At Axiom Bullion, we understand that our client-first brokerage model represents a significant departure from traditional precious metals transactions. We’ve compiled this comprehensive FAQ to address your questions, clarify our unique approach, and help you understand why working with a dedicated broker fundamentally changes the precious metals experience. Our commitment to transparency extends beyond our fee structure to every aspect of our service, and we believe informed clients make the best decisions for their precious metals objectives.
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The fundamental difference between Axiom Bullion and traditional dealers lies in our business structure and where our loyalties rest. As a broker, we don’t hold inventory, set buy or sell prices, or profit from the spread between what we pay and what we charge. Instead, we represent you exclusively in transactions with our network of reputable dealers, negotiating on your behalf to secure optimal terms. Traditional dealers operate with inherent conflicts of interest—they profit most when buying from you at the lowest price and selling to you at the highest price. Our 3% flat fee structure eliminates these conflicts entirely, aligning our success directly with your satisfaction and the quality of the deals we negotiate for you.
We chose the brokerage model after witnessing countless instances where clients’ interests were secondary to dealer profits in traditional precious metals transactions. The conventional dealer model creates an adversarial relationship where the dealer’s gain often comes at the client’s expense through hidden markups, aggressive sales tactics, and selective disclosure of market information. We recognized that clients needed a true advocate—someone whose compensation doesn’t depend on moving specific inventory or maximizing spreads. Our founders believed that precious metals transactions should be transparent, professional, and guided by expertise rather than sales pressure. The brokerage model allows us to maintain complete objectivity in our recommendations and negotiations, ensuring that every transaction serves your interests first and foremost.
Working with Axiom Bullion as your broker provides multiple layers of value that simply aren’t available in traditional dealer relationships. First, you gain access to our entire dealer network’s inventory and pricing, not just what a single dealer has in stock or wants to move. This broader market access often results in better pricing and product availability than any single dealer can offer. Second, our expertise in market conditions, dealer relationships, and negotiation strategies works entirely in your favor—we know which dealers offer the best terms for specific products and transactions. Third, our transparent fee structure means you know exactly what you’re paying for our services, eliminating the guesswork and hidden costs associated with dealer markups. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you receive unbiased guidance throughout the process, as we have no financial incentive to push particular products or rush your decision-making.
Our client advocacy approach begins the moment you contact us and continues throughout our relationship. When you reach out for a consultation, we start by understanding your specific objectives, timeline, and any constraints you’re working within. Unlike dealers who immediately push products, we take time to educate you about market conditions, different product options, and the pros and cons of various approaches. When you’re ready to proceed, we leverage our dealer relationships to source multiple quotes, negotiate terms, and present you with the best available options. Throughout this process, we’re transparent about dealer costs, our fee, and the total transaction value. We also advocate for you in areas beyond price—ensuring proper documentation, verifying authenticity, coordinating secure shipping, and following up to confirm your complete satisfaction. This comprehensive advocacy ensures that every aspect of your transaction meets the highest standards.
Our 3% flat fee structure represents complete transparency in precious metals transactions—something remarkably rare in this industry. When you buy precious metals through us, we charge 3% of the dealer’s price as our brokerage fee. When you sell, we charge 3% of the amount the dealer pays you. This fee covers all our services: market research, dealer negotiations, transaction coordination, documentation, and ongoing support. There are no hidden charges, no surprise fees, and no markup games. For example, if we negotiate a gold purchase at $50,000 from our dealer network, our fee would be $1,500, making your total investment $51,500. You see every component of the cost clearly, understanding exactly what you’re paying for the metals and what you’re paying for our professional representation
Our 3% fee is comprehensive, covering all aspects of our brokerage services from initial consultation through transaction completion and beyond. This includes unlimited consultations, market analysis, dealer sourcing and negotiation, transaction coordination, documentation assistance, and ongoing support for any questions or concerns. We don’t charge extra for spending more time finding the best deal, negotiating harder on your behalf, or providing additional market insights. The only costs beyond our 3% fee are those charged directly by third parties, such as shipping and insurance for physical delivery, or storage fees if you choose to use a depository. Even with these third-party costs, we advocate for you to secure the best available rates and terms. We believe in complete transparency, so we’ll always outline all costs upfront before you commit to any transaction.
