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Is Gold a Good Investment? Expert Recommendations

Unlocking gold's investment potential. Expert recommendations to guide your financial decisions. Stay ahead in the investment game with expert advice.

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Gold a Good Investment
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The prevailing unease surrounding economic stability and inflation continues to hold sway over both specialist observers and everyday consumers. This has led people to seek out proactive strategies that can protect their financial assets while also adjusting their investment approaches suitably.

Is gold a good investment that has emerged as a significant alternative, gaining popularity for several persuasive reasons? Historically, gold is seen as a steadfast asset amidst the uncertainties of an unstable economy, making it an enticing buffer against market fluctuations. 

Incorporating gold into a diversified portfolio is a robust method for safeguarding one's fiscal future and offering peace of mind in these tumultuous economic times.

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But, if you’re considering if gold is a good investment? You need to grasp more than merely how to acquire it. You must evaluate if and where gold comes into play within your overarching investment plan and whether this aligns with your objectives for asset variance.

Advantages of Investing in Gold

Individuals choose to invest in gold for a variety of motives, ranging from shielding their investment portfolio against market fluctuations to safeguarding it from inflation. Here are some benefits that come with the decision to invest money in gold:

Gold Is Considered a Haven Investment

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Historically, gold has been pursued as a 'port of refuge' when measured against assets such as shares or property. This is attributed to the fact that gold maintains its worth and fluidity even amidst financial slumps. Gold often moves inversely to big swings in the stock market.

Gold Can Hedge Against Inflation

During periods of escalated inflation, it’s common for investors to gravitate towards gold as a shield against the increasing price of commodities and growing interest rates.

Is gold a good investment? Even though gold generally maintains its worth over extended durations, there are alternate strategies to safeguard your financial reserves from the impact of inflation. One such option could be Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS).

Gold Enhances Portfolio Diversification

Incorporating valuable commodities such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium into your investment portfolio can significantly enrich its diversity.

Gold particularly serves as a shield against market fluctuations, often showing no correlation with stock market trends. Therefore, during turbulent times such as wars or global pandemics that disrupt the markets, you may notice an increase in gold prices.

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Gold Can Hedge Against U.S. Dollar Weakness

Thinking that gold is a good investment, many people choose to allocate their funds to this gold, convinced of its unchanging worth and the notion that it will retain its buying power even amidst a declining value of the dollar. 

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In 1971, the U.S. government decided to abolish the gold standard. This rule stipulated every American currency should be supported by an equivalent quantity of gold in possession of the Treasury Department. As it stands now, most conventional economists are under the impression that there isn't a necessity for a gold standard as an inflation control measure and argue that it restricts central banks' capacity to adapt to shifting economic scenarios.

Gold Can Hedge Against Stock Market Volatility

In times of economic instability, the value of gold may rise as a result of investor anxiety leading to withdrawals from the stock market and increased demand for this precious metal. While it's true that gold prices can exhibit volatility, possessing an adequate investment timeframe can aid in maintaining portfolio steadiness in the long run.

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You Can Diversify Your Portfolio With Gold

During an economic decline, often referred to as a recession, not only does the stock market take a hit, but property investments can depreciate in value too. In such challenging financial periods, gold emerges as a reliable asset to bolster portfolio diversification. This strategy typically lessens your vulnerability to riskier assets and curtails the effect of any potential losses.

Trotter suggests, "If investors foresee an impending recession or even possible stagflation, shifting their investment towards gold could be deemed suitable since it diminishes exposure to stocks and bonds.

Gold Helps With Liquidity

During a financial downturn, the ability to readily convert assets into cash, known as liquidity, becomes paramount. If you’re in dire financial straits, these liquid assets could be your lifeline, helping you keep up with necessary payments.

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Investments such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and collectibles are considered illiquid. Their conversion into spendable funds can prove challenging, particularly when there's a low demand for them. After all, who would be eager to acquire expensive artwork when struggling with bill payments?

Is gold a good investment? Yes, gold shines through this adversity due to its high liquidity. As articulated by Gardner: "Gold is a valuable addition to diversify a portfolio given its price stability and high liquidity.

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Disadvantages of Investing in Gold

Indeed, gold isn't without its pitfalls. This explains why numerous finance professionals suggest that investors should allocate only around 5-10% of their portfolio to precious metals, a bracket that may encompass silver, platinum, and palladium. Here are some potential downsides associated with venturing into gold investments:

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Gold Doesn’t Generate Income

While gold possesses its unique allure, it falls short in one significant aspect when juxtaposed with stocks and bonds. Its inability to generate income. Unlike many stocks that offer dividends or bonds held until maturity yielding returns, gold fails to provide these avenues for profit.

There’s No Guarantee Gold Will Increase in Value

While it may appear contradictory, another disadvantage of investing in gold is that its historical performance doesn't necessarily predict its future worth. The pivotal factor in determining if is gold a good investment lies within the individual. They should contemplate their intended investment timeline and be ready to endure potential decreases in value.

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Gold Experiences Price Volatility

Regard gold as an enduring asset given its fluctuating value.

Is gold a good investment? Suppose you’re nearing retirement and will soon need to tap into your investment portfolio for income but lack the time to weather a potential decline in gold prices. In that case, there's a hazard that the value of gold might drop and not recover by when you're required to liquidate.

How to Invest in Gold?

Having conducted thorough research or sought advice from your financial consultant, you may be equipped to make the leap. There exist various methods for purchasing and retaining gold. Each approach comes with unique costs and intricacy levels, necessitating consideration of your investment skillset and risk capacity.

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Physical Gold

Possessing genuine gold bullion is a straightforward process. Still, it's crucial to consider the costs associated with storage and dealer premiums if you opt for this type of investment. Your options include holding onto gold ingots, bars, coins, or rounds - these are coin-like but aren't recognized as legal tender and lack any unique designs.

When purchasing gold coins, you can select ones minted by government institutions or those from trustworthy private mints. The globally accepted standard for investment-grade gold bars stands at 99.5% purity level, whilst golden coins usually range between 22-karat and 24-karat pureness.

If your decision leans towards owning tangible gold assets, be prepared to account for storage expenses. You'd want to securely keep them either in a safe deposit box or an equally secure safe at home. However, keep in mind that should the time come when you decide to buy or sell these assets again.

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Gold ETFs

If you're considering whether is gold a good investment, gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have emerged as a sought-after choice. They provide an entryway into the world of gold investments without necessitating direct ownership.

Gold ETF shares can be purchased via numerous online brokerage platforms, which are designed for ease of use. However, it's crucial to grasp the fundamentals of ETF investment prior to diving in.

While opting for a Gold ETF might appear more economical than having physical possession of gold, remember that there are still expenses tied to this form of investment. As per data provided by ETF.com, on average, each year, you'd shell out around 0.59% - roughly $59 per $10,000 invested - as fees towards your Gold ETFs.

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Gold Mutual Funds

If you're looking for a way to include gold in your financial portfolio without the inconvenience of physically owning it, mutual funds that incorporate stocks from gold-producing or financing companies could be an alternative.

Investments in these types of mutual funds can be made through brokerage firms or digital trading platforms. However, one disadvantage is the potentially higher costs associated with such investments, even if most online brokers offer free trades for them today. This is because these are frequently more actively managed compared to ETFs which consequently results in a slightly higher fee structure.

Gold Mining Stocks

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Investing in corporations that extract and generate gold is also an option. However, if you're contemplating buying shares, it's crucial to bear in mind that owning equity from a single firm carries a greater risk compared to investing in a fund composed of stocks from diverse gold entities.

Gold IRA

A gold IRA represents a viable investment alternative that enables folks to broaden their retirement fund by possessing physical gold and various other valuable metals within an account that enjoys tax benefits. 

It’s a buffer against economic unpredictability and inflation courtesy of gold's long-standing reputation as a crisis-resistant asset. Although it provides diversity and protection, investors must mull over the pertinent fees, trustworthy custodians, and how it fares in the long run compared to other assets prior to opting for a Gold IRA .

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Should I Buy Gold?

Is gold a good Investment? The decision to incorporate gold as a component of your investment portfolio hinges on evaluating your objectives, timeframe, and level of risk tolerance. Although gold investment carries certain advantages, such as its function as a value reserve and its reputation as a safe harbor during stock market instability, it may not be an appropriate choice for every investor.

Remember that the price valuation of gold is subject to fluctuations. Hence it can depreciate rapidly, making it an unsuitable option for short-term investments. Gold doesn’t yield dividends or interest. Viewed as an unconventional asset similar to cryptocurrency, gold should ideally represent only a minor part of your portfolio — around 5-10% or less.

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If integrating precious metals aligns with your investing strategy in terms of time span and risk acceptance levels, you must identify which form(s) of golden ventures are most suitable. Once again, options range from owning physical forms like bullion bars, coins, jewelry pieces, and collectibles to even options where specific categories can be stored within a designated gold IRA account. 

For many people looking for simpler methods to incorporate this lustrous metal into their financial plans, purchasing mutual funds ETFs focused on gold or shares in mining companies might suffice. These can be easily bought through brokerage applications or retirement accounts such as IRAs.

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Top 3 Gold IRA Companies

Goldco – Best Gold IRA Company Overall

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Operating out of California, Goldco is a privately held corporation with over ten years of expertise in the precious metals industry, focusing on gold IRAs and asset safeguarding. Although Goldco doesn't levy any fees, clients should be aware of associated custodian fees, setup costs, and annual maintenance charges, which range between $150 to $200 per annum. 

The starting investment threshold for a gold IRA stands at $25,000, necessitating customers to undergo an account opening procedure assisted by a company representative.

Goldco's impressive 4.8-star rating, based on an influx of joyful client critiques, highlights their excellent communication skills, streamlined operations, expert knowledge, and superior customer assistance. That said, the firm has also responded to a handful of grievances pertaining to steep price hikes, deceptive information dissemination, and postponed disbursements. 

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Clients can access their supportive customer service team every weekday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST either over a phone call or through the chatbot feature on their website.

American Hartford Gold - Best Gold IRA Company for Small Investments

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American Hartford Gold represents a self-managed individual retirement account enabling investors to incorporate tangible gold and various precious metals into their retirement savings. This differs from standard IRAs primarily invested in stocks and bonds, as a Gold IRA provides variety and safeguards against inflation and market instability. 

With the assistance of an expert custodian, investors can securely house gold while having the option to purchase American Hartford Gold shift resources from a pre-existing IRA. Despite its potential for long-term security, there are inherent risks associated with a Gold IRA, such as fluctuations in value, storage expenses, and issues concerning liquidity. 

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Augusta Precious Metals - Best Gold IRA Company for Customer Support

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Isaac Nuriani laid the foundation for Augusta Precious Metals in 2012, providing an avenue for investments in gold and silver coins and bars specifically tailored for IRA portfolios. With a promise of 99% purity on all their metals except the American Gold Eagle coin, they stand as a symbol of trust. 

Their pricing strategy is transparently outlined on their website. It's determined by adding a premium to the standard base price that fluctuates depending on market factors such as supply-demand dynamics and economic conditions.

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Is Gold a Good Investment? – FAQs

What Is the Price of Gold?

The "spot price" of gold, the immediate purchase price frequently quoted in today's market, is readily accessible to individual investors through the U.S. COMEX exchange. As we approach March 2023, the cost per ounce of this precious metal hovers just below $2,000.

Should I Invest in Gold or Silver?

Your market standing and portfolio health are the two key elements that guide your investment choices. Here's a simple guideline to follow: Opt for silver as an investment when the economic climate is favorable. 

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Silver, while somewhat predictable, can be a speculative asset that generates substantial profits. On the other hand, invest in gold if you're planning for periods of economic downturns or uncertainty.

How Much Gold Should I Own?

Typically, professionals in the finance sector suggest investing anywhere from 5 to 20% of your portfolio into gold or other valuable metals. However, some propose an even more robust allotment.

Bottom Line

Is gold a good investment? It's not necessarily the ideal path for all investors. Else, gold is a good investment.

Should your investment strategy center on significantly increasing your wealth, then gold may not suit your needs. Generally speaking, gold is seen as a low-risk refuge in times of economic uncertainty; it's not typically associated with large profit margins.

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If you're uncertain whether investing in gold aligns with your financial vision or require assistance navigating a potential purchase of the precious metal, professional advice from an investment counselor or financial advisor could prove invaluable.

In addition, Goldco provides complimentary educational material that can provide deeper insight and practical tips regarding this matter.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.

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