Lear Capital at a Glance

Overview

Lear Capital is a trusted name in the precious metals investment space, with over 25 years of experience. Since its founding, Lear Capital has served over 90,000 clients and facilitated more than $3 billion in precious metals transactions.

Lear Capital lets you invest in precious metals in two ways. Either purchase physical gold, silver, and platinum assets (which it then delivers directly to your home), or open a precious metals IRA to integrate these assets into your retirement portfolio. Both options include personalized support from dedicated account representatives to ensure a smooth and seamless experience.

Who Is Lear Capital Suitable For?

Lear Capital is ideal for investors looking for a trusted company with a long history of expertise in precious metals. Its outstanding reputation is reflected in an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and glowing customer reviews on Trustpilot and Google, where it boasts star ratings of 4.8 and 4.7 out of five, respectively.

Lear Capital might also appeal if you’re a beginner precious metals investor. The company provides comprehensive educational resources on its website, plus expert guidance to help you confidently navigate the world of precious metals investments and make informed investment decisions.

Terms and Costs

A minimum IRA investment amount is a common requirement in the precious metals industry, with some companies setting this at $10,000. Lear Capital does not disclose its own minimums—to get precise information, it's best to contact the company directly.

Lear Capital charges a total of $305 for the 1st year to cover the setup and maintenance of your IRA account. From the 2nd year onward, you’ll pay an annual fee of $220, which covers storage, insurance, and round-the-clock online account access.

Note that these fees are dependent on choosing non-segregated storage and electronic statements when setting up your account. According to Lear, the fees may be higher if you choose a different option.

You may get a waiver on setup and storage fees on your IRA account, depending on how much you put into it:

• $25,000-$50,000: No fees for the first year (Lear Capital will reimburse you with a check after the 1st month in storage).
• $50,000-$75,000: No fees for the 1st and 2nd year
• $75,000+: No fees for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years
• > $10,000: Lear Capital covers your $50 setup fee.

Note that these fee waivers apply to Limited Mintage coins only (not any other product).

I like that Lear Capital provides pricing details alongside most of its product offerings (with only a few exceptions). This is a feature I haven’t seen much in this industry—many dealers require you to contact them directly for pricing information.

How To Get Started

Investing in precious metals with Lear Capital is straightforward. Here are the key steps.

1. Complete the online form: Visit Lear Capital’s website and fill out a short online form with basic details like your name, address, phone number, and email address.

2. Connect with a personal representative: After submitting the form, a customer representative will contact you to discuss your goals and answer any questions you might have.

3. Set up the IRA: The representative helps you create a self-directed precious metals IRA account, including completing the necessary paperwork. The setup process typically takes about 10 minutes. If all goes well, your account should be up and running in 24 hours.

4. Fund your account: Fund your IRA by making a direct contribution, or transferring or rolling over funds from an existing retirement plan, such as a traditional IRA or a 401(k). Your representative will assist with this step, including filing any necessary paperwork and even making any required calls.

Note that rollovers or transfers may take up to five business days to complete, depending on your current custodian. Eligible retirement accounts for rollovers and transfers include Simple, Roth, or SEP IRAs, 401(k)s, 457(b)s, 403(b)s, pension plans, and Thrift Savings Plans.

5. Choose your metals: Select from Lear Capital’s range of IRA-eligible gold, silver, or other precious metals to add to your account. Among the coins and bars on offer, notable options include American Gold Eagle, Gold Australian Kangaroo, American Eagle Silver, Canadian Silver Maple, Platinum American Eagle, and Platinum Canadian Maple Leaf.

6. Take advantage of Lear’s price match guarantee: This is where I think the company truly stands out from its peers. After you’ve made your selection, Lear Capital will issue you an invoice. However, you don’t have to finalize the purchase immediately and have up to 24 hours to check if you could have found a better deal elsewhere. If you do, Lear Capital will try to beat or match it. If it can’t, you can cancel the transaction at no cost.

7. Storage: Once your purchase is confirmed, Lear Capital will arrange for your assets to be securely stored in an IRS-approved depository. The company primarily uses the Delaware Depository, which is one of the most respected and trusted names in the industry. Lear states that each client account at this depository is 100% insured for the full value of the precious metals stored.

Customer Support

Lear Capital provides customer support through the following channels:

• Phone: 855-212-6656, available Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm, ET.
• Email: customercare@learcapital.com
• Fax: 1-310-571-0194

In addition, Lear Capital’s website features a wealth of learning materials, including a free precious metals investor kit, blog articles, market news and insights, precious metal price charts, and FAQs. These resources can help you better understand the precious metals market and make informed investment decisions.

Users on review sites like Trustpilot report that Lear Capital's customer service team is generally easy to reach. Many also commend the helpfulness and professionalism of the support staff, noting that agents are both thoughtful and thorough in answering questions and solving issues.

Conclusion

Lear Capital provides a streamlined, customer-centric service for people looking to invest in precious metals. It offers a wide selection of high-quality gold, silver, and platinum bars and coins to suit different investment preferences. Each step of your investment journey comes with personalized guidance from experts. Additionally, Lear Capital provides extensive educational resources on its website to help you make better-informed investment decisions.

Methodology

I compiled this review using information from the Lear Capital website and customer feedback on review sites like Trustpilot.