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The following websites and apps have been personally tested, vetted, and recommended by Dennis Pestro and our TopGold.Forum community of 50,000+ money-makers. Over the years, our TopGold.Forum members have become some of the most resourceful online earners on the internet. We share strategies, debate platforms, call out scams, and, most importantly, test everything ourselves before recommending it. This article is a direct product of that collective intelligence. Dennis Pestro (that's me, the admin here at TGF) personally tested or vetted every platform listed below, with hundreds of forum members contributing their own reviews, earnings screenshots, and real-world feedback. One of the easiest ways to earn extra income online, which our community focuses on, is referring friends to products and services you already use and trust. So I put together this definitive list of over 90 websites and apps that pay you to refer friends, built from years of community-sourced testing at TopGold.Forum. From money tools to travel services, survey websites, cashback portals, shopping rewards, and blogging tools, referral bonuses range from $0.50 to $200 per referral. If you sign up for just a handful of the services on this list today, you could realistically pocket well over $250 in the next few days alone. For easier navigation, I've grouped everything into eight categories — click any section to jump straight there. Top Rewards Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend Rewards websites pay users for completing tasks like downloading apps, registering accounts, playing games, testing products, writing reviews, and watching videos. Many offer a signup bonus and a referral commission on top. What I love about these platforms — and what our TopGold.Forum members consistently report that the referral earnings add up passively once you've built a small downline. Post your referral links in our TGF referral links section and let the community work for you. Here's what each platform pays for referring a friend, based on our community's direct experience: FreeCash, 5% ref FreeCash is one of the most consistently recommended platforms in our forums. It pays members in cryptocurrencies, game credits, gift cards, and cash for completing surveys, downloading apps, and completing offers. Refer a friend, and you earn a permanent 5% cut of everything they earn — completely passively. The 10-cent cashout threshold is one of the lowest we've seen, which means almost nobody leaves money on the table. Our members have been cashing out reliably for years. Sign up now on FreeCash and start earning. --> Start earning money on FreeCash YouHodler, variable YouHodler has been discussed extensively in our crypto and DeFi sections. It's a crypto-holding and trading platform that covers crypto-backed lending, fiat and crypto exchanges, and stablecoin staking. The platform supports all major cryptocurrencies and offers up to 8% annual yield on USDT and other assets. Our more advanced members use the MultiHODL feature to profit from market volatility. The referral rewards are variable but worth exploring if your audience is crypto-inclined. --> Bring your friends to YouHodler & Get rewards. You can refer friends directly to YouHodler for casual rewards, or check out the YouHodler affiliate program if you're promoting it to a larger audience. ySense, $2 + 10% ySense has been a TGF member favorite for a long time. You can earn by completing paid surveys, trying new products, downloading apps, watching videos, and playing games. For referrals, you earn $2 plus 10% of your friend's earnings once they reach the $5 earnings threshold. Solid and reliable. Sign up and start earning. --> ySense - Best Paying Surveys Website TaskRabbit, $10 TaskRabbit is the app our community recommends when people want to monetize their local skills — mounting, furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, delivery, painting, and home repairs. It's legitimate, free, and genuinely useful. Earn $10 for every friend you refer who completes their first task. After downloading the app and filling out your profile, tap the "Profile" icon at the bottom of the screen and select "Help your friends, Get $10" to grab your personal referral link. Swagbucks, $5 + 10% of your friends' earnings Swagbucks is one of the most well-known names in this space, and for good reason — it's been delivering consistent earnings for our members for years. Take surveys, watch videos, download apps, and play games to earn. When you refer a friend, they receive a $5 signup bonus, and you pocket $5 plus 10% of their lifetime earnings. Click here to sign up for Swagbucks and start earning. Merchandiser, 10% A legit secret shopper