We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Picking a gold IRA dealer gets tricky because the yearly fee is only part of the bill. The price you pay for the metals and what a dealer would pay to buy them back can make a bigger difference.
Goldco and American Hartford Gold (AHG) both help you move retirement money into physical gold and silver. Neither one runs your account. An outside custodian handles the IRA, and an approved depository stores the metal.
Our research found a clear split. AHG has the lower published entry point, while Goldco publishes more account-fee detail. We checked the dealers’ published terms on November 9, 2026. Use this to decide which to call first and what to get in writing.
Which dealer fits your balance and priorities?
- Call AHG first if your rollover clears AHG’s minimum but not Goldco’s.
- Call Goldco first if you have a larger balance and want posted account fees and a long-term buyback promise.
- Call both if your balance clears both minimums. Only matching written quotes can show which deal is cheaper.
| Factor | Goldco | American Hartford Gold |
|---|---|---|
| IRA minimum | Generally $25,000 | $10,000 minimum order |
| Setup fee | $50 (cost article) | Ask for a written quote |
| Yearly admin fee | $125 in cost article; about $80 in FAQ | No full dollar schedule found |
| Yearly storage | $100 pooled or $150 segregated | Varies by arrangement |
| Metal pricing | Quote-based; no published spread ranges | Contract lists spread ranges by coin type |
| Buyback stance | Repurchases metals it sold. Highest-price guarantee applies after three years, with no specific rate guaranteed. | May make an offer. Repurchase and price are discretionary. |
| Advertised program | Bonus silver on qualifying premium-coin orders | Price Protection Guarantee |
| Named partners | Works with outside custodians | Equity Trust, Entrust; Brink’s, Delaware Depository |
What a Goldco or AHG gold IRA really costs
Goldco’s published fees don’t agree with each other
Goldco’s cost article lists fees that add up to $225 or $275 a year. Adding the setup fee brings year one to $275 or $325.
Those totals are our math from that article, not a guaranteed bill. They leave out metal premiums and any other charges your custodian adds.
Goldco’s FAQ estimates about $80 a year for account management, compared with $125 for administration in its cost article. Nothing we found explains the gap, so ask for the actual custodian fee schedule.
AHG’s “spread” isn’t the spread most buyers picture
Section 4 of AHG’s transaction agreement lists these spread ranges for cash and IRA transactions.
- Bullion: 1.00% to 19.99%
- Exclusive or semi-numismatic coins: up to 39.99%
- Certain numismatic (collector) coins: up to 59.99%
A
HG defines its spread as the difference between the retail price it quotes and what it pays its wholesaler at the time of purchase. The agreement gives percentage ranges and leaves the calculation base unspecified. The actual spread can vary by transaction.
To estimate the cost of buying and immediately reselling, ask the dealer for its buyback bid on the exact same order. The CFTC and FINRA buyer advisory recommends getting written fees and comparing the retail price with both spot value and the dealer’s buyback price.
Metal premiums can outweigh account fees
A one-percentage-point charge on a $50,000 base is $500. That is ten times a $50 difference in yearly account fees. We did not obtain matching live quotes from the dealers.
Under section 5 of AHG’s agreement, qualifying full-price specialty coin purchases can be repriced once if AHG lowers its own selling price within seven calendar days and has received payment. The difference goes toward more coins of the same type, with any balance retained for future purchases. AHG can change or end the program.
How setup, custodians, and storage compare
Both companies sell the metal and help with paperwork. AHG’s FAQ estimates about one business day to open an account and usually one to five business days for transfers. Those are company estimates for paperwork, not delivery promises.
If you’re new to rollovers and transfers, our guide on steps to opening a gold IRA covers the basics.
Goldco offers segregated storage for a higher fee than pooled storage. Segregated means your metal is kept apart from other customers’ metal. AHG’s account page lists custodian and storage options. Its FAQ names Brink’s Global Services and Delaware Depository.
Before picking either, confirm your actual custodian, facility, storage type, and insurance. Our overview of precious-metals IRA storage options explains how these setups differ.
