American Hartford Gold Fee Waiver (2026): Is the First Year Free?
By Mark Sandulli · Founder & editor · Updated October 21, 2026 · Not financial advice
Short answer: Independent reviewers report that American Hartford Gold waives the first year’s fees on accounts of $50,000 or more. The company doesn’t publish that offer or its fees. Its own FAQ says only that storage fees depend on account size and holdings, and that storage “might be free” in some cases. American Hartford Gold scores 5.9 in our rankings (#6 of 7), with a $10,000 minimum.
What the waiver is worth
| Fee (as reported by independent reviewers) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Setup | $230 once (sometimes waived) |
| Yearly fee, shared storage | $225 |
| Yearly fee, segregated storage | $275 |
| First year total (shared storage) | About $455 |
If the waiver covers setup and the first year, it’s worth about $455 with shared storage. If it covers only the yearly fee, it’s worth $225 to $275. None of these figures is published by the company, so get them in writing.
Who qualifies
Accounts of $50,000 or more, as reported. Ask whether the setup fee is included and whether the offer depends on which metals you buy. Don’t move more than you planned just to qualify: the offer is worth a few hundred dollars once.
Questions to ask American Hartford Gold
- Do you waive the first year on my account, and which fees does that cover?
- What are your fees after the first year, in writing?
- What is the price over spot on the metals you’d recommend?
- How would you price my metal if I sell it back?
The catch
On a $100,000 purchase, one extra point of markup costs $1,000, more than twice what the waiver is worth. Compare written quotes with at least one other company. American Hartford Gold also has the second-highest complaint rate of the seven companies we track. We don’t count promotions in our scores.
American Hartford Gold at a glance
Minimum $10,000 · 110 BBB complaints in three years (13.3 per 100 reviews) · Gold, silver and platinum · Custodian named on its site: Equity Trust · In business since 2015 · Fees and buyback pricing not published.
Visit American Hartford Gold →
See every company’s offer: How to get your Gold IRA fees waived · Read our American Hartford Gold review
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Sources: American Hartford Gold Gold IRA FAQ and Gold IRA page, checked October 21, 2026 · BBB profile for American Hartford Gold, checked October 15, 2026 · Fees and first-year waiver from independent reviewers, 2024–2026
About this guide
Written by Mark Sandulli, founder of BestGoldPrice.com. Mark is not a financial advisor, tax professional, attorney or precious-metals dealer. This guide is general information based on public sources, not financial, tax or legal advice, and it may contain errors or be out of date. Precious metals can lose value. Confirm prices, fees and rules with the company and a licensed professional before you buy. We may earn a commission from some links. Read our full disclaimer.
