Last updated: April 29, 2026
Next scheduled review: July 29, 2026 (quarterly)
Process owner: Paresh Yelekar (Lead Investment Researcher)
Compliance verified by: Arkabrata Majumdar (Senior Fact‑Checker & Compliance Lead)
Table of Contents
- Section 1: The Question We Hear Most Often
- Section 2: The Core Principles That Guide Every Review
- Section 3: The 12‑Step Testing Methodology (Our Proprietary Framework)
- Section 4: Our Rating Scale Explained
- Section 5: Tools We Use (Verifiable)
- Section 6: Example Output – How Our Process Translates into a Published Review
- Section 7: Who Actually Conducts These Tests?
- Section 8: Your Guarantee & Public Verification
- Section 9: Process Updates & Change Log
Section 1: The Question We Hear Most Often
“How do you actually test these companies?”
It is a fair question – and we love answering it. Most gold IRA reviews on the internet are just rewritten marketing brochures. Our team decided a long time ago that was not good enough.
At GetUserReviews, we do not theorize. We do not rely on third‑party anecdotes. And we definitely do not accept a company’s own claims at face value.
Every review published on GetUserReviews follows a rigorous, standardized process designed by our research team and vetted by our compliance lead. It is the same process whether we are testing Lear Capital, Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals, or any other provider.
Here is exactly how it works.
Section 2: The Core Principles That Guide Every Review
Before we even open an account, our team operates on four non‑negotiable principles:
| Principle | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Real Money, Real Accounts | We use our own research budget to open live accounts. No demos. No hypotheticals. |
| Unbiased from Start to Finish | We do not accept free products, paid placements, or “priority” treatment. Our ratings are set before any affiliate link is ever considered. |
| Full Documentation | Every call is recorded (where legally permissible), every fee is logged, and every timeline is tracked in a master spreadsheet. |
| Team Verification | No single person’s experience becomes a review. Our lead researcher executes the test, a fact‑checker verifies every claim, and an editor ensures clarity and accuracy. |
Section 3: The 12‑Step Testing Methodology (Our Proprietary Framework)
Our research team follows a repeatable 12‑step framework for every gold IRA company we evaluate. Below is the complete checklist.
Phase 1: Pre‑Test Research (Steps 1–4)
| Step | Action | Responsible | Tools / Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Documentation Review – Collect all publicly available fee schedules, IRA custodian agreements, and disclosure documents from the company’s website. | Paresh Yelekar | Company website, PDF downloads |
| 2 | Regulatory & Complaint Check – Scrub BBB, Trustpilot, CFTC, SEC, and state‑level records for outstanding complaints, lawsuits, or regulatory actions. | Arkabrata Majumdar | BBB.org, CFTC.gov, SEC Edgar |
| 3 | Determine Test Budget – Set a testing budget (typically 10,000–25,000) based on the company’s minimum IRA requirement. Open a new IRA account strictly following the company’s advertised process. | Paresh Yelekar | Personal capital from research budget |
| 4 | Baseline Documentation – Screenshot every page of the sign‑up process, including any pre‑checked boxes for add‑on services. | Paresh Yelekar | Screen capture (Snagit / Lightshot) |
Phase 2: Active Testing (Steps 5–9)
| Step | Action | Responsible | Tools / Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Unscripted Customer Interaction – Contact the company’s support team multiple times (phone, email, chat) as a typical investor. Document hold times, clarity of answers, upselling pressure, and callback promises. | Paresh Yelekar | Call recorder (Cube ACR / TapeACall), email archive, chat logs |
| 6 | Account Setup & Funding – Fund the account and select metals according to the company’s recommendations. Record every fee that appears: setup fees, wire fees, storage fees, and any unexpected charges. | Paresh Yelekar | Bank statements, IRA custodian portal |
| 7 | Education & Guidance Assessment – Evaluate the educational materials provided. Are they genuinely helpful, or a disguised sales pitch? Note whether the company pushes non‑IRA collectible coins. | Paresh Yelekar | Company’s webinars, PDFs, one‑on‑one calls |
| 8 | Transaction Execution (Buy) – Place a buy order for specific metals. Track how quickly and accurately the order is executed. Compare the quoted price to the final invoice. | Paresh Yelekar | Trade confirmations, account statements |
| 9 | Transaction Execution (Sell / Distribution) – Initiate a sell order or partial distribution to test the full lifecycle. Record buyback spread, processing time, and any exit fees. | Paresh Yelekar | Sell confirmations, bank deposit timing |
Phase 3: Analysis & Publication (Steps 10–12)
| Step | Action | Responsible | Tools / Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Data Compilation & Hidden Fee Audit – Compile all call logs, fee data, timelines, and screenshots into a master dataset. Reconcile actual costs against the advertised fee schedule. Any discrepancy is flagged and, if necessary, directly investigated with the company. | Paresh Yelekar | Master spreadsheet (Google Sheets / Excel) |
| 11 | Peer Fact‑Check – A second team member (Senior Fact‑Checker) independently verifies every dollar figure, date, and claim against the raw data. No claim is published unless confirmed by two people. | Arkabrata Majumdar | Independent access to all raw records |
| 12 | Rating & Publication – Apply our standardized rating scale (see Section 4). Write the final review, have it edited for clarity, and publish on GetUserReviews. | Paresh Yelekar & Editor | WordPress (or CMS) with editorial workflow |
Section 4: Our Rating Scale Explained
We use a 1–10 scale for each of four categories: Transparency, Fees, Customer Service, and Overall Value.
