When most people think of "investing" they think of things like stocks and bonds and Certificate of Deposits (CDs) with high interest rates.
Of course, with the economy where it is, it might be more prudent for investors to start looking into investing in precious metals.
If you haven't invested in anything before, here are a few tips for investing in precious metals.
1.
Gold is the most popular precious metal to invest in, though there are others (silver, and platinum) available, which makes gold the most volatile in terms of price.
The more something is traded, the less predictable its future worth.
Gold can be bought as bullion or gold bars, or as coins.
If you plan on purchasing gold, or any precious metal, make sure you have a safe, or safety deposit box.
Don't talk about your investments in precious metals you never know who could over hear the conversation.
Gold is untraceable if it gets stolen.
2.
Platinum, while not as popular as gold is actually the more precious metal and is usually worth several times as much as gold.
Platinum is used for electrical contacts, dentistry, coating for the nose cone of rockets, laboratory equipment as well as jewelry.
3.
Before deciding to invest money, it is a good idea to learn about the different types of precious metals that are available.
Typically people trade not in the metal itself but in items formed from the metal-bars, and special coins.
4.
Make sure that you shop around.
There are metal deals both online and off and while the market has one price for the precious metals, individual dealers might have their own mark up rates.
5.
Learn how to really look at bars and coins fashioned from your precious metals.
Imperfections, the design and the overall condition of the bars and coins will affect the buying and selling price of your investment.
6.
Because precious metals fluctuate so much in price, they should not be the only thing you invest in.
Of your total investment portfolio, precious metals should only make up ten percent-maximum.
7.
Precious metals, while they should only make up ten percent of your portfolio, are some of the safest things to invest in because they keep their value, even in the event of political or cultural problems.
A bar of gold can't declare bankruptcy thereby destroying the value of your investment.
8.
Don't think of buying precious metal jewelry as an investment.
Fashion dictates the value of a piece as much as the gold content.
Retailers mark up the jewelry 50% from wholesale prices.
And wholesalers mark up 50% from the manufacturer.
A gold bracelet costing $1000 retail may only have a value of $100 as gold.
If you're thinking of buying antique gold jewelry buy it for its value as an antique not as a precious metals investment.
These are just a few tips to help you get started in the area of investing in precious metals.
When you are ready to start investing, your broker and precious metals dealers will have plenty of information to help you make informed choices.
Of course, with the economy where it is, it might be more prudent for investors to start looking into investing in precious metals.
If you haven't invested in anything before, here are a few tips for investing in precious metals.
1.
Gold is the most popular precious metal to invest in, though there are others (silver, and platinum) available, which makes gold the most volatile in terms of price.
The more something is traded, the less predictable its future worth.
Gold can be bought as bullion or gold bars, or as coins.
If you plan on purchasing gold, or any precious metal, make sure you have a safe, or safety deposit box.
Don't talk about your investments in precious metals you never know who could over hear the conversation.
Gold is untraceable if it gets stolen.
2.
Platinum, while not as popular as gold is actually the more precious metal and is usually worth several times as much as gold.
Platinum is used for electrical contacts, dentistry, coating for the nose cone of rockets, laboratory equipment as well as jewelry.
3.
Before deciding to invest money, it is a good idea to learn about the different types of precious metals that are available.
Typically people trade not in the metal itself but in items formed from the metal-bars, and special coins.
4.
Make sure that you shop around.
There are metal deals both online and off and while the market has one price for the precious metals, individual dealers might have their own mark up rates.
5.
Learn how to really look at bars and coins fashioned from your precious metals.
Imperfections, the design and the overall condition of the bars and coins will affect the buying and selling price of your investment.
6.
Because precious metals fluctuate so much in price, they should not be the only thing you invest in.
Of your total investment portfolio, precious metals should only make up ten percent-maximum.
7.
Precious metals, while they should only make up ten percent of your portfolio, are some of the safest things to invest in because they keep their value, even in the event of political or cultural problems.
A bar of gold can't declare bankruptcy thereby destroying the value of your investment.
8.
Don't think of buying precious metal jewelry as an investment.
Fashion dictates the value of a piece as much as the gold content.
Retailers mark up the jewelry 50% from wholesale prices.
And wholesalers mark up 50% from the manufacturer.
A gold bracelet costing $1000 retail may only have a value of $100 as gold.
If you're thinking of buying antique gold jewelry buy it for its value as an antique not as a precious metals investment.
These are just a few tips to help you get started in the area of investing in precious metals.
When you are ready to start investing, your broker and precious metals dealers will have plenty of information to help you make informed choices.
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