Preserve Gold Review: Fees, Minimums, Custodians, Complaints

Every company review uses the same fields, described in our company research methodology. We do not rank companies, and nothing here is a recommendation for or against any of them.

Is Preserve Gold legitimate, and what does it charge?

"Legitimate" asks for a verdict, which we cannot give for any company. Below is what Preserve Gold says, what records we could open, and what we could not check.

The marketing pages say a lot about what Preserve Gold does not charge. According to its Precious Metals IRA page, "We don't charge account setup, liquidation, or hidden fees." Its home page says it will "waive your IRA storage and custodian fees for up to 5 years depending on your starting investment size." But the pages we read do not give a dollar amount for the custodian's annual fee or for storage, and they do not say how long a waiver lasts for a given amount invested.

The price of the metal itself is a separate cost. Preserve Gold's Transaction Agreement, a PDF linked from its Client Downloads page, defines a "Spread" (the difference between what Preserve Gold pays for the metal on the day of your purchase and the retail price quoted to you) and lists typical ranges for it: up to 20% for bullion, up to 34.99% for certain coins, and "generally" up to 34.99% for IRA transactions. These are the company's statements.

Who is Preserve Gold?

Preserve Gold's website calls the company "one of North America's leading precious metals firms," a marketing description we cannot verify. The site lists one address: 21700 Oxnard Street, Suite 430, Woodland Hills, California 91367. Its Terms and Conditions and Transaction Agreement name the contracting company as "Preserve Gold Group, Inc." at that address.

According to its website, it sells gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins, bars and rounds, offers Precious Metals, Gold and Silver IRAs, and also ships metals to your home. The About Us page gives no founding date, names no founders or executives, and gives no customer count. The BBB profile described below lists a business start date of July 5, 2022. We have not checked that against a state corporate registry.

The Risk Disclosures page says staff are "not licensed financial advisors" and that no fiduciary relationship (a legal duty to put your interests first) exists between Preserve Gold and the customer. So the decisions are yours, which is why the questions near the end of this page matter.

Quick facts at a glance

How does a Gold IRA with Preserve Gold work?

A Gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds physical metal. Three roles matter. The dealer sells you the metal (here, Preserve Gold). The custodian legally holds your IRA, keeps records and files tax forms. Its Precious Metals IRA page says it works with "thoroughly vetted IRA custodians" (the Gold IRA Rollover page says "fully vetted") but names none. The depository is the secure vault, and the website names three, listed below. Our guide to the custodian, the dealer and the depository explains why this matters.

According to its Gold IRA page, the process is: talk to an expert, fund the account (by contribution or by rolling over an existing IRA, 401(k) or other plan), then choose IRA-eligible products and an approved depository. The page says rollovers take "anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks." Nothing we read guarantees that timing, and the custodian's processing is outside Preserve Gold's control. See how a Gold IRA works and rolling a 401(k) into a Gold IRA.

What does Preserve Gold say the fees are?

The statements below are Preserve Gold's own.

• Setup and liquidation: "We don't charge account setup, liquidation, or hidden fees" (Precious Metals IRA page). That covers Preserve Gold's own charges. We saw nothing about the custodian's or depository's.
• Storage and custodian fees: the home page says it will "waive your IRA storage and custodian fees for up to 5 years depending on your starting investment size." The Precious Metals IRA page says only that storage fees can be waived "depending on the dollar amount being invested."
• Annual custodian fee: not stated on any page we read.
• Overall: the Learning Center FAQ says fees "vary based on your chosen investments" and promises a "transparent breakdown of all expected costs." We found no published schedule.

The Transaction Agreement lists no account or storage fees in the sections we read. It says the customer is "solely responsible for selecting" custodians and storage companies, and that Preserve Gold may suggest them but "expressly disclaims any and all responsibility" for losses tied to them. So the custodian's and depository's own agreements, which we do not have, set those charges. Our guides to custodian fees, storage fees and hidden fees cover each in plain language.

What is the minimum?

None of the pages we read states a minimum investment. The Precious Metals IRA, Gold IRA, Silver IRA and home delivery pages do not state one, and the Transaction Agreement states none. That is a gap in the disclosures, not a statement that there is no minimum. A custodian can have its own minimums, and the sales team may have practical ones. If a minimum matters to you, ask for it in writing. Our page on minimum investment explains how minimums work across the industry.

What do you pay for the metal itself?

