American Bullion Review: Is This Gold IRA Company Worth Your Hard-Earned Money?

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Last Updated on: 18th December 2023, 04:19 pm

American Bullion
American Bullion - byJack Choros, April 1, 2011
4/ 5stars
on
American Bullion
Review Summary :

Founded in 2009, American Bullion has grown to become one of the most popular bullion dealers, and Gold IRA companies in the United States. They are especially known for Precious Metals IRA rollovers. The company’s inventory caters to investment products that are eligible to be held in Precious Metals IRAs. Gold, silver, palladium, and platinum products are present in the catalog. Strangely, there is no online catalog on the company's website. Additionally, no pricing for any of the products is available on the website. American Bullion has an exclusive partnership with Delaware Depository. Custodial services are provided by STRATA Trust Company.

Pros:

  • Longevity in the industry
  • Substantial educational resources section
  • Provides secure storage with Delaware Depository
  • Segregated or non-segregated storage options

Cons:

  • Some negative reviews and complaints
  • Higher premium on exclusive coins
Quick Facts about American Bullion
Year Founded:2009
Company Headquarters:Los Angeles, California
Annual Fees:$75-$290
Supports 401(k)?:Yes
Supports Roth IRA?:Yes
Crypto Offered?:No
Assets Offered:Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
Offers Other Assets?:No
Custodian:Delaware Depository
Current Promotion:$0 fees for the first year
Supports Home Storage?:No
International Storage?:No
Segregated Storage?:Yes
Preferred Storage Location:Delaware
Preferred Storage Vault:Delaware Depository/STRATA
Reviewed By:Jack Choros
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Company Info and Background

American Bullion (www.americanbullion.com) is a precious metals investment firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Since 2009, the company has focused on providing customers with bullion products that can be held in Precious Metals IRAs, or added to portfolios. Additionally, American Bullion offers customer assistance with establishing self-directed IRAs via its partnership with STRATA Trust Company.

The company’s inventory consists of a selection of IRA-approved coins and bars. Moreover, there are some numismatic coins available for collectors. Silver, gold, palladium, and platinum products are all available in the American Bullion catalog.

Moreover, American Bullion’s website has a comprehensive “Resources” section offering a plethora of information on topics about precious metals investment. In addition, the company offers several free investment guides including one on precious metals and another on Precious Metals IRAs.

American Bullion Ratings and Complaints

Below we offer a diverse selection of ratings and complaints pertaining to American Bullion from trusted consumer reporting and rating agencies sites. Simply click on the links provided to study the reviews in greater detail.

  • BBB Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (“A+” and 5 Star Rating based on 1 Customer Reviews)
  • BBB Complaints: 1 complaint closed in the last 3 years (Details)
  • BCA: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (“AAA” and 5 Star Rating based on 8 Customer Review)
  • BCA Complaints: 0 complaints closed in last 3 years
  • Trustpilot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.8 Star Rating based on 194 Customer Reviews)
  • TrustLink: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Star Rating based on 57 Customer Reviews)
  • Facebook: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.3 Star Rating based on 271 Reviews & 40,000+ “Likes”)

American Bullion Management Team

Nevtan Akcora – Co-founder and President

Nevtan Akcora has a background as a commodity market trader. He co-founded American Bullion in 2009 and holds the position of company president.

American Bullion Custodians and Storage

Secure storage of bullion purchased through American Bullion is provided by the Delaware Depository. The company’s Wilmington, Delaware facility contains Class 3 vaults and state-of-the-art security protocols. The company states the following:

“American Bullion uses IRS-approved Delaware Depository – a renowned site that carries a $1 billion all-risk insurance policy through Lloyd’s of London. This location uses state-of-the-art inventory control and reporting systems, dedicated security staff, and video recording of all activity around the clock. You can physically view your investment at any time, and the location is located far from major political and financial centers to minimize risk.”

American Bullion has a preferred partnership with STRATA Trust Company.

American Bullion Prices and Fees

American Bullion has partnered exclusively with STRATA Trust Company for custodial services.

STRATA Trust Company

  • $50 account set-up fee
  • $95 annual account maintenance fee
  • $150 for segregated precious metals storage/$100 for non-segregated precious metals storage

Moreover, the company has incentivized potential customers with an offer of free storage and no custodial account fees for one year – the caveat being that you must invest, rollover, or transfer a minimum of $50,000 into your new Gold IRA account.

