In today’s volatile economic climate, investing in gold has become a popular option for individuals looking to safeguard their retirement savings. While there are many ways to invest in gold, one of the most attractive options is through a 401(k) plan. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of How to buy gold with a 401(k). Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just getting started, this guide will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about adding gold to your retirement portfolio.

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P.S.

See our Top-5 Gold & Silver IRA Solution on this page

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Understand your 401(k) Plan

Before you start investing in gold, it’s important to understand the rules and regulations of your 401(k) plan. In contrast, most plans allow alternative investments, but not all plans offer the option to invest in gold. You’ll need to review your plan documents or talk to your plan administrator to determine if gold is an eligible investment option. When you fully understand your plan, you can proceed to the next step, reviewing your 401(k) plan. When you’re ready to invest in gold, you must review your 401(k) plan. Your plan will outline the rules and regulations for investing in gold and any limits or restrictions that may apply. It’s also important to understand how much of your 401(k) funds can be allocated toward gold investments.

Research Types of Gold Investments

Once you have a better understanding of your 401(k) plan, it’s time to research the different types of gold investments available. Here are some of the most common types of gold investments:

• Gold ETFs

A gold ETF (exchange-traded fund) is a type of investment fund that holds its portfolio of assets in gold bullion. It seeks to track the performance of gold by investing in gold derivatives and physical gold. As a result, ETFs provide investors with the opportunity to invest in gold without having to worry about storage or security costs of their own. Gold ETFs trade like stocks and can be added to your 401(k) portfolio via a broker or financial advisor.

• Gold Mutual Funds

Gold mutual funds invest in the shares of companies involved in the gold mining and refining industry. They offer an alternative to investing in physical gold. These funds aim to provide returns by investing in gold and related assets, such as silver, platinum, and mining shares. Gold mutual funds have a good long-term growth rate, but they involve greater risk since they depend on the stock market’s performance.

• Gold Bullion

Gold bullion is the physical gold investors can own as bars or coins. This is a more traditional method of investing in gold. Investors who invest in gold bullion have full ownership of their investment but need to consider the risks of storing and securing their gold. One way of investing in physical gold is by buying Gold Eagles- minted by the US government- and including them in your 401(k) plan.

• Gold mining stocks

Another way to invest in gold is by purchasing gold mining stocks. Gold mining companies are involved in exploring and extracting gold from the earth. Multiple factors, such as global demand for gold, mine safety, and production costs, can influence the value of a company’s stock. Doing thorough research before investing in gold mining stocks is important, as they carry more significant risks than ETFs or physical gold.

• Gold futures

Gold futures are speculative investments that allow investors to buy or sell gold at a specific price at a future date. This kind of investment is done via brokerage firms, and there is a high level of risk involved as the value of gold can fluctuate rapidly. This investment is ideal for experienced investors who know the risks involved and understand the gold market well. It is important to remember that each type of investment has its own advantages and risks, so it’s important to do your due diligence before committing any money. It’s always a good practice to consult with a financial advisor or tax professional who can help you make an informed decision.

Choose A Custodian

If your 401(k) plan allows for investing in gold, you’ll need to choose a custodian to hold your gold investments. Custodians are responsible for storing your gold and administering transactions on your behalf. Some of the most popular custodians for gold investments include Equity Institutional, GoldStar Trust Company, and New Direction IRA.

You can also check with your plan administrator to see if they have any preferred custodians. While choosing a custodian may seem daunting, the process is relatively straightforward. You must compare prices, services, and customer reviews to find a custodian that meets your needs.

Make Your Investment

Once you’ve chosen your custodian and the type of gold to invest in, it’s time to invest. You’ll need to work with your custodian to establish a gold account, transfer funds from your 401(k) into the account, and then purchase gold. The process can take a few weeks and involve various fees and paperwork, so read the fine print and work closely with your custodian to ensure a smooth transaction. Some custodians offer online gold investments, so you may want to research those options as well.

Evaluate and monitor your investment.

