If you’re buying gold for the first time or feel that you need guidance on the best options available, then you can always call our expert team. We’ll talk you through how to buy gold and discuss the choices available. If you’re asking yourself, “how do I buy gold?”, then just follow the steps below to purchase physical gold through www.physicalgold.com.
Of course, this price is impacted by rising and falling demand for the metal. The international prices of gold tend to fall when interest rates rise. This is because rising interest rates offer investors other avenues of investment with better returns, and this creates a drop in demand.
The UK has had its longest-ever spell of reduced interest rates since the global financial crisis in 2008. From here on, economists expect the Bank of England to slowly start elevating interest rates once again. Although an interest rate hike is likely to be small, it could start the trend for rates to increase steadily and this is likely to affect the price of gold.
How to Buy Gold Infographic
We realise there is quite a lot of information to digest on this page. Therefore, we have created an infographic, which contains much of the information we discuss on this page in a convenient and easy to digest visual format.
How to Buy Gold Infographic – Top Section
We have only provided a highlight of the infographic here. To view the full infographic either a) Click on the image or b) Click this link, which will take you to a full view of the infographic image. Please feel free to re-use this infographic yourself on your own website. Our only stipulation is that you provide a link to this page – https://www.physicalgold.com/insights/how-to-buy-gold/ as an attribution.
Gold also reacts to political and macro-economic pressures
Usually, during times of political uncertainty, gold rises. This is because investors want to mitigate their risks by investing away from the global stock markets, and the demand for gold rises as they turn to gold.
Currently, the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing Brexit saga remains. The world is watching the Korean peninsula with caution. Political uncertainty in this region is likely to affect Seoul, which is a global financial centre and at risk, due to its geographical proximity with its northern neighbour. Yet another factor of concern for global investors is the rising threat of global terrorism.
American foreign policy followed by the Donald Trump administration is likely to impact the stability of different global regions, particularly the Middle East. All of this may have an important effect on financial markets. If the markets react unfavourably, then investors would ditch the capital markets to protect their investments. The price of gold would then rise, along with rising demand for the metal. For a first-time investor, all this can be very daunting.
Understanding how to buy gold is an integral part of the investment process
How to buy gold in 5 steps
Step 1. Register an account in seconds / login
Even if you’re not yet ready to purchase physical gold, you can sign up for a free www.physicalgold.com account. We’ll provide you with expert tips and updates on how to buy gold, to keep you informed of market movements, special offers and relevant insights. Just click on the ‘register’ button or log in to the site if you’re a returning user.
Please visit our blog and insights section on the website, which is aimed at providing customers with valuable information on buying precious metals. The information is simply presented to readers, with very little financial jargon, so you can easily understand the steps and use this knowledge to your advantage when buying gold and silver. Of course, if you need help, please contact us and a member of our advisory team can offer great practical guidance on buying gold.
Step 2. Select a product category from the four available
Physical Gold offers four different types of product categories: Pension Gold, Tax-Free Gold, Silver and a Monthly Saver. To buy physical gold or silver, simply select the product category you require.
Advice and guidance are available on each category page, including simple videos to help you to make your decision. Or you can always speak to us directly for one-to-one guidance.
We use different suppliers for the different product categories, enabling your purchase to be tax-efficient and our prices low. To buy from multiple product categories, please complete your transaction for one product type before purchasing from another category. Then, just repeat steps two to five!
Step 3. Add your gold to your basket
Add the quantity of your chosen category to your basket. You’re almost the proud owner of some beautiful precious metal.
Step 4. Pay using bank transfer, debit, or credit card
We accept bank transfers or several types of debit and credit cards. Simply input your payment and address details, as you would with any other online transaction. www.physicalgold.com uses the 3D secure payment method, giving you extra protection and peace of mind.
Step 5. Receive your metals to your door (or use our secure storage option)
If you’ve chosen to take delivery of your metals at your address, we’ll send them to you using fast, secure and discreet delivery. Let us know what you think when your coins or bars arrive! We’ll send you a review request and if you’re happy to leave your thoughts we’ll give you a discount code for future purchases! Making buying physical gold in the UK even cheaper.
If you’ve chosen to use our secure storage facility, then we’ll send you storage documentation proving your legal ownership and detailing your gold’s insured segregated storage at our accredited vault. Learn more about our secure storage option here.
How to Buy Gold UK
Buying gold in the UK may seem like a daunting process for first-time buyers but adding some gold to your portfolio is as easy as doing your regular online shopping. Because of our market credibility and purchasing power, we’re able to secure gold for you directly at a great price and, if required, store it for you as well.
This is particularly the case when you buy in bulk. And our BNTA accreditation means you don’t need to worry about the quality of our gold (as you might at a high street merchant). We trade investment-grade gold only and even provide you with a certificate to prove it! And because we value our clients, you can always call us if you need that extra bit of guidance when you purchase physical gold.
Common Customer Questions and our Expert Answers
We are asked numerous questions about methods of buying gold. We have captured some of these questions and answered them for you here in this guide. We hope you enjoy it and that it answers some questions you had!
Buying gold bars
Many investors prefer gold bars due to their lower production costs. They present an opportunity to acquire a larger amount of gold at a lower price point. However, do be aware that gold bars usually do not have a face value and aren’t considered legal tender in the UK. Therefore, you may lose the tax advantages of the CGT exemption that you can get with UK gold coins.
It is best to buy gold bars from a specialist bullion dealer. Avoid buying privately as authenticity could be a problem. Buying gold bars from a dealer can either be carried out online or over the phone. For transactions over £10k, identification will be required.
Here at Physical Gold, we sell various sizes of gold bars, ranging from smaller 1oz and 100g bars all the way up to 1 kilo gold bars. We also sell silver bars too.
The Metalor 100g gold bar is a popular investment option with Physical Gold Limited customers
If you are wondering how to buy a gold ETF, then it is easy. Firstly, open a brokerage account with an online investment platform like Fidelity or Hargreaves Lansdown, ensuring their suite of funds includes gold ETFs. An execution-only account will be cheaper if you do not require advice. With this investment, you will not hold any physical gold, instead, you will be investing in a fund, which has asset investments in gold.
Buying gold for an investment
There are several options to buying gold as an investment. If you are seeking to actively trade the gold market, then spread betting is one option. Buying a Gold ETF provides online access and economic spreads to buy and sell regularly. If stock markets are attractive, then the Blackrock Gold fund is popular, or if you are prepared for higher risk, investing in gold mining stocks is an option. For those motivated by safety and protection, buying physical gold coins and bars is the best investment choice.
Ultimately, most investors will invest in gold to make profits. Gold is a stable asset class that rises steadily and provides you with the opportunity to buy at a certain price point and wait for a few years for the price to reach the level you desire. Gold always delivers better returns over the long term.
