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Hello, dear TGFers, Before anything else, I will tell you that's one of the most important posts you would read here on Top Gold Forum. Please do not ignore it. You will thank me in a couple of months. If you are a regular TGFers you know that since 2020 we are preparing ourselves, as a community, to face the global financial crisis which is already here. I've managed to do well in the '08 crisis and also learned a lot of things that helped me see the upcoming crisis and prepare accordingly. So without further ado, I'm going to list 10 things I suggest you doing it to stay safe and why not, make a profit, in these troubling times. 1. Make sure you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. That's the most important piece of advice I can offer you and you should not take it lightly. It's important to make sure that you and your family, your close friends and your loved ones take care of their health and safety. 2. Take care of your expenses and reduce the non-essentials. If you haven't done it already you should have a close look at your monthly expenses and cut the things that are no longer essential. I did this in 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic and I was shocked to see how much money I was spending on things that I could easily cut or reduce. Just to give you some examples: Subscriptions to online tools and services I barely used. Also, I could downgrade my mobile phone payment by around 60% by switching to a smaller plan and the TV subscription with around 30%. So take a look sharply at your monthly bills and start ASAP reducing or cutting what is not essential. 3. Lower your debt or try to remain debt-free. This is important. As the interest rates are rising a lot you'll pay much more for your loans. Also, the banks and lending companies will become ruthless in getting their money back. That's why you need to lower your debt as much as possible and make sure you are paying the loans on time. If you are or you can easily become debt-free would be awesome. Take a look at the following 10 websites that can help you put your personal finances in order. 4. Make sure you're not easily replaceable. This applies to you even if you're employed or a freelancer. During a financial crisis, many companies reduce their working force and the first ones that get laid off are persons that are not essential to the business. So ensure that you bring value to your employer or to the businesses you are working with. Become better, learn new things, and automate as much as possible of your work to have competitive rates. 5. Have 6-8 months of expenses covered. Just in case you get laid off or you simply do not get any more work as a freelancer you should have AT LEAST 6-8 months of expenses for your family covered. I recommend even having 12 months of expenses covered. I know this sounds too much but remember that we don't know how tough the crisis will be. Keep some of your savings in hard cash just in case the banks are going to limit the withdrawals. It's not SCI-FI, it happened before in the 08 crisis in Greece and Cyprus. 6. If you plan to sell anything, do it now. If you plan to sell your house, your car, or some assets you own, I recommend doing it ASAP. That's because soon there wouldn't be so much money in the markets and the interest rates will go up so people will be reluctant to purchase things that are not essential or are overpriced now. 7. Educate yourself - Learn new skills In the 4th point of this list, I've told you to ensure you're not easily replaceable. What I want to emphasize here is that in a recession companies look for ways to cut their costs. And one thing to do is through automation. Besides automation, there are new industries that rise now like blockchain, web3, digital healthcare, electric cars, etc. So don't be afraid to reinvent yourself for the jobs and opportunities of the upcoming years. 8. Develop multiple income streams (side hustles, money-making opportunities, etc) Having multiple income streams ensures you that will still make money even if lose your primary job or income opportunity. In times of financial crisis relying on only one income stream is risky. You may lose your job, your stock investment may plunge in value, etc., so make sure you have a couple of income streams that are in diverse industries. I recommend checking the money-making opportunities here in TGF and choosing one or two that fit your skills and your risk profile. 9. Keep your eyes wide open for opportunities A financial crisis it's not only about hard times but also about opportunities. Netflix, Airbnb, Uber, and a couple of highly successful companies of today were started in the 08 crisis. On top of that the stock, commodities, and other assets were at good discounts. As Buffet says "be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful". In a financial crisis, most people are fearful and sell their assets at great discounts. That's the time when you can get them at a fraction of their true value. Before moving forward I feel I should warn you that not all assets that look to be on discount they actually are. Some of them simply are so low because that's their value and will not go back up. Learn about value investing to understand where the value is and where isn't. 10. Pay attention to SCAMs The last piece of advice that I want to share with you is to pay attention to SCAMs. That's because in troubling economic times the criminality rises sharply and there are many that want to get rich by stealing others' hard-earned money. So research everything, and don't fall for promises that are too good to be true. 11. (Bonus) Have a plan It's mandatory to have a plan and stick to it if you want to be well in these troubling times. If you don't have one you will be easily distracted by the news or the events that rise. As long as you have your plan you can adjust it easily but make sure you do everything in your power to reach your goals. Conclusion And there you have it: 10 things + bonus that you should do to do well in the following financial crisis. To recap, this is what you should do to prepare yourself: Take care of yourself and the health and security of your loved ones; Cut or reduce your debt and your expenses that are not essential; Have money aside in case you get laid off and for investments and opportunities that arise; Learn new skills, and become better at what you do; Develop multiple income streams; Pay attention and do not fall for SCAMS; Have a plan! Even if you have not prepared yet, it's not really too late if you start taking action now. What about you? Are you prepared? What actions would you take to be safe in these troubling economic times? Let me know by posting in this forum and let's all learn and prepare

Table of Contents 1 Glossary 2 Why Buy Gold & Silver 3 Before You Buy Gold Or Silver 4 Where To Buy Gold & Silver 5 What kind of Gold & Silver To Buy 6 Storage of physical gold 7 Non-Physical GOLD You can purchase 8 Your exit plan Recent economic and monetary developments have increased interest in safe-haven assets. Precious metals (Gold and Silver) have historically thrived in uncertain times like these. The current financial crisis has been no exception, with metals rising hundreds of percent over the past ten years. If you are interested in Gold and Silver, this guide should be a handy introduction to the metals. It was written with the beginner in mind to provide the basic knowledge on how and where to purchase bullion, what types to buy, and ensure you are comfortable making your first purchase. Whether through an online dealer, over the counter from a store, or a private transaction with another individual. For some of us, the information in this guide is just a reminder. Still, hopefully, there is enough content here to benefit intermediate and expert Gold/Silver buyers and beginners. To help get you started with the guide, here are some terms that you might not yet be familiar with but maybe litter through the guide: Glossary Gold: A precious yellow metal (Au, chemical element) Silver: A silver-white lustrous precious metal (Ag, chemical element) Bullion: A term that can be used to describe a precious metal in investment form (e.g., a bullion bar could be either Gold/Silver) Spot Price: The market dictated the 'base price of Gold or Silver Dealer Premium: The percentage markup charged by the dealer over the spot price .xxx Fine: Purity of Gold/Silver (measured as a fraction of the total) AGW/ASW: Actual Gold/Silver Weight signifies Gold/Silver content (Troy Ounces) in a coin or bar less than a .999 fine. Troy Ounce: Common unit of measurement for Gold/Silver (31.103 grams) Why Buy Gold & Silver This guide was written to direct readers on how and what to buy rather than why. However, it is prudent to include a small section on why to buy as this may dictate the way and what you believe. Some people are buying Gold as money, somewhere to store their wealth as central banks destroy it through excessive money printing (keep their wealth safe from inflationary forces). Others buy as insurance, a hard asset that can be exchanged in the case of a complete financial meltdown (to keep their wealth safe from deflationary forces). Some see that Gold and Silver are cyclical and are trying to time the move from buying when undervalued to selling as they move to overvalued (essentially a medium/long-term trade). Some buy due to the unstable political, financial, and economic environment, seeing that the metals have previously thrived in such situations. Gold Prices - 100-Year Historical Chart None of these reasons are necessarily wrong. Some may buy to protect against multiple situations, or their specific location may dictate which is appropriate based on likely outcomes. Gold and Silver both have rich histories of use as money. The perfect money should have the following attributes: Durable (not easy to destroy) Acceptable (something that other individuals will take) Portable (ability to carry wealth easily) Divisible (able to be split without destroying value) Homogeneous (consistent) Identifiable (easily recognized/measured) Retain value (rare/scarce) Gold has all the above attributed and Silver most as well (could argue that at current low prices, Silver isn't very portable). It's no wonder that Gold and Silver have remained the people's choice as money for thousands of years. Open your wallet and take a look at the plastic notes inside. What gives this currency any value to be exchanged for goods? Can you come up with a reasonable answer? I suggest 'confidence' and nothing more gives this currency any value. While the general public is confident that their currency has value, you can exchange it for goods (and to a degree, this reflects the public's confidence in the central bank or government to do right by the money supply). Confidence in fiat currencies is slowly faltering as people wake up to the reality that central banks and governments are destroying the value of their savings through bailouts and money printing to try to avert our current debt crisis. Eventually, we will reach the 'knee of the curve' or inflection point where the vote of nonconfidence in fiat currencies accelerates, but to what end? There is the possibility that governments restore faith in fiat currencies before they are ultimately rejected. In the 1980s, they did this by jacking up the interest rates to control inflation and restoring a fair cost to borrow money above the inflation rate. I recently heard a story that went something like this: This truly does reflect the way people think and act. Whether we would like to admit it or not, humans (as