401(k) to gold IRA rollover: match your account size to the right custodian
Augusta, Goldco, Birch, and Lear target different account-size bands. We route by the band that fits your balance, not by who pays us most.
Educational only - not investment advice. We are not a registered investment advisor or fiduciary. We do not predict precious-metals prices and we do not recommend whether you should hold metals at all. Talk to a CPA and a fiduciary advisor about your specific situation before initiating any rollover. We earn a referral commission on Augusta, Goldco, Birch, and Lear signups.
Account-size fit matrix
| Account-size band | Best-fit primary | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25k | Birch Gold (3% tier) | $10k account minimum is the lowest of the four. Augusta requires $50k+. |
| $25k - $100k | Birch or Goldco | Goldco's $25k minimum admits this band; broader bullion catalog. |
| $100k - $250k | Augusta or Goldco | Augusta's education process is built for $100k+ rollovers; Goldco competes on closed-sale percentage. |
| $250k+ | Augusta primary, Birch 5% tier as diversifier | Augusta is purpose-built for $100k-1M+; Birch's 5% tier is fee-competitive for diversifiers. |
| Annuity, inherited IRA, complex rollover | Lear Capital | Negotiable per-deal terms; useful when standard custodians don't fit. |
Source: each company's published account minimums and tier schedules as of Q1 2026. Confirm current terms with the custodian before transferring.
How a 401(k) to gold IRA rollover actually works
- Open a self-directed IRA at an IRS-approved custodian (Equity Trust, STRATA, Kingdom Trust, Madison are common). Your gold IRA company will help with this.
- Initiate the rollover. Direct rollover (trustee-to-trustee) is recommended - no withholding, no 60-day clock. Indirect rollover triggers 20% withholding on 401(k) distributions; redeposit the full original amount within 60 days or face taxes + penalties.
- Fund the new IRA with the rolled-over balance. This is cash at this stage.
- Purchase IRS-approved metals. IRS-approved means specific bullion (American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, certain bars by approved refiners). Numismatic and "premium" coins are NOT IRA-eligible regardless of marketing.
- Metals ship to an IRS-approved depository (Brinks, Delaware, IDS). Holding IRA metals at home is not legal - the Tax Court has consistently rejected the "home storage IRA" structure.
What's actually different between the four vendors
- Augusta Precious Metals - strongest education process (one-on-one conference call). Higher minimums ($50k account, generally targets $100k+ rollovers). White-glove handholding is the trade-off for selectivity.
- Goldco - broader marketing, faster onboarding, large bullion catalog. Strong on closed-sale percentage. $25k account minimum.
- Birch Gold - lowest barrier to entry ($10k minimum); tiered pricing favors larger accounts (3% / 4% / 5%). Good for diversifiers.
- Lear Capital - negotiable per-deal terms; useful for non-standard rollovers (annuity, inherited, multi-account).
FAQ
- Is a gold IRA "safe"?
- It's not safe in the sense of "guaranteed" - precious-metals prices fluctuate just like any other asset. It's a diversifier, not a sure thing. Past performance does not predict future returns; anyone telling you otherwise is selling something.
- What does this actually cost beyond the rollover?
- Plan on $80-300/year in custodian + storage fees on top of any spread the gold IRA company takes when you buy. Smaller accounts feel this proportionally more, which is one reason the routing above caps the lower tiers at lower-fee custodians.
- Can I store the metals at home?
- No - not for IRA metals. The IRS requires IRA-held metals to sit in an approved depository. "Home storage IRA" marketing language has been rejected by the Tax Court multiple times, with significant penalties.
- How long does a rollover take?
- Direct rollover from a 401(k) typically takes 2-4 weeks once the new self-directed IRA is open. IRA-to-IRA transfers can be faster (1-2 weeks). Allow extra time if your old plan administrator requires paper forms or notarized signatures.
- What about the tax consequences?
- A direct rollover is not a taxable event. An indirect rollover where you don't redeposit within 60 days IS a taxable distribution and may trigger a 10% early-withdrawal penalty if you're under 59 1/2. This is why direct rollover is the default recommendation. Talk to a CPA about your specific situation.
- Why these four companies and not others?
- These are the four largest US gold IRA custodians by tracked rollover volume that have direct affiliate programs we can disclose to you. There are many smaller players. We do not include vendors with limited public information about minimums and fees because we can't represent their terms accurately.
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