When you decide how to buy gold, you will be faced with the option of investing in bars or coins. Both of these investment avenues have different sets of dynamics. If you choose to invest in gold coins, two important factors can impact your profits. These are – increases in the spot price of gold and the percentage rise in the level of premiums that you can achieve when selling your coins.
You should not assume that you need to buy silver and gold from the same place. Some specialist precious metals dealers offer better prices and options for one metal than another. Try to find a gold dealer who can offer advice on which gold and silver to buy.
Ensure that dealers have a track record and offer a buyback guarantee. Place your order to buy silver or gold online or over the phone and make payment. Old and silver will be delivered to your door or stored for you in a specialist warehouse.
For our detailed answer to this question please visit below:
There are a few simple steps to buying and selling gold online. Firstly, talk to an experienced gold broker. They will be able to offer guidance as to which gold will best suit your objectives. Next, you will need to decide if you want to buy the gold as a lump sum investment, in regular monthly savings, or as part of your pension. Then, decide if you want the gold delivered to you or stored in vaults. Finally, buy silver or gold online by placing an order with the dealer and make a payment with either a card or bank transfer.
Gold coins can be bought from a variety of sources, each with its merits. It is possible that common gold coins such as the odd Sovereign can be found in your local jewellers, however, the condition may not be great, and they will have extremely limited quantity and variety. Buying gold coins from auctions is another method, especially if you are seeking collectors’ coins. For price transparency, authenticity, choice and ease of buying, a reputable online gold dealer is the favoured choice.
When to invest in gold
The ideal time for buying gold is when the price is low. This will enable you to obtain more gold for your money and hopefully sell your gold in the future at a higher price. But with gold’s vital role as portfolio protection against market downturns, waiting to buy gold can be a mistake. This is because it is impossible to know exactly when the next market crash will occur. It is best to purchase physical gold 6 months or 3 years before the crash than one day afterwards.
How to buy gold in the UK
The choice of UK gold dealers has increased steadily over the past decade. There is a basic set of do’s and don’ts when buying gold that needs to be stuck to, so you avoid buying the wrong type of gold at the wrong price. Some of these online brokers have years of experience and can offer guidance on how to buy gold. Once decided, it is easy to purchase gold online via their online portal with insured delivery being as soon as the next day.
Purchase Gold such as this Britannia coin from Physical Gold Limited
Avoid online sites such as eBay and Craigslist. Buying from these risks paying over the odds and even worse buying gold which is not genuine. The best bet is to search for trustworthy online gold dealers in Google. Results will bring several options. Only consider sites that provide transparent up to the minute pricing. Research each dealer for track record and reviews and ensure they will buy back your gold. Then it is down to price.
How to buy silver and gold in the UK
If you are seeking to buy silver and gold as an investment, then it is best to stick to well-known UK coins (such as the gold Sovereign or the gold Britannia). These have the advantage of being Capital Gains Tax-free, but also offer flexibility to sell small parts of your holding.
These can be sourced through online precious metals dealers, at auction or from areas specialising in precious metals. Hatton Garden in London features dozens of shops that sell gold and silver bars and silver coins. However, the choice of coins may be limited. The Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham offers similar services as to how to buy physical gold.
Gold investments and how to make money
Two elements will help you buy gold and make money. The first is timing. Only invest in gold for the medium to long term as markets can go down as well as up in the short term. Buying when the price is low provides more profit potential than when it has risen for the past 6 months. Secondly, buy the right type of gold. Appointing a reputable gold broker will help you obtain the best prices and be guided to buy the right type of coins.
Buying UK bullion coins such as Britannias and Sovereigns will allow a lower purchase price than buying proof coins in presentation boxes, which provides more scope for profits. These coins are in high demand so obtaining a profitable sale price is more realistic.
It is usually a bad idea to invest in obscure coins that no one knows about. Even if they are rare, these investments will affect the liquidity of your portfolio, as you will not be able to sell them quickly. So, gold Britannias and Sovereigns are your best bet. These coins enjoy an extremely healthy secondary market, and you can easily make profits on them.
Buy best value gold sovereigns from Physical Gold Limited as a great investment choice
Shop tax-free gold
So, as you can see how to buy gold from www.physicalgold.com, really couldn’t be easier. Just register for an account, select the type (e.g. bullion or coins (e.g. gold Sovereigns)) and quantity of gold you require, pay, and your gold will be delivered to your door or held in our secure vault. If you need further help or any clarity to answer “how do I buy gold?”, then you can always call us on 020 7060 9992 or email us. We pride ourselves on providing a personal service to our clients, so if you have any questions about how to buy gold, all you need to do is get in touch.
Daniel Fisher
Daniel Fisher formed physical Gold in 2008, after working in the financial industry for 20 years. He spent much of that time working within the new issue fixed income business at a top tier US bank. In this role, he traded a large book of fixed income securities, raised capital for some of the largest government, financial, and corporate institutions in the world and advised the leading global institutional investors. Daniel is CeFA registered and is a member of the Institute of Financial Planning.
Timing Gold & Silver Investing
Is the time right for gold and silver investing? It’s true that, at first glance, when looking at the historical price charts for gold and silver, they can look like a bit of a rollercoaster. This might lead you to believe that gold will never reach the dizzying heights it once did.
The price of gold reached its highest point in 2012 when it soared to a record high of £1,200 per ounce. The picture for silver investing is similar to current prices much lower than at its peak. This means the current levels of both metals offers great value. No-one should want to buy at or even close to the all-time high. Current prices for gold are around 20% better value than at its height, with silver an astonishing 60% cheaper.
You can view graphs illustrating past performance over various timescales, by clicking here. They make fascinating reading, though we would always stress that they should be considered in context and not in isolation.
2016 saw both the gold and silver prices record around 30% gains by year-end. And although it might not yet have reached the heights of 2012, gold enjoyed a continuous upwards trend, hitting a top point of £1,050 per ounce in July of that year. In Q1, The World Gold Council reported gold demand was up 21% to 1289.8 tonnes – the second strongest quarter on record. First-half gold demand was up 18% – the second strongest on record – with gold investment accounting for almost half of that demand.
Silver also went from strength to strength, reaching its highest price since January 2015. The US Federal Reserve’s decision not to change interest rates, together with no indication as to when they might raise them, encouraged people towards investing in gold and silver.
More subdued gains in 2017
Precious metals enthusiasts saw more modest gains the following year. Starting the year at £935/oz gold finished the year around 2.5% up at £960. During those two points, it spends 3 periods north of the £1,000 mark, peaking in September at £1,030. This coincided with a strong performance in the stock markets with the FTSE 100 rising 7.5% and the Dow Jones an incredible 24%. Generally, when stock markets perform so well, gold has the least interest and its price suffers the most. So it’s encouraging in the grand scheme of a balanced portfolio that gold still returned around the inflation rate during such a period.
