Augusta Precious Metals asks for at least $50,000 and American Hartford Gold opens a gold IRA with $10,000, as of November 2026. The bigger difference is what each company puts in writing. Which one shows you its costs before you call?
American Hartford Gold publishes its contract, including the largest margin it may charge, but no account fees. Augusta publishes its account fees and a target for what it pays when you sell back, but not its contract or its markup. Both are gold IRA companies that sell coins and bars by phone. This page belongs to our guide to gold IRA companies, and it is built from each company's own documents, BBB records and court files.
The markup is the amount a company adds above the value of the metal. Account fees are the yearly bills for the custodian and the vault. We cover fees, minimums, buyback and cancellation, then complaints, and end with a verdict by situation, not an overall winner.
The five key numbers are listed below, each with its check date.
- IRA minimum: $50,000 at Augusta vs $10,000 at American Hartford Gold (as of Nov. 6, 2026).
- Account fees in year one: $285 published by Augusta; not published by American Hartford Gold, $285 on its named custodian's schedule (as of Nov. 6, 2026).
- In writing about cost: Augusta has a 5% buyback-spread target on qualifying partial sales. American Hartford Gold caps its spread, its margin as a share of your price, at up to 19.99% on bullion and up to 59.99% on limited coins (as of Nov. 6, 2026).
- Cancellation: "certain orders may qualify" for 7 days at Augusta; 7 days for non-bullion orders only at American Hartford Gold (as of Nov. 6, 2026).
- BBB complaints in 3 years: 1 for Augusta vs 116 for American Hartford Gold (as of Nov. 6, 2026).
Augusta Precious Metals vs American Hartford Gold at a Glance: 18 Facts Side by Side#
The table compares the same 18 facts for Augusta Precious Metals and American Hartford Gold, with the date we checked each one. Every fact comes from the company's own page or contract, the BBB or a court record. The BBB is the Better Business Bureau, and BBB accreditation is a paid membership. A custodian is the trust company that holds the IRA. A depository is the vault. Segregated storage keeps your own coins apart; pooled storage keeps coins of the same type together.
| Fact | Augusta Precious Metals (official site) | American Hartford Gold (official site) | As of / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal name | Augusta Precious Metals (BBB: corporation); "Augusta Precious Metals, Inc." in court indexes | American Hartford Gold, LLC (2026 agreement); The Hartford Gold Group, LLC in federal court cases | BBB; AHG agreement; court records |
| Business start (BBB) | January 1, 2012 | March 30, 2015 | BBB, 2026-11-06 |
| Offices | Beverly Hills, CA and Casper, WY | Los Angeles, CA (Wilshire Blvd); offices in Woodland Hills, CA and West Palm Beach, FL | BBB; company sites |
| Founder / CEO | Isaac Nuriani | Sanford Mann (founder and CEO, AHG site) | BBB; company sites, 2026-09-29 |
| IRA minimum | $50,000 "standard minimum initial purchase", IRA or personal funds | $10,000 "minimum order size" for its gold IRA | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20; AHG FAQ, read 2026-11-06 |
| Account fees published | Yes: $50 setup, $125 custodian, $110 storage and insurance ($285, then $235) | No. Names Equity Trust, whose metals-only schedule is $285, then $235 (pooled) or $335, then $285 (segregated) | Augusta FAQ; AHG IRA page; Equity Trust Rev. 081726 |
| Fee offer | "may pay eligible custodian and storage fees for qualifying accounts ... potentially for up to ten years" (terms not published) | "Up To 3 Years With No IRA Fees" (specials page; terms not published) | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20; AHG specials page, 2026-11-06 |
| Free silver | None ("Augusta does not offer free silver") | "Up To $15,000 in FREE Silver" (homepage); "Up To $5,000" (specials page); no terms | Company pages, 2026-11-06 |
| Coin prices online | No | No ("Call for pricing", Oct. 2, 2026) | Company sites |
| Dealer margin (spread) published | No ("That quoted price includes Augusta's dealer margin") | Caps only: bullion 1.00%-19.99%; exclusive and semi-numismatic up to 39.99%; limited numismatic up to 59.99% | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20; AHG agreement para 4B, Sept. 2026 |
| Written buyback terms | Target: "approximately 5% purchase-to-buyback spread" on qualifying partial sales and RMDs; "not a guaranteed future bid"; no separate liquidation fee | "applicable laws currently prohibit AHG from guaranteeing to repurchase"; no liquidation fee (about page); bid method not published | Augusta topic FAQ, Oct. 2026; AHG agreement para 6 |
| Cancellation | "Certain orders may qualify" for seven-day money-back protection | 7 days from signing, non-bullion orders only | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20; AHG agreement para 3 |
| Sales agreement public | No ("This form is no longer available") | Yes, linked in every page footer | 2026-11-06 |
| Custodian named | Equity Trust (Sept. 23 FAQ; the Oct. 20 FAQ names none) | Equity Trust Company | Augusta FAQ versions; AHG IRA page, Oct. 2, 2026 |
| Depository named | Delaware Depository, "recommends" (Sept. 23 FAQ) | Delaware Depository, Brink's; International Depository Services (segregated only) | Same |
| BBB | A+, accredited since 2015-02-17; 1 complaint in 3 years; 136 reviews (0.7 per 100) | A+, accredited since 2016-06-03; 116 complaints in 3 years; 843 reviews (13.8 per 100) | BBB, 2026-11-06 |
| Trustpilot | 4.8 from 377 reviews; 1% one-star; invites reviews | 4.9 from 1,954 reviews; 2% one-star; has not invited reviews recently | Trustpilot, 2026-11-06 |
| Court and regulator record | Two business disputes in court indexes (secondary); no customer case found; no regulator action found | Mathys, N.D. Ill. No. 1:20-cv-03927 (alleged overpricing, sent to arbitration 2020, result not public); McDougall, C.D. Cal. No. 2:23-cv-03912 (calls, dismissed 2024); no regulator action found | Court records; regulator search 2026-09-29 |
Company website links in this table: SafeOunce earns nothing from these links.
