If you’re looking to invest in gold, then you are here to find out some information to help get you going. There are certain things that are going to be discussed within this article that can help you get the basics down. Then, as you continue planning your investments, you can sneak a little gold in there as well.
It is important to understand the type of scale your gold dealer uses. Some dealers use a Troy scale while others use a pennyweight. On a Troy scale, gold weighs 31.1 grams per ounce. A pennyweight equals 1.555 grams. In comparison, a US scale measures each ounce of gold at 28 grams.
Have an understanding of the current market value of gold before you sell it. You can call a jewelry store for this information. Gold value changes often, sometimes from day to day, and you want to make sure your buyer is offering you a fair price for your pieces, based on current market value.
Before you buy or sell your gold, make sure you understand how the prices of precious metals work. Gold, along with silver and platinum, have prices that change on a whim. Therefore, you must always know what the spot price currently is. You might need to pay a higher percentage for melt values such as 1/10, and 1/2 fractional pieces.
Know that the price of gold fluctuates on a daily basis, just like any other precious metal. What you think you may be getting could be quite different than what you actually get if you waited an extended period between price look up and selling. When selling gold, watch the market for a few days to see how it’s performing. This will help you choose the best day to sell.
You need to know what you have before you go to sell it. Higher karats equals higher gold density and more value. Buyers who do not have a good reputation may try to take advantage of sellers who don’t know exactly what they have. Twenty-four karat gold is almost pure gold so it is worth way more than fourteen karat gold.
If you are planning on buying gold for historic value, make sure you understand the true value of the piece. Some are worth no more than their melt price. If you are buying for your own collection, that might be okay. If you are buying as an investment, you should look for pieces that are worth more, meaning it’s often advisable to stay away from any mention of historic value.
If you decide to invest in gold, you need to consider it a long-term investment. The price of gold fluctuates constantly but over the long term, prices increase. Even if you plan to make a large investment in gold, buy gold bars or coins separately over a short period of time.
Prior to going to a gold party, take your jewelry to a store and get an estimate as to how much the gold is worth. If the gold party representative quotes you a lower amount, see if they are willing to negotiate. If not, determine whether you truly want to sell at the party or would just prefer to hang on to the items.
Have your gold weighed out in the open, in front of you. If a dealer wants to take your piece to the back of the store, beware. Some less than ethical dealers will use a bait and switch, or they will tell you the pieces weigh less than they actually do. This means less money in your pocket, and it amounts to an unfair deal.
See if friends or relatives have broken pieces of gold they want to sell. Buy a jewelry scale, see how much the gold weighs, and offer 5 percent more than they would get on the open market. You’ll still come out ahead.
When selling your gold pieces, always ask the dealer if they can better their dealer. Experts state this works in many cases, as it will often reap the seller greater profits. Simply making the effort to bargain a bit can help to put more money in your pocket, making the deal easier for you to accept.
Hold on to or look for US gold coins made prior to 1933. Until 1933, those coins were in the U.S. marketplace until President Roosevelt recalled them. Some people didn’t heed that recall, so there are some very valuable coins still available.
If your plan is to invest a large amount in gold, it is better than you invest it in physical gold instead of ETFs. The holding costs end up being cheaper than those of ETFs when you have higher amounts of money invested, plus the longer you hold onto it, the more you save.
Are you ready to see gold show up in your investment portfolio? Surely after reading these tips, you see the different benefits available to you. Make sure you work towards applying what you have learned so that you can realize how gold can balance your portfolio and help you plan for retirement.
