Equity Trust Review: Precious Metals IRA Fees, Storage Options, Complaints, Pros and Cons (2026: All 4 Fee Schedules)

Equity Trust charges $285 a year for a precious metals IRA with segregated storage on its metals-only fee schedule, as of September 29, 2026. Open the same kind of account directly, on its Universal IRA, and the bill is $660 a year at $50,000. So the first question is not what Equity Trust charges, but which of its four fee schedules you are on. A fee schedule is the company's price list, with a form number and a revision date.

A gold IRA custodian is the trust company that legally holds your IRA, pays the dealer and sends your statements. Equity Trust is one of the gold IRA custodians SafeOunce checks against their own fee schedules, charters and court files. This review prices all four schedules at $50,000 and $250,000, then lists the exit fees and the five vaults. It also covers the charter, the owner, the complaint and court record, the arbitration clause and who Equity Trust suits. It covers Equity Trust Company of Westlake, Ohio (trustetc.com), not Equitable, Gabelli Equity Trust or Equity Trust Escrow.

The 14 facts below come from Equity Trust's fee schedules, state and federal records and review sites, each dated.

Our Equity Trust Verdict: Cheap Through a Gold Company, Costly on Its Own#

Equity Trust is a legitimate, state-regulated custodian with one of the lowest published metals prices, but its direct schedule costs two to four times more at $50,000 to $250,000. Its contract also limits your options. South Dakota has chartered it as a trust company since March 1, 2003. The SEC's case against it ended in a dismissal on June 27, 2016.

The low price is real. Its metals-only schedule lists no purchase fee and bills a flat $285 at any balance, which gets cheaper as a share of the account as it grows. On the direct Universal IRA, the same account costs $660 a year at $50,000 and $1,160 at $250,000 (as of September 29, 2026).

What should you confirm before a gold company opens an Equity Trust account for you? Confirm three things. First, get the schedule name and revision code on your application. Second, get the exit fees in writing: $280 to sell and close, or up to $375 plus shipping to move the metal. Third, decide whether to send the arbitration opt-out within 65 days of opening.

Look elsewhere if you would open the account yourself for metals only, or if slow exits worry you. This Equity Trust review found 139 BBB complaints closed in three years, against 9 for STRATA and 3 for GoldStar (September 29, 2026). Most unhappy reviewers write about the cost and speed of leaving.

Equity Trust Fees in 2026: Which of the 4 Fee Schedules You Pay#

Equity Trust charges a precious metals IRA $125 a year plus $110 or $160 for storage on its metals-only schedule. Its two scaled retail schedules charge $225 to $2,500 a year plus storage, and a fourth schedule covers institutional accounts. Which one you pay depends on how the account was opened. The annual maintenance fee is the yearly account charge, and the storage fee is the yearly vault charge that Equity Trust bills for the vault.

The table lists Equity Trust's four fee schedules and who each one is for, read September 29, 2026.

These are custodian fees only; the dealer's markup is separate and appears on no schedule. Equity Trust does not publish which customer lands on which schedule. Ask Equity Trust or the dealer to name the schedule and its revision code in writing. Equity Trust's metals-only price sits at the low end of published gold IRA custodian fees, where every custodian is compared.

The precious metals only fee schedule, line by line#

Equity Trust's precious metals only schedule (FS-0004-05, Rev. 081726) charges $50 to open, $125 a year, and $160 or $110 a year for storage. Liquidation means selling metal inside the IRA. An in-kind distribution means taking the coins themselves out of the IRA.

The table lists every fee on the metals-only schedule, read September 29, 2026.

The footnotes add two rules. "Account maintenance fees are not prorated", so a part year costs a full year. Storage fees "may be assessed by each depository utilized", as the Universal IRA schedule words it. In plain English: metal kept in two vaults can mean two storage fees, so ask before you split your holdings.

Universal IRA and legacy retail: scaled fees based on account value#

Equity Trust's direct Universal IRA charges $350 a year under $50,000, rising in steps to $2,500 at $1,000,000 or more, before storage. This is a value-based fee: a fee that rises with the account's value. Both scaled schedules work this way, while the metals-only schedule stays flat.

The table shows the yearly fee by account value on the two scaled schedules, read September 29, 2026.

The fee follows the year-end value. Equity Trust's billing page sets it on the value "as of last business day of year". Which structure costs less at your balance is worked out on flat vs scaled gold IRA fees.

