If you’ve been researching gold IRAs, you’ve likely come across American Hartford Gold (AHG). As a major player in the precious metals investment industry, AHG deserves a closer look.

In this comprehensive review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about American Hartford Gold:

• Company background
• Products and services
• Fees
• Storage and security
• Customer service reputation
• Who AHG is best for
• Pros and cons

I’ve analyzed independent reviews, consumer complaints, and BBB ratings to provide an unbiased perspective.

Read on to learn if American Hartford Gold is the gold IRA company suitable for your needs!

Company Background

American Hartford Gold is a family-owned precious metals dealer based in Los Angeles, CA. Founded in 2015, they’ve quickly become an industry leader, delivering over $1 billion in precious metals.

In 2021, they were ranked the #1 gold company on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Impressive!

American Hartford Gold sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products to retail investors. They offer precious metals IRAs as well as non-IRA purchases shipped directly to your home.

Their unique “BuyBack Commitment” allows customers to sell metals back to AHG at any time without fees. We’ll discuss this more later.

According to their website, American Hartford Gold strives to empower investors with knowledge and treats customers like family. Their endorsements from big names like Bill O’Reilly reinforce their reputation.

Now, let’s look at the specifics of what they offer.

American Hartford Gold Products and Services

Precious Metals IRAs

American Hartford Gold specializes in precious metals IRAs. They make setting up a self-directed IRA easy and handle the paperwork to fund your account through a 401k or IRA rollover, transfer, or direct contribution.

Once your account is funded, an American Hartford Gold team member will help you pick IRS-approved coins and bars to invest in, including:

• Gold American Eagle Coins
• Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins
• Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins
• Gold bars (1 oz and 10 oz)
• Silver American Eagle Coins
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins
• Australian Silver Koala Coins
• Silver bars (100 oz)

You can also invest in platinum and palladium products. Everything you purchase gets shipped to a secure depository in your name.

The minimum to open a Precious Metals IRA with American Hartford Gold is $10,000 which is on the low end.

Home Delivery Purchases

In addition to IRAs, AHG offers home delivery purchases of precious metals starting at $5,000. This allows you to buy coins or bars delivered directly to your address.

While these purchases don’t have tax advantages, they provide flexible ownership outside of your retirement accounts.

Expert Consultations

American Hartford Gold’s team members have extensive expertise in precious metals. They offer free consultations to help educate you on buying gold and diversifying your portfolio correctly.

Given the complex tax implications of precious metals IRAs, it’s wise to learn from an expert. American Hartford Gold wants to ensure you have confidence in your investment plan.

American Hartford Gold’s Fees

Fees are a big consideration when researching gold IRA companies. Let’s break down what AHG charges:

• Account Setup: $0
• Annual Account Fee: $200/year covering storage, insurance, and custodial costs
• Depository Storage Fee: None for the first 3 years for new IRAs over $50,000
• Liquidation/Transfer Fee: None
• Shipping: Free insured shipping

The annual fees are reasonable compared to competitors. For larger IRA deposits over $50,000, American Hartford Gold offers three years of fee waivers, resulting in additional savings.

Additionally, there are no charges for liquidating your account.

Storage and Security

Where your metals are stored is critical for a gold IRA. American Hartford Gold provides top-tier secure storage options.

For customers in Western states, metals are stored at the Delaware Depository. For Eastern state clients, American Hartford Gold uses Brink’s Global Services. Both offer state-of-the-art security, like biometric thumbprint access.

You can choose to have your metals stored in shared or segregated storage. With segregated storage, your specific coins/bars are stored separately from other investors’ metals for an added layer of security.

American Hartford Gold also insures your holdings against damage, theft, and loss, so you can be confident that your retirement investment is secure.

American Hartford Gold Customer Service Reputation

Based on online reviews, American Hartford Gold’s customer service stands out as a key strength. They have an A+ BBB rating with mostly 5-star reviews praising their rep’s expertise and support.

On Trustpilot, American Hartford Gold has a ‘Great’ rating, averaging 4.9/5 stars across over 1,100 reviews. Most reviews highlight great experiences working with AHG’s team.

The few negative reviews appear to stem from spot price fluctuations rather than issues with American Hartford Gold itself. This reputation for service instills confidence in the company.

Who Is American Hartford Gold Best For?

American Hartford Gold stands out for investors who:

• Want low account minimums — AHG has a $10K minimum for gold IRAs, lower than many competitors.
• Seek fee waivers — You can potentially get annual fees waived with a large IRA rollover.
• Want home delivery — AHG ships metals straight to your door with a $5K+ purchase.
• Seek expert guidance — AHG’s team members are fully versed in investing in precious metals.
• Require secure storage — AHG uses best-in-class depository partners Delaware Depository and Brink’s.
• Desire buyback flexibility — You can sell your metals back to AHG through their BuyBack Commitment anytime without fees.

American Hartford Gold may not be the right fit if you want to invest less than $10,000.

American Hartford Gold Pros and Cons

Pros

• Relatively low $10K minimum for gold IRAs
• Segregated or pooled IRA storage options
• Price match guarantee on metals
• No fees for account setup or liquidations
• Exceptional Better Business Bureau rating
• Free consultations with precious metals experts

Cons

• Fees are not easily found on the website
• Minimum $5,000 purchase for home delivery

The Bottom Line

With its competitive fees, strong security, and stellar reputation, American Hartford Gold stands out as a great gold IRA provider. From start to finish, AHG strives to provide investors with transparency and excellent service.

If you seek expertise in navigating precious metals investing, consider American Hartford Gold. Their customer-focused approach ensures a great experience.

Compare American Hartford Gold with other top gold IRA companies — view our detailed comparison table.