American Hartford Gold Review
Discover if American Hartford Gold is the right choice for your precious metals investment. Read our in-depth review covering fees, services, and customer experiences.
Written by Rick Erhart
Rick Erhart is an experienced precious metals professional with more than ten years in the field. He earned a degree in finance and is widely regarded as a specialist in self-directed IRAs.
During times of economic instability and unpredictable markets, cautious investors often flock to gold IRAs and physical precious metals to protect their wealth from inflation.
American Hartford Gold (AHG) is a Los Angeles gold IRA company that has helped savvy investors add over $2 billion in precious metals to their gold IRAs.
Since its founding in 2015, American Hartford Gold came a long way and became one of the most reputable gold IRA companies today.
It ranks #3 on our list of top gold IRA investment companies for 2025 among other respectable names in this industry.
The company specializes in gold and silver individual retirement accounts, offers unmatched rollover guidance, and offers direct purchases of physical precious metals for home storage.
This article comes from a thorough look at how the business operates, what customers say about it, and how it stacks up against competition.
In our American Hartford Gold review, we we will cover AHG’s history, product offerings, fees, and other key aspects to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
Pros and Cons
| American Hartford Gold Pros | American Hartford Gold Cons |
|---|---|
| 24/7 Support: Exceptional customer service with personalized one-on-one guidance. | No Online Pricing: Must call for quotes, making comparisons harder. |
| Generous Incentives: Up to $10,000 in free silver and three years of waived fees on large investments. | Limited Products: No palladium; sparse platinum options. |
| Easy Buyback: No liquidation fees and competitive price matching. | U.S.-Only Operations: No international shipping or storage. |
| Low IRA Minimum: Starts at $10,000, below many competitors’ $25,000–$50,000 thresholds. | Fees on Small Balances: Can erode returns for modest accounts. |
| Unique Products: Features like the Valcambi CombiBar and global sourcing for variety. | |
| Strong Reviews: High ratings with very few complaints. |
Request a free gold IRA guide from American Hartford Gold to learn how you can protect your wealth with precious metals by opening a gold IRA.
Company Background
Sanford Mann started American Hartford Gold Group in 2015 and continues to lead as a CEO, driving the company forward. Under Mann’s leadership, the company landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for five years in a row, which is a significant achievement for companies in the gold investment industry.
Today, American Hartford Gold employs more than 200 people. They work from three locations: Los Angeles, Woodland Hills in California, and West Palm Beach in Florida. AHG’s rapid growth reflects the company’s bold push to serve more customers and establish itself as an absolute market leader.
A major factor in American Hartford Gold’s success comes from strategic partnerships with well-known figures from conservative circles. For instance, American Hartford Gold has a multi-year partnership with American commentator and radio host Bill O’Reilly, who is its exclusive partner and brand ambassador.
In April 2024, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announced his collaboration with AHG as well. Rick Harrison, known from the hit show Pawn Stars, came on board in 2022. Rudy Giuliani, New York’s former mayor, provides his backing as well.
Thanks to these relationships, American Hartford Gold gets featured on channels such as Newsmax, Fox News, and The Epoch Times. This exposure pulls in investors who focus on secure and trustworthy ways to allocate their money.
Beyond business, the company gives back to the community too. It supports charities and causes like The Claire Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project, The Midnight Mission, Our House, A Place Called Home, and No Kill Los Angeles.
Such involvement reveals a thoughtful approach, one that’s firmly based on family-oriented ideals. All in all, American Hartford Gold mixes fast progress with a warm, individual feel, which makes it an appealing pick for people investing into precious metals for retirement.
American Hartford Gold’s Products and Services
American Hartford Gold provides two key services: retirement accounts supported by precious metals and direct purchases of physical gold and silver. Buyers have the option to receive their items at home or store them in secure facilities as part of a gold IRA.
The company assists with rolling over funds from various retirement plans, including traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, Thrift Savings Plans, simplified employee pensions, and Roth IRAs. They mainly partner with Equity Trust Company as the gold IRA custodian, but they accommodate other self-directed IRA custodians when required.
Their product lineup centers around gold and silver, like IRA-eligible coins and bars from mints in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland.
