2026 Editorial Review
Lear Capital Review
Lear Capital is a long-established Los Angeles dealer with an unusually transparent, publicly posted fee schedule and a low $10,000 minimum. We list it for completeness and fairness, but a careful saver should weigh those strengths against a well-documented regulatory and financial history, including a 2022 Chapter 11 filing and multistate investor-refund settlements.
Lear Capital
Best for: Fee-schedule-conscious entry investors
Our editorial score
Account minimum
$10,000
External link to the company's official website, provided for your research.
The bottom line
Lear Capital is a long-established Los Angeles dealer (since 1997) with an A+ BBB rating, a $10,000 minimum, and a transparently published custody fee schedule. Prospective buyers should weigh that against its well-documented regulatory and financial history, including a 2022 Chapter 11 filing and multistate investor-refund settlements.
The facts, at a glance
Compiled from public sources; verify current figures directly with the company.
- Founded
- 1997
- Headquarters
- Los Angeles, California
- BBB rating
- A+ (accredited)
- Account minimum
- $10,000
- Fees
- Publishes a flat-rate schedule: first year about $315 (non-segregated) or $365 (segregated) — roughly $50 application, $30 wire, $125 maintenance, and $110/$160 storage — then about $235/$285 recurring. These are custody/storage fees only; dealer coin markups are separate. Note: Lear's pricing on some collector coins was the subject of regulatory action (see cons).
- Metals offered
- Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
- Storage partners
- Delaware Depository, Brink's, International Depository Services (IDS)
- Custodian partners
- Equity Trust, STRATA Trust
What stands out
- ★Publicly published flat-rate fee schedule
- ★Flat storage pricing regardless of account growth
- ★Low $10,000 minimum
- ★Long operating history (since 1997)
In its favor
- ✓Unusually transparent, publicly posted flat-rate fee schedule
- ✓Low $10,000 minimum with predictable flat storage pricing
- ✓Long track record (since 1997) with a full range of IRS-approved metals
- ✓Insured, top-tier depository options
Worth weighing
- —Documented regulatory and financial history: a 2021 New York AG settlement, a 2022 Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and a 2023 multistate investor-refund resolution
- —Dealer coin markups are separate from the published custody fees and have historically been high on some collector coins
- —Has faced repeated criticism over sales tactics around moving retirement funds into metals
Lear Capital: common questions
What is the minimum investment for Lear Capital?+
Lear Capital lists a stated account minimum of $10,000. Always confirm the current minimum directly with the company before opening an account.
What fees does Lear Capital charge?+
Publishes a flat-rate schedule: first year about $315 (non-segregated) or $365 (segregated) — roughly $50 application, $30 wire, $125 maintenance, and $110/$160 storage — then about $235/$285 recurring. These are custody/storage fees only; dealer coin markups are separate. Note: Lear's pricing on some collector coins was the subject of regulatory action (see cons).
Which metals does Lear Capital offer in an IRA?+
Lear Capital offers the following IRS-approved metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium.
Is Lear Capital BBB accredited?+
Lear Capital carries a A+ Better Business Bureau rating and is BBB-accredited according to BBB.org. Ratings can change, so verify the current standing yourself.
Sources we consulted
- https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/los-angeles/profile/precious-metal-dealers/lear-capital-inc-1216-13059407
- https://www.learcapital.com/knowledgebase/gold-ira/gold-ira-fee-structure/
- https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/petition_6.17.2021.pdf
- https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2023/08/04/states-recoup-overcharges-for-investors-in-commodity-firm-bankruptcy
- https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/coin-dealer-lear-capital-files-bankruptcy-to-corral-legal-woes
Facts last reviewed 2026-06. Ratings are our independent editorial opinion, not user reviews. Macro and pricing figures referenced are approximate and may change.