Where a cell says "not published", we found nothing on the company's own pages. Our Augusta Precious Metals review covers the company alone.
Other comparison pages get nine facts wrong, from Augusta's storage fee to a lawsuit they call "active". Each is set out below with the correct value.
| What the page says | What the record shows | Source of the correct value |
|---|---|---|
| American Hartford Gold has "no minimum" | "The minimum order size for our self-directed Gold IRA is $10,000" | AHG gold IRA FAQ, 2026-11-06 |
| Augusta storage $100; $275 in year one, $225 after | $110 storage; $285, then $235 | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20 |
| Augusta pays fees "for a maximum of 3 years" | "potentially for up to ten years", qualifying accounts | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20 |
| You must "be 60" to withdraw without a penalty | Age 59½ | 26 U.S.C. 72(t) |
| The 2023 calls case is "active" | Dismissed by joint stipulation on 2024-05-28 | C.D. Cal. docket |
| Augusta has "0 complaints" with the BBB | 1 complaint, filed 2026-01-23 | BBB, 2026-11-06 |
| Augusta gives a "written lifetime buyback guarantee" | "Future repurchases and prices are not guaranteed" | Augusta FAQ, 2026-10-20 |
| American Hartford Gold has "72" BBB reviews | 843 reviews | BBB, 2026-11-06 |
| American Hartford Gold offers "$10,000" in free silver | "Up To $15,000" (homepage); "Up To $5,000" (specials page) | AHG pages, 2026-11-06 |
The American Hartford Gold review does the same for American Hartford Gold.
How Do Augusta and American Hartford Gold Fees Compare?#
Augusta and American Hartford Gold have named the same custodian, so their yearly bills are likely the same: $285 in year one and $235 after. Only Augusta publishes those fees. Gold IRA fees come in two kinds: flat yearly account fees, and the markup built into the price of each coin. They differ in the dealer's margin, which American Hartford Gold caps in its contract and Augusta does not publish, and in the two fee offers.
The markup is the larger number. One point of markup on $100,000 is $1,000, more than four years of $235 account fees. Our guide to gold IRA fees lists every cost layer, from setup to exit.
Account fees: the same custodian schedule, $285 in year one#
Augusta's FAQ lists $285 in year one and $235 a year after. Equity Trust's published precious-metals schedule gives American Hartford Gold accounts the same $285 and $235 for pooled storage, if that schedule applies. Augusta's FAQ, last updated October 20, 2026, names "a $50 one-time account setup charge, a $125 annual custodian charge, and a $110 annual depository storage and insurance charge". These are flat fees: the same dollar amount at any balance. The table sets four fee sets side by side.
| Fee line | Augusta FAQ (Oct. 20, 2026) | Equity Trust, pooled (FS-0004-05, Rev. 081726) | Equity Trust, segregated | AHG as reported by Money (Oct. 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Yearly custodian | $125 | $125 | $125 | $75 up to $100,000 ($125 above) |
| Yearly storage | $110 | $110 | $160 | $100 "in most cases" |
| Year one | $285 | $285 | $335 | $225 |
| Each later year | $235 | $235 | $285 | $175 |
| 10 years at list | $2,400 | $2,400 | $2,900 | $1,800 |
| Exit to sell and close | Not stated | $280 ($30 sale + $250 close) | $280 | Not stated |
Augusta's three fees match Equity Trust's schedule line for line, and American Hartford Gold names Equity Trust as its custodian. So account fees are likely not where they differ, although a dealer can arrange its own schedule with a custodian. The full Equity Trust precious metals IRA fees include exit charges.
Money's list, updated October 26, 2026, reports the lower American Hartford Gold figures in the last column; the company's documents do not confirm them. Money labels American Hartford Gold "Best for Low Fees" (#4) and Augusta "Best for Educational Resources" (#2). Does "Best for Low Fees" mean cheapest? No. The label rests on account fees only. Money's figures save $60 a year against the custodian schedule, while one point of markup on $100,000 costs $1,000.
Fee offers: "potentially for up to ten years" vs "up to 3 years"#
Augusta says it may pay the yearly custodian and storage fees for up to ten years, worth up to $2,350. American Hartford Gold advertises up to 3 years with no IRA fees, worth about $705 on the custodian's schedule. Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) says: "Augusta may pay eligible custodian and storage fees for qualifying accounts under the applicable fee-coverage program, potentially for up to ten years." American Hartford Gold's "Current Specials" page (read November 6, 2026) says: "Up To 3 Years With No IRA Fees: No Transfer, Storage Or Maintenance Fees".
