American Hartford Gold is based in Los Angeles, CA, which helps individuals and families invest in precious metals. They provide both physical delivery to your doorstep or inside of a retirement account such as an IRA, 401k or TSP. American Hartford Gold helps clients diversify their investment portfolio. Investors receive high-quality gold and silver coins, offered at competitive prices, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
American Hartford Gold specializes in gold and silver IRAs and buying and selling gold and silver for physical possession. Customers can acquire precious metals via a simple three-step process.
American Hartford Gold Review
Gold IRAs are useful for diversifying retirement savings in a tax-deferred account. Experts at American Hartford Gold assist consumers throughout the buying and selling process of precious metals. The company’s industry experts deliver quality customer service backed by extensive historical investment data and current market research. American Hartford Gold is part of our list of best gold IRA companies because its dedicated precious metals specialists will guide you through a simple three-step process to set up a gold IRA. American Hartford Gold also offers more free metals and discounts than most other gold companies.
Pros
High priority placed on customer service, trust, integrity and compliance
Up to $15,000 in free silver on qualified accounts
Lowest price guarantee and no buyback fees; offers regular promotions
Free account setup, free insured shipping, free storage up to five years
100% Satisfaction Guarantee includes a 7-day full refund cancellation with no penalties
Cons
Coin prices not listed on site, must contact a representative
No platinum or palladium for self-directed IRA
Gold and other precious metal IRAs are an investment and carry risk. Consumers should be alert to claims that customers can make a lot of money in these or any investment with little risk. As with any investment, you can lose money and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance results. Consumers should also obtain a clear understanding of the fees associated with any investment before agreeing to invest.
How to Open an American Hartford Gold IRA
American Hartford offers a same day IRA, the fastest in the industry. To open a Gold IRA, submit the form provided on the American Hartford Gold website or call the number listed. A product specialist will help you complete the necessary paperwork to open a self-directed IRA. Next, initiate a gold IRA rollover or funds transfer to the new IRA. You can transfer many types of retirement savings accounts to an American Hartford Gold Precious Metals IRA, such as traditional and Roth IRAs, a 401(K), and a 403(B), among others.
Great Ongoing Promotions
American Hartford Gold
Lowest price guarantee and no buy-back fees
Up to $15,000 in FREE silver on qualified accounts
Once you fund the gold IRA, speak to an account executive at American Hartford Gold for guidance in selecting IRS-approved precious metals for your account. You can buy gold and silver.
After age 59 1/2, you can liquidate a precious metals IRA by cashing out the funds or taking physical possession of the metals. American Hartford Gold recommends holding precious metals for at least five to ten years for optimum returns.
Investment
Characteristics
American Eagle Gold Coin
Minted only with gold mined in the U.S.; easiest to buy and sell in the U.S.
American Buffalo Gold Coin
24 karat, purest gold coin from the U.S. Mint. Carries a face value but trades at a higher value.
Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin
At .99999 purity, contains virtually no base metal. Gold mined in Canada.
1 oz. Gold Bar
Includes MintMark SI security feature to prevent counterfeiting.
Valcambi CombiBar Gold or Silver Bar
Manufactured with breaking points and can be divided with 50 or 20 divisions per ounce.
American Eagle Silver Coin
The only silver coin allowed in IRA accounts, $1 face value, trades higher based on silver content.
Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coin
99.99% pure silver, holds face value for transactions but typically valued much higher for investment.
10 oz. Silver Bar
.999 pure, various designs available from a variety of approved mints.
American Hartford Gold Costs
American Hartford Gold does not charge fees to set up a gold IRA or roll over a retirement account to a gold or precious metals IRA.
The website publishes a catalog of its products for sale; however, prices are not listed in the catalog. Customers must speak to a representative for current pricing information.
Investors must pay an annual IRA fee of $75 for accounts valued at $100,000 or less and $125 for accounts valued at $100,001 or more. There is also an annual depository storage fee with the depository, which is usually a flat $100 charge.
Currently, the company is offering several promotions, including free insured shipping and up to $10,000 of free silver on qualifying purchases. The company offers first year IRA fees waived for purchases over $50,000, and three years of IRA fees waived for purchases over $100,000. AHG will typically cover storage fees for your first year and, in some cases, up to three years, depending on the account size. However, you can open an IRA through American Hartford Gold with $10,000. The minimum for cash purchases is $5,000.