Traditional precious metals dealers typically operate with markups ranging from 5% to 15% or even higher, though these costs are often hidden within the quoted price. When a dealer quotes you a price for gold or silver, that price already includes their markup—you just can’t see it separated out. These markups can vary dramatically based on the product, transaction size, and even the dealer’s assessment of your knowledge level. In contrast, our 3% fee is fixed, transparent, and consistent regardless of the transaction. More importantly, because we negotiate with multiple dealers on your behalf, we often secure base prices that are lower than what you could obtain directly, even after adding our 3% fee. Independent analysis of our client transactions consistently shows total costs below what the same clients would pay going directly to dealers, while also receiving professional advocacy and guidance throughout the process.
While our standard 3% fee structure applies to most transactions, we do recognize that exceptional circumstances may warrant special consideration. For institutional clients, extremely large transactions, or established clients with significant recurring volume, we’re open to discussing customized fee arrangements that reflect the scope and nature of the relationship. However, we want to emphasize that our 3% fee already represents exceptional value compared to traditional dealer markups, and our primary focus remains on negotiating the best possible terms with dealers rather than competing on our own fees. We believe that the combination of our transparent fee structure, professional advocacy, and superior transaction outcomes provides value that far exceeds the cost, regardless of transaction size.
Every transaction begins with a consultation where we discuss your objectives, whether you’re looking to acquire specific precious metals products or sell existing holdings. Once we understand your needs, we reach out to our dealer network to source competitive quotes, negotiate terms, and present you with the best available options. We provide complete transparency throughout this process, showing you dealer costs, our 3% fee, and any additional charges such as shipping or insurance. When you decide to proceed, we coordinate all aspects of the transaction, including payment processing, verification of dealer credentials, arrangement of secure shipping or storage, and documentation of the entire process. We remain your advocate throughout, ensuring that every element meets your expectations and that any issues are resolved in your favor. Even after transaction completion, we’re available for ongoing support and to answer any questions about your precious metals holdings.
Transaction timelines vary based on several factors, including product availability, payment methods, and delivery preferences. For purchases of readily available products with wire transfer payment, we can often complete transactions within 24-48 hours of your decision to proceed. If specific products need to be sourced or if you’re using other payment methods, the process might extend to 3-5 business days. Selling transactions typically move quickly once we’ve verified your holdings—often completing within 1-2 business days for common products. Physical delivery usually adds 3-7 business days depending on location and shipping method, while depository storage transactions can often be completed same-day. Throughout any transaction, we provide regular updates on progress and immediately communicate any factors that might affect timing. Our dealer relationships and experience help us anticipate and avoid common delays, ensuring smooth and timely transaction completion.
Documentation requirements ensure transaction security and regulatory compliance while protecting all parties involved. For purchases, we typically need government-issued identification and verification of payment source for larger transactions. Sells require proof of ownership, which might include purchase receipts, certificates of authenticity, or depository statements. For transactions exceeding certain thresholds, additional anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) documentation may be required by law. We guide you through these requirements, explaining the purpose of each document and helping you gather necessary information efficiently. All documentation is handled with strict confidentiality and stored securely according to industry best practices and regulatory requirements. We work to minimize paperwork burden while ensuring full compliance with all applicable regulations, and we’re always available to explain any documentation requests or requirements.
Our dealer vetting process represents one of the core values we provide as your broker. Before adding any dealer to our network, we conduct comprehensive due diligence including verification of licensing and registration, review of Better Business Bureau ratings and complaint history, confirmation of insurance and bonding, and evaluation of industry reputation and tenure. We maintain ongoing monitoring of our dealer partners, tracking transaction performance, client feedback, and any changes in business standing. For each transaction, we verify current dealer credentials, confirm product authenticity guarantees, and ensure appropriate insurance coverage for shipping and storage. Our established relationships with reputable dealers provide an additional layer of security—dealers know that maintaining their relationship with us requires consistently meeting high standards. This systematic approach to dealer verification and transaction security provides peace of mind that direct dealer transactions simply cannot match.