In September, Augusta's FAQ said "Every account also receives up to 10 years". Since October 20, it says "qualifying accounts" and "potentially". A qualifying account is one that meets terms Augusta has not published. The table turns both offers into dollars.
| Offer | Yearly fees covered | Years | Value at list | Equal to markup on $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | $235 (its own published figure) | Up to 10 | Up to $2,350 | 2.35 points |
| American Hartford Gold (illustration) | $235 (Equity Trust pooled rate; AHG gives no figure) | Up to 3 | About $705 | 0.7 points |
| Gap | $1,645 | 1.6 points |
A markup 1.6 points higher at either company cancels the whole difference. Neither page says three things, listed below.
- Eligibility: who qualifies, and at what order size.
- Early end: what stops the offer, such as a sale or a transfer out.
- Exit fees: whether the $30 sale fee, $125 transfer-out fee or $250 closing fee at Equity Trust is covered.
Our analysis of no-fee gold IRA offers compares the other sellers' deals.
The markup: American Hartford Gold prints its limits, Augusta prints none#
American Hartford Gold's contract allows a spread of up to 19.99% of your price on bullion and up to 59.99% on limited coins, while Augusta publishes no markup at all. A spread here is the dealer's margin as a share of what you pay. Paragraph 4B of the Shipping and Transaction Agreement (SafeOunce earns nothing from this link.), uploaded September 2026, sets three tiers. Bullion runs from 1.00% to 19.99%. "AHG exclusive coins as well as semi-numismatic coins" can go up to 39.99%. "Certain numismatic coins of which the supply is particularly limited" can go up to 59.99%.
Measured as a markup over the dealer's own cost, those caps equal 25.0%, 66.6% and 149.9%. For scale, a CFTC advisory (release 8215-20, August 2020) puts typical bullion at 5% to 10% over spot and numismatic coins at 40% to 200%. AHG's top bullion cap, 25% over its cost, is above that bullion range. The 2023 version of the agreement (V323) capped the top tier at 34.99%.
Paragraph 4A adds that "The Spread may be negotiable" and "may be different than the Spread charged others in similar transactions". In plain English: two buyers can pay different margins for the same coin. Semi-numismatic means coins sold above their metal value for rarity. The CFTC calls the term "a made-up industry term that really has no special meaning" (advisory "10 Things to Ask Before Buying Physical Gold, Silver, or Other Metals", 2024).
Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) says: "That quoted price includes Augusta's dealer margin." It does not post prices online "because a retail price alone does not show the full purchase-to-buyback comparison". Money's April 2026 review reports Augusta margins "as high as 14.5%" on common bullion and "generally 29%" on premium products. These figures are not confirmed in Augusta's documents.
The table shows what each cap means if you sell on the same day at the bid, the price a dealer pays you.
| Spread on a $100,000 order | Same-day sale value | Rise in metal needed to get back to $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (AHG floor) | $94,359 | 6.0% |
| 5% | $90,547 | 10.4% |
| 19.99% (AHG bullion cap) | $76,260 | 31.1% |
| 39.99% (AHG exclusive and semi-numismatic cap) | $57,197 | 74.8% |
| 59.99% (AHG limited numismatic cap) | $38,135 | 162.2% |
Illustration using the industry buyback template (bid 4.69% below dealer cost; Lear terms Dec. 2025, Preserve agreement June 2025). Not a quote from either company.
Augusta's 5% figure, covered in the buyback section, is a different measure. It compares Augusta's price on the day you sell with what Augusta pays you that day. It says nothing about how much of your original price was Augusta's margin. American Hartford Gold's caps say how much of your purchase price can be margin, but not what it will pay you back.
Our explainer on gold IRA markups and spreads shows how to get the number in writing.
How much must gold rise to cover the markup?#
At American Hartford Gold's 19.99% bullion cap, gold must rise about 31% before a same-day sale gets your money back; at its 39.99% cap, about 75%. Here is the math at 19.99%. Take away the spread: $100,000 × 0.8001 = $80,010, the dealer's cost. The template bid is about 4.7% below that, so a same-day sale brings about $76,260. Then $100,000 ÷ $76,260 = 1.311, so gold must rise 31.1%. This is arithmetic, not a forecast of the gold price. Test your own spread in the gold IRA break-even calculator.
What is American Hartford Gold's free silver worth?#
American Hartford Gold's free silver pays off only if the coins you must buy carry a small spread. On $100,000, that means 17% or less for a $15,000 bonus, and 9% or less for a $5,000 bonus. Its homepage (November 6, 2026) says: "Learn How You Can Receive Up To $15,000 in FREE Silver". Its specials page says: "Up To $5,000 In Free Silver". Neither page states terms.
Bonus metal is extra metal given with an order, and exclusive coins are coins one seller markets under its own name. The table compares a plain bullion order with orders that carry a bonus.
| Scenario on a $100,000 order (illustration) | Same-day sale value of order plus bonus |
|---|---|
| Assumptions | Plain bullion at a 5% spread; qualifying coins at AHG's caps; bonus silver at a 20% spread; sale at the template bid |
| Bullion at 5%, no bonus | $90,547 |
| Coins at 19.99% + $15,000 bonus | $87,697 |
| Coins at 39.99% + $15,000 bonus | $68,635 |
| Coins at 19.99% + $5,000 bonus | $80,072 |
| Coins at 39.99% + $5,000 bonus | $61,010 |
At the 39.99% cap, the order plus a $15,000 bonus sells for $21,912 less than plain bullion at 5%.
Under the FTC's guide on "free" offers (16 CFR 251.1(b)(1)), buyers may assume the seller will not recover the cost "by marking up the price of the article or service which must be purchased". Terms must be "set forth clearly and conspicuously at the outset of the offer" (16 CFR 251.1(c)). In plain English: a free item must be truly free, and its conditions must be shown up front.
Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) says "Augusta does not offer free silver" and advises consumers "to avoid 'free silver' promotions". That is a rival's view, and the math shows it holds only above the break-even spread. How free silver gold IRA promotions are paid for is explained step by step.
Minimum Investment: $50,000 at Augusta vs $10,000 at American Hartford Gold#
Augusta requires at least $50,000 for a first purchase and American Hartford Gold opens a gold IRA with a $10,000 order, as of November 2026. Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) sets "a standard minimum initial purchase of $50,000, whether the purchase is made through an IRA or with personal funds". American Hartford Gold's gold IRA FAQ (read November 6, 2026) says: "The minimum order size for our self-directed Gold IRA is $10,000."
The IRS sets no minimum investment for an IRA. Both figures are company rules. Augusta's affiliate contract pays its $200 lead fee only for leads "with at least $50,000 that can be rolled over". Review sites report a $5,000 cash minimum at American Hartford Gold, but it is not on the company pages we read.
We list the gold IRA minimum investment for every company we track.
What the minimum means for fee drag#
At American Hartford Gold's $10,000 minimum, $235 to $285 of yearly custodian fees takes 2.35% to 2.85% of the account, while Augusta's $235 takes 0.47% of its $50,000 minimum. Fee drag is the share of your account the yearly fees take. Flat fees weigh most on small accounts. The table shows the drag at three account sizes.
| Account size | Company | Yearly fee | Share of the account each year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | American Hartford Gold, Equity Trust pooled | $235 | 2.35% |
| $10,000 | American Hartford Gold, Equity Trust segregated | $285 | 2.85% |
| $10,000 | American Hartford Gold, Money's figures (not confirmed by the company) | $175 | 1.75% |
| $50,000 | Augusta, or American Hartford Gold on Equity Trust pooled | $235 | 0.47% |
| $100,000 | Either, Equity Trust pooled | $235 | 0.24% |
At the same $50,000, the two companies' account fees are identical on that schedule. Firms that take smaller accounts are compared in best gold IRA companies for small investors.
Less than $10,000? A gold ETF may cost less#
With less than $10,000, neither company will open a gold IRA for you, and a gold ETF held in an existing IRA usually costs less per year. A gold ETF is a fund that holds gold and trades like a stock. GLDM charges 0.10% a year, IAU 0.25% and GLD 0.40% (fund data as of September 29, 2026). On $10,000, that is $10 to $40 a year.
An ETF does not give you metal you can take delivery of later. The costs are set out in gold IRA vs gold ETF, and whether the account suits you at all in is a gold IRA a good investment.
Buyback and Cancellation: What Each Company Puts in Writing#
Augusta now publishes a 5% target for what it pays back on qualifying partial sales. American Hartford Gold publishes a contract that says the law bars it from guaranteeing any buyback. A buyback is the company buying your metal back when you sell. The written wording matters more than the sales call, because disputes are decided on the signed documents.
Buyback and RMD sales: a 5% target vs "makes no such guarantee"#
Augusta targets a 5% gap between its selling and buyback prices on qualifying partial sales and RMDs. American Hartford Gold's contract says it "makes no such guarantee" of buying back at all. That gap is the purchase-to-buyback spread. The table quotes each company's own words.
| Company | Exact wording | Where and when | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | "targets a purchase-to-buyback spread of approximately 5% for qualifying structured transactions, including eligible partial IRA sales or required minimum distributions and qualifying non-IRA partial sales of metals held for at least five years" | Augusta FAQ topic page, Oct. 2026 | A goal for partial sales, not every sale |
| Augusta | "It is not a promise that every future sale will receive the same bid"; "does not automatically apply when you liquidate an entire precious-metals IRA at once" | Same | Selling everything at once is outside the target |
| Augusta | "If Augusta agrees to repurchase"; "no separate liquidation fee on an accepted buyback" | Same | Augusta can decline; no extra fee if it buys |
| Augusta | "Highest Buyback Price Guarantee": 24 hours from the recorded buyback call to cancel if another dealer bids more | Same | A short window to shop your sale |
| American Hartford Gold | "applicable laws currently prohibit AHG from guaranteeing to repurchase precious metals it sells"; "AHG makes no such guarantee, either as to actual repurchase or as to repurchase at a particular price" | Agreement para 6, Sept. 2026 | No promise to buy back, at any price |
| American Hartford Gold | "we never charge any additional liquidation fees"; badges "Buy-Back Commitment" and "Price Match Guarantee" | About page and product pages | Marketing words; the contract governs |
Company website links in this table: SafeOunce earns nothing from these links.
An RMD (required minimum distribution) is the yearly withdrawal from a traditional IRA. It starts at age 73 if you were born from 1951 to 1958, or 75 if born in 1960 or later (26 U.S.C. 401(a)(9)). If you were born in 1959, it is 73 under the IRS's proposed regulations. At 73 the IRS divisor is 26.5, so a $100,000 metals IRA must pay out about $3,774 (IRS Publication 590-B). How gold IRA required minimum distributions work with metal is explained step by step.
Selling part of the metal to meet an RMD is exactly the case Augusta's target names. American Hartford Gold publishes no RMD sale terms. If the account is at Equity Trust, it charges $30 per sale (FS-0004-05, Rev. 081726).
