American Hartford Gold vs Priority Gold: Fees, Minimums, Buyback and Complaints Compared (2026)

American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold both name Equity Trust as custodian and both state a $10,000 gold IRA minimum in fall 2026, so their account fees can match. A custodian is the trust company that holds your IRA. What separates them is the markup on the coins (the price above the metal's value), the written terms and the complaint record.

The biggest difference is in writing. American Hartford Gold publishes its contract with markup limits; Priority Gold publishes price ranges and a buyback fee, but no contract. This page is part of our reviews of gold IRA companies, built from company documents, court records and BBB data.

We give a verdict by situation, not an overall winner. The five key numbers:

• Minimum: $10,000 vs $10,000, per each company's FAQ (November 6 and September 29, 2026).
• Markup in writing: caps of 1.00% to 19.99% on bullion (September 2026) vs 4% to 7% over spot on bullion coins (November 6, 2026).
• Cancellation: none on bullion vs 3 business days to 14 days by state; the 14 days apply only to Kentucky phone sales (September 29, 2026).
• BBB complaints per 100 reviews: 13.8 (October 2, 2026) vs 5.9 (September 29, 2026).
• Court cases found: 2 vs 1 in the court records we read, and no regulator action found for either (September 29, 2026).

American Hartford Gold vs Priority Gold at a Glance: 20 Facts Side by Side#

The table below compares 20 facts for American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold, each from the company's own pages, the BBB or a court record, with the date checked. A depository is the vault. Segregated storage keeps your coins apart from other people's; non-segregated storage pools them. BBB accreditation is a paid membership, separate from the BBB grade.

Company website links in this table: SafeOunce earns nothing from these links.

Table T1: American Hartford Gold vs Priority Gold: 20 facts, checked September to November 2026.

"No" or "not published" means the company's website shows nothing on it.

Our American Hartford Gold review covers the company alone.

None of the 19 page-one Google results for this comparison put the two companies side by side (November 6, 2026). The ranking pages print figures the companies' own documents contradict.

Table T1b: Figures on pages that rank for this comparison, checked against the company documents (read November 6, 2026).

American Hartford Gold is not The Hartford, the insurer listed as NYSE: HIG.

The Priority Gold review does the same for Priority Gold.

How Do American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold Fees Compare?#

American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold publish no account fees, but both name Equity Trust as custodian, so the yearly account bill can be the same $235 to $285. Account fees are flat yearly bills; the markup is a share of every dollar you spend on metal. So where does the cost difference come from?

From the markup and the promotions. One point of markup on $100,000 is $1,000, more than three years of Equity Trust's $285 segregated fee. Our guide to gold IRA fees lists every cost layer.

Account fees: the same custodian and the same $285 a year#

If Equity Trust's metals-only schedule applies, it charges $285 in year one and $235 a year after with pooled storage, or $335 and $285 segregated, at either company. That schedule is form FS-0004-05, revision 081726, read September 29, 2026. Its fees are flat: the same dollars at any account size.

Table T2: Equity Trust precious metals (only) fee schedule FS-0004-05 Rev. 081726, read September 29, 2026. Applies at either company only if this schedule covers your account.

American Hartford Gold's IRA page names "the experienced custodial services of Equity Trust Company". Priority Gold's articles of September 15, 2026 say: "We work with Equity Trust Company ... as custodian, and Delaware Depository for storage." Its ETF article also cites "a $50 account set-up fee on Equity Trust's published metals schedule".

Custody is the same too: both name the Delaware Depository, whose insurance pays metal value, not the premium you paid. It lists $1 billion of all-risk cover plus $100 million contingent, excluding war and confiscation (September 29, 2026). FDIC and SIPC never cover IRA metal.

Other fee figures on review sites, such as Money.com's $75 a year, are checked in Table T1b above.

Neither company prints these fees. American Hartford Gold's FAQ says: "Fees vary based on your account's size and the metal holdings in your depository" (re-read November 6, 2026).

Equity Trust's four schedules are explained in our Equity Trust review. Ask each company which schedule applies and its revision date (the version of the price list).

The markup: contract caps at American Hartford Gold, price ranges at Priority Gold#

American Hartford Gold's contract caps its spread at 19.99% of your price on bullion and 59.99% on limited coins, while Priority Gold states bullion coins "typically run 4-7% over spot". Sources: the September 2026 agreement and Priority's catalog FAQ (November 6, 2026). The spread is the dealer's price minus its cost, as a share of your price. A premium over spot is how far your price sits above spot, the market price of raw metal.

The agreement's paragraph 4B sets three tiers: bullion 1.00% to 19.99%, "AHG exclusive coins as well as semi-numismatic coins" up to 39.99%, and limited-supply numismatic (collector) coins up to 59.99%. 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". Priority Gold says gold bars run "usually 2-4% over spot" and proofs carry "significantly higher premiums".

The table below puts both on one basis: what $100,000 of coins would sell back for on day one.

Table T3: Illustration using the industry buyback template (a dealer bid about 4.69% below dealer cost). Priority's ranges are over spot, so each is converted to a share of the price (premium divided by 1 plus the premium) and spot is treated as the dealer's cost. Not a quote from either company.

A cap is a contract term: the most American Hartford Gold may charge. A range is a general statement, not a quote. Our explainer on gold IRA markups and spreads shows how to get the number in writing.

Measured as a markup over American Hartford Gold's cost, the three caps equal 25.0%, 66.6% and 149.9%. Priority Gold promises "plainly stated spreads", yet shows no coin price (September 29, 2026). Only 4 of 15 operating sellers SafeOunce checked publish a spread range, American Hartford Gold among them (September 29, 2026).

The CFTC, the federal agency that polices metals fraud, puts bullion at 5% to 10% over spot and numismatic coins at 40% to 200% (CFTC release 8215-20, 2020). Its 2024 advisory puts fraudulent dealers' spreads at more than 300% and others at less than 20%. It calls "semi-numismatic" "a made-up industry term", the label on American Hartford Gold's middle tier.

How much must gold rise to cover the markup?#

Gold must rise about 9% to 12% to cover Priority Gold's stated bullion-coin range, and about 31% at American Hartford Gold's 19.99% bullion cap, before a sale breaks even. Divide 1 by (1 minus the spread) times 0.953, then subtract 1. The 0.953 stands for the dealer's bid, the price it pays you, about 4.69% below its cost.

For example, $100,000 bought at the 19.99% cap sells back for $76,260 on day one; gold must rise 31.1% to bring that back to $100,000. Results for each statement:

• Priority Gold bullion coins, 4% to 7% over spot: 9.1% to 12.3%
• Plain bullion at a 5% spread: 10.4%
• American Hartford Gold bullion cap of 19.99%: 31.1%
• American Hartford Gold coin caps of 39.99% and 59.99%: 74.8% and 162.2%

Fees and markup add up. The table joins them for a $50,000 bullion order held 10 years, gold flat, on Equity Trust's segregated schedule with one sale and closing.

Table T3b: All-in cost of a $50,000 bullion order over 10 years (illustration, not a quote; same bid template as Table T3; Equity Trust schedule Rev. 081726, if it applies). Neither company is cheaper until you hold both written quotes.

American Hartford Gold's agreement itself speaks of holding "a minimum of five years or more". This is not a forecast. Test your own spread in the gold IRA break-even calculator.

Free silver and fee offers: "up to $15,000" at both, costed#

Both companies advertise up to $15,000 in free silver with no published tiers; on $100,000, the bonus pays off only at a coin spread of about 17% or less. A tier is the bonus for each order size. Both headlines were read on November 6, 2026.

American Hartford Gold's homepage says "Up To $15,000 in FREE Silver" "On Qualifying Purchases", meaning orders that meet unpublished conditions. Its specials page says "Up To $5,000 In Free Silver". Priority Gold says its silver "scales with the size of your investment" and "is delivered to you outside of your IRA, is not tax-deferred, and may be taxable."

