Guidance Corporation Review: Is It Worth Your Time and Money?
Besides investing in stocks and bonds, some investors prefer to purchase rare and collectible coins or invest in precious metals. This allows them to diversify their savings and potentially grow their wealth in the long run.
With numerous online dealers advertising their services and products, choosing the right one to help you achieve your investment goals can be challenging. Fortunately, we’re here to save you time and offer an unbiased opinion, enabling you to make an informed decision.
Guidance Corporation is a reputable online precious metals dealer in the United States, specializing in competitive prices and providing a fantastic customer experience.
In this Guidance Corporation review, we will learn a bit more about the company, introduce the people behind it, explore its product offerings, and provide other relevant information. We will also assess whether purchasing precious metals from this online dealer is worth considering.
The top way to safeguard your retirement is to open a precious metals IRA. Check out the below providers and request a free kit. For more reviews, view this page.
Company | Personal Findings | Review | Free Guide | |
 | #1 Goldco | Best Overall Rating (Where I Invested) | ||
 | #2 American Hartford Gold | Best Buyback Program | ||
 | #3 Augusta Precious Metals | Most Educational ($50,000 Minimum) | ||
 | #4 Noble Gold | Best Metals Selection |
What Will I Learn?
- A Brief Overview of Guidance Corporation
- The People Behind Guidance Corporation
- Getting Started with Guidance Corporation
- Is Guidance Corporation a Precious Metals IRA Provider?
- What Are the Products Offered by the Guidance Corporation?
- What Are the Shipping Options Available?
- What Type of Payment Methods Does Guidance Corporation Accept?
- Does Guidance Corporation Have a Buyback Program?
- What Are the Advantages of Working with Guidance Corporation?
- What Are the Drawbacks of Working with Guidance Corporation?
- Is Guidance Corporation Legit?
- Bottom Line: Should You Purchase Precious Metals from Guidance Corporation?
A Brief Overview of Guidance Corporation
Based in Minnetonka, MN, Guidance Corporation is a family-run business that has been operating since 1989. The company deals in certified coins and other precious metals bullion products.
With a team of knowledgeable coin experts ready to help, you can rely on Guidance Corporation for insights on building a strong portfolio or assistance in tracking down specific collectible coins.
As a family-owned company, Guidance Corporation avoids commission-based salespeople, enabling it to offer the lowest prices on precious metals.
Investing your hard-earned money in assets can be challenging, especially when entrusting another party to help build your portfolio. Fortunately, Guidance Corporation is a licensed bullion dealer, giving you the confidence you need when making significant financial purchases.
The People Behind Guidance Corporation
There are two key figures who play pivotal roles at Guidance Corporation:
Bruce Diker serves as the founder and president of the company. In 2016, he became a registered bullion coin dealer representative. According to Diker, he recognizes the challenges investors face in making a profit from selling coins due to high commissions. This is why Guidance Corporation strives to minimize costs and eliminate salespeople, aiming to provide a more cost-effective approach for its clients.
Josh Diker holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at Guidance Corporation. He oversees the company’s operations, works on pricing strategies, and ensures a positive working environment for the staff. Prior to his current role, Diker demonstrated dedication and perseverance in his career. He steadily advanced through the ranks of the corporate world and ultimately served as the regional district manager at Wells Fargo.
Getting Started with Guidance Corporation
Buying precious metals from Guidance Corporation is a straightforward process. If you’re interested in investing in gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, simply follow the steps below:
Browse through the inventory: Guidance Corporation offers a wide range of precious metal products. Take your time to research and explore its complete line of offerings to find the product that aligns with your investment goals.
Add to cart: Once you’ve chosen the product you want to purchase, add it to your virtual shopping cart. You have the option to proceed as a guest or create an account on the company’s website. Make sure that you provide the necessary shipping details, including the address where you want your order delivered.
Make the payment: After entering all the required information, proceed to make the payment. Guidance Corporation offers several payment methods, which we will discuss further in this Guidance Corporation review.
Is Guidance Corporation a Precious Metals IRA Provider?
A precious metals individual retirement account (IRA) provider allows investors to buy gold, silver, platinum, and palladium and store them in a secure facility as part of their retirement savings.