Two lines from Augusta's September 23 FAQ, that it had "never declined" a buyback and paid in "about three weeks", do not appear on the October 20 main FAQ. Our guide to buyback prices and custodian fees when you sell explains the bid.
Cancellation: both companies narrowed their 7-day windows#
American Hartford Gold gives 7 days to cancel only non-bullion orders, and Augusta now says only "certain orders may qualify" for its seven-day money-back protection. American Hartford Gold narrowed its window between its 2023 and 2026 agreements, Augusta in October 2026. The agreement's definition of non-bullion is unclear, so ask in writing which of your items count. The table shows how each company's wording changed.
| Company | Earlier wording | Date | Current wording | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Hartford Gold | 7 days to cancel "the transaction" | 2023 agreement (V323) | 7 days, "non-bullion transactions" only; clock starts at signing | Sept. 2026 agreement |
| Augusta | "For all transactions ... up to seven calendar days after the date a transaction is confirmed" (its BBB profile text limited this to first-time premium-coin orders) | FAQ, 2026-09-23 | "Some purchases may qualify ... not every order has the same protections"; "The applicable transaction terms explain eligibility, timing, and how a request is made" | FAQ, 2026-10-20 |
American Hartford Gold's clock is strict. Paragraph 3 says the period "shall begin from the execution date of this Agreement regardless of whether the account is fully funded for IRA transactions". The execution date is the day you sign. The contract allows "four to eight weeks" for delivery, so the window can close before the metal reaches the vault.
Notice goes by phone and email, and a refund comes "within thirty (30) days". Cancelled coins must go back within 3 days of delivery. Paragraph 2A says "all sales are final" otherwise.
Augusta has a second seven-day promise, and it is not a right to cancel. Its "7-Day Price Protection Program" lets you revise a low-mintage order to a lower price. Your Augusta price locks once the recorded Order Desk confirmation call is completed, according to its October 2026 FAQ.
A separate right exists in tax law. Treas. Reg. 1.408-6 gives you at least 7 days to revoke a new IRA. Revocation means undoing the account. That right runs against the custodian, not the dealer. Our page on how to cancel a gold IRA separates the IRS right from the dealer's terms.
Contracts, sales pay, custodians and depositories#
American Hartford Gold's sales agreement is public and Augusta's is not, so only American Hartford Gold's dispute terms and sales-pay clause can be read before you call. Arbitration means a private judge decides a dispute instead of a court. A class action is a group lawsuit. A fiduciary is someone legally bound to put your interests first. The table compares nine clauses.
| Clause | American Hartford Gold (agreement, Sept. 2026) | Augusta |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement public | Yes (footer link, file 0902206) | No ("This form is no longer available", 2026-11-06) |
| Disputes | JAMS arbitration at the office nearest you; no group claims | Website terms show an "Arbitration and Class Action Waiver" section (search result only); sales agreement not public |
| Deadline to bring a claim | "WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ITS ACCRUAL" | Not public |
| Liability cap | "THE AMOUNT CUSTOMER ACTUALLY PAID" | Not public |
| Changes | "AHG may amend this agreement at any time solely by written notice" | Not public |
| Sales pay | Commission "based at least partially on the volume and profit margin"; representatives "are not licensed"; "no fiduciary relationship exists" | Educators "salaried" without "product-specific commissions"; "Certain customer-facing personnel may receive a fixed incentive when a trade is completed, but that incentive does not vary with the particular product selected" (company claim) |
| Calls | Consent to calls "regardless of whether those numbers are listed on any state or federal 'Do Not Call' registry" | Not public |
| Card payments | "three percent (3%) merchant processing fee", not refunded ($300 on a $10,000 cash order) | Not public |
| Holding period | Para 7: "should be prepared to hold purchased precious metals for a minimum of five years or more" | 5% buyback target for non-IRA partial sales needs metals "held for at least five years" (topic FAQ, Oct. 2026) |
Our table of gold IRA company contracts compared shows the same clauses at other firms.
On custody, the two companies point to the same firms. American Hartford Gold's IRA page (October 2, 2026) says "you will enjoy the experienced custodial services of Equity Trust Company". It names Delaware Depository and Brink's, and International Depository Services for segregated storage only. Augusta's September 23 FAQ named Equity Trust and called Delaware Depository "the depository Augusta recommends"; its October 20 FAQ says only "established independent providers".
If Equity Trust holds your IRA at either company, its custodial agreement requires individual arbitration unless you opt out within 65 days of opening (Article XVIII). An opt-out is a written notice that keeps your right to sue. Delaware Depository publishes its insurance terms (FAQ, September 2026): $1 billion all-risk cover plus $100 million contingent cover. It pays metal value, not premiums, and excludes war, terrorism, cyber events and confiscation. FDIC and SIPC never cover IRA metal.
Complaints, Lawsuits and Regulatory Records Compared#
Augusta has 1 BBB complaint in the last three years and American Hartford Gold has 116, as of November 6, 2026. We found no regulator action against either company as of September 29, 2026. Two federal cases have been brought against The Hartford Gold Group, LLC: Mathys v. The Hartford Gold Group, LLC, N.D. Ill. No. 1:20-cv-03927, sent to arbitration in 2020, and McDougall v. The Hartford Gold Group, LLC, C.D. Cal. No. 2:23-cv-03912, dismissed in 2024.
Counts alone do not tell you what went wrong. The American Hartford Gold complaints, lawsuits and BBB record page reads the complaints one by one.
