About

The Gold IRA Desk exists to do for retirement-age readers what most "best Gold IRA" lists fail to do — score the companies on what actually matters when you are within ten years of [Required Minimum Distributions](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b).

The author

Marcus Sterling spent two decades analyzing retirement plans at a mid-size pension consulting firm in Chicago — most of it spent stress-testing the plans of clients who already had a 401(k), an IRA or two, and at least one "alternative investment" pitched at a steak dinner. Half of those steak-dinner deals had problems by the time they reached the desk.

In 2024, Marcus stepped out of consulting to write what he would tell his own family if they asked. The Gold IRA industry turned out to be full of contradictions: companies with A+ BBB ratings and 30% premiums on proof coins, "home storage" schemes the Tax Court had already rejected, custodians charging $200/year for the same paperwork another charged $80 for. Most reviews online were paid promotions disguised as journalism.

This site exists to do what he wished existed when his own clients asked. Every claim has a citation. Every company gets the same rubric. Fee schedules are read, not summarized.

What this site is, and is not

The Gold IRA Desk publishes independent research — comparisons, reviews, and explainers — on Gold IRA companies, self-directed IRA custodians, IRS rules under [Pub. 590-A](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590a) and [Pub. 590-B](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b), and the broader precious-metals retirement category.

This is not financial advice. Marcus is an independent researcher — not a licensed financial advisor, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), or broker-dealer. Nothing on this site is a personalized recommendation. Always consult a fiduciary advisor and your tax professional before opening, rolling over, or liquidating a retirement account.

How we make money

Some of the links on this site (clearly marked as "sponsored" in the link attributes) lead to companies we have an affiliate relationship with. If a reader opens an account or requests an information kit through one of those links, we may receive a referral commission — at no additional cost to the reader.

Our editorial process is independent. We do not change ratings, rankings, or verdicts based on commission rates. We review companies we have no affiliate relationship with using the same scoring rubric. Sponsored placements, if accepted, are clearly labeled. Read the full methodology and affiliate disclosure.

Contact

Email: via contact form
Editorial corrections, source disputes, and fact-check requests welcome at the same address.