Storage Options for American Hartford Gold
Because gold IRAs hold physical precious metals, the IRS recommends investors store the bars, coins or bullion in an IRS-approved depository. American Hartford Gold account representatives commonly recommend Brinks Global Services, International Depository Services (IDS) or Delaware Depository Service Company, which have locations nationwide. You can elect to keep your precious metals segregated from others stored at the depository.
American Hartford Gold BuyBack Commitment
Not all gold IRA companies offer a buyback plan, but American Hartford Gold does. The commitment allows customers to sell their precious metals while avoiding additional liquidation fees. American Hartford Gold will arrange the shipment before issuing a payment. Check with your account executive to see if you can take advantage of the “BuyBack Commitment.” You can save money on fees with added convenience if you are eligible.
Interactive Chart Screenshot, Source: American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold IRA Customer Support
As a testament to their customer service, you will find plenty of general information about gold IRAs on American Hartford Gold’s website. If this is a new type of investment for you, the company makes precious metals catalogs available on the site, along with these resources:
Expert analysis and fact sheets about gold and silver
A wealth of gold market news articles
Price charting tools for gold, silver and platinum
Real-time gold, silver and platinum prices
Dedicated precious metals specialists offer best in class customer service and focus on your total satisfaction with the process. You are always welcome to call to ask questions, use the online chat to communicate with a representative, or complete a brief form on the website to receive a free investment guide via email. The guide has answers to common questions about purchasing precious metals and establishing a Gold IRA.
Our Experience With American Hartford Gold
Overall, our experience with American Hartford Gold was positive. While we had to offer our name, email, and phone number to enter the live chat or access a starter kit, company representatives responded quickly and answered our questions in full. We especially loved the “investor library,” which is available to online visitors, and gave us four eBooks explaining updated information for 2023. This includes tips for preparing for a recession and a guide for opening a gold IRA.
Moving forward, we’d love to see American Hartford Gold get more transparent regarding gold IRA fees. The company lists real-time metal prices directly on its website, but not all competitors do the same. Pricing information helped us accurately gauge our investment potential. Still, we found budgeting for additional fees that come with opening and maintaining a gold IRA difficult without speaking to a representative directly.
American Hartford Gold Complaints
American Hartford Gold is a trusted leader in the precious metals and Gold IRA industry, receiving an “A” rating from the nonprofit Business Consumer Alliance. It is Better Business Bureau accredited with an “A+” rating with more than 360 reviews and they’re ranked the best gold company on the INC 5000 list. ConsumerAffairs also accredits the company; customer reviews average 4.9 out of 5 stars. American Hartford Gold has a 5-star Trustpilot rating with more than 1120 reviews.
The majority of complaints we saw against American Hartford Gold revolved around the fluctuating prices of precious metals and not the company itself.
American Hartford Gold FAQ
Do I own the physical precious metals in an American Hartford Gold IRA?
Yes, when you open a gold IRA or buy and store precious metals, you own the actual metals in their physical forms, such as bullion, coins or bars.
Can I contribute toward an American Hartford Gold Precious Metals IRA like any other IRA?
Yes, you can purchase more gold or other precious metals at any time from American Hartford Gold to contribute to your IRA. Speak to your account executive or a product specialist to learn about annual contribution limits.
How will I know if my Gold IRA is performing well at American Hartford Gold?
You will receive timely, accurate information about your gold IRA performance by talking with an account executive or product specialist. You also receive regular account value statements and can view real-time gold, silver and platinum price charts on American Hartford Gold’s website.
What are the tax advantages to American Hartford Gold IRA?
You can invest in precious metals in a gold IRA using pre-tax or tax-deductible funds. Gold IRA gains grow tax-free, and consumers can withdraw from a gold IRA without penalties at age 59 1/2, only paying taxes on the amount withdrawn. Roth Gold IRAs are available and use post-tax dollars with no additional taxes paid upon withdrawal.
Is there a set time frame for taking distributions from a Gold IRA?
IRAs all have required minimum distribution rules, and these rules apply to gold IRAs. The IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount each year from a gold IRA when you reach the age of 70 1/2. American Hartford Gold website has an easy-to-use tool for estimating your minimum distribution requirement.
Conclusion
Sound retirement planning is essential for a secure economic future. American Hartford Gold strives to lead clients to financial well-being by diversifying assets with gold IRAs or precious metals purchases. The company is well positioned to inform consumers about the benefits of investing in precious metals with industry-leading experts and quality customer support.