| Score Range | Label | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 9–10 | Excellent | Exceeded expectations. No unexpected fees, stellar service, fast transactions. |
| 7–8 | Good | Solid performance with minor drawbacks. Recommended for most investors. |
| 5–6 | Average | Functional but unremarkable. May have hidden fees or slow support. |
| 3–4 | Poor | Significant issues – aggressive upselling, unexpected fees, or poor communication. |
| 1–2 | Avoid | Major red flags. We cannot recommend under any circumstances. |
How the final score is calculated:
Each category is scored by the lead researcher. The fact‑checker may adjust a score if the raw data does not support it. The two scores are averaged. If there is a discrepancy of more than 1.5 points, the team discusses and re‑examines the data. The final score is then locked before any affiliate link is added to the page.
Section 5: Tools We Use (Verifiable)
Our process relies on specific, named tools. Every tool is commercially available – no “secret sauce.”
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Google Sheets (or Excel) | Master data tracker for all fees, dates, call logs |
| Cube ACR / TapeACall | Call recording (where legal; we always comply with one‑party consent laws) |
| Snagit / Lightshot | Screen capture of sign‑up pages and fee disclosures |
| BBB.org, CFTC.gov, SEC Edgar | Third‑party complaint and regulatory verification |
| WordPress editorial workflow | Internal review and approval before publication |
Section 6: Example Output – How Our Process Translates into a Published Review
Below is a real example from our Lear Capital review (published April 2026). The raw data behind this paragraph was collected during Step 8 and verified in Step 11.
“During our 15,000test,LearCapitalquoteda50 setup fee and a 225annualstoragefee.However,afterfundingtheaccount,a75 ‘transaction processing fee’ appeared on our statement – a charge not mentioned in any pre‑sale disclosure. When we called customer service (call recorded on April 10, 2026), the representative stated it was a ‘standard custodial processing fee.’ We have redacted the statement available for verification.”
You can see the full raw data (redacted statements, fee table, timeline) in our Gold IRA Portfolio page or request access via data@getuserreviews.com.
Section 7: Who Actually Conducts These Tests?
Our reviews are the work of our research team. The hands‑on work is done by real humans:
- Paresh Yelekar – Lead Investment Researcher
Opens every account, interacts with customer service, compiles raw test data. Series 65 licensed. - Arkabrata Majumdar – Senior Fact‑Checker & Compliance Lead
Independently verifies every fee, timeline, and claim before publication. MBA in Finance, former Fortune 500 auditor. - Editor (in‑house, name available upon request)
Ensures the review is clear, honest, and actionable for the reader.
Section 8: Your Guarantee & Public Verification
If you ever have a question about our process or want to see the raw data behind a test, contact us. Our team reads every message.
What you can expect from every GetUserReviews rating:
- ✅ Real money was risked by our team.
- ✅ Real fees were paid and tracked.
- ✅ No company saw the review before publication.
- ✅ No rating was influenced by affiliate relationships.
For journalists, researchers, or regulators:
Email data@getuserreviews.com to request redacted account statements, call logs, or fee receipts. We will provide everything we can while respecting privacy.
Section 9: Process Updates & Change Log
This process is not static. We improve it as we learn.
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| April 29, 2026 | First complete public documentation of 12‑step process. Added tools list and example output. |
| (Future) | Any significant change to methodology will be noted here with a date. |
Next full process review: July 29, 2026
Reviewed and approved by:
- Paresh Yelekar (Lead Researcher)
- Arkabrata Majumdar (Compliance Lead)
Maintained by the GetUserReviews Research Team
Last updated: April 29, 2026