Two terms help here. The spot price is the current market price for one troy ounce of the metal. A dealer sells above spot (the added amount is called the premium or markup) and buys back below it. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) makes the same point in its customer advisory on buying physical metals: "A dealer will always sell metal above the spot price and buy it back below the spot price." The advisory also says, "If fees are not available in writing before your purchase, that is a red flag," and suggests asking how much you would receive if you sold the metal back the next day.

What does Preserve Gold say?

• Its home page describes "competitive, clear, and upfront pricing," and its marketing pages say it will "match or beat any competitor's pricing."
• Its Home Delivery and IRA pages do not show prices or premiums over spot.
• Section 4A of its Transaction Agreement defines the Spread as the difference between what Preserve Gold is "purchasing the precious metals for on the day of the Customer's purchase" and the retail price quoted to the customer. It says the Spread "may vary significantly and may be negotiable" and may differ from the Spread in other transactions or for other customers.
• Section 4B calls the following figures "typical ranges" as of when the agreement was offered: up to 20% for bullion, and up to 34.99% for numismatic coins, Preserve Gold exclusive coins and semi-numismatic coins. (Numismatic coins are valued partly for rarity or collector appeal, not just metal content.) It adds that these percentages vary and that the actual Spread on a transaction "may be outside" the stated typical ranges. They are not hard maximums.
• Section 4C says IRA transactions cost more to process and may require Preserve Gold to take on certain risks, and that for IRA transactions the Spread is "generally up to thirty-four point ninety nine percent (34.99%)" for bullion, semi-numismatic and numismatic bars and coins. It calls these numbers approximations, and says the actual Spread on a particular transaction could be outside that general range.

We do not know the typical Spread in practice. The agreement's Spread is measured against what Preserve Gold paid for the metal, not against a buyback price, and we did not find a formula for the percentage. That is not the same as the gap between your purchase price and what you would receive if you sold the metal back. Ask for the figure for your order in writing.

Here is a separate, made-up illustration of a gap between a purchase price and a later buyback price. It is not Preserve Gold's Spread and not its actual pricing. Suppose you pay $10,000 for bullion coins and the buyback price on the same day, with the market unchanged, is 20% lower than what you paid. You would receive $8,000. To get back to $10,000, the buyback price would have to rise by 25%.

The agreement says payment is due "within two (2) business days after placement of the order," and that PGG arranges delivery "within twenty-eight (28) days after PGG's verification that the Purchase Funds are backed by good funds." We saw no price-lock term. Section 14 says Preserve Gold may amend the agreement by written notice.

Our guide to dealer premiums, markups and spreads shows how to compare quotes. Ask for the sale price, the spot price at the time of the quote, and the current buyback price, all at once.

What does Preserve Gold say about buying back your metals?

The website makes several buyback statements, and the agreement adds fine print.

• The home page describes "a zero-fee buyback commitment" for metals bought from Preserve Gold. The Silver IRA page refers to a "lifetime zero-fee buyback policy." The Gold IRA page says it will repurchase "at the highest price available on the market without fees."
• The Preserve Gold Standard page says "it is unlawful for any precious metals dealer to guarantee a buyback." We have not checked that legal statement and do not repeat it as fact. It also says the company "has never refused any client who wanted to sell their precious metals back to us." That is a track-record claim, and we cannot verify it from the outside.
• The Transaction Agreement, Section 5, says Preserve Gold "makes no such guarantee, either as to actual repurchase or as to repurchase at a particular price." If it makes a repurchase offer, the agreement says the offer "may increase or decrease at any time." For a liquidation it offers the highest list bid price from its wholesaler, which the agreement says is always lower than the wholesaler's ask price.

Read together, the web pages stress "zero-fee" and "highest price available," and the agreement says there is no promise to buy back at any particular price. These are not necessarily in conflict, since "no fee" is not the same as "no spread." But a "zero-fee" buyback still happens at a price below the spot price, so the buyback price is where your cost shows up. Our guide on buyback policies and liquidation costs explains what a buyback promise can and cannot cover, and our page on liquidity risk covers the case where you need cash quickly.

What can you cancel, and when?

The Preserve Gold Standard page describes a "24-Hour Purchase Guarantee": "you have 24 hours to cancel your transaction for any reason without penalty." Section 3 of the Transaction Agreement gives 24 hours after receiving the invoice, says a notice is timely if "postmarked on the business day after a customer receives a written invoice," says changing an order does not extend the deadline, and notes that some states give longer periods. The web page counts from the transaction and the agreement counts from the invoice. Ask how your window would be counted.

Where is the metal stored, and is it insured?