What can we learn from that?
This demonstrates that while gold can act as portfolio insurance during economic downturns (usually appreciating by double digits), it still can act as a store of wealth in other years too. With cash deposits still paying well below the inflation rate in 2018, this simple achievement for gold shouldn’t be sniffed at. Essentially owning gold should be a long term strategy, as returns (and potential losses) can vary greatly from year to year. Trying to second guess the market and predict the performance is futile and relying on extreme luck at best. It’s always tempting to sell everything and only buy the investment that is performing the best at that time, in a hope to ride the gravy train. However, this strategy leaves you vulnerable to being hopelessly exposed to market corrections and change. Owning some gold along with stocks, bonds, cash and property, enables balance and more predictability.
….and silver? Has Bitcoin taken its mantle?
Silver experienced a poor year in 2017 with losses of around 3.5%. Some feel the price is being manipulated downwards by the huge banks which are looking to load up on the metal. If so, the price will inevitably bounce back with a vengeance when the banks want their holdings to increase in value. An alternative is that with stocks performing well under the new Trump administration and cryptocurrencies making millionaires seemingly overnight, silver simply hasn’t had a look in. Many have switched their attention from bullion to bitcoin. With the silver price so low and its huge potential for quick gains, it’s certainly been viewed as the exciting and go-to investment for those seeking significant price rises. With the likes of Bitcoin achieving this on a steroid level, the short term greed has switched all the attention away from silver.
The likes of Ripple, Ethereum and Bitcoin have enjoyed the attention of the publicast
Will silver regain its shine instead of Cryptocurrencies?
However, as we now know in 2018, cryptocurrencies are incredibly volatile, on the downside as well as the upside. For the novice investor whose head has been turned by tales of instant wealth, there are now almost as many stories of overnight bankruptcy caused by incredible price drops for bitcoin. This period (after their initial glamorous price growth) will likely sort the wheat from the chaff. Naive investors will perhaps start to reconsider the value of cryptos, deciding either that they’ve now missed the boat, or that the risk of complete loss is too great. For the more travelled investor, they already know that investing in cryptocurrencies is similar to betting red or black in the casino. There is simply nothing tangible behind their value, and while the blockchain technology has its merits and will no doubt perform a critical role in our futures, getting rich overnight from Bitcoin could be over.
For savvy investors seeking large gains, they’ll know that while silver and cryptos can be grouped as higher risk, higher gain asset classes, they are almost opposites. While the likes of Bitcoin may have no tangible or intrinsic value, silver is a physical precious metal. Its value can never fall to zero like Bitcoin and its value is backed by something tangible that not only can be used as currency but also has vast industrial uses especially in the technology sector. For this reason, the investors left standing after the inevitable Bitcoin massacre will no doubt seek out silver once again as the go-to sexy investment.
Current silver and gold value represent a great opportunity and potential
2018 has started in a rather dull fashion for precious metals. Prices are still around 20% below their historical peak, so it’s still a very good time to invest in both gold and silver. It just goes to underline that it’s a lucrative opportunity, with room for growth and the possibility of sharp spikes. As of March, returns for the year have been virtually flat for gold and 7% down for silver. Combined with last year’s silver price squeeze, it’s now looking like incredible value. It’s the ratio to gold, which averages 47:1 over the past century, now stands at a staggering 80:1. Surely silver investing offers vast upside potential.
Crucially, the influential factors which tend to increase the demand for precious metals, are still very much in place. Global markets continue to be unstable, rumours of another banking crisis persist and a housing market slowdown has already started. Combine this with heightened terror threats and rising demand from Central Banks for gold, and it’s easy to understand why the precious metals market still has plenty of wind in its sails.
History tells us that stock markets are overdue a nasty correction
The calm before the stock market storm
Stock markets have now enjoyed nearly a decade of
uninterrupted growth since the 2008 credit crisis. Recently the Dow Jones has received further boosts from the Trump administration. It’s tempting to leave as much money in stocks while they’re doing well as possible. Especially while precious metals are taking a breather. However, every market analyst will agree that a simple glance at historical performance will tell us that equity market bull runs cannot and do not continue forever. More pertinently, the most severe market crashes come after the longest a strongest bull runs, which inevitably fuel an inflating bubble. This is similar to the fact that San Francisco sits plumb on the San Andreas fault line. A glance at historical earthquakes will tell us that with the constant movement of the earth’s crust, further events are not only likely but guaranteed. It’s a case of when not if there will be another huge earthquake. Not only that, but when San Francisco is overdue a quake, just like the stock markets are now overdue a correction, then the expected magnitude of that impact is far greater.
Maybe I can simply leave all my cash in stocks and switch to gold when that happens?
The best policy is not to try and predict the future, as that’s just witchcraft! Instead, we should learn from the past and understand that just like the earth, the markets are constantly moving and predicting the moment of a big eruption is impossible. We’d suggest leaving money in stocks (even after they do fall dramatically as you won’t want to miss out on the recovery, however long that takes). However, we’d also insist on owning some physical gold and silver too. The most prudent strategy with timing when to buy precious metals is simply to buy now and wait. As long as you allocate a healthy percentage of your assets into the likes of gold, then you’ll be protected when the markets do crash. My little saying is that I’d rather own gold 6 months, or even 2 years before the market crash, than a day after. Because then it would be too late.
What else could push gold and silver up this year and next?
It’s not only the stock market which is vulnerable. There’s plenty of other elements in the mix which are either brushed under the carpet by authorities or simply under-estimated.
Interest rates and housing market
After an extended period of record low-interest rates
in most of the globe’s major economies, we’re now starting to emerge into a new phase. Base rates have already risen in the UK and are predicted to continue rising in 2018 from May onwards. Rates in the US have also been rising, at a slightly faster rate. Rhetoric from central banks is that increases will be modest. However, the huge danger is the impact even small increases could have on the average man in the street. In a period of incredibly low or even negative wage growth, one of the few areas that have papered over the cracks has been property. With house prices seemingly on an unstoppable journey to the stars, the property-obsessed UK public felt comfort knowing their prize asset was at least rising in value. With interest rates near to zero, borrowing has been super cheap. So most of us have re-mortgaged, unlocking vast fortunes to fuel either extravagant lifestyles, or at least pay for the bills during lean periods. This increased leverage now leaves us vulnerable to the very interest rate rises we’re seeing now. When the starting point is as low as its been (0.25%), it only takes modest base rate increases to have a huge impact on our monthly mortgage cost, especially when cushy fixed intro rate mortgages periods come to an end. Check out our investigation into the relationship between interest rates and the price of gold and silver.
