Knowing how to begin investing in gold is an important first step if you want to get involved in this market. Perhaps you’ve shied away in the past because you had no idea how to invest in gold. If so, then you will want to read excellent tips like in the below article that will inform you on what it takes to become an investor in gold.
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.
Know what gold is currently selling for. While it’s convenient to just bring your gold to a shop, do a little internet research first to see what the range is. That way, you can go in knowing how much you can expect to receive. You will know if you are being lowballed.
Make sure the dealer you are considering is licensed. Make sure, too, that the dealer is active in reputable organizations within the industry. This is a business with a lot of sharks in it, so the more things that prove the legitimacy of the operation, the better it is for 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.
While doing your research about the seller of gold, be wary of reviews on social media sites. Gold sellers have been known to pay people to produce false reviews about their services. Do not count solely on the reviews that you read on those sites and continue your research through other sites.
When deciphering the actual sales price of gold, you should understand the fees associated with selling gold. Dealers generally charge a commission of five to six percent for each ounce of gold sold. For example, if you are selling $100.00 worth of gold, the dealer will take $5.00 out of the proceeds for commission fees.
Try saving on gold by buying some at regular intervals. It doesn’t even matter what the current gold price is. Every month or every regular period, try to buy some gold. Its price may be higher one month and lower the next, but that doesn’t matter. The consistency is what matters since its value will eventually even out and rise later on due to gold’s value going against the value of currency.
You can make gold investments without owning gold. Some choices include investing in mutual funds with a gold focus, buying exchange traded fund shares focusing on gold or purchasing stocks in gold mining. If you opt to buy gold coins or bars, you should consider how you will store your gold.
Never fall for any “best price” offers. Typically those claiming to offer the best prices for gold are the ones that’ll give you the worst deals going. To find the best deals, it’s going to take some time. Call around, talk to your friends, and comparison shop. There are better deals out there.
To get a good price on gold, try purchasing it from the public. However, you need to know that there is risk in buying that way. Because of this, requesting an appraisal for the coin in question is key. When the deal is too good to be true, it really is.
When buying and selling gold coins and bullions, realize that you will be responsible for capital gains and losses. The US government treats all gold sales as long term capital gains. The tax rate on such sales is 28 percent. Ensure that you keep good financial records to help prepare you tax return.
While ETFs are a great way to trade in gold, nothing is like owning real gold. There are downsides to this, of course, such as the difficulty you will face if you need to sell the gold fast, plus the cost upfront is often large. Once six years have passed, though, it ends up being cheaper than an ETF.
Gold isn’t a type of investment that you can apply timing to. It’s an investment that is like wealth insurance. Watching the market and buying when the market is at its lowest is a smart idea. Many times gold shortages occur during turbulent economic times.
Gold buying is a simple process when have a good understanding of how the market works. You can become successful in this market if you pay attention to effective strategies that have been proven to make people money. Gather all the tips you learned here and use it to your advantage as you begin your foray into this market.
