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When you’re new to the world of investing in precious metals like gold and silver, things can appear confusing. After all, there are hundreds of different IRAs that seem to feature basically the same products. And to make things more confusing, each of these companies claims to be the best. One company that you may wish to consider in your search is Pacific Premier IRA.
If you’re considering Pacific Premier, it hardly comes as a surprise. This well-established investment firm offers self-directed IRAs and covers everything from real estate markets and precious metals to promissory notes and marketable securities.
But is it the best place for your gold and silver IRAs? That’s exactly what this review aims to find out.
Table of Contents
Pacific Premier Trust Company Overview
Pacific Premier Trust has been in business since December 1989. You may also consider this a PENSCO Trust Company review since that was the original name of this company. In June 2020, PENSCO and Premier Bank merged to form the Pacific Premier Trust.
Over the years, the company has built up a sturdy reputation and moved itself up to the highest ranks. One of the best-performing banks in the country, Pacific Premier Bank® has assets of about $20 billion.
Specializing in alternative assets and individual-directed IRAs, this company can offer plenty of guidance and expertise. From Precious metals to real estate and other standard or alternative investments, Pacific Premier Trust has you covered.
Pacific Premier IRA Inc. Products and Services
As is usually the case with well-established and respectable IRAs, Pacific Premier offers investors the opportunity to invest in an array of different portfolio items. Let’s begin by taking a look at the area we’re most interested in – precious metals.
Precious Metals IRAs
For those interested in precious metals as an IRA investment option, Pacific Premier offers access to a range of different options. Essentially, you have the opportunity to invest in one of four main types of metal:
- Gold
- Silver
- Platinum
- Palladium
In terms of which bars and coins you can invest in through Pacific Premier, you’ll have access to the following.
Gold Coins & Bars:
- American Eagle Coins
- Australian Nugget Coins
- Australian Kangaroo Coins
- Austrian Philharmonic Coins
- Canadian Maple Leaf Coins
- Credit Suisse (.999 Pamp Suisse Bars)
- U.S. Buffalo Gold Coins (Uncirculated)
- .9995 Gold Bars And Rounds Produced by:
- Nymex
- Comex
- LME
- LBMA
- NYSE
- Liffe
- CBOT
- ISO-9000
- A National Mint
Silver Coins & Bars:
- American Eagle Coins
- Australian Kookaburra Coins
- Austrian Vienna Philharmonic Coins
- Canadian Maple Leaf Coins
- Mexican Liberated Coins
- Silver Bars and Rounds Produced by:
- Nymex
- Comex
- LME
- LBMA
- NYSE
- Liffe
- CBOT
- ISO-9000
- A National Mint
Platinum Coins & Bars:
- American Eagle Coins
- Australian Koala Coins
- Canadian Maple Leaf Coins
- Isle of Man Noble Coins
- Platinum Bars and Coins Produced by:
- Nymex
- Comex
- LME
- LBMA
- NYSE
- Liffe
- CBOT
- ISO-9000
- A National Mint
Palladium Coins & Bars:
- Palladium Bars and Coins Produced by:
- Nymex
- Comex
- LME
- LBMA
- NYSE
- Liffe
- CBOT
- ISO-9000
- A National Mint
All things considered, Pacific Premier Trust offers the opportunity to invest in a wide array of different precious metals. It’s essential to note that PENSCO Trust Company is not a dealer in precious metals. You can invest in precious metals as part of your IRA, but the acquisition of said metals will take place through an accredited dealer.
Real Estate
Pacific Premier Trust Company also allows individuals to invest in real estate as part of their IRA. In this manner, you can take advantage of the advantages of real estate investing and further diversify your investment portfolio. With a Pacific Premier IRA, the following can be held in your tax-favored plan:
- Residential properties, including apartments, houses, and condos
- Commercial properties like retail stores, shopping centers, office buildings, and hotels.
- Raw land and vacant lots
- Promissory notes (if secured by mortgages or trust deeds)
It’s worth noting that additional types of properties may be considered under certain circumstances. It’s also worth noting that any properties invested in through your IRA belong directly to the IRA and cannot be taken advantage of for your personal use.
Private Equity
Investing in private equity is buying a stake in a private company, usually a startup. Private equity IRAs are particularly appealing due to the fact that they are tax-advantaged and can produce a respectable return on investment.
At Pacific Premier Trust, you can invest in private equity in one of two ways:
- Investing in a pooled investment fund or vehicle that may include Funds of Funds, Venture Capital Funds, or Private Equity Funds.