a group) have a herd mentality, just like sheep. You can be significantly better off if you act ahead of the majority. If the shift toward hard assets and sound money in Gold or Silver continues, working ahead of the herd can greatly reward those early to the scene. Jim Rickards was even recently quoted as saying that less than 1% moving in a specific direction could set the trend given the fragile nature of our markets: I don't think that he is wrong. At the same time, we must be cautious as the bull market and wealth shifts into Gold and Silver are already around ten years old. Over the past 100 years, the wealth shift from stocks into Gold and Silver, as measured by the Dow to Gold ratio, has only lasted around 13-14 years, as recently pointed out on Pragmatic Capitalism: Given the nature of the current crisis, it could be "different this time," especially if we return to sound money that somehow includes the metals, for example, a return to a Gold backed currency which is improbable, or inclusion of Gold in a new global monetary system such as the proposed SDR (basket of currencies) could result in a more permanent revaluation of the metals. The above has only started to scratch the surface of why you might want to buy Gold and Silver. Hopefully, it kicks your mind into gear and gets you thinking like current Gold and Silver buyers. From there, you can start researching and decide why you buy the metals. Before You Buy Gold Or Silver There are a couple of things you should take into consideration before you decide to buy GOLD or Silver. Let's review them: Tax on Gold and Silver Before making any investment purchase, you should consider the tax implications of buying and selling the asset. GST (Goods & Services Tax) Investment grade Gold (99.5%+ Fine) and Silver (99.9%+ Fine) bullion is not subject to GST. Bullion products of a lesser grade (for example, 22k Gold coins like Sovereigns & Kruggerands or 92.5% sterling Silver coins) attract GST when a bullion dealer sells. You can avoid this additional premium by buying affected products privately, where GST does not need to be charged. Numismatic coins are not considered 'investment grade,' so they will also attract GST even though they might have the required finesse. CGT (Capital Gains Tax) CGT applies to capital gains made from Gold and Silver. This is from the ATO: A capital gain - or capital loss - is the difference between what it costs to get an asset and what you receive when you dispose of it. You pay tax on your capital gains. It's not a separate tax, just part of your income tax, although it is generally referred to as capital gains tax (CGT). ATO.gov.au For example, if you buy an ounce of Gold for $1900 and sell it for $2800, then you will be liable to pay income tax on the $900 profit (there are exceptions, such as if you've held the asset for 12 months then you only pay tax on half the gain). Consult your accountant to see how CGT might affect your investment in Gold and Silver. Tax Changes Tax rules could change throughout the bull market (after you have purchased Gold and Silver or related investments). A few commentators have suggested this is how the metals will be confiscated from the people via a windfall tax (rather than direct confiscation, they will tax precious metal investors a much higher percentage on their gains once they sell). This is something to keep in mind. The Greens also suggested that Gold miners should be included in the MRRT (Minerals Resource Rent Tax), which has the potential to impact their profitability (and, in turn, share price if you hold any Australian Gold miners). Spot Price / Physical Premiums The spot price of Gold and Silver is derived from active intraday trading that occurs on multiple markets across the world. Generally, the largest moves happen in the most established markets during US and London trading hours. Consider the spot price as a base rate for the metal. When you buy retail-sized bullion bars and coins, you will pay a premium to the spot price. This premium covers the cost of production and distribution. Generally speaking, the smaller the product you buy, the larger the premium will be (as a % of the products underlying spot value). If the spot was at $30, then a 1oz Silver round might set you back $34.50 (15% premium to spot price), whereas a 10oz Silver bar might cost $315 ($31.50 per oz, 5% premium to spot price), a lower premium than the coin. Depending on the product, the premium may hold or even rise if sought after (e.g., if it has a limited mintage). It's a good idea to keep a mix of larger bullion (to stack as many ounces as you can for as little as possible) and smaller bullion (for liquidity purposes and to take advantage of limited mintage bullion coins, which can rise in value), I talk more about what to buy later in the guide. Australian Price of Gold and Silver In Australia, you will pay a different price to our American counterparts as the local price is a derivative of the US spot price and AUD/USD exchange rate. For this reason, Gold and Silver purchased locally is a play on the US spot price of the metal and a currency play (what the AUD will do relative to the USD). This has resulted in some fascinating local dynamics; for example, the price of Gold in Australia didn't fall by nearly as much as the US price in the middle of the GFC (2008) as the falling AUD held up the price. To determine the AUD price of Gold, we divide the US spot price by the AUD/USD exchange rate. So, for example, at the time of writing this post, we have a US spot price of US$1680 and an AUD/USD exchange rate of .9714: US$1680 / .9714 = AUD$1729 Of course, there is no need to manually calculate the price this way whenever you want to check the local price, as some websites display the spot price of Gold and Silver in AUD. It's essential to understand this pricing. Many suggest the US will enter hyperinflation and Gold/Silver will go to the moon. If this were to happen, it wouldn't necessarily reflect in astronomical prices here as we could see our dollar appreciate against the USD. If we have a second credit crisis like that seen in 2008 and the USD strengthens (against the AUD) along with Gold (as opposed to the fall it saw in 2008), the local price of Gold could soar much higher than the US price. Hopefully, this gives you a basic understanding of how the AUD price of Gold and Silver works. ID Requirements When Buying Gold or Silver When you make a bullion purchase (either in person or online), you may be required to provide identification. Depending on the purchase size, the business you buy from may be required by law to view a particular ID, or it may simply be an in-house rule. Under the Anti Money Laundering / Counter Terrorism Financing legislation, customer identification procedures must be followed for specific transactions by designated service providers. This means that when a bullion dealer provides you with $5000 or more worth of bullion, they are legally required to take appropriate identification from the buyer. Furthermore, where a $10,000 or more transaction is made with cash (e.g., for the purchase of bullion), the dealer must lodge a significant cash transaction report to AUSTRAC (for Australia). As these laws aren't specific enough to cover every type of transaction that might occur, some dealers may interpret the legislation slightly differently (hence different requirements between dealers). Some dealers even ask for ID (even if not required by law) on transactions less than $5000. It would be best to familiarize yourself with the identification procedures that the dealer you buy from adheres to. If they don't have the information readily available on their website or in-store, ask before handing over your cash. In general, if you keep your transactions to less than $5000 and purchase infrequently, you should be able to build a position in Gold and Silver without an accompanying paper trail. Buying/selling privately can also result in the same. Postage of Gold and Silver I thought a section covering postage of bullion items would be prudent to include. Importantly it should be noted that AUSTRALIA POST DOES NOT INSURE BULLION. That is the case even if you have purchased insurance for the package. The terms and conditions on their Express/Platinum/Registered services exclude bullion. If you are sending valuable items, Express Post Platinum offers additional peace of mind with automatic compensation of up to $100 should loss or damage occurs. If your item exceeds $100 in value, you can purchase Extra Cover up to a limit of $5,000 from your local postal outlet. Extra Cover does not apply to bank notes, bullion, or negotiable securities. Australia Post This poses a significant risk when buying from either dealers or privately when their postage method is via Australia Post. I have heard it suggested that some insure their packages as "metal parts" or something else rather than specifying it's bullion to cover themselves if it goes missing. It's not a strategy I would recommend relying on. Some dealers post via other couriers who can ensure the product or claim to self-insure when sending via Australia Post. Be sure to have an understanding with the Gold/Silver seller (whether private individual or dealer) before making a purchase, and know and understand their policy on what happens if they are sending via an uninsured method and the package goes missing. Buying From Overseas Purchasing Gold and Silver from overseas definitely has its risks. Still, with premiums in the United States and elsewhere sometimes much lower than locally, it can be worth importing Gold and Silver if doing so in large enough quantities. Most products, when imported, will incur customs duty/GST if they are over AUD$1000 in value. Investment-grade bullion shouldn't be subject to GST. However, some courier services do not recognize this, and you may have a fight on your hands to get the bullion through without paying the tax and then applying later for a refund. Future reading: Investing in Gold - Pros and Cons Where To Buy Gold & Silver Online Dealers There are now many online dealers available to purchase bullion from in Australia. The last couple of years have seen many new stores spring up, and no doubt, as more investors turn to precious metals, this number will only increase. Pricing has become highly competitive amongst online dealers cutting to excellent margins and relying on volume/turnover to make up for the lower profits. I suggest finding a dealer who can be recommended by the bullion-buying community (e.g., search or ask for feedback on dealers at SilverStackers.com). I have purchased from and can recommend Bullion Money. I have also purchased from the below online dealers and can recommend their services (fast delivery, good communication): Gold Stackers Bullion Bourse Aurora Et Luna Some online dealers also have a walk-in office or store (Bullion Money now does). Don't let the fact that some dealers don't have a walk-in store deter you. Many of them have established long-lasting relationships with their customers and can be trusted (but please do your reading, especially on any newly established stores). Direct From Perth Mint Gold and Silver bullion can be purchased from the Perth Mint in several ways. You can walk in and buy it across the counter, place orders over the phone, or buy via their online portal (Perth Mint Bullion). The most significant criticism of Perth Mint is its cost. Most dealers undercut Perth Mint with their products by buying in bulk at wholesale prices and selling for less than Perth Mint sells to the public. Furthermore, Perth Mint's shipping/insurance costs are pretty substantial (costs listed