…and the housing market has softened
Not only are our monthly mortgage costs increasing, but the value of our property has stopped rising, and started to fall. This is a consequence not only of the international market struggling, with wealthy Chinese and Russians previously fuelling UK price growth, but also over the swingeing tax increases brought in by the current Government which has increased stamp duty so dramatically. We expect that firstly, more house owners will fail to pay their mortgages as interest rates rise, leading to more downward pressure on house values. For those who do manage to survive as costs increase, they will have less disposable income (with wage predictions stagnant), which will impact the high street and service sector, further crimping stock markets. Higher interest rates also mean higher new borrowing costs, which deters investment in corporate growth. All this will put even more pressure on the already unaffordable rental market. It’s common to compare gold investment versus property, but both should play crucial roles in a balanced portfolio.
A consumer credit bubble is already at bursting point
UK consumer credit bubble
With the pressures of interest rate and mortgage rises, the public’s other debts will also come under pressure. Two particular concerns are the car market and credit card sectors. Both industries are enjoying record high borrowing. However, as lenders feel the squeeze from higher rates and more defaults, we’re likely to see stricter borrowing requirements and higher rate deals. A record number of UK borrowers are currently on zero per cent credit card deals which are likely to begin to reduce in availability. People will then struggle to refinance their debt at anywhere near the levels they’ve been used to. In the automotive industry, a growing trend has been for leasing cars. Whether on outright monthly lease deals or borrowing with a balloon payment at the end, many drivers will struggle to continue financing their car. Certainly, the hunger for new cars every 2 to 3 years will likely diminish.
The technological age is slowing crushing the high street
Early 2018 has brought with it fresh casualties of the ever-growing high street demise. Toys R Us and Maplin have both gone into administration, while seemingly popular food chains, Prezzo and Jamie’s Diners are closing a large number of restaurants. Perhaps this doesn’t come as a surprise. You could argue that Maplin has always been incongruous and never really had mass appeal. While kids love the experience of Toys R Us, adults who buy the games are now far more likely to order from Amazon and benefit from lower prices and next day delivery. Either way, this trend of weeding out the weak, however large the company, is likely to continue as the public turn their back on the high street and embrace online shopping. The frightening consequence is the sheer loss of long term jobs. Automation is filling the role of so many which will have a long term negative impact on an already growing population. Read our blog on the future of gold in a cashless society.
Brexit, Trump and Russia
There isn’t enough time to cover every simmering possible global issue which could push gold and silver prices skywards. But certainly, a handful of other significant issues would be the ongoing threat to the UK from Brexit. Whether this has a direct impact on our economy, a slower longer-term influence or is simply negative to Sterling, this is one which will stay on the radar for a while to come.
Donald Trump hasn’t blown up the world yet, but who knows about tomorrow! None of us would be shocked if he develops his trade war with China, instigates a war with the likes of North Korea, or simply makes some terrible domestic decisions in the world’s biggest economy. Either way, in today’s ultra globalised economy, foreign issues have more impact on the UK than ever.
The recent tensions between Russia and the UK after the poisoning accusations could be a storm in a teacup. However, the Government’s strong condemnation of Russia suggests there could be a hidden agenda. With Putin now flexing his muscles, I’d rather own gold right now to provide diversification, just in case this escalates (especially as Russia have been stockpiling gold aggressively themselves over the past few years).
Long term view for gold and silver investing
The value of gold and silver may be volatile, but owning them as part of a portfolio reduces your overall personal volatility. They tend to act as a balance to the traditional paper assets (like stocks and shares), so when those markets fall, physical gold and silver have historically risen. The motivation for many gold & silver investors aren’t necessarily to time the market perfectly; instead, it’s to take a long term view to provide balance and protection to their overall wealth. This way, exact timing isn’t important, as the long-term hold should outperform any short-term price drops and still deliver portfolio insurance.
So there’s no need to worry that gold prices might appear to plateau from time to time. You should consider investing in both gold and silver, which remain very worthwhile, solid, tangible investments.
Cost average to iron out volatility
If you’re still unsure and concerned about timing, then our ‘Monthly Saver’ enables you to purchase regularly. You can set up to automatically buy a small quantity of gold or silver every month. This means that if the price does decrease from one month to the next, it benefits you, as your next purchase would be at a lower rate.
Over time, you buy each month at the various underlying prices, therefore averaging out the cost of your precious metals. It’s a great way to get started in gold and silver investing.
The main message is that it’s necessary to take the long-term view. As with any investment, prices will go up and down, but as these graphs illustrate, the rewards can be well worth it. If you’d like to find out more about this type of investment, why not Download our free guide to investing in gold and silver. We maintain gold and silver are still very good value and worth their weight in, well… gold and silver!
What is GDPR?
From the 25th May 2018, a new EU privacy law will commence. This regulation will be called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The regulation will be put in place across the EU and EEA region and will be applicable to any company that sells to European citizens. Many of these companies, including those based in other parts of the world also store data relating to European consumers. Now, for the first time, these citizens will have greater control over how their personal data can be used, stored and protected.
For purposes of regulation, personal data means all names, images of persons, email addresses, bank details, postal addresses and even computer IP addresses. The regulation seeks to protect data about people irrespective of where they work. For example, the law recognises that people working in companies are people too and their data needs to be protected. Companies cannot refuse to comply with the pretext that when employees are at work, they are not in their personal space and therefore have no right to privacy. Needless to say, there are tons of work that companies need to do in order to be compliant and avoid hefty fines
Entitlements of customers and employees
Every individual will have the right to access their personal data. This means that customers can always ask to see what data a company holds about them and also have the right to know how that data is being used. Companies will need to inform the customers that their data is being recorded and must provide them with a copy of all personal data, free of cost, on demand.
Customers will also have the right to data portability. This means that customers can ask for data to be transferred from one company to another when changing service providers. Interestingly, once they cease to be customers, they can also request to be forgotten and the company will require erasing their data already. Companies will also be required to notify a customer immediately if their data has been compromised, within 72 hours of a breach. There will be other rights as well, such as the right to stop their data from being processed and correct the information if required.
With the introduction of GDPR, the rules of engagement for the industry will change
What does it mean for the gold and silver industry?
Online gold and silver dealers need to put in place several initiatives in order to comply with the new regulations. Firstly, they need to map all the personal data relating to their customers held on their systems. This includes setting access levels and conducting a risk audit. The next step involves cleaning out all unnecessary data to avoid the risk of non-compliance. Here at Physical Gold, we’ve long been a member and adhered to the Information Commissioner’s Office guidelines, so GDPR isn’t a huge adjustment.
Dealers of precious metals will also need to invest in robust security systems to ensure that they are well protected against hackers or any possible breach. Lastly, they will need to put in place processes that clearly demarcate the data that needs to be stored as per customer approvals. Handling of data is likely to be a big challenge and simply implementing processes will not be enough. Staff need to be trained on how to handle data and maintain transparency with customers at all times. This could also include timely notification of any breach and disclosure to customers about their data held on file by the dealers.
Find out more about how GDPR affects your rights as a customer
Our industry experts are able to guide you on the impact of GDPR on the precious metals industry and how you can protect your data under the new laws. Call us on 020 7060 9992 or email us with your concerns and our experts will be happy to get in touch.
Gold is an attractive asset class for most investors, especially for those wanting to hedge their risk during turmoil in the international markets. In recent years, ETFs (exchange-traded funds) or ETCs (exchange-traded commodities) have become a popular choice for those willing to invest in gold as a commodity but don’t necessarily want to take physical delivery of gold and store it. In this article, we’ll look at the merits and demerits of investing in gold through these funds, and also discuss pitfalls to avoid when putting your money into these investment vehicles.
Exchange-traded funds that are backed by physical gold are a simple solution for those buying ETFs. An ETF of this type usually means that the physical gold is held in storage in a secure vault, at a secure location. The fund managers track the international price of gold on a daily basis. These investment vehicles are listed on the international stock markets and can be bought and sold online. It is a preferred investment avenue for some investors since the bid-ask spread is a lot lower than a direct trade in gold bullion. There are other types of ETFs as well, which are not backed by physical gold. The index of these funds track financial derivatives, such as gold futures, and are considered to be riskier due to the inherent volatility associated with the derivatives markets.
Gold ETFs are a relatively hassle-free investment option, but investors need to be careful
The bid-ask spread
The term bid-ask spread refers to the difference in buying and selling prices. When international markets are live, there are always two price points. There is a maximum price at which a trader is willing to buy a particular stock, commodity or ETF. At the same time, there is a seller who has a rock bottom price at which he/she is willing to sell. The term ‘spread’ refers to the difference between these two price points. Gold ETFs, which are exchange-traded have a far lesser difference between these two price points, due to the nature of the regulated trading environment they operate in. This reduces the spread. On the other hand, buying and selling of physical gold are done over a much larger and wider market, resulting in a wider disparity between these two price points. Some of the most popular gold ETFs include the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), the iShares COMEX Gold Trust (IAU). In addition to these, the physical Swiss and Asian gold shares funds (SGOL and AGOL) are also very popular in Europe.
Counterparty risks in gold ETFs
While it is convenient for many investors to buy gold ETFs, these investments typically come with a set of inherent risks. While physical gold is a real asset that you can hold, ETFs or paper gold is actually just paper that represents a financial instrument. Therefore, it carries a counterparty risk that comes with any financial instrument. Counterparty risk simply means that as an investor, you are dependent on another party to fulfil their promise. This is not the case with physical gold, which has no counterparty risk.
How does this work in the real world?
For example, when you invest in a gold ETF, there could be a number of factors that may affect your investment. These include regulatory risk, custody of actual assets, the structure of the fund, the skill of the management in making sound investment decisions, etc. If anything goes wrong, the investment you made in the gold ETF could be at risk. An example could be GLD, which uses HSBC as its custodian bank. In recent years, HSBC has been under the scanner for a number of non-compliant and irregular actions. The subsequent action taken against the bank and the fines imposed on the bank has had an impact on gold investments that investors made through GLD.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) track the global index of gold spot prices
Opening an ETF trading account
In order to buy gold ETFs, an investor needs to open a brokerage account online with an online investment platform. It is important to ensure that the platform actually trades in ETFs. Smaller investors benefit from opening an execution-only account. Most platforms will charge a percentage fee, such as 0.35% 0r 0.40%. The brokerage account can be funded through a debit card or directly from a bank account. Larger investors can benefit by opting for a flat fee rate, which is charged on a quarterly or annual basis, irrespective of the size of the account.
Call us today for the right advice on buying gold
Call us on 020 7060 9992 for the best advice, when it comes to investing in physical gold (e.g. coins) or ETFs. In many cases, purchasing physical gold (such as Sovereigns) can be a better option than an ETF. Our expert investment advisors can take into account your personal investment goals and guide you on how to make the best investment choices in precious metals. You can also contact us online and a member of our investment team will be in touch to discuss your investment options.
Throughout history, gold has been a popular choice of precious metals for jewellery. However, the properties of gold are such that, when it is amalgamated with other metals to form an alloy, it changes colour and also becomes more durable. The intricacies of jewellery design make it difficult for the craftsman to work with 24-carat gold, which is soft and malleable. Therefore, jewellers typically use 14 or 18-carat gold. The availability of colours is an additional boon for the jewellers as coloured gold is much in vogue.
Many people think that yellow and white are the only available colours in which jewellery can be made. In reality, there are several colours available, and each shade depends on the composition of the alloy. Coloured gold makes the jewellery look more attractive and also allows customers to have choices, resulting in a great degree of personalisation.
Gold is often used in different colours to enhance the look of jewellery
Yellow
In its natural state, the colour of gold is yellow. However, when the precious metal is mixed with other metals like silver or copper, greater strength is achieved. However, this process lightens the colour of gold. As a rule, when yellow gold is available in a higher carat, such as 22 or 24, the depth of the colour yellow is greater. Yellow gold is universally popular and used to make a wide range of jewellery including necklaces, earrings, studs, rings, bracelets, etc.
White
When yellow gold is mixed with nickel, copper and zinc, a white hue is achieved. Sometimes, this white gold is plated with rhodium to get a harder, more polished surface and accentuate the white colour. The price of white gold is very similar to that of yellow gold and it is a popular choice for making all types of jewellery. Rings, necklaces and bracelets all look great in white gold and is usually available in high street jewellery showrooms, as well as online retailers. A word of caution though, if you are allergic to nickel, it may be advisable not to wear white gold.
Rose/red
When the level of copper is increased in the alloy, a distinctive pink tint can be achieved. As more copper is used, the colour of the gold turns red. At lower levels of copper, the colour is pink. This type of gold was very popular in Russia during the early 19th century and was known as ‘Russian Gold’. The change of colour does not affect the price of the metal and once again it is a popular universal choice.
Green
Green gold can be made by the addition of silver to yellow gold. However, in order to attain the colour green, copper must be removed altogether. Green gold is not as easily available as the other colours of gold. When making jewellery, green gold is sometimes used as an accent to enhance designs. For example, a ring with a design of leaves on it can have the leaves tinted in green gold to give it that special look and feel.
Black
When gold is treated with a layer of ruthenium for added strength, black gold is made. This is one of the ways in which black gold can be produced. The other involves using potassium sulphide to treat gold that has copper in it. A black or brownish colour is achieved in the process.
Purple
Gold can take on the unique colour of purple when mixed with aluminium and indium. Although it is relatively soft, it can be used to make intricate jewellery. Purple gold is still relatively rare, as it hasn’t caught on with buyers of jewellery yet, however, it is an excellent choice for creating accents or designs to enhance the look and feel of jewellery made from traditional yellow gold. It can also be used to make brooches, rings, bracelets, etc.