As with any investment, evaluating and monitoring your gold investment over time is important. Keep an eye on market fluctuations and changes in the value of gold, and adjust your investment strategy as necessary. If you need help with how to evaluate your investment or whether gold is the right choice for you, consider working with a financial advisor or investment professional who specializes in gold investments. The most important thing is to take some time to understand the risks and rewards of investing in gold before you make any decisions.

Potential risks and challenges

While gold can be a great addition to your retirement portfolio, some potential risks and challenges are associated with investing in gold. Gold is subject to market volatility, so it’s important to maintain diversification in your portfolio and manage risk accordingly. Additionally, the cost of buying and storing gold can be high, and taxes on profits from gold investments may be more complicated than other investments. Finally, it’s important to be aware of fraud and other risks associated with gold investing, so ensure you are working with a reputable custodian before making any gold investments. 

Best Practices for Investing in Gold with Your 401(k)

• Know Your Options

Investing in gold with your 401(k) is more accessible than you think. First, determine which type of gold investment best suits your needs. You can invest in physical gold, such as coins or bullion, through a Gold IRA or gold ETF. ETFs are exchange-traded funds, and they typically have lower fees and do not require storage. However, physical gold may offer security, and you can store it in a safe deposit box or a secure facility.

• Consider Storage and Fees

When you invest in physical gold, you need to consider storage fees. Your fees can significantly impact your returns, so research reputable storage companies and ensure their costs are competitive. Furthermore, gold ETFs and Gold IRAs come with their fees. Review these fees and compare them to the other options available.

• Understand Your Taxes

Like any other investment, gold comes with tax implications. When investing in gold, ensure you have a strategy for managing your taxes. If you withdraw funds from your 401(k) early, you will face penalties and additional taxes. However, you can begin taking distributions from your account when you reach retirement age. These distributions will be taxed as income. If you invest in a Gold IRA, you will be subject to the same tax rules as an individual retirement account (IRA).

• Be aware of Risks and Opportunities.

One of the most significant benefits of investing in gold is its ability to hedge against inflation and currency crises. However, gold is also susceptible to market fluctuations. Like with any other investment, there are risks associated with investing in gold. Therefore, keeping an eye on market trends and monitoring your investment’s performance to ensure it aligns with your retirement goals is essential.

• Seek Professional Advice

Investing in gold may be a good decision for some investors, but it’s only for some. It’s important to consult with a professional financial advisor to determine if investing in gold is right for your retirement portfolio and, if so, which type of gold investment is best for you. A financial advisor can also help you create a comprehensive investment strategy and provide guidance throughout the volatile markets.

Conclusion:

Investing in gold with your 401(k) can be a smart way to diversify your retirement portfolio and protect your savings from market volatility. However, it’s important to do your research, understand the rules and requirements of your 401(k) plan, and work closely with a custodian and investment professional to ensure a successful investment. With these tips in mind, you can confidently add gold to your retirement portfolio and enjoy greater financial security for the future.

Also read these related articles:

Why gold hedge against inflation

Avoid Gold IRA Scams

Gold Investing Buying Guide (for all budgets)

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I hope you found this short article on how to buy gold with a 401(k) was helpful and that you now have a better understanding on the subject! Please share your own experiences in the comment section below as it can help others! Also, if there is anything just ask!

Thank you again,

Michael, founder of Gold Retired

Why is gold a good investment for retirement? You may have already come across several companies marketing gold investments to you, but you are not sure if this shiny metal is truly worth it. In today’s article, I will present to you some of the reasons that gold investors cite for their choice of this asset. Read on till the end of the post, to establish whether gold is worth holding on to as a retirement investment asset. 

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Introduction 

If you are trying to see to it that your retirement investment portfolio stays in the best shape throughout your retirement years, then adding some gold to it is one of the perfect ways to meet your objectives. This shiny metal is a finite rarity that many around the world crave, and it has in its purest form, come to be perceived as a straightforward way to store one’s wealth securely over the long-term horizon.

You will actually come across well-respected investment pundits and financial advisors who always recommend that gold be included in every retirement fund owing to its unique benefits, which we shall dive into, in the next section. 