app that pays you for quick and straightforward shopping tasks on your own schedule. Our members who've used it report it's one of the more transparent side-gig apps out there. You'll earn 10% of your referral's earnings up to $100. For example, if your friend completes a store job that pays $20, you automatically pocket $2. Click here to sign up for a free Merchandiser account. Treasure Trooper, 20% Treasure Trooper has had a loyal following in the TGF community for years. Earn money through cash offers, paid surveys, paid searches, shopping, videos, games, and contests. The referral structure is two-tier: 20% of your direct referrals' earnings and 5% of your second-tier referrals' earnings. Your referred friend also gets a $1 welcome bonus for joining. Signup to Treasure Trooper and get paid MyPoints MyPoints operates similarly to Swagbucks. Create a free account and earn cashback on purchases, or points for surveys, dining out, shopping in-store, and browsing content. MyPoints gives you 25 bonus points for each friend you refer, plus up to 750 bonus points when your friend makes their first purchase. A quiet earner that adds up over time. InstaGC, $0.10 + 10% of your friends' earnings Lower-paying than some options here, but InstaGC compensates with a clean, transparent structure: $0.10 plus 10% of your friend's lifetime earnings. Your friend also gets a $0.10 signup bonus. Not a primary earner, but worth adding to the mix. Signup now on instaGC and start earning GrabPoints, $5 Grab Points pays you for completing various tasks and offers a $5 referral bonus for both you and your friend when they sign up using a referral code (use QVE2LY). Nothing complicated, just a reliable extra. InboxDollars, $1 InboxDollars is a well-established community favorite for surveys, watching videos, playing games, and participating in free offer trials. You earn 10% of your referred friend's earnings, and they get a $5 bonus when they sign up. Earn $5 just for signing up for InboxDollars, or read our InboxDollars review first. Signup to InboxDollars DailyRewards, $5 + 10%, Canada DailyRewards is a Canada-only rewards site that gives your referred friends a $5 signup bonus and pays you 10% of their earnings. One of the better options for our Canadian TGF members. Drop, $1 up to $5, US & Canada Drop automatically collects points as you shop, which you redeem for retailer gift cards. It's free, passive once set up, and pays $1 per friend referred — with your friend also getting a $1 bonus. Available in Canada and the US. FusionCash, $1 up to $5, US & Canada FusionCash has a generous referral ladder: $1 when your friend joins, $2 after they complete their first task, and $5 for every payout they receive. Your friend also starts with a $5 bonus just for joining. One of the better-structured referral programs in this category. Top Survey Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend Survey websites are a staple discussion topic on TopGold.Forum — some of our members have documented earning up to $1,000 per month from surveys alone, particularly by combining multiple platforms. What makes the best ones even more valuable is their referral programs: you can get paid not just to take surveys, but to help your friends get paid too. Here are the platforms our community has put through their paces. FreeCash, 5% ref FreeCash earns its second mention here because our members consistently rank it at the top of both categories. Surveys and offers are plentiful, the 10-cent cashout floor means there's no earnings trap, and the 5% lifetime referral rate is passive income at its most effortless. Signup on FreeCash & Start earning --> Signup on FreeCash & Start earning SurveySavvy, $15 SurveySavvy offers the highest flat-fee referral payout in the pure survey category — up to $15 per referred friend. If you have an audience interested in market research income, this one should be near the top of your share list. Survey Junkie, $1 Survey Junkie is well-known and well-trusted. You earn $1 when your friend signs up, on top of a $2 bonus you receive yourself for completing your profile. Consistent, legitimate, and a good introductory platform for anyone new to surveys. Respondent, $20 Respondent is a premium-tier platform for paid research studies and online focus groups, paying participants $50–$1,000 per study (usually 15 minutes to an hour). Our members in professional fields — tech, finance, healthcare — report regularly qualifying for higher-paying studies. Refer someone who participates in a study and earn $20 per referral. Get your Respondent referral link here. InboxDollars, $1 Already reviewed in the rewards section, but InboxDollars earns its spot here too. Complete surveys and simple tasks, and earn $1 per friend who signs up, plