Augusta Precious Metals
Our featured pick for gold and silver IRAs, with education-first guidance, lifetime account support, and a transparent approach to pricing.
Get a free gold IRA guideA gold IRA custodian is the IRS-approved trust company or bank that legally holds your self-directed retirement account. The custodian does not sell you metal or give investment advice. Instead it handles the account paperwork, processes your rollover or contribution, directs funds to your chosen dealer, and files the reporting the IRS requires.
Every compliant gold IRA needs one, because the law does not let you hold IRA metal yourself. The 7 firms here, including Equity Trust Company, STRATA Trust Company, and The Entrust Group, specialize in self-directed accounts that can hold alternative assets like physical metal. They differ in their fee schedules, the depositories they work with, their online account tools, and how quickly they process transactions.
Since custodian fees vary and are usually billed as annual account charges, ask for the full schedule in writing, and check which depositories a custodian supports before you choose, so storage and administration fit together cleanly.
Compare these companies
Augusta Precious Metals
Our featured pick for gold and silver IRAs, with education-first guidance, lifetime account support, and transparent pricing.
View profileEquity Trust Company
Equity Trust Company is a Westlake, Ohio self-directed IRA custodian that holds and administers precious metals and other alternative-asset retirement
View profileGoldStar Trust Company
GoldStar Trust Company is an Amarillo, Texas self-directed IRA custodian and a subsidiary of Centennial Bank. It suits investors who want a bank-backe
View profileInspira Financial (formerly Millennium Trust)
Inspira Financial, formerly Millennium Trust Company, is an Oak Brook, Illinois custodian that administers self-directed and precious metals retiremen
View profileKingdom Trust (Choice)
Kingdom Trust is a Murray, Kentucky self-directed IRA custodian now operating under the Choice brand. It suits investors who want a custodian to hold
View profileNew Direction Trust Company
New Direction Trust Company is a Louisville, Colorado self-directed IRA custodian that holds and administers precious metals and other alternative-ass
View profileSTRATA Trust Company
STRATA Trust Company is a Waco, Texas self-directed IRA custodian that administers precious metals and other alternative-asset retirement accounts. It
View profileThe Entrust Group
The Entrust Group is an Oakland, California self-directed IRA administrator and custodian for precious metals and other alternative assets. It suits i
View profileFrequently asked questions
What does a gold IRA custodian do?
A custodian administers your self-directed IRA, holds the account on your behalf, processes contributions and rollovers, sends funds to your dealer, and files required reports with the IRS.
Is the custodian the same as the dealer or the depository?
No. The dealer sells the metal, the depository stores it, and the custodian administers the account. A single company may coordinate all three, but the roles are distinct.
Can I choose my own custodian?
Often yes. Some dealers require a specific custodian, but many let you pick from several approved trust companies, so you can compare fees and service before committing.
How are custodian fees structured?
Most custodians charge a setup fee and a recurring annual account fee, sometimes flat and sometimes scaled to account value. Ask for the complete schedule in writing.
What the rules say
A gold IRA custodian is the approved trustee that legally holds the account. The IRS requires IRA assets to be held by such a trustee, as explained in its rules for individual retirement arrangements, and the custodian is separate from the dealer that sells the metal. Custodian fees are typically flat and quoted up front.