1. Portfolio diversification

Most people are gradually learning about the risks of having retirement plans that are overly focused on paper assets. Following the global financial crisis, many people have become very cautious about the type of assets that they hold in their portfolios, and are increasingly trying to add assets that protect them from the downsides of an economic downturn.

Investment theory suggests that assets such as gold provide a low or negative correlation to paper assets such as stocks and bonds. Adding gold to your retirement investment portfolio is, as such, a perfect way to balance it, as you also seek to reduce the volatility and risk associated with it.

A call to diversify your retirement investment portfolio should not be misinterpreted as a call to pour all your money into gold assets. It is advisable to hold only about 5% to 15% of your assets in gold.

How to Preserve my Wealth Through Diversification | 3 Tips

2. The low-risk bullion market is quite simple and straightforward 

There are several ways to invest in gold, but the simplest and possibly least speculative approach is to directly invest in gold bullion. Using a gold individual retirement account (Gold IRA) is one of the ways you can invest in gold bullion/physical gold. You simply need to establish contact with a gold IRA custodian for them to give you the steps you need to follow for you to have a fully operational account.

The good thing about having a gold IRA is that it allows you to also invest in other types of precious metals including silver, platinum, and palladium, but they must all be the IRA-approved variety before you can be allowed to add them to your account. 

More and more Americans are tapping into the low-risk bullion market, with the objective of safeguarding the funds that they hope to enjoy during their retirement years. 

3. Preserving your current wealth using gold as your safe haven

A retirement investment portfolio is supposed to safely grow, preserving your hard-earned capital until the time to retire comes, so that you can love the rest of your life as comfortably as possible.

Many financial advisors urge their clients to create a balanced portfolio of assets, containing a variety of assets, including:

• Few risky, high return assets 
• Property 
• Low-risk blue-chip stocks
• Low-risk assets such as precious metals ( e.g. gold)

While gold is traditionally perceived to be the oldest form of valuable money still in existence, this yellow metal, unlike paper money, cannot be printed, and hence cannot be debased. When you decide to store your wealth in gold, you are choosing to tie your money to an asset that historically holds its value safely. Physical gold, the price of which has mostly been found to rise during economic crises, has also been found to be a suitable hedge against:

• Deflation 
• Stagflation 
• Inflation
• Disinflation 
• Hyperinflation 

4. Growth

In 2001, an ounce of gold was worth about $270. As of May 2022, an ounce of gold is worth $1850+, which accounts for a price increase of about 600%. While the price of gold has not simply risen steadily ( it has had its ups and downs), one thing is certain, and that is that gold is an asset worth owning during times of economic turbulence, such as during global financial crises. It seems, at times, as if the price of gold feeds on economic calamities.

Investors seem to have rediscovered their go-to safe haven when their colleagues are trying to wrap their heads around complex investment products such as derivatives. Against the complex products, gold shines and gives investors the certainty they need to go through the tough economic seasons. 

N.B: The price of gold can be volatile over the short-term horizon, but gold has historically proven to maintain its value over the long-term horizon.

5. Gold is a finite rarity 

Gold is a necessary raw material in various industries in the world. The world craves this precious metal. Less and less of it is however being discovered and mined around the world. Even the largest producer of gold in the world, South Africa, has been experiencing a significant output of this shiny metal as time goes by.

Meanwhile, the quantity of the “above-ground” gold” is increasing by roughly 1.6% per year. Gold is, as such, a finite resource, which is something that contributes to its perceived value and assures the investors who hold it that it is an asset worth holding for their retirement. 

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Frequently Asked Questions on “why gold is a good investment for retirees”

1. How do assets such as silver and cryptocurrencies compare to gold?

Between the two, silver is more similar to gold than cryptos, but the three assets share a common trait in that they are inflation hedges. This is, of course, subject to debate, but the general trend has been that these assets have a low or negative correlation to other assets. Also, while gold and silver are tangible, cryptos are much newer assets and their viability as a hedge is more on the speculative side. 

2. Is purchasing Gold stocks the same as buying physical gold?

To some extent, yes. From the average investor’s standpoint, purchasing gold shares may be similar to purchasing gold. In most cases, gold shares usually replicate the price movements of gold in the market. It is, however, important to understand that gold shares do not give you the ownership of physical gold, thus you can’t trade in the stocks for gold coins or bars. 