here). That said, you aren't going to find a more secure business to purchase your bullion through, given that they have the backing of the Western Australian Government. Suppose a dealer goes bankrupt while holding your funds for an online order (not likely, but you can't rule out the possibility). In that case, you will likely become an unsecured creditor chasing the funds from the administrators. No such event could occur when buying through the Perth Mint. It would be best to determine whether the additional security is worth the extra cost. eBay & Auction Sites From my observations, eBay rarely provides a good platform for buying bullion. The excessive eBay and PayPal fees mean dealers can't remain competitive, given the low margin % on bullion sales. Where a dealer sells bullion on eBay, you can often visit their external online store for much better prices. Along with legitimate bullion, eBay allows many fake/plated items to be sold. Some of these products are clearly labeled (for example, items listed as mills or plated), while others (such as fake Chinese Bullion Panda coins) are not marked and are sold as legitimate products when they are fake. Sometimes bargains come up on eBay; for example, less well-known coins will sometimes go for very close to or even under the spot. As I mentioned on the blog, I even picked up some PAMP 1 Kilo bars for undermark when a dealer started dumping them en masse over a few nights. However, these finds are the exception, not the rule, so avoid eBay, but consider scouring it for good deals once you are more confident about prices you should be paying for specific products and can tell real from fake. Although I only specify eBay above, the same is also relevant to most online auction sites. Walk-in Store/Office There are many bullion dealers all over Australia. At least several in each capital city. The benefits include walking in and talking to someone face to face about your purchase, more easily asking questions, seeing what you are purchasing, and in most cases, walking away with the product in hand once you've paid for it. A bullion dealer who runs a shopfront will likely have larger overheads than an online store; this may reflect in the pricing of their bullion (e.g., in some cases, you would pay more in a walk-in store than via an online purchase). There is a list of Australian bullion dealers on this site, which may come in handy (unsure of how current the list is) to help you find a nearby store. Privately (From Individuals) Buying and selling Gold and Silver privately is easy. Silver Stackers is a forum where a predominant percentage of the user base is Australian, and they have a trading section expressly set up for facilitating transactions between individuals. Public and private forums provide more privacy if you only want registered members of the forum to see the items you have posted for sale. Trade feedback gives you a history of member transactions to decide better which members you feel comfortable transacting with. Extra care should be taken when purchasing metals privately. When signing up on Silver Stackers or any other site, ensure you are careful about your username; for example, I wouldn't recommend signing up with your real name (make up a handle/nickname). Also, ensure you leave the hide email address option default (hidden), especially if you are signing up with an email that contains your real name. If meeting face-to-face for a private transaction, I would suggest doing so in a public/high-traffic space where a discreet transaction can be made. For example, a Cafe/Pub table might be suitable for facilitating trade. If you buy from someone privately and in public, then you probably have little recourse if what you buy is fake, so be careful who you choose to deal with and ensure that you are confident what you are buying is the real deal. What kind of Gold & Silver To Buy Bars & Ingots Gold and Silver When looking at Gold or Silver bars and ingots, you often choose between cast or minted bars. Cast bars where the metal is poured in liquid form (after being heated) into a mold. Generally, these bars will appear less refined and may have uneven surfaces. Minted bars are pressed in a machine with minting dies onto 'blanks.' Visually they are more attractive, and some manufacturers add an extra level of security by putting minted bars in plastic security cards. A premium is paid for minted bars. Whether it's worth the premium is something that you will have to decide for yourself, but I believe the security cards that Perth Mint and PAMP put some of their minted bars in are a welcome addition and will make it easier to sell them when it comes time to do so. Gold Gold bars and ingots come in many shapes and sizes. There are many different hallmarks and brands. Where possible, you are best sticking with those easily recognized in Australia; for example, brands such as Perth Mint, ABC, PAMP, or Ainslie are well-known and widely accepted. To provide maximum liquidity, buying bars and ingots that are 2oz or less would be worth aiming for 10g to 1/2oz, where you can get them for a reasonable premium. If Gold heads to $3000 an ounce, you have to ask how many people would have more than $6000 (2oz) to spend in one go to purchase it from you. A larger bar limits your stack's liquidity if you intend to sell privately (the liquidity risk of larger bars is smaller if you want to sell back to a dealer). Silver As well as cast/minted bars, a recent addition to the famous Silver bar lineup has been a CNC Milled bar. These bars have grooves cut out of them with a particular machine, and in the case of the 'stacker' series bars (of which there are multiple branding), they can be stacked in an interlocked format, one on top of the other. Once again, I would try and stick to the well-known brands and formats to ensure they are quickly sold when the time comes. I would stick with 1kg Silver bars or smaller ones to provide maximum liquidity. 10oz Silver bars are trendy and can be purchased for only a small premium to the spot price. Although 100oz bars and larger can be purchased for smaller premiums, if we were to see Silver head to $100 an ounce, you are left trying to shift a single bar worth $10,000. Coins & Rounds Sovereigns (Gold) Sovereigns and half Sovereign coins are popular with Gold investors. Sovereigns are a 22k Gold coin (.916 Fine). A full sovereign has a .2354 AGW, and the half sovereign contains a .1177 AGW. Being so close to a 1/4 Troy Ounce of Gold makes the Sovereign a handy coin for trading. Some less common years command a higher premium, but generally, Sovereigns will be sold for around 12% over the spot price of the Gold. Sovereigns are sometimes copied by jewelers, in which case they would typically have an additional hallmark to indicate that this is the case. Some jeweler's copies will be less fine (at 18k rather than 22k), so you are best to stick with the original coins where possible. You can read more about Gold Sovereigns here. Uncirculated Coins (Gold & Silver) Government-minted coins are generally more expensive than generically minted rounds (as described below). Coins are produced in government-owned mints and usually have a face value (and legal tender status). Bullion coins include the Perth Mint Kookaburra and Lunar coins, the United States Gold & Silver Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Chinese Panda. Some of these coins are relatively low in mintage so they can achieve a high premium once no longer available from their source (mint or official distributors). Circulated Coins (Silver) When I say circulated, I refer to coins that either were or are circulated as legal tender in Australia and contain Silver. Such coins include the 1966 Round 50 cent piece and older predecimal coins such as florins, shillings & crowns. These coins all have different Silver content, which can even change depending on the year; For example, predecimal until 1946 was coined in Sterling Silver (92.5%), but the following were only 50% Silver. The 1966 Round 50 cent piece is 80% Silver. Silver in this form is inexpensive and should be purchased for a spot or only a few % higher. Given the small content of Silver in each coin, these coins would become very practical if the need ever arose for transactional-size bullion. Rounds (Gold & Silver) Bullion rounds are similar to bullion coins, except a government mint does not issue them as legal tender. Popular Silver rounds include Buffalos & Scottsdale Omnia rounds. Stick to common/well-known coins to avoid difficulty in selling. Many different obscure generic round designs might be attractive to you but more difficult to sell later. Numismatics Suppose you are buying numismatic coins at a significant premium to Gold/Silver. In that case, you are speculating on the demand for the coin rather than on the underlying value of the metal. If you are specifically buying Gold and Silver to take advantage of the rise in spot prices, then you are best-avoiding numismatics. However, some new release bullion coins are minted in limited quantities providing an opportunity to buy them at bullion prices and holding the potential they will achieve a numismatic premium later down the track. This premium can take years to develop, or like the recently released Perth Mint 2012 Lunar Dragon, the premiums can develop practically overnight once sold out at the mint. In my opinion, you are better off paying a little extra for the Perth Mint limited mintage 1oz bullion coins (particularly in Australia where Perth Mint coins are highly sought after) rather than American Silver Eagles, Maples, and other unlimited (or high limit) mintage coins & rounds. Examples of bullion coins that can achieve a numismatic premium down the track are the Perth Mint Lunar Series, the Kookaburra Series, and the Koala Series. Make sure you do your research, as generally; only some sizes will have a limited mintage making the demand for these specific coins somewhat larger. Jewelry Jewelry made out of Gold and Silver is one way of gaining exposure to the metals if you can buy it reasonably (note that most jewelry retailers will sell at a considerable premium, so generally should be avoided). However, it is not as quickly checked for authenticity (for example, unlike coins, no universal size/weight can be checked against). When selling jewelry back to a jeweler or gold buyer, you would expect to receive less than the spot price in most cases. One perceived benefit of holding Gold/Silver jewelry is that they would likely be excluded if governments ever confiscated the metals. However, in my opinion, unless you have the appropriate resources to test the pieces you buy thoroughly, the risks far outweigh the potential benefits. What not to buy Unfortunately, many items sold (particularly on auction sites like eBay) are not real Gold/Silver and should be avoided at all costs. Some examples include: German (Nickel) Silver: This copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc. 100 Mills/Mils: Refers to a Silver (or Gold) plated product. While the very thin exterior layer *might* be real Silver or Gold, the inside will be something else (usually copper). HGE Gold: Stands for Heavy Gold Electroplate and consists of a base metal plated in Gold. Gold Flakes: Often sold in vials, this alloy is unlikely to contain significant amounts of (if ANY) real Gold. Columbium (Niobium) / Molybdenum Bullion: Other metals may be manufactured into bars and coins and sold as a "precious" metal, but ultimately they are of little value to the investor. Other keywords to look out for when avoiding products that are likely fake and contain little or no real Gold/Silver: Copy, Replica, Plated, Layered. The easiest way to avoid fake, replicas, or otherwise worthless metals is to buy from a reputable source (such as a well-known and respected dealer). Further reading: Top 10 Dangerous Mistakes When Investing in Gold What Mix Is Best The three largest factors that weigh in on what you should buy are liquidity, recognition, and premium. Some questions you might need to ask yourself would be: Liquidity: How much will each piece be worth at my target sale price, and will a buyer be easily found? Recognition: Will a buyer easily recognize the brand of bullion that I've purchased? Premium: When reselling what I've paid for each item, will I get the premium back? For example, suppose you have a million dollars to sink into physical Gold/Silver and intend on selling back to a dealer. In that case, you won't want to be messing around with predecimal coins, and likely the best solution would be to stick with large, widely recognized/accepted bars, such as 10oz to 1 Kilo Gold bars and 1000oz Silver bars. Those of us with a smaller bankroll who intend on selling Gold and Silver privately will need to find a balance of smaller products that will be more easily sold. A reasonably balanced stack with a mix of low premium and quickly sold & recognized products might look like this (example only, not advice): $20,000 spent Gold Spot Price: AUD: $1595 Silver Spot Price: AUD: $29.25 Gold $3290 - 2 x 1oz Perth Mint CertiCard bars ($1645 each) $4200 - 10 x Sovereigns (.2354oz, $420 each) $5450 - 10 x 10g Perth Mint CertiCard bars ($545 each) $1425 - 5 x 5g PAMP CertiCard bars = ($285 each) Total Gold: $14,365 (72.5% of spend) Silver $2124 - 60 x Perth Mint 1oz Silver Koala ($35.40 each) $3350 - 10 x Perth Mint 10oz Silver bars ($335 each) Total Silver: $5,474 (27.5% of spend) Grand Total: $19,839 The above is based on today's spot price and premiums from a dealer, but it gives you an idea of what a well-recognized and easily liquidated stack looks like with a mixture of low and higher-premium products. Depending on your outlook for Gold or Silver, you might more heavily weigh your buying in one direction. Storage of Physical Gold You will need somewhere safe to store any physical Gold and Silver you purchase. Your situation may limit your options (e.g., renting/buying, house/unit). Here are the main options: Safety Deposit Box These are provided by some banks and private companies (for example, Guardian Vaults in Melbourne). They provide an offsite storage option, usually with an establishment fee and ongoing monthly fees. Pros: Generally safer than home storage. Cons: If Gold is confiscated, you may get locked out & forced to hand over your Gold. Banking holidays could restrict access in case of urgent need. Allocation Gold is owned outright by an investor and stored under a safekeeping or custody arrangement in a bullion vault. It is the property of the investor. Some dealers offer this as a free service to their customers. Make sure you read the fine print on any arrangement. Pros: Potentially a cheaper storage option for the small-time stacker who doesn't want to pay for a safety deposit box. Cons: At the mercy of the dealer to access. Home Installed Safe If you own your own home (or have permission from your landlord), you could install a safe. A safe will set you back anywhere from $100 to $ 1000's. Depending on the size/weight, it may need to be bolted to the floor, or if large/heavy enough, some are free-standing. Pros: Easily accessed. Cons: If someone knows you have a safe, they could threaten you with a weapon to get it open. Depending on the model, it might be cracked or removed in a break-in. Fire risk (depending on the safe rating). Buried Some choose to hide their physical metals. This may be inside the home in obscure locations. A burglar could guess the problem with this being any hiding spots you can think of. Others hide the metals underground, digging a hole to bury them. Pros: Probably the safest way of home storage. No risk of fire damage. Cons: They might never be found without telling anyone and meeting an unexpected end. Insurance You should consider insuring your bullion if you keep it at home or in a safety deposit box. Safety deposit box providers won't always provide insurance for their boxes by default, so see what is provided and organize it externally where required. Environment It would be best to store physical metals in a clean, dry location with a constantly moderate temperature (especially for Silver which can tarnish). Non-Physical GOLD You can purchase While this guide was written with the physical buyer of Gold and Silver in mind, I am not oblivious to the alternatives (I have used some of them myself short term at times), and it's a good idea to consider these when looking at exposure to Gold and Silver. Depending on your particular circumstances & reasons for investing in Gold, exposure to the price of Gold or Silver via external storage with a company or in electronic form may be more convenient and safer. Below is a brief description of some alternatives to physical metals: ASX Listed AUD Gold/Silver Alternatives PMGOLD: The Perth Mint security listed on the ASX is PMGOLD. You can read more about the product here. It can be redeemed for physical Gold, but ideally, it is suited to traders who want exposure to the price of AUD Gold or those who don't want the hassle of buying, storing, and then selling physical. There is a low management fee; ensure you read the PDS and are comfortable with the costs, terms, and conditions. GOLD: The other AUD Gold proxy on the ASX is GOLD. You can view the fact sheet and more information about this product here. ETPMAG: This is the Silver equivalent of the above-listed GOLD; it tracks the AUD price of Silver. Further information is here. ASX Listed USD Gold Alternative QAU: This security hedges the AUD/USD exchange rate to expose Australians to the movements of the USD price of Gold. I like the idea of this product (although I haven't yet used it myself). The US price of Gold has outperformed the AUD price of Gold over the past ten years; this product allows exposure to US$ Gold price movements without the difficulty of hedging the A$ exposure yourself. Allocated and Unallocated Accounts I'm not going to go into detail on either of these products. Terms, conditions, and your rights will vary between Allocated or Unallocated accounts providers. Generally speaking, an allocated account would be where the service provider stores Gold or Silver on your behalf in their vault. The bars should be set aside and not leased or changed; they should operate simply as a storage facility. Unallocated accounts are where you have a claim to Gold, but it is not explicitly set aside. It might be leased/loaned out (depending on the company providing, Perth Mint doesn't do this). Idoesn'tompany providing the service goes into administration, you may become an unsecured creditor. I would steer clear of unallocated accounts personally. If you open an allocated account, ensure it is with a reputable business and familiarise yourself with its product offering. You can learn more about Perth Mint depository programs here. Other Forms of "Electronic Gold/Silver" Several other for"s of Gold or Silver can be purchased and stored in an online account. For example, Digital Gold Currencies, such as Bullion Vault or GoldMoney, were founded by well-known industry player James Turk. Many of these digital Gold or Silver accounts are reputable. Still, they do not hedge the A$ currency exposure, so from an Australian perspective (which this guide is about), you are probably best to stick with the ASX-listed products or go with physical. Gold Money does allow you to trade in AUD. However, Bullion Vault only allows trade in EUR, GBP, or USD. Mining Companies Mining companies are more speculative than holding physical metal. Still, they are potentially highly leveraged to a rising Gold price which means if the price of Gold increases, then the profitability and, in turn, the market cap of the related miners should increase by an even higher percentage. How does that figure? Consider a Gold miner with a cash cost of $1000oz to pull an ounce of Gold out of the ground. Further to the $1000, they also have admin and other development costs ($250oz), which increase the total cost per ounce to $1250. Gold at $1750 leaves them with a profit margin of $500 per ounce. If Gold was to increase by $500 to $2250, it's only be an increase's 28.5% in the spot price of Gold, but it should result in a 100% increase in profitability for the company (profit increase from $500 to $1000 per ounce). Many things can go wrong with a miner, though. Their costs might increase, such as energy and labor. The project might be poorly managed. Grades of the resource might not meet expectations. They may need to raise capital in an unstable market, causing the share price to fall and resulting in more dilution than otherwise. The list is endless. An ounce of Gold in hand is an ounce of Gold in hand. There is a couple of old sayings that come to mind: "A gold mine is a ho"e in the ground with a liar at the top." "A bird in the hand worth two in the bush." I wouldn't suggest avoiding Gold or Silver miners altogether, but I would place them secondary to physical metal exposure. I would consider the physical metals a wealth preserver and buying mining stocks a speculative way to take advantage of any rises in the price of the metals (as long as you pick the right ones and buy/sell them at the right time, which is undoubtedly a challenge!). Gold ETFs If you're a novice investor, your first question is probably, "what is an ETF?" The answer to that question is that it's an exchange-traded fund. From the name alone, you should understand that buying into gold ETFs means buying your way into the stock market - and so you should also know the risks. For all the glitz and glamour that sometimes accompanies it, the stock market is just a planet-wide game of online slots which offer free spins with no deposit. A little knowledge about how it operates can help you to tilt the odds in your favor in just the same way that knowing the 'return to player' rate and the volatility of a game at an online slots website can improve your chances there, but there's still a lot of luck involved. We know that stock traders might not appreciate being compared to online slot players, but it's a fair comparison. Nevertheless, the route is available if you want to take it, with more than 30 ETFs specializing in gold and an increasing number of people pair gold ETF investments with property investments as a preference to currency holdings. Ask your adviser to go through the pros and cons with you. ETPMPM: This ETF is a basket of precious metals exposure that includes Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium, with the largest component being Gold. Further reading: 5 Ways You Can Invest In Gold Have an Exit Plan An exit plan is essential to your strategy and should be considered before purchasing Gold or Silver. You may not need one if you intend to save in Gold and Silver as an alternative to fiat money (and only exchange it when required). Still, if you plan on speculating on the price appreciation and selling when you believe it's reaching peaks, you better understand what circumstances you will be doing so. Perhaps you intend to trade Gold and Silver in for another asset class (e.g., once they reach an overvalued state against property or blue chip shares), or maybe you have a price target (or Gold/Silver ratio) that you believe will mark the peak. Whatever the case, ensure that you have a plan and you will be ready to execute it when it comes.

