Gold IRAs
American Hartford Gold Review: Fees, Complaints, and Record
American Hartford Gold is a large, heavily advertised dealer with a $10,000 IRA minimum. It doesn't post IRA fee amounts or product prices online. Its customer agreement does set out its price spreads, its buyback policy, and how its sales reps are paid, so read it before you buy.
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Key points
- American Hartford Gold says the minimum order for its gold IRA is $10,000.
- We did not find a published IRA fee schedule or product prices on its website.
- Its customer agreement says its spread runs from 1% to 19.99% on bullion and up to 59.99% on some rare coins, and that its sales reps are paid on commission.
- The Better Business Bureau shows an A+ rating and 112 complaints in the last three years.
- A 2020 federal lawsuit by a customer was sent to private arbitration. A 2023 lawsuit over phone calls was dismissed by agreement in 2024. Neither ended with a court finding against the company.
Who is American Hartford Gold?
American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer based in Los Angeles. The Better Business Bureau lists it as founded in 2015 and accredited since 2016. The company's About Us page says Sanford Mann founded it and is its CEO, and lists offices in Woodland Hills, California, and West Palm Beach, Florida. It sells gold and silver for IRAs and for home delivery. It advertises widely, and its website features media personalities including Bill O'Reilly and Rick Harrison. American Hartford Gold says it has served 2 million Americans and delivered $4 billion in precious metals. Those figures are the company's own claims.
Fees and minimums
The company's FAQ says: "The minimum order size for our self-directed Gold IRA is $10,000."
On fees, the FAQ says they vary with your account's size and that "the storage might be free." Its promotional pages go further. One landing page offers "FREE Storage up to 5 years." Another lists free storage and "No Transfer, Storage or Maintenance Fees" without saying for how long. We did not find a fee schedule with dollar amounts, or the rules for who qualifies.
Does American Hartford Gold disclose its prices?
Product pages say "Call for pricing," and the website doesn't list prices. The company's Shipping and Transaction Agreement, which customers sign, does explain how its prices work. It says the price you pay includes the company's profit margin. It calls the gap between your price and what the company pays its wholesaler the "Spread."
The agreement gives these spread ranges for cash and IRA orders:
- Bullion: 1% to 19.99%
- American Hartford Gold exclusive coins and semi-numismatic coins: up to 39.99%
- Certain numismatic coins with limited supply: up to 59.99%
The agreement says the spread can differ from one customer or order to the next, "may be negotiable," and that the company decides which category a coin falls in. Ask for the price of every product, its category, and its spread in writing before you sign.
The Business Consumer Alliance lists complaints from early 2026 in which customers alleged high prices on coins and commissions they say weren't explained. The company responded that each purchase had a signed agreement and a recorded confirmation. These are allegations and responses, not findings.
Product mix and the free-silver offer
The homepage advertises "Up To $15,000 in FREE Silver On Qualifying Purchases." Another offer page shows "Silver Up To $25,000." We did not find a definition of a qualifying purchase. Ask which products qualify, what the minimum purchase is, and the price over spot of each product in the order, in writing.
Custodian and storage
The FAQ says the company likes Brink's Global Services and Delaware Depository for storage. It does not name a custodian, and its customer agreement says the customer chooses the storage company. Ask which custodian will hold your IRA and request that custodian's own fee schedule.
Its rollovers page says you can move money from a 401(k), a traditional or Roth IRA, a SEP or SIMPLE IRA, or the Thrift Savings Plan. The FAQ says a new gold IRA usually opens in about one business day, and a transfer can take up to five business days, depending on your current custodian.
Buyback terms
The website shows a "Buyback Commitment" badge, and one offer page lists "No Buyback Fees." The About Us page says the company never charges "additional liquidation fees," and in a public reply to a BBB complaint it said it does not charge a fee to buy back products bought from it.
The customer agreement explains the limits. It says the law bars the company from guaranteeing it will buy your metals back, so it makes no promise to buy them or to pay a set price. It asks you to offer them to the company first when you sell. Any offer it makes can move up or down with its inventory needs and the market. Ask how a buyback quote is worked out before you buy. Read selling gold from an IRA to see what clear buyback terms look like.
Ordering, delivery, and cancelling
The customer agreement sets these terms:
- Payment: by certified bank check or wire within two business days of the order. Credit card orders carry a 3% processing fee and a 12-business-day hold.
- Delivery: the company arranges delivery within four to eight weeks after your funds clear, or after your IRA custodian sends the money. You must report problems with a package within five days of delivery.
- Cancelling: sales are final, with one exception. Non-bullion purchases can be cancelled within seven days of signing, by phone and email, for a full refund once you return the metals. Some states add their own terms.
- Price Protection Guarantee: if the company lowers its price on a qualifying semi-numismatic, exclusive, or numismatic coin within seven days of your purchase, you can ask once to have the order re-priced. The difference goes toward more coins of the same type, not cash back.
- Disputes: go to binding arbitration with JAMS near your home, not to court.
How are its sales reps paid?
The agreement says the company's sales reps "are compensated on commission based at least partially on the volume and profit margin of precious metals they sell." They may also get bonuses or sales contest awards. It also says the reps are not licensed. Ask your rep what they earn on the products they suggest.
Complaint history
As of October 16, 2026, the Better Business Bureau showed an A+ rating, 112 complaints in the last three years, 40 of them in the last 12 months, and 831 customer reviews. The Business Consumer Alliance showed a AAA rating and five complaints closed over three years. The company agreed to an adjustment in four of those and declined in one, citing its agreement. On Trustpilot, the company had a TrustScore of 4.9 from 1,946 reviews, with 91% at five stars and 2% at one star. Trustpilot notes the company hasn't invited customers to review it recently.
