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TL;DR: Guidance Corporation (formerly Coinguide.com) is a family-run precious metals dealer based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with more than 35 years in the business. It holds an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, a 4.9 out of 5 score on Shopper Approved from 1,570 reviews, and a 4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, and its no-commission pricing model helps keep costs down. My verdict: Guidance Corporation is legitimate and worth considering for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium purchases or a precious metals IRA rollover, though its customer service contact options are limited.
If you searched “Guidance Corporation reviews” to find out whether this precious metals dealer is worth your money, the short answer is yes, with a couple of tradeoffs worth knowing before you buy. Starting a gold or silver investment can feel overwhelming with so many dealers competing for your business, and Guidance Corporation has been in that mix for decades. Below, I break down its pricing, product catalog, IRA program, and customer ratings so you can decide for yourself.
What Is Guidance Corporation?
Guidance Corporation, formerly Coinguide.com, is a family-run precious metals dealer based in Minnetonka, Minnesota with more than 35 years in the business, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and a no-commission pricing model that helps keep costs down for buyers.
Many investors praise the company’s customer service and its selection of precious metals, which includes certified and raw coins, among other products.
The company’s complete line of products goes beyond what many people expect. You can buy gold bullion, rare coins, and more.
When you sign up with Guidance Corporation, a team of specialists guides you through your purchase, with the goal of getting you the right product at what the company advertises as the lowest price. One reason prices run low is structural. Guidance Corporation is a family-run business, so the team does not pay commissions to outside salespeople, which keeps costs down for the buyer.
Guidance Corporation is also transparent about its credentials. The company shares its licenses and registrations on request, it is a member of the American Numismatic Association, and it carries strong reviews on the Better Business Bureau and other review platforms (more on those ratings below).
The company’s own slogan calls it “the internets low price leader for monster boxes,” and it posts current prices on its main page so you can check costs before you commit to an order.
What Makes Guidance Corporation Unique?
Guidance Corporation’s edge comes down to a no-commission, family-run pricing model, a fully certified product lineup spanning six metal categories, and more than 35 years of hands-on experience that shows up in both its pricing and its customer support.
Whether you want to buy gold bars or silver rounds, it may prove to be a solid option for those interested in diversifying their portfolio.
Here’s what makes Guidance Corporation stand out:
- Customer Support: Expect attentive customer support from this business. The family running the company is known for professionalism and attention to detail.
- Expert Advice: It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner. The Guidance Corporation team has more than 35 years of experience and is ready to help with whatever you need.
- Quality Guarantee: Every coin sold through Guidance Corporation is inspected for quality and authenticity. What you see is what you get.
- Competitive Prices: Guidance Corporation posts some of the more competitive prices on the market for precious metals, in part because the team does not pay outside sales commissions.
- Certifications: The team is fully licensed and sells coins through certified grading agencies like NGC and PCGS, so quality is not left to chance.
- Strong Ratings: Guidance Corporation carries an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4.9 out of 5 score on Shopper Approved.
Guidance Corporation checks most of the boxes buyers look for in a precious metals dealer. If you’re exploring options for your investment journey, it is worth a closer look.
All Products Offered by Guidance Corporation
Guidance Corporation carries six product lines: gold, silver, platinum, palladium, world gold coins, and pre-1933 U.S. gold.
Whether you’re a collector looking for something specific or someone interested in precious metals generally, there is likely something here that fits your needs and budget.
Here’s an overview of what to expect from each line.
Gold
Gold takes the spotlight for many buyers, and Guidance Corporation has a solid selection of coins and bars. Each product’s weight and purity are listed clearly, so you know exactly what you’re buying.
One of the most popular options is the American Eagle. If you want something different, the Austrian Philharmonic, first minted in 1989, is another well-known choice.
There are also specialty coins like the Chinese Panda and the Australian Kangaroo, both in demand for their history and purity. Rarer options include the 2022 Niue Gold Darth Vader and the 2022 British Sovereign coins.
Coins aren’t the only option. Guidance Corporation also sells gold bars in sizes ranging from 1 gram to 5 kilograms.
Silver
Silver rounds out the metals lineup. Guidance Corporation carries items from well-known mints, and if you want to stretch your budget further, “Monster Boxes” are an option. You can also buy coins from the Royal Canadian Mint, the United States Mint, and the Perth Mint.
For something less common, Guidance Corporation also carries products from the Royal Mint, the Mexican Mint, and the Cook Islands Mint.
Like gold, silver comes in a range of rounds and bars, including silver from Asahi and Engelhard, as well as LBMA-approved bars.
Silver’s price range makes it accessible even on a tighter budget, with plenty of options worth adding to a collection.
Platinum
Guidance Corporation offers platinum products with a fair amount of history behind them, sourced from mints around the world. The collection spans several themes, so it’s worth spending time browsing.
Popular options include:
- Platinum American Eagle
- Platinum Canadian Maple Leaf
- Australia 1oz Platinum Rabbit
- Platinum Royal Tudor Beast
Palladium
Palladium is a solid option for collectors and buyers looking for something less common. Popular choices include:
- Palladium American Eagle
- Palladium Canadian Maple Leaf
Palladium bars are also available, with prices varying by mint, design, and other features.