Read this article after watching the Netflix documentary Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King about the Quadriga CX crypto exchange. You will find several interesting stuff about Patryn, that were posted on the TalkGold forum. If you're here because you're looking for a MMG or TG replacement, then signup to TopGoldForum.com. this is the new home for online money makers and individuals looking to profit from Crypto and online investment programs. For almost two years, the two most known money-making forums, Money Maker Group and TalkGold, are no longer active. According to domain info, both these forums were turned off on Aug 21, 2017: MMG Domain Info and TalkGold Domain Info. I've checked their Twitter accounts and Facebook pages, and there's no news. UPDATE from admins: We decided to take the sites down as we no longer wanted to be a part of them as it’s not worth the possibility of getting sued and having to defend ourselves yet again. Additionally, the websites were costing money to run. In this article, I'll explain why MoneyMakerGroup and TalkGold forum are down and why the owners decided to pull the plug. Both these forums have been in operation since 2004, which makes them almost 14 years old. I've been a member of these two communities for years but decided to create my community - TopGoldForum. Who owns MMG and TalkGold.com? According to domain information, both domains are owned by E&B Advertising, incorporated in the United States. This company is owned by two twin brothers: Edward Krassenstein and Brian Krassenstein. They are both listed as CEO of E&B Advertising and another related company, Forum Advertising LLC. Edward Krassenstein claims himself on Twitter as an Entrepreneur, Editor, Investor, and Consultant. Politically Independent, Fitness, Anti-Trump., Bitcoin, Philly Phan #impeachTrump #TheResistance.His last tweet was several hours ago. Brian Krassenstein is also on Twitter but not so active; his last tweet was dated more than 4 years ago on 26 July 2013. Also, on their LinkedIn profiles, they claim to own and grow several other online communities running as usual: 3DPrint.com, VRTalk.com, IR.net. The whois record of the MoneyMakerGroup.com domain name. The whois record of the TalkGold.com domain name. Several former MMG forum users speculated that the closure of the websites was connected with the one year ago incident when the police raided the Krassenstein brothers' house. Edward Krassenstein claimed that the closure is not related to the police raid and there is no case against them: There is NO case against us. Also, there was never any criminal charges or case brought by the DOJ against us, and there never will be. There was never a court hearing, nor will there be.There is no crime in selling ads to a third party. The First Amendment clearly protects Facebook as well as us. In an interview for Money-Monitor.com, Brian Krassenstein claimed that he sold Talk Gold but remained part of the management. 1. The gangs of scammers on TalkGold: Michael Patryn and Gerald Cotten Besides legitimate users who wanted to make a decent income online, these two forums were the party place for several cybercriminals and scammers' rings. Back in those days, e-currencies like eGold and LibertyReserve and cryptocurrencies attracted scammers like flies. The reason was very simple: Both e-currencies and cryptocurrencies are anonymous and non-reversible so once you paid someone, you couldn't get your money back if things went south. Gerald Cotten was posting on TalkGold under the username Sceptre. At the same time, Patryn, known as Omar Dhanani before he changed his name, posted on TalkGold as “Patryn.”. Patryn also posted as Patryn on MoneyMakerGroup and BlackHatWorld. Sceptre posted as Lucky-Invest on TalkGold to promote a Ponzi scheme. You can read more about their criminal past in this blog post. If you haven't watched the NetFlix documentary, here it's the trailer: According to CoinDesk, Michael Patryn is now involved in a De-Fi project called Wonderland. But this was not the only cybercrime gang on TG and MMD. Also, there were networks of scammers that did many "pump and dump" investment schemes to lure innocent investors in and leave them without their money. This attracted authorities' attention, and those forums were closely monitored. 2 Now, Social Media is getting most of the attention Discussion forums are rapidly and surely losing members in favor of social media sites like Facebook and Linkedin. Facebook groups are quite popular now, which is unfortunate, in my opinion, as most Fb groups are filled with affiliate marketing links spam. Still, most users prefer to spend time on them for some reason. 3. The decline in traffic Both MoneyMakerGroup and TalkGold forums have seen a big decline in traffic over the years, according to alexa.com. The images below speak for themselves: MoneyMakerGroup Traffic according to Alexa.com TalkGold Forum Traffic, according to Alexa.com In October 2016, both forums had a similar global rank of 40,000, but in less than a year, they lost around 100,000 positions, clearly showing that the traffic collapsed. 4. The decline in Google visibility The traffic from Google is significant for a website to get new members and have solid ad revenue. Again, we see a sharp decline in organic traffic on both sites, similar to the Alexa chart. MoneyMakerGroup Organic Traffic Decline MoneyMakerGroup Organic Traffic Decline According to SemRush, MMG Forum lost 91% of its traffic from Google. And the situation for the TalkGold forum is similar. There may be multiple reasons for this, but I think this happened because of Google algorithm changes that penalized websites with questionable backlink profiles and poor content. 5. The decline in revenue With such a sharp decline in traffic is obvious that the ad revenue of both sites sunk. Both MMG Forum and TalkGold relied on advertising sales for their most of the revenue. Adblockers became very popular recently, making it difficult for sites to sell advertising to make a buck, which is the case for these two forums. Also, keeping up and running such communities requires expensive hardware (dedicated servers, firewalls), which can easily take up to $2000 from the admin's pocket. 6. Errors due to old software MoneyMakerGroup was powered by Invision Forum v2, released around 12 years ago. As I've visited the forums occasionally, I have seen that they haven't upgraded the community software, which was quite buggy and slow. I suppose they had to deal with many bugs and errors, which are both time and money-consuming. Unfortunately, the administration team didn't invest in upgrading the platforms and keeping them up to date, preferring to "milk" the communities of advertising sales. Will they come back? Most probably not. As you can see from the above reasons, there are low chances to see those two forums back. There is too much work and small chances to become profitable again. They are now part of the online money-making history and should remain like this. Update Jan 2019: Both domains have been let to expire and purchased by others. While TalkGold Forum now has a simple page that says the forum will sometimes be back, MMG redirects to HYIP.com. So, these two forums are now part of the online money-making history Update March 2021: While TalkGold Forum remains closed, it seems that the MMG forum got back to life by another administration team that started everything from scratch. Yet the forum is way behind its glory as it has only a couple of thousands of members who talk primarily about HYIPs. [/box] Are you looking for a decent money-making discussion community to be part of? Join Top Gold Forum. Was that the best decision? Unfortunately, the members of these two forums could not back up their data, personal messages, contacts, etc.. The administration team should announce several months in advance so users can download/save their information. Do you know TopGoldForum.com? I'm a forum advocate, and I'm running a money-making discussion forum called Top Gold Forum. We are not as popular as those forums used to be, but we have strong etiquette and a solid members database of over 42,000 folks. I'd love to personally welcome members from these two communities - MoneyMakerGroup and TalkGold- to the community I have administrated for over 15 years and make TopGold Forum their new home. P.S. If done correctly, online communities can still be profitable for admins. See our step-by-step guide on how to make money with forums. What people searched: talk gold down, moneymaker group closed, talkgold forum closed, money maker group down, mmg down, talkgold and mmg

In a world of economic uncertainty and fluctuating markets, finding a secure and stable investment for your retirement savings can feel daunting. However, one shining opportunity stands out: gold IRA investments. With gold's value steadily rising and its reputation as a safe-haven asset in times of crisis, more and more investors are turning to Gold IRAs to secure their financial futures. This comprehensive guide will explore the benefits of Gold IRA investments, how to set one up, and why this type of investment could be the key to a prosperous and stable retirement. Join us as we delve into the world of precious metal investments and discover the golden opportunities that await you. What is a Gold IRA? A Gold IRA, short for a Gold Individual Retirement Account, offers investors the unique opportunity to diversify their retirement portfolio by incorporating physical gold and other precious metals like silver, platinum, and palladium. Unlike traditional IRAs, which are typically limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, a Gold IRA lets you invest in tangible assets that have historically held their value. This investment can hedge against inflation and economic downturn, providing highly sought-after security in unpredictable financial climates. With the added benefit of potential tax advantages, setting up a Gold IRA could be a strategic move for those looking to protect and grow their retirement savings in a way that conventional investment options may not offer. Find more information on Gold