Equity Trust empowers individual investors and financial professionals by removing the barriers to investment freedom. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and support investors to achieve more.
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Is Equity Trust Company legit?
Equity Trust Company (trustetc.com) has a 2.9 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 103 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Money & Insurance and its reputation is poor. Opinions are polarized: 44% rate it 4 stars or higher while 36% give 1 star; The business has replied to 49% of negative reviews; Reviews mostly discuss Customer service, Price, User experience. Last updated 2026-08-12.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. People frequently complained about expensive annual fees, unexpected extra charges, and complicated transaction processes that added up quickly over time. Consumers noted that customer support was extremely frustrating, remarkably slow, and often completely unhelpful when trying to resolve urgent daily account issues.
Some reviewers were happy with the overall service, finding the platform quite easy to navigate and very helpful for managing their long-term investments. Consumers also mentioned that company representatives were consistently polite, highly responsive, and effectively assisted them with keeping their necessary paperwork properly organized.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
This company is honest but has very slow old-fashioned protocols esp. for communications with owners. That said, it may be federally required that they send stuff through the snail mail. My request for either call, text or email to alert me to an issue left me wanting.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2026-03-12
Thank you for your feedback and for recognizing our commitment to honesty. We understand that timely communication is important and appreciate you sharing your experience. Your feedback is valuable as we continue working to improve the client experience.
When I opened this account, there was ongoing confusion between Equity Trust and the private placement fund I was investing in. Resolving the mix-ups took nearly three months and an extraordinary number of emails and phone calls, often with different ETC staff members who became involved without having the full background.
Most recently, I spent close to an hour on hold simply to verify a $500 annual fee — a fee I had already paid in full last July. I was then told that even if an account were opened on December 31 and the full annual fee paid that day, another $500 would still be due the very next day on January 1. That billing structure is difficult to justify from a customer standpoint.
Between the repeated administrative confusion, long hold times, and substantial fees that don’t appear to reflect meaningful service value, my experience has been disappointing. I’m now evaluating alternative custodians.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2026-03-12
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're sorry to hear about the confusion you encountered during your account setup and the time it took to resolve the issues between the investment sponsor and Equity Trust.
If you're open to it, we’d like the opportunity to review your account and the situations you described to ensure everything was handled appropriately and address any outstanding concerns. Please feel free to contact our team at [email protected] so we can look into this further with you.
The customer service is HORRIBLE. EXTREMELY long wait times awaiting service. Plus, some of the service reps can barely speak English.
I recommend using uDirect IRA for self directed real estate holding.
Always diligent in ensuring that paperwork is ready for audits.
Quarterly statements are a bit slow to post.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2026-03-12
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that your experience with our team has been diligent and that your paperwork has been well prepared for audits.
We also appreciate your note about quarterly statements and understand how important timely access to account information can be. Your feedback helps us continue improving our processes and overall client experience.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand how important timely asset disbursements are and are sorry to hear that your experience felt slower than expected.
Please feel free to contact our team at [email protected] so we can review your request and assist where possible.
I had been in communication with several people at this company. Thoroughly explained what it was I wanted to invest in. They transferred my money in, charge me all applicable fees, then informed my they could not allow my investment. They said they are refunding the fees, however some of the fees were charged by the brokerage they transferred the money in from, so I am not confident all will be whole. This has also set me back 2 weeks from initiating my investment.
UPDATE: Its 3 weeks later. No reimbursements WHATSOEVER have happened, in fact I am struggling to get my money transferred back at this point. I am unable to get assistance. Phone lines have been locked up due to "excessive call volume". Agent who took my initial investment is not returning emails. I have responded to the suggested customer care website hoping for any direction.
Update: Did finally get a call back. Very responsive once I got ahold of someone by phone. Money was wired back to me the next day. Still waiting for fees to be refunded.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2026-02-03
We’re sorry for the frustration this caused and understand how disappointing the delay and uncertainty must be. This is not the experience we aim to provide. Your concerns regarding the fees and timing are being taken seriously, and we encourage you to contact our support team at [email protected] so we can review the details and ensure everything is addressed appropriately.
I have a beneficiary IRA account "managed" by Equity Trust Co.. This account is comprised exclusively of precious metals which are vaulted in a Texas depository. I have been required to take yearly RMD's since this account's inception and these RMD's have always been in metals, not cash or check. These distributions have always taken over a month to accomplish and have caused many thousands of dollars to be added to my tax liabilities. Although Equity claims distributions routinely are completed in 8-12 business days, this has never been my experience, and I have yet to have a transaction completed without having to make several frustrating calls to try to ascertain what is taking so long.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2026-02-03
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating delays with required distributions can be, especially when they impact tax planning. We encourage you to contact our client services team at [email protected] so we can look into your situation and work toward improving your experience.
I am a Gold Customer and find the customer service AWFUL. As a Gold customer for over 4 years- I pay an extra $300 a year for a dedicated phone line and 2x free wires ($30ea) and 2x free expedited transactions per year. As I said to the representative on the phone today, if this is the service given to gold members I can't imagine how awful it must be to just have a regular account. No follow up, slow execution, unexpected fees, no notice when they charge me fees, no option to apply my free benefits (I have to call and have them reverse the charge when they charge my cc for free wires, etc etc. last month I have a large cash gain on an investment and ET called me 2x to entice me to keep the money in ET - I moved it to Fidelity as fast as I could. if there was an easy way to transfer to a different IRA custodian I would in a heartbeat!
I applied in good faith trusting I was given accurate information, only to find key details were never disclosed. I was charged management fees before and after funding an account that was never active. In the end, I paid out money, had nothing managed, and was left frustrated and disappointed.
I am satisfied with my growth on CENTURY and 100 .I don't need to keep sending reminders just to access my money. Everything moves when it should.
I had a terrible experience with this organization. I paid $50 to apply for an account. Trusting Nicole Kubrik to give me full and complete information about opening an SDIRA. I applied to open the account was not told i couldn't transfer the money from my existing employer. I was immediately billed for $500 for management fees before i had even funded the account.
Then 5 months later they pulled another $500 when the account was never funded. I had planned on transferring 20k over since I couldn't transfer my IRA from my current employer.
Now to this point i have paid $1050 to open an account and have $0 managed for 5 months.
Avoid this organization. They act in bad faith.
I wanted to move my entire Equity Trust IRA to my credit union IRA. I followed the "checklist" on the Equity website and had my credit union fax the form. It was faxed (and confirmed received) on 21 Nov 25. After no movement for 16 days, today (9 DEC 25) I get a call from Equity stating they need a "letter of acceptance" from my credit union before they can do the transfer. Nowhere on the Equity rollover checklist does it state that a "letter of acceptance" is required, nor anywhere else on their website. I also asked what has taken so long and their answer was it was being processed as a "distribution" vice a "rollover". I went back and checked and the "rollover" block was clearly checked on THEIR form. One is left to think that this whole ordeal may be by design, dragging their feet, so they can collect more interest off the client's money. Don't know for sure of course, but THEY certainly make it look that way. I wouldn't put a penny in Equity Trust. Addendum: Today is 10 Dec 2025. Yesterday I went to my Credit Union and they faxed Equity the "Letter of Acceptance. It was confirmed received. Today, after Credit Union business hours, I get a call from Equity. Now they say they also need Direct Rollover paperwork from my Credit Union, on top of the Letter of Acceptance as well as their own form. I also received an email from equity stating (this has been cut and pasted from their own email).."You need to provide your qualified custodian's Letter of Acceptance or Direct Rollover paperwork to complete your Distribution request (Activity ID: AP9085XXX"). Notice how it states they need the Letter of Acceptance OR Direct Rollover paperwork. It does NOT say they need both, which is direct conflict with the rep telling me they need both. Don't know if they are putting me through the ringer as "reprisal" for the bad review or if this is total ineptitude. My review remains the same. It has been almost 3 weeks for me to get my own money transferred out of Equity. 3 WEEKS. Addendum 2: 11 Dec 2025 - So I called Equity and quoted to them exactly what it says on their email and also in my account activities page...it says I need the letter of acceptance OR Direct rollover info from my credit union. I asked why they need both. She couldn't answer. I asked to speak to her supervisor. She said she couldn't do that. I will get their paperwork today and also contact the BBB.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-12-10
Hi Michael, we apologize for the frustration you’ve experienced. Please contact our support team [email protected] with your account details so we can assist you directly and work toward a resolution.
After signing 3 document and spent an hour with the company, my money can not still be disburse into my bank account. I reached out to the support team but a straight answer can't be given to me. Now I have complained about my missing funds and there's no way I could get it out and my money kept missing every single day. I was constantly reaching out to the support team thinking I would be given an answer but it was still the same as the last time reaching out to the support. CENTURY and 100 helps me stay on track without all the hassle, and that's one of the main reasons I stick with it.
