With economic uncertainty on the rise, a growing number of investors are turning to physical precious metals like gold and silver to diversify their portfolios. But finding a reputable dealer you can trust is crucial in the precious metals space.
That’s why we thoroughly reviewed Oxford Gold Group – comprehensively analyzing their business offerings, pricing, complaints, reputation, and more across over 20,000 words.
This exhaustive review aims to provide everything you need to make an informed decision about whether Oxford Gold Group is the right partner for your precious metals investment needs in 2023 and beyond.
Below we dive deep on:
- Oxford Gold Group’s Products, Services and Purchase Process
- Assessing Oxford Gold’s Reputation and Credentials
- An Objective Analysis of Fees, Pricing and Commissions
- Storage, Delivery and Buyback Policies Reviewed
- Evaluating Oxford Gold Group Complaints and Reviews
- How Oxford Gold Group Compares to the Top Competition
- And Much More In-Depth Analysis
Let’s get started on this complete 20,000+ word review of Oxford Gold Group’s total offerings and value proposition for investors!
A Brief Introduction to Oxford Gold Group
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Oxford Gold Group is a relatively new entrant in the precious metals space compared to long-time market leaders.
Oxford Gold Group focuses on educating investors on diversifying into physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium assets to hedge against inflation, market volatility and systemic risks.
The company caters to both IRA and non-IRA focused investors. For IRA clients, Oxford Gold Group provides full service support with establishing a self-directed Precious Metals IRA account, guiding clients through funding the account via a rollover, and completing actual purchases of IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum or palladium assets to act as the backing assets for the Precious Metals IRA account.
For clients seeking to make direct purchases of precious metals outside of an IRA wrapper, Oxford Gold Group offers an array of physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins, bars, and rounds that clients can buy directly for delivery or insured storage.
As a full-service dealer, Oxford Gold Group handles all details related to insured shipping, secure vault storage, and support. The company aims to educate clients and simplify the process of allocating to physical precious metals assets.
Still very young with only 5 years in business compared to decades for industry giants like Goldco and Birch Gold Group, Oxford Gold Group remains a lesser known brand among some investors exploring precious metals.
By comprehensively evaluating Oxford Gold Group’s offerings, pricing, reputation, complaints, and more, we aim to provide the complete information needed to determine if Oxford Gold Group deserves consideration as a potential precious metals partner for your investment needs.
Now let’s dive into the details!
Why Consider Investing in Precious Metals?
Before we analyze Oxford Gold Group specifically, it’s helpful to review the key reasons a growing number of investors are opting to allocate a portion of their investment portfolio to physical precious metals:
Portfolio Diversification – Precious metals tend to have a very low or negative correlation to stocks and bonds, making them ideal portfolio diversifiers to hedge against systemic market risks.
Inflation Hedge – With inflation in the United States recently hitting 40-year highs, precious metals have historically maintained their purchasing power over long periods of time, making them effective inflation hedges.
Protection from Market Volatility – As “safe haven” assets, precious metals like gold and silver have often provided strong positive returns during periods of economic crisis, recession, or equity market turmoil.
Tangible Hard Asset Ownership – Owning physical bars and coins provides investors the security and peace of mind of having a tangible hard asset under their full ownership and control.
Growth Potential – While volatile, precious metals have appreciated significantly over the long run and still offer strong growth potential as central banks worldwide continue unprecedented money printing.
IRA Tax Advantages – Precious Metals IRAs allow investors to reap the same tax advantages of tax-deferred growth and tax-optimized retirement distributions by investing in physical gold/silver while also getting the portfolio diversification benefits.
For all of these compelling reasons, allocating a modest 5-20% portion of an investment portfolio to physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium can make sense for the right investor seeking an uncorrelated asset class.
But identifying a trusted and reputable dealer is the key to entering the precious metals market…which brings us back to assessing if Oxford Gold Group fits the bill.
Oxford Gold Group’s Products and Services for Precious Metals Investors
Oxford Gold Group provides a number of precious metals products and services spanning both IRA and non-IRA offerings. Here is an overview of their lineup:
Gold and Silver IRA Services
One of Oxford Gold Group’s core offerings is providing full-service support to clients interested in establishing a Precious Metals IRA using physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium as the backing assets for the self-directed IRA.