World Gold Coins
Guidance Corporation’s “World Gold” collection includes coins from France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Mexico, Austria, and other countries, a good fit for buyers who want a piece of history from outside the U.S.
Pre-1933 Gold
This collection covers U.S. gold coins minted before 1933, including:
- St. Gaudens Coins
- Liberty and Indian Coins
- Princess Coins
If you know where to look, you can find rarer pieces like the “$20 Liberty Double Eagle Gold” coin. Prices on these run higher because of their rarity.
How to Buy Precious Metals from Guidance Corporation
Buying from Guidance Corporation is a seven-step online checkout, similar in length to any major retail purchase.
Even first-time buyers get a guide to walk through the process. Here’s what to expect at each stage.
How Do You Place an Order?
Placing an order follows a straightforward sequence:
- Pick an Option: Browse Guidance Corporation’s selection of precious metals and choose what fits your needs and budget.
- Check the Prices: Guidance Corporation posts updated prices, so there’s no guesswork on cost. Certain payment methods or larger orders may qualify for deals.
- Build Your Cart: Add the items you want to your shopping cart. The site saves this information for later.
- Enter Your Shipping Information: Before you pay, enter your shipping details, including name and address.
- Choose Your Payment Method: Pick a payment method from the list below. Fees vary depending on which one you choose.
- Confirm Your Order: Double-check everything before confirming. Guidance Corporation emails payment instructions once you confirm.
- Pay: Complete payment following the instructions in that email.
After payment, you wait for the order to arrive. Guidance Corporation sends a confirmation email with the details of your purchase.
What Payment Methods Are Available?
Guidance Corporation supports several payment methods, and your order’s final cost depends on which one you pick.
Your options include:
- Credit/Debit Cards: Usable for orders up to $50,000, with a 4.75 percent extra charge.
- Wire and ACH Transfers: A convenient option for many buyers. Wire transfers require a 5 percent deposit that is refunded later.
- Paper Check: Checks take up to seven days to clear and can be used for orders up to $100,000.
- PayPal: Usable for orders up to $25,000, with a 4 percent extra charge per purchase.
- Zelle: No fees on orders up to $5,500, and payments are usually fast.
- Crypto: Guidance Corporation accepts Bitcoin, one of the fastest payment methods on this list.
About Price Locks and Order Changes
Guidance Corporation locks your order’s price at the time of payment, so you need to pay promptly to hold the price you saw when you built your cart.
You can change or cancel an order before paying if you have doubts. Once a deposit is paid, the order can no longer be changed.
How Does Shipping Work?
Shipping details are explained during checkout, and most orders qualify for free shipping. Here’s a quick overview:
- Free Shipping: Most larger orders ship free. Confirm eligibility before placing your order.
- Costs: Smaller orders may carry a shipping charge, ranging from $9.95 to $25 depending on the products and destination.
- Shipping Companies: Guidance Corporation ships through UPS and FedEx, and every order is fully insured.
- Shipping Timeline: Most orders ship within five to seven days.
- Tracking: Every order includes a tracking number sent by email.
What Services Does Guidance Corporation Offer?
Guidance Corporation offers two services beyond retail sales: a metals buyback program and a dedicated precious metals IRA program.
Here’s a closer look at each.
“Sell to Us”
Guidance Corporation also buys precious metals back at competitive prices, worth considering if you want to liquidate part of a collection.
To sell your precious metals:
- Contact the Team: Reach out to Guidance Corporation through its website to start the conversation and ask any questions you have.
- Submit the Sale Form: Once you have the information you need, complete the company’s online sale form, or call to agree on a price directly.
- Ship the Items: Guidance Corporation provides a prepaid, insured shipping label along with instructions once the order is finalized.
- Get Paid: The company inspects your items against what was advertised, and once confirmed, sends payment promptly.
Precious Metals IRA Program
A precious metals IRA is one way to diversify a retirement portfolio, though it comes with its own rules. Working with an IRA specialist who knows the details tends to make the process smoother.
Guidance Corporation runs a dedicated IRA program and partners with these custodians:
- GoldStar Trust
- IRA Club
- STRATA Trust
- Equity Trust
- The Entrust Group
Opening the Account
Setting up a precious metals IRA starts with opening a custodian account. Under IRS rules, you cannot hold IRA-owned precious metals yourself before retirement age. A self-directed IRA through one of these custodians keeps the account compliant.
Funding the Account
You can fund the account manually, or through a transfer or rollover from another retirement account.
A transfer moves funds between two IRA custodians directly, useful if you already have an IRA and want to switch providers. Contact your current custodian and request the transfer, and they handle the rest.
A rollover works a little differently and can draw from a wider range of account types, including:
- 401(k)
- 403(b)
- 457(b)
- SIMPLE IRA
- SEP IRA
You can choose between an indirect or a direct rollover. With an indirect rollover, you receive the funds yourself and have 60 days to deposit them into the new account. Miss that window and you may owe taxes plus a 10 percent penalty. A direct rollover skips that risk. Your current custodian sends the funds straight to the new one.
