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)
TSP → 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 TSP administrator
After separating from federal service, you can roll your full TSP balance to a Gold IRA tax-free via a direct transfer. While employed, TSP rollovers are restricted to age-based withdrawals (after 59½) and hardship distributions.
- 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 TSP rule
Submitting TSP-99 paperwork without a receiving custodian ready
Once TSP-99 is filed, you have a tight window to receive funds into your Gold IRA. Open and fund the receiving Gold IRA account FIRST, then file TSP-99 — not the other way around.
Key restriction: TSP-to-Gold-IRA rollovers are only available after separation from federal service, reaching age 59½, or qualifying for a hardship distribution. Active-duty military have additional restrictions documented in TSP Bulletin 12-13.
1970 TSP Limits & Tax Treatment
Recommended next step
Get Augusta's free TSP 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 TSP 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
TSP → 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