While gold can be a great recession-proof investment, you really need to know what you are doing. You have many choices, and you want the right gold investments in your portfolio. Therefore, pay attention to and consider the following helpful advice so that you can make good investment decisions.
Before buying or selling gold, look into the market price for gold for the day. There are daily fluctuations on price for precious metals, so it’s important for you to know what the current going rate is. This will help you understand whether the dealer is overpriced or fair in the offers made to you.
Know you’re going to have to show your ID when you sell gold. By law, people are required to present their identification when they sell gold. That is done in order to deter thieves and other criminals. Therefore, don’t be embarrassed if they ask for your ID, and even snap a photograph of you.
Do you have an allergy to nickel? If so, you are better off getting jewelry that has a higher gold content, like 18 or 22 karat gold. Items that have a higher gold content are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. You should also stay away from gold plated jewelry.
Do not go to a pawn shop if you have gold to sell. You will not get as much for your gold as you would if you went to a gold dealer. A pawn shop will try to give you the minimum amount so they can make the maximum profit.
You don’t have to physically own gold to invest in gold. Check out mutual funds that invest specifically in gold. Also look at mutual funds that invest heavily in commodities in general with a concentration in gold. This makes investing in this sector a lot easier to handle for many.
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.
The gold value of a piece of jewelry will never be equal to the amount you paid for it. That is because the gold is not pure and is diluted by alloys. The jewelry will need to be melted down to separate the gold from whatever other material it was mixed with.
Do not sell your gold at a gold party. Although these parties are fun, sellers usually net less than 80 percent of the value of their gold at these parties. To get the most bang for your buck, find a reputable dealer that specializes in buying and selling gold.
If you have paid attention to these tips, then you are ready to go ahead and plan out your gold investment strategies. The basic information that has been described is enough to get you going, and now you just need to keep learning. Gold really can help drive your financial future.