Can You Hold Physical Gold?
Gold has long been considered a reliable investment due to its proven ability to perform well during periods of economic, monetary and geopolitical turmoil. Furthermore, owning physical gold may incur storage and insurance fees that make holding physical bullion costlier than expected.
Physical gold doesn’t provide dividends or interest payments like stocks do – and that can only be seen as a plus point!
It’s a store of value
Gold can be an indispensable addition to any portfolio. Due to its low correlation with stocks and bonds, it acts as a reliable hedge during times of political or economic instability. Furthermore, its intrinsic value makes it desirable in many societies while its liquidity means you can easily trade physical bullion for cash or goods.
But physical gold can be costly to store and insure, with dealers often setting steep markups on its price. When selling their gold, investors may incur brokerage costs or other charges; paper gold such as SPDR Gold Trust ETF can be less costly but still has added risks.
It’s a currency
Gold has long been considered an invaluable commodity and investment. Gold is valued as currency, commodity and investment due to its long history as currency. Investors frequently utilize physical gold ownership as a hedge against inflation or deflation; however, ownership comes with associated costs and risks, including storage expenses and security considerations; purchasing and selling physical gold can also be more expensive compared to stocks and other liquid investments.
Investors looking for exposure to the gold market may wish to invest in exchange-traded funds like GLD and IAU, which trade like stocks without needing storage or insurance; additionally, these liquid securities can be sold quickly compared with assets such as art or collectibles that require longer to sell with higher commissions attached.
It’s a store of power
Gold is prized as an asset that can quickly and easily be converted to cash or goods and services, providing a reliable buffer in times of economic stress. Plus, unlike many other commodities, its value doesn’t decrease over time!
Physical gold purchases involve dealer commissions, sales taxes in some states, storage costs and security considerations that must be factored into any decision to buy it directly from dealers or bullion dealers. A gold ETF (exchange-traded fund) allows investors to buy and sell gold bullion without dealing with middle men.
Gold ETF investments carry certain risks, including management fees and trading commissions. Therefore, investors should conduct thorough research when selecting their funds; making an informed decision that is in line with their investment goals is best. Hard Assets Alliance provides an integrated investment platform which streamlines everything under one roof for added convenience.
It’s a hedge against inflation
Gold has long been touted as a potential inflation hedge, and indeed during times of high inflation gold prices tend to increase. But investors should keep in mind that gold does not protect purchasing power or provide any returns on investments.
Instead, stocks and Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) tend to be better at mitigating inflation than physical gold investments due to dealer fees, storage costs, and other considerations.
Secure storage for physical gold can be challenging. People often joke about burying it, but that is actually not recommended. To keep gold safe, a safe or safety deposit box may be needed at a bank – which could cost several hundred dollars annually.
It’s a form of insurance
Physical gold not only embodies beauty and wealth, but can also provide a form of insurance against global economic uncertainty. Gold has long been valued by societies across the globe and can help diversify portfolios during times of economic stress.
But buying and storing physical gold can be costly, with dealer commissions, sales taxes in some states, storage fees and exchange fees all taking a bite out of its value. Furthermore, selling physical gold may prove challenging at pawnshops or elsewhere.
If you want to invest in gold, it can be useful to utilize an online investment platform such as Hard Assets Alliance’s SMARTMETALS for ease. Such programs allow investors to buy and store bullion safely while simultaneously giving access to trading on the gold market round-the-clock.
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