Call us to discuss your gold purchases
The value of gold is the same no matter what colour it comes in. Ultimately, the value of gold used in jewellery is dependent on the amount of gold that it contains. So, a ring made from 14-carat gold is the same whether it is yellow or white gold, or it comes in any other colour. To know more about coloured gold and how to buy gold, call our experts on 020 7060 9992 or drop us a line and our team of gold experts will soon be at hand to answer all your queries.
As the market continues to resist all sorts of financial risk – the question that keeps coming up is – How to buy gold bullion? People tend to be less attracted to gold shares or “paper gold” especially given the counterparty risk prevalent in such securities. That being said – those that do opt for this avenue tend to do this either through a share dealing service provided by a bank or a financial intuition’s managed service where clients pay a management fee for the facility. In both instances, clients have to pay Capital Gains Tax on any growth that they incur from holding their paper gold.
Owning paper gold may have a number of other disadvantages as well. Investors usually turn to gold in order to hedge their risks against volatility in the global stock markets. Since paper gold is linked to gold mining stocks, it defeats the very purpose of hedging. Mining stocks depend on spot prices of gold in order to forecast profits. So, when gold prices are sluggish, paper gold stocks do not invest in new supply locations, as it may not be profitable. In fact, gold stocks may sell physical gold at these times. This can create further problems for owners of paper gold, as the paper is useless if there isn’t enough physical gold to back it up.
We have spoken to people who have made and lost a lot of money by “spread betting”.
The term almost defies the very point of why people buy physical gold in the first place – to minimise risk and to protect one’s wealth. It’s a form of gambling whereby the winnings and losses are extreme and people can bet on things like who will win the next primary elections to what will the weather be like tomorrow. This sort of gambling is not for the faint-hearted. Be prepared to lose but hope to win!
Here’s the deal
It is a speculative way of investing that is risky and used only by tactical investors who want to short sell their positions. These decisions are driven by predictions derived by investors who wish to time the stock markets and believe they know which way the markets are likely to move on a daily basis. A large number of investors lose money by trying to speculate in this way, while spread betting companies make their money on dealing charges as investors continue to place bets.
Savvy investors invest in the gold market backed by solid research conducted by market analysts. They usually have a clear strategy and know when they want to enter the market, as well as exit. In the absence of a concerted strategy, spread betting is simply a gamble and any trades you make can be impacted by market movements. If you are unable to pull out in time, you will lose your money.
Investing in gold bullion is an excellent choice for investors
Physical Gold
The safest way to buy gold bullion is to buy the physical stuff, expect lower prices for bulk purchases. In doing so, you eliminate counterparty risk and control your own wealth. The added benefit here is that you can purchase tax-free gold including gold Sovereigns or gold Britannias. It does what it says on the tin – it removes any Capital Gains Tax upon sale thereby allowing you to keep all of your growth.
In 2000 – VAT was made exempt to the purchase of physical gold and since then demand for physical gold relative to paper gold has soared.
Unfortunately – physical gold is unregulated so you have to take care when selecting who you purchase your gold from. You need to consider the best place to buy gold bullion, ensuring that the company is BNTA (British Numismatic Trade Association) regulated and has a viable and proven track record.
Some people buy and sell their gold on eBay. This method isn’t hugely recommended as there is no way of proving the authenticity of the gold before you buy it. People often get stung this way.
People also buy directly from the Royal Mint. Their website is excellent and showcases each and every coin immaculately however they tend to be considerably more expensive than gold dealers like us.
As the reliance on technology has increased over the years – people are able to conveniently find reputable companies online that specialise in selling gold. Some of these companies are merely gold sellers and won’t offer you any recommendations or guidance.
How to buy gold bullion to meet your objectives
We are an investment company and therefore have a vested interest in our clients growing their portfolios. We, therefore, take more of a consultative approach with our clients to ensure that they have all the answers before making any decisions. The question “How to buy gold bullion” can be different from investor to investor. We maintain the relationship from when they buy until when they choose to sell. We are also distributors of the Royal Mint and as a result, our prices are far more attractive.
Millions of pounds worth of physical gold is purchased every year, for many different investment purposes. While some investors like to direct their investments toward Gold Mutual Funds or Exchange Traded Funds, many more prefer the investment opportunities that physical gold provides.
Physical gold may be a new concept to a novice investor – unsure of the investment process or unaware as to how to purchase gold, or how to find a reputable dealer. If you’re considering investing in physical gold or buying gold online, read our tips on the do’s and don’ts, before you buy.
Proof coins are special edition coins, struck for collectors and often mounted in a special case. Since these coins are manufactured primarily for collectors, the focus is on their appearance, and not their grade. The coins are made using special dies that have been treated with chemicals and sanded down through industrial processes, in order to smoothen the face of the dies. As a result, when proof coins are produced, they tend to have a frosted look and the design elements stand out, in contrast to the field area. They are not manufactured for circulation and are meant for use solely as collectables. Therefore, their ornamental value is greater than regular gold coins. They are almost always more expensive than their counterparts and sold mainly for their collector’s value. For investment purposes, choose regular gold coins or bars and find a reputable gold dealer when buying gold online.
Don’t buy coins just for historical value
As tempting as owning a piece of history may be, you may end up overpaying if you purchase gold coins just for their historical value (e.g. Gold Sovereigns). Unless you’re a collector or expert in coins, these numismatic coins can be quite confusing. With only certain coins having much historical value, you may end up overpaying, as their value is as a ‘collectible’ and based on various different factors, rather than their gold content. Semi-numismatic coins of 100 years or less provide the best sweet spot between modest premiums and additional growth potential.
Investors should learn the right way to invest in gold before making a purchase
Don’t buy large amounts of fractional coins
There is more value for the investor in purchasing full, one-ounce bullion coins rather than lots of smaller fractional coins. Fractional gold coins are often sold at slightly higher markups than standard one-ounce coins and can be bought as half-ounce, a quarter-ounce and even one-twentieth of an ounce. These smaller fractions are generally included for diversification and divisibility or to make up the value of the desired investment amount.
Leverage is often offered by brokers through accounts known as margin approved trading accounts. When you use leverage to buy gold, it simply means that you are executing a trade larger than the amount of money in your trading account.
Watch a video from our CEO, Daniel Fisher – How to Buy Gold
The deficit is financed by the broker and this works well for the broker since their principal objective is to sell greater volumes of gold. But, here’s the catch. What if gold prices fall to levels well below the prices you paid at the time of the trade? In this scenario, you have not only wiped out your investment but are also stuck with paying the interest on the amount you have borrowed from the broker. By trading in gold this way, you may also be paying additional intermediary commission, as well as possible interest on the money you leveraged to invest in physical gold.