American Bullion Products

Before buying anything, understand the difference between the different types of IRA-eligible coins out there (e.g. bullion, proof, uncirculated, etc are NOT the same). 

American Bullion’s inventory largely caters to investment products that are eligible to be held in self-directed IRAs. Yet, the company does also state that it carries “all U.S and European Pre-1933 coins”, so numismatic coins that would be of interest to collectors. 

That being said, curiously American Bullion does not provide an online catalog of its available products. However, the company’s website does stipulate that gold, silver, palladium, and platinum coins and bars are all available items. Potential customers must directly contact the company for available inventory and pricing.

American Bullion IRA-Approved Gold Bullion 

  • Gold American Eagle
  • American Gold Buffalo
  • Gold Canadian Maple Leaf

Additionally, gold bars are also available in the American Bullion inventory.

  • PAMP Suisse Gold Bar
  • UBS Gold Bar
  • Credit Suisse Gold Bar

American Bullion IRA-Approved Silver Bullion Coins

  • Silver Austrian Philharmonic
  • Silver Canadian Maple Leaf
  • Silver American Eagle

Additionally, silver bars are also available in the inventory.

  • PAMP Suisse Silver Bar
  • Johnson Matthey Silver Bar

American Bullion IRA-Approved Platinum Bullion Coins

  • Platinum American Eagle
  •  Platinum Canadian Maple Leaf

There is also one available platinum bar in the catalog.

  • PAMP Suisse Platinum Bar

American Bullion IRA-Approved Palladium Bullion Coin

  • Palladium Canadian Maple Leaf

Additionally, for those interested American Bullion offers one palladium bar.

  • PAMP Suisse Palladium Bar

Premium Coins vs Standard Bullion Coins – Understanding the Difference

With so many IRS-compatible coins available, investors may find the selection a bit overwhelming. Yet, before making any decisions about which coins to hold in your gold IRA, it’s essential to understand the difference between premium coins and standard bullion coins.

Premium Coins

Even though premium coins have the same purity as standard bullion coins, these types of coins are usually sold at a markup (at times in excess of 25%) by many companies. This is due to the fact that premium coins are part of a limited circulation series issued by specific mints. Consequently, these premium coins are regarded as semi-numismatic.

Standard Bullion Coins

Standard bullion coins such as the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Austrian Philharmonic, and the American Eagle make great investment choices if you want the most gold for your money. These types of coins are  99.99% pure, but because they are not part of any collectible series with a limited circulation, they are sold at a much lower price point than premium coins. Investing in standard bullion coins can be part of a diversified retirement strategy.

Below is a comparison chart to give you a better understanding of the available types of coins.

BullionProof & Uncirculated coinsCollectibles/Numismatics
IRA Eligible?YesSomeNo
Highest Purity Level?YesYesNo
Limited Edition and/or Scarcity Factor?NoYesYes
High Finishing Quality & Detail?*NoYesSome
Easy to Sell/Liquidate AnywhereYesNoNo
Premium Over Spot When Buying?LowMediumHigh
What you can expect to sell them for?Close to spot price. Usually no or little premium.Spot price + premium based on rarity/age/demand for your coinsSpot price (if they contain some precious metals) + premium based on rarity/age/demand and other factors
Where can you sell them?Anywhere, since these bullion coins are recognized and trusted worldwide. However they'll probably only give you spot price. Anywhere, but original dealer would likely be the best place if you want to recoup premium. Others might only give you spot price. Ebay is also a good option if you have rare and highly sought after coins.Antique stores, coin shops, collectors' markets, eBay.

American Bullion Sign-Up Process

American Bullion provides a seamless sign-up process via its preferred IRA custodian, STRATA Trust Company. The company’s website provides a link to a PDF for STRATA’s IRA Custodial Account Application, which can be conveniently filled out.

Thereafter, one of American Bullion’s precious metals specialists reviews the application, then contacts the prospective client once the application has been approved by STRATA Trust Company.

American Bullion Website

American Bullion Educational Resources

As previously mentioned, American Bullion has a comprehensive “Resources” section offering a plethora of information on topics about precious metals investment. There are extensive educational resources, including a complete online guide to Gold IRAs, online investment guides, online retirement planning guides, an FAQ section, and a Gold IRA blog.

