There’s no doubt about it, gold and silver are a great investment. These
precious metals have attracted a considerable amount of interest for thousands
of years.
In the past, gold (and silver) were so valuable because they were
objects that could be moved around easily as people travelled from place to
place. Gold or silver could be worn as jewellery, it did not corrode like other
metals and was light to carry around.
Even today, gold and silver are still valuable commodities. In many
countries around the world gold is a popular choice for investors because its
value remains stable and often unaffected even in turbulent economic times.
Gold or silver investments are usually made in either bullion or coins.
Once purchased, the majority of investors will keep their gold or silver as a
medium to long term investment, with four to five years being the minimum
investment period.
Gold is the preferred choice for many because it is deemed to be a
‘safe haven’. Alternative investment options such as bonds often perform badly
in an environment where the interest rates rise because inflation decreases the
value of the investment. Equities are another option, but these can also fall
during turbulent economic times. More often than not, gold and silver offer
increased protection in both of these scenarios. Even if the price of gold and
silver does fall, investors simply keep their investment for a little longer
until the price recovers.
How to Invest
Buying gold bullion offers a number of benefits, but buying and
storing gold locally is even better. Purchasing gold from a local company is a very
personal experience. By visiting a local company, you can walk in with cash or
a card, inspect in detail the gold that you wish to purchase and walk out of
the shop with your gold investment.
With online purchasing you are buying gold that you have never seen
and you are exchanging money with an anonymous online company.
Many investors also prefer the relaxed nature of shopping for gold
in person and they find that it is much easier to browse and network with other
gold investors. A local gold bullion
dealer will often take the time to speak with you about gold investments. This
makes them a great resource not just for buying and selling, but also for
gaining ‘inside knowledge’ to the world of gold investing.
When deciding how and what to invest, you can place relatively
small amounts of money into shares of gold or silver. This is where the
knowledge of your local bullion dealer comes in useful. Bars of gold can also
be purchased in a variety of weights to suit your specific requirements.
Gold and silver coins are also a suitable alternative and are the
preferred choice for some investors. The coins can even be minted. Popular
options for minted coins include Maple leaves, Sovereigns and Kruggerands.
Storage
Once you have decided what type of gold or silver to invest in, it
is important to consider how your investment will be stored. Professional and
secure storage is the preferred option and it is wise to think about how much
this storage is going to cost. Keeping thousands of pounds in gold at home is
not recommended and it won’t be covered by your insurance if it is lost or
stolen. Some local bullion dealers offer storage facilities for their customers
so it is always worth enquiring when you buy the gold whether this is an option
that they also provide.
Buying gold locally is the preferred choice of many investors. Not
only do you get to speak with someone who is knowledgeable about the gold that
you are buying they can also provide valuable information and advice on your
gold investment, helping you to maximise your return.
Bullion for Less allows you to buy from three locations, in Cardiff, Swansea and
Llanelli. They also have two state of
the art safe deposit facilities where you can store you gold or investments
with a complete peace of mind. Contact them today to find out more
