Disclaimer: First and foremost, this article wasn’t sponsored in any way. We’re writing about Alpine Gold Exchange (AGE) and the United Precious Metals Association (UPMA) because we felt inspired to do so. I’ve had an account with UPMA for some time and have been quite happy with it- yet I didn’t know or understand the connection they have with Alpine.
As sound money advocates we absolutely love finding others who share the same passion and showcasing them.
We’re extremely excited to share with you a short written interview with Ronnie Green, Vice President of Operations at Alpine Gold Exchange.
Discovering Alpine
When it comes to metals, I like to shop around. Like any passionate money bug I love the process of hunting for deals, discovering rare items, continuing my learning of monetary theory, and running across those passionate stackers who enjoy the same.
I was looking for a new place to buy Goldbacks and navigated to the main Goldbacks website as my starting point. I’ve been a huge fan of Goldbacks since their introduction and was looking for different businesses who sell them (check out our article about GB’s here). They had a list of vendors who sold them and at the top of the list was Alpine Gold Exchange.
When you typically go to metal dealer sites you usually encounter a venerable grocery store of inventory for things like bars, numismatics, Constitutional silver, and rounds. Alpine, on the other hand, really only a few options: Goldbacks, gold coins (eagles and buffalo’s), and silver eagles. That made it simple enough for me; they have a great selection of Goldbacks and prices that-
Wait… those prices…
I thought the market dropped a bit so I checked out the other shops I usually haunt and, man, Alpine’s premiums just couldn’t be beat. You’ll have to check them out for yourself. Running a coin shop often means razor thin margins so there had to be more to Alpine than being a coin dealer. I was intrigued.
Suffice it to say, I purchased more than just a Goldback.
Normally, I’d buy something and that would be the end of the story. But the post-purchase experience I had with them was worth its weight in… well… gold. You see, after my purchase, I received a personalized video thanking me from Ronnie himself. It’s one of those personal touches that I didn’t know could exist on the internet- it’s a completely different level of customer service.
It made such a huge impact that I had to know more about Alpine. So I filmed my own video and had some questions. They graciously replied.
As it turns out, selling metals is just the tip of the iceberg of what they do.
An Interview With Alpine Gold Exchange
David Black with Aquarian Metals: Please introduce yourself and describe Alpine Gold Exchange. What is the primary goal? And how does this make Alpine Gold Exchange different from other companies?
Alpine Gold Exchange (AGE): My name is Ronnie and I’m the Vice President of Operations at AGE. I’ve owned my own businesses for most of my professional career and take pride in every step of development our team makes. We are the bridge between sound money enthusiasts of old and an ever evolving financial world. Our primary goal is to allow people to use precious metals as money in all of its modern forms. It’s hard to pigeonhole us because we do offer so many benefits but we are more liquid than a traditional vaulting company, more specific than many coin stores, and more sound than many payment companies.
Aquarian Metals: How does Alpine Gold have some of the lowest prices around?
Alpine Gold Exchange: Selling metals is a small part of our business model. Our pricing is based on our opinion of a competitive but fair market price. Since our founding in 2012, our mission has been to offer and spread sound money solutions across the U.S. and the world. We offer vaulting services, leasing products, IRA solutions and much much more. Since we are more than just a coin store we are able to be competitive in price.
Aquarian Metals: I noticed on your website that Alpine Gold Exchange is “Servicing the UPMA”. What does that mean for people who don’t know what the United Precious Metals Association is? What is the relationship between Alpine Gold Exchange and UPMA?
Alpine Gold Exchange: Great catch! Alpine Gold Exchange is the exclusive service provider for the UPMA so all customer service, software development, Fulfillment, and account management is executed by Alpine Gold Exchange Employees. The UPMA has a voluntary board of directors who guide the UPMA but Alpine Gold Exchange is the hilt that supports the spear. As such it allows the two organizations to offer a complete range of solutions, and products to the world.
Aquarian Metals: To that end, if it’s something you can speak on, what is the UPMA and what does it aim to solve?