Save yourself the very unpleasant awakening. TAKE YOUR CRYPTO ASSETS SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR YOUR OWN SAKE.
After receiving an invitation to call and discuss my expressed outrage with this group of disconnected elites I was encouraged to think they reconsidered and realized their policy of selling your crypto assets before transferring out was misguided and ludicrous at best. Who sells an asset with unlimited potential to transfer to another custodial group?? You lose the future value to free yourself from these know nothings that have NO BUSINESS ACCEPTING CRYPTO WITH THESE IGNORANT RULES!
I called to get the reason for this and got nothing but, "just because" that's our policy. Nothing of any substance or anything close to common sense.
There you have it......
TO EQUITY-Please don't contact me. I will contact you when I decide to rid myself or entanglement with you and sell my assets.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-12-10
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We understand how strongly you feel about this situation. Your feedback is valuable, and if you decide at any point that you’d like more information or clarification, our team will be here to help at your convenience.
I am a retired air force veteran, also a government contractor and retired civil service member. A career spanning 50 years of Service in defense of this country. I managed to save a significant amount of savings in TSP and Schwab IRA. I decided to invest $50,000 of into precious metals on gold/silver against stock market volatility. I invested with Equity Trust and for Colonial Metals Group out of South Florida. I got that company right off the website with Equity Trust. I worked with Blake Sawyer at Colonials Metals Group as the broker and he invested my $50K. It looks they overplayed for several assets, specifically Silver Bar 100-gram Valcambi Combibar for $14532 and Gold St Helena 0.25-oz Victoria Seal for $24820.96. At this time those assets are worth half of the price that they were bought at. My first statement reflected from Equity Trust was a balance of $25643.87. A loss of $24356.13. I understand fees, but that was excessive at 50% of my investment. I called Blake Sawyer, and he explained that it was the difference in Spot and Market prices. At this point I should have canceled my purchase. Equity Trust and Colonial Metals are no longer associated and I'm unable to get anyone to answer the phone or return my messages. I want to involve the Better Business Bureau and State Attorneys in both Ohio and Florida. I know from research that this my seem insignificant but I have been saving my whole adult life to provide for my retirement, and this seems criminal and fraudulent as a minimum.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-12-10
Hi Eduardo, we apologize for the frustration you’ve experienced. Please contact our support team [email protected] with your account details so we can assist you directly and work toward a resolution.
My main complaint are the ridiculous fees. Annual fee of $350 for what? I'm still charged $25 for a single distribution that takes forever to receive. Plus, they even kick you in the butt as you leave by charging you to close your account. I wish I had never used them. Interactive brokers is far superior for IRA custodian with no fees!
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-12-12
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re sorry to hear that the fees and overall process did not meet your expectations. We understand how frustrating that can be, and we appreciate your perspective on the situation. Your feedback helps highlight what matters most to our clients.
Alternative Retirement Investing Made As Easy As It Can Be
Equity Trust Company does a great job of taking something complicated, and making it easy. They allow us to invest into alternative retirement investment options. I know there is a lot of regulatory red tape for this type of thing. They do a great job of making it easy for the average investor to figure out. I have had a good experience with them the past four years that I have been using their company.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-11-13
Hi Daniel, thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience with our team!
We have been using Equity Trust for over 15 years and their processes have gotten better and better making our real estate investments so much easier to manage!
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-11-13
Thank you for being a long-time client and for sharing your feedback! We’re thrilled to hear our continued improvements have made managing your real estate investments easier over the years. We truly appreciate your trust and partnership with Equity Trust!
Even on expedited service, you still have to call in multiple times. Even with a dedicated rep I could not get a call back to get confirmation that things were moving forward. I finally called the general number and then that rep was able to conference in the dedicated person.
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-11-13
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear your experience with our communication didn’t meet expectations. We understand how important timely updates are and appreciate you bringing this to our attention — your comments help us identify where we can improve.
Easy of support - I love myself or tenants can call…
I love myself or tenants can call anytime for support. The website easy to navigate
Paying bills. Receiving rent
It can take time for
Tenants to learn online payment but if they have issues they can call support
Reply from Equity Trust Company2025-11-13
We are happy to hear our team provided such a positive experience!
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