The company’s experts handle all details involved with opening a Precious Metals IRA account, advising clients on optimal asset allocation strategies specific to their investment goals and risk appetite, facilitating any necessary fund transfers or rollovers from existing IRAs or other eligible retirement accounts to fund the new Precious Metals IRA, and finally working with clients to complete actual purchases of IRS-compliant precious metals assets to fund the IRA account.
This turnkey Gold IRA service enables Oxford Gold Group clients to enjoy all the benefits of IRA-based investing, including tax-deferred growth potential and optimized retirement distributions, while also diversifying into an uncorrelated asset class for added portfolio stability. For many investors, working with a full-service partner like Oxford Gold Group can greatly simplify the logistics of investing in a Precious Metals IRA.
READ ALSO: Birch Gold Group: The Top-Rated Gold & Silver IRA Company of 2023
Direct Purchases of Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium
In addition to IRA services, Oxford Gold Group provides retail investors the ability to purchase physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium assets for non-retirement investment purposes.
The company offers an array of IRS-approved physical precious metals products including gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars from the world’s top government mints and trusted private refineries. Clients can browse Oxford Gold Group’s product selection online or work with a representative to identify the right mix of assets to match their investment goals and risk tolerance.
Purchasing precious metals directly from Oxford Gold Group allows clients to secure physical ownership of gold, silver, platinum and palladium outside of any retirement accounts and take direct delivery or use insured storage options. Investors who already have existing IRAs can use this service to complement their retirement savings with additional direct precious metals ownership.
Secure Insured Storage
Once clients purchase physical precious metals, Oxford Gold Group offers fully-insured storage solutions to provide security, convenience and peace of mind.
For IRA-based precious metals purchases, they have partner relationships with specialized “cash under trust” depositories across the United States that are IRS-authorized to store IRA-owned bullion and coins.
For non-IRA precious metals purchases, clients can utilize Oxford Gold’s insured storage network as well, with facilities both domestically and abroad. Storage internationally diversifies jurisdiction risk.
Oxford Gold Group aims take the burden of physically securing large quantities of precious metals off clients’ shoulders by providing cost-effective access to professional vault storage worldwide. However, clients always maintain direct ownership rights and access.
Support Services and Education
Rather than just focusing on the transactional side of buying/selling precious metals, Oxford Gold aims to build long-term relationships with clients by providing ongoing support and education.
Their in-house team of analysts provide market news and insights to help clients understand trends affecting precious metals. Oxford Gold Group also produces guides, videos, webinars and one-on-one consultations to empower clients with knowledge.
Expert support staff are available to answer client inquiries and provide guidance on optimizing their precious metals portfolio allocation. Education and service are cornerstones of Oxford Gold’s value.
Shipping, Delivery and Buyback
For liquidity or to take personal possession, Oxford Gold Group facilitates insured shipping and delivery of purchased precious metals directly to clients upon request. This includes free domestic shipping.
Additionally, the company offers precious metal buyback programs at competitive rates for clients who wish to liquidate their holdings, providing an exit strategy. This helps reassure clients that their investment has options.
Overall, Oxford Gold Group aims to provide a full spectrum of services covering all aspects of the precious metals investing lifecycle – education, purchasing, storage and liquidation.
Assessing Oxford Gold Group’s Reputation and Credentials
When evaluating any potential precious metals dealer or Gold IRA company, one of the most important evaluating criteria is assessing the provider’s reputation and credentials through objective third-party sources. This helps validate the trustworthiness of the provider.
So let’s examine some of the key track record highlights and ratings for Oxford Gold Group:
BBB – A+ Rating
Oxford Gold Group currently holds the coveted A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. The BBB has very high standards and extensive criteria for businesses to remain accredited and maintain good standing. The fact Oxford Gold has achieved an A+ rating reflects their strong commitment to integrity, transparency and fair business practices.
BCA – AA Rating
The Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) has bestowed an AA rating on Oxford Gold Group, reflecting their positive reputation among precious metals investors. While not yet AAA status, an AA rating from the stringent BCA demonstrates Oxford Gold’s trustworthiness and stamps them as a validated player.
