Guidance Corporation Review – Is This Company Legit?

By Tim Schmidt - UPDATED: October 9, 2024

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Starting your gold investment journey is tough. With so many gold IRA companies out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed. The right partner can make all the difference when working on your retirement or collection.

Guidance Corporation is a company that has been around for a while. Whether you want to buy Mexican gold, American silver eagles, or any other precious metals, this company offers plenty of solutions that could work.

I want to help you make the most out of your precious metals investments, so today, I'll explore Guidance Corporation and all the features it offers. If you're interested in this company but haven't decided if it's worth your time yet, keep reading. You'll find all the information you need below.

What Is Guidance Corporation?

Guidance Corporation is a company based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It used to be called "Coinguide.com." Many investors praise this company's customer service and selection of precious metals, which includes certified and raw coins, among other products.

The company has over 35 years of experience, and its complete line of products goes beyond what many people expect. You can buy gold bullion, rare coins, and more.

When you sign up for Guidance Corporation, you'll be greeted by a team of specialists. Their job is to guide you through your purchases, ensuring you get the right product at the guaranteed lowest price.

Why are prices so low with Guidance Corporation? One of the reasons is that this is a family-run business, meaning that the team doesn't have to pay commissions to salespeople. In other words, you're getting a high-quality service for a much lower price.

I was happy to know that Guidance Corporation doesn't mind being transparent. Whether you want to check its licenses or registrations, the company will gladly share them. Guidance Corporation is a member of the American Numismatic Association, and it also has great reviews on reputable places like the Better Business Bureau.

This business claims it's "the internets low price leader for monster boxes" in its slogan, and it's easy to see why. You can easily check the latest prices on its main page, so you don't have to worry about unexpected fees.

What Makes Guidance Corporation Unique?

Guidance Corporation has plenty of points in its favor. Whether you want to buy gold bars or silver rounds, it may prove to be an excellent option for those interested in diversifying their portfolio.

Here's what makes Guidance Corporation special:

• Customer Support: Expect top customer support from this business. The family running this company is known for its professionalism and attention to detail.
• Expert Advice: It doesn't matter if you're a beginner in this world. You can rely on the experts from Guidance Corporation for advice. They have over 35 years of experience and are ready to help you with anything you need.
• Quality Guarantee: All the coins sold through Guidance Corporation are inspected for quality and authenticity. What you see is what you get.
• Great Prices: Guidance Corporation has some of the best prices on the market when it comes to precious metals. The team doesn't have to pay commissions to other people, so these savings make the prices go down.
• Certifications: These experts are fully licensed. They also sell coins through certified agencies like the NGC and PCGS. You don't have to worry about quality with this company.
• Excellent Ratings: Guidance Corporation has plenty of great reviews and ratings, including an A+ on the Better Business Bureau and a 4.9/5 in Shopper Approved.

According to my research, Guidance Corporation checks all the boxes when it comes to quality assurance. If you're exploring options for your investment journey, this company might do the trick.

All Products Offered by Guidance Corporation

One of the best parts of Guidance Corporation is that it offers a great selection of products. Whether you're a collector looking for specific products or someone interested in all precious metals, you will surely find something that adapts to your needs and budget.

I took the liberty of exploring this company's entire lineup of products. Here's an overview of what you can expect:

Gold

Gold takes the spotlight for many people, and Guidance Corporation has a great selection of coins and bars that you can get. You can easily check each product's weight and pureness, so you know exactly what you're buying at all times.

One of the greatest options there is the American Eagle, which is one of the most popular ones in the market. If you're interested in something else, try getting the Austrian Philharmonic, which was made back in 1989.

There are also special coins like the Chinese Panda and the Australian Kangaroo. They're in high demand because of their rich history and pureness. Other rare options include the 2022 Niue Gold Darth Vader and the 2022 British Sovereign coins.

Coins aren't the only products to get, though. You may buy premium-quality gold bars, which come in many sizes, ranging from 1 gram to 5 kilograms.

Silver

We can't forget about silver when buying precious metals. Guidance Corporation has many items from famous mints. If you want to make the most out of your money, you could buy "Monster Boxes." You can also get coins from reputable places like the Royal Canadian Mint, the United States Mint, and the Perth Mint.

Those who want to explore other unique options may browse products from the Royal Mint, the Mexican Mint, and other great places like the Cook Islands Mint.

Like gold, silver has a decent selection of rounds and bars that you can choose from. You can expect silver from Asahi or Engelhard, as well as LBMA-approved bars.

One of the main benefits of silver is that you have a wide range of prices to consider. Even if you're on a budget, you will find many interesting options that you can add to your collection.

Platinum

Guidance Corporation prides itself on being able to offer platinum products with a rich history. You can find many products from reputable "mints" worldwide. The company's collection of platinum products has many themes, so you can spend quite some time looking for an option that suits you.