Also, gold shares are affected by other factors that do not affect physical gold, hence investing in them may end up giving a different result. 

3. How much gold can you purchase for retirement investment?

As much as you want to. This entirely depends on the amount of money at your disposal and the nature of your investment account. If you are using a gold IRA, the amount of gold you can purchase may be limited by the amount of money you manage to roll over into your account. 

4. How can I invest in gold for retirement?

There are many different ways to invest in gold for retirement. One of the most common ways is to open a gold IRA and add the shiny metal to your portfolio. An alternative to this approach is to purchase gold-based paper assets such as mining stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. If you are a risk-lover, then you can try the more speculative forms of gold investments such as gold futures and options. Generally, however, investors are advised to stay away from speculative assets as they near, or during retirement. 

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I hope you enjoyed reading this article on why gold is a good investment for retirement. If you found it helpful, then go ahead and share it to your socials, so that your friends and family members can also learn a thing or two about gold investments for retirement. If you have any questions about this post, drop them in the comments section and I will get back to you ASAP.

I wish you well, 

Eric, Investor and Team Member at Gold Retired!

It’s official. We are in a bear market.

We will look at what you should do in a bear market, why gold is the one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind… and also on why gold hedge against inflation!

Bear market is the term used to describe when the equity markets are down 20% or more from their most recent all-time high. In this case, the S&P 500 index closed Monday at 3,749.91, with its previous high being 4,818.62.

Laura Veldkamp, a finance and economics professor at Columbia University, said that this is caused by interest rates being raised to fight runaway inflation and pandemic-related uncertainty fueling the stock slide as investors try to figure out the long-term repercussions that Covid-19 will have on the global economy.

What should investors do during a bear market?

Veldkamp says investors shouldn’t sell unless absolutely necessary. If you’re a young and you can tolerate it, just keep doing what you’re doing especially if you’ve been steadily investing in a diversified portfolio for years

Matt Stucky, senior portfolio manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, said that bear markets are historically fantastic opportunities to build wealth for longer-term investors.

The problem is if you are not diversified. It’s a good time to ask if you really are comfortable with that risk and if it’s likely to serve you well across many market cycles, not just during bull runs.

Start by asking yourself if you became too dependent on just one sector or a group of hot stocks. The past several years were remarkable for how much investors had riding on tech stocks. Even after the big plunge, the top five technology-driven stocks on the S&P 500 still make up more than 20% of the market capitalization-weighted index.

This is a good time to start investing in a hedge against inflation like gold. Gold has an inverse relationship with the market. When the market is down, gold goes up and that’s what you need right now, an asset completely removed from the market.

Central banks and billionaires are starting to hoard gold and with the rate we are going, we will soon have a gold shortage…

“Three Steps and a Stumble”

• “Three Steps and a Stumble”…

• Gold is the one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind…

• You need to get real…

Dear Reader,

Stocks were up big last Monday, which will have the talking heads saying that everything’s fine again; it’s time to jump back into the market.

My advice is don’t fall for it.

With the Fed’s third rate hike in the rearview, more market downside is inevitable if you look at the historical record. There’s much more to come. Here’s why:

Last week’s hike was the third-consecutive hike. And that’s a very bad sign. It’s when the Fed raises interest rates three times in a row that things tend to get ugly.

The third-consecutive rate hike has a special meaning for the market. It’s an indication the Fed is serious about cooling the economy and withdrawing its easy-money stimulus. As a result, stocks tend to crash.

“Three Steps and a Stumble”

This is known on Wall Street as the “three steps and a stumble” rule. It was discovered by the economist Edson Gould in the 1970s.

He noticed that when the Federal Reserve hiked either interest rates, reserve requirements or margin requirements three times in a row, the stock market tended to roll over and crash.

And according to textbooks written on the subject, this pattern has preceded every single crash in history with only two possible exceptions that could be debated. It might have been a year too early for the 1929 crash and a little too late to call the exact top in 1978.

But this single indicator has a nearly 100% accuracy rating going all the way back to 1919.