The published BBB complaints from 2026 mostly allege high prices on specialty or "investment grade" coins, commissions that weren't explained, and low buyback quotes. A few are about shipping delays or slow replies. The company answers them publicly. It says every purchase needs a signed transaction agreement and a recorded confirmation, and in some cases it disputes the customer's account. Several complaints are marked resolved. The BBB says a rating mainly reflects how a company handles complaints, and that complaint counts should be read against a company's size.
Regulatory and legal record
We searched the FTC's case and press-release records and SEC filings, and checked for CFTC actions. We found no enforcement action naming American Hartford Gold. The Business Consumer Alliance also lists no government actions. Some websites describe a 2023 FTC settlement. We found no FTC record of one.
In 2020, a customer sued the company and related parties in federal court in Illinois (Mathys v. The Hartford Gold Group, LLC, No. 1:20-cv-03927). The court records classify it as a fraud case. In December 2020 the court granted the company's motion to compel arbitration and closed the case, so the claims moved to private arbitration. The docket shows no ruling on the claims and no class settlement. Arbitration results are usually private, and we could not find one.
In 2023, a plaintiff sued The Hartford Gold Group, LLC in federal court in Los Angeles under the TCPA, the federal law on telemarketing calls (McDougall v. The Hartford Gold Group, LLC, No. 2:23-cv-03912). The company filed an answer. In 2024 the parties jointly dismissed the case. The docket shows no class was certified and no judgment against the company.
A lawsuit is an allegation, not a finding of wrongdoing.
Sales experience, as reported by customers
We have not yet called American Hartford Gold as a prospect. Some complaints say customers didn't understand what they were buying. Many other customers leave very positive reviews. Either way, take your time, ask for written prices, and don't buy on the first call.
Who it may suit, and what to check first
May suit you if
- You want to start with $10,000, a lower minimum than some dealers.
- You want to buy for an IRA or for home delivery from the same company.
What to check first
- A written fee schedule from the custodian, including what you'll pay after any free period.
- The price of each product, its category, and its spread, in writing.
- The rules for the free-silver offer and which products it covers.
- Whether your order is bullion or non-bullion, since only non-bullion orders get the seven-day cancellation.
- How a buyback quote is worked out.
Our 10 questions to ask will help with any dealer.
How American Hartford Gold compares with Augusta Precious Metals
Here's how the two companies line up on the points readers ask about most. American Hartford Gold's column comes from its website, its customer agreement, the BBB and the BCA as of October 16, 2026. Augusta's column uses Augusta's own published facts, quoted where they are the company's claims.
| American Hartford Gold | Augusta Precious Metals | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum to open | $10,000 for a gold IRA, per its FAQ | $50,000 |
| Published yearly fees | Not published. FAQ says fees vary and "the storage might be free" | Standard fees of $50 to open, $125 a year administration and $100 a year storage are ZERO for up to 10 years under its offer |
| Fee offer | Promotions advertise free storage, one page says "up to 5 years"; qualifying rules not published | Everyone qualifies. |
| Buyback wording | "Buyback Commitment" and "No Buyback Fees"; its agreement says it can't guarantee to buy back or at a set price | Highest Buyback Guarantee |
| BBB rating | A+ (BBB); AAA (BCA); Trustpilot 4.9 from 1,946 reviews | A+ BBB rating. AAA from Business Consumer Alliance |
| How sales staff are paid | Commission, based at least partly on the volume and profit margin of sales, per its customer agreement | Salaried, non-commissioned educators |
| Awards | American Hartford Gold says it is an Inc. 5000 multi-year winner | Money magazine's "Best Overall Gold IRA Company," 2022 to 2026 |
Disclosure: Heirloom Money is paid if a reader requests information from, or becomes a customer of, Augusta Precious Metals.
See the full American Hartford Gold vs Augusta comparison, or all five companies side by side in our gold IRA companies comparison.
Common questions
What is American Hartford Gold's minimum?
Its FAQ says the minimum order for a gold IRA is $10,000.
What are its yearly fees?
The company says fees vary and storage may be free, and some promotions offer free storage for up to five years. We did not find a dollar fee schedule, so ask for one in writing.
Has American Hartford Gold been fined by the FTC?
We found no FTC, CFTC, or SEC enforcement action naming the company as of October 16, 2026, and no FTC record of the settlement some websites describe.
Has it been sued?
Yes, twice that we found. A customer's 2020 fraud lawsuit was sent to private arbitration, and we could not find the outcome. A 2023 lawsuit over telemarketing calls was dismissed by agreement of both sides in 2024. Neither case ended with a court finding against the company.
How much does American Hartford Gold mark up its coins?
Its customer agreement says its spread is 1% to 19.99% on bullion, up to 39.99% on its exclusive and semi-numismatic coins, and up to 59.99% on certain limited-supply numismatic coins. The spread can vary by order, so get the figure for your order in writing.
How are its sales reps paid?
On commission. The agreement says pay is based at least partly on the volume and profit margin of what they sell, and may include bonuses.
Can I cancel an order?
Sales are final except for non-bullion purchases, which you can cancel within seven days of signing the agreement for a full refund once the metals are returned. Tell the company by phone and email.
Will American Hartford Gold buy my metals back?
It says it charges no buyback fees and asks you to offer your metals to it first. Its agreement says it can't guarantee to buy them back or to pay a set price.
Which accounts can I roll over?
Its rollovers page lists 401(k)s, traditional and Roth IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and the Thrift Savings Plan.
Who is its IRA custodian?
Its website doesn't name one. Some review sites name different custodians, so ask which custodian will hold your account and get its fee schedule.
Is the free silver really free?
The company doesn't publish the rules for the offer. Ask which products qualify, what you must buy, and the price over spot of everything in the order, in writing, before you decide.
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