Unfortunately, Guidance Corporation is not an IRA provider. However, the company has established partnerships with trusted custodians, which is great for investors looking to open an account.
If you’re interested in setting up a precious metals IRA, follow these three simple steps:
Open a custodian account: According to IRS guidelines, investors seeking to diversify their retirement portfolio with precious metals must set up an IRA with an approved custodian. Guidance Corporation can assist you in selecting an appropriate custodian or guide you through the process.
Fund the IRA: Before you can begin purchasing IRA-approved precious metals, you must fund the new account. You can transfer money manually or opt for a 401k or IRA rollover.
Purchase IRS-approved products: Once you’ve funded the new IRA account, you can start buying eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
It’s important to note that you can only purchase IRA-eligible precious metals for your retirement account. If you are uncertain about a product’s eligibility, you can contact a representative at Guidance Corporation or refer to the company’s website for a list of approved products.
What Are the Products Offered by the Guidance Corporation?
The company boasts a vast inventory of precious metals across four distinct categories, which include the following:
Gold: Within this category, you have the option to select gold coins from reputable mints such as the United States Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, Chinese Mint, and more. Popular choices on the company’s website include the American Gold Eagle, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Australian Gold Kangaroo, and Gold Krugerrand. Additionally, you can purchase gold bars manufactured by Argor-Heraeus, Credit Suisse, LBMA, PAMP Suisse, and Valcambi in various weights.
Silver: Under this category, you’ll discover an array of silver coins from prominent mints across the world, including the United States Mint, Royal Mint, Perth Mint, and Mexican Mint. Notable products include the American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Silver Britannia, and the Austrian Silver Philharmonic. Guidance Corporation also offers silver bars of different weights produced by Asahi, Engelhard, Golden State, Highland, Johnson Matthey, and many others.
Platinum: If you’re interested in purchasing platinum, Guidance Corporation provides a selection of diverse products, including the American Platinum Eagle, Queens Beast Platinum, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, and more. The company also sells platinum bars manufactured by Argor-Heraeus, Credit Suisse, PAMP, and Valcambi.
Palladium: Compared to gold, silver, and platinum, Guidance Corporation offers a limited variety of products in this category, including the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, Sea Venture, and Ballerina. The company also sells palladium bars manufactured by Baird Mint and PAMP Suisse.
What Are the Shipping Options Available?
Potential investors will be glad to know that the company offers free shipping, including insurance, on orders exceeding $10,000. However, there is a delivery charge of up to $25 for small or special purchases.
To ensure the best possible delivery service, the carriers used may vary depending on your order. The company works closely with USPS, UPS, or FedEx to deliver within the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the US Virgin Islands.
During the checkout process, the customers have several shipping options to choose from. Base shipping is the default option, where the company selects the carrier. However, depending on the order, the available shipping methods may vary.
Most packages require an individual over the age of 18 to sign and receive them, ensuring a secure way of ordering precious metals online. If there is no one present to collect the order, the carrier will make another attempt to deliver it the next day. Please note that there are no deliveries on weekends.
What Type of Payment Methods Does Guidance Corporation Accept?
Guidance Corporation accepts several payment methods, including the following:
Bank wires
Direct pay
Checks
Zelle
All major debit and credit cards
Investors can enjoy discounted prices on the website when making payments via bank wire, check, or Zelle. However, if you choose to pay by debit or credit card, please note that there is a 4.75% fee applied upon checkout.
Additionally, you can purchase products using PayPal, but please be aware that there is a 4% surcharge. The company recommends using bank transfer as the preferred payment method. It’s important to note that this payment method has a minimum order requirement of $1,000.
Does Guidance Corporation Have a Buyback Program?
Purchasing precious metals as a means to diversify your retirement portfolio can be a challenging task. Without proper research, you might end up acquiring coins or bullion that don’t align with your investment goals. Fortunately, Guidance Corporation has a buyback program in place for all its customers.
If you’re dissatisfied with your purchase and want to replace or return the precious metals, the company offers to buy them back. This allows you to build a retirement portfolio that caters to your investment objectives better.
Additionally, Guidance Corporation is willing to provide a fair price for any precious metals you have purchased from elsewhere and wish to sell. To obtain a free quotation, you must reach out to the company.