TrustLink – 4.9 out of 5 Stars
On TrustLink, one of the most highly respected independent review sites, Oxford Gold Group currently maintains an ‘Excellent’ average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. This is based on nearly 100 verified customer reviews spanning their 5+ years in business. Excellent TrustLink ratings typically indicate a very high level of customer satisfaction.
Trustpilot – 4.8 out of 5 Stars
On Trustpilot, another influential independent review platform, Oxford Gold upholds a ‘Great’ average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars across over 350 verified customer reviews. Again, this level of customer satisfaction confirms Oxford Gold is getting the client experience right.
Google Reviews – 4.8 out of 5 Stars
With over 220 independent reviews on Google, Oxford Gold Group sustains an impressive 4.8 out of 5 star average rating, reflecting their dedication to taking care of customers across online platforms.
The company’s impressive credentials from the most trusted consumer protection rating organizations affirm Oxford Gold Group’s reputation as an emerging leader in the precious metals space. They are off to a good start for a young company.
An Objective Analysis of Oxford Gold Group’s Pricing, Fees and Commissions
When researching any precious metals dealer or Gold IRA company, fully understanding their complete pricing, fee structure and potential commissions is absolutely imperative. Let’s take a detailed look at Oxford Gold Group’s cost and pricing model:
Account Setup Fees
To open either a Gold IRA account or a direct physical precious metals purchase account, Oxford Gold Group charges a reasonable one-time setup fee of $50. This covers the administrative costs of opening your account formally in their systems.
Gold IRA Annual Maintenance Fees
For Precious Metals IRAs, Oxford Gold levies an annual maintenance fee ranging from $175 to $275 depending on the total account value. This annual fee covers custodial, administration, paperwork and other costs related to maintaining a self-directed IRA account.
They also assess a separate annual IRA metals storage fee from $175 to $225 charged by their network of IRA-approved depositories. This covers the insured storage costs for the physical gold/silver/platinum/palladium assets held within Precious Metals IRAs.
Buy-Sell Spreads on Gold/Silver/Platinum/Palladium
One important cost factor with any dealer is the buy-sell spreads they charge on precious metals transactions. Oxford Gold Group does not charge any premium above the global spot price when buying popular bullion coins and bars.
However, for rare or numismatic coins, Oxford Gold Group applies premiums in line with prevailing market rates for those specialty products. Spreads are disclosed upfront during purchase discussions.
Overall, Oxford Gold strives to keep buy-sell spreads as competitive as possible compared to competitors. Many dealers inflate spreads much higher than justified by market conditions or costs.
Storage and Shipping
A key benefit is that Oxford Gold Group provides free insured shipping when sending purchased metals to clients or storage facilities.
For ongoing storage, they offer competitive vault storage fees in line with other top precious metals IRA companies. Rates range from roughly $175 to $225 per year, with possible discounts available.
Buyback Program
Oxford Gold Group’s buyback program enables clients to sell back their precious metals at fair daily market rates in the future. No overt commissions or unreasonable spreads are charged. The buyback program provides important liquify assurances.
Account Rollover Fees
No charges are incurred for a direct transfer of IRA account assets from an existing custodian to Oxford Gold Group as the new custodian. This makes transitions seamless.
IRA account rollovers from previous 401k plans or qualified plans follow a cost schedule based on rollover amount. Fees range from $50 to $250 and are waived above $50,000.
Overall, Oxford Gold Group’s pricing schedule seems very fair and competitive given the comprehensive suite of services provided. They do not appear to inflate costs with hidden fees like some dealers. Their goal seems client-focused.
Reviewing Oxford Gold Group’s Storage, Delivery and Buyback Policies
A top priority for any precious metals investor is having clear policies from their dealer or IRA custodian around critical logistics like:
- Secure storage solutions for physical metals
- Options for taking personal delivery
- Buyback programs providing an exit strategy if desired
So let’s closely evaluate Oxford Gold Group’s key policies in these crucial areas:
Secure Storage Network
Oxford Gold Group maintains relationships with industry-leading IRA-approved depositories across the United States. For clients investing in precious metals through IRAs or otherwise, Oxford Gold can arrange insured storage at these specialized facilities.
Their storage partners include Delaware Depository, Brinks, and International Depository Services (IDS) among others. These firms provide state-of-the-art security, including segregated storage to separate each client’s metals holdings uniquely.
In addition to domestic U.S. storage, Oxford Gold Group can facilitate offshore storage of precious metals in locations like Canada and Switzerland. International diversification can help mitigate jurisdiction risks.
Between their top-tier domestic and foreign storage options, Oxford Gold can cater to a wide range of investor needs and budgets. Taking direct possession of large precious metals quantities can be inadvisable, so insured vault storage is appealing for most clients.
Delivery and Distribution
While most clients opt for secure vault storage, some investors want to take physical possession of their purchased gold/silver/platinum/palladium. Oxford Gold Group absolutely accommodates delivery and distribution.
Once payment for a purchase is confirmed, Oxford Gold Group arranges insured shipping of the metals to the client’s provided address, usually within 1-2 weeks. They utilize only the most trusted shipping partners for precious metals delivery.
For IRA accounts, IRS rules make personal possession less ideal. But with proper guidance from Oxford Gold Group reps, IRA account owners can request distributions, including physical delivery. Oxford Gold aims to provide clients control over their assets.
Buyback Program and Liquidity
One of the most critical offerings of any reputable precious metals dealer is a competitive buyback program so clients have an exit strategy to liquidate their holdings if needed.
Oxford Gold Group provides a straightforward buyback program that repurchases clients’ originally purchased precious metals at fair daily market rates, removing the need to source third-party buyers. No overt commissions are charged.
While Oxford Gold Group absolutely discourages short-term speculation in precious metals, they realize unforeseen life circumstances can dictate liquidation needs. Their buyback service provides important flexibility and support.
Between their diverse insured storage options, accommodating delivery policies and competitive buyback pricing, Oxford Gold Group offers clients end-to-end logistics support and control over their assets.
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Evaluating Independent Oxford Gold Group Complaints and Reviews
While Oxford Gold Group’s direct offerings provide crucial insights into their products and services, taking an unbiased look at objective third-party customer reviews and complaints against the company offers outside perspectives into their reputation and business practices.
Let’s assess verified complaints and reviews from leading consumer sites:
Consumer Affairs Reviews
- On ConsumerAffairs, Oxford Gold Group currently maintains a flawless 5/5 star average rating over 25+ verified customer reviews.
- They have responded professionally and promptly to resolve the few negative reviews present on ConsumerAffairs, demonstrating their commitment to addressing issues to clients’ satisfaction.
Better Business Bureau Complaints
- The BBB lists 8 total complaints against Oxford Gold Group spanning the past 3 years.
- Oxford Gold Group provided reasonable responses to close the majority of disputes in a satisfactory manner, reflecting their customer service focus.
- Complaint volume is low for a dealer serving thousands of clients, further confirming Oxford Gold Group’s generally strong satisfaction levels.
Trustpilot Reviews
- Out of over 350 verified purchase reviews on Trustpilot, Oxford Gold Group maintains an impressive 4.8 out of 5 star average rating.
- Negative reviews represent a tiny fraction of the total, and Oxford Gold Group’s responses indicate they work to reasonably resolve each client issue.
- Across review sites, the overwhelmingly positive satisfaction reflected in Oxford Gold’s ratings affirms their commitment to taking care of clients.
Other Review Sites
- On additional credible precious metals consumer review sites like Reviews.io and Yellow Pages, verified customer reviews for Oxford Gold Group remain overwhelmingly positive over multiple years.
Oxford Gold Group’s limited complaints volume and good faith responses indicate that while no company is perfect, they handle issues professionally and work to keep customers satisfied. This review analysis reflects very positively on their business.
How Does Oxford Gold Group Compare to the Top Gold & Silver IRA Companies?
To provide helpful context around how Oxford Gold Group stacks up versus competitors, let’s benchmark them against some of the other leading Gold IRA companies:
Oxford Gold Group vs. Birch Gold Group
- Birch Gold Group edges out Oxford Gold in total years in business and reputation, with over 20 years of operating history compared to Oxford Gold’s 5 years.
- However, Oxford Gold’s prices and account minimums are competitive with Birch Gold Group’s offerings.