The bottom line is practically every time the Fed has tried to raise interest rates, the market has crashed. Investors ignore that reality at their peril.

It’s important to keep in mind that while we may even see some “bear market rallies” like today’s, investors simply must plan on seeing a broader, deeper fall in the market.

Again, don’t be fooled by the mainstream coverage, the “buy the dips” narrative or anyone trying to call a bottom. It’s time to be cautious as this market pattern unfolds.

The Most Tightening in Over 40 Years

Last week’s rate hike was the first 0.75% hike since 1994.

At last week’s meeting, Jerome Powell made a forecast of likely interest rate increases for the remainder of 2022. He said investors should expect at least three more hikes of 0.50% and one of 0.25%.

He made it clear that these were the minimum increases to be expected and that actual increases could be 0.75%. In particular, Powell said an increase of 0.75% at the July meeting is definitely a possibility.

Taking Powell’s minimums on top of the current rate would put the fed funds target rate at 3.25–3.50% by year-end. It could easily be 4.0% or higher if two 0.75% increases are included in the mix.

Going from 0.0% to 4.0% in 10 months from March to December is the fastest set of rate increases since the Paul Volcker days in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Powell also said the Fed’s reduction in its balance sheet (called quantitative tightening, QT) will continue as previously announced. That tempo is $80 billion per month, or just under $1 trillion per year.

That’s important because that reduction equates to another 1% hike in interest rates in terms of its impact on the economy. Putting that QT on top of the projected rate increases means the effect of monetary tightening will be close to a 5.0% rate increase in 10 months.

That’s also the steepest hike in interest rates since the 1980s. Rising interest rates are bad for gold, right? Well, not so fast.

Gold: One-Eyed Man in a Kingdom of the Blind

In all, gold rallied 3.8% in one month at a time when stocks were falling, bond prices were in retreat and real estate was showing signs of topping out. If gold was a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind, it was not the first time.

The cause of this rally can be captured in one word: inflation.

The slightly longer explanation is that real interest rates were falling. Still, inflation was the reason real interest rates were falling so the two explanations amount to the same thing in the current circumstances.

The immediate reaction to this explanation might be bafflement. The Fed is raising short-term interest rates aggressively and is embarking upon QT.

Intermediate-term rates are also on the rise. The yield to maturity on the 10-year Treasury note rose from 2.75% on May 30 to 3.30% as of today. If that sounds like a modest move, it’s not.

That’s an earthquake in Treasury-note land.

So if short-term rates and intermediate-term rates are both rising steeply, how can it be the case that real interest rates are falling? Again, the answer is inflation.

Get Real

All of the rates described above are nominal. They’re the actual interest rates you see on your trading screens or hear about on financial TV. They tell you something, but not the whole story.

To calculate real interest rates, you have to start with nominal rates and then subtract inflation. That’s where things get interesting.

The headline year-over-year increase in the consumer price index, CPI, for May was 8.6%, the highest since December 1981.

With the Fed’s target rate at 1.75% today, the real short-term interest rate is negative 6.85%. With 10-year note yields to maturity at 3.30%, the real intermediate rate is negative 5.3%.

Inflation takes interest rates through the looking glass. When high inflation rates are subtracted from low nominal rates the result is deeply negative real rates. And that’s an ideal environment for gold.

When one thinks of gold as a monetary asset (as I do), then the price analysis quickly moves to competing forms of money.

Money Isn’t Supposed to Offer Yield

Gold has no yield. It’s not supposed to because it’s the purest form of money: a kind always accepted and always in demand, but not issued by a bank or broker. A dollar bill doesn’t offer any yield either. When other forms of money have high real yields, gold struggles except to the extent it is held as a precautionary or safe-haven asset.

But when other forms of money have deeply negative real yields (as is the case today), gold shines. And gold can perform even better when the safe-haven aspect is contemporaneous with a high-inflation period that results in negative real yields.

So inflation and resulting negative real yields are at least part of the explanation for gold’s recent rally. The final question is whether these conditions will prevail long enough to sustain the rally in gold and possibly result in a new floor on the gold price at or above $1,900 per ounce.