The table costs both offers on $100,000, assuming the bonus silver carries a 20% spread, against plain bullion at a 5% spread sold at the template bid ($90,547).

Table T4: Free silver costed on a $100,000 order. Hypothetical: tiers are not published by either company; bid template about 4.69% below dealer cost.

A higher coin spread can cancel the bonus out. How free silver gold IRA promotions are paid for is explained step by step.

The bonus can also cost you tax, because Priority Gold's silver arrives outside the IRA. American Hartford Gold does not say where its silver goes, so ask.

American Hartford Gold also offers "Up To 3 Years With No IRA Fees" (November 6, 2026) and publishes no terms. Yahoo Finance (May 1, 2026) reports the waiver as one year at $50,000 and three years at $100,000. On Equity Trust's metals-only schedule, three years are worth up to $905 segregated or $755 pooled.

Priority Gold offers "complimentary shipping and storage" for an unstated length. Forbes Advisor reports first-year fees waived at $25,000 (July 20, 2026); on Equity Trust's segregated metals-only schedule, year one costs $335. Our analysis of no-fee gold IRA offers shows how these deals compare.

Under 16 CFR 251.1(b)(1), a seller should not recover a free item's cost "by marking up the price of the article or service which must be purchased". Neither company publishes the qualifying coins' prices, so you cannot check this.

Minimum Investment: $10,000 at Both, by Their Own FAQs#

American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold both put their gold IRA minimum at $10,000 in their own FAQs (fall 2026), though Priority Gold's spokesperson told Forbes Advisor $25,000. The minimum order size is the smallest purchase a company accepts.

Priority Gold's reviews FAQ says "typically $5,000 for cash purchases and $10,000 for IRAs", which "may vary based on product selection and account type" (September 29, 2026). Forbes Advisor (July 20, 2026) reports $25,000 for an IRA rollover, "according to a Priority Gold spokesperson".

The table below lists every minimum we found for each company.

Table T5: Gold IRA minimums by source. Business Insider's "$20,000" for Priority Gold conflicts with Priority's own FAQ.

The IRS sets no minimum. The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 at 50 or older (IRS Notice 2025-67), so most accounts start with a transfer or a rollover.

We list the gold IRA minimum investment for every company we track.

What the $10,000 minimum means for fee drag#

At $10,000, Equity Trust's yearly fees would take 2.35% to 2.85% of your account at either company if its metals-only schedule applies, before any markup. Fee drag is the share of your account that the yearly fees take.

Table: Yearly fee drag on Equity Trust's metals-only schedule after year one (Rev. 081726, read September 29, 2026).

The dollar fee is flat, so at the $10,000 minimum it takes almost 3% a year with segregated storage.

Less than $10,000? A gold ETF may cost less#

With less than $10,000, neither company's FAQ minimum is met, and a gold ETF in an existing IRA costs 0.10% to 0.40% a year. A gold ETF is a fund that holds gold and trades like a stock. The yearly fund fees are 0.10% for GLDM, 0.25% for IAU and 0.40% for GLD (fund documents, September 29, 2026). The costs are set out in gold IRA vs gold ETF.

Buyback, Cancellation and Delivery: What Each Company Puts in Writing#

American Hartford Gold's public contract gives no cancellation on bullion, while Priority Gold publishes state cancellation windows and a buyback fee but not its contract. The written wording matters more than the sales call, because disputes are decided on the signed documents, often in private arbitration, a hearing outside the courts.

Buyback wording: two "commitments" and no guarantee#

Both companies market a buyback "commitment", and both say in writing that they cannot promise to buy your metal back. A buyback is the dealer buying your metal back from you.

Table T6: Buyback wording at American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold, with source and date.

Contracts at American Hartford Gold, Lear Capital, Preserve Gold, Goldline and American Bullion say the law prohibits a repurchase guarantee. Other sellers' wording is in gold IRA buyback programs compared.

