Updated: September 1, 2026

OPRS may receive compensation when readers open an account through partner links on this page. Our analysis is based on independent research, BBB data, and IRS publications.

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Why written facts, not sales conversations

Gold IRA marketing runs heavy on live phone calls, personalized quotes, and time-limited offers. Some of that pressure is a normal part of consumer sales. Some of it makes it hard for a hesitant partner to think through the decision without the account executive on the line.

A written-facts step removes that pressure. Both partners see the same numbers and the same documents. The conversation shifts from persuasion to comparison. If a dealer will not put a fee schedule, custodian agreement, or buyback policy in writing before the account opens, that is itself information worth sharing between the partners.

The six documents to request in writing

These are the documents that shape what the account costs, how it works, and how it exits. All six exist. A dealer or custodian who cannot or will not provide them raises a question worth answering before either partner signs.

1. The custodian fee schedule

Every self-directed IRA custodian publishes a fee schedule. It lists account setup, annual maintenance, storage, wire transfer, distribution processing, and account termination fees. The document usually runs two to four pages.

What to look for: whether storage is billed at a flat annual rate or as a percentage of assets, whether “segregated” and “non-segregated” storage carry different fees, and what happens to the fee if account value drops.

2. The dealer markup on metals sold into the account

The dealer markup is the difference between the wholesale spot price of the metal and the price charged to the IRA. Standard bullion coins usually carry a smaller markup than “premium” or “proof” coins. Marketing pitches often steer buyers toward higher-markup coins.

What to look for: the markup expressed as a percentage over spot for each coin recommended. If the dealer will not commit that percentage in writing, the actual cost of entry cannot be verified.

3. The buyback policy

The buyback policy explains what happens when the account holder wants to sell metals back to the dealer, either during account life for rebalancing or at distribution.

What to look for: whether the buyback price is quoted at spot, below spot, or above spot. Whether it is guaranteed or “market-dependent.” Whether there is a holding period before buyback becomes available. And whether the dealer accepts back all coins sold, or only bullion.

4. The depository storage contract

Metals held in a gold IRA sit at an IRS-approved depository. The main names include Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services, International Depository Services, and IDS of Texas. Each has its own storage agreement.

What to look for: insurance coverage per account, segregated vs commingled storage terms, audit frequency, and the beneficiary access procedure at death.

5. The custodial account application (blank copy)

The custodial application is the actual document the account owner signs. It sets the terms of the IRA relationship: distribution rules, beneficiary designation, arbitration clauses, and dispute resolution.

What to look for: the arbitration clause language, the beneficiary designation form (see the spousal beneficiary rights mechanics page for what to fill in), and any pre-authorization for automatic renewals or account transfers.

6. The all-in first-year cost estimate

A dealer or custodian should provide a written first-year cost estimate that stacks: dealer markup on the metals, custodian setup fee, custodian annual fee, depository storage fee, and any wire or transfer fees. That total is the actual cost of getting into the account.

What to look for: whether the estimate covers 12 months or a promotional first year, and what the year-two cost looks like once any waivers expire.

The four independent verifications

The dealer’s paperwork is one source. Public records are another. These four checks come from independent government or non-profit sources.

1. FINRA BrokerCheck

Not every gold IRA salesperson is a registered broker, but many have securities licenses or a history in the securities industry. FINRA’s BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org shows registration history, employment, and any customer complaints or disciplinary actions on file.

A search by name or firm returns a public report. Absent registration is not itself a red flag. Disciplinary history is worth reading.

2. CFTC enforcement search

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission publishes enforcement actions against precious metals dealers at cftc.gov/LawRegulation/Enforcement/Actions. A search by company name shows civil penalties, injunctions, and consent orders.

Several high-profile gold IRA dealers have settled with the CFTC in recent years. The settlement documents are public and describe the underlying conduct in detail.

3. State securities regulator check

Each state has a securities regulator. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) lists them at nasaa.org/contact-your-regulator. Many state regulators publish enforcement histories against precious metals firms operating in that state.

State-level actions often surface local sales practice issues before federal action follows.

4. BBB and Trustpilot complaint patterns

The Better Business Bureau file at bbb.org is a starting point, not a final answer. What matters is the pattern in the complaints, not the letter grade or star rating.

Complaints that follow a pattern (for example, difficulty selling the metals back, unexpected fees, coin quality issues) are more informative than the aggregate rating. Look for the same friction described by multiple customers over multiple years.

How to use the checklist without turning it into a confrontation

The point of the checklist is not to build a case against opening a gold IRA. The point is to give both partners the same information base before either signs.

A practical sequence:

The partner who wants the account requests the six documents from the dealer in one message. “Before I move forward, I need these six documents in writing for review with my spouse.”
Both partners run the four public-record checks together, on the same computer, in one sitting. That step takes about 30 minutes.
Both partners read the fee schedule, buyback policy, and first-year cost estimate together. Read the numbers aloud. Ask questions of each other, not of the dealer, first.
Only after that step does the conversation with the dealer resume, with specific written questions rather than open reactions.

If the dealer refuses to provide the documents, will not commit specific markup percentages in writing, or applies pressure to skip the review, that is information both partners can weigh together.

Common friction points and what they signal

These are patterns from CFTC settlements, state enforcement actions, and BBB complaint files. None of them is proof that a specific dealer is bad. All of them are worth asking about in writing.

A dealer who quotes a “one-time promotional price” that expires before the written fee schedule can arrive. The promotional structure is the sales pattern; the underlying cost is what matters.
A recommendation to buy “proof” or “premium” coins for the IRA. These carry higher markups and often have wider buyback spreads. Bullion is generally cheaper to enter and easier to exit.
A buyback quote based on “current market conditions” with no committed spread. That phrase can mean any price the dealer chooses at the time of buyback.
A custodian recommendation with no other options offered. IRS rules do not require a specific custodian; the account owner can choose.
A pitch that includes political framing, patriotism appeals, or predictions about the dollar or the market. Federal rules under the FTC and CFTC restrict predictive claims about metals investments. See the 2026 OPRS dealers we clear and the ones we warn against on our dealer list.

What this checklist does not do

This checklist does not answer the question of whether a gold IRA is a good decision for the household. That is a decision for the couple, ideally with input from a state-licensed financial planner or tax advisor.

The checklist gives both partners the same facts on the same day. From there, the household has a shared basis to decide.

Related pages for the joint decision

Two companion pages cover the surrounding conversation. Deciding about a gold IRA as a couple walks through the structural framing of the joint conversation. The spousal beneficiary rights mechanics page covers what happens if the account holder dies first, and why the beneficiary form on file matters more than the will.

For dealer selection specifically, see the 2026 OPRS list at gold IRA dealers to avoid. It names operators we clear and the ones we warn against.

One Partner Wants a Gold IRA, the Other Doesn’t: The Written-Facts Checklist