Some popular options include:

• Platinum American Eagle
• Platinum Canadian Maple Leaf
• Australia 1oz Platinum Rabbit
• Platinum Royal Tudor Beast

Palladium

Palladium is always a fantastic option for collectors and those wanting to buy unique precious metals. Some of the greatest options include:

• Palladium American Eagle
• Palladium Canadian Maple Leaf

You can also get palladium bars if you're interested. The prices vary depending on the mint, design, and other unique features.

World Gold Coins

Guidance Corporation's "World Gold" collection comes with coins from many places around the world, including France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Mexico, Austria, and more.

This collection is perfect for those who want a piece of history from other countries.

Pre-1933 Gold

As the name implies, this collection includes U.S. gold coins made before 1933. The company has many interesting options, including:

• St. Gaudens Coins
• Liberty and Indian Coins
• Princess Coins

If you know where to look, you can find unique gems like the "$20 Liberty Double Eagle Gold" coin. Of course, the value of these products will be slightly higher because of their rarity.

How to Buy Precious Metals from Guidance Corporation

After some testing, I can say that buying any precious metal from Guidance Corporation is easy. Even if this is your first time buying from the company, the team is kind enough to provide you with a guide.

Don't worry, though; I compiled all the information you need and wrote it below, so you don't have to look elsewhere for the information. Here's what you need to know:

How Do You Place an Order?

Placing an order involves following a series of steps. Once you get the hang of it, it won't take you long to buy what you want. Follow this guide:

1. Pick an Option: Enter Guidance Corporation's main page, and browse its selection of precious metals. Pick the ones that suit your needs and budget the best.
2. Check the Prices: Guidance Corporation gives everyone updated prices, so there's no need to worry about paying more than you need to. You may get some deals if you decide to pay with specific methods or buy many products.
3. Build Your Cart: To get your order placement started, put all the items you want in the shopping cart. The website will save that information for later.
4. Enter Your Shipping Information: Before you pay, you must enter all the information required for shipping, including your name, address, etc.
5. Choose Your Payment Method: Pick one of the payment methods from the list. You may have to pay a few fees depending on the option you choose.
6. Confirm Your Order: You're almost done! Double-check everything you just did to ensure you didn't make any mistakes. If you're sure of your pick, confirm your order. Guidance Corporation will send you an email with payment instructions.
7. Pay: Pay for your order by following the instructions you got from the company.

That's all! When you're done paying, you only have to wait until the order arrives at the place you chose. Guidance Corporation will send you a confirmation email with everything you need to know about your purchase.

What Payment Methods Are Available?

This company is known for offering many payment methods. Keep in mind that your order's price will vary depending on the method you choose.

Your options include:

• Credit/Debit Cards: Use your cards to pay for orders up to $50,000. You'll have to pay a 4.75% extra charge if you use this method.
• Wire and ACH Transfers: These transfers are among the most convenient options for customers. If you choose wire transfers, you will have to pay a 5% deposit that you'll get back later.
• Paper Check: Checks take up to seven days to clear, and you can use them to pay orders up to $100,000.
• PayPal: PayPal allows you to pay orders up to $25,000. However, you must pay a 4% extra charge for each purchase.
• Zelle: Zelle payments don't come with fees for orders up to $5,500. They're usually fast.
• Crypto: Guidance Corporation allows you to pay with Bitcoin. This is one of the fastest methods on the list.

About Price Locks and Order Changes

Guidance Corporation will lock your order's price at the time of payment. However, you must pay right away if you want to keep the price as it was when you built the cart.

You can change or cancel your order if you have any doubts before paying. Keep in mind that if you paid the deposit already, you can't make any changes to your purchase.

How Does Shipping Work?

You can expect different guidelines when it comes to receiving your orders. The good news is that most orders come with free shipping.

All of the shipping information is explained to you during the payment stage. However, here's a quick overview of what you need to know:

• Free Shipping: Most "big" orders come with free shipping. Make sure to check if you apply for this benefit before placing your order.
• Costs: You may have to pay for shipping if your order is small enough. Costs will range from $9.95 to $25, depending on the products you buy and where you're sending them.
• Shipping Companies: Guidance Corporation works with professional companies like UPS and FedEx. Each order is fully insured, so there's no need to worry about that.
• Shipping Timeline: Most orders will take from five to seven days to ship.
• Tracking: All orders come with a tracking number, which you'll receive via email. You can use this number to check where your order is at all times.

What Services Does Guidance Corporation Offer?

Guidance Corporation offers many extra services that will interest you. Here is a brief explanation of each one:

"Sell to Us"

You can easily sell your precious metals with Guidance Corporation. The company offers competitive prices, so if you're interested in getting the most value possible, this may be an option worth considering.