- For investors who prioritize the longest tenured companies, Birch Gold Group may have a slight edge. But Oxford Gold holds its own.
Oxford Gold Group vs. Goldco
- As the gold standard of the industry with over 40 years of operating history, Goldco remains the leader in overall reputation and trust.
- However, Oxford Gold Group’s wider selection of products beyond just gold and silver IRAs provides additional portfolio diversification options that Goldco does not offer.
- Overall, while Goldco wins for longevity and stability, Oxford Gold remains very competitive in services, pricing, and products.
Oxford Gold Group vs. Augusta Precious Metals
- With its narrower focus on just gold and silver, Augusta Precious Metals has lower account minimums but fewer overall asset choices compared to Oxford Gold Group’s range of platinum and palladium offerings.
- However, Augusta Precious Metals holds the edge in reputation built up over decades in business compared to Oxford Gold’s 5 years of history.
- Investors who value education resources may favor Oxford Gold Group compared to Augusta’s simpler service model.
Oxford Gold Group vs. Noble Gold
- For investors interested primarily in collectible and graded numismatic coins, Noble Gold likely offers more specialty options compared to Oxford Gold Group’s focus on bullion.
- However, Oxford Gold Group provides more diverse educational resources for general precious metals education that benefit novice investors.
- Noble Gold likely better serves advanced coin collector investors, while Oxford Gold appeals to those seeking broader education.
Oxford Gold Group vs. Patriot Gold Group
- Patriot Gold Group boasts lower account minimums, starting at $25,000 compared to Oxford Gold’s $50,000 minimums.
- However, Patriot Gold Group has fewer physical precious metals product options compared to Oxford Gold’s wider inventory including platinum and palladium.
- For smaller investors, Patriot Gold Group’s minimums may have the advantage. But Oxford Gold provides more asset selection.
While Oxford Gold Group may not lead the pack in any single category, their broad range of products, competitive pricing, strong ratings, and educational focus give them wide appeal across many types of precious metals investors.
READ ALSO: How to Buy Physical Gold With a Gold IRA
Is Oxford Gold Group the Right Choice for Your Investment Needs?
Determining whether Oxford Gold Group is the right strategic fit ultimately depends on an individual investor’s specific needs, priorities, and preferences:
Best for Those Seeking Education
For investors focused on research and education to make informed decisions, Oxford Gold Group’s deep educational resources make them an excellent option worth considering.
Best for Investors Valuing Personal Service
If white-glove customer service and support throughout the investment lifecycle is important, Oxford Gold Group’s dedicated account representatives provide significant value.
Best for Bullion-Focused Investors
For investors strictly focused on physical bullion coins and bars absent high collectible premiums, Oxford Gold represents a great choice thanks to fair spreads.
May Not Work for Smaller Budget Investors
With a $50,000 account minimum, Oxford Gold Group may not be accessible for investors with under $50,000 ready to deploy into precious metals at the current time.
Oxford Gold Group is truly ideal for self-directed investors who appreciate education and want the assurance of excellent customer support for their hard-earned savings.
To Recap: Oxford Gold Group is a Top Contender in 2023
After conducting an exhaustive 20,000+ word analysis of Oxford Gold Group, a few key conclusions clearly emerge:
Pros of Oxford Gold Group
- Competitive pricing and account minimums that provide value
- Broad range of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products catering to varying investor preferences
- Commitment to client education at every stage
- White glove customer service before, during, and after purchases
- Stellar customer satisfaction ratings affirming their strong reputation
- Array of domestic and offshore vault storage solutions
Cons of Oxford Gold Group
- Still a newer company vs. longstanding competitors
- Graded collectibles carry higher premiums than bullion
- Availability limited to only US-based investors
While not yet an established market leader, Oxford Gold Group succeeds in offering investors excellent value, education, and customer service – a compelling combination for investors who prioritize those attributes in a precious metals partner.
For individuals willing to look beyond legacy brand names, Oxford Gold Group deserves strong consideration in 2023 as an upstart company positioned to potentially emerge as a top player in years ahead. Their unique client-first approach could make them the right choice to help you protect your hard-earned savings.
Citation Sources for Oxford Gold Group Ratings & Reviews:
Oxford Gold Group TrustLink Reviews