
Lear Capital Reviews
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About Lear Capital
Lear Capital has been involved in the precious metals industry since 1997. In its nearly 30 years of operation, the company states that it has assisted more than 100,000 investors with over $3 billion in transactions, including $1 billion in precious metals IRA transactions. Lear Capital helps its clients buy, sell and trade bullion, rare coins and physical gold and silver.
Visit www.learcapital.com- Transparent pricing
- Full-service gold dealer
- 24-hour risk-free purchase guarantee
- Website can be hard to navigate
- Only one depository option
Helpful Reviews
Gold and other precious metal IRAs are an investment and carry risk. Consumers should be alert to claims that customers can make a lot of money in these or any investment with little risk. As with any investment, you can lose money and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance results. Consumers should also obtain a clear understanding of the fees associated with any investment before agreeing to invest.
What is Lear Capital?
Lear Capital is a precious metals dealer that can help you diversify your investment portfolios with precious metal bullion (coins and bars by weight), numismatic coins and precious metal IRAs. Lear Capital also provides real-time customer support and access to daily and weekly updates. However, it’s important to note that the company is not an investment or financial advisor, and it is not required to act as a fiduciary.
How does Lear Capital work?
When you establish a precious metals IRA with Lear Capital, a dedicated account team member walks you through the application process, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. Once the application is processed and approved, your account is set up within 24 hours.
Lear Capital then reaches out to your current IRA custodian on your behalf to arrange for the tax-free rollover of your funds. The funds are transferred via bank wire and deposited into your new precious metals IRA.You can then arrange to buy precious metals for your IRA. All IRA metals are stored in an IRS-approved vault courtesy of Delaware Depository. The minimum to open a precious metals IRA is $10,000.
Reviews often note that Lear Capital’s knowledgeable representatives and no-pressure approach help make the IRA account setup process easy, even for first-time investors. Describing her onboarding phone consultation, Angela from Washington said, “[The account rep] took the time to explain every step... the entire process of rolling over my 401(k) to Lear Capital was smooth, straightforward, and stress-free.”
Lear Capital products and services
Lear Capital offers a variety of products and services, including:
- Self-directed IRAs: You can transfer funds or roll over portions of an existing IRA into a precious metals IRA. Your physical metals are stored in a private storage facility, but you get the same tax advantages as you would with a normal IRA.
- Precious metals: You can buy rare coins and gold, silver and platinum bullion (including IRA-eligible products) on Lear Capital's website.
Lear Capital also has an extensive resource library that includes a precious metals encyclopedia, market charts and free guides on precious metals and retirement accounts.
Lear Capital cost
If you choose electronic statements and nonsegregated storage, Lear Capital charges a flat $315 fee for self-directed IRAs in the first year; the annual fee drops to $235 starting in the second year. This price includes storage and insurance. It costs an additional $50 per year if you prefer segregated storage. Fees may be reimbursed for investments above $25,000.
Pricing for individual gold, silver and platinum products varies over time, so it's a good idea to check Lear Capital's website or call to see the latest information.
Lear Capital FAQ
Which coins are IRA-eligible?
A full list of Lear Capital's IRA-eligible coins can be found on its website. In general, gold bullion must be at least 99.5% pure, silver bullion must be 99.9% pure, and platinum bullion must be 99.95% pure.
How can I track the performance of my Lear Capital portfolio?
Round-the-clock access to your portfolio's performance is available via the secure website of Lear Capital’s IRA custodian, Self Directed IRA Services, Inc. The custodian also provides quarterly statements that can be mailed directly to your home address.
Where are my metals stored with Lear Capital?
Lear Capital stores client metals with Delaware Depository, which is an IRS-approved depository. The depository also provides a comprehensive insurance policy underwritten by Lloyd's of London.
Can I make contributions to my Lear Capital account?
Yes, you can set a recurring schedule to have your contributions automatically transferred into your precious metals IRA.
Did Lear Capital file for bankruptcy?
Yes, Lear Capital filed for bankruptcy in 2022 and completed a Chapter 11 reorganization in 2024. The company continued to operate during the bankruptcy process and restructured its finances as part of the reorganization. Lear Capital states that following the reorganization, it made changes to improve transparency and customer experience.
At the time of the filing, the company was being investigated by state securities regulators for violating consumer-protection laws and engaging in deceptive practices, misleading marketing and inadequate fee disclosures. It had also been sued by the city of Los Angeles (in 2019) and the state of New York (in 2021). As part of its bankruptcy settlement, Lear Capital agreed to pay $5.5 million to compensate investors affected before the restructuring.
Still have questions?
Is Lear Capital legit?
Yes, Lear Capital is a legitimate precious metals dealer that has been in business since 1997. Consumer reviews frequently praise the company's customer service, calling out its representatives’ professionalism, no-pressure sales approach and clear explanations. "No hype, no pressure and business with a positive tone,” said Mark from North Carolina.
From 2022 to 2024, Lear Capital underwent a financial restructuring as part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, following several years of investigation and legal actions from city and state authorities in California, New York and other jurisdictions. However, the company states that it has since addressed its legal and financial obligations and improved its transparency practices.
A fiduciary is required by law to act in their clients’ best interests.
Despite these issues, consumer review trends have remained positive. Verified customer reviews on ConsumerAffairs date back to 2015, with a consistent dissatisfaction rate of less than 7%. With an average rating of 4.8 stars and more than 1,600 reviews as of publication, this indicates a high overall level of customer satisfaction.
That said, the small number of negative reviews posted within the past year tend to complain about pricing transparency concerns, markup disputes and distribution delays. “I realized I was overcharged by approximately 36% on my gold purchase,” Komal from New Hampshire told ConsumerAffairs.
Working with Lear Capital to diversify your investment portfolio may suit your needs if you want multiple alternatives for investing in precious metals. It offers bullion, numismatic coins and self-directed IRAs. In comparison to many gold IRA companies, Lear Capital’s flat fee structure is clear and straightforward.
Lear Capital also provides market data, insights and price notifications to help active investors protect and grow their investments. These resources can help you make informed decisions about your investments, since Lear Capital does not provide investment advice and is not a fiduciary.
Lear Capital Reviews
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- 4,972,291 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Lear Capital Company Information
- Social media:
- Company Name:
- Lear Capital
- Company Type:
- Private
- Year Founded:
- 1997
- Address:
- 1990 S. Bundy
- City:
- Los Angeles
- State/Province:
- CA
- Postal Code:
- 90025
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.learcapital.com