Priority Gold's second avenue pays "the current wholesale bid price", the price a large metals wholesaler pays. Priority calls it "usually the best avenue for bullion products" (buy-back policy, re-read November 6, 2026).

The custodian also charges $30 per sale on Equity Trust's metals-only schedule (September 29, 2026). Custodian sale fees and taxes are covered on how to sell gold in your IRA.

What does Priority Gold's 18% consignment fee cost?#

On $100,000 of collector coins at a 35% spread, Priority Gold's consignment route returns $82,000 after five years if retail prices stay flat, against about $61,953 at a wholesale bid. Consignment means the dealer sells your coins to another buyer for you and keeps a fee. The 35% spread is our assumption, because Priority Gold publishes none for these coins.

Table T7: Four sale routes for $100,000 (illustration; retail prices held flat; Priority buy-back policy read September 29, 2026, re-read November 6, 2026).

For consignment to return the full $100,000, retail prices must first rise 21.95% ($100,000 divided by 0.82). Why sellers push collector coins is explained under numismatic coin upsells.

Cancellation: no right on bullion at American Hartford Gold vs 3 to 14 days by state at Priority Gold#

American Hartford Gold's 2026 agreement gives no right to cancel a bullion order and 7 days for other coins. Priority Gold's refund page lists state windows of 3 business days to 14 days, the 14 only for Kentucky sales from an unsolicited phone call. A cancellation window is the time you have to undo an order. Both documents were read on September 29, 2026.

American Hartford Gold's paragraph 3 says the 7-day 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. Notice goes "by phone and email", and refunds come "within thirty (30) days". Otherwise "all sales are final" (paragraph 2A).

American Hartford Gold's about page promises a "100% customer satisfaction guarantee", yet the agreement limits cancellation to "non-bullion transactions".

Priority Gold's refund page runs from "within 3 business days from the delivery* of the merchandise" to "KENTUCKY LAW GIVES YOU FOURTEEN (14) DAYS". The Kentucky window covers sales made by an unsolicited phone call. For IRA orders, receipt is "the date that Priority issues a notice of transfer to Customer (regardless of when Customer obtains actual knowledge of receipt)". In plain English: the clock starts when Priority sends that notice, even if you have not seen it.

The page covers 37 states and Guam; thirteen states, including Texas, have no section (see the next-step box below). The page never mentions bullion, so its windows are not limited to non-bullion coins in the text we read (November 6, 2026). Its customer agreement is not public, so ask whether it says otherwise.

The timeline follows a $50,000 IRA bullion order.

Table T8: Cancellation timeline for a $50,000 IRA bullion order, from the AHG agreement (Sept. 2026) and Priority's refund page (read September 29 and November 6, 2026). Illustration.

Treasury Regulation 1.408-6 gives you at least 7 days to revoke (undo) a new IRA. 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.

Delivery: 4 to 8 weeks vs 10 to 14 business days#

American Hartford Gold's agreement allows four to eight weeks to deliver IRA metal after the custodian pays, while Priority Gold's FAQ says 10 to 14 business days after account setup. Both were read on September 29, 2026.

Eight weeks is 56 days, twice the 28 days the CFTC uses for "actual delivery" (CFTC release 8215-20, August 4, 2020). American Hartford Gold's IRA page says "In as little as 3 days" (September 29, 2026).

Priority Gold's 10 to 14 business days after account setup is about 14 to 20 calendar days.

Check your custodian statement 28 days after payment; it should list each coin. The steps to check delivery of IRA metal are on our checklist.

Contracts: a published agreement vs one you see only before signing#

American Hartford Gold links its full sales agreement in its website footer, while Priority Gold's customer agreement is not on its website, so you cannot read its terms first. We checked both on September 29, 2026.

Priority Gold's refund page says: "YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY ANY MONEY UNLESS YOU SIGN THE CUSTOMER AGREEMENT." It adds: "Neither Priority's Customer Agreement nor these State-specific policies disclaim oral representations." In plain English: the agreement does not cancel what a salesperson told you, but you cannot read it until Priority Gold sends it.

