Sterling Trust Company was once a prominent custodian of self-directed individual retirement accounts, including accounts holding precious metals, real estate, private placements, and other alternative assets.
However, Sterling Trust is no longer an independent self-directed IRA custodian. Equity Trust Company acquired Sterling’s IRA-custody accounts and certain other assets in 2009. Those services were subsequently incorporated into the business now known as Equity Institutional.
This updated Sterling Trust Company review examines what happened to the company, how its self-directed IRAs worked, what historical customer reviews actually mean, and where former clients or prospective investors should look today.
Sterling Trust Company Review Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Sterling Trust Company |
| Former location | Waco, Texas |
| Former address | 7901 Fish Pond Road, Waco, TX 76710 |
| Primary service | Self-directed IRA custody and administration |
| Alternative assets | Precious metals, real estate, private investments, tax liens and other nontraditional assets |
| Acquisition | Certain assets and accounts acquired by Equity Trust Company in 2009 |
| Later identity | Sterling’s institutional business became associated with Equity Institutional |
| Current status | No longer operates as an independent IRA custodian |
| Accepting new clients? | No, not under the Sterling Trust Company name |
| Current rating | Not applicable because Sterling is a legacy brand |
Bottom line: Sterling Trust Company was a legitimate self-directed IRA custodian, but investors cannot open a new Sterling Trust account today. People researching an old account should contact Equity Trust or Equity Institutional and confirm where their records and assets are currently maintained.
What Was Sterling Trust Company?
Sterling Trust Company was a Texas-chartered, non-bank trust company based in Waco, Texas. It provided custodial and administrative services for investors who wanted to hold nontraditional assets inside tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Unlike a conventional brokerage IRA that generally focuses on publicly traded stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds, Sterling’s self-directed accounts could accommodate assets such as:
- Physical precious metals
- Investment real estate
- Promissory notes
- Private companies and private placements
- Tax liens and tax deeds
- Limited partnerships
- Certain publicly traded investments
Is Sterling Trust Company Still in Business?
Sterling Trust Company no longer operates as an independent self-directed IRA custodian.
In 2009, Equity Trust Company and an affiliate agreed to acquire certain Sterling Trust assets in a transaction valued at approximately $61.2 million. Public filings describing the transaction show that the acquired business included Sterling’s retirement-account custody operations.
Equity Trust’s current corporate history states that it acquired accounts from Texas-based Sterling Trust in 2009, creating the foundation of what later became Equity Institutional.
Who Owns Sterling Trust Company Today?
According to the acquisition documents:
- Equity Trust and an affiliate acquired certain Sterling Trust assets.
- The announced transaction value was approximately $61.2 million.
- Sterling’s former owner retained certain escrow and paying-agent businesses.
- The acquired retirement custody operation was incorporated into Equity Trust’s broader business.
Today, Equity Institutional provides institutional custody and related services to financial professionals and organizations, while Equity Trust serves individual self-directed account owners.
What Happened to Existing Sterling Trust Accounts?
Sterling Trust customers did not necessarily lose their IRAs when the acquisition occurred. The custody and administration of affected accounts were transferred or integrated into Equity Trust’s operations.
If you possess an old Sterling statement or need information about a legacy account, take the following steps:
- Locate the most recent account statement, tax form, or correspondence.
- Record the account number and the legal name shown on the document.
- Contact Equity Trust through the contact information published on its official website.
- Ask whether Equity Trust or Equity Institutional currently administers the account.
- Verify the custodian before submitting personal information or transfer instructions.
Do not send money or sensitive financial information to a website merely because it uses the Sterling name. Confirm the institution through current regulatory and company records first.
Sterling Trust Company Self-Directed IRA
Sterling Trust’s principal product was its self-directed IRA. The account allowed its owner to choose from a broader collection of investments than would normally be available through a conventional brokerage IRA.
Possible account structures included traditional and Roth IRAs, as well as retirement accounts designed for certain businesses and self-employed investors.
A self-directed IRA is not a separate category of tax law. It is an IRA administered by a custodian willing to hold alternative assets. The same contribution limits, distribution requirements, prohibited-transaction rules, and other applicable tax regulations still apply.
Sterling Trust Precious Metals IRA
Sterling Trust could provide custody for retirement accounts holding eligible precious metals. In a properly structured precious metals IRA, the custodian generally:
- Establishes and administers the IRA.
- Processes transfers or rollovers.
- Sends funds to an authorized precious-metals dealer at the investor’s direction.
- Records the metals as assets belonging to the IRA.
- Coordinates documentation with an approved storage provider.
- Issues applicable IRS reports and account statements.
Sterling was the custodian—not necessarily the company selling the gold or operating the depository.
Today, investors seeking this service must select an active self-directed IRA custodian and an eligible storage facility. They cannot open a new precious metals IRA directly with Sterling Trust.
What Did Sterling Trust Charge?
Reliable current Sterling Trust fee information is unavailable because the company no longer offers new accounts under that name. Any Sterling fee schedule found online is likely historical and should not be used to estimate present-day Equity Trust charges.
