American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company caters to investors who want to purchase physical gold, silver, and platinum for direct ownership or retirement accounts.
Precious metals dealers aren’t always able to easily compare costs and services upfront, so doing your own research is a wise first step. Here’s what you need to know about American Hartford Gold before you contact us.
American Hartford Gold Overview
American Hartford Gold operates as a dealer and sells physical gold and silver, but does not manage retirement accounts or directly store metals. Instead, the company works with third-party custodians to manage self-directed gold IRAs and IRS-approved custodians to store the physical metal.
American Hartford Gold helps customers roll over funds from existing retirement accounts into self-directed precious metals IRAs and offers a buyback program for metals purchased through the company. May be suitable for investors who need guided support in adding physical metals to their retirement portfolio.
American Hartford Gold Products and Services
American Hartford Gold offers gold, silver and platinum coins and bars through two primary purchasing channels: direct shipping and self-directed precious metals IRAs.
Customers who purchase metal directly can have the metal shipped to their home or another secure location. However, metals purchased for a precious metals IRA must meet IRS purity requirements and be stored in an approved storage location, such as:
- Gold: 99.5%
- Silver: 99.9%
- American Gold Eagle: 91.67%
To open a gold IRA, American Hartford Gold connects customers with experts. Our experts can help you open a self-directed retirement account, roll over funds from an existing IRA or 401(k), and choose the right metal for storage in an approved facility.
How the American Hartford Gold Process Works
American Hartford Gold’s IRA setup process looks like this:
- Fill out a short form online.
- A dedicated account specialist will contact you to review your information and guide you through next steps.
- Your specialist can help you open a self-directed IRA and coordinate rollovers from your existing retirement accounts.
- Choose the metal you want to buy with expert guidance.
If you want to buy directly, you can browse the products available on the company’s website. However, you will need to inquire about the price and place your order.
American Hartford Gold Fees and Pricing Considerations
American Hartford Gold does not publish prices online, so you must call for a quote. However, when you purchase precious metals, you do not pay the market price shown on financial sites. Instead, you pay the retail price, which includes manufacturing, shipping, and dealer margins.
In addition to the dealer markup, IRA customers should also expect to incur separate fees for account maintenance fees ($75 to $125 per year) and vault storage fees ($100 per year). Although these are charged by third-party providers and not American Hartford Gold, they still add to the overall cost of holding precious metals in your retirement account.
Hint: Ask for a clear breakdown of all costs before finalizing your purchase. This should include “all-in” prices, spot prices, storage fees, and buyback program terms. Having everything in writing will make it easier to compare quotes between dealers.
American Hartford Gold Reputation and Customer Experience
American Hartford Gold has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an average of 4.5 stars on Trustpilot from over 1,600 reviews.
In Trustpilot reviews, customers often praise the company’s specialists as thorough and easy to work with, especially during the IRA setup process. Negative reviews only make up a small portion of the total. But when they do appear, they tend to revolve around price clarity and delays in follow-up after the initial purchase.
*BBB and Trustpilot reviews are current as of February 2026.
Advantages and disadvantages of American Hartford Gold
Consider the following trade-offs before choosing American Hartford Gold.
Strong Points
- One-on-one expert guidance
- Low IRA minimums compared to many competitors
- Fee-free purchase program available
Cons
- No online pricing
- Limited options other than Gold and Silver
- No international shipping
America’s Hartford Gold vs. Competitors
Precious metals dealers typically sell the same types of products and offer similar IRA services. The difference between the two is the price, minimum investment amount, and level of support provided. When shopping, keep in mind that dealers sell metals but do not manage retirement accounts or store gold. These roles are divided into custodians and custodians.
With that in mind, here’s how American Hartford Gold stacks up against other big-name dealers.
conclusion
American Hartford Gold offers a hands-on approach to buying precious metals and setting up a gold IRA, but it’s not the only dealer worth considering. Before moving your retirement funds into precious metals, compare several companies and consult a qualified financial professional. Returns are never guaranteed and costs may vary from dealer to dealer.
FAQs about American Hartford Gold
Is American Hartford Gold an authorized precious metals dealer?
Yes, American Hartford Gold is an authorized precious metals dealer with an A+ BBB rating. We specialize in gold IRAs and direct sales of bullion.
Does American Hartford Gold offer Gold IRAs?
Yes, American Hartford Gold offers Gold IRAs to those with at least $10,000 in investment funds.
Is it safe to buy gold through a dealer like American Hartford Gold?
Generally yes. However, like any investment, gold comes with risks. Its value can go up or down.