In the table, a claim deadline is the last day to bring a dispute. A liability cap limits what the company pays if at fault, and a fiduciary must put your interests first.

Table T9: Contract terms side by side, from the AHG agreement (file 0902206) and Priority's refund page, disclaimer and forms (read September 29 and November 6, 2026).

According to the court docket as summarized by Trellis, a Texas court sent a case against Priority Gold to arbitration in 2026, so its agreement apparently has such a clause. Our table of gold IRA company contracts compared shows the clauses at ten sellers.

The Telemarketing Sales Rule covers both companies. Its section 310.6(b)(5) keeps precious metals investment offers under the rule even when you made the first call.

Get Priority Gold's agreement by email before any money moves, and save the American Hartford Gold version you sign.

Complaints, Lawsuits and Regulatory Records Compared#

American Hartford Gold has 13.8 BBB complaints per 100 reviews and Priority Gold 5.9, a lawsuit against each was sent to arbitration, and we found no regulator action against either. The BBB counts date from October 2, 2026 (American Hartford Gold) and September 29, 2026 (Priority Gold).

Each case and category is on American Hartford Gold complaints, lawsuits and BBB record.

BBB and Trustpilot: 13.8 vs 5.9 complaints per 100 reviews#

American Hartford Gold's BBB profile shows 13.8 complaints per 100 reviews and Priority Gold's 5.9, about 2.3 times as many. American Hartford Gold's counts are as of October 2, 2026; Priority Gold's as of September 29, 2026. Complaints per 100 reviews, or complaint density, compares firms of different sizes on one scale.

Table T10: BBB and Trustpilot records for both companies, with dates.

Lower is not low. Of ten gold IRA sellers SafeOunce tracks, only Lear Capital (22.1) ranks above American Hartford Gold, and Priority Gold is third (September 29 to October 2, 2026). Priority Gold's BBB file shows 32 of 38 complaints resolved and 6 answered.

Counts grow with sales volume. American Hartford Gold claims "$4 billion" delivered (September 29, 2026), which we have not checked; Priority Gold publishes no volume figure. Disputes sent to arbitration never reach the BBB.

The BBB grade says little about price: under the BBB's rating method, 90 of 100 points relate to complaints and reviews are not used. Trustpilot adds seven 3.5-star reviews to each score, and Priority Gold invites customers to review it. Why star ratings barely separate these firms is covered in BBB, BCA and Trustpilot ratings.

What customers complain about: markups and premium coins at both#

About two thirds of both companies' BBB complaints are filed as product or service issues, and the readable ones at both describe coins worth far less than the customer paid. The customer picks the category when filing.

Table T11: BBB complaint categories, counts and shares.

Of American Hartford Gold's 20 newest complaint texts (read September 29, 2026), 14 concern markups or a value drop. Six name exclusive, fractional (under one ounce), specialty or numismatic coins, and 5 describe delays. Eight say customers lost 32.0% to 47.2% on day one, median 37.6% (unverified). American Hartford Gold answers its BBB complaints, and the BBB marks 5 of those 20 resolved.

At Priority Gold, a complaint published July 15, 2024 says proof Silver Eagles bought at $143.95 each sold for an average of $72.91, which is $71.04 or 49.4% less. A proof coin is a polished collector version. The customer adds that a proof Gold Eagle set bought for $7,392.13 was worth "in the low $4,000.00s". The BBB and the customer both mark it resolved. The full file is on Priority Gold complaints, lawsuits and BBB record.

What custodians accept for proof coins in an IRA is on our proof coin page.

Lawsuits: three cases, two arbitration orders#

SafeOunce found three court cases: a lawsuit against each company was sent to private arbitration, and a sales-call case against American Hartford Gold was dismissed by agreement in 2024.

Table T12: Court cases naming American Hartford Gold or Priority Gold that SafeOunce found in court records, as of September 29, 2026.