As your dedicated precious metals broker, we provide comprehensive services covering every aspect of precious metals transactions. Our services begin with education and consultation, helping you understand market dynamics, product options, and strategic considerations relevant to your objectives. We then leverage our dealer network to source products, negotiate pricing, and secure optimal terms on your behalf. Our transaction coordination services include payment processing assistance, shipping and insurance arrangements, and documentation management. For clients selling precious metals, we provide fair market valuations, negotiate with multiple dealers to maximize your returns, and ensure smooth transaction completion. Beyond individual transactions, we offer ongoing market insights, portfolio reviews, and strategic consultation as your needs evolve. Every service we provide is guided by our commitment to representing your interests exclusively, ensuring that you receive professional advocacy throughout your precious metals journey.
While we provide comprehensive precious metals brokerage services, it’s important to understand what falls outside our scope. We are not registered investment advisors and therefore cannot provide investment advice, make specific investment recommendations, or manage investment portfolios. We don’t offer tax advice, estate planning services, or legal consultation—though we can refer you to qualified professionals in these areas. We also don’t provide speculative market predictions or guarantee future precious metals prices. Our role is to educate you about precious metals, help you understand your options, and execute transactions according to your decisions. We don’t hold client funds or precious metals in custody—all transactions are directly between you and the dealer, with us facilitating and advocating on your behalf. These boundaries ensure we operate within appropriate regulatory frameworks while focusing on what we do best: providing exceptional precious metals brokerage services.
Axiom Bullion serves clients throughout the United States, leveraging our nationwide dealer network to provide consistent service regardless of your location. We can coordinate transactions and deliveries to all 50 states, working within each state’s specific regulatory requirements. For physical delivery, we arrange secure shipping to your location or to any recognized precious metals depository within the United States. International transactions present additional complexity due to varying regulations, customs requirements, and shipping considerations, but we can discuss options for clients with international needs on a case-by-case basis. Our digital consultation and coordination capabilities mean that geographic distance doesn’t diminish service quality—whether you’re in a major metropolitan area or a rural location, you receive the same professional advocacy and attention to detail. We’re continually expanding our dealer network and service capabilities to better serve clients across all locations.
We’ve structured our minimum transaction requirements to balance service accessibility with operational efficiency. For purchase transactions, we typically work with minimums of $5,000, though we understand that every client’s situation is unique and we’re willing to discuss exceptions for establishing new client relationships. For selling transactions, we generally don’t impose strict minimums, recognizing that clients may need to liquidate specific holdings regardless of value. These minimums ensure we can provide the high level of service and attention every client deserves while maintaining operational sustainability. It’s worth noting that our ability to negotiate better terms with dealers often increases with transaction size, potentially providing even greater value on larger transactions. We encourage clients to consider consolidating smaller planned transactions into single larger ones when possible, maximizing negotiation leverage and efficiency.
Axiom Bullion is a precious metals broker and is not a registered investment advisor. This distinction is crucial for understanding our role and the services we provide. We cannot and do not provide investment advice, make recommendations about whether precious metals are suitable investments for your situation, or advise on portfolio allocation strategies. What we can do is provide extensive education about precious metals markets, explain the characteristics and considerations of different precious metals products, and share factual information about historical market performance and current conditions. When you decide to proceed with a precious metals transaction, we execute that decision with excellence, negotiating the best possible terms and ensuring smooth completion. This clear separation between education and advice ensures we operate within appropriate regulatory boundaries while still providing tremendous value through our brokerage services.