BBB and Trustpilot: 1 vs 116 complaints in three years#
American Hartford Gold has 13.8 BBB complaints per 100 reviews and Augusta 0.7, about 19 times fewer, as of November 6, 2026. Complaint density is complaints divided by reviews, a way to compare firms of different sizes. The table sets out both records.
| Measure (2026-11-06) | Augusta Precious Metals | American Hartford Gold |
|---|---|---|
| BBB grade | A+ | A+ |
| BBB accredited since | 2015-02-17 | 2016-06-03 |
| Complaints in 3 years | 1 | 116 |
| Complaints in the last 12 months | 1 | 42 |
| BBB reviews | 136 | 843 |
| Complaints per 100 reviews | 0.7 | 13.8 |
| Trustpilot score | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Trustpilot reviews | 377 | 1,954 |
| One-star share | 1% | 2% |
| Invites reviews | Yes | "hasn't invited customers recently" |
| Reply rate to negative reviews | 66% | 11% |
American Hartford Gold's rate has not moved: on October 2, 2026 it had 111 complaints on 804 reviews, also 13.8 per 100. Of the 100 points in a BBB grade, 90 relate to complaints, mostly how they are handled.
Counts grow with sales volume. American Hartford Gold's site said it has served "2+ million Americans" (September 29, 2026), a claim SafeOunce has not checked. Its "$4 billion" delivered does not match a Benzinga figure of "over $1 billion". Augusta publishes no customer count. Arbitration also keeps serious disputes out of public view.
Stars barely separate sellers. Five-star shares ran from 89% to 99% across the ten sellers SafeOunce tracks (September 29, 2026), and Trustpilot adds seven 3.5-star reviews to every score. More on this is in BBB, BCA and Trustpilot ratings.
What customers complain about: price and the first statement#
At both companies the complaints are about price. Augusta's one BBB complaint alleges premiums far above market, and 14 of American Hartford Gold's 20 newest complaints as of September 29, 2026 are about markups or a first statement worth less. A first statement values your coins at melt value, the value of the metal alone.
Augusta's complaint was filed January 23, 2026. Citing an "independent review", the customer alleges premiums "approximately 84% above typical market pricing for gold and over 200% above typical market pricing for silver", an excess of "over $57,000". Augusta replied on May 18, 2026: "The third-party analysis is completely incorrect", adding that the holdings "have substantially increased in value". The customer did not accept the replies.
The same customer alleges a Buyback Transaction Agreement had "confidentiality and non-disparagement language". Augusta replied on July 10, 2026 that "there is no confidentiality agreement required before receiving buyback pricing". None of the customer's figures are verified.
At American Hartford Gold, SafeOunce read the 20 newest BBB complaint texts (October 30, 2025 to September 1, 2026) on September 29, 2026. Fourteen are about markups or a value drop, and 6 name exclusive, fractional or numismatic coins. A fractional coin weighs under one ounce and costs more per ounce. Five involve delays, 1 a buyback quote, and 5 are marked resolved. American Hartford Gold answers its complaints, which the BBB shows as "answered".
Eight complaints gave usable figures, with drops of 32% to 47%. The table compares them with the day-one loss at each contract tier.
| Customer-stated figure or contract tier | Drop or day-one loss |
|---|---|
| $50,000 shown as $31,000 | 38.0% |
| $100,000 shown as $56,376.92 | 43.6% |
| $150,000 shown as about $100,000 | 33.3% |
| Median of 8 usable figures | 37.6% |
| Bullion cap, 19.99% | 23.7% |
| Exclusive and semi-numismatic cap, 39.99% | 42.8% |
| Limited numismatic cap, 59.99% | 61.9% |
Every reported drop is larger than the bullion cap can explain. These are customer-stated figures, not findings.
Our gold IRA statement guide explains why it shows less than you paid.
Lawsuits: the Mathys arbitration order, a dismissed calls case and two business disputes#
Two federal cases have been brought against The Hartford Gold Group, LLC: a 2020 customer case sent to private arbitration and a 2023 calls case dismissed in 2024. Court indexes also list two business disputes involving Augusta. The table sets out all five records with their outcomes.
| Case | Court and number | Filed | Subject | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathys v. The Hartford Gold Group, LLC | N.D. Ill. No. 1:20-cv-03927 | 2020 | An 83-year-old customer who paid $604,331.83 alleged his coins were worth "less than half" of what he was told | Motion to compel arbitration granted 2020-12-07; merits not decided; arbitration result not public |
| McDougall v. The Hartford Gold Group, LLC | C.D. Cal. No. 2:23-cv-03912 | 2023-05-22 | Sales calls under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. 227) | Dismissed by joint stipulation 2024-05-28; terms not public |
| Westwood One, LLC v. Augusta Precious Metals, Inc. | NY Supreme Court (court index); case number not shown in the index we read | 2024-07-10 | Commercial contract dispute | Outcome not found |
| Orion Precious Metals, Inc. v. Augusta | Los Angeles Superior Court (court index, secondary); case number not found | 2024-03-18 | Dispute between two sellers over names and advertising | Outcome not found |
| Orion Precious Metals v. Money Group, LLC | C.D. Cal. No. 2:26-cv-07092 | 2026-06-29 | Orion alleges money.com is "paid by these companies to rank their businesses as a top choice"; names both companies | Pending, no ruling known as of September 29, 2026; allegations against Money, not against either company |
In Mathys, a motion to compel arbitration sent the case to a private judge; the court did not decide whether the coins were overpriced. In McDougall, a joint stipulation, where both sides agree to end the case, closed it, according to the docket. The TCPA is the federal law on unwanted sales calls.
