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Two gold IRA quotes can show the same account balance and buy different amounts of metal. Before you sign, ask each dealer for a dated, itemized quote and request the custodian’s fee schedule separately.
Quick answer: Ask both dealers to quote the same products and quantities as close together in time as possible. Compare the metal cost, the fees you’ll pay while you hold it, and what you’d receive if you sold it back.
1. Exactly what metal am I buying?
Ask for the mint or refiner, product name, weight, purity, quantity, and total fine troy ounces. Ask the custodian to confirm which items it will accept. If one quote lists bullion bars and the other lists specialty coins, request a like-for-like quote before comparing prices.
2. How much above spot am I paying?
Ask for the spot benchmark and its timestamp, the dealer’s price per item, and the total metal cost. For a like-for-like gold quote, divide the total metal price by the fine troy ounces, subtract the quoted spot price per ounce, and divide by that spot price to find the percentage premium.
Ask which commissions are included in the quoted price. The CFTC recommends getting the retail price and fees in writing. CFTC buyer checklist
3. What will I pay upfront?
Ask for a line item for account setup, processing, wires, and any other one-time charges. Identify which company collects each fee and whether the fee comes out of your IRA balance or is billed separately. Keep the metal purchase amount separate from fees so you can see how much actually goes toward metal.
4. What will I pay each year?
Get the custodian and depository fee schedules. Ask whether the charges are flat, based on account or metal value, or tiered. Verify which storage option the quote includes and whether shipping or insurance is billed separately. Record when any fee waiver expires.
5. What does the promotion change?
Ask for the quote with and without the promotion. Check minimum balances, eligible products, which fees the promotion covers, and whether there are conditions for closing the account. If the dealer offers bonus metal, get its exact description and an indicative buyback bid before assigning it a dollar value.
6. What would I receive if I sold the same items today?
Ask each dealer for a written indicative bid on the identical items and quantities it quoted for purchase. Ask whether that bid is guaranteed, how long it lasts, and what selling fees apply.
Purchase price minus the indicative bid illustrates the immediate dollar gap before separate fees. A future sale will depend on the market, the buyer’s bid at the time, and selling costs.
7. What happens if I cancel, transfer, or take delivery?
Ask when the trade becomes binding, how cancellation charges are calculated, and what the custodian charges to transfer, close, or distribute the account. Request any shipping and insurance charges for physical delivery.
Read the dealer agreement alongside the custodian fee schedule so you can see which company is responsible for each charge.
Side-by-side gold IRA quote worksheet
| What to record | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Quote date, time, and expiration | ___ | ___ |
| Exact product, quantity, and total fine troy ounces | ___ | ___ |
| Spot benchmark at quote time | ___ | ___ |
| Itemized metal purchase price | ___ | ___ |
| Setup and other one-time charges | ___ | ___ |
| Annual custody fee and fee basis | ___ | ___ |
| Annual storage fee and storage type | ___ | ___ |
| Promotion amount, expiration, and conditions | ___ | ___ |
| Current buyback bid for same items | ___ | ___ |
| Selling, shipping, and account closure charges | ___ | ___ |
Worked example: compare the same metal over three years
Suppose Quote A lists the same metal at $20,800, plus $50 setup and $200 a year in combined custody and storage fees. Quote B lists it at $20,400, plus $100 setup and $250 a year. Assuming three annual charges and no promotion, the totals are $21,450 for A and $21,250 for B. B costs $200 less before selling.
These are hypothetical figures. If A later had a net buyback bid more than $200 higher than B’s for the same holdings, the lower purchase-and-holding cost alone would no longer settle the comparison.
Before you sign
If an amount or condition is missing, mark it as unknown and ask for written clarification. Keep the dated quote, the dealer agreement, and the custodian fee schedule together so you can check the final paperwork against what you were offered.
See the gold IRA setup guide for the account-opening steps, the depository storage guide for storage questions, and the Goldco vs. American Hartford Gold comparison for a dealer-specific example.