Quick Answer
#1 Recommended
Augusta Precious Metals
$100k+ savers wanting white-glove service and education-first onboarding
- ✓Lifetime customer support assigned account rep
- ✓Zero high-pressure sales tactics — Harvard-educated economist on staff
- ✓Rated #1 by Money Magazine, Investopedia, and Forbes 4 years running
Honest limitation: $50,000 minimum rules out smaller starter accounts — not the right fit if you have under $50k in retirement savings.
Get the Free Guide$50,000 minimum · ★ 5 (1,100+ reviews)
#2 Recommended
Birch Gold Group
Accounts under $100k that need an accessible entry point with strong education
- ✓$10,000 minimum — lowest of the major brands
- ✓Over 13,000 customers served since 2003
- ✓Endorsed by Ben Shapiro, Steve Bannon, and other public figures
Honest limitation: Sales process is more transactional than Augusta — fewer high-touch hand-holding sessions for first-timers.
Send Me the Free Kit$10,000 minimum · ★ 4.8 (1,400+ reviews)
403(b) → Gold IRA: The 5-Step Process
- 1
Open a self-directed Gold IRA
Choose a Gold IRA custodian (Augusta or Birch in most cases). They handle the paperwork to establish a Traditional, Roth, or SEP self-directed IRA depending on your source account type.
- 2
Request the rollover from your 403(b) administrator
Direct rollovers from a 403(b) to a Gold IRA are tax-free when handled custodian-to-custodian. After separation from service, you can roll over the full balance with no plan restrictions.
- 3
Fund settles in 7–14 days
The receiving Gold IRA custodian confirms receipt. Throughout this period your money is in cash inside the new IRA — no market exposure.
- 4
Select IRS-approved metals
Gold must be ≥99.5% pure (American Gold Eagles are explicitly allowed). Silver ≥99.9%. Your account rep walks you through allocation between gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
- 5
Metals ship to an approved depository
Bullion goes directly from the dealer to an IRS-approved depository — most commonly Delaware Depository or the Texas Bullion Depository. You receive a confirmation statement within ~5 business days.
⚠ Critical 403(b) rule
Including unvested employer match in your rollover request
You can only roll over vested funds. Unvested employer contributions remain with the plan if you separate before fully vesting. Confirm your vested balance with your plan administrator before initiating a transfer.
Key restriction: While still employed, 403(b) in-service rollovers are restricted to specific events: age 59½, hardship, or plan-allowed in-service distributions. Most plans permit a partial rollover after 59½.
1970 403(b) Limits & Tax Treatment
Recommended next step
Get Augusta's free 403(b) rollover kit
Free educational kit + 1-on-1 web conference with Augusta's Harvard-trained economist. No obligation.
Get the Free GuideTop Gold IRA Companies for 403(b) Rollovers
| Rank | Provider | Min | BBB | Best For | Get Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Augusta Precious Metals ★ 5 · 13 yrs | $50,000 | A+ | $100k+ savers wanting white-glove service and education-first onboarding | Free Kit |
| #2 | Birch Gold Group ★ 4.8 · 22 yrs | $10,000 | A+ | Accounts under $100k that need an accessible entry point with strong education | Free Kit |
| #3 | Goldco ★ 4.8 · 19 yrs | $25,000 | A+ | Mid-range investors who value fast setup and the up-to-10% free silver promotion | — |
| #4 | American Hartford Gold ★ 4.9 · 10 yrs | $10,000 | A+ | Cost-sensitive savers under $100k who want low fees and an easy online setup | — |
| #5 | Advantage Gold ★ 4.9 · 12 yrs | $5,000 | A+ | Beginners — $5,000 minimum is the lowest of any major Gold IRA company | — |
Rankings reflect editorial review of BBB rating, minimum, fees, customer reviews, and time in business. Last updated April 2026.
Helpful Tools Before You Rollover
403(b) → Gold IRA FAQs
Sources & References
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements
- IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements
- IRC § 408(d)(3) — Rollover contributions
- IRS Notice 2014-54 — Allocation of pre-tax and after-tax amounts in rollovers
- Bobrow v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2014-21 — One-rollover-per-12-months rule
Recommended next step
Get Augusta's free 2026 Gold IRA Guide
Free educational kit + 1-on-1 web conference with Augusta's Harvard-trained economist. No obligation.
Get the Free Guide