Editorial review
Lear Capital
Thinking about getting some of your savings out of pure-dollar exposure and into physical gold? Lear Capital is one of the names you'll run into. We pulled the public record — fees, minimums, storage, the fine print — so you can judge it on facts instead of a sales script. Here's where it stands.
Lear Capital is a long-established Los Angeles dealer (since 1997) with an A+ BBB rating, a $10,000 minimum, and a transparently published custody fee schedule. Prospective buyers should weigh that against its well-documented regulatory and financial history, including a 2022 Chapter 11 filing and multistate investor-refund settlements.
Ratings are our independent editorial opinion, not user reviews.
Account minimum
$10,000
BBB rating
A+ · Accredited
Founded
1997
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
The fee picture
Publishes a flat-rate schedule: first year about $315 (non-segregated) or $365 (segregated) — roughly $50 application, $30 wire, $125 maintenance, and $110/$160 storage — then about $235/$285 recurring. These are custody/storage fees only; dealer coin markups are separate. Note: Lear's pricing on some collector coins was the subject of regulatory action (see cons).
What stands out
- Publicly published flat-rate fee schedule
- Flat storage pricing regardless of account growth
- Low $10,000 minimum
- Long operating history (since 1997)
Metals, storage & custodians
IRS-approved metals
- Gold
- Silver
- Platinum
- Palladium
Storage / depository
- Delaware Depository
- Brink's
- International Depository Services (IDS)
IRA custodians
- Equity Trust
- STRATA Trust
The case for
- ▲Unusually transparent, publicly posted flat-rate fee schedule
- ▲Low $10,000 minimum with predictable flat storage pricing
- ▲Long track record (since 1997) with a full range of IRS-approved metals
- ▲Insured, top-tier depository options
The catch
- ▼Documented regulatory and financial history: a 2021 New York AG settlement, a 2022 Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and a 2023 multistate investor-refund resolution
- ▼Dealer coin markups are separate from the published custody fees and have historically been high on some collector coins
- ▼Has faced repeated criticism over sales tactics around moving retirement funds into metals
Lear Capital — common questions
Is Lear Capital a legitimate gold IRA company?+
Lear Capital holds a BBB rating of A+ and is BBB-accredited. Lear Capital is a long-established Los Angeles dealer (since 1997) with an A+ BBB rating, a $10,000 minimum, and a transparently published custody fee schedule. Prospective buyers should weigh that against its well-documented regulatory and financial history, including a 2022 Chapter 11 filing and multistate investor-refund settlements. As always, verify current credentials directly before investing.
What is the minimum investment at Lear Capital?+
Lear Capital's stated account minimum is $10,000. Minimums and fees can change, so confirm the current figure with the company directly.
What does Lear Capital charge in fees?+
Publishes a flat-rate schedule: first year about $315 (non-segregated) or $365 (segregated) — roughly $50 application, $30 wire, $125 maintenance, and $110/$160 storage — then about $235/$285 recurring. These are custody/storage fees only; dealer coin markups are separate. Note: Lear's pricing on some collector coins was the subject of regulatory action (see cons).
Which metals can I hold with Lear Capital?+
Lear Capital offers Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium that meet IRS purity standards, stored through partners including Delaware Depository, Brink's, International Depository Services (IDS).
Sources reviewed · last checked 2026-06
- https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/los-angeles/profile/precious-metal-dealers/lear-capital-inc-1216-13059407
- https://www.learcapital.com/knowledgebase/gold-ira/gold-ira-fee-structure/
- https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/petition_6.17.2021.pdf
- https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2023/08/04/states-recoup-overcharges-for-investors-in-commodity-firm-bankruptcy
- https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/coin-dealer-lear-capital-files-bankruptcy-to-corral-legal-woes
This content is for general education only and is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Investing in precious metals carries risk, including loss of principal. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions.