Lear Capital Review
Best for Fee-schedule-conscious entry investors · Last reviewed 2026-06
Every dollar you leave in cash is quietly losing the war with inflation — the dollar has shed roughly 87% of its purchasing power since 1971. Moving part of a retirement account into IRS-approved physical gold is one of the oldest hedges against that slow debasement. The only question worth answering is which firm you trust to do it. Here is where Lear Capital stands in our independent assessment.
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.
Standout features
- ✦Publicly published flat-rate fee schedule
- ✦Flat storage pricing regardless of account growth
- ✦Low $10,000 minimum
- ✦Long operating history (since 1997)
Pros
- +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
Cons
- −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
Fees & pricing
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).
The bottom line
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.
Sources & verification
This profile compiles factual, publicly available information. Facts last reviewed 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
Ratings are our independent editorial opinion, not user reviews. 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.