Katie, Bar the Door

The answer is yes. Inflation may come down a bit in the months ahead, and interest rates will continue their climb (at least at the short end). But even if inflation fell to 6.0% (a tall order), the real short-term rate would still be significantly negative.

And that makes gold, with its real rate of 0.0%, very attractive.

Of course, that’s the benign scenario for the Fed and inflation. Another scenario says inflation could get even more out of control and the Fed could struggle to catch up so that real rates become even more negative than they are today.

In that case, it’s Katie, bar the door for gold prices. The $2,000 per ounce level will be in the rearview mirror.

Regards,

Michael Carlsson, founder of Gold Retired

P.S. You probably know that owning gold protects your money against inflation. But geopolitical uncertainty also creates an ideal environment for gold, as investors look for safe havens.

Meanwhile, governments around the world and large institutional investors are stocking up on gold. That’s why I recommend that you get your hands on some gold if you haven’t already.

When the panic hits, demand will explode and supplies will vanish.

We hope you have enjoyed this article.

Best firms to purchase gold (Top-3 List)

If you agree that now is a good time to own precious metals, then simply visit the Gold Retired website and check out our Top-3 List of The Best Gold Investment Companies + reviews + buying guide, and consider adding to your physical metal positions today no matter what budget you´re on!

Is gold a good investment right now? With the current state of the global economy, one cannot help but want to think about what each asset class will do to their portfolio. In today’s post, we’ll take a deep look into what gold investments are all about and whether you can benefit from them. Let’s get into it right away.

SEE OUR #1 RECOMMENDED GOLD & SILVER IRA SOLUTIONS

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A Brief History of Gold Investment

Since the start of stock markets, gold has been observed to have a negative correlation with stocks and other paper assets, and a positive correlation with inflation. That said, the history of gold as a store of value goes way before the inception of stock markets. 

There is evidence that gold coins were minted and used as currency as early as 550 BC. At this time, however, gold was mainly perceived as a symbol of wealth, and this was the case long before it was used as a currency. Those who owned gold about 4000 BC were perceived as powerful and wealthy individuals. 

It was not until the late 1800s that gold made its debut in the contemporary finance industry. A significant number of nations, including the U.S., adopted the gold standard, in which the value of the currency of the day was fixed to the price of gold. 

With time, however, the gold standard was dropped and readopted in various countries, before finally paving way for the use of fiat currencies in 1971. 

During the 2008 financial crisis, experts observed that the price of gold remained relatively stagnant before it went on to rise in the following years. The spike was a result of a financial phenomenon known as Quantitative Easing by the Central Banks.  Generally, quantitative easing tends to trigger a rapid increase in the inflation rate, which in itself causes the price of gold to rise.  

The 3 Best Gold Investment Companies in 2022 [Buying Guide & Quick Review Summaries]

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Why do Investors Add Gold to Their Portfolios?

Many investors in the present day world have some of their wealth in the form of this shiny metal. Why do they insist on owning gold coins and bars? Below are some of the main reasons:

1. The preservation of wealth 

Gold has, for many years, been trusted by many investors for its wealth preservation qualities. Say you had a $50 note, and your friend had a piece of gold worth $50, in 1970. If you held on to your paper money since then, then you still have the $50 note which cannot purchase as many products as it would have in the 70s.

However, things will be different for your friend since the value of gold has gone up. The piece of gold that was worth $50 is now worth over $2000, and this means that your friend would have an upper hand. As you can see, this is a very powerful secret held by secret investors who know that allocating about 5-15% of their funds to gold can be sufficient to preserve their wealth.

2. Portfolio diversification

A balanced investment portfolio ought to have assets that are negatively correlated to the stock market. Such is a financially sound strategy that helps to counter market risks and volatility many investors are exposed to today. 

3. A safe haven 

This shiny metal is a rare asset that has managed to maintain its value over the years. Beyond that, it has proven to be a useful asset during adverse economic events. Investors use it as insurance or as a safe haven during such times. 