The distinction between education and advice guides every client interaction at Axiom Bullion. Education involves sharing factual information, explaining how markets work, describing product characteristics, and discussing historical trends without recommending specific actions. For example, we can explain how gold has historically performed during inflationary periods, describe the differences between bullion coins and bars, or discuss how precious metals storage options work. Investment advice, which we don’t provide, would involve recommending whether you should buy precious metals, suggesting specific allocation percentages, or advising on timing for transactions based on market predictions. We empower you with knowledge and execute your decisions with excellence, but the decision to acquire or sell precious metals always remains yours. This approach respects regulatory boundaries while ensuring you have the information needed to make informed decisions about precious metals transactions.
Protecting your privacy and ensuring transaction security are paramount responsibilities we take seriously. We implement bank-level encryption for all digital communications and data storage, ensuring your personal and financial information remains confidential. Our privacy policy strictly limits information sharing to what’s necessary for transaction completion and regulatory compliance—we never sell or unnecessarily share your information. Physical documentation is stored in secure facilities with restricted access, and digital records are protected by multiple security layers including firewalls, intrusion detection, and regular security audits. For transactions, we use established, secure payment channels and verify all wire transfer instructions through multiple confirmation methods to prevent fraud. Our dealer partners are required to maintain similar security standards, ensuring protection throughout the transaction chain. We also maintain comprehensive insurance coverage for professional liability and cyber security incidents, providing additional protection for our clients.
Regulatory compliance forms the foundation of our operational integrity and your protection as our client. We maintain current knowledge of all applicable federal and state regulations governing precious metals transactions, including anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, IRS reporting obligations, and state-specific dealer regulations. For transactions exceeding $10,000, we ensure proper completion and filing of required FinCEN Form 8300 reports. We also comply with all applicable know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, verifying client identities and transaction legitimacy while respecting privacy. Our dealer partners must demonstrate similar compliance standards, and we verify their adherence to all applicable regulations. We regularly review and update our compliance procedures to reflect regulatory changes, and we invest in ongoing training to ensure our entire team understands and follows required protocols. This comprehensive compliance approach protects both you and our firm while ensuring all transactions meet the highest legal and ethical standards.
Starting your relationship with Axiom Bullion is straightforward and pressure-free. Simply reach out through our website, phone, or email to schedule an initial consultation. This consultation, which comes at no cost or obligation, allows us to understand your precious metals objectives and explain how our brokerage services can serve your interests. During this conversation, we’ll discuss your goals, timeline, and any specific questions you have about precious metals or our services. We’ll explain our transparent fee structure, describe how we differ from traditional dealers, and outline the process for any transactions you might consider. There’s never any pressure to proceed—we believe informed clients make the best decisions, and we’re happy to provide education and answer questions whether or not you choose to work with us. When you’re ready to move forward, we’ll guide you through each step, ensuring you understand and feel comfortable with the process.
Your initial consultation is most productive when you come prepared with a general understanding of your objectives and any specific questions you’d like addressed. Consider what you hope to accomplish with precious metals—whether that’s diversification, wealth preservation, or another objective entirely. Think about your timeline and any constraints you’re working within. If you’re selling existing holdings, having information about what you own (types, quantities, purchase dates) helps us provide more specific guidance. Prepare any questions about precious metals markets, specific products, or our brokerage process. However, don’t feel you need extensive preparation—we’re here to educate and guide you regardless of your current knowledge level. The consultation is conversational and educational, not a test or sales presentation. We’ll take whatever time necessary to ensure you understand your options and feel confident about any decisions you make.
Our commitment to serving your interests extends well beyond individual transactions. After completing a transaction, we remain available for any questions about your precious metals holdings, market developments, or future transaction considerations. We provide transaction documentation for your records and can assist with any follow-up needs related to your purchase or sale. Many clients appreciate periodic check-ins about market conditions, especially when significant developments might affect precious metals valuations. We’re also available to coordinate future transactions, whether you’re looking to acquire additional metals, rebalance holdings, or liquidate positions. Our ongoing support includes helping you understand storage and insurance options, providing information for tax preparation (though not tax advice), and serving as your continued advocate in all precious metals matters. This long-term relationship approach ensures you always have a knowledgeable, trustworthy resource for precious metals transactions.