To sell your precious metals, you must do the following:

• Contact the Team: The first step is to contact the company. You can either call them at 1-800-526-7765 or email the team at president@coinguide.com. Feel free to ask as many questions as you consider appropriate.
• Submit the Sale Form: When you get all the information you need, it's time to finalize the sale. Complete the company's form online to take care of the rest of the details. You can also call the team to agree on a price directly.
• Ship the Items: Guidance Corporation will provide you with a prepaid and insured shipping label. It will ensure that everything goes smoothly. You'll get more instructions for shipping once you finalize the order.
• Get Paid: The company will receive and check your product to ensure it is what you advertised. If everything is correct, the team will send your payment right away.

Precious Metals IRA Program

An IRA is an excellent way to work on your retirement portfolio. However, you must consider many guides and regulations if you want to make the most out of it.

In these cases, the best thing you can do is to work with an IRA expert who can discuss all the details you need for success. Guidance Corporation has a team ready to prepare your IRA through a specialized program. They'll help you while you open your account, and they'll also ensure that you get the right products for your portfolio.

Guidance Corporation partners with popular IRA custodians, including:

• GoldStar Trust
• IRA Club
• STRATA Trust
• Equity Trust
• The Entrust Group

In other words, you can expect top-tier service when managing your account. All investors' needs are unique, so these experts will ensure that you're making the right call at all times.

Opening the Account

To start your precious metals IRA, you must open your custodian account first. According to the IRS, you can't hold precious metals on your own, at least not until you reach retirement age. The solution is to keep all your products in a custodian account. By setting up a self-directed IRA through a custodian, you won't have to worry about any legal problems.

Funding the Account

Next, you must fund the account. Some people decide to do this manually, and this method allows them to start buying their products right away.

The second option is to set up a transfer or rollover from another retirement account. You can make a transfer if you already have an IRA and want to change custodians. All you have to do is contact your current custodian and request a transfer. They should take care of the rest themselves.

A rollover is slightly different. Here, you're moving your retirement funds from one account to the other. One of the main benefits of rollovers is that you can do them from a wider variety of retirement accounts, including:

• 401(k)
• 403(b)
• 407(b)
• SIMPLE IRA
• SEP IRA

You can choose between an indirect or a direct rollover. With the indirect rollover, you're responsible for depositing the funds into the IRA. Your current custodian will send you the money, and you have 60 days to deposit that into the new account. If you fail to do it, you may have to pay taxes and face a 10% penalty.

The direct rollover is much easier. Here, your current custodian will send a check to your new one, and they will handle the rest.

Buying Precious Metals

Once your account is up and running, you can start buying precious metals. In this case, you can only buy products approved by the IRS.

The good news is that you don't have to remember which metals are eligible. Guidance Corporation has a selection of approved precious metals, and all you have to do is choose the ones that you like the most.

IRA-approved Precious Metals

You can leave the guesswork out of the equation with Guidance Corporation. The team's selection of precious metals meets IRS guidelines surrounding purity and general eligibility. Some of the options include:

• American Gold Eagles
• America Gold Buffalos
• Canadian Silver Maple Leafs
• Canadian Platinum Maple Leafs
• American Palladium Eagles

This company also has a selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars that you can get for your account. Feel free to check all the IRA products available directly on the Guidance Corporation's website.

Guidance Corporation Reviews and Ratings

As mentioned before, Guidance Corporation has quite a great reputation. Most websites speak highly of this team's service and product selection, which is excellent news for those looking for a reliable company.

Here's an overview of what people say about Guidance Corporation:

• The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gave Guidance Corporation an A+ rating, meaning it passed the company's quality requirements. Also, it has an average score of 4.71/5, meaning that most people are happy with what the team offers.
• Shopper Approved gave Guidance Corporation a 4.9/5 rating. The rating comes from an average of 1,570 reviews. With almost a perfect score, you can rest assured that this company has met most people's needs.
• Trustpilot, one of the most reputable review sources online, gave Guidance Corporation a 4/5 rating based on seven reviews. Although there were not many reviews compared to other websites, the company still managed to achieve an excellent score.

Most people praise the company's customer service, prices, and shipping.

Guidance Corporation Competitors

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?

Here's a summary of all the pros and cons you can expect from Guidance Corporation:

Pros

• Ease of use
• Updated prices
• Team expertise
• Wide selection of products
• Fast and safe shipping

Cons

• Lack of contact options for customer service
• Lack of variety for platinum and palladium products

Is Guidance Corporation a Legit Business?

My research concludes that Guidance Corporation is a reputable company that strives to offer the best service to its clients. Even though the customer service may not be perfect all the time, I didn't see enough complaints that could affect the company's reputation.

Most users love the company and its product selection, so I don't see a reason why you shouldn't trust the team.

Conclusion

There are many ways to prepare for your investment journey. You could do research and/or seek a free gold IRA kit, for example. These solutions will help you get the information necessary to make an educated purchase.

By reading reviews about your favorite companies, you can verify if their service is worth your time.

I hope my review of Guidance Corporation has helped you. If you're looking for a solid team that will put your satisfaction as a priority, this may be a great option to consider.