4. A hedge against inflation 

Gold prices often go up alongside the steadily rising inflation rates, as well as the depreciation of the dollar. It is for this reason that investors tend to rely on gold to hedge their wealth so that they can avoid losing their money. 

5. Growth

As already highlighted, the value of gold has grown steadily over the years, and those who have held a portion of their portfolio in this precious metal can attest to this. A few decades ago, the price of 1 gram of gold was valued at less than $100, but in the present day, it is above $1800.

Clearly, gold presents investors with an opportunity to grow their wealth, just as is the case with other popular investments, with the only difference being that gold has other superior properties.

****Benefits Of a Gold IRA? | Top-5 Advantages To Consider!

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Physical Gold as an Investment Asset

A popular gold investment product for investors of all types is gold bullion, which is just a cool name used to refer to the refined investment-grade form of gold. Investors purchase gold bullion in the form of bars, ingots, and coins, from authorized precious metal dealers.

You can find reliable dealers in your city ( after which you can make your way into their physical stores), or you can check out the offers put up on e-commerce sites owned by companies that have built themselves a good reputation in the industry. 

Buying physical gold is the in-thing among gold investors because it enables them to tap into the benefits of gold we discussed earlier on.

Purchasing gold-based paper assets such as gold stocks, gold ETFs, and mutual funds that give you exposure to the price movements of gold may help you grow your wealth, but may not protect you from economic downturns or other unprecedented events such as wars and geopolitical tension that triggers the rapid decline in the global economy. 

One thing you ought to know about physical gold is that it cannot be stored like other assets. Holding the physical gold in your home safe may only attract thieves and lead to the loss of your wealth.

With this in mind, most investors who purchase physical gold for investment often open gold individual retirement accounts (Gold IRAs) and ensure that their assets are held in an IRS-approved precious metal depository. Such depositories are in most cases usually world-class facilities, and they are usually insured by well-known insurance companies. 

***Is Physical Gold Better Than Gold Stocks? For Retirees Today

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Frequently asked questions on “Is gold a good investment right now?”

1. Is gold a good investment right now?

Depends on why you are asking. Gold as an asset will present you with some unique benefits and drawbacks, and it is up to you to weigh them and decide whether it is worth adding to your portfolio. Generally, however, it is worth noting that in times of economic unrest, an oncoming global recession, and stock market crashes, most investors turn to gold since most other paper assets are usually experiencing a very significant decline in value.

You might want to therefore consider talking to a gold investment expert or ordering a gold IRA kit to learn more about what you stand to gain (or lose) by investing in gold.

***Gold IRA Information | The Basics and Tips For Beginners

2. Should I invest in gold stocks?

It depends on what your financial objectives are, and what your preferences are as an investor. Gold stocks, as you will learn, exhibit similar behavior to most other paper assets. This may work for or against you, hence you need to position yourself in such a way that you will not end up losing your money.

If you are out to diversify your portfolio and hedge your wealth against inflation, however, you may have a better shot at this with physical gold. 

3. What should I invest in, gold coins vs gold bars? 

This is one of the most commonly asked questions by beginners getting their feet into the gold investment industry and for a good reason. Many beginners want to understand whether the two forms of gold present similar benefits or are different.

The truth about these assets is that they present you with the benefits of physical gold, but they may have some outstanding differences. If you need assets that you can liquidate faster, then gold coins should be your top pick. Gold bars may be harder to liquidate, but have also been found to carry a higher gold content, hence may be more valuable per unit of weight. 

4. How should I purchase gold?

There are many ways through which you can purchase gold. You can start by searching for a precious metal dealer near your home, or you can search for an online dealer.

Whichever option you decide to go with, make sure that you search for the company’s ratings and reviews on consumer trust sites such as Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau. If a company does not have a track record of performance, then you ought not to consider purchasing any gold from it.

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SEE OUR TOP-5 GOLD INVESTMENT COMPANIES 2022

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That will be all for this post on whether gold is a good investment right now. I hope you found a couple of insights that will guide you as you decide on whether to purchase some gold. If you have more questions about today’s topic, drop them in the comments section and I will get back to you ASAP!

I wish you well, 

Eric, Investor and Team Member at Gold Retired!