Don’t delay your payment when buying gold
When investing in gold, you should always remember that gold is a commodity and that prices do change, very often. The day you plan to buy physical gold, as opposed to an ETF, you should check the spot price of gold and ensure you make your payment on that day, to ensure you get that amount of gold. Delaying your payment means the price and value of the gold will have changed.
But Do…
When choosing to invest in physical gold or when buying gold online, DO be sure to use a reputable gold dealer, ask about a ‘Buy-Back Guarantee’, decide if you want it delivered or stored and always check your dealer is BNTA registered. If you are buying gold coins for investment, always buy gold bullion, and not numismatic coins. The simple reason for this is that numismatics is for collectors and their prices are decided based on collector’s demand, and not the grade and amount of gold in the coin.
There are many amazing facts about gold. We have produced this fun article to investigate just fifteen of them. We hope you enjoy reading this article and learning about these fascinating facts relating to gold.
1. Experts believe that approximately 80% of the earth’s gold is buried underground
According to a study carried out by Bernard Wood of Macquarie University in Australia, there is so much gold inside the Earth’s core, that if it were all to be mined and deposited on the Earth’s surface, it would be enough to sheath the entire planet with a gold covering that would be one and a half feet deep. Wood compared the composition of the Earth’s crust with that of meteorites with similar compositions. Findings from the study indicate that elements like gold, platinum and nickel were pulled toward the Earth’s iron-rich core millions of years ago when the planetary surface of the Earth had not yet formed and was a liquid mass of molten lava.
Professor Wood has pegged the amount of gold in the Earth’s core to be about 1.6 quadrillion tons! Scientists believe that it was only much later that meteorites from space deposited gold on the Earth’s surface after the complete formation of the planet and that is the gold that we mine today.
2. For every cubic mile of water, there could be 25 tons of gold in the sea
In a recent article published by National Geographic, researchers claim that there could be enough gold under the ocean beds to supply every person on Earth with nine pounds of gold each. This could possibly be an estimated $150 trillion of gold! Currently, a new project called Solwara 1 is being set up in Papua and New Guinea to undertake deep-sea mining operations.
Abu Dhabi boasts of a gold vending machine that delivers gold bars
3. The world’s most expensive gold coin
The 1933 Double Eagle is an American twenty-dollar gold coin that has plenty of controversies that surrounds it. Nearly half a million of these coins were made in 1933, but none were circulated and all the coins were melted down except two. It was later discovered that twenty such coins were stolen and were therefore not melted down. Nine of these were recovered by the United States government and melted. Currently, there are only 13 in existence, out of which ten are with the US government in Fort Knox. Two are with the US National Numismatics Collection. There is only one in existence that is privately held and the collector bought it at an auction in Sotheby’s, New York for the princely sum of $7.59 million, making it the world’s most expensive gold coin.
4. Elvis, the king of rock n roll had a gold plated car
It is believed that rock n roll legend, Elvis Presley owned three cars specially made for him by the Stutz Motor Company. Elvis bought a Stutz Blackhawk on October 9, 1970, becoming the first person to own a Blackhawk. Elvis subsequently purchased Blackhawks manufactured for him by the Stutz Motor Company in 1971, 1972 and 1973. The 1973 model had all the chrome plating replaced with 18-carat gold plating.
5. The chemical symbol for gold
Most of us who have studied high school chemistry are well aware that the chemical symbol for gold is Au. However, not everyone knows that the symbol originates from the Latin word, ‘aurum’, which stands for ‘shining dawn’ in the ancient language. Gold, with atomic number 79, is a noble metal. It has some unusual properties. For example, it does not rust or get discoloured. The precious metal also does not react with air and does not form oxides when it comes into contact with air.
6. Gold can be moulded with bare hands
Pure gold can be bent with bare hands. It is considered to be the most malleable of all metals. Gold can be beaten into thin sheets that are 400 times thinner than a human hair. These sheets are called gold leaf and can are popular with artists who use them for gilding. An ounce of gold is so malleable that it can be beaten into a large sheet that covers an area of 100 square feet.
7. The world’s largest nugget of gold
Two Australians are credited with the discovery of the world’s largest nugget of gold. Christened the ‘Welcome Stranger’, this nugget was huge, measuring 10 by 25 inches until it was melted. Currently, the largest nugget in existence is called the ‘Hand of Faith’, and it was also unearthed in Australia in 1980, and can be seen on display in the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas.
8. The heaviest gold coin
Austria’s Philharmonic is the heaviest gold and weighs 1000 ounces, which is 31.1 kg. This is equivalent to 69 troy pounds. It has a diameter of 15 inches and is listed in the Guinness Book.
9. Gold can be drawn into really thin wires.
As a metal, gold is so ductile that it can be drawn out into a wire that is five-millionths of a meter in width. The wire can be stretched to a distance of 50 miles (80 km).
Gold with 99.9% purity is usually quite soft and malleable
10. South Africa used to once produce 75% of the world’s gold – now produces only 6%
South Africa’s rich gold mining industry that once produced two-thirds of all the gold in the world has now imploded and produces just 6%. One-third of the industry’s 180,000 miners were fired since 2004 and falling international demand and depleted reserves in the major mines have hit the country’s once burgeoning economy with a double whammy.
11. The world’s largest consumption of gold happens in China
China is today the world’s largest consumer of gold, importing close to 975 tonnes annually. In comparison, India imports around 700 to 800 tonnes each year and is the world’s second-largest consumer. It is interesting to note that South Asian jewellery is purer and is made of 22-carat gold.
12. Gold is a disease-modifying drug
Strange as it may seem, gold is considered to be a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). The injections consist of sodium aurothiomalate, which contains gold and is injected into the muscle to reduce the progress of auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They also reduce inflammation. The injection usually starts taking effect three months after it is administered.
13. The world’s first gold coins were minted 5000 years ago
Lydia, now in modern-day Western Turkey is credited with having produced the world’s first gold coins under the reign of King Croesus (561-547 BC). The coins were not made of pure gold, but an alloy of gold and silver was used.
For insight and advice, watch our video “How to buy gold“.
14. There is a vending machine that gives out gold bars!
The world’s first gold vending machine was inaugurated in 2010 and is situated in the lobby of the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. It delivers gold bars to customers who wish to purchase them. The machine is run by a German company called TG Gold Super Market.
15. A 100-kilo Canadian gold coin was stolen from a German museum!
A 100-kilo gold coin called the ‘Big Maple Leaf’, the only one of its kind was minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007. It was stolen from a numismatic exhibition at Bode museum in Berlin in 2017 by thieves who took it away in a wheelbarrow!
In a digitally connected world today, it’s possible to purchase anything online, including real estate, cars, bikes and even gold coins and bars. However, before pulling out your credit card and making an expensive purchase online, you need to be aware of what you’re getting into and ensure that the product you’re buying is legitimate and genuine.