The Universal IRA costs $50 to open online or $75 on paper. It charges $10 per asset for a metals sale (up to $30) and $50 per in-kind transaction. An optional "Gold Level Service Membership" costs $249 a year. Rev. 110625 is the version Equity Trust's link served on September 29, 2026, and a newer revision may exist.

Why the same custodian charges different prices#

Equity Trust prices by channel: the flat schedule it offers to precious metals dealers' clients costs far less than its direct retail schedule, which rises with account value. Its page for dealers makes the pitch plainly: "Your IRA investors will appreciate the flat fee schedules offered, including a flat fee for storage, regardless of account value."

At $250,000 the difference is $875 a year: $285 against $1,160. Even the institutional Flex schedule prices by "NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS BY REPRESENTATIVE". A Flex account under $50,000 costs $260 a year when its representative has 4 to 24 accounts, but $210 at 100 to 499 accounts.

The flat schedule rewards larger accounts. The same $285 is 0.57% of $50,000 but only 0.11% of $250,000.

How Equity Trust bills: January, not prorated, and late fees#

Equity Trust bills the yearly fee when the account opens and again each January, and it does not prorate it. Storage starts when the metal reaches the vault and also renews each January. So a December start pays twice within about four weeks.

Equity Trust's fee FAQ says 2025 fees were due March 27, 2026. After the due date, it tries the cash in the account or the card on file. Its billing page lists a $50 late fee, "up to two late fees per year, not to exceed $100.00".

SafeOunce suggestion: if you can, let the metal settle in January rather than in December. The yearly fee then covers close to a full year of service.

What an Equity Trust Gold IRA Costs at $50,000 and $250,000#

An Equity Trust gold IRA with segregated storage costs $285 a year at $50,000 or $250,000 on the metals-only schedule, against $660 and $1,160 on the direct Universal IRA. The gap grows with the balance, because only the direct schedules rise with value.

The table shows the yearly custodian and storage cost on each schedule, as of September 29, 2026.

The table adds setup and a sell-and-close exit over 10 years, with the balance held flat.

Run your own balance and years in the gold IRA fee calculator.

The yearly gap between the metals-only and Universal schedules is $375 at $50,000 and $875 at $250,000. Over 10 years, the direct route at $250,000 costs almost four times as much. The legacy schedule sits between the two, and only accounts that match its wording pay it.

The dealer's markup is the larger cost, and it sits on no custodian schedule. A markup is the dealer's charge above the metal's value. A 10% markup on $50,000 of metal is $5,000 on day one, more than 17 years of the $285 fee.

What $285 a year means in ounces of gold#

At the LBMA gold price of $4,144.55 on September 28, 2026, Equity Trust's $285 yearly fee equals 0.069 ounces of gold, or about 0.69 ounces over 10 years. That price is the LBMA PM benchmark, held flat for this example. On the Universal IRA at $50,000, the $660 yearly cost equals 0.159 ounces a year, or about 1.59 ounces over 10 years. The fee is fixed in dollars, so it costs fewer ounces when gold rises and more when it falls. SafeOunce recomputes these figures with the price on the day of publication.

When "fees paid" offers cover Equity Trust fees#

A gold company's offer to pay three years of Equity Trust fees is worth $905 with segregated storage, or $755 without, on the metals-only schedule. Year one costs more because it includes the $50 setup fee.

The table values a "fees paid" offer on the metals-only schedule, before any exit fees.

Two sellers tie offers to Equity Trust. U.S. Money Reserve's "Fees for Life" pays up to $300 a year at Equity Trust. It needs a $200,000 minimum rollover (effective April 1, 2026) and at least 60% proof coins. Augusta's FAQ (September 23, 2026) says "Every account also receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta." It states no conditions, and this is the company's own claim.

What offers like fees paid for life are worth against the markup is on our fee-waiver guide.

Equity Trust Exit Fees: Selling, Switching Custodians and Closing#

Closing an Equity Trust metals IRA by selling costs $280 ($30 per sale plus the $250 termination fee) on the metals-only schedule. Moving the metal itself to another custodian is listed at $125 per transfer, plus shipping, and the $250 termination fee may also apply. A trustee-to-trustee transfer means one custodian sends the IRA straight to the next. It is not a rollover, so it has no 60-day clock (IRS Publication 590-A).

The table lists what each way out costs on the metals-only schedule, read September 29, 2026.

The schedule lists both the $125 transfer-out fee and the $250 termination fee. It does not say whether both apply to one full exit in kind. Ask Equity Trust for a written quote of your exit fees before you start.

These exit fees sit in the middle of the range. GoldStar lists a $150 full termination fee plus $75 in kind, $10 and shipping (GTC Rev. 01/2026). STRATA charges $250 to close and lists a $100 asset re-registration fee "due to transfer out, distribution, or reinstatement" (fee page, August 31, 2026). A full exit in kind is up to $375 plus shipping here, $225 plus shipping at GoldStar, and $350 at STRATA if that fee applies. Every custodian's exit charges are compared on gold IRA termination and transfer-out fees.

Shipping is the open cost. Equity Trust's fee FAQ says shipping can "range from $50-$300+" (September 29, 2026). The FAQ gives no price for your own metal, so ask for a shipping quote too.

Ask the new custodian to request a direct transfer in kind, so you never touch the metal or the money. Timelines and paperwork for switching gold IRA custodians are on our switching guide.

What a gold IRA RMD or in-kind distribution costs at Equity Trust#

A required minimum distribution taken in coins costs at least $175 each time at Equity Trust ($125 plus a $50 shipping minimum). One taken in cash costs a $30 sale fee plus the gap between the dealer's buy price and spot, the market price of raw metal (both on FS-0004-05, Rev. 081726). An RMD is the yearly amount you must take out from age 73 (born 1951 to 1958) or 75 (born 1960 or later) under 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(9)(C)(v). If you were born in 1959, the age is 73 under proposed IRS regulations. How gold IRA required minimum distributions are figured for metal is on our RMD guide.

The RMD uses the December 31 value on your statement. That value is the metal's value, not the price you paid. On a hypothetical $2,000 RMD taken in coins, the $175 fee is almost 9% of it.

Cash is cheaper per trip at Equity Trust, but a sale ends your ownership of that metal. Coins cost more to take out, but you keep them. In a traditional IRA, tax is due on the value taken out either way (26 U.S.C. 408(d)(1)). Cash or coins, step by step, is on gold IRA distributions.

Equity Trust Storage Options: 5 Depositories, Segregated or Not#

Equity Trust stores IRA metal at five depositories: A-Mark Global Logistics/Loomis, Brink's, Delaware Depository, International Depository Services and the Texas Bullion Depository. You pick the vault and the storage type, and the metals-only schedule lists a flat $110 or $160 a year. The Texas Bullion Depository's IRA price is the one exception: it is not published. A depository is the vault that holds the metal for the custodian. All gold IRA depositories are compared on insurance, audits and cost on our vault guide.

The table lists the five vaults Equity Trust names and what SafeOunce could verify, as of September 29, 2026.

Equity Trust's flat $110 and $160 sit beside every custodian's price on gold IRA storage fees. A flat storage fee helps larger accounts most, because the price does not rise with value.

Segregated vs commingled storage at Equity Trust#

Segregated storage at Equity Trust costs $160 a year and returns "the exact metals that your dealer sent to the depository." Non-segregated storage costs $110 and returns the same weight and type. Segregated means your pieces are kept apart and you get the same ones back. Commingled, or non-segregated, means your metal sits with other owners' metal of the same kind.

Equity Trust's metals disclosure explains the shared option. With non-segregated storage, "you will receive the weight and general type of metals you purchased but may not receive the same brand, year, or condition." Both types are still allocated to you, which means the metal is recorded as yours.

Silver buyers should ask before they choose segregated storage. Other custodians' schedules exclude silver from segregated storage at Delaware Depository (STRATA) or allow only 1,000-ounce silver bars there (GoldStar). Segregated silver coins usually go to IDS or AMGL instead, so ask Equity Trust which vault will take yours.

The trade-offs of segregated vs commingled gold IRA storage are on our storage-type guide.

The Texas Bullion Depository and the other four vaults#

Equity Trust is the first and only custodian that the Texas Bullion Depository names for IRA storage, as of September 29, 2026. The vault has offered IRA storage since June 12, 2025.

The depository is a Texas state agency in the Comptroller's office, set up under Government Code chapter 2116, in Leander, Texas. It is neither federal nor privately owned. Lone Star Tangible Assets LP operates it, and that company has been on the IRS list of approved nonbank trustees since November 30, 2023.

The Texas Bullion Depository stores IRA metal as segregated only. Its IRA storage price through Equity Trust is not published, so ask for it in writing before you choose this vault. Who runs the Texas Bullion Depository and what it charges outside IRAs is on its vault page.

The other four vaults are run by companies, not by a state. Two of them, AMGL and IDS, belong to metals dealers' groups (Gold.com and Dillon Gage).

Who insures and audits the metal#

Equity Trust does not insure your metal: the depository's policy does, and only Delaware Depository and AMGL publish their limits. Delaware Depository lists $1 billion all-risk plus $100 million contingent cover. AMGL's cover is $50 million primary plus excess to $500 million, shared by every location in its group.

Vault insurance pays the metal's value, not the premium you paid. FDIC insurance covers only uninvested cash, up to $250,000 per depositor, and never the metal. SIPC never covers physical metal. Equity Trust's disclosure also says it is not responsible for the "value, purity, weight, metal content or authenticity" of coins or bars.

Delaware Depository's audit report is an SSAE18 SOC 1 Type I. That is an auditor's check of the vault's controls on one date.

Limits and exclusions are explained on how gold IRA storage is insured.

Who Is Equity Trust? Charter, Regulator and Owner#

Equity Trust Company is a self-directed IRA custodian in Westlake, Ohio, chartered as a public trust company in South Dakota and regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking. It bought Sterling Trust in 2009 and announced its purchase of Midland Trust on August 7, 2023. It says it holds $73 billion and 368,000 accounts under custody and administration (company claim, June 30, 2026).

Why does the charter matter? The state regulator, not the IRS, supervises the company that holds your IRA.

Founded in 1974 or 2003? The brand age and the charter#

Equity Trust's website says "Founded in 1974", but the SEC found the company "came into being in 2003" when it took over accounts from a predecessor, Mid-Ohio Securities Corp. Both dates are real, and they describe different things.

The website footer explains the older date: "The predecessor business to Equity Trust Company was established in 1974." South Dakota first issued the trust charter on March 1, 2003. That is the age of the company that holds your IRA today.

The predecessor has its own history. The SEC's 2016 decision says Mid-Ohio was a broker-dealer on which regulators "imposed sanctions ... a number of times."

Is Equity Trust on the IRS list of approved custodians (nonbank trustees)?#

No: Equity Trust is not on the IRS list of approved nonbank trustees, which had 73 entities as of April 1, 2026. It qualifies as an IRA custodian because it is a state-chartered trust company. A nonbank trustee is a company, other than a bank, that the IRS approves to hold IRAs under Treas. Reg. 1.408-2(e).

A state-supervised trust company counts as a bank for IRA purposes under 26 U.S.C. 408(n). Equity Trust's own regulatory page says: "The IRS list does not include entities that qualify as an IRA custodian under state law, which includes Equity Trust."

What the IRS list covers is explained on IRS-approved gold IRA custodians.

Who owns Equity Trust Company?#

Equity Trust is a private company that the SEC, in a 2016 decision, described as "ultimately owned by members of the Desich family." SafeOunce has not found a newer ownership record. The SEC decision is dated June 27, 2016, so treat the owner as not established for 2026.

The BBB lists George Sullivan as President and CEO (September 29, 2026). A chief executive runs the company, while the owners hold its shares, and the two can differ.

How an Equity Trust self-directed gold IRA works, step by step#

An Equity Trust gold IRA works in 5 steps: open the account, fund it, agree a price with a dealer, sign a purchase order, and confirm the metal arrived. Equity Trust holds the account, and you make the choices. The rules for a self-directed IRA for gold are on our account-type guide.

The five steps below follow Equity Trust's metals client pages and disclosure.

1. Open the account online ($50 setup on the metals-only schedule, with an ID check).
2. Fund it by a direct transfer or rollover from your current IRA or plan.
3. Agree the price with your dealer: the disclosure says "it is your obligation to agree upon a purchase price".
4. Sign the direction of investment, your signed instruction to buy, so Equity Trust pays the dealer from the IRA.
5. Check on myEQUITY and your statement that the metal moves from "Unsettled" to its vault.

