free fully insured shipping on all orders
Cons
- Founded in 2023 — less than 3 years of track record compared to competitors with 10-20+ years
- A- BBB rating — strong but below the A+ held by Augusta, Birch, Noble, and Goldco
- Limited to gold and silver only — no platinum or palladium for IRA accounts
- Small review volume compared to established firms like Augusta (3,000+) or Goldco (thousands)
- Exact setup fee not clearly published — ranges between $50 and $100
- Storage fee is percentage-based (0.005% of account value) — costs increase as your account grows
Is GoldenCrest Metals Legit? Red Flags to Watch For
Is GoldenCrest Metals legit? This is a reasonable question for any company founded in 2023. Here is what we verified. GoldenCrest holds an A- BBB rating with zero unresolved complaints. Every customer review across Trustpilot, Google, and the BBB is five stars.
The company is backed by private equity, which provides financial stability and buyback liquidity. CEO Rich Jacoby personally follows up with every customer — something verifiable through reviews. GoldenCrest only sells widely recognized bullion from major mints, not private-label coins with inflated premiums.
The red flags we typically watch for in this industry — hidden fees, pressure tactics, private-label coin pushing, unresolved BBB complaints, and refusal to disclose custodian or depository partners — are absent with GoldenCrest. The company clearly names Entrust Group as custodian and Delaware Depository as storage partner.
The honest caveat: GoldenCrest has been operating for less than three years. A clean record over 3 years is not the same as a clean record over 13 years (Augusta) or 22 years (Birch Gold). If track record is your primary concern, those companies are safer bets. If you are comfortable with a newer company that is earning trust rapidly and offering promotions that established firms cannot match, GoldenCrest checks every box we look for. You might also find useful this article we wrote about Gold IRA scams to watch for.
Final Verdict
GoldenCrest Metals is the most interesting newcomer in the Gold IRA space. The 10-year fee coverage, 10% silver bonus, and commitment to selling only standard bullion at market-based pricing represent genuine value that most established competitors do not match.
The trade-off is clear: GoldenCrest has less than three years of history. A company with unanimous five-star reviews and zero unresolved complaints is a strong signal, but it is not the same as 20 years of proven operations. Investors who prioritize track record above all else may feel more comfortable with Augusta Precious Metals (founded 2012) or Birch Gold Group (founded 2003).
GoldenCrest is the right fit if you have $20,000 or more to invest, you want gold and silver only, and you value transparent pricing with no private-label products. It is not the right fit if you want platinum or palladium, if you prefer a company with a decades-long track record, or if your budget is below $20,000.
For investors who are comfortable with a newer company that is earning trust rapidly and offering promotions that larger firms cannot match, GoldenCrest Metals deserves a spot on your shortlist. Contact GoldenCrest directly to confirm current fee schedules and promotion eligibility before committing.