What Are the Advantages of Working with Guidance Corporation?
There are several advantages of working with Guidance Corporation, including the following:
It Is a Licensed Business
When it comes to investing your hard-earned money into financial assets, working with a reputable and licensed business is essential.
Guidance Corporation has over three decades of experience in the precious metals industry and operates as a properly licensed company.
The Website Is Easy to Use
Guidance Corporation offers a user-friendly online platform, unlike many precious metals dealers with cluttered and challenging-to-navigate websites. It has a clean design and a user interface that is easy to navigate.
Another great thing about working with Guidance Corporation is that the potential investors have access to real-time pricing information, enabling them to make informed decisions.
The product layout is also well-organized, with clear descriptions and large pictures. It provides a comprehensive view of each item in the inventory.
The Company Has a Vast Inventory
When investing in precious metals, working with a company that offers a wide selection of products is crucial. Guidance Corporation boasts an extensive inventory of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium items, catering to various budget ranges.
Whether you’re looking for popular coins or rare bullion, the company has many options to help investors diversify their retirement portfolios.
What Are the Drawbacks of Working with Guidance Corporation?
Every company has its strengths and weaknesses, and Guidance Corporation is no exception.
After reviewing its website and customer reviews, we found the following drawbacks that you should consider before investing:
The Company Needs to Be Transparent
Transparency is crucial when dealing with a precious metals company. However, Guidance Corporation falls short in this aspect.
While the company’s website states that it offers free shipping on most orders, it becomes apparent during checkout that this perk applies only to purchases exceeding $10,000. This lack of transparency can be misleading to potential customers.
There Is No Trustpilot Rating
In assessing customer feedback, it’s important to note that Guidance Corporation does not have a Trustpilot webpage. Currently, you can read customer reviews on the Shopper Approved and Better Business Bureau websites.
The company also does not have a dedicated review page on Google. This absence of the Trustpilot and Google review ratings may limit the available feedback for interested investors.
Is Guidance Corporation Legit?
Guidance Corporation is a legitimate precious metals dealer in the United States. One of the most effective ways to assess the company’s reputation and determine its legitimacy is by examining customer reviews.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, Guidance Corporation has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars based on 10 customer reviews.
Notably, there were no complaints against the company in the past year. Additionally, Guidance Corporation holds an A+ accreditation, highlighting its commitment to maintaining high business standards.
Similar Company Profile: Safeguard Metals
While the BBB website provides valuable feedback, exploring other platforms, such as Shopper Approved, is advisable for a more comprehensive understanding of customer experiences. Shopper Approved is an online rating and review platform that helps consumers make informed decisions.
On the Shopper Approved website, Guidance Corporation boasts over 890 customer reviews, with approximately 790 awarding the company a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
Many previous clients have praised the company’s user-friendly purchasing process, excellent service, and competitive prices. These positive reviews contribute to the overall positive perception of Guidance Corporation within the investor community.
Bottom Line: Should You Purchase Precious Metals from Guidance Corporation?
Based in Minnetonka, MN, Guidance Corporation is a family-run precious metals company with over three decades of experience. It offers assistance in opening an IRA and purchasing gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.
In addition to IRA-approved coins, the company also provides pre-1923 selections, which is great for those interested in investing in collectible coins.
While a price list is available for most products, it is essential to note that prices may change without notice, so potential buyers should contact the company for updated pricing.
One drawback we found was the limited availability of educational resources. Since investing in precious metals is an alternative form of investment, it is crucial for companies to provide educational materials to raise awareness about these assets and their benefits, especially for beginners.
Based on our assessment, we do not recommend the Guidance Corporation. There are other companies with positive reviews, a comprehensive selection of precious metals, and a wide range of educational guides available, which may be more suitable for investors seeking a holistic experience.
About Arthur Karter
Hi, I’m Arthur, and nobody wants to wake up in their 50s like me that they are in serious debt with minimal assets. This wake-up call forced me to reevaluate everything. After going through the school of Hard Knocks, I’m ready to help you by sharing the best retirement choices and how they differ from all the same-old, same-old options that financial advisors sell. These alternatives will help you build and protect your wealth.