Equity Trust's dealer page promises a "one-business day turnaround on typical purchase transactions" (company claim). The metal shows as "Unsettled" until the depository confirms it has arrived. A gold IRA transfer has no 60-day clock and no once-a-year limit.

Equity Trust Complaints, Lawsuits and Regulatory Record#

Equity Trust's record shows 139 BBB complaints in three years, an SEC case dismissed in 2016, and customer lawsuits over Oxford Gold Group orders in 2024 (September 29, 2026). SafeOunce found no state regulator order against Equity Trust in its searches on the same date. None of the entries below is a finding of liability against Equity Trust. The status of the Short class action is not confirmed.

The table sums up the record, each item with its date and source.

BBB and Trustpilot numbers, and what they measure#

Equity Trust holds a BBB A+ with 139 complaints closed in three years and a Trustpilot score of 2.5 from 868 reviews, as of September 29, 2026. BBB accreditation is a paid membership, and Equity Trust has held it since January 30, 2024. The Trustpilot reviews are split, not uniformly weak: 63% are five-star and 22% one-star.

The table compares the three custodians with enough reviews to read, September 29, 2026.

Size explains part of the gap. Equity Trust says it holds 368,000 accounts (company claim, June 30, 2026). On that claim, 139 complaints is about 0.38 per 1,000 accounts over three years.

What BBB and Trustpilot ratings can and cannot tell you is on our ratings guide.

What unhappy Equity Trust customers report: exit fees and slow transfers#

In Equity Trust's latest 22 one-star Trustpilot reviews, 14 (64%) are about fees charged on the way out or slow sales, transfers and distributions. SafeOunce sorted the latest one-star reviews of three custodians by topic on September 29, 2026.

Equity Trust's 8 other one-star reviews break down as service or phone 2, failed dealer 2, errors or statements 2, forced liquidation 1 and other 1.

Two reviews show the pattern; both are reviewer-stated and unverified. On August 28, 2026, one reviewer reports paying $390 to close a low-balance account ($125 annual, $250 closure and $15). On September 3, 2026, another says a $189,000 rollover was delayed 26 days.

One-star reviews are a sample, not a rate: they show what goes wrong, not how often. Exit complaints lead at all three custodians, and Equity Trust's exit share is the lowest of the three. Before you open, ask two questions in writing: how many business days to sell and wire the money, and what it costs to close.

The SEC case against Equity Trust, dismissed in 2016#

The SEC charged Equity Trust in 2015 over self-directed IRAs that held two fraudsters' investments. An administrative law judge dismissed the case on June 27, 2016 (Initial Decision No. 1030). The SEC's order of June 16, 2015 named two promoters, Ephren Taylor and Randy Poulson. It said they "defrauded more than 100 investors out of $5 million invested through accounts at Equity Trust." The SEC sought a cease-and-desist order, disgorgement, a penalty and a consultant for three years.

Judge Carol Fox Foelak relied on the account agreement. It says: "We shall be under no obligation or duty to investigate ... or perform due diligence for any investment directed by you." She added that a stricter standard "would require custodians to charge much higher fees than did Equity Trust."

A federal appeals court used similar words in 2018. In Hampton v. Equity Trust (5th Cir. No. 16-50872), it called Equity Trust "a passive custodian".

Oxford Gold Group lawsuits against Equity Trust#

In 2024, Oxford Gold Group customers sued Equity Trust as the custodian that held their IRAs. One case was sent to private arbitration, and a class suit's status is not confirmed. Oxford Gold Group itself faces an involuntary Chapter 7 case filed August 28, 2024 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 2:24-bk-16947-NB). Carolyn A. Dye is the Chapter 7 trustee.

Clark v. Equity Trust Co., D.N.M. No. 1:24-cv-00845, order of October 29, 2024. Oxford had named Equity Trust one of its "preferred partners". The owner funded a $200,000 order that "Oxford never fulfilled." The court granted Equity Trust's motion to compel arbitration, because she "did not opt out" of the arbitration clause.

Short v. Equity Trust Company, C.D. Cal. No. 2:24-cv-06788, filed August 9, 2024. This is a class action, and its claims are allegations only. The docket (per Justia) does not show its status as of September 29, 2026.

What happened to Oxford Gold Group customers' metal is on its own page.