Popular investment options include the 1-ounce Gold St. Helena Boston Tea Party Coin, the Queen Elizabeth and Lion Gold Coin, the quarter-ounce Australian Wildlife Gold Coin, the 1-ounce Sunshine Minting Gold Bar, the Silver Canadian Polar Bear & Cub Coin, Austrian Philharmonic Silver Coins, and 100-ounce Silver Bars.
A standout product is the Valcambi CombiBar, designed to split into smaller sections for easier resale. However, the company’s range is more limited than some rivals, with minimal platinum offerings and no palladium available.
With AHG, people usually need to call for exact pricing figures, which is common practice since market conditions change often.
For storage, American Hartford Gold uses industry’s best IRS-approved depositories, such as Brinks Global Services, Delaware Depository, and International Depository Services. These locations span areas including Delaware, Nevada, Texas, Salt Lake City, New York, and Los Angeles.
All facilities offer insurance coverage, advanced security features, and the possibility of segregated storage. For outright purchases, the company provides free, insured shipping. They source products from global suppliers to support diversified investments.
That said, American Hartford Gold does not ship internationally, so customers outside the United States need to arrange for domestic storage.
American Hartford Gold’s Reviews, Reputation and Complaints
I spent several hours reading American Hartford Gold reviews and complaints, and what I found didn’t surprise me — AHG demonstrates strong trustworthiness across numerous review platforms. The company maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it also holds accreditation. This is a significant mark of trust in the industry.
- On Trustpilot, American Hartford Gold is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 1,505 reviews
- Consumer Affairs shows a comparable rating of 4.7 out of 5 from 1,037 submissions
- Google reviews follow the same trend, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 1,520 reviewers
Over the past three years, the firm has addressed and resolved 23 complaints through the BBB and just 2 via the BCA, which is considered low relative to its operational scale.
Customer feedback frequently highlights knowledgeable and supportive experts, smooth retirement account rollovers, high product quality, and prompt service. However, some reviews mention concerns about fee transparency for smaller investments, delivery delays, and unclear valuations of holdings.
Request a free gold IRA guide from American Hartford Gold to learn how you can protect your wealth with precious metals by opening a gold IRA.
On the whole, the extensive feedback that surpasses 4,050 entries across different review websites indicates reliable operations. Endorsements from prominent personalities and notable accomplishments reinforce this impression even further.
Fees and Pricing Structure
Transparent pricing plays a key role when selecting a gold IRA company to work with. American Hartford Gold offers fees that hold up well against competitors, but their website does not list every detail.
Key American Hartford Gold fees include the following:
- Annual custodian charge: $75 to $80 for accounts under $100,000, rising to $125 for larger balances.
- Standard storage: About $100 each year.
- Segregated storage: An extra $150.
- Total annual costs: Typically range from $180 to $280, especially after applying promotions.
The company has a minimum of $10,000 for opening an IRA and $5,000 for direct cash purchases. This positions AHG in a balanced spot. It’s not as appealing as Goldco’s no investment minimum requirement, yet way more accessible than Augusta Precious Metals’ $50,000 threshold.
To attract new business, the company provides appealing perks. They waive fees for the first year on investments over $50,000 and extend that waiver to three years for amounts above $100,000.
Based on feedback from customers, product markups sit at 3% to 5% above spot prices for gold and 8% to 12% for silver. AHG stands out with its buyback program, which avoids any liquidation fees, though the buy-sell spread represents the effective cost.
They also commit to matching competitors’ prices. These benefits shine brightest for bigger accounts, where waived gold IRA fees add real value. For those with smaller sums, however, the IRA minimum and potential charges could present challenges.
Account Setup Process at American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold takes a clear and educational path to guide individuals into precious metals investing. The process for starting a gold IRA with American Hartford Gold involves several key steps.
- First, request their free gold IRA investor kit, which leads to a phone conversation.
- Consult with an expert to explore the options on hand.
- Select metals that comply with IRS regulations.
- Complete the paperwork using DocuSign.
- Finally, fund the account through a trustee-to-trustee gold IRA transfer or a 60-day rollover. Setting up the account generally requires 3 to 10 business days.