American Bullion Free Gold Buyers Guide

In keeping with American Bullion’s objective to educate customers about Gold IRAs, the company offers a free Gold Buyers Guide. Potential clients are prompted to fill out the online form, then said guide will be mailed to your home. Some of the topics covered in the guide include:

  • A brief overview of historical gold values and trends
  • An explanation of the process for a Gold IRA rollover
  • Types of retirement accounts
  •  An overview of precious metals products eligible to be held in a Gold IRA
Source: American Bullion website

American Bullion Gold IRA Blog

American Bullion has an extensive blog on its website offering an astounding 83 pages of content in total. Articles are posted regularly meaning that the subject matter covered is topical. 

The most recent posts include the winner for the 2021 American Bullion Scholarship winner, inflation, precious metals investment, and the fluctuating price of cryptocurrencies.

Source: American Bullion website

American Bullion Scholarship Program

In 2014, American Bullion launched a Scholarship Program, in step with its objective to educate the public about precious metals assets. A $1,000 scholarship is awarded every year and is chosen by an American Bullion executive team. The deadline for 2023 applications was October 31, 2023. However, keep up to date on 2024's scholarship availability by visting American Bullion's website.

The company’s website outlines the scholarship rules as follows:

  • Applicant must be a currently enrolled, full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university within the United States. Winners will be asked to provide a valid student ID, transcript, or other proof of enrollment before receiving their winnings. This scholarship is not open to graduate students or high school students entering college.
  • Applicant must be a legal resident of the United States or hold a valid U.S. student visa.
  • Scholarship essay must be a minimum of 500 words, maximum of 1,000 words.
  • One submission per person, per year.
  • Applications that fail to meet the above requirements will be disregarded.

Winners will have their name and essay featured on the American Bullion website and social media pages.

A graphic from American Bullion, promoting their scholarship fund.
Source: American Bullion

American Bullion Contact Information

  • Address: 12301 Wilshire Blvd #305, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1022
  • Phone: 800-465-3472
  • Email: info@americanbullion.com
  • Website: www.americanbullion.com

American Bullion Review Conclusion: Is This Service Worth It?

Overall, American Bullion’s primary objective is educating the public about all facets of Gold IRAs and providing customers with a good selection of gold, silver, palladium, and platinum investment products. The company’s preferred partnership with STRATA Trust Company for custodial services provides customers with peace of mind, given that this is one of the most trusted IRA custodians in the industry. Likewise, American Bullion’s exclusive partnership with world-renowned Delaware Depository offers the utmost state-of-the-art secure storage of precious metals. 

Despite not providing an online catalog of available inventory, nor any transparency regarding prices, in general, American Bullion could be a good option for retirement savers looking to invest in a Gold IRA.

Review All IRA Options Before Investing

We recommend that you contact at least 2-3 different companies before making an investment decision. Do your due diligence and speak to your financial advisor to determine what allocation of your portfolio you want to dedicate to precious metals. Gold and other precious metals don't pay dividends and aren't as easy to liquidate as stocks and bonds. Make sure you fully understand the pros and cons of this asset class. Precious metals are an insurance policy against a collapse of the dollar and dollar-bound assets like stocks, bonds, and real estate.

American Bullion
American Bullion - byJack Choros, April 1, 2011
4/ 5stars
on
American Bullion
Review Summary :

Founded in 2009, American Bullion has grown to become one of the most popular bullion dealers, and Gold IRA companies in the United States. They are especially known for Precious Metals IRA rollovers. The company’s inventory caters to investment products that are eligible to be held in Precious Metals IRAs. Gold, silver, palladium, and platinum products are present in the catalog. Strangely, there is no online catalog on the company's website. Additionally, no pricing for any of the products is available on the website. American Bullion has an exclusive partnership with Delaware Depository. Custodial services are provided by STRATA Trust Company.

Have you purchased products from American Bullion? Leave a review!

Leave your rating

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Jack Choros
Jack Choros

Jack Choros is a content writer with a passion for content marketing, finance, and technology. He has extensive experience working for tech startups in the blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and Web3 space.

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FTC Disclosure: We are an independent blog that aims at providing useful information for retirement account owners interested in alternative assets like precious metals. However, our content does NOT constitute financial advice. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, the data quoted on this website represents past performance and does not guarantee future results.

 

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