Buying Precious Metals
Once your account is funded, you can begin buying IRA-approved precious metals. The IRS limits IRA metal purchases to products that meet minimum purity standards, a rule that carves specific gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars out of the general collectibles ban under IRC Section 408(m)(3). Guidance Corporation maintains a selection of approved precious metals that already meet these standards, so you don’t have to check eligibility product by product.
IRA-approved Precious Metals
Guidance Corporation’s IRA-eligible lineup meets IRS purity and eligibility guidelines. Options include:
- American Gold Eagles
- American Gold Buffalos
- Canadian Silver Maple Leafs
- Canadian Platinum Maple Leafs
- American Palladium Eagles
Guidance Corporation also carries gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars eligible for an IRA. Check the company’s website directly for the full current list of IRA-approved products.
Guidance Corporation Reviews and Ratings
Guidance Corporation holds strong marks across every major review platform I checked: A+ with the Better Business Bureau, 4.9 out of 5 on Shopper Approved, and 4 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Here’s the breakdown:
- The Better Business Bureau gave Guidance Corporation an A+ rating along with an average customer score of 4.71 out of 5, meaning most reviewers report being satisfied with the company.
- Shopper Approved gave Guidance Corporation a 4.9 out of 5 rating, based on an average of 1,570 reviews, a strong score at that review volume.
- Trustpilot gave Guidance Corporation a 4 out of 5 rating based on seven reviews, a smaller sample than the other two platforms, but still a solid score.
Across these platforms, reviewers most often praise the company’s customer service, pricing, and shipping.
Guidance Corporation Competitors
Guidance Corporation competes with a handful of other precious metals dealers, though my overall top pick sits elsewhere.
This company has a few competitors offering similar services, including Genesis Gold Group, PreserveGold, and the company I recommend and personally use, the #1 gold IRA firm Goldco.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Guidance Corporation?
The tradeoff is straightforward. Guidance Corporation wins on price and product depth, and gives up a little ground on live customer support access. Here’s the summary.
Pros
- Ease of use: The site posts live pricing, so you know the cost before you buy.
- Updated prices: Current market pricing is available without needing to call for a quote.
- Team expertise: The Minnetonka-based, family-run team brings more than 35 years of experience to every order.
- Wide selection of products: Six product lines, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, world gold coins, and pre-1933 gold, span both IRA-eligible bullion and collector coins.
- Fast and safe shipping: Orders ship insured through UPS or FedEx with tracking, typically within five to seven days.
Cons
- Lack of contact options for customer service: Reaching a live representative takes more effort than checking prices or placing an order online.
- Lack of variety for platinum and palladium products: The platinum and palladium lineups run to a handful of coins each, thinner than the gold and silver catalog.
Is Guidance Corporation a Legit Business?
Yes, Guidance Corporation is a legitimate, licensed precious metals dealer with a clean reputation across the review platforms I checked.
Customer service isn’t perfect every time, but there isn’t a pattern of complaints serious enough to affect the company’s standing.
Most reviewers speak well of the company and its product selection, which supports treating it as a trustworthy option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guidance Corporation a legitimate company?
Yes. Guidance Corporation holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, a 4.9 out of 5 score on Shopper Approved, and a 4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, and it is a member of the American Numismatic Association.
What was Guidance Corporation formerly called?
Guidance Corporation previously operated under the name Coinguide.com.
Where is Guidance Corporation based?
The company is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Does Guidance Corporation offer a precious metals IRA?
Yes. Guidance Corporation runs a Precious Metals IRA Program and partners with custodians including GoldStar Trust, IRA Club, STRATA Trust, Equity Trust, and The Entrust Group.
What payment methods does Guidance Corporation accept?
Guidance Corporation accepts credit and debit cards, wire and ACH transfers, paper checks, PayPal, Zelle, and Bitcoin. Fees and order limits vary by method.
Does Guidance Corporation buy back precious metals?
Yes, through its “Sell to Us” program. You submit a sale form, ship your items using a prepaid, insured label, and get paid once the company verifies the order.
Conclusion
The bottom line: Guidance Corporation is a solid pick for buyers who want low-commission pricing and a wide product catalog, backed by a long track record and strong third-party ratings.
There are many ways to prepare for your investment journey, including researching a company yourself or requesting a free gold IRA kit to get the information you need to make an informed purchase.
Reading reviews on the companies you’re considering is one of the simplest ways to verify whether their service is worth your time. I hope this review of Guidance Corporation has helped you decide if it is the right fit for your gold or silver purchase.
Always consult your own tax and financial professionals before moving retirement funds or making a large precious metals purchase.
Disclosure: Guidance Corporation and other companies featured on this page may compensate me if you click through and buy. This is how I keep this research free for readers, and it does not change the verdict above. My full disclosure of who I’ve invested with is available for transparency.
By Tim Schmidt + Sean Webster Reviewed by Sean Webster
