Precious metal investment is where money is invested into valuable metals such as gold, silver and platinum. In recent times, precious metal investment has proved to be a good investment option for people looking to escape the risk of traditional investments such as property and shares. Those who engage in precious metals investing have been attracted by the ability of these assets to retain their value, as well as the psychological benefit of knowing exactly what you are invested in. However, before investing in precious metals it is important to understand some of the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Investments in Precious Metals
Some of the benefits associated with investments in precious metals include:
Wide range of investment options
Precious metals normally offer potential investors a lot of investment options. As such, these options could be helpful in fulfilling their investing goals and needs. Examples of such investment avenues are: mining stocks, metal bullions, bars, futures and coins among others. This wide variety of investment options means that precious metal investing can cater for most people’s investment preferences, risk levels and strategies.
Wide range of precious metals
There are various types of precious metals, which include gold, platinum and silver among others. This means that the investor is not restricted to investing in only one kind of precious metal. Instead, he or she can opt to invest in a precious metal that satisfies their investment needs.
Diversification of investment portfolio
Thanks to precious metals investing, investors can diversify their entire investment portfolio in an attempt to maximize their returns while minimizing their risks. Under normal circumstances, precious metals are usually perceived to be low risk. Those who choose to add them to their investment portfolio can increase their trading stability.
Marketability and liquidity of precious metals
Those who invest in precious metals can also benefit from marketability and liquidity of their investments. There is a very high demand for precious metals, and this ensures that investors can sell their investments quickly and easily if necessary.
Disadvantages of Investments in Precious Metals
On the flipside, precious metals also have various drawbacks. The disadvantages of investing in these metals include:
Extra Costs
Investing in precious metals sometimes involves extra costs that would not be incurred with other investments. There is often a significant cost involved with purchasing and selling precious metals, and there can also be a large security cost if you require a safe for the storage of your investment.
Little income potential
Unlike other investments like real estate or shares, precious metals do not come embedded with income potential.
Investing in Precious Metals for Beginners
Investing in precious metals for the first time can be a daunting task. This is because beginners lack the required knowledge of where and how to invest. If you’re a beginner at precious metal investing here are some tips that you may find useful:
Understand the investment process
It is imperative that all beginners familiarize
Source: SmarterFinance