Hard Assets Alliance: In‑Depth Review

These days, when confidence in government-backed fiat currencies has slipped, more Australians are turning to precious metals. Gold in particular is often seen as a sensible safeguard — a way to preserve purchasing power and help hedge against inflation.

As with any investment, choosing a trustworthy partner is essential. If you’re weighing up Hard Assets Alliance (HAA), you may be wondering whether it’s worth your time and money. Drawing on decades in the industry, I’ve pulled together what you need to know so you can decide with confidence.

Let’s take a closer look at HAA and what it brings to the table.

Hard Assets Alliance: A Quick Overview

Founded in 2010 in the United States, Hard Assets Alliance operates as a precious metals brokerage. It positions itself as a straightforward, no-fuss platform where investors can buy, sell and manage metals from one dashboard. The interface is simple to navigate, which makes getting started relatively easy.

In terms of products, HAA offers a selection across gold and silver, with platinum also available. Although US-based, the company services international clients for both purchasing and shipping.

Anyone can open an account, but international delivery is currently limited to Australia, the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.

There are a few caveats to note. The company does not publish details about ownership or its executive team, and all storage arrangements are handled by third-party vault providers.

Those points warrant a closer look at its services, fees and support. Here’s what I found.

The Best Gold IRA Companies in 2025

Before diving deeper into this review, it’s worth noting I’ve assessed dozens of precious metals IRA providers over the past twenty years and compiled my top five Gold IRA companies for 2025. Give that guide a read before you proceed with any rollover or transfer.

My current number one pick is Augusta Precious Metals thanks to its A+ BBB rating, hundreds of five-star reviews and lifelong account support. You can read my full Augusta Precious Metals review or visit the official Augusta website for details.

What Sets Hard Assets Alliance Apart?

When sizing up a provider, I focus on the key services that actually make a difference. Here’s what stood out at HAA, along with a few limitations to keep in mind.

Based on my review, these are the headline features and services:

Product Range

HAA’s SmartMetals trading platform is clean and user-friendly, which suits both experienced investors and first-timers. The breadth of options makes it easy to build a position that fits your budget and goals.

You’ll find a decent spread of products across metal types. Here’s a snapshot:

Gold

Investors can purchase gold bars and coins from virtually anywhere. The most affordable bar I saw was roughly US$2,100 for a 1 oz bar. Other bar options listed by weight include:

• 400 oz gold bar
• 1 kg gold bar

• 10 oz gold bar

On the coin side, I noticed competitive pricing — for example, an American Eagle listed at around US$229. The platform also features:

• Canadian Maple Leaf
• South African Krugerrand

• American Buffalo
• Austrian Philharmonic

Silver

As a fan of silver, I was pleased to see a tidy range with multiple weights and price points — handy for modest and larger budgets alike. Silver bars start from about US$2,565 for a 100 oz bar.

Beyond bars, there are rounds plus popular coins such as the Canadian Maple Leaf, American Eagle and Austrian Philharmonic. I also spotted a 1 oz round priced at approximately US$2.

That said, the selection is on the minimalist side, which will suit investors who prefer fewer choices but may frustrate those seeking breadth.

Platinum

Platinum is limited — currently just a single 1 oz bar priced around US$1,028. If you’re comparing across metals, keep relative pricing in mind.

Note: Prices move with the market. Open an HAA account to view live pricing before you commit.

Storage Vault Service

Secure storage is just as important as the purchase itself. A professionally managed, insured vault is my default recommendation for safeguarding bullion.

HAA offers vaulting via reputable third-party providers, with storage available in the following locations:

• New York
• Zurich
• London

• Salt Lake City
• Singapore

Partners include Brinks, Loomis and Malca-Amit — all well-known global names in secure logistics and vaulting.

The vaults are insured, which adds peace of mind. In the unlikely event of loss or damage, cover is intended to make you whole for the value of your metals.

IRA Investment Service

HAA also facilitates precious metals IRAs. Its partner for custody is Equity Trust, a major US custodian with more than US$25 billion in qualified funds under administration.

Equity Trust acts as the IRA custodian — opening the account in line with IRS rules, arranging funding, holding the assets, maintaining records and managing distributions when you’re eligible. Having a recognised custodian involved adds credibility to HAA’s IRA offering.

How to Invest with Hard Assets Alliance

I opened a SmartMetals account to test the process. It took only a few minutes from start to finish, broken into three simple steps.

Step 1: Open an Account

Choose the account type that suits — personal, tax-advantaged retirement (IRA) or trust/company. I opted for a personal account, submitted my details and ID, and completed onboarding quickly.

Step 2: Fund Your Account

Funding options include bank wire, cheque and cryptocurrency. For IRA accounts, you can add cash or complete a rollover from an existing IRA or another retirement plan. Your custodian will process the transfer to your SmartMetals account, which typically takes 5–7 business days.

Step 3: Invest and Manage

Once funded, you can buy metals and manage holdings directly in SmartMetals. I purchased a silver product and found trading on the marketplace straightforward — the whole process took only a few minutes.

Trading is available around the clock, so you can buy or sell whenever it suits you.

Hard Assets Alliance Fees

Pricing appears transparent and broadly reasonable, though a few investors have reported unexpected charges. Here’s the fee structure as presented:

• Shipping and Insurance: Varies by carrier, value and weight; charged at checkout.
• Storage Fee: 0.7% p.a. for gold and platinum; 0.8% p.a. for silver, billed quarterly.
• Trading Account Fee: US$5 per month (waived for MetalStream-enabled accounts).

Hard Assets Alliance Ratings on Consumer Sites

Final Verdict

Hard Assets Alliance is a capable brokerage with a clean platform, fair pricing and quick execution. Those are meaningful strengths.

However, the D- BBB rating, reports of hidden fees from some investors and limited public information about the team are drawbacks you shouldn’t ignore.

Match your needs against HAA’s offering — product range, storage, fees and support — before deciding if it’s the right partner for you.

If you’d like alternatives, check my list of the top Gold IRA companies for 2025.