- Investing directly into private businesses and receiving equity interest in exchange.
Pacific Premier Trust can hold a range of different private equity types as a custodian. Some of these include the following:
- Limited Partnerships
- Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
- Private Common Stock
- Private Preferred Stock
- Private Rights, Options, and Warrants
- Private Hedge Funds
- Funds of Funds
- Private Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- Non-Exchange Traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
In short, when trading with Pacific Premier Trust, you have access to a wide range of different private equity investment options.
Marketable Securities
One of the hot investment options in uncertain times, marketable securities are always a great hedge fund. PENSCO Premier Trust reviews have shown that this Trust gives you access to a range of marketable securities.
Marketable securities are advantageous because they allow you to combine your alternative assets and traditional investments. Some of the different options for investing in this arena through Pacific Premier Trust include the following:
- Stocks
- ETFs
- Bonds
- Mutual Funds
- CDs
- Annuities
As you can tell, there’s a range of different options available at PENSCO Trust Company when you’re interested in investing in marketable securities. This is an excellent way to expand and enlarge your portfolio.
Other Investments
Other investments available at this company include a variety of less common options. You may want to consider investment opportunities like:
- Wind farms
- Land rights
- Mineral rights
- Peer-to-peer lending
- Promissory notes
Pacific Premier IRA Fees & Costs
As with any other business, Pacific Premier Trust needs to make an income while providing services. Their fees mainly take one of three forms, namely:
- Administrative and maintenance fees
- Transactional fees
- Account closure fees
Let’s take a brief look at what you can expect from these fees at Pacific Premier Trust.
Administration and Maintenance Fees
Administration fees at this company depend on the amount of money in your account. There are minimum required amounts for each type of account, specifically:
- Accounts holding real estate must contain at least $5,000
- All other accounts must hold at least $1,000
The administration fees for their accounts are calculated based on the amount of funds. Specifically, you can expect to pay the following:
- 0.3% on the first $1,000,000
- 0.15% on the next $4,000,000
- 0.10% on a balance of $5,000,000 or more
Transactional Fees
Pacific Premier also charges fees for an array of different transactions. For example, if you require a disbursement of funds, you will pay between $15-35 per instance. Only ACH is free.
Written and telephonic distributions incur a cost of $20.
For a full list of all transactional fees, please refer to the Pacific Premier Fee Schedule.
Account Closure Fees
If you decide to close your account, you’ll be liable for the account closure fee of $225. In addition to this base fee, you’ll also need to pay for asset reregistration. This is a cost of $75 per asset and any additional fees charged by the third party.
Customer Support
Considering you’re investing your hard-earned cash, it’s important to know exactly how and where to contact Pacific Premier Trust.
Fortunately, their contact page lists multiple options. You can use the general contact form or contact a specific department via telephone or email.
Pacific Premier Trust Reviews
Pacific Premier Trust, unfortunately, doesn’t reflect all that well based on customer reviews. This company isn’t accredited by the BBB and has a rating of only 1.05/5. Likewise, Yelp only gives it a rating of 1.1/5.
Most of the complaints seem to be about efficient processing and a lack of communication.
Getting Started with Pacific Premier IRA
Fortunately, the process of opening an IRA with Pacific Premier is relatively easy. Simply register online by using the form provided on the website. It’s fast and simple, and your application can be monitored online if you register for online use.
You’ll generally also need to supply identification documents and personal information. The process should take no more than a few days, and a representative from the Trust will contact you if necessary.
Pros and Cons
Every company has advantages and disadvantages, and PENSCO Trust Company is no different.
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Final Thoughts
While, on the face of things, Pacific Premier Trust seems like a fantastic investment company, there are some potential pitfalls. The main concern is the number of negative client reviews.
It’s natural for there to be some client dissatisfaction, but when it starts becoming a habitual thing, that’s very concerning.
On all other levels, this is an excellent company with a lot to recommend. If you want to read more about other IRA options, be sure to look at some of our other reviews:
Article Sources
At Gold IRA Blueprint, we dive deep into the world of gold IRAs, using trusted sources to back up our insights. Our sources range from official documents to expert interviews, ensuring our content is both accurate and reliable. We also draw on research from reputable publishers to give you the most comprehensive understanding possible. Check out our editorial policy to see how we maintain our high standards for accuracy and fairness. Also make sure to check out our Financial Review Process to have a better understanding of our process.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/pacific-premier-trust-san-francisco
https://www.bbb.org/us/co/denver/profile/bank/pacific-premier-trust-1296-1000109320