Equity Trust's Contract: Arbitration, Forced Sales and What It Does Not Check#

Equity Trust's account papers require private arbitration unless you opt out, let it sell your metal for unpaid fees, and put the price and the dealer on you. The five clauses below come from the Custodial Account Agreement and the Precious Metals Risk and Fee Disclosure (CA_F-0003-05, Rev. 121625). Ask for both documents before you fund the account, and read Article XVIII first.

The 65-day arbitration opt-out#

Equity Trust's custodial agreement makes binding individual arbitration the only way to bring a claim, unless you opt out in writing within 65 days of opening the account. Arbitration means a private judge decides the dispute, not a court. The clause also includes a class action waiver: "YOU FURTHER AGREE TO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO PURSUE OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY PENDING OR FUTURE CLASS ACTION." In plain English, you give up the right to join a group lawsuit.

Can you sue Equity Trust if your gold dealer scammed you? Only in arbitration or small-claims court, which the clause leaves open, unless you opted out within 65 days. Custodians have also won the duty question before, in the 2016 SEC decision. This is general information, not legal advice.

The Clark order shows the clause at work. An owner with a $200,000 claim was sent to arbitration because she had not opted out.

How gold IRA arbitration and restitution work is on our recovery guide.

When Equity Trust can sell your metal to pay fees#

Equity Trust can sell your metal to pay unpaid fees and then distribute what is left to you, which is a taxable event. The disclosure (CA_F-0003-05, Rev. 121625) covers fees that you have not paid. Equity Trust then "has the right to ... liquidate your precious metals assets to pay any fees due and owing." It may also "force distribute any remaining assets in your account."

A distribution from a traditional IRA is taxable income under 26 U.S.C. 408(d)(1). Before age 59½, a 10% additional tax can also apply under 26 U.S.C. 72(t). One of the 22 one-star reviews SafeOunce read describes a forced liquidation.

Why your Equity Trust gold IRA statement shows less than you paid#

Equity Trust values your metal at the previous day's metal price, so your statement leaves out the dealer's markup and shows less than you paid. The disclosure calls the figure an "indication of value, based upon the previous day's metal type value". It adds: "The value on your quarterly statement does not include any markups, commissions or premiums from the precious metals dealer you chose."

The lower figure is not a custodian error. The same value feeds your Form 5498 and your RMD. Why a gold IRA statement shows less than you paid is explained on our statement guide.

What Equity Trust does not check: dealer markups, coins and delivery#

Equity Trust does not check the dealer, the markup, the coins or the delivery date: its disclosure puts all four on you and the dealer. The SEC's 2011 investor alert says the same of the whole industry: "Self-directed IRA custodians generally do not evaluate the quality or legitimacy of any investment." Custodians pay whatever price you sign; gold IRA markups are the cost no custodian checks.

The disclosure also says Equity Trust is not responsible for dealer delivery delays or failures. The agreement text quoted in the 2016 SEC decision says the same: no duty "to investigate ... any investment directed by you".

Clark shows what that means for delivery. The owner funded a $200,000 Oxford Gold order that, in the court's words, "Oxford never fulfilled." Her claim against the custodian then went to private arbitration.

The steps to check delivery after the account shows "Unsettled" are on our delivery checklist.

Equity Trust Pros and Cons#

Equity Trust's six strengths are a low flat metals price, a long state charter and published schedules; its six weaknesses are about price by channel, exits and the contract. The table sets them side by side, as of September 29, 2026.

Paperwork handles half of the cons. Ask for the schedule name and a written exit quote, and send the opt-out letter within 65 days.

Who Equity Trust Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere#

Equity Trust suits a buyer whose gold company opens the account on the metals-only schedule, especially with $100,000 or more, and who sends the arbitration opt-out in time. It does not suit someone opening directly for metals only, who would pay two to four times more at $50,000 to $250,000.

The table gives a verdict by reader situation, using the fees and records above (September 29, 2026).

The table's prices assume the metals-only schedule for accounts opened through a dealer. If your application names a different schedule, use that schedule's row in the cost table above.

You should compare costs when your balance is small. A gold ETF held in an existing IRA may cost less below $25,000; the numbers are on gold IRA vs gold ETF.

You should ask these five questions before you open an Equity Trust account.

