The good news is, yes, American Hartford Gold is a legit company, and there are many ways to prove its legitimacy.
The internet has made it convenient for us to do business in the comfort of our homes, with most of our research and transactions done online. We can open a bank account online, pay for anything online and even purchase gold online. However, with the ease of these transactions comes the ease of being scammed too. We must be careful and know what to watch out for protecting our money.
This article shows the points to look out for in determining if a company is legit or a scam, using American Hartford Gold as an example. You can use the same points to watch out for with other gold IRA companies to test their legitimacy and determine if they are the company that will best suit your needs.
Augusta Precious Metals is one such company that can serve your needs. Augusta Precious Metals, like American Hartford Gold, has been cited as one of the best precious metals IRA companies by various respected business rating sites almost every year.
A Brief Look at American Hartford Gold
American Hartford Gold is a precious metals IRA company based in Los Angeles, California, in the United States, offering precious metals investment services. The company is headed by its CEO.
Their website offers a lot of practical, precious metals information and a historical perspective that empowers investors with knowledge to make wise decisions on their precious metals investments.
American Hartford Gold also has partnerships with the country's best IRS-recognized custodians and depositories. Equity Trust Company is one of its partners, a prominent precious metals IRA custodian that has been in the business for over 30 years, with more than $25 billion worth of investments under its management. American Hartford Gold works with Brinks Inc., Delaware Depository, and International Depository Services for the storage of gold coins and other precious metals.
Shining Leadership
Every American Hartford Gold review is positive for a reason. The company’s CEO, Sanford Mann, is behind their culture of offering sterling customer service, providing all customers with transparent dealings, and continuing education about investment. His strategic leadership
steered the company towards becoming one of the top gold IRA companies in the United States.
Working closely with him is Scott Gerlis, the company’s President. Scott oversees operations and the back office, as well as ensures the quality of the company’s precious metal specialists is maintained.
Together they have propelled American Hartford Gold to its current status of $1.5 billion precious metals delivered, a testimony of customer trust in the company. Their leadership inspired employees to provide the best customer service which made American Hartford Gold ratings consistently high.
Praise and Exemplary Ratings for American Hartford Gold
One of the most important pieces of evidence that the American Hartford Gold Group is legit is the ratings the company has reaped for its exemplary customer service and product offerings. The company has consistently received high ratings in every American Hartford Gold Review available online. Take a look at American Hartford Gold Review ratings on prestigious business rating sites:
A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau
5-star customer satisfaction ratings on Google
5-star customer satisfaction ratings on ConsumerAffairs
5-star rating on Trustpilot.
AA rating by the Business Consumer Alliance
#1 Gold Company by Inc.5000’s 2021 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies
American Hartford Gold’s Commitment to Customers
On American Hartford Gold Group’s website, you will find the company’s full range of commitments to its customers, with customer feedback to prove that these commitments were delivered. Their commitments cover:
American Hartford Gold’s goal is to make acquiring gold and silver as easy as possible for their customers. Product Specialists, Client Service Staff, and Executives are on hand to respond to inquiries about their gold coin selection, gold bars, or silver coin purchases, choosing between gold or silver IRAs, and other questions investors may ask about investing in precious metals.
The company prides itself on having the best pricing in the industry for its gold and silver products, constantly changing to provide the best possible deals for investors. Added to their transparent pricing are the enticing promos they have, such as free silver and waived storage fees for up to three years.
American Hartford Gold offers an updated perspective on the precious metals markets, backed by their impeccable trading experience.
The company encourages clients to contact them first when they decide to sell their metals. Though they do not guarantee repurchase, they never impose liquidation charges and provide an uncomplicated 3-step liquidation process. They also help in arranging shipments of gold or silver coins.
The company's gold, silver, and other precious metals are stored and shipped accordingly to preserve their beauty, integrity, and value. Orders are double-checked, filmed, and sent with a guarantee of quality.
Investors can learn everything they need to know about precious metal investments from up-to-date market information on the company’s website and through its Product Specialists.
All gold and silver are shipped in undistinguished packaging to give no indication of the value of the shipment contents. All privacy and security measures are taken into consideration of the client’s preferences.
American Hartford Gold is always upfront and transparent in its dealings with customers. Costs of gold and silver are relayed clearly and Product Specialists educate customers to make well-informed investment decisions.
When you have an American Hartford Gold IRA, do you own the physical precious metals?
Yes, you own the physical metals when you have an American Hartford Gold IRA, but they are stored in an IRS-approved and insured storage facility. This is because the IRS does not allow storing precious metals in homes. You can start receiving the physical metals when you retire. The earliest age would be 59 ½ years old.
Does American Hartford Gold have any pending lawsuits or complaints?
American Hartford Gold has no pending lawsuits or outstanding complaints that need to be resolved.
How does American Hartford Gold stack up against other gold IRA account providers?