According to Preserve Gold's website, IRA metals are stored at an approved depository, and its Gold IRA page says "Home storage isn't an option for Gold IRAs." The Precious Metals IRA and Gold IRA Rollover pages name three depositories:

The Precious Metals IRA page says metals are "securely stored and thoroughly insured," but the pages we read give no coverage amount, insurer or policy terms. The only other insurance mention we read is about shipping. Its Home Delivery page says orders ship by UPS with full insurance coverage, with a signature required, and that "You will not be responsible for the metals until you have signed for them." The Learning Center FAQ says that for lost mail "we would assume full responsibility."

We did not open the depositories' fee schedules or insurance statements, so we cannot say what each charges or covers. Our guides to IRA metals insurance and segregated and commingled storage list what to ask for.

Which custodian does Preserve Gold use?

The pages we read do not name one. They say "professional, IRS-compliant custodians" (Gold IRA page) and "trusted, IRA-approved custodians" (Learning Center FAQ). The IRS publishes a list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians on its approved nonbank trustees and custodians page. With no custodian named, we had no name to look up and did not search the list.

Without a name, you cannot look up the custodian's fee schedule or regulator before you commit, and the agreement puts the choice on you. Ask which custodians Preserve Gold works with, then read each one's current fee schedule. See also custodian requirements.

What is the new-client offer?

Several pages show a limited-time offer for new clients: "Free Insured Shipping," a "$200 Immediate Account Credit" and a "Free Premium Home Safe," "available for new clients only with a qualified purchase" and requiring a request for the company's free guide. We found no definition of "qualified purchase" and no end date. Because the Gold IRA page says home storage is not an option for Gold IRAs, ask whether the safe applies to IRA purchases. Weigh any promotion against the spread and fees above.

What do the endorsements and reviews show?

Preserve Gold's Endorsements page lists six people, including Dr. Phil McGraw, Chuck Holton and Kirk Cameron. Its introduction describes the company as "partnering with select individuals" and refers to "influential partners." It quotes statements such as "Preserve Gold is the ONLY precious metals company I trust and recommend." The page does not say whether any endorser is paid, so we do not know. An endorsement is promotion, not an independent check.

Its Reviews page shows five undated customer reviews labeled with sources such as ConsumerAffairs, RetirementLiving, Trustpilot or BBB, plus a quote from Dr. Phil McGraw that is an endorsement rather than a customer review. It gives no overall score or count. The home page cites "hundreds of five-star reviews across the web" without figures.

The About Us page says the company has a "perfect record with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), without a single complaint against our name." Compare that with BBB's profile below.

What does Preserve Gold's BBB profile show?

The BBB is a nonprofit that publishes business profiles, customer reviews and complaint records. BBB pages could not be opened for this review. The figures below come from screenshots of Preserve Gold's BBB profile, customer reviews and complaints pages, viewed by the site owner on 2026-10-15.

The "Products and Services" text on the profile is company-supplied. It reads: "We offer physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars delivered directly to your home. We also offer Precious Metals IRAs."

The profile's licensing box lists ordinary business registration and tax items, such as a California Secretary of State number and a reseller's permit. We do not treat them as a license to deal in precious metals or to handle retirement accounts.

The 4.94 figure is the average of BBB customer reviews. It is a different measure from BBB's A+ letter grade. The ten newest customer reviews visible were dated 07/10/2026 to 09/16/2026. Nine were five stars and one was four stars, and no company replies were visible. We draw no conclusion from ten reviews out of 122.

What do the complaints show?

According to the BBB's Customer Complaints Summary in the screenshot, Preserve Gold had 2 total complaints in the last 3 years and 0 complaints filed in the last 12 months. Only one of the two complaints was visible in the screenshot we were given, so we say nothing about the second beyond the count.

The visible complaint was filed on 02/12/2024, with the type "Delivery Issues" and the status "Resolved." In it, the customer alleged problems with a silver bullion order from March 2023, including a shipping charge, a price-match promise, a delayed delivery and a lack of response. These are the customer's allegations, not findings. The company's response, dated 02/20/2024, said the customer had told it he had asked BBB to withdraw his complaint. In a reply dated 02/29/2024, the customer wrote that he had reviewed the business's response and found the resolution satisfactory.

This BBB record sits beside the About Us page's "without a single complaint against our name" statement. The two do not match, and we report both without drawing a conclusion about why. We could not open the BBB page to confirm the count.

What do the website terms and the agreement say?