SafeOunce has not read either Augusta docket, so neither outcome is established here. Details sit on Augusta Precious Metals complaints and lawsuits.
To stop sales calls, see our guide to gold IRA cold calls.
Regulator actions: none found for either company#
We found no CFTC, SEC, FTC or state regulator action against Augusta Precious Metals or American Hartford Gold (searched under both of its legal names), as of September 29, 2026. Every case we track is in our list of gold IRA enforcement actions. We searched CFTC press releases, SEC litigation releases, FTC cases, and state attorney general and securities regulator sites. The state search does not yet cover all 50 states, and regulator actions can take years to become public.
Website statements vs the rules: "IRS-approved" labels, purity and old limits#
Both companies' websites contain statements the tax code does not support, from "IRS-approved" metals to an out-of-date contribution limit. The table sets each statement beside the rule.
| Company | Statement | Page and date | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Hartford Gold | "The maximum annual contribution for 2025 is $7,000, or $8,000 if you are 50 or older" | Gold IRA FAQ, 2026-09-29 | For 2026: $7,500, plus $1,100 at age 50 or older | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| American Hartford Gold | RMDs start "once you turn 72" | Gold IRA FAQ, 2026-09-29 | 73 if born 1951-1958; 75 if born 1960 or later; 1959 is 73 under proposed regulations | 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(9)(C)(v) |
| American Hartford Gold | "IRS-approved coins and bars", "IRS-approved depository" | IRA page and FAQ, 2026-09-29 | The IRS approves no coin or vault; the law sets eligibility and trustee custody | 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3) |
| American Hartford Gold | "These rollovers are tax-free" | IRA page, 2026-09-29 | 20% withholding on 60-day plan rollovers; one IRA-to-IRA 60-day rollover per 12 months | 26 U.S.C. 3405(c), 408(d)(3)(B) |
| American Hartford Gold | 60-day rollover: "You then simply mail the check to American Hartford Gold" | Gold IRA FAQ, 2026-09-29 | The money must be deposited into the new IRA within 60 days | 26 U.S.C. 408(d)(3) |
| Augusta | "Choose from a selection of IRS-approved silver coins and bars"; "Select IRS-approved metals" | Silver IRA page and two other pages, 2026-10-02 | The IRS approves no coin or bar | 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3) |
| Augusta | Gold "must meet a minimum purity standard of 99.9%" and, lower on the same page, "at least 99.5% pure" | Gold catalog page, 2026-10-02 | Gold bullion must be .995 fine; the Gold Eagle is eligible by name at .9167 | 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3) |
Augusta's October 20 FAQ no longer contains "IRS-approved". Its September version called Equity Trust an "IRS-approved custodian". Equity Trust is a South Dakota trust company (license TC.022-2), and it is not on the IRS list of 73 nonbank trustees as of April 1, 2026. What the IRS list covers is on IRS-approved gold IRA custodians.
None of this says either company acts in bad faith. The exact gold IRA purity requirements differ by metal.
Augusta or American Hartford Gold: Which Company Fits Your Situation?#
Neither company is better for everyone: the right one depends on how much you are moving, which coins you buy and what you can get in writing. The table matches 10 situations to what the records point to, with the fact that decides each one.
| Your situation | What the records point to | Deciding fact |
|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | Neither; compare a gold ETF in an existing IRA | Minimums $50,000 and $10,000 |
| $10,000 to $49,999 | Only American Hartford Gold takes the order; buy bullion and get each coin's spread in writing | Bullion cap up to 19.99% |
| $50,000 or more, plain bullion | Both possible; ask both for the price per coin and the same-day buyback bid, and compare | Augusta's margin is unpublished; AHG's cap is a limit, not a price |
| You plan partial sales or RMDs later | Augusta is the only one that publishes a buyback target; get the qualifying terms in writing | 5% target, qualifying partial sales only |
| You want to read the contract first | Only American Hartford Gold publishes it | Augusta's agreement "no longer available" online |
| You want a right to cancel bullion | American Hartford Gold's agreement gives none; ask Augusta in writing whether your order qualifies | AHG: non-bullion only; Augusta: "certain orders may qualify" |
| You are offered free silver | Take it only if the qualifying coins' spread is in writing and under the break-even | 17% for $15,000; 9% for $5,000 |
| You want the lowest yearly bills | Augusta's offer is worth up to $2,350 if you qualify for all 10 years | About $705 for AHG's 3 years |
| You want the fewest complaints | Augusta, with the volume caveat | 1 vs 116 BBB complaints in 3 years |
| You dislike sales pressure | AHG's contract ties pay to margin; Augusta says pay does not vary by product; either way, do not sign on the first call | Agreement para 7; Augusta topic FAQ |
SafeOunce scores companies on public records and a written quote test. Both results are provisional: Augusta has earned 40 of the 52 points checked so far and American Hartford Gold 34 of 58 (October 2, 2026). Until all 100 points are checked, neither has a score, so we name no overall winner. The scoring rules are in how SafeOunce rates gold IRA companies.
The open items are mostly prices, which neither company posts online. Our ranked list is on best gold IRA companies.
What Should You Ask Augusta or American Hartford Gold Before You Sign?#
Ask both companies the same six questions in writing, on the same day, before you move any retirement money. The six questions are listed below.
- Ask for the price of each coin and its percent over spot.
