Wondering How To Buy Gold?
How To Buy Gold- Let’s Count The Ways!
Gold is likely the most talked about, and traded, commodity of all time. For hundreds of years, investors have made and lost fortunes with the yellow metal.
And with gold currently priced near $1,200 an ounce, investors are quick to opine about where the metal is headed. Some say much higher, while others protest much lower.
Of course, we’ve discussed gold prices ad nauseam here at Commodity Trading Research over the years.
But today we’re embarking on a different task regarding the yellow metal…
Let’s discuss how to buy gold depending on your personal situation.
In case you’re unaware, there are a handful of great ways to purchase the metal- each of which has a specific advantage.
Let’s get to it…
Get Your Physical Gold- But Be Careful!
It should come as no surprise that the time-tested way to own gold is to actually acquire the physical metal and store it somewhere safe.
In my opinion, this is the best way for long-term investors to own gold. Not only do you have complete control over your investment, but there’s something reassuring about being able to feel the weight of the metal in your hands.
But you have to be careful…
There are numerous pitfalls and outright scams when it comes to buying physical gold. That’s why I wrote a few articles on the basics of physical gold and silver investing. Be sure to read them here, here, and here.
And that’s not all…
You also have to consider storage costs. Whether you choose a safety deposit box at the bank or a home safe, there are costs involved with owning physical gold.
That brings us to the next best way to own gold- exchange traded funds (ETFs)…
How To Buy Gold ETFs…
Without a doubt, the easiest way to purchase gold is through an ETF.
There are a number of different funds available, but the common aspect among them all is you simply press the “buy” button on your computer screen. There’s no running about town or searching the internet for reputable gold dealers.
Below you’ll find the best gold-based ETFs. To make the list, the product must have an expense ratio below 0.50% and have ample intraday liquidity. For more on the importance of expense ratios, read this article.
- SPDR Gold Trust $GLD — No doubt about it, $GLD is the premiere gold ETF. The fund is backed by physical metal stored in vaults. As a result, gold price fluctuations increase/decrease the fund’s share price along with the net asset value.
Short of buying physical gold, $GLD is the best way for investors to get access to the gold market.
- COMEX Gold Trust $IAU — Here’s a less expensive way to get your portfolio exposed to gold. Like $GLD, $IAU is a physical metal backed fund. But instead of trading north of $100 a share like $GLD, $IAU currently trades below $12 a share. This makes $IAU one of the best ways for small investors to get access to the gold market.
As you can see, my recommended gold ETF list is rather short.
Do some research and you’ll find that while there are certainly other gold ETFs out there, they’re either too illiquid to trade safely or the expense ratio is too high relative to the competition.
Now, before I forget…
This article would be incomplete without mentioning the fact you can use the futures market to trade gold as well. However, futures expose you to a whole new market lingo as well as the need to open a special account. It’s certainly an option, but I see no reason to trade gold futures when you have the products mentioned above.
So there you have it…
There are some twists, turns, and specialized knowledge when it comes to investing in physical gold. But in my opinion, owning physical gold is still the best way to go.
However, thanks to commodity ETFs, investors now have easy access to efficient products that mimic price movements in the gold market.
Until Next Time,
Justin Bennett
Commodity Trading Research
BIO: Justin Bennett is the head commodity research analyst at Commoditytradingresearch.com. With over a decade of real world trading experience, he finds ways for you to consistently profit from movements in commodities and the companies producing them. Sign up for our free reports and commodity newsletter at http://commoditytradingresearch.com/free-sign-up.
Category: Commodities
