Is Lear Capital legit?
Verified through BBB rating, time in business, customer review volume, and public-record complaints. See the rating panel above for current standing.
Quick Answer
Our verdict on Lear Capital: Lear Capital earns 4.0/5 stars and is our #7 recommendation. Best for customers who specifically want a long-established brand with the widest metal selection. Past CFPB settlement (2022) is worth noting before committing.
Lear Capital
4.0- Founded
- 1997
- Headquarters
- Los Angeles, CA
- Employees
- 100+
- Endorsed by
- Long-term industry presence
- Custodians
- Equity Trust
- Processing time
- 7–14 business days
What makes Lear Capital different
Lear Capital has been in the precious metals business since 1997 — 28+ years. They offer the widest metal selection of any Gold IRA provider (gold, silver, platinum, palladium across many forms) and provide free Lear Advantage Online portfolio tracking. The 2022 CFPB settlement over disclosure practices is now resolved but should factor into any decision.
Our scoring breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Fee transparency | 3.5 |
| Customer service | 4.0 |
| Educational resources | 4.0 |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8 |
| Minimum accessibility | 5.0 |
| Rollover support | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Fees & costs
Setup
Varies (request quote)
Annual custodian
~$100/year
Annual storage
~$150/year
Seller premium
Varies — request quote at purchase
All-in approx.
Request full quote
Storage location
Delaware Depository or Brink's
At $100,000: Approximately $250/year — 0.25% of portfolio (request full quote).
At $250,000: ~$250/year — 0.10% of portfolio.
Pros
- Founded 1997 — 28+ years in the precious metals business (longest of any reviewed)
- Widest selection across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Free Lear Advantage Online portfolio tracking
- $10,000 minimum is among the lowest
- A+ BBB rating
Cons
- Past CFPB settlement (2022) over disclosure practices — now resolved but worth knowing
- Some customer complaints about fees and sales practices in older reviews
- Website and onboarding less polished than newer competitors like AHG
- Trustpilot rating (4.8) is actually high but customer-base is older
Who it's best for
Lear Capital is best for customers who specifically want a long-established brand and the widest possible metal selection (including platinum and palladium). The Lear Advantage Online tracking tool is a unique offering for hands-on investors.
When to consider an alternative
Consider Augusta or Birch for a cleaner reputation history (no past CFPB issues), American Hartford Gold for the lowest fees, or Advantage Gold for an even lower $5k minimum.
Lear Capital vs. the competition
Lear Capital vs. Augusta Precious Metals
Winner: Augusta on cleaner recordAugusta has zero documented sales-practice issues. Lear's 2022 CFPB matter is now resolved but still on the public record.
Lear Capital vs. Birch Gold Group
Winner: Birch on cleaner record; Lear on metal varietyBoth A+ BBB and $10k minimum. Birch's reputation is cleaner; Lear offers more metals.
Lear Capital vs. American Hartford Gold
Winner: AHG on fees and techAHG charges $0 setup and offers a more modern dashboard. Lear has 18 more years of history.
Customer reviews
Lear Capital scores 4.8/5 on Trustpilot across 1,100+ reviews.
What customers praise
- +Customers who chose Lear specifically for platinum/palladium variety were satisfied
- +Online tracking tool praised by hands-on investors
- +Older customers value the 28-year operating history
Common criticisms
- −Past CFPB settlement still surfaces in customer due-diligence conversations
- −Fee structure less transparent than newer competitors
Frequently Asked Questions
People Also Ask About Lear Capital
Quick answers to the adjacent questions 1970 retirement savers ask alongside this one.
Lear Capital minimum investment?
Listed in the top spec card on this page. Minimums are set by the custodian and refresh quarterly.
Lear Capital fees vs. competitors?
Compare against Augusta and Birch in the comparison table below. Flat fees beat tiered fees on accounts $100k+.
Free fee calculator →Lear Capital customer reviews — where to find legitimate ones?
BBB.org for complaint volume, Trustpilot for verified review count, Google Reviews for sentiment, and Money.com / Forbes / CNBC Select for editorial coverage.
Can I roll my 401(k) to Lear Capital?
Yes — Lear Capital handles direct trustee-to-trustee transfers from any qualified plan (401(k), 403(b), TSP, Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, pension lump sum).
Lear Capital BBB rating?
Listed in the rating panel above. A+ is the standard for top-tier providers; anything lower deserves additional scrutiny.
Lear Capital complaints?
Volume and resolution rate visible at BBB.org/{company}. Top-tier providers typically run under 10 unresolved complaints over the trailing 3 years.
Lear Capital buyback program?
Most top-tier providers offer a buyback at or near spot when you liquidate metals from the IRA. Confirm spread (bid-ask difference) before committing.
Better Gold IRA companies than Lear Capital?
Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group lead our editorial rankings overall. The "best" depends on portfolio size — see comparison below.
Lear Capital for first-time Gold IRA buyers?
Look for 1-on-1 onboarding, no-pressure educational kits, and a dedicated account rep through the lifetime of the account. Top-tier providers all offer these.
Key Terms & Related Concepts
The vocabulary every Gold IRA decision touches — IRS regulations, custody, tax treatment, and adjacent retirement concepts.
- Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA)
- An IRA structured to hold alternative assets including precious metals. Same federal contribution limits as a regular IRA but the custodian permits a wider asset menu.
- Custodian
- An IRS-approved trust company that holds title to your IRA assets. Required for every Gold IRA — you can't be your own custodian.
- Depository
- An IRS-approved facility that physically stores your Gold IRA bullion. Most common: Delaware Depository, Brink's, Texas Bullion Depository.
- Trustee-to-trustee transfer
- Direct movement of funds from one IRA custodian to another with no check made payable to you — tax-free and unlimited under IRC § 408(d)(3).
- IRC § 408(m)(3)
- The federal statute that permits IRAs to hold gold (≥99.5% pure), silver (≥99.9%), platinum, and palladium meeting purity requirements.
- Spot price
- The live market price for one troy ounce of pure gold or silver. IRA-grade coins typically trade 3–8% above spot to cover minting and dealer margin.
- SECURE 2.0 Act (2022)
- Federal law that raised RMD age to 73 (rising to 75 in 2033), tightened beneficiary 10-year drain rules, and added Roth catch-up requirements for high earners.
- Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
- The annual amount you must withdraw from a Traditional Gold IRA starting at age 73 under SECURE 2.0. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs. Free RMD calculator →
- 60-day rollover rule
- If you take physical receipt of retirement funds, you have 60 days to deposit them into a qualifying IRA or owe income tax + 10% penalty under 59½.
- 5-year Roth rule
- Earnings on a Roth Gold IRA are tax-free only if 5 tax years have passed since your first Roth contribution AND you're 59½+. Conversions have a separate 5-year clock.
- In-kind distribution
- Taking physical possession of your Gold IRA bullion as a distribution. Taxed as ordinary income at fair market value on the distribution date.
- Backdoor Roth
- Strategy for high earners above Roth income limits — contribute to a Traditional IRA (non-deductible) then convert to Roth. Available for Gold IRAs too.
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