Although Orion Metal Exchange got its start in 2017, it’s already established itself among the best gold IRA companies. The Los Angeles-based Orion makes investing in a gold IRA easy with its online ordering system and zero setup or transfer fees. In this guide, we’ll examine the strengths, weaknesses and standout features Orion Metal Exchange has to offer.
Best for Low Fees
With Orion, you can expect to pay zero dollars in setup or transfer fees. Orion charges $175 a year for storage and insurance costs for most gold IRAs but you may qualify for a free year when you invest at least $10,000.
Orion charges a flat rate, meaning the amount you pay won’t increase as you accumulate more precious metals. By contrast, other services may charge hundreds of dollars a year in annual fees. You may also have to pay a setup or rollover fee when creating an account with a competitor.
Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Pros and Cons
Pros explained
Orion’s strengths lie in its low fees, flexible arrangements, online ordering system, low minimum investment threshold and fee-free buyback policy.
No transfer fees or account setup fees
Orion doesn’t charge the one-time account setup fee that other gold IRA companies do. You also won’t have to pay anything if you transfer your gold IRA from another provider.
Investors can choose their depository and custodian
Your gold IRA custodian is responsible for setting up and managing your account. The IRS subjects precious metal IRAs to more stringent rules than regular IRAs and custodians are there to ensure that these rules are adhered to. While you can designate Orion as your custodian, you are not obligated to do so.
Similarly, IRS rules state that you cannot store your gold IRA in your home. You must keep your precious metals in a depository that meets specific regulatory requirements. Orion can help you find a depository that meets your needs. It doesn’t require that you use one of its preferred depositories.
Online ordering available
If you want to buy gold in an IRA, many companies require that you order over the phone. Orion bucks this trend by letting its buyers order directly through its website. You can view the latest precious metal prices straight from the Orion website.
Lower-than-average minimum investment of $10,000
Some gold IRA providers ask that you make an initial investment of $25,000 or more. With Orion, you can start with an initial investment of just $10,000 when rolling over an existing IRA. If you’re starting a new IRA, the minimum contribution limit is the maximum annual contribution allowable by law — $6,000 (or $7,000 for those aged 50 and older.)
Advertises a fee-free buyback policy
You can choose to take your IRA distributions in one of two ways. The first involves Orion sending your precious metals to your house through the mail. In this scenario, you’d be free to seek out a buyer, store it in a home safe or do whatever else you’d like with it.
Alternatively, you can sell your gold back to Orion, which is known as a buyback program. Many people with gold IRAs prefer this method because it’s more convenient. Orion doesn’t charge any fees for its buyback program. Choosing a fee-free buyback policy minimizes unnecessary fees that would reduce your investment.
Cons explained
Orion isn’t without its drawbacks, such as not being able to set up an account online and having to pay an annual storage fee.
Must call to open an account
While it’s possible for account holders to order new gold shipments online, you must first talk over the phone with an Orion representative to open your account. Although it’s inconvenient, this isn’t an entirely bad thing. As we mentioned previously, gold IRAs are subject to complex rules. By opening your account over the phone, you can ask any questions and clear any doubts you may have.
Charges an annual storage fee
Like most gold IRA companies, Orion charges an annual fee to store your gold or other precious metals. IRS rules prevent you from storing your gold at home, meaning you must use an approved storage facility. These fees can eat into your investment returns.
Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Offerings
In this section, we’ll explore the different investment choices offered by Orion Metal Exchange.
Self-directed precious metal IRA
Technically speaking, all of the following offerings will be nested within a self-directed IRA (SDIRA). Self-directed IRAs differ from conventional IRAs because you can hold alternative investment types like precious metals, cryptocurrencies and real estate. You may hear these terms:
Precious metals IRA
Gold IRA
Silver IRA
In a sense, all three are the same thing. Precious metals IRA companies may use the terms gold IRA or silver IRA to distinguish their offerings. However, you can hold multiple types of precious metals within a single IRA. You won’t have to open up a separate IRA for your gold and your silver holdings. IRA-eligible metals include:
Gold
Silver
Platinum
Palladium
Metals for investment must meet certain purity thresholds and may be subject to other special rules. Not all precious metals IRAs offer all four types. Some companies only sell gold and silver, for example.
Additionally, gold IRA companies cannot offer investment advice for self-directed IRAs. That’s where the self-directed part comes in: As the owner of your SDIRA, it’s up to you to do your own research regarding your investments.