Great Ongoing Promotions
American Hartford Gold
Lowest price guarantee and no buy-back fees
Up to $15,000 in FREE silver on qualified accounts
I had a very good, positive experience. I would recommend American Hartford Gold. The reps were very knowledgeable and helpful. They encouraged me to reach out and get ahold of them for any questions or issues I may have.
Gary S.
Freeport, MD
March 07 2025 5:02PM
I think there was a bait and switch to get me to buy gold from them. I responded to Michelle’s email stating “buy a gold coin and get a silver coin free”. Well, I bought a number of gold coins but didn’t get any silver coins. The salesman said if I had told him I was interested in the buy one get one, I should have told him up front. The gold coins I bought would have cost $200 more per coin to get the free silver coin(s). That doesn’t sound like a free coin to me. Buyer beware!
Donald L.
Palm City, FL
February 13 2025 1:00AM
Transaction proceeded smoothly. Staff was a great help in setting up forms and suggesting how to distribute funds invested. Thank you Machi, Harry, and Michelle. Hope for a long and profitable partnership with Hartford Gold.
Ken S.
Cushing, OK
January 26 2025 1:04PM
Staff were very polite and professional, helpful. I have one complaint. The true reality of the "spread" was not clear upfront to someone so uninitiated such as my wife and me. It only became evident at the very end when we were being read all the detailed information and, frankly, disclaimers, by the staff assistant. It then was revealed that the "spread" represents a very large percentage of the overall purchase, and won't likely be made back for another "7 or 8 months," according to Matt Ritter (we asked to go back and talk to him about this). Yes, you were careful to establish that we were intending this to be a "long-term" investment, and that you "recommend a 3-5 year" turnaround, but the actual spread, and what it means, was not made clear.
You even told us that you don't charge fees, giving the impression that you made your profit on the margins, but not on such a huge "spread." I know I am not well-informed, but we had made the decision to diversify our retirement funds into some precious metals, and that most likely after 5 years there will be a significant appreciation, but we were left feeling a bit baited. My wife was actually on the verge of pushing for us to pull out of the deal, but I reminded her of our long-term objectives.
Steve O.
Waxhaw, NC
December 30 2024 7:46PM
Service was very good, they made sure everything was clear to me and answered all my questions. I was given options on how to pay and what coins or bars to choose. Also explained different investment coins and buyback options. Overall very pleased.
Judith E.
Hudson, WI
November 26 2024 11:13PM
I recently worked with American Hartford Gold, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their service! From the start, their team was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and patient. They took the time to explain every step of the process and answered all my questions without making me feel rushed or pressured. The process of setting up my Gold IRA was seamless, and I appreciated how transparent they were about pricing and fees. I feel confident that I’ve made a solid investment for my future, thanks to their guidance. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and reliable company for precious metals investment, I highly recommend American Hartford Gold!
Jose G.
Los Angeles, CA
November 20 2024 2:47PM
I have been contemplating putting 15% of my 401K in metals knowing the the weakness and uncertainty in the current economy. Not knowing the pathway to move money from my company sponsored 401K into metals. I sought out the help of American Hartford Gold. Both, Matthew and Natalie brought me up to speed and gave me a crash course on investing in physical metals and put me at peace doing so. I have since, positioned myself into Gold and Silver and feel relieved that I bring my own stability and peace of mind into my investment portfolio. Thanks to these two wonderful people and American Hartford Gold for helping me make this transition easy and uncomplicated. Glenn
Glenn S.
Savannah, GA
November 19 2024 2:21AM
At first it was great. However, I need to get the information from them regarding the name and address of the place where the precious metals are stored. I need this in order to make my will and explain to my beneficiaries how to access the metals. I have called twice, left several emails and have received no response. I am rethinking my signing up with this company. Ruthanne **
Ruthanne F.
Duvall, WA
November 15 2024 9:27PM
Dan and Anna were great. This is first time buying. Dan was really great in explaining everything for me. He made this fun experience. Anna was also fantastic. She made sure everything was correct. Very excited for me. Can't wait for my Gold to come. Highly recommend.
Dan H.
Wappingers Falls, NY
November 07 2024 11:39PM
Anna ** was a great help. She explained everything in detail. She assured me everything will be fine. American Hartford Gold folks were very helpful in explaining the difference in gold. Difference gold bars and coins same with silver bars and coins.