IRA investments here: https://goldirablueprint.com/ira-approved-gold/ The Benefits of Gold IRA Investments One of the most significant advantages of investing in a Gold IRA is diversification. While traditional IRAs heavily rely on the stock market's performance, a Gold IRA protects against economic downturns and market volatility. This can be particularly beneficial for those approaching retirement age, as it allows for a more stable and predictable retirement savings growth. Additionally, gold has a long-standing reputation as a safe-haven asset during crises. Its value increases when stocks or currencies decline, making it a valuable addition to any investment portfolio. With the potential for long-term growth and stability, gold can offer security that is difficult to find in today's ever-changing economy. Another significant advantage of Gold IRA investments is the potential tax benefits. Depending on your circumstances and the type of Gold IRA you choose, you can defer taxes on any gains until you withdraw the funds during retirement. This could result in significant tax savings and increase investment growth over time. Navigating the Process of Setting up a Gold IRA Setting up a Gold IRA may seem complex, but with the proper guidance, it can be straightforward and hassle-free. The first step is to find a reputable custodian specializing in handling precious metal IRAs. This custodian will serve as the intermediary between you and the precious metals dealer, ensuring that all transactions are done in compliance with IRS regulations. Once you have chosen a custodian, you must fund your Gold IRA account. You can do this by rolling over funds from an existing retirement account or making a direct contribution. Before making any decisions, consult with a financial advisor or tax professional to ensure you follow the proper procedures and take advantage of potential tax benefits. After funding your account, you can purchase precious metals to add to your portfolio. The custodian will help you find a reputable dealer and guide you through selecting suitable types of gold and other precious metals for your investment goals. Understanding the Risks and Rewards While investing in a Gold IRA offers several appealing benefits, like any investment, it also comes with risks and considerations. The price of gold and other precious metals can be volatile in the short term, influenced by factors such as global economic indicators, currency values, and geopolitical events. Investors should be prepared for fluctuations in their investment's value over time. However, it's important to note that gold has maintained its value over the long term, showcasing resilience through various economic downturns. This characteristic makes it a worthwhile consideration for those looking to safeguard their retirement savings against inflation and market instability. Another aspect to consider is the cost of purchasing and storing physical gold. There are fees for setting up a Gold IRA, annual custodial fees, storage fees, and sometimes seller's fees for buying the gold. These costs can impact the overall return on your investment, so weighing them against the potential benefits and tax advantages is crucial. By acknowledging these risks and conducting thorough research, investors can make informed decisions that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance. With the right strategy, a Gold IRA can be a valuable addition to a diversified retirement portfolio, offering a unique blend of security, growth potential, and protection against economic uncertainties.

Investing in precious metals is one option that you can consider, especially during an economic crisis like the one we go into, and there are several metals to choose from. Gold and silver are the most traditional options that investors initially look at. However, platinum and palladium are also increasing in popularity with investors. All are possible options that you can consider adding to your portfolio for different reasons. Why Invest in Precious Metals Before investing in precious metals, you should learn why investors add this to their portfolios. Most precious metals are an excellent hedge against inflation, meaning that when investors sell their riskier stocks, they often turn to precious metals. As one investment vehicle decreases in value, the other increases in value in many cases. Precious metals are also a popular investment option to consider in economic uncertain times, during times of war and political strife. When the demand for precious metals increases, the cost can skyrocket in a concise period. Many people also like investing in precious metals because of the incredible volatility. As well as the fact that the metals trade almost 24-hours per day, every day. This presents considerable opportunities to investors in the short game and those considering taking a long-term hold on their positions in commodities. However, this type of investment should be reviewed periodically, even if you plan to hold it for a long period. This is because the price can fluctuate substantially at times. If you hang onto the asset for too long, you risk losing substantial money. You may also risk being forced to keep the asset until the prices rise at some point in the future. What Precious Metals to Invest in Gold is the most common and popular precious metal to invest in, but there are other options to consider as well. 1. Gold Gold has been traded for centuries, and it has commonly been used in coins, jewelry, and more. It has minimal uses in industry, however. Because of this, its price is largely determined by consumer sentiment. Investors often turn to this to stabilize a portfolio in rough economic times. 2. Silver Silver has a more affordable price than gold. More than that, it has many more practical uses in various industries. This means that the value of silver is less dictated by sentiment. There are several silver funds that you can invest in if you do not want to purchase the raw commodity. 3. Platinum Platinum is another option to consider. Because it is a relatively new commodity for investors to focus on, the price is considerably lower than gold. This means that there is ample room for upward movement of the price. As with silver, this precious metal has many applications in industry. How Much Are Precious Metals Worth There are different ways to invest in precious metals, and the cost of the investment varies substantially. The cost of the metals varies regularly throughout the day based on various factors, and there may also be an exchange or brokerage fee. For example, if you invest in a mutual fund containing precious metals, you may pay expensive fees. There may be trade order fees if you buy and sell stocks in mining companies. You can also invest in coins or bullion for some precious metals. The value of these items varies based on rarity, age, weight, and several other factors. These investments are only suitable for those with a safe and secure place to store them. Are Precious Metals a Good Investment? Before spending your hard-earned money investing in precious metals, you may want to learn more about the pros and cons of this investment option. Each type of precious metal has its benefits and drawbacks, but there are some common pros and cons for all of the precious metals for you to review as well. Pros The price of precious metals may be largely under the influence of sentiment. Some metals, such as gold, relate more heavily to emotion or sentiment than others, such as palladium. Precious metals have a true, physical value, and no credit risk is associated with investing in pure commodities. However, if you invest in precious metals through a mining company or another type of company, there is a greater risk. Adding precious metals to your portfolio may be a great way to balance risk and moderate your portfolio if it is otherwise heavy in stocks and bonds. Cons Even though there is no credit risk associated with investing in pure precious metal commodities, there is still a risk that prices will decrease and that you will lose money overall. While the return on precious metals varies substantially, keep in mind that the rate of return may be lower than with real estate or stock investments. Investors should regularly review their portfolios to determine the best times to buy and sell precious metals. This is not a good commodity type to sit on because its value can fluctuate dramatically within a short period. How to Invest in Precious Metals If you are considering investing in gold, silver, or other precious metals, you should understand the many options available. Stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds that trade the commodities or that focus on businesses that work with precious metals are a few options to consider. Another option to invest in gold is through a gold IRA. You can roll over your 401k or IRA account into a gold IRA account and take advantage of the safety and reliability of gold. There is a wide range of focused businesses, such as mining companies, as well as indirect businesses, such as automotive manufacturers, that you can consider investing in. The risk, price, and return on investment vary dramatically from stock to stock. Another idea is to trade with the commodities, such as futures or options. You may also purchase and hold coins or bullion for some precious metals. A final option available to you if you want to invest in precious metals is to buy certificates. Certificates essentially give you a document showing physical ownership of the metals, but you do not have physical possession of the metals. This means you do not have to worry about storing or caring for the metals. Conclusion Investing in precious metals may be relatively new to you. Additionally, you may not know how to complete this process or what you need to know to profit significantly from it. As with any investment, buying low and selling high is best when investing in precious metals. You should spend time learning more about the commodities markets before jumping in. Just as you can lose money with other types of investments, you can also lose money when investing in metals.

Investing is one of the surest ways of building up passive income. But many beginners falter for lack of sound knowledge about investing principles. Whether you are an employee of a corporation, self-employed or a businessman, you can earn great amounts of passive income by becoming an investor. Many people try their luck at investing but come up short. The major reason for this is lack of prior knowledge about investing. It is of paramount importance to learn the basic investing principles before diving into the practical world of investing. In this article thirteen basic principles will be discussed briefly for newbies. Principle 1: Diversify The first and foremost principle is to diversify. Even if you are starting out with a small amount, it is always better to buy more than one stock. In this way even if a couple of stocks underperform, the other stocks making up your diverse portfolio can take the brunt. Diversification is the golden principle of investing. At no cost should you ever ignore this rule. Principle 2: Start investing at an early age I am sure you all have heard about the power of the compound effect. Well as the old saying goes, compounding can be your best friend. What it means is that the longer period for which you have your money invested; the more you stand to gain. The longer your money will work for you. Those who start out at a young age, definitely have an advantage over their peers. But don’t worry, because even if you didn’t you are always early as compared to those who never decide to start investing. Principle 3: Invest in what you know This implies two things. First is that you should try and buy stocks of a company, whose business you know about. Even if a little. Rather than jumping into a company about whose business operations you know nothing about. Second, is not to get ahead of yourself in the investing business. What I mean to say is that keep the invest amount directly proportional to your learning curve. And not go into complex trading options prematurely. By all means go for it, but only and only once you have mastered the core concepts. Principle 4: Don’t let temporary market slumps alter your long term investment plan Don’t make the rookie mistake of getting on the band wagon. More often than not, people tend to buy when others start buying and sell when others start to sell. This sets off a chain reaction and doesn’t necessarily reflect the true picture of the market. Don’t alter your complete investment plan and your portfolio based on a temporary market slump. Often there are spectacular gains to be made by sticking it out. Principle 5: Don’t doubt your trades Once you have made a decision based on sound analysis to sell a stock, never look back. Don’t be like those who say, what if I had held on a little longer? What if I hadn’t sold the stock just yet? Never second guess your own decisions. If you do this, then you can never become a successful investor. Principle 6: Dollar averaging What this means is that regardless of the market condition, you keep on investing the same amount of money monthly into your portfolio. Believe me it really works. Although, there are not many such schemes or options out there nowadays. But if you look hard enough, you will find them. Principle 7: Never Panic An investor needs nerves of steel. You can’t let your emotions get the better of you. Often there have been occasions in the history of markets, where people have jumped the boat too quickly. An investor needs a level head. This is not saying that you not take risk into account. A ll I am saying is that keep your emotions out of it. Only keep your wits about you. And you will start to see things for what they really are. For e.g. sometimes a news breaks which has an adverse effect on a certain industry. As a result people start getting out of its’ stock. But this shouldn’t mean that panic should set in and other industries which are doing just fine also start to feel the heat of selling. But this is exactly what happens in the majority if the cases. But the winners are those who keep their cool. For soon enough the market corrects itself and those who sold tend to be the losers. Principle 8: Pay attention Always remain alert and pay close attention to what is going on with your portfolio. Even if you are dead sure about certain great stocks, you should never stop monitoring them. It only takes a moment sometimes for the surest of stocks to tank. Principle 9: Bet on your winners and vice versa Always stick with your winners and try to get rid of the losers as quickly as possible. Don’t wait for the things to turn for the better. Rather, minimise your losses. And stay with winners. Discard the losers in an intelligent and timely manner. Principle 10: Go for a stop loss This means that you should always set a limit at which your stock is automatically sold if it suffers a loss. It is the surest way of reducing your losses. And it is especially helpful for the newcomers to the world of investing. And the opposite holds good for your profits. Don’t be extra eager to sell if your stocks start to rise in prices. In other words, you can afford to be slow in taking profits but not always fast with your losses. Principle 11: Stick to your original plan In investing as with any other thing in life, it is crucial to stick with your plan. Don’t change the direction of your sails with every little change that happens in the market. If you have started your portfolio with well thought out stocks, stocks that you know about, then stick to them. Principle 12: Don’t spend the principal amount Always buy your stuff or pay your expenses from the dividends from your stocks or the interests on your savings. Never ever reduce the principal amount. Rather on the contrary, always make it grow by re-investing a margin of the profits and earnings. Also make sure you don't invest money you can't afford to lose like house mortgage payments, money for groceries etc. If you don’t grow your asset column regularly, you will be left behind in the world of investing. Always follow the rule of paying yourself first. If you follow this principle, then in no time you would have grown your portfolio. Principle 13: Face your fear You can’t be right with your moves all the time. And it is not important to be. You will make some mistakes. And that is all right. As long as you are making few good ones, you are on the right track. You are going to turn a profit in the end. Many people tend to lose out on the deals of a lifetime because of the sole reason of fear. Conclusion If you follow the principles given above, then you are on your way to becoming an investor. You must always remember that money doesn’t always makes money. Money is an idea and nothing more. Ideas make money. And that is why it is important to know the basic investing principles, before you decide to test the waters. In the world of investing, always use your mind. Author’s Bio: This article is written by Jacob Arch, He is a famous article writer and a teacher at Assignment Service. He completed her Bachelor in Literature from University of London, UK. You like to write about Investments, Online Trading, Finance, Business, Digital Marketing or Crypto-currencies? Check our Write for us page. We'd love to share your knowledge with our audience.

Travis Fauque recently discussed how to start investing in cryptocurrency. LANDER, WY / DEC. 10, 2021 / Cryptocurrency is one of the hottest topics discussed in the investment world. The currency is creating new millionaires weekly while providing investors an opportunity to further diversify their portfolios. Travis Fauque explains that many people are further looking into this currency and searching for a basic understanding as well as how to get started investing. Bitcoin and the Creation of Cryptocurrencies Bitcoin was created at the heels of the 2009 economic recession to be a virtual peer-to-peer decentralized network. This network was created using blockchain technology and the protocol cannot be changed or altered in any way by any sole person or entity, including governments or even Satoshi Nakamoto himself. When cryptocurrencies are released, the inventor(s) set the currency’s parameters (how much there is, rules for buying and selling, as well as how many new coins will be added to the marketplace, etc..), on a protocol before launching the coin. With bitcoin’s protocol reflecting a max supply of 21 million coins, many investors see this as deflationary and a store of value. “Governments can print more money when they want, but no one can issue more bitcoins," Fauque said. "This results in scarcity, and ultimately proving a financial hedge against deflationary assets, specifically fiat currency. The change from Bitcoins' first appearance in the marketplace to where the current market sits today provides evidence of the vast amounts of opportunities for ordinary people to create substantial wealth. The speed and size of a wealthy investor experience, makes many people wonder how to get started. Fauque explained that the cryptocurrency market, as of the date of writing, is just under 3 trillion dollars in total market cap, with bitcoin dominating the market by 35 percent. “Bitcoin is the north star for current cryptocurrencies, ultimately paving the path for other currencies to follow," Fauque said. Cryptocurrency Trends Fauque believes other competing currencies will someday overtake Bitcoins' dominance, however, Fauque suggests investors stay current with the dominating cryptocurrencies trend and trade in favor of their trend. "The trend is your friend. It's essential to never go against the trend," Fauque said. Fauque advises to never invest blindly in cryptocurrencies, rather seek to understand the currency before investing. Technical Analysis “Investors must understand technical analysis, as well as how to utilize this analysis," Fauque said. Technical analysis is not a guarantee for future market movements, technical analysis provides the investor with a competitive advantage, inevitably increasing profits while strategically minimizing your losses. “People lie, but charts don’t lie,” Fauque said. “Technical analysis lowers risk long-term but maintain a solid risk management plan is the foundation of any successful investor." "You are only one trade away from losing profits if you don’t value risk management," he added. Lessons Learned Fauque experienced losses exceeding tens of thousands of dollars his first few months investing in cryptocurrencies. He attributes the losses to not following a proper risk management plan, as well as investing in opinions rather than on facts. The loss really wasn’t a loss in hind site, more of an invaluable lesson on risk management,” Fauque said. He expressed the importance of risk managing and the need for investors to obtain proper financial education before making any financial decisions. Tips for Beginners from Travis Fauque As a beginner in the crypto space, Fauque suggests that investors perform their own analysis and not blindly follow the crowd. The crowd is broken and easily manipulated. He warns new investors to stay cautious when investing in new coins and to fully understand the fundamentals in the coin before investing. Fauque suggests the 40-30-30 percent diversification strategy inside your crypt portfolio, with 40 percent allocated in large market capitalization cryptocurrencies, 30 percent in mid-cap, and the remaining 30 percent in low cap cryptocurrencies. "Buy the investment before the crowd buys it. That’s where the substantial returns are made,” Fauque said. Smaller financial capital invested into one currency tends to elevate the financial risk of the asset and experiences major price movements. However, traditional investors advise investing up to ten percent of your total portfolio into cryptocurrencies, specifically the top ten by the size of market capitalization. Fauque does not follow traditional investor advice, while currently holding nearly 50 percent of his total portfolio in cryptocurrencies alone, while the remaining diversified in other asset classes. “You’re not late to the crypto game, as long as you show up," Fauque said. Starting small and becoming a long-term student of the asset is key. Fauque suggests utilizing the D-C-A investment strategy for beginner cryptocurrency investors. DCA refers to dollar-cost-averaging. Fauque explained this method tends to smooth out the price volatility for the given currency while decreasing the risk of emotionally trading. He suggests finding a trustworthy platform that provides this option, such as crypto.com. Fauque utilizes crypto.com for the enhanced security the platform provides, as well as its reward programs. A user has the option for the platform to withdraw funds from their bank account as frequently and often as the user specifies. “You can treat the automatic withdrawal like a tax, only this tax will create wealth for upcoming years," he explained. In conclusion, Fauque suggests, getting started in crypto, regardless of current market conditions. Many new investors attempt to successfully time price tops and bottoms resulting in inaction, or even worse emotionally trading. This makes the DCA strategy more appealing for the new investor. Fauque explained this strategy is a good start but maintains his stance in expanding to the strategy, as the investor's financial education increases. Travis Fauque’ holds firm to the 40-30-30 rule for diversification and emphasizes he is not a financial advisor and does not provide any financial advice. He simply shares his personal successes as well as previous learning experiences with others.

When it comes to searching for fresh information about the business world, all we have to do is tap our smartphones (or tablets) and we will immediately have access to an insightful website. The key to success in every online business, and in life, is to be constantly informed and open to changes. We made a list of best business websites to gather the information you need daily. Whether you are a business person and want to be up to date with new content every day, or you own a small business that needs a more online presence, top business websites can be a real inspiration for many of us, as well as a source of reading interesting and inspiring articles. 1. The Wall Street Journal Probably one of the most popular and famous online publications, the Wall Street Journal covers breaking news and headlines from the United States and around the world, constant up to date and fresh content with interesting news, top stories, photos, videos, financial stock market overview plus a special blog with real-time news and analysis plus date from the Journal. Readers can also find tech news, life & opinion plus an online community. The publication is also optimized for tablets and mobiles for better and friendly user experience. 2. Financial Times Are you looking to start a new business? If you are looking for online resources to be informed, Financial Times can be a great tool to read interesting and fresh business news in the morning, while drinking your coffee. Offering the latest UK and international business, finance, economic or political news, as well as interviews, videos, photos or market data, this online magazine is an excellent source with million registered users, digital subscribers plus paying users. With a long tradition, Financial Times is one of the most serious and reliable publications to be informed day by day when you are looking for guidelines for your daily business issues. 3. Yahoo Finance eBiz MBA has ranked the most popular business websites in a top 15 by considering each website’s traffic rankings in the US and has found Yahoo Finance as being the website with approximately 50,000,000 unique monthly visitors. While the design doesn’t necessarily impress the reader, the website itself has a wide range of sections available such as investing, personal finance, news or portfolio plus details about the stock market index, gold, oil and the latest currency exchanges. 4. The Economist A well-known publication, and small business website with weekly fresh topics about world news, politics, economics, business or finances focusing on international opinions and news, including the latest analysis, a blog section plus other great insights that can help any business person out thereby responding to essential and practical questions. Readers can also have the subscription option to pay and have full access and enjoy each week’s complete issue of the Economist. 5. Forbes Probably one of the best online and reliable sources, that definitely deserves a spot as one of the best business websites. It offers readers great and qualitative information for the world’s business leaders who want to be successful. Whether you want to read news, politics, economics, studies, listen to video or even see interesting tops released by Forbes of the top companies, celebrities or richest people in the world, this online business site is your daily online resource. With a simple and easy to use interface, there’s also a search button where you can quickly access all needed information. 6. Business Insider Here’s another important business website that can provide its readers high-quality content with articles about (un)conventional business strategies, finance news, markets, politics, useful charts and tops, as well as tips and tricks to use in the business world. It is a fast-growing business website targeting also media, tech, life and other industries. 7. Inc.com INC magazine is the online source you need to find out the latest sources in business, get advice, tools or services that can help your small business to grow and be successful while facing all competitors in the market. It is the business website that has it all. With a simple and classic design in black and white, the information isn’t so simple, because you can find practical subjects like business strategies, legal issues, how to finance a small business, budgets or tips and tricks about being successful or acting like a real leader. For a better online experience and full access content, you can join Inc community to discover useful tools or interesting videos. 8. Bloomberg.com This is another great site for business and financial news that can provide you with excellent insights about everything you need to know. Bloomberg delivers market data, personal finance, economic news, stock futures or quotes. Moreover, the publication has a list of recommended videos and is a leader in global business and financial information, helping business persons to make critical decisions about their business. 9. CNN Business Here’s another excellent business website that offers its readers the newest business, financial and personal finance news for anything related to this subject. Considered to be one of the largest business websites, CNN Business is an online publication for two other important magazines: Money and FORTUNE, as well as the CNN’s exclusive business website that shares useful and high-quality articles with themes like the economy, tech, small business or leadership news for all entrepreneurs interested about their self-improvement. 10. Fast Company It’s another great online source of information in the business area that features the freshest business news or trends, insights about the most successful entrepreneurs, details about the most powerful companies, as well as the fastest ones in the world that have to succeed in a recession period. With a very interactive and user-friendly interface, this free business website keeps you up to date with everything you need to know for your small business or large company. An insight, high quality and documented information to read in your spare time or at work. All those posts can inspire you to make the first step and start your own business or doing all the efforts to succeed. 11. Market Watch Focused more on the financial section, Market Watch offers stock market data, business insights and recommendations, as well as great analysis that can be extremely useful for business people who need an overview of the market and don’t know exactly where to look for. Tracking the pulse of the markets, this online publication keeps readers up to date with the latest news from the world, including also real-time commentaries, useful analysis and other industries. 12. Top Gold Forum The Top Gold Forums are the best way to connect with other small business owners and online money makers - to ask questions, compare notes, or offer help to others in your trade. It’s a safe environment to discuss the topics that matter most for startups and companies of all sizes. It is a highly active site with almost 40K members and close to 1 million posts have excellent moderation to keep things in check. 13. Entrepreneur As its name indicates, it is a great source for people interested to become a successful entrepreneur by using great examples, useful insights, news, expert advice as well as growth strategies for small businesses. Are you looking to start a new business? Don’t feel like going to your current job where there’s no satisfaction? Are you thinking of buying a franchise, but don’t know exactly how to do it? Entrepreneur online magazine offers all needed guidelines for all adventurous persons who want to leap on the bandwagon called entrepreneurship and manage his own life. Whether you are looking for ideas about how to start a new business, management issues or ideas about creating an efficient business plan, this resource can get all needed information, as well as answers to all kind of questions. 14. Small Bizz Trends Small Biz Trends magazine comes daily with latest articles on marketing, management, technology and finance for small business owners. Check them if you want to stay up with the latest trends and find out about innovations you can implement in your company or in your business. 15. Monetize.info Number 15 on our list of business websites is our digital magazine - Monetize.info. Founded in 2004, Monetize.info is an award-winning online publication for small business owners, entrepreneurs and growth hackers. It is one of the most popular independent small business publications on the web. The main difference of other magazines is that they are focusing on writing high-quality tutorials about important matters that you can implement immediately in your business. Conclusion That concludes our list for the top 15 business websites out there. What is your favourite business website? Where do you draw inspiration for your new strategies and plans? We would love to hear your opinions on the matter! Stay tuned for more business & finance news.