How Much of My Portfolio Should Be in Gold and Silver?
Gold and silver investments can be an ideal way to protect against economic uncertainty. Their performance tends to outshone other asset classes, helping your investments remain intact during economic downturns.
However, precious metals don’t provide income in the same way that profitable businesses or interest-paying bonds do – so how much of your portfolio should consist of precious metals?
1. For a short-term gain
There are various strategies available for investing in precious metals, including investing in one or more publicly-traded gold and silver royalty/streaming companies that may present higher risks but offer potentially large gains over the short term if successful.
Purchase physical bullion to store at home (though professional storage may be safer and cost-effective for larger amounts), though this involves buying and selling regularly with storage fees which could eat into any potential gains.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer another method for investing in gold and silver; though less liquid than physical bullion, ETFs offer greater flexibility while boasting reduced storage costs and management fees. Of course, none of these options produce cash flows like those generated from businesses or bonds do, making gold/silver investments by definition risky; so any such exposure should be kept to 10% or so at most.
2. For a long-term gain
High-profile investors such as Shark Tank host Kevin O’Leary and hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio suggest allocating 10% or less of one’s portfolio towards gold and silver investments. Although this might be suitable for many investors, you must carefully assess both risks and rewards before taking that plunge.
One of the greatest risks of investing in precious metals is losing money during a bear market, because these metals do not produce dividends or interest-rate paying bonds that yield cash flows.
One potential risk when investing in gold and silver is overbuying of either. For instance, the ratio is usually 50:1, though that could change depending on economic circumstances.
Store physical gold or silver can be costly and complex. It may require professional storage services that offer round-the-clock security and insurance, while even then its storage requirements might place strains on your home or storage unit.
3. For a collectible
Gold and silver investments can be invaluable additions to any portfolio, but determining how much should be allocated toward precious metals depends on factors like risk tolerance, retirement goals and overall financial plan.
Physical bullion is the easiest and cheapest way to invest in precious metals, but it requires space and should be stored away from potential thieves. Furthermore, its purchase and storage costs can become significant over time if you own large quantities.
Mutual funds or ETFs holding precious metals offer investors more liquid investments that generate passive income in the form of dividends; however, these don’t offer as much protection from economic turmoil than physical gold or silver do. Many experts suggest investing no more than 5-10% of your portfolio in precious metals to ensure you diversify and limit overexposure to one type of investment.
4. For a hedge against inflation
Gold and silver prices tend to increase with inflation; however, precious metals don’t provide the same level of return as profitable businesses or interest-paying bonds due to not producing cash flow like these assets do.
Typically, investors allocate 5-10% of their portfolio to commodities and precious metals – assets without credit or default risks that could erode returns of stocks and bonds – but this amount may differ depending on an investor’s individual circumstances and goals.
While most people consider both gold and silver to be effective hedges against inflation, experts argue that silver may be superior due to its industrial uses in manufacturing batteries and electronic components. Furthermore, it’s less expensive and can be more volatile than its gold counterpart – though this might make it easier for many people to afford. One way of investing in physical silver may be purchasing physical pieces; alternatively there are ETFs or mutual funds which invest in mining companies.
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