Alpine Gold Exchange: The UPMA is a non-profit organization that operates as a manager for a collection of trusts. It acts kind of like a bank in the way that bank accounts hold money and insure it for you in a secure facility, yet it is very different than a bank because all the funds in the UPMA accounts are backed 100% by precious metals. Since every new customer that signs up has their funds automatically secured in a trust, they can buy, sell, or trade metals between other members for free.
The UPMA is the tip of the spear when it comes to allowing people to use precious metals as money and is a truly scalable solution for every day transacting and for ensuring ones retirement is taken care of in a tax friendly way.
Aquarian Metals: I noticed Alpine Gold Exchange and the UPMA include options to buy Goldbacks and they are generously featured on the Alpine Gold Exchange website. While they’re relatively new to the scene, how do you see Goldbacks playing a role in the larger financial picture?
Alpine Gold Exchange: Goldbacks are definitely a relatively new solution to a problem humanity has faced for a couple thousand years. Humans have used gold as coinage or money for millennia but there’s really been little to no improvements in the “coin” technology. Today, Goldbacks offer a solution to the cash problem. They can replace paper cash and are not notes that only have value upon exchanging them, but they’re made of pure gold and ARE the value. Significant investment has been made to ensure cutting edge manufacturing techniques and processes are in place and the process is improving everyday. In fact, the main issue with Goldbacks has been scale. You need a lot of gold to make them! And Gold is expensive so they created the Goldback Lease that allows everyone to earn from the manufacturing process. Realistically, we hope to see tens of thousands of vendors accepting GB’s as currency in a couple years and become a viable alternative to fiat currency.
Aquarian Metals: Given the ever increasing global financial uncertainty we’re experiencing, how does Alpine Gold Exchange and UPMA help people protect their wealth?
Alpine Gold Exchange: I love this question because it’s the one that’s really on the forefront of everyone’s minds at the moment and is something everyone can agree upon. We live in a tumultuous period unfortunately with speculation everywhere in geopolitical events, financial markets, and more- but one thing we know for sure is Gold and Silver has been used as money since the beginning of human history. The biggest assistance is the leasing program that is available to everyone that has around $350. You can actually earn a return on the Gold you buy that is guaranteed and paid in GOLD. If a lease is started through an IRA, there are even more tax benefits to participating.
ALL metals are 100% insured through Lloyds of London. In the event of a catastrophe or some black swan event, Alpine Gold has insurance that covers all of the holdings of members. Unlike banks in the US that offer FDIC “up to $250,000.” Which, from recent experience we saw how unwilling many banks were to part with the paper money in their accounts. If there were ever a “run” on our vaults, we have everything that is held sitting in an account in stock and the member could walk away with all of their assets intact. There might be a bit of a wait in that scenario but we’ll do our best haha.
Aquarian Metals: I’m a huge fan of sound money and liberty and believe there’s a connection between the two.
Alpine Gold Exchange: Liberty is at the heart of everything we do. We all study sound money solutions various economic models and schools of thought to improve our craft and at the end of the day preserve and grow our lifes work so we can offer something to our posterity. We believe sound money is a keystone to individual freedom and hope to continue to educate and offer services for people to take advantage of.
A Sound Path Forward
As I reflect on the rich insights shared by Ronnie Green and the intriguing world of Alpine Gold Exchange and UPMA, I’m struck by the depth and dedication evident in their approach to sound money.
Their commitment to providing accessible, secure, and innovative precious metal solutions resonates deeply with me, as I’m sure it does with many of you. In an era where financial uncertainty often seems to be the only certainty, discovering organizations like Alpine Gold Exchange and UPMA, who are genuinely dedicated to empowering individuals, feels like uncovering hidden treasure.
Thank you, Ronnie, and the entire team at Alpine Gold Exchange, for not only sharing your insights but for demonstrating how businesses can and should operate with integrity, innovation, and a deep sense of community. Here’s to navigating the financial waves with wisdom, and to all the golden opportunities that lie ahead.