1. Ask which Equity Trust fee schedule and revision code applies, in writing.
2. Ask for the full exit cost to sell, and to move metal in kind.
3. Ask which depository and storage type you get, and the yearly price.
4. Ask how many business days a sale and wire take.
5. Ask for the custodial agreement, and note your 65-day opt-out date.

How Does Equity Trust Compare With STRATA, GoldStar and Other Gold IRA Custodians?#

Of the three custodians compared here, Equity Trust has the lowest flat price for segregated storage, but by far the most BBB complaints. GoldStar costs less to sell (no trade fee) and to leave ($150 full termination). STRATA charges $75 per buy or sell, more than Equity Trust's $0 buy and $30 sell. GoldStar's segregated price rises with value above $125,000, reaching $540 at $250,000, so Equity Trust's flat $285 gains ground as a balance grows.

The table compares published prices and ratings, September 29, 2026 (Equity Trust FS-0004-05, Rev. 081726; STRATA fee page of August 31, 2026; GoldStar GTC Rev. 01/2026).

Every custodian is ranked on real cost on best gold IRA custodians.

Which gold IRA companies use Equity Trust#

Augusta Precious Metals names Equity Trust as its custodian, and U.S. Money Reserve ties its "Fees for Life" offer to Equity Trust accounts. Augusta's FAQ (September 23, 2026) says it "coordinates with Equity Trust Company as custodian". APMEX named Equity Trust as its IRA custodian in an archived page of August 17, 2026. GBI Direct, formerly Hard Assets Alliance, uses Equity Trust as its only IRA custodian (dealer pages read September 2026).

Oxford Gold Group, now in bankruptcy, called Equity Trust a "preferred partner", according to the Clark order. Other review sites name Equity Trust for Goldco, Birch Gold and Noble Gold, but SafeOunce has not confirmed it with these companies. A name on this list is a data point, not a recommendation.

Each seller's own review covers its custodian terms: the Augusta Precious Metals review, the U.S. Money Reserve review and the Goldco review.

Midland Trust clients: what happens when a custodian is sold#

Midland Trust clients became Equity Trust clients on July 15, 2024, without signing anything, after Equity Trust bought Midland (announced August 7, 2023). The change-of-custodian letter told Midland clients "No action is needed". Clients who objected but did not close or transfer were "deemed to have accepted".

The default fee option is the trap. Under the schedule effective July 15, 2024, a client who picks nothing lands on Option 1: $350 per precious metals asset a year. Three metal products cost $1,050 a year, against $425 on Option 2 at $45,000 to $59,999. Past-due accounts can be closed and distributed, which is taxable, and reinstatement costs $250. Fee options for former Midland clients are on Midland Trust (now Equity Trust).

A custodian sale can change your fees without your signature. What to do if your custodian is sold, quits or fails is on our custodian-change guide.

Can I open an Equity Trust gold IRA without a gold company?#

Yes: Equity Trust opens accounts directly for $50 online ($75 on paper), but its direct Universal IRA is priced by account value ($350 to $2,500 a year), not at the $125 metals-only rate. Those figures come from FS-0001-01, Rev. 110625, and FS-0004-05, Rev. 081726, read September 29, 2026. SafeOunce has not confirmed whether a direct customer can ask for the metals-only schedule, so ask before you apply.

Does Equity Trust offer a checkbook IRA for gold?#

Equity Trust's Midland page lists a checkbook LLC as one way to reduce fees, but IRA metal in any checkbook structure still needs a trustee to hold it. The tax code requires the trustee's physical possession of IRA bullion (26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3)(B)). Why metal still needs a custodian is on checkbook IRA for gold.

Is Equity Trust FDIC insured?#

No for your metal: FDIC insurance covers only uninvested cash at an insured bank, up to $250,000 per depositor, and never the coins or bars. Metal relies on the vault's own insurance instead.

Can I keep Equity Trust IRA gold at home?#

No: IRA bullion must be in the physical possession of a trustee under 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3)(B). Home storage counts as a taxable distribution, as the Tax Court held in McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021). The court case is covered on home storage gold IRA.

Is Equity Trust the same as Equitable, Gabelli Equity Trust or Equity Trust Escrow?#

No: Equitable, The Gabelli Equity Trust and Equity Trust Escrow Inc. are different companies from the Westlake, Ohio IRA custodian. Equity Trust Escrow Inc. has its own BBB profile in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Check the address and the website (trustetc.com) before you read a review or call a number.