In Mathys, a judge granted the company's motion to compel arbitration, a request to send the case to a private hearing. The court did not decide whether the coins were overpriced. The TCPA is the federal law on robocalls. A joint stipulation is a filing both sides sign, here to end the case.

According to the court docket as summarized by Trellis, Priority Gold, LLC moved to compel arbitration in Hamilton, the judge granted it, and the case was abated, meaning paused.

Regulator actions: none found for either company#

We found no CFTC, SEC or state regulator action against American Hartford Gold or Priority Gold in searches on September 29, 2026. Every case we track is in our list of gold IRA enforcement actions.

Priority Wealth Advisors, Inc., which has a consent order from California's financial regulator, is a different firm. Our searches did not reach every office in all 50 states, and actions can take years to become public, so check again before you buy.

IRA rules on their websites: Krugerrands, "IRS-approved" vaults and old limits#

Both companies' websites contain IRA statements that are out of date or wrong under current IRS rules. We read them between September 29 and November 6, 2026.

Table T13: IRA rule statements on both websites vs the rule.

An RMD is the yearly withdrawal the law requires from age 73 or 75. American Hartford Gold's FAQ also says of 60-day rollovers: "You then simply mail the check to American Hartford Gold" (September 29, 2026). The money must reach the new IRA within 60 days (26 U.S.C. 408(d)(3)).

The tax code allows two routes: named US coins, such as the American Gold Eagle, and bullion of set fineness (purity), such as gold at .995, held by a trustee. Our rules page on IRA-approved precious metals lists exactly which metals are IRA-eligible.

The only approval list the IRS keeps is for nonbank trustees (Treas. Reg. 1.408-2(e)); it lists no coins, dealers or vaults.

Priority Gold's own Krugerrand page says "No" under "IRA Approved" (October 2, 2026), so ask in writing before buying one for an IRA. Why the coin fails is on Krugerrands in an IRA.

American Hartford Gold or Priority Gold: Which Company Fits Your Situation?#

Neither company is better for everyone: the right one depends on what you buy, whether you need a way to cancel, and what you can get in writing. The account layer can be the same at both if Equity Trust's metals-only schedule applies, so the choice turns on the dealer. The table below matches nine situations to the deciding fact.

Table T14: Verdict by situation for American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold.

SafeOunce scores companies on public records and a buyer-style written quote. Both results are provisional as of October 2, 2026, because not all 100 points are checked. American Hartford Gold earned 34 of the 58 points checked and Priority Gold 28 of the 45 points checked. Until the quote test is done, we name no overall winner. The scoring rules are in how SafeOunce rates gold IRA companies.

A settled pricing or disclosure case in the last five years keeps a company off our best-of lists. Neither company has one (October 2, 2026).

Our overall ranked list is on best gold IRA companies.

What Should You Ask American Hartford Gold or Priority Gold Before You Sign?#

Ask both companies the same six questions in writing, on the same day, before you move any retirement money. Ask for:

1. The price of each coin and its percent over spot.
2. What the company would pay you for the same coins today.
3. Whether each item is "bullion" under the agreement, and how many days you have to cancel it.
4. The sales agreement and invoice by email before you pay.
5. Which custodian and fee schedule apply, with the revision date, and what any fee offer covers.
6. The free silver tiers, which coins qualify, and whether the silver is delivered inside or outside your IRA.

All 12 questions are in how to choose a gold IRA company.

Put both written quotes side by side in our gold IRA company comparison tool. You are entitled to the total cost before you pay under the Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR 310.3(a)(1)(i)).

How are review sites and spokespeople paid to recommend American Hartford Gold or Priority Gold?#

Neither company publishes what it pays review sites, and a pending federal lawsuit alleges that the top-ranked list for this comparison is paid to rank companies, naming both. In Orion v. Money Group (C.D. Cal. No. 2:26-cv-07092, filed June 29, 2026, pending), Orion Precious Metals alleges money.com is "paid by these companies to rank their businesses as a top choice". The claims are against Money, not either company, and no court has ruled on them.