It’s common knowledge that social media-powered marketplaces are great when it comes to buying books, CDs, clothes, shoes and even your groceries. But would you trust an unknown seller behind a wall of anonymity, when buying gold coins or bars worth thousands of pounds? Different sites have varying levels of security and consumer protection.
Ensuring that the product you’re buying is genuine and the seller you’re buying from is legitimate are all important steps in the buying process, when it comes to buying gold online. Remember there are plenty of online scammers waiting to relieve you of your hard earned cash, so ‘buyer beware’ is the all-important mantra.
Social media is becoming increasingly popular with gold sellers
eBay
Perhaps the most popular and frequently visited online marketplace in the world is eBay. Gold coins, bars and jewellery are all available on eBay. The California based ecommerce behemoth takes consumer protection seriously and even has a series of articles on how to buy gold and silver safely on eBay without getting conned. eBay’s money back guarantee protects buyers against fraud when purchases are made using PayPal. Purchases that fall within certain categories are not covered, such as real estate or intangible goods. While there is no mention of gold and silver in this category, it’s best to contact the company if in doubt before making a purchase. It’s important to note that the money back guarantee is valid for purchases only up to a certain amount. Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect yourself, it’s easy to find physical gold on eBay. Just search the ‘coins and paper money’ section and it’s all listed there.
Many online e-commerce sites are popular with numismatists
Other popular social media sites
Many online bullion retailers have listed their pages on popular social media sites like Facebook. Facebook prohibits the sale of bullion on their platform. So, visitors simply use the company pages of these sellers to be redirected to their sites. Facebook also has private groups of sellers and buyers of gold, where buyers can contact sellers. Needless to say, utmost precaution should be exercised when entering into a trade through this route.
Instagram is another popular social media site where buyers can connect with sellers of gold coins and jewellery. Instagram is very visual and it’s important to have high-quality images to attract customers. Images now have a shopping basket tag on Instagram, so buyers can click on it and go to the seller’s e-commerce site. Etsy is another popular social media site where interested parties can buy gold coins and bars. As online selling booms in the coming years, many traditional brick and mortar bullion sellers will turn to the internet to sell.
Do your homework!
However, as discussed earlier, when buying high-value items like gold and silver without physical verification, it’s important to do your research well, vet the seller, check their social media ratings, etc. The greatest advantage of social media sites is that one can check ratings provided by other customers. Pay attention to negative comments posted and understand what the issue is about. Sometimes it may be about packaging or delayed delivery. Or is it about fake products? Is the customer accusing the seller of being a cheat? If so, stay clear of that seller. Many have trust badges and physical verification of the seller conducted by the site itself. All of these are helpful in completing your due diligence. Once you’re done with that, happy hunting for online bargains for physical gold.
Contact the experts at Physical Gold
There are some great deals out there, however, if you’re unsure of what you’re buying, contact us on 020 7060 9992 and our experts will be happy to give you the right advice.
A nest egg is a substantial sum of money that has been saved or invested, usually for a specific purpose. A nest egg is generally earmarked for longer-term financial objectives, the most common being retirement or buying a home.
The actual term itself has been used to refer to savings since the late 17th century and originated from an old poultry farmers’ trick of placing eggs in hens’ nests, to induce them to lay more eggs. As the chickens laid more eggs, this naturally brought the farmers more revenue.
However, you don’t need to be in your 70s to retire. Increasingly, people are retiring early to pursue their passions, travel the world and explore new horizons. However, in order to do all of this, as well as have a safety net in the twilight of your life, your savings will simply not be enough. Rising inflation, greater life expectancy, low-interest rates and a meteoric climb in the costs of living are threatening to erode whatever you have saved up. In order to build a corpus for a comfortable retirement and be able to tick off every item on your bucket list, you require a well-planned, diversified investment strategy that generates good returns and beats inflation.
Building a gold nest egg is a great idea
Savings with zero taxes
For many of you reading this, by now you may have already begun saving into your nest egg and preparing for your retirement, with either a pension or ISA, or a combination of both. If you haven’t done so already, you should consider starting right away. Physical Gold is an alternative, tax-free opportunity of saving for your nest egg, as easily as you would save into an ISA or Pension. But, the added advantage of certain gold and silver coins is that there’s no cap on the amount you can save per year, no lifetime allowance and zero taxes incurred on any gains you make.So worrying about squeezing your annual allowance into the tax year end is a thing of the past.
Protection and insurance of your assets
Physical gold not only helps protect your other assets but in times of uncertainty, can help to insure them by providing balance. History has shown us that in times of economic and political instability, gold has invariably moved up in value. Physical gold is the perfect solution for you if you want to insure your hard-earned wealth, save for your retirement and protect your nest egg from inflation and taxes.
As gold investment experts, we are ideally placed to advise you on how to build your portfolio in order to maximise returns when investing in precious metals, as well as mitigate your risks and protect your capital. Our investment experts can advise you on how to distribute your investments across asset classes – by literally ‘not placing all your eggs in one basket’. We can, therefore, review your investment goals and objectives, not just for you, but your entire family.
The best bit…
More importantly, we take into account when you want to retire, whether you want to leave a legacy and how you wish to plan your estate. Once these milestones and their subsequent timelines are established, we can then advise you on moving a portion of your investments away from riskier stocks and bonds and placing them into safer and stable investments in gold and silver. Our investment experts can guide you on how to plan these investments over time so that you build up a substantial ‘nest egg’ that you can depend on when you hang up your boots.
A golden nest egg
Gold and silver markets have shown great promise in recent times and fared well in response to the volatility of international equity and debt markets, the falling US dollar, uncertainty in Europe due to Brexit, geo-political turmoil in the Middle East and the threat of global terrorism.
These macro events have seen investors shy away from debt and equity markets and seek safer investment options. In particular, the falling US dollar has seen global investors pulling out of their investments in USD and this has renewed interest in gold and silver. The recent uncertainty surrounding the legitimacy and acceptance of cryptocurrencies is yet another factor that has prompted investors to hedge their risks by investing in precious metals. There has been no better time to consider investing in gold and silver and our investment experts can help you do just that.
Build a nest egg with Physical Gold
With options available for almost any investor and any budget, if you want to build a solid nest egg for you & your family’s future, contact www.physicalgold.com today by calling 020 7060 9992.
Live Gold Spot Price in Sterling.
Gold is one of the densest of all metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is also soft and the most malleable and ductile of the elements; an ounce (31.1 grams; gold is weighed in troy ounces) can be beaten out to 187 square feet (about 17 square metres) in extremely thin sheets called gold leaf.
Silver Information
Live Silver Spot Price in Sterling.
Silver (Ag), chemical element, a white lustrous metal valued for its decorative beauty and electrical conductivity. Silver is located in Group 11 (Ib) and Period 5 of the periodic table, between copper (Period 4) and gold (Period 6), and its physical and chemical properties are intermediate between those two metals.
