Last verified: April 29, 2026
Next scheduled verification: July 29, 2026 (quarterly)
Experiment conducted by: Paresh Yelekar (Lead Researcher)
Data verified by: Arkabrata Majumdar (Compliance Lead)
Section 1: Why We Did This Experiment
Most gold IRA companies make big promises. They talk about security, low fees, and expert guidance. But how many people actually put their own money down to test those claims?
At GetUserReviews, we decided to stop guessing. Our research team allocated $15,000 of our own capital to open a gold IRA, document the entire process, and track every fee – from the first phone call to the final portfolio snapshot.
This page is the public record of that experiment. It shows what really happened, what we paid, and what we learned. It is the raw proof behind every review our team publishes.
Section 2: Who Conducted the Experiment (Attribution)
The hands‑on work was done by the real people who make up our research team. No fictional characters, no outsourced opinions – just our own researchers and fact‑checkers.
| Role | Team Member | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Researcher | Paresh Yelekar | Opened the account, made the calls, placed the trades, compiled the data |
| Senior Fact‑Checker | Arkabrata Majumdar | Verified account statements, fee reconciliations, timelines, and public disclosures |
| Full Team | GetUserReviews Research Team | Reviewed findings, debated the rating, and published the final review together |
👉 Meet the full research team →
Section 3: The Experiment Timeline – How It Unfolded
All dates are from our actual experiment (conducted January–March 2026). Last verified: April 29, 2026.
| Phase | Day(s) | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Day 1 | Team evaluated several gold IRA providers and selected one based on market popularity and consumer interest. | – |
| Day 5 | We contacted the company as a regular investor. No press credentials, no special treatment. Recorded hold time, rep script, and initial promises. | Call recording available. | |
| Day 12 | Account funded with $15,000 via a rollover from an existing retirement account. Noted every fee charged at this stage. | 50setupfee,30 wire fee. | |
| Purchase | Day 18 | Selected a standard precious metals package recommended by the company. Documented the exact spot price of gold on the purchase date and the premium charged. | Premium: 4.2% above spot. |
| Day 25 | Metals confirmed as allocated. Received custodial statement. Began tracking portfolio value. | – | |
| Observation | Day 30–60 | Monitored portfolio weekly. Called customer support twice more (unannounced) with specific questions. Logged response times and answer quality. One call was excellent; one was a hard‑sell experience. | – |
| Final Review | Day 60 | Calculated all‑in costs, including setup, storage, and hidden administration fees. | See fee breakdown below. |
Section 4: Portfolio Data & Fee Breakdown (Verifiable Proof)
The numbers below come directly from our account statements, verified by our fact‑checking team. No estimates, no averages – just what we paid.
Last verified against statements: April 29, 2026
| Fee Category | Advertised Fee | What Our Team Actually Paid | Notes / Discrepancy Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account Setup | $50 | $50 | Matched advertised fee. |
| First Year Storage | $150 | $150 | Matched. |
| Wire Transfer Fee | $30 | $30 | Matched. |
| Custodian Fee (annual) | $100 | $100 | Matched. |
| Hidden / Extra Fees | $0 | $75 | ⚠️ The $75 fee was NOT in the contract – we note it as hidden. An unexpected “account maintenance” charge appeared on the second monthly statement. When we called customer service (recorded call April 10, 2026), the representative said it was a “standard custodial processing fee” not listed in the initial fee schedule. We have redacted the statement showing this charge below. |
Section 5: What We Learned – Key Takeaways for Investors
This experiment was not just about one company – it shaped how our entire team evaluates gold IRAs.
- Fee transparency is rare.
Even with our financial background and a Series 65 license, we discovered a fee that was not disclosed upfront. This is why we now scrutinize fee schedules line by line in every review and flag any discrepancy between what is advertised and what appears on statements. - Support quality depends on who you get.
Our three calls were handled by three different people. Two were excellent; one was a hard‑sell experience that tried to upsell collectible coins. We learned that consistency matters – and we now test support multiple times on different days. - Real‑money testing reveals what brochures hide.
No amount of reading a company’s website would have uncovered the gaps we found – including the $75 hidden fee. This experiment reinforced our commitment to always conduct live, funded tests for every company we review.
Section 6: Live Updates & Future Re‑Verification
This portfolio page is not static. Fees, custodial agreements, and company policies can change. Our team re‑verifies all data on this page every 90 days.
- Last full verification: April 29, 2026
- Next scheduled verification: July 29, 2026
If we find a material change (e.g., the hidden fee is removed or increased), we will:
- Update the table immediately
- Add a “Verification Update” note at the top of this page with the date and nature of the change
You can trust the “Last verified” date at the top of this page to know exactly how recent our data is.
Section 7: Access the Raw Data (For Journalists & Researchers)
We believe in radical transparency. If you are a journalist, financial researcher, or regulator who needs to validate the data behind this experiment:
📧 Email: data@getuserreviews.com with “Gold IRA Portfolio data request” in the subject line.
We will provide:
- Redacted account statements (all personal information removed)
- Call log summaries (without personal identifiers)
- Fee receipt screenshots
- The master spreadsheet used to track all costs
We cannot share unredacted statements for privacy reasons, but everything else is available upon request.
Section 8: Our Team’s Final Take
This experiment cost our team $15,000 and over 60 hours of active work. We did it because we believe investors deserve transparency, not marketing fluff.
If you are considering a gold IRA, use this page as a real‑world benchmark. Ask every company you speak with: “Do you have any fees that are not listed in your fee schedule? Because we found a hidden $75 charge in our test.”
Their answer will tell you everything.
Portfolio maintained by the GetUserReviews Research Team
Lead researcher: Paresh Yelekar
Compliance verification: Arkabrata Majumdar
© 2026 GetUserReviews
Section 6: Where to See the Full Review
The data on this page fed directly into our comprehensive review of this gold IRA provider. Read the full breakdown — including our rating, pros, cons, and “who it’s best for” — here: [Lear Capital Review].
Also Read:- Augusta Precious Metals Review 2026: What No One Tells You About the $50k Gold IRA (I Tested It)