American Hartford Gold Group has some unique offerings that make it a strong competitor against other gold IRA companies, such as the Birch Gold Group, Noble Gold, and Patriot Gold.
The company has consistently been on the Best Gold IRA Company list, lauded for its outstanding customer service and buy-back program. The company is also known for its price match guarantee, giving it the distinction of having the best pricing among all precious metal IRA companies. American Hartford Gold also offers special promotions, such as up to $5000 free silver and up to three years of no transfer, storage, or maintenance fees.
Of all the precious metals IRA companies, American Hartford Gold is the only precious metals company recommended by Rick Harrison, Rudy Giuliani, Dave Rubin, and Bill O-Reilly. The American Hartford Gold Group can get many investment inquiries through these recommendations.
Gold IRA Information You Need to Know
You may be new to making a gold IRA investment out of your retirement funds and have questions that need to be answered before you decide to invest. Here are some questions and answers that can enlighten you to make an informed decision on your retirement investment.
Is there such a thing as a fake IRA?
Yes, there is such a thing as a fake IRA. Therefore, it is important to work with a legitimate precious metal IRA company to be sure your retirement funds are not invested in a scam.
Self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) are a common target for fraudsters because these accounts can hold unregistered securities. SDIRAs may invest in “digital assets” such as crypto-currencies, tokens, and coins, or what is also known as initial coin offerings (ICOs).
These digital assets can be conducted without SEC registration or lawful exemption from registration, thus becoming a loophole for fraudsters to take advantage of investors who are not knowledgeable in investing. Therefore, it is important to get educated on precious metal investment, regardless if it is buying gold as a physical gold investment or as a gold IRA.
Is there a time limit to take distributions from a gold IRA?
Yes, there is a 60-day rollover period for an investor to move funds from a 401k or Roth IRA to a gold IRA. Failure to transfer the funds within the 60-day period will incur taxes for the funds and penalties for early withdrawal.
How much time is needed to deposit your 401k funds into your new gold IRA?
You have up to 60 days to deposit into your new gold IRA. Once you’ve opened your gold IRA, you can choose between two deposit options, which are the direct and indirect gold IRA rollover methods. With the direct IRA rollover, your funds will move directly from your 401k account to the Gold IRA account. This is the option that is simpler and less prone to penalties.
With the indirect method, the funds will be forwarded to your end. You have a 60-day period to send the funds to your gold IRA company. Going beyond the 60-day period will incur penalties for your account. You also may incur a 10% penalty if you are withdrawing funds from your 401k account if you are younger than 59 ½ years old.
Can you lose money in an IRA account?
Yes, it is possible to lose money from an IRA account, whether it is a traditional IRA or a gold IRA. Fluctuations in the stock market, interest rates, and inflation contribute to IRA risks. When the government changes administration after elections, new tax laws imposed on IRAs can also be considered a risk.
Are there new IRA Rules for 2022?
Yes, a new IRA rule was made known on December 12, 3033, involving the age at which IRA should start distribution. The former age for compulsory distribution was 70 ½ years old.
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are now mandatory starting at 72, IRA holders that turned 72 in 2022 should withdraw their first RMD by April 01, 2023, and the second RMD by December 31, 2023.
How much money should you have before getting a financial advisor?
A financial advisor is needed with funds starting at $50,000 to $100,000.
If you are well-versed in investing, you can do without a financial advisor. However, for those just starting with investing, you can benefit from the advice of a knowledgeable and legitimate financial advisor who can give sound advice on portfolio management and taxes. A financial advisor can help you avoid making investment mistakes.
Remember though, that having a financial advisor means you will need to pay for advisory services, which normally range between 0.5% to 2% annually, which can range between $250 to $2,000 annually.
What needs to be done before talking to a financial advisor?
Once you’ve decided to use the services of a financial advisor, it’s time to meet with one. You need to do a few things before meeting with your financial advisor.
Check the financial advisor’s social media accounts - Checking social media accounts can reveal some details about the person and even give clues on the legitimacy of the person’s identity. Social media accounts in the financial advisor’s name and the number of years the accounts have been existing could mean the person is not hiding anything.
Check the financial advisor’s regulatory background - Financial advisory businesses should be listed officially with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can also check business records through BrokerCheck, a website developed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) that gives information on financial firms’ legitimacy in selling securities, mutual funds, stocks, or bonds.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, American Hartford Gold is legit based on the following evidence:
Excellent ratings from prestigious business organizations
Partnerships with IRS-approved custodians and depositories
Rave reviews from customers on services rendered and expert financial advice
Transparency in pricing and dealing with customers
A steady stable of knowledgeable financial advisors and account managers
In addition, American Hartford Gold provides a wealth of educational materials not only on its website but also on YouTube. If you would like to know about the prospects for 2023, the company released its expert opinions on investing in gold and silver. You can watch the videos here: