As many Americans begin planning for their retirement, many factors are likely weighing heavily on their minds. International conflicts and periods of inflation have defined much of the past decade, and we have seen the economic toll that these geopolitical events can have. Thus, diversification has become an essential part of any retirement planning process.
Why purchasing gold might be more advantageous than other investments like stocks
One asset class that has proven particularly exciting for retirement portfolios is precious metals. With a variety of options to meet each individual’s needs, from gold and silver bars and coins to platinum and palladium, precious metals offer several unique advantages now and in retirement, thanks to their inherent characteristics. Some of these advantages include:
- Reliable store of value: Precious metals have been valuable commodities for thousands of years and will likely remain so for thousands more. There are a host of reasons for this, including the aesthetic appeal of the yellow metal and its place as a symbol of status, but perhaps the most important determinant of gold prices is the scarcity of precious metals. There is a fixed supply of precious metals in the world; gold mining companies can’t simply mint more.
- Hedge against inflation and geopolitical strife: Owning physical gold and other precious metals is also generally considered a good hedge against factors such as inflation and geopolitical strife. Traditional investments like stocks and bonds, and even fiat currencies, are volatile and often tied to a country’s economy. Since the value of precious metals is constant across geographic borders, the price of gold and other precious metals is usually unaffected (and can sometimes even increase) in times of economic and political uncertainty, which is why many investors recommend including gold assets in portfolios as a way to diversify investments.
- Physical ownership: A key defining factor of physical assets such as precious metals is physical ownership. When you purchase gold, silver, platinum, or another precious metal, you aren’t purchasing an IOU; you are purchasing a physical piece of metal that can either be safely stored on your behalf or sent to you for your own safekeeping.
- Inheritability: Because you can hold physical gold in your hands, it is generally considered an easily inheritable asset. Gold, silver, and other precious metals can be included in one’s will or trust to ensure their financial legacy is passed down to their loved ones as seamlessly as possible.
- Liquidity: Another great aspect of precious metals ownership is the liquidity of physical assets. Because gold and other precious metals are not reliant on any one bank or central entity, they can be sold essentially any time there is an interested buyer. You don’t have to worry about waiting for markets or banks to be open like you would with stocks or bonds to buy and sell your gold.
- Low barrier to entry: One advantage of gold and precious metals over other physical asset classes is their low barrier to entry. Gold bullion and other precious metals are sometimes sold in coins with denominations as low as one troy ounce. This makes precious metals much more accessible to the average purchaser than, for example, real estate, which might require an upfront buy-in of thousands of dollars or more.
How to buy gold and other precious metals as part of your retirement planning
However, as exciting as buying gold may sound to those planning their retirement accounts, the process can be a bit overwhelming to the inexperienced. You may have questions like, “What type of precious metal should I buy? Gold or silver?” “How much precious metal should I buy?” or “Should I buy gold bars, coins, or another form of precious metals?”
Thankfully, there are companies out there that can help inexperienced purchasers navigate the exciting world of buying physical gold. Merchant Gold Group, a precious metals and gold dealer specializing in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products, was founded with the mission of helping Americans protect their wealth through tangible, secure investments in precious metals. To this end, they offer a free information guide to anyone interested in learning more about how to secure their retirement by adding precious metals to their portfolio.
However, Merchant Gold Group’s support does not stop there. If you call Merchant Gold Group, you are not talking to someone in a call center who is simply reading a sales script; you are talking to a precious metals expert whose goal is not merely to sell you a product, but to help walk you through the process, answer your questions, and ensure a smooth, secure transaction that actually benefits you.
Planning your retirement with a gold IRA backed by physical precious metal commodities
In addition to selling gold coins and bars and other precious metals, Merchant Gold Group also offers a precious metals IRA backed by real, physical gold and silver. This product offers the tax benefits of an IRA combined with the tangible benefits of owning physical precious metals, making it an excellent opportunity for those looking to diversify their retirement portfolios.
If you are looking to diversify your portfolio for retirement by purchasing physical gold, silver, or other precious metals, contact Merchant Gold Group for your free information guide today. This might be your first step toward a financial future with greater liquidity, ownership, and resistance to inflation.