Our scores come from public data only. We apply the same method to every company we rate, including companies that do not pay us.
What we score
- 40% of the score
- Reputation
- 25% of the score
- Account minimum
- 20% of the score
- Fees disclosed
- 15% of the score
- Choice of metals
- Reputation: the company's BBB grade and its Trustpilot score.
- Account minimum: how much you need to open an IRA with them. Lower scores better.
- Fees disclosed: whether setup and yearly fees are published or provided in writing.
- Choice of metals: gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
When data is missing
We never guess. If a company does not publish enough data for a fair score, we list it as "not yet rated" until it does.
"Best for" labels
Labels such as "Highest score" or "Lowest minimum" follow from the data. We do not hand-pick them.
How often we re-check
We re-check every company's figures at least once a quarter, and whenever a company tells us something has changed. Each rating shows the date it was last checked.
How we get paid
Some companies we rate pay us when readers click through or become customers. That can affect which companies we cover and where they appear on our site. It never changes the score.