Money.com's list ranks first on Google for this comparison (November 6, 2026) and says it "may earn a fee from our partners". Priority Gold's partner program pays "on a Net 30 basis", amounts not published (terms dated "05.01.2026", read September 29, 2026). American Hartford Gold runs an "AHG Partner Portal" with no terms published (September 29, 2026). We explain the whole system in are gold IRA reviews paid.

No company can pay to change its rating or its place on SafeOunce; see who pays SafeOunce. SafeOunce takes no money from any company named on this page.

Is Robert Kiyosaki paid by Priority Gold, and who endorses American Hartford Gold?#

Yes: as of November 6, 2026, Priority Gold's website says "Robert Kiyosaki is a paid spokesperson for Priority Gold"; American Hartford Gold names its endorsers but not their pay. Its September 2026 wording, "A real financial voice, not a paid actor", is gone; our Priority Gold review 2026 records it. Money.com's list carries a partner ad headed "Endorsed by Robert Kiyosaki" that names no company (November 6, 2026). American Hartford Gold names Bill O'Reilly, Kim Iversen, Rick Harrison and Liz Wheeler (November 6, 2026). The FTC's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR 255) require a paid tie to be disclosed. Who is paid by whom is listed under celebrity gold IRA endorsements.

How do American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold compare with other gold IRA companies?#

Each company has its own head-to-head pages against the other large gold IRA sellers. The nine comparisons:

• Augusta Precious Metals vs American Hartford Gold
• Goldco vs American Hartford Gold
• American Hartford Gold vs Noble Gold Investments
• American Hartford Gold vs Lear Capital
• Goldco vs Priority Gold
• Augusta Precious Metals vs Priority Gold
• Noble Gold Investments vs Priority Gold
• Lear Capital vs Priority Gold
• Birch Gold Group vs Priority Gold

Does American Hartford Gold have a good reputation?#

American Hartford Gold is an established, A+ BBB-rated company with no regulator action found. It has 13.8 BBB complaints per 100 reviews (October 2, 2026), the second highest of ten sellers SafeOunce tracks. Most complaints with figures describe markups on premium coins. The full answer to is American Hartford Gold legit is on its complaints page.

Is Priority Gold a good place to buy gold?#

Priority Gold is a real, A+ BBB-rated seller with 5.9 complaints per 100 reviews and no regulator action found (September 29, 2026). It publishes no coin prices and no customer agreement. According to the court docket as summarized by Trellis, a lawsuit against it was sent to arbitration in 2026. The full answer to is Priority Gold legit is on its complaints page.

What is the minimum investment for American Hartford Gold?#

American Hartford Gold's FAQ says "The minimum order size for our self-directed Gold IRA is $10,000" (re-read November 6, 2026). Review sites report $5,000 for cash orders. Fees and terms are in our American Hartford Gold review 2026.

Who owns American Hartford Gold and Priority Gold?#

Neither company publishes its owners: American Hartford Gold names Sanford Mann as founder and CEO, and the BBB names Michael Anderson as Priority Gold's chief operating officer. The BBB also lists Scott Gerlis as Executive Chairman of American Hartford Gold (September 29, 2026).

Can you move your gold IRA from one company to the other later?#

Yes: metals can move in kind by a trustee-to-trustee transfer, but exit fees can apply. In kind means the coins move, not cash. A gold IRA transfer has no 60-day clock and no once-per-year limit. Equity Trust's metals-only schedule (Rev. 081726, read September 29, 2026) lists $125 for an in-kind transfer out and $250 to close; whether both apply on one full in-kind exit is not confirmed. Whether a move between two dealers at the same custodian avoids these fees is not established, so ask.

Can you keep American Hartford Gold or Priority Gold metals at home?#

No: IRA bullion must be in a trustee's physical possession, and in McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021), coins kept at home were a taxable distribution. Both companies' FAQs say the metals go to a depository. The Tax Court case record is No. 1377-19. The ruling is explained under home storage gold IRA.