Gold coins and bars
Orion Metal Exchange lets you purchase from a range of gold coins and bars. You can choose from the following options:
Gold American Eagle
Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
Gold Great Britain Queens Beast
Gold Rose Crown Guinea
2017 Gold Royal Canadian Mint Grizzly Bear
2016 Gold Royal Canadian Mint Snow Falcon
2015 Gold Royal Canadian Mint Polar Bear & Cub
2014 Gold Royal Canadian Mint Arctic Fox
2013 Gold Royal Canadian Mint Polar Bear
U.S. Gold Commemorative $5 coins
U.S. Gold Commemorative $10 coins
IRA Approved Gold Bars
Both the Gold American Eagle and the Gold Canadian Maple Leaf come in four different sizes, including one-tenth, one-quarter, one-half and one-ounce weights. Additionally, you may purchase brilliant uncirculated (BU) or proofs of the Gold American Eagle. The size and type of gold bars for purchase fluctuate and are based on availability.
Silver coins and bars
You’ll find a similar array of silver coins and bars available for purchase through Orion with just a few differences. Here’s the full list of its current offerings:
Silver American Eagle
Silver America The Beautiful
Silver Canadian Maple Leaf
2013 Silver Royal Canadian Mint Polar Bear
2014 Silver Royal Canadian Mint Arctic Fox
2015 Silver Royal Canadian Mint Polar Bear & Cub
2016 Silver Royal Canadian Mint Snow Falcon
2017 Silver Royal Canadian Mint Grizzly Bear
Silver Royal Canadian Mint Bison
Silver Rose Crown Guinea
2020 Silver Great Britain Spade Guinea Coin
IRA Approved Silver Bars
Unlike its gold offerings, you can only purchase Silver American Eagles and Silver Canadian Maple Leafs in one-ounce increments. However, you can choose Silver American Eagles from proof, burnished and BU conditions. The other coins are only offered in BU condition. Similar to its gold offerings, the size and type of silver bars vary.
Platinum coins and bars
Orion provides a wide selection of platinum coins and bars. These include:
Platinum American Eagle
Platinum Canadian Maple Leaf
2020 Platinum Striped Marlin
2019 Platinum Bottlenose Dolphin
2019 Platinum Humpback Whale
2018 Platinum Emperor Penguin
Platinum War of 1812
2021 Platinum Rose Crown Guinea
Platinum Australian Phoenix
IRA Approved Platinum Bars
You can purchase the Platinum American Eagle coins in proof or BU condition. You also have the choice of buying the Platinum Canadian Maple Leaf coins and the Platinum American Eagle coins in one-tenth, one-quarter, one-half and one-ounce weights. The size and type of platinum bars for purchase depend on availability.
Palladium coins and bars
Your choices of palladium coins and bars are far more limited. With palladium, you’re limited to the following choices:
Palladium Maple Leaf
Palladium American Eagle
IRA Approved Palladium Bars
Both the Maple Leaf and American Eagle coins are only available in one-ounce increments. The size and type of palladium for purchase depend on availability.
Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Pricing
Orion charges low storage fees. In addition, you won’t have to pay any setup and rollover fees and may get your storage fees waived for the first year with a large initial investment.
Orion lists its prices directly on its website, which bucks the trend of other gold IRA companies that only disclose their current prices over the phone.
Additionally, because Orion buys its precious metals in bulk, it can offer below-average prices for coins and bars.
Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Financial Stability
None of the three major credit rating agencies have reviewed Orion Metal Exchange, nor has the company made its financial reports publicly available.
Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Accessibility
Orion compares favorably with many of its peers when it comes to accessibility. You’ll need to set up your account over the phone, but once you have an account, you can purchase precious metals from Orion online. Orion is available to residents of all 50 states.
Availability
You can set up an account and purchase precious metals from anywhere in the United States, but customers need to have earned income to contribute to a gold IRA account.
Contact Information
You can contact Orion in the following ways:
Phone: You can reach an Orion representative at 1-800-559-0088 PT between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Email: Send Orion an email at support@orionmetalexchange.com
Regular mail: Write Orion a letter at 12301 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 412, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA
User experience
Online reviews are generally favorable, with some customers reporting they were able to set up their gold IRA account in less than 15 minutes. Once the account is created, you can easily purchase precious metals and manage your portfolio online or over the phone.
Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Customer Satisfaction
Orion Metal Exchange holds a 5/5 rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with 51 reviews. Reviews note Orion’s friendly and professional sales staff, who provide helpful advice and guidance, and a quick and easy setup process.
How We Evaluated Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA
When evaluating Orion Metal Exchange’s gold IRA, we looked at the following features:
Customer satisfaction
Products offered
Prices
Fees
Ease of use
Accessibility
Availability
Summary of Money’s Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Review
Orion Metal Exchange offers a wide array of products at competitive prices and with few fees. Its notable features include a low initial order of $10,000 when rolling over an existing IRA and the maximum annual contribution amount when starting a new IRA, purchasing precious metals online, picking your depository and custodian, and its fee-free buyback program. Orion also offers transparent pricing, which you can view online before you buy. Many of its competitors will ask that you call in for their current metal prices.
Drawbacks to using Orion’s services include its annual storage fees and lack of an online setup feature. However, it’s important to note that many gold IRA companies will ask you to set up your service over the phone and that most gold IRA depositories require users to pay an annual storage fee.
