If you are planning for retirement, thinking about how solid your financial decisions are is crucial. We are living in a time of economic uncertainty, and cash, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are all going up and down in value. One place that is almost always stable and has assets rising in value, no matter what the economy does, is the precious metals market.
The precious metals industry is full of companies offering gold and silver IRAs as well as precious metals investments. One of these companies is American Hartford Gold.
I have been able to check out the American Hartford Gold Group and I want to share what I’ve learned. Is this a trustworthy company? Is it a good place to get a precious metals IRA? Let’s find out.
An Overview of American Hartford Gold
I want to start my American Hartford Gold review by letting you know that the company has been around for more than a decade. You can buy physical precious metals from this company, or you can start a silver or gold IRA account.
The company has a number of celebrities that endorse it, including Bill O’Reilly, but what’s more important than that is what the average, everyday investor thinks about the company.
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American Hartford Gold Overview
There are many reasons I recommend AHG to precious metals investors, including the following:
Trusted Custodian and Storage Options
When you invest in a silver or gold IRA, you must store the metals in an IRS-approved depository. AHG has chosen to work with Equity Trust Company, a well-known and trusted custodian, but you can also choose a different one. They also allow investors to choose from different storage facilities including the Delaware Depository, Brinks, and International Depository Services.
IRA Rollovers and Transfers
Another thing I really like about AHG is the way they make it so easy to convert existing accounts, like a 401(k) or conventional IRA, into a gold IRA. They guide you through the 401k to gold IRA rollover or transfer process, help you avoid tax penalties, and ensure you understand everything from start to finish.
If you want to buy gold coins, silver coins, or other precious metals for personal investments, they can do that, too. The company has fair gold prices, they have a range of products for purchase from gold coins and bars to silver bullion, silver bars, and more.
Precious Metals from Around the World
American Hartford Gold also has a full range of metals sourced from around the world. You can get physical gold and silver coins from places like Australia, China, Canada, and the UK. The company is very clear on which metals can be used for an IRA and which precious metals assets might be best for personal silver or gold investing.
AHG’s Buyback Program
I have worked in this industry for a long time, and I recommend several companies for those looking for precious metals dealers. One thing they all have in common is a solid buyback policy, which allows for selling precious metals back to the company.
There are always going to be times when you want to liquidate your holdings. You might have gold or silver in a safe at home that you need to sell out of necessity, or you may want to make some profit. Either way, you can sell metals back to American Hartford Gold without any extra fees added.
Keep in mind, however, that even though American Hartford Gold offers this program, they will only buy back metals that you have bought from them. This is typical in the industry.
Customer Support from AHG
Customer service is very important for any gold IRA company, and AHG is no exception. I did a bit of a test for this review. I contacted American Hartford Gold to ask about a promotion I saw offering up to $15,000 worth of silver with a qualifying purchase. I can say that I was absolutely impressed. The customer service rep I talked to answered my questions, explained the promotion in a way that I understood, and he never once tried to push me to buy.
I was very impressed with the level of patience I got from the rep, and this is just one more reason I recommend American Hartford Gold.
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American Hartford Gold Group Service Fees
All reputable gold IRA providers have fees associated with their services, and AHG is no exception. How much is a self-directed gold IRA going to cost you? What about purchasing precious metals for investment outside of retirement accounts? Let’s look..
First, there is no cost to open an account from American Hartford Gold. Other firms do charge an application fee or setup fee, but AMG does not.
However, there is an annual fee of $75 to $125 depending on the amount in the IRA account, and a $100 fee for storage.
There is a minimum investment of $10,000 to invest in a gold IRA from AHG. You can fund your IRA with a gold IRA rollover, transfer, or with cash.
Also, you should keep in mind that American Hartford Gold does not list prices for it’s gold and silver investments. If you see physical metals you want to buy on the site, from bullion coins to gold bars, you have to call for prices. This is because the pricing in based on market spot prices. Also, keep in mind that the company sells collectible coins, too, which aren’t eligible for IRAs. There is clear labeling on the website, though, so you can see which items are eligible for an IRA and which are not. Currently, AHG only sells gold and silver. It does not offer things like palladium coins or platinum bars.
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What Makes AMG a Gold IRA Company You Can Rely On?
There are other reasons I believe American Hartford Gold offers the best gold IRAs. Here are a few:
Support for Their Clients
When you work with American Hartford gold for a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or products like bullion bars and coins, you can get an answer quickly. Adding physical gold to your self directed retirement accounts shouldn’t be difficult, and American Hartford Gold makes sure the process is easy.
Personalized Support
As you move through the investment journey, American Hartford Gold will be with you every step of the way. The company offers personalized support and help manage your retirement assets. Also, they never pressure you to make a purchase as you decide what to do with your retirement savings.
Customer Education
Finally, investor education is a top priority of the company. They make sure that you fully understand the investment process when setting up a self-directed IRA. They also make suggestions on how to preserve wealth through investing.
>> Visit American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold Ratings on Consumer Review Sites
American Hartford Gold is a legitimate company. We can look at reviews from top consumer review sites and see that the company has exceptional ratings across the board:
American Hartford Gold – BBB
The Better Business Bureau has given American Hartford Gold an A+ rating. There are more than 650 reviews on this site, and reviewers have given AHG 4.86/5 stars.
American Hartford Gold – BCA
The Business Consumer Alliance, BCA, has given American Hartford Gold an AAA rating.
American Hartford Gold – Trustpilot
There are over 1,400 reviews on Trustpilot for American Hartford Gold. On average, reviewers have given the company a 4.7/5 star rating.
Here are some of the reviews that people have left about American Hartford Gold:
American Hartford Gold Complaints
All gold companies have some complaints, and American Hartford Gold is no exception. Most of the complaints I saw about the company come from people who don’t understand how the buyback program works or they don’t understand the fees. Fee transparency is very important, and the company, at least in my opinion, is very upfront about the fees it charges. Another complaint came from the fact that a reviewer didn’t understand why her precious metals had to be stored in Delaware in a depository and not in her home.
Pros and Cons of Working with American Hartford Gold
Pros
- Thousands of positive reviews
- Amazing promotions, i.e. $15,000 in free silver, free storage, etc.
- Low minimum investment of $10,000, which is lower than many other companies.
- Simple buyback process with competitive pricing
- Price match guarantee
Cons
- Metal pricing is not available online — you just call to buy metals
- AHG does not ship precious metals outside of the US
>> Visit American Hartford Gold
They also have a higher minimum than another provider that not only has no minimum, but a free silver promotion. Read why Goldco reviews have customers leaving positive feedback. (It’s also where I invested.)
American Hartford Gold – Yes or No?
I really like American Hartford Gold, and it’s a company that has been near the top of my best gold ira company recommendation list for many years. The company has amazing service, fabulous client support, and options for individual retirement accounts that make sense for many investors.
Is American Hartford Gold perfect? No. But the drawbacks are relatively minor when compared to the benefits you get from this industry leader.
I also really like the educational resources the company has, the ability to make direct purchases, and that there are investment options that can work for many investors and many retirement portfolios.
In times of economic instability, investing in precious metals can be a very smart financial decision, and American Hartford Gold is a company that can help along the way.