This review is focused on Hard Assets Alliance and how to choose the right custodian for buying precious metals, and storing them in your self-directed IRA!
About Hard Assets Alliance
Hard Assets Alliance is an association of various investment research firms and news providers to help investors and prospective clients to become better investors.
The company was formed in 2012 by a group of trusted independent financial researchers who believe that every investor should hold physical precious metals for both capital preservation and capital gains.
This is a statement that I really live by. It's so important to diversify your retirement portfolio with precious metals, so I definitely stand by this companies statement.
With more than 35 years in the investment world, the Alliance founders are uniquely positioned to facilitate the needs of the average investor.
There are over 60 members in the Alliance today, which includes Casey Research, Eagle Publishing, Oxford Club, StreetWise Reports, and many more. The Alliance offers precious metals such as gold and silver through SmartMetals, an innovative system that allows investors to buy, sell and store their own precious metals.
Choosing the right custodian is probably the most important decision you'll make when rolling over your IRA or 401(k) to precious metals. I my viewpoint to cut right to the chase here, and for that reason I do reccomend Advantage Gold over any other precious metals custodian.
Head over here to view the detailed review I've written on several precious metals custodians and how to identify the right one for you based on your goals!
The SmartMetals as I've already mentioned allows investors and clients to buy gold in all of the available markets in the Alliance. It also allows users to buy silver in the US, Singapore and Australia, platinum in the US, Zurich, and Singapore, as well as palladium in the US, only.
Hard Assets Alliance offers a wide variety of weights in both bars and coins. However, coins are only available in Melbourne, Zurich, Singapore, New York, and Salt Lake City.
The Alliance offers many kinds of accounts, such as individual, joint, corporate, partnership, and sole proprietorship. They even offer LLCs, trusts, UTMA accounts, and even IRA accounts for retirees.
The company is a full-service precious metals company, which makes it easy for investors to move their funds from existing IRAs into Hard Assets Alliance IRA. All clients must make and fund a SmartMetals account, which is like an online brokerage account. Add and withdraw funds any time online, even in multiple markets around the world. Investors may choose to leave their funds in the account, without any rush to buy metals. Applications for new accounts are typically approved within 48 hours.
Flexibility is the Alliance’s strongest factor, because of its international storage and delivery options. Prices are very competitive. Also, Hard Assets Alliance offers a monthly specific purchase of gold or silver service called the MetalStream. This allows your account to monthly purchase gold or silver bars for investments.
The company also allows clients and investors to sell from their SmartMetals account. Money is delivered through your core account, within usually around 2 full business days. Prices are locked in upon execution by the dealer network.
Hard Assets Alliance also advocate for a better IRA that is backed by gold and other precious metals. A self-directed precious metals IRA would give you the freedom to invest in various gold, silver, palladium and platinum products. You are in control of your decisions, making it very attractive for soon-to-be retirees.
Hard Assets Alliance Reviews, Ratings, & Complaints
Most reviews online about the Hard Assets Alliance are positive. The website itself offers a lot of information about investing into gold and silver. Likewise, the company is backed up by Gold Bullion International (GBI) LLC in New York City.
Most investors commend the use of real people offering real customer service.
Likewise, others like the idea of six different vault locations all over the world, making their investments even more secure. Most reviews say that Hard Assets Alliance is different, mainly because investors have more options for secured and fully-insured storage places.
Final Thoughts
On paper, it seems like Hard Assets Alliance is a good company to go with, however I would urge you to do your due diligence with any Precious Metals IRA Custodian before diving in head first.
The Hard Assets Alliance offers a truly innovative way for investors like us to have a full range of options when it comes to managing the precious metals component of our investment portfolios, but like I've mentioned before I'm going to hedge my bets with the friendly professionals over at Advantage Gold as our readers have had huge success with this custodian!