- Ask what the company would pay for the same coins today, and whether a later sale of part of them qualifies for any buyback target.
- Ask whether each item is "bullion" under the agreement, whether this order can be cancelled, and from what date.
- Ask for every yearly and exit fee, with the custodian's schedule and its revision date, and which fees any offer covers.
- Ask for the sales agreement by email before you pay (American Hartford Gold's is public; save the version you sign).
- Ask how the person on the phone is paid.
All 12 questions are in how to choose a gold IRA company.
Federal law backs the first question. The Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR 310.3(a)(1)(i), requires a telemarketer to disclose the total cost and quantity before you pay. Under 16 CFR 310.6(b)(5), precious metals sales stay under the rule even when you called first.
Put both written quotes side by side in our gold IRA company comparison tool.
How are review sites paid to recommend Augusta or American Hartford Gold?#
Augusta's published affiliate contract pays review sites 8% of an order's premium-coin value, nothing on bullion, and $200 per qualified lead (terms read September 29, 2026). American Hartford Gold publishes no affiliate terms. Augusta's standard tier is called Prime; its VIP tier pays 10% on premium coins and 1% on bullion. Its affiliate program page says: "Our ideal customer is between the ages of 55 and 75". The table shows what one order pays a site on the Prime tier, assuming the "Premium Trade Value" equals the order.
| Order | Affiliate pay at Augusta's Prime tier |
|---|---|
| $100,000, all premium coins | $8,200 |
| $100,000, all bullion | $200 |
| $50,000, all premium coins | $4,200 |
We read the three result pages for this comparison on November 6, 2026. Every readable commercial page is paid by listed companies, is a press release or is run as an Augusta partner. Two Augusta-branded review domains rank. One partner page says "Augusta authorized this article to name American Hartford Gold". American Hartford Gold runs an "offers" landing page and an "AHG Partner Portal", with no published amounts. We explain the whole system in are gold IRA reviews paid.
Many review pages are paid when a reader contacts a company. SafeOunce takes no money from any company named on this page. Our own rules are on who pays SafeOunce.
Who endorses Augusta and American Hartford Gold?#
American Hartford Gold's homepage featured Bill O'Reilly, Kim Iversen, Rick Harrison and Liz Wheeler (September 29, 2026), and Augusta named Joe Montana a brand ambassador in 2020, according to its own press releases. American Hartford Gold's reviews page also names Roman Balmakov (September 29, 2026). Montana became "Augusta Gold IRA Ambassador" in July 2020; the releases do not say whether he is paid, and his role after 2023 is not confirmed. The FTC's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) require paid ties between endorser and seller to be disclosed. Who is paid by whom is listed under celebrity gold IRA endorsements.
How do Augusta and American Hartford Gold compare with other gold IRA companies?#
Each company has its own head-to-head pages against the other large gold IRA sellers. The ten pairs are listed below.
- Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco
- Augusta Precious Metals vs Priority Gold
- American Hartford Gold vs Noble Gold Investments
- Goldco vs American Hartford Gold
- Augusta Precious Metals vs Birch Gold Group
- Augusta Precious Metals vs Lear Capital
- American Hartford Gold vs Priority Gold
- American Hartford Gold vs Lear Capital
- Augusta Precious Metals vs Noble Gold Investments
- American Hartford Gold vs Birch Gold Group
Company pairs and comparisons with ETFs and other accounts are collected under gold IRA comparisons.
How much does American Hartford Gold cost?#
American Hartford Gold's main cost is the spread on your coins, up to 19.99% on bullion under its 2026 agreement. It publishes no account fees; Equity Trust's metals-only schedule, if it applies, adds about $235 to $285 a year. Money's list (October 26, 2026) calls it "Best for Low Fees" on figures of $50 to set up and $175 a year up to $100,000, which the company has not confirmed. That label counts account fees only, not the spread. Everything else is in our American Hartford Gold review 2026.
Who is the owner of American Hartford Gold?#
American Hartford Gold, LLC does not publish who owns it. It names Sanford Mann as its founder and CEO, and the BBB lists Scott Gerlis as Executive Chairman and Max Baecker as President (September 29, 2026). The company is not related to The Hartford Financial Services Group, the insurer listed on the New York Stock Exchange as HIG.
What does Augusta Precious Metals do?#
Augusta Precious Metals is a dealer that sells gold and silver coins and bars by phone and arranges self-directed IRAs to hold them. It is not a custodian, a bank or an adviser. Its FAQ says an IRA "may hold qualifying physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium" and that Augusta "primarily focuses on gold and silver". Isaac Nuriani founded it in January 2012. Our full take is in Augusta Precious Metals reviews.
Can you move from one company to the other later?#
Yes: metals can move between IRA custodians in kind through a trustee-to-trustee transfer, but custodians charge exit fees and Augusta's $50,000 minimum still applies to a first purchase. A transfer is not a rollover, so there is no 60-day clock and no once-per-year limit (IRS Publication 590-A). If both accounts sit at Equity Trust, ask whether the metal can be re-registered without the $125 in-kind transfer-out fee. Steps and costs are in switching gold IRA custodians or companies.
Can you keep Augusta or American Hartford Gold metals at home?#
No: metals in a gold IRA must stay with the trustee, and taking them home is a taxable distribution under McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021). Augusta's FAQ said in September 2026 that IRA metals "generally can't be stored at home", and American Hartford Gold calls home-storage IRAs "Not worth it". The ruling is explained under home storage gold IRA.