Given its historical place of honor among valuable commodities, it is easy to understand why gold continues to be of immense interest to investors of all levels. Unfortunately, not everyone who wishes to get involved in gold markets has sufficient know-how to do so successfully. The article that follows is meant to remedy that situation for interested readers.
If you buy gold for your retirement fund, be sure it’s the proper kind. Your gold has to be IRS approved. You want to make sure you buy 24 karat coins or bullion bars. If you can, purchase bars rather than coins since they are more valuable.
If you want to start investing in gold but don’t have much money to get started, think about buying scrap. It is possible to accomplish this over the long haul, by purchasing some gold every pay day, and build up a valuable reserve within a year. Keep your collection safe until you have an sufficient amount to cash in.
If you want to purchase a piece of gold jewelry that will last a long time, it’s crucial to purchase heavier jewelry. Though they may be more expensive, heavier pieces are able to withstand pretty much anything. On the other hand, thinner more fragile pieces are more likely to break.
Be wary when buying gold from online precious metal dealers. There is a lot of fake gold for sale on the internet, so it pays be cautious when buying investment precious metals online. Many fake gold bullion bars are almost indistinguishable from real gold bullion bars, as many fake gold bars are coated with real gold despite the fact that their insides are fake.
When trying to determine if something is real gold or not, try holding it up to a magnet. Since true gold does not have any magnetic properties, it shouldn’t respond at all. If you observe any attraction between your “gold” and the magnet, you’ve probably been fooled or simply found a good imitation.
Do not allow different carats of gold to be weighed together. This is because dealers will base the price on the lowest carat gold. Each carat of gold is mixed with 10 parts of other alloys; thus, a 10 carat weight gold ring will be worth much less than an 18 carat gold ring.
If you are interested in reaping the benefits of selling gold but do not have any gold to sell yourself, consider organizing a gold party. This is a party where you invite your friends and family to sell their gold pieces. You invite an appraiser to make the purchases, and you receive proceeds from the profits earned.
When attending a gold party, watch the representative carefully. Your natural instincts are often correct. If you feel like the person is being genuine with you, they probably are. If, however, you feel like the individual is holding back a little, you may want to wait and sell your gold to someone else.
Go into your gold selling knowing the current price of gold. This is a commodity that has a fluctuating price. Every day it’s something new. If you aren’t in the know, you could be taken advantage of by a less than reputable gold buying company. Remember, knowledge is the real power here. Go into any negotiation ready with it.
Never be an impulse buyer or seller of gold. There’s a ton of emotion wrapped up with gold. Whether it’s a piece that’s been in your family for ages or one that’s so beautiful that you’ve just got to have it, you may consider making off the cuff decisions. Take a step back. There are big prices involved with gold, so little mistakes can add up. Take the time to do it right.
If you are selling gold jewelry that is covered with other stones, never leave the gold dealer without those stones on you. Some shady dealers will try and pocket those gems so that they can sell them elsewhere. Even if you don’t hink they’re worth anything, it’s best to get them before leaving.
To benefit from the upside potential in gold, consider gold index funds. They are easily traded on the exchanges. For instance, the CBOE Gold Index roughly tracks the price of gold, both up and down, by trading gold mining companies. There exchange traded funds that trade on gold futures contracts, but those tend to be quite volatile.
Being an informed gold buyer can help you from making common mistakes. Many gold coins are only plated in gold. If gold coins appeal to you, asked for an independent certification from a certified appraiser.
Gold has a long and storied history when it comes to preserving and building personal wealth. The best way to get involved in gold markets in prudent fashion is to study several fundamental concepts and methods. It is our hope that the facts presented above have given readers a great resource for doing just that.