The approach for direct purchases follows a similar pattern: start by requesting the kit, proceed to a consultation, choose the products, and make payment via bank wire or personal check. Delivery times range from just a few days to as many as 28 business days.
The company includes free shipping that comes with complete insurance, tracking details, and a signature requirement at delivery. Products destined for retirement accounts go directly to authorized depositories. In contrast, those acquired through cash purchases can ship straight to the buyer’s address.
At every stage, American Hartford Gold avoids high-pressure tactics. They focus on delivering reliable guidance to prevent any tax complications during fund movements. As a result, accounts activate quickly and smoothly.
Customer Support and Educational Resources
American Hartford Gold stands out for its strong customer service. Knowledgeable experts are available via phone and email from 6:00 am to 5:00 PST Monday to Friday, and from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday. You can also schedule an in-person meeting at their offices in California and Florida.
Reviews from customers frequently praise the unhurried and thoughtful conversations, where American Hartford Gold’s representatives patiently explain products and strategies without applying pressure.
I decided to test that myself and called American Hartford Gold at 4:50 PM PST on a Friday, just 10 minutes before the end of the business day.
Our conversation lasted about 30 minutes. During that time, I was guided through the entire investment process, and a precious metals specialist patiently explained all the fees and potential downsides of investing in a gold IRA.
We concluded the call roughly 20 minutes after their regular business hours, and the customer support representative was kind enough not to reschedule due to my late call. Instead, they chose to stay on the line to ensure all my questions were thoroughly answered and that I felt confident moving forward with the information provided.
Customer education also plays an important part of American Hartford Gold’s business approach. The company supplies a free guide covering the fundamentals of gold and silver, plus a library of investor materials and a website filled with up-to-date market analysis, live price charts, and comparison tools.
Through this method, AHG helps investors understand the value of assets and any associated risks. This focus distinguishes the company from those that prioritize rapid sales above all else.
Alternatives to American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold compares favorably to many well-established competitors in the industry. However, if you’re exploring alternatives, here are some of the best options to consider.
Augusta Precious Metals delivers high-quality, tailored support along with straightforward fees, making it an excellent option for those managing larger portfolios.
This company sets a baseline investment of $50,000, which draws in dedicated individuals prepared for major financial steps.
Those who meet the threshold gain access to continuous oversight of their accounts, in-depth webinars conducted by a specialist trained at Harvard, and waivers on specific costs.
Goldco delivers strong customer care with no mandatory initial deposit, much like American Hartford Gold, and it stands out with a wider variety of precious metals available. In many ways, Goldco mirrors AHG, particularly in how they market their services.
Both companies rely on backing from prominent personalities, offer free guides in exchange for contact details, and showcase strong reviews from clients. They also highlight their spots on the Inc. 5000 list, which recognizes fast-growing businesses.
Birch Gold Group attracts beginners through its low entry points and useful educational tools. Based in California, the firm holds its own by supporting IRA setups and delivering physical products such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium directly to buyers.
When stacked against American Hartford Gold, Birch offers a broader selection on its site, featuring bars, rare items, and rounds. AHG, by comparison, focuses mainly on coins online, while deeper choices come up only during direct discussions with representatives.
Conclusion
To conclude, American Hartford Gold is a legitimate company established in 2015. It has received several industry accolades, including an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The company stands out from the competition as a dependable and customer-oriented precious metals dealer, making it a suitable choice for cautious investors with at least $10,000 to allocate to gold and silver holdings.
If you’re interested in opening a gold IRA with American Hartford Gold, start by requesting a free gold IRA kit. It has all the necessary information about gold IRAs, as well as detailed company information that can help you make an informed investment decision.
The company shines through its focus on teaching clients, reliable assistance, fair pricing on substantial balances, and a proven track record. These qualities position it well for handling retirement account transfers or simple buys this year.
That said, the lack of clear details upfront, narrower selection of items, and entry requirements could push newcomers or those chasing broader options toward other providers.
Remember, assets like these work best as one piece of a varied investment mix, rather than the entire strategy. Reach out to experts in finance to weigh dangers such as price swings in the market.
Make sure the choice matches your personal aims. Based on its performance so far, AHG appears as a solid ally for anyone looking for security and direction amid challenging economic conditions.