The Terms and Conditions page names the contracting company, Preserve Gold Group, Inc., and refers to a Shipping and Customer Agreement and a Product Purchase Agreement that we did not see. The Transaction Agreement sets the terms for a purchase. We read the version linked from Client Downloads whose file name indicates June 2025. The document itself carries no version date, and we cannot say whether you would be offered a different one. Section 12 says:

• Claims go to arbitration administered by JAMS, before one arbitrator who is a retired judicial officer, under the Federal Arbitration Act. The award is "final and binding."
• Claims by the customer "will not be joined" with claims of others. The agreement does not use the term "class action," so we describe this as a bar on joining claims.
• The law of the customer's home state governs, and the hearing is at the JAMS office closest to the customer's residence.
• Any claim must be filed within one year and one day after it arises.

The Risk Disclosures page says sales representatives' pay is "based, at least in part, on the amount and profit margin of the Precious Metals they sell," and that they may receive contests and bonuses. It also suggests a customer "should not invest more than twenty percent (20%) of Customer's available investment funds in Precious Metals." The CFTC suggests asking whether a seller's commission is built into the spread. Preserve Gold's page does not say how much of the spread goes to the person you talk to.

Is the website's IRA information current?

The Gold IRA page says gold must be at least 99.5% pure, with an exception for the American Gold Eagle, and the Silver IRA page says silver must be 99.9% fine. The Silver IRA page also states a contribution limit of "$7,000, or $8,000 for people aged 50+." The IRS IRA contribution limits page lists $7,500 for 2026, with a catch-up bringing the total to $8,600 for people 50 and older. Check any dollar limit against the IRS, not a dealer's page.

What public records did we check?

Our methodology lists the records we look for on every company. Here is what happened for Preserve Gold, with the date we searched.

Two cautions apply. First, a zero in the CFPB database means no complaint under that text appeared in that database on that day. Second, a general web search is not a search of a court docket or a regulator's records. A search that finds nothing does not prove nothing exists.

We make no claim that Preserve Gold has, or has not, been the subject of a lawsuit, regulatory action or complaint outside the records above. We also note, as the CFTC advisory does, that "Retail metal dealers are not regulated at the federal level." That is a reason to check with your state regulator and other sources. If you want to run these checks yourself, our guide on how to verify a dealer walks through each one, and our precious metals enforcement database will list any cases we find in orders and complaints we have read.

What should you ask Preserve Gold before you sign anything?

These questions come from regulators' advice and the gaps above. Ask for answers in writing.

1. Which custodian will hold my account, and what is its current fee schedule?
2. What are the terms of the five-year fee waiver? Which fees, which investment sizes, and what happens afterward?
3. What are the sale price, spot price and buyback price for each product I'm quoted? Ask for all three together, with the spread as a percentage, and how it is measured, including the IRA range in Section 4C.
4. What is a "qualified purchase" for the new-client offer, and does it apply to my IRA?
5. How is my cancellation window counted, and how do I give notice?
6. What does the depository charge, and what insurance covers my metals?
7. How are the people I speak with paid, and are your endorsers paid? The CFTC suggests asking how a seller is paid.
8. What will the custodian and depository charge when I sell, take a distribution or close the account?
9. May I see the full Transaction Agreement, including the arbitration terms, before I send any money?

See also how to evaluate a Gold IRA company.

What are the risks that apply no matter which company you pick?

No dealer, custodian or depository removes the basic risks of physical metal. Prices go up and down (see price volatility), and you can usually sell only at a dealer's buyback price or to another buyer. Counterparty risk, the chance a company you depend on fails to do its part, is covered in our counterparty risk guide. Metals pay no interest or dividends, as Preserve Gold's own disclosure page says. We do not predict prices.

How does this compare with other companies?

For other reviews, see our Priority Gold review and Gold Alliance review. For the wider picture of how dealers, custodians and depositories fit together, start at Gold IRA Companies Compared.

How was this page researched, and when will it be updated?

On October 15, 2026 we opened Preserve Gold's home page and its IRA, rollover, Learning Center FAQ, Preserve Gold Standard, Home Delivery, About Us, Reviews, Endorsements, Risk Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Client Downloads pages, plus the Transaction Agreement (file name indicates June 2025). We also opened the CFTC advisory, the IRS pages cited, and the CFPB database search. The BBB figures come from screenshots because BBB pages could not be opened for this review. Anything that came only from Preserve Gold is written as its statement, and we left out facts we could not confirm. We did not open the depositories' sites or any custodian's schedule, since no custodian is named.

Fees, terms and company information are reviewed every three months under our update policy, and sooner if a regulator announces an action or a reader reports an error.

This page is general information, not personalized advice. Talk with a qualified financial planner, tax professional or attorney before you act.