GoldenCrest Metals review

What GoldenCrest Metals is and who it suits

GoldenCrest Metals is a precious metals dealer in Calabasas, California, founded by Rich Jacoby. It helps savers move money from an IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or the federal Thrift Savings Plan into physical gold and silver held in a self-directed IRA, and it also sells gold and silver for direct purchase.¹ The IRA side runs through two outside partners: Entrust Group as custodian and Delaware Depository for storage.¹

The company suits people who already have a sizeable retirement balance and want part of it in physical bullion, with one contact person who handles the paperwork. With a $25,000 minimum for an IRA and $10,000 for a cash purchase, it is not built for small or occasional buyers.² As with any metals dealer, the price you pay includes a markup over the spot price, so it pays to compare written quotes before you commit.⁸

Key facts

Company background

According to its BBB file, GoldenCrest Metals LLC started business on 18 November 2023 and has been BBB accredited since 12 January 2024; the file lists Rich Jacoby as CEO and owner.⁵ The company says its team brings more than 20 years of combined experience in precious metals, and that every client keeps one specialist from the first call to delivery.¹

GoldenCrest markets itself heavily through talk radio, podcasts and well-known hosts. Its own site discloses that Ben Shapiro, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, AJ Gentile and Kevin Harrington are paid endorsers, that the radio show Striking Gold with Kenny Michaels is sponsored by the company, and that the media logos on its pages show where it has appeared or advertised rather than any endorsement by those outlets.¹ That disclosure is more explicit than many competitors offer, but it also means endorsements should not be read as independent recommendations.

Gold and silver IRAs and direct purchases

The core product is a self-directed IRA that holds physical metal instead of funds or shares. Money moves from an existing IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or TSP by direct transfer or rollover to an account at Entrust Group, the metals are bought through GoldenCrest, and they are shipped insured to Delaware Depository in the account holder's name.³ GoldenCrest says it sticks to widely traded, IRA-eligible bullion and avoids private-label or collector coins, which are harder to resell.²

The IRS does not allow IRAs to hold collectibles such as coins in general; certain precious metals are allowed only if they meet specific requirements.¹⁰ Choosing a dealer that limits itself to eligible bullion therefore matters, and the final say on eligibility and reporting sits with the custodian. For buyers who do not want an IRA, GoldenCrest also sells gold and silver for direct purchase from $10,000, delivered or stored.²

Fees, premiums and promotions

GoldenCrest explains the cost of a gold IRA in three layers: the dealer's premium over the live spot price, built into the price of each coin or bar; the custodian's one-time setup fee and annual administration fee; and the depository's annual storage fee.² As typical industry ranges it names about $0 to $100 for setup, $75 to $300 a year for administration, $100 to $150 a year for commingled storage and $25 to $30 per wire transfer.² It does not publish its own premiums; prices are quoted in writing before you commit, and the company advertises a lowest price guarantee.²

Two terms stand out. GoldenCrest charges no fee when it buys metals back from a client.² On qualifying accounts it also advertises up to 10 years of free storage and up to $25,000 in free silver.² Its disclaimer adds an important counterweight: because of the premium and the gap between buying and selling prices, metals are generally worth less right after purchase than the price you paid, and any repurchase happens at the buyer's then-current bid price.⁴

Custody and storage

GoldenCrest itself does not hold client assets. The IRA is administered by Entrust Group, which reports to the IRS, and the metals are stored and insured at Delaware Depository.^1,3 Entrust and Delaware Depository bill their own fees, which GoldenCrest says it discloses before an account is funded.²

Regulators stress why this split matters: once money sits in a self-directed IRA, there is no built-in adviser oversight, and the CFTC and FINRA warn that some fraudulent dealers have charged storage fees for metal that never existed.⁸ Having a named, independent custodian and depository, with statements in your own name, is the safeguard here.

Ratings, reviews and complaints

On 2 November 2026 the BBB showed GoldenCrest Metals with an A rating, accreditation since January 2024, eight customer reviews and one complaint in the past three years.⁵ Trustpilot showed a TrustScore of 4.3 from 17 reviews, with 94% five-star ratings and one one-star review; Trustpilot notes that the company has not invited customers recently, so the reviews may not be representative.⁶

The single negative Trustpilot review describes follow-up calls despite a no-pressure promise and an unanswered request for a written breakdown of premiums and buyback spreads.⁶ The company's own reviews page quotes selected five-star reviews from Trustpilot, the BBB and Google.⁷ With a track record of about two years and a small number of reviews, the reputation picture is positive but still thin.

Risks to keep in mind

GoldenCrest's disclaimer is clear that precious metals involve risk, including the loss of money invested, that prices can be volatile, and that the company is a dealer, not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer or IRA custodian, and does not give investment, tax or legal advice.⁴ Holding metals in a self-directed IRA also brings custodian and storage fees and IRS rules on contributions, distributions and prohibited transactions.⁴

The CFTC and FINRA recommend asking for the spot price, the dealer's buy and sell prices, and all fees and commissions in writing before paying, and treating any refusal to provide them as a red flag.^8,9

How getting started works

GoldenCrest describes opening a gold or silver IRA in four steps; the account itself is opened with Entrust Group.³

1. Book a free consultation with a GoldenCrest specialist about eligibility, IRS rules and timing.³
2. Start a transfer or rollover from an existing IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or TSP into a self-directed IRA at Entrust Group; GoldenCrest handles the paperwork.³
3. Ask for the metal prices, premiums and all custodian and storage fees in writing, then choose IRS-eligible bullion.^2,8
4. Approve the order in writing; the metals ship insured to Delaware Depository in your name, and most accounts are funded in about 10 business days.^1,3
5. Check the custodian and depository statements to confirm the metals and holdings match your order.⁸

Prices, terms and availability change and can differ by country or state. Check the current terms on GoldenCrest Metals's own website before you buy.

Pros and cons

GoldenCrest Metals FAQ

Sources

1. GoldenCrest Metals – About GoldenCrest (checked 2 November 2026)
2. GoldenCrest Metals – Gold IRA fees and minimums (checked 2 November 2026)
3. GoldenCrest Metals – How to open a gold and silver IRA
4. GoldenCrest Metals – Disclaimer
5. BBB – GoldenCrest Metals LLC business profile (checked 2 November 2026)
6. Trustpilot – GoldenCrest Metals reviews (checked 2 November 2026)
7. GoldenCrest Metals – Client reviews page
8. CFTC and FINRA – 10 Things to Ask Before Buying Physical Gold, Silver, or Other Metals
9. FINRA – Investor bulletin on buying physical gold or other metals
10. IRS – Retirement plan investments FAQs (collectibles and precious metals)

This review is general information, not professional advice. It is an editorial assessment based on GoldenCrest Metals's published prices, terms and help pages and on public sources, checked on 2 November 2026. We did not buy or test the service ourselves. Prices, terms and availability change and differ by country or state, so check the current terms before you buy.