Augusta Precious Metals – Our Honest 2026 Review (with Fees & Comparison)

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Last Updated on: 1st January 2026, 06:30 pm

Founded in 2012, Augusta Precious Metals is known for a “high-touch” onboarding process and a relatively high minimum purchase requirement (often quoted at $50,000). The company leans heavily into education and transparency, which is a refreshing change in a niche where fear-based sales tactics can be common. However, no company is perfect. Augusta Precious Metals has its pros and cons, just like any other company. Keep reading to learn about these and decide if Augusta is the right choice for you…

Thinking about Augusta? Get the kit first.

Use the kit to understand the process, what fees to ask about (custodian + storage), and why premium coins usually cost more than standard bullion.

Request Augusta’s free kit

Tip: Ask for the total “all-in” first-year estimate and written pricing on the exact products you’re considering.

Review Highlights

• Reputation: Strong public ratings on watchdog-style sources (BBB/BCA), with review counts that tend to hold up over time.
• Education-first process: Augusta puts the educational step up front, which can help you slow down and ask better questions.
• Best fit: Typically positioned for larger rollovers due to the $50,000 minimum often cited in third-party coverage.
• Pricing reality: Their premium coins are usually more expensive than standard bullion. Always ask for written pricing before funding.
• What to verify: storage type (segregated vs non-segregated), custodian fees, and how buyback pricing is calculated.

👍 Pros of Augusta

• Education-first approach (web conference + guided walkthrough) and generally “low-pressure” positioning.
• Strong public ratings on major watchdog sites, including BBB and BCA.
• Clear expectations on minimum purchase, which can filter out mismatched buyers early.
• Buyback program is commonly referenced in reviews (still confirm details in writing).

👎 Cons of Augusta

• High minimum purchase (often quoted at $50,000), which rules out many smaller IRA rollovers.
• Spreads/markups vary widely by product, especially on premium coins versus standard bullion.
• Gold IRAs have more moving parts (custodian + depository + product selection), so sloppy execution can get expensive.

Augusta Precious Metals Reviews, Ratings and Complaints

For a quick credibility snapshot, I focus most on watchdog-style profiles (BBB/BCA) because they show rating history and complaint context. Review totals change constantly, so treat the numbers below as a “check today” reference rather than a forever-fact.

Reviews & Ratings (watchdog sources)

• Better Business Bureau (BBB): customer rating shown on BBB (varies over time) and A+ business rating.
• Business Consumer Alliance (BCA): AAA rating with customer reviews listed.

Third-party recognition: Money includes Augusta in its “best gold IRA companies” coverage, and Investopedia also lists Augusta as a top pick for education/transparency (both note the higher minimum). See: Money and Investopedia.

Important: Self-Directed IRA risks

Gold IRAs are typically self-directed IRAs. That structure expands what you can hold, but it also increases your responsibility: you must evaluate fees, product pricing, custody/storage, and the credibility of everyone involved. The SEC’s investor guidance on self-directed IRA fraud risks is worth skimming before you move retirement money into alternative assets. (SEC investor alert)

If you are still comparing providers at a high level, start with our neutral directory-style overview of gold IRA companies and then narrow down based on minimums, fees, and how clearly each company explains spreads and storage.

Augusta Precious Metals’ IRA Custodians

Augusta does not act as the IRA custodian. Instead, you open a self-directed IRA with a third-party custodian, then the metals are purchased for the IRA and stored at an approved depository. For background, see our Gold IRA custodians guide and our notes on Equity Trust.

Note: Custodian relationships can change. Always confirm who your custodian will be and what their fee schedule is before you fund.

IRA Rollovers and Transfers

If you’re funding a gold IRA from an existing retirement plan (like a 401(k) or an IRA), you’ll typically use a rollover or transfer rather than annual contributions. If you’re new to this, start with our plain-English walkthrough on how a gold IRA rollover works, then review the broader basics in our complete Gold IRA guide.

If you want a directory-style overview of reputable facilities, see our guide to IRS-approved depositories. Delaware Depository is one of the commonly referenced options across the gold IRA industry (you can read about their services here: Delaware Depository).

Compliance and the “education first” process

One of Augusta’s differentiators is its emphasis on process and suitability-style education before a purchase. That is useful because it pushes the conversation toward “does this fit me?” instead of “how fast can I fund?” You can see how Augusta describes its education step here: Augusta’s web conference prep (nofollow).

Mid-read shortcut: request Augusta’s kit + current promos

Before you compare coins, ask for written pricing on (1) a common bullion option and (2) a premium coin option so you can see the spread difference clearly.

Request Augusta’s kit

Prices & Fees (what’s predictable vs what varies)

A simple rule: compare quotes on the same day, for the same products, with the same storage type. If you want a baseline reference point, start with today’s metals spot prices here: live precious metals prices.

Products Offered

Augusta focuses primarily on gold and silver IRA-eligible products. Now, remember that Augusta Precious Metals offers two types of products:

• Standard Bullion (Lowest markups above spot)
• Premium Coins (Higher markups)

If you’re selecting products for an IRA, make sure they’re IRA-permitted and that the custodian/depository paperwork matches the exact items being purchased.

IRA contribution limits (2026 update) and a common misunderstanding

Many people confuse annual IRA contributions with rollovers/transfers. For 2026, the IRS raised the IRA contribution limit to $7,500, and the age 50+ catch-up to $1,100. That matters if you are contributing new money, but rollovers/transfers from existing retirement accounts are handled differently. See the IRS update here: IRS retirement plan limit changes for 2026.

Does Augusta Have a Gold Buyback Policy?

Augusta promotes a buyback program, and many customers mention it in reviews. Still, buybacks are typically not guaranteed by law at a specific price, so treat “buyback” as a convenience feature, and confirm the process, timing, and pricing method in writing before you fund an IRA.

This is particularly important if you plan on buying premium coins and are hoping to be able to sell them back to Augusta at a latter date. You don't want to end up in a situation where you paid 30% markups on coins when you bought, but then upon selling the buyer only offers you spot price.

What alternatives should you compare?

Not everyone needs a gold IRA. Depending on your goals, you might compare: (1) owning physical metals outside an IRA, (2) gold ETFs in a standard brokerage IRA, or (3) mining stocks for higher volatility exposure. For a plain-English comparison, see gold IRA vs buying physical gold.

About the Augusta Precious Metals Management

Below is a more useful way to look at leadership bios: not just who they are, but what their role means for your due diligence. The goal is simple: you want calm explanations, written numbers, and a process that does not push you to wire funds before you understand spreads and storage.

Founder and CEO Isaac Nuriani

Isaac Nuriani is Augusta’s public-facing CEO and is frequently referenced in brand materials tied to the company’s “education first” approach. For you as an investor, the practical question is not just credentials. It’s whether leadership has built a process that prevents common gold IRA mistakes: confusing sales talk with pricing, overlooking storage terms, and funding before you see written spreads.

How to use this in due diligence: Ask your rep what Augusta’s “normal” onboarding sequence looks like (education step, custodian setup, product selection, storage confirmation, then funding). If they can’t explain the order calmly, treat it as a red flag.

Fast credibility check: Compare what the rep tells you with public watchdog profiles (BBB/BCA) and Augusta’s own FAQ language on minimums and buybacks: Augusta “About” page (nofollow).

Finance leadership (verify current executive on your call)

Many gold IRA buyers focus only on the rep. A smarter move is to understand who oversees pricing policy and how markups are presented, especially when premium coins enter the conversation. Some third-party sources have historically referenced Howard Smith in a senior finance capacity connected to Augusta, but executive rosters can change.

What to do: Ask Augusta who currently serves as CFO or head of finance, and who approves product pricing policies. Then ask for a written estimate showing your expected first-year custodian + storage costs and the spreads on your top 2–3 coin choices.

Good questions to ask: “Which products tend to have the widest spreads?”, “How do you document pricing before funding?”, and “How is buyback pricing determined?”

Director of Education (Senior Economic Analyst) Devlyn Steele

Devlyn Steele is Augusta’s most recognizable education figure and leads the one-on-one conference experience described on Augusta’s website. The value of this step is not “predictions.” It’s that you get a slower, more structured conversation before you pick products.

How to use the education call properly: Treat it like a due diligence meeting. Ask: “What is the downside case for gold over my retirement horizon?”, “What allocation range is too aggressive?”, and “What would make you say gold is not a fit for me?”

You can see how Augusta describes the education conference here: web conference prep (nofollow). If the rep avoids these questions and pivots straight to premium coins, slow down.

(Augusta Precious Metals review posted on Business Consumer Alliance)

(Full BBB reviews: Better Business Bureau)

Ready to see Augusta’s current offer and kit?

If Augusta sounds like a fit, request the kit and go into the call with a written question list (fees, spreads, storage type, and buyback process).

Request Augusta’s kit + webinar

FAQ

See Issues With This Review? Contact us.

We aim to keep reviews current, but fees, promos, and custodial relationships can change. If you spot something outdated (or you’re a company rep with updated documentation), please contact us.