Investing in gold isn’t just about buying a few gold bars or picking up some gold coins at an auction. A serious investor who wants to build a robust gold portfolio should have an investment plan. Lack of planning is likely to result in wrong investments and you will end up getting stuck with gold bars and coins that have no liquidity and add no value to your portfolio. A good investor will first study the subject and understand the fundamentals before investing a penny.
Understanding the types of gold to buy may not be enough. One needs to find out where to buy them from. Many gold investors who have built lucrative portfolios have years of experience trading in the precious metals market and have the right connections to source their gold. Let us take a quick look at the fundamentals of gold investing that every beginner should know.
Planning your objectives
It is always important to first understand why you want to buy gold. You need to decide the right investment horizon for you. If you want to make short-term investments, the choice of gold products may be different. Investors who want to build wealth and acquire gold at the cheapest price per gram would often choose to buy gold bars. Gold bars have lower production costs than coins and offer investors the opportunity to acquire gold at a cheaper price. The time horizon is important – gold investments can be volatile over the short-term but generate steady and healthy returns over the longer term.
Investing in gold coins can have great tax advantages
Gold investing follows the common rules of buying the investment at a low price and selling at a higher price. There is no interest received for holding gold, so profits are only made on capital appreciation. The gold price tends to rise when the economy takes a downturn and other investments fall in value. In that way, it offers protection to an investor who owns many assets. The gold price can move down as well as up, so it is advised to hold the gold over the medium to long term.
Never invest in obscure gold coins as they may have little or no liquidity
Identifying a reliable gold broker
Once you have your objectives in place, the next step is to identify a reputed and reliable gold broker. This is relatively easy to do. Most reputed brokers are registered with the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA). A quick visit to the association’s website can help you shortlist the best brokers near you. It is important to initially approach more than one broker and try to build a relationship.
Once you do this, you will be able to share your objectives with your broker and he/she would know what kind of gold you are after. So, when it comes to the market, you can be the first to know. A good broker will always be willing to answer your questions and will also issue a certificate of authenticity for all the products. They would also have a buyback scheme. You should always check online reviews of the broker and find out how long the company has been in business.
Tax planning
It’s also important to do your tax planning at the time of planning your investments. All investment-grade gold is VAT free in the UK, however, if you want to capture the benefits of Capital Gains Tax exemption, you can invest in gold coins that have a face value and are legal tender in the UK.
Our experts at Physical Gold can guide you on your investments
If you are a beginner investor who wants to start building a gold portfolio, speak to one of our advisors. Physical Gold is one of the most reputed gold dealers in the UK. You can reach us on (020) 7060 9992 or send us an email to get in touch.
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FAQs
How Do Beginners Buy Gold? Mutual funds and ETFs are probably the smartest options for beginners. Each share of these securities represents a fixed amount of gold, and you can easily buy or sell these funds in your brokerage account or retirement account.
Should beginners invest in gold? ›
The bottom line. Gold is an impressive asset for beginner investors to consider. But, there are times to, and not to, buy the precious metal. In particular, beginners should consider buying gold when they need to diversify their portfolios, when inflation rates are high and when other market risks are present.
What is the downside to buying gold? ›
Cons of Investing in Gold
There is no stream of income associated with the investment. Other investments provide income in addition to gains from price appreciation. For example, stocks can earn dividends, bonds can earn interest and investment real estate can earn rent. Extra costs.
Can I invest $1,000 in gold? ›
Remember, however, many gold dealers have minimum purchase amounts, such as 10 gold coins. With $1,000, you may find it easier to invest in gold ETFs, IRAs or gold mining stocks. While higher investment amounts deliver higher returns, you can reap the benefits with any deposit amount.
How much gold should a beginner buy? ›
Financial advisors tend to say your precious metals investment should equal no more than 5% to 10% of your overall portfolio. This includes physical gold, silver and all other precious metals as well as investments in gold-related instruments like ETFs.
What is the most profitable way to buy gold? ›
Investing in a gold stock, ETF or mutual fund is often the best way to get exposure to gold in your portfolio. In order to buy a gold stock or fund, you'll need a brokerage account, which you can open with an online broker (here's a step-by-step guide to opening a brokerage account).
What is the best type of gold to buy? ›
Although high-quality gold jewelry will always retain some value, bullion in the form of bars or coins is the best type of gold to buy as an investment. When you purchase bullion bars and coins, you get purer gold with lower premiums than jewelry.
How much is an ounce of gold? ›
How much money do I need to invest in gold? ›
Most experts recommend limiting your gold investment to 10% or less of your overall portfolio. The range between 1% and 10%, however, will often vary based on your age and overall investor profile.
Is it better to have gold or cash? ›
Why is gold a better long-term investment than cash? Gold acts as a stable store of value by maintaining its purchasing power over long periods. It has limited supply growth, making it a rare tangible asset. During times of economic turmoil, when cash is devalued, gold prices often rise, thereby preserving wealth.
What will gold be worth in 5 years? Two Jakarta-based commodity analysts forecast that the price of gold could reach as high as $3,000 per ounce in the next five years. While they remain bullish, they cautioned that many factors could affect the price of gold within this timeframe.
Is 1 oz of gold a good investment? ›
Investing in 1-ounce gold bars can be a prudent move for those who are looking to diversify their portfolios and safeguard against economic uncertainties. However, it's crucial to approach this investment with a clear understanding of the market, associated costs and the long-term commitment required.
How many ounces of gold can you legally own? ›
Today, there are no specific limits on how much gold a person can own in the U.S. Whether it's bullion, coins, or jewelry, you can buy, own, and possess as much gold as you like. The only restrictions may come from reporting requirements if you simultaneously buy or sell large amounts of gold.
How much will one ounce of gold be worth in 10 years? ›
Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at Regal Point Capital, expects the price of gold to be "at least" $3,000 an ounce in 10 years (the price of gold today is around $2,000 an ounce).
How much gold will $10 000 buy? ›
Gold Coins: Assuming an average premium of 5% to 10% over the spot price, you can purchase around 4.5 to 4.7 troy ounces of gold coins with your $10,000. Gold Bars: With lower premiums, possibly around 2% to 5%, your $10,000 could buy you closer to 4.8 to 4.9 troy ounces of gold in bar form.
How do I start making money with gold? ›
Traders can strategically buy and sell futures contracts to profit from the changing price of gold. Buyers of futures contracts profit when commodity prices rise. Sellers of futures contracts profit when commodity prices fall. The contracts typically require a minimum purchase of 100 ounces of gold.
How to buy gold for the first time? ›
While you can buy gold bars from certain banks, it's much more common to use online dealers. You may also be able to buy gold bars from a pawn shop or individuals, and these sources may also offer gold coins. Even big-box retailer Costco is getting in on the action, offering one-ounce gold bars to its members.
How does buying gold make you money? ›
Key Takeaways
Gold is seen as a hedge against inflation and a store of value through market ups and downs. Investors can hold physical gold directly in the form of coins, bullion, or jewelry; or indirectly via mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), gold derivatives, or gold-mining stocks.