Self-directed IRA expenses can include:
- Account-establishment fees
- Annual administration charges
- Transaction-processing fees
- Wire or check fees
- Asset-purchase and sale fees
- Precious-metals storage charges
- Account termination or transfer fees
Prospective investors should obtain the active custodian’s complete written fee schedule before transferring retirement funds. Ask whether annual charges are flat, asset-based, or calculated according to the number and type of assets held.
Sterling Trust Company Reviews and Complaints
Historical Sterling Trust Company reviews are scattered across the Better Business Bureau, TrustLink, Yelp, complaint websites, and legal records. These sources require careful interpretation because Sterling has not operated independently for many years.
Old ratings should not automatically be presented as current ratings for Equity Trust. Review platforms can merge legacy profiles, display alternate company names, retain reviews indefinitely, or calculate scores from submissions made during different ownership periods.
Better Business Bureau
The BBB maintains a Sterling Trust business profile that also identifies Equity Trust Company as an alternate name. The profile describes self-directed custodial services involving real estate, private lending, precious metals, cryptocurrency, and other assets.
TrustLink and Yelp
Older reviews on TrustLink and Yelp commonly mention issues such as:
- Delayed transaction processing
- Difficulty reaching customer-service representatives
- Administrative or account fees
- Confusion over a custodian’s responsibilities
- Problems involving alternative investments held in an IRA
These reports may help illustrate historical customer experiences, but the small number of reviews on some platforms makes it difficult to draw a reliable conclusion about the entire company.
Sterling Trust Company Pros and Cons
Historical advantages
- Supported numerous alternative-asset categories
- Offered self-directed retirement-account administration
- Accommodated precious metals and real estate
- Served individual investors and financial professionals
- Its account business was acquired by an established successor custodian
Historical and present limitations
- Sterling is no longer available as an independent custodian
- Historical ratings are easily confused with current Equity Trust reviews
- Some former customers reported administrative and service problems
- Legacy fee information is no longer useful for comparing active custodians
- A directed custodian does not investigate or recommend investments
- Alternative assets may be illiquid and difficult to value
- Investors must perform substantial independent due diligence
Is Sterling Trust Company Legitimate?
Sterling Trust Company was a real Texas-chartered trust company that provided custody and administration for self-directed retirement accounts. It was not a fake company or a scam.
Nevertheless, Sterling is no longer an active choice for someone opening a new IRA. Its retirement custody accounts and related operations were acquired by Equity Trust, and the institutional business evolved into Equity Institutional.
Considering a Precious Metals IRA?
If your objective is to move part of an existing IRA or eligible workplace retirement account into physical gold or silver, compare several established Gold IRA providers before choosing one.
A reputable provider should clearly explain:
- Which metals meet IRA eligibility requirements
- Custodian and depository choices
- Dealer markups and spreads
- Annual administration and storage costs
- Direct versus indirect rollovers
- Buyback policies
- The risks of precious-metals investing
Request our free Gold IRA guide to compare highly rated providers, minimum investment requirements, fees, storage options, and customer-service records before transferring your retirement savings.
REQUEST YOUR FREE GOLD IRA GUIDE NOW ›
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sterling Trust Company still operating?
Not as an independent self-directed IRA custodian. Equity Trust acquired Sterling’s retirement custody accounts and certain related assets in 2009.
Did Equity Trust buy Sterling Trust?
Equity Trust Company and an affiliate acquired certain Sterling Trust assets and accounts in a transaction announced at approximately $61.2 million. Equity Trust describes the acquisition as the beginning of what is now Equity Institutional.
Can I open a new Sterling Trust IRA?
No. Investors seeking a new account must use Equity Trust or another active self-directed IRA custodian.
Who handles old Sterling Trust accounts?
Many legacy accounts were incorporated into Equity Trust’s operations. Former customers should contact Equity Trust or Equity Institutional and provide information from their latest available statement.
Did Sterling Trust offer Gold IRAs?
Sterling administered self-directed IRAs capable of holding qualifying precious metals. It acted as the custodian, while separate dealers and storage providers typically handled the purchase and physical custody of the metals.
Was Sterling Trust Company a scam?
Sterling was a legitimate trust company, not a fictitious business.
Are old Sterling Trust reviews still relevant?
They provide historical context, but they should not be treated as current reviews of an active Sterling Trust business. Check the dates, identify which organization handled the account, and compare the findings with current reviews of the successor company.
Sterling Trust Company Reviews: Final Verdict
Sterling Trust Company played a significant role in the early self-directed IRA industry, allowing investors to hold precious metals, real estate, private investments, and other alternative assets in retirement accounts.
The company is no longer an independent IRA custodian. Equity Trust acquired its retirement custody accounts and certain assets in 2009, and the institutional operation eventually became known as Equity Institutional.
Historical Sterling Trust Company reviews include complaints about customer service, fees, transaction delays, and investments held in self-directed accounts.
For investors today, Sterling Trust is part of self-directed IRA history rather than an available provider. Anyone seeking a new account should compare active custodians based on current fees, service standards, asset expertise, regulatory standing, and independent customer feedback.
