Quest Trust Company Fees Explained - A Fee Schedule Deep Dive

At Quest Trust Company, we pride ourselves on our world-famous customer service provided by our friendly and highly educated staff. When it comes to our fee structure, we want to keep it simple and transparent so our clients understand what they are being charged and why. While other IRA custodians may boast cheaper fees, you may find that their services do not meet all your needs. You will find that our fees remain average by industry standards and that the customer service and high-quality education we provide will easily pay for itself. Simply put, you’ll receive a much higher value for a reasonable fee!

What Types of Fees Can I Expect to See?

With a self-directed IRA at Quest, you will never experience a hidden charge. Our outlined Fee Schedule allows you to accurately plan for any fees you would expect to see during an investment, ensuring you are never surprised by an unplanned charge. Watch this short video for an overview of our fees.

Account Opening Fees

Getting started is easy and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. For just $100, we can set up your new self-directed IRA. Our Client Onboarding department reviews your paperwork, verifies your identity, establishes your account, and sends out our welcome package. They also contact you to answer any questions and help you with the next steps to get your account funded so you can start investing.

Maintenance Fees

At Quest it is important to us that your customer experience is great from beginning to end. During business hours we always have live operators available to answer your calls. You have access to highly educated IRA Specialists to answer your questions. We provide expert account administration, including IRS reporting, processing payments to your account, making payments on your behalf, and transferring of funds in and out of your account just to name a few of the services we provide.

Quest offers three fee plans, so you can choose the best structure that works for you rather than being locked into an all-inclusive plan that may not fit your needs. You can change your fee plan at any time to one that is more cost effective for your current investment status. Call us and we’d be happy to provide a fee schedule analysis to make sure you are choosing the option that is best for you and your current investments.

With Option 1, or the “Fee Based on Number of Assets” option, you will pay a flat fee of $350 per asset per year. This fee is charged when you purchase your investment, and it will be assessed annually on its anniversary date.

If you select Option 2, the “Fee Based on Total Account Value” option, your fees will be assessed quarterly and will depend upon the total account value, meaning the value of the assets and the cash. You can see that this option is tiered. Note – if you have cash in the account but do not have any assets, this chart will not apply, and you will only be charged the $30 quarterly maintenance fee.

The last option is Option 3, the Gold Family Concierge Plan. This is our all-inclusive plan at $3,000 a year. With the Gold Family option, you can open multiple accounts for you and your immediate family with only a one-time $100 account opening fee. Almost all other fees are included with this fee plan, except for a few special fees like asset research, wire fees, special services fees, and overnight mail costs. You can find more information about Gold Family HERE and in our FAQ section below.

Transaction Fees

Quest understands that time is money, so when you purchase an investment, our team will work diligently to ensure that investment is funded smoothly and in a timely manner. Purchasing, selling, exchanging, or re-registering an asset will have a $125 transaction fee. We pride ourselves on our 24-to-48-hour funding times, but to do this, it takes our highly trained transactions department to review your paperwork, execute documents on your behalf, and work with third parties like title companies and private entities to make sure everything is in order.

The “Other Fees” section contains fees you will only be charged if you select to use an optional service, such as choosing a different way to send funds other than by ACH, or if you require paper versions of certain online documents. Other fees such as the non-recourse loan fee, Roth conversion fees, and asset research fees may not apply to your situation, so these fees are only assessed if applicable. Learn more about when these fees are charged in the FAQs.

Self-directing shouldn’t come with aggressive fees everywhere you turn, which is why we believe in a clear, simple fee structure. As you shop around, you’ll see our fees remain average with other custodians in the industry. We are confident that our service will show any potential or current client the value of Quest Trust Company. If you ever have questions about our fees, you can speak to a Billing Specialist by calling 855-386-4727 or schedule a consultation with an IRA Specialist.

Fee Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have chosen to pay my fees by deducting from my account, but there is no cash available to deduct the fee from?

- If we cannot deduct the fee from your account, we will default to the credit card we have on file.

What if I am set to deduct fees via a credit or debit card, but the card is declined?

- Quest will reach out to the client to obtain correct card information. If we are unable to reach the client after a certain time, the account could be closed due to unpaid fees.

Can I change my fee option?

- Yes! You can always change your fee option based on what fits your wealth building strategy at the time!

Is there a cost to change my fee option?

- No, there is no cost to change your fee selection.

How do I change my fee option?

- You can change your fee option by going to Forms, selecting Fee Schedule and submitting an updated form.

How often can I change my fee option for my account?

-There is no limit for the number of times you can change this option.

What services are provided with the annual administration plan?

- Services provided include annual tax reporting, online Client Portal access, networking events, and much more!

When are the quarterly fees charges?

- The quarterly fees are assessed at the end of March, June, September, and December.

How can I pay my Quest fees?

- There are a few ways you can elect to pay your fees. You can either pay your fees via credit or debit card or you can choose to deduct the fees from your Quest account.

What is the value of Option 3 – The Gold Family Plan?

- The Gold Family plan provides additional benefits you can’t get with other options. Its simplified flat fee structure includes most transaction and maintenance fees. You will have a dedicated team working with you providing Gold Family Concierge Service to ensure account business is handled properly and in a timely manner. You will have expedited processing for investments and payments. Additionally, you’ll have access to private events, promotions, and networking opportunities exclusively for Gold Family Members.

Does Quest have account minimums?

- Quest does not have any account minimums. You can open a new account without putting anything into it; we simply ask that we have a credit card on file at the time we establish your new account.  

Will I have to pay every fee listed under “Transaction Fees”?

- No! Certain fees will only apply to specific investments. The Non-Recourse fee will only apply to debt-leveraged loans. The Roth Conversion Asset fee will only apply if you are converting an asset from a Traditional account to a Roth account. The Asset Research Fee will only apply if you elect to have Quest do the annual research, but you have the option to do this yourself at no charge. If you require a specialty service, you will see the hourly Special Services fee.

Does Quest charge any fees for incoming funds?

- Quest does not charge when funds are moving into your Quest account. There could be a fee for funds that are outgoing.

When would I need to use a cashier’s checks?

- Certain investments like auction properties will require cashier’s checks. If needed, this is when the Cashier Check fee will be charged.

If my account is open with zero investments, does Quest charge a fee. If so, how often and how much?

- If your account is open but you do not have any investments, there will be a quarterly maintenance charge of $30.

How can I tell which fee option is right for me?

- Certain investments will work better for different plans. It’s important to look at things like the cost of the investment, the duration, and how many investments you plan to do. If you are unsure which fee plan is best for you, you can call an IRA Specialist and we can help!

Do I earn interest if I have idle cash sitting in my Quest account?

- You do not earn interest for the idle cash sitting in your account.