Goldco centers its IRA offering on gold and silver. Its FAQ mentions other legally eligible metals, but that doesn’t confirm it stocks platinum or palladium. Ask either dealer what’s actually in inventory.
What happens when you sell, cancel, or wait for delivery
Goldco’s buyback footnote covers metals bought from Goldco, and its highest-price promise only applies after three years. It doesn’t guarantee specific rates. We couldn’t obtain Goldco’s full customer agreement or its cancellation and refund terms. Get those before funding.
AHG’s agreement generally treats sales as final. Section 3 describes a seven-day cancellation window for qualifying orders, measured from signing and subject to state addenda and notice and return requirements. Its wording about which products qualify is ambiguous. Ask AHG to identify the cancellation terms for your exact order in writing before you sign.
AHG’s agreement leaves repurchase and the price offered to its discretion. Ask for the buyback price and any dealer, custodian, shipping, or distribution charges in writing.
For IRA orders, AHG’s agreement estimates four to eight weeks for delivery after the custodian sends funds. Delays are possible. Neither company guarantees investment performance, and a buyback program doesn’t protect your principal.
What customer complaints show about both dealers
BBB complaint samples for both firms share three themes. Buyers dispute premiums, get confused when statement values differ from invoice prices, and report trouble getting replies or finishing a sale.
These are themes, not rates. Without each firm’s total transaction count, ranking them by complaint numbers would mislead you.
In an April 2026 BBB exchange, a customer reported a gap between the invoice and the custodian statement. Goldco replied that the statement reflected spot prices.
In a May 2026 BBB complaint, an AHG customer disputed specialty coin pricing and resale results. AHG replied that its records showed costs and recommended holding periods had been discussed. The customer disputed that account. These exchanges reflect the parties’ accounts.
Is Birch Gold Group a better fit for smaller accounts?
Birch Gold Group’s IRA page lists a $5,000 starting minimum. It also spells out example costs: $50 setup, a $30 wire, $125 yearly management, and $110 yearly storage and insurance.
That’s $235 a year and $315 in year one, before waivers or metal premiums. Metal prices are still quote-based. Ask for the current fee-waiver eligibility in writing.
The written quote to request from both companies
The CFTC and FINRA urge buyers to get costs in writing. Ask both dealers to quote the same order and include the following.
- Exact product name and quantity
- Fine metal weight (the actual gold or silver content)
- Total purchase price
- What they’d pay to buy it back that same day
- Every account fee: setup, admin, storage, wire, shipping, and distribution
- Dollar value of any bonus or promotion
- Custodian, depository, storage type, and insurance
The gap between the purchase price and the same-day buyback bid estimates the trading cost of an immediate round trip. Add any separate transaction and account fees to compare the overall cost.
Moving retirement savings into metals carries risk, and transaction costs can shape your results. Talk with an independent financial or tax advisor before moving money.
Questions buyers ask about Goldco and AHG IRAs
Is Goldco or American Hartford Gold cheaper overall?
Neither can be called cheaper without identical written quotes. Published account fees leave out coin premiums, which can easily outweigh them.
Can I keep my IRA gold at home?
IRS guidance says qualifying IRA bullion must be held by a bank or IRS-approved nonbank trustee. Taking personal possession can have tax consequences.
Does Goldco’s bonus silver make the purchase cheaper?
Not necessarily. Goldco advertises up to 5% bonus silver on qualifying premium-coin purchases of $50,000 to $99,999, and 10% at $100,000 or more. Restrictions apply, and offers can’t be combined.
Compare the full order, bonus included, against plain bullion of the same metal weight. That shows whether the bonus covers any higher markup.
Which dealer should you call first?
AHG makes the most sense when your balance clears its minimum but not Goldco’s. It also fits if you want spread ranges in the contract. Its biggest gap is the lack of a full published fee schedule.
Goldco suits larger rollovers where posted account fees and a three-year buyback promise matter to you. Its conflicting fee figures and unpublished cancellation terms are the weak spots.
If your balance clears both minimums, compare matching written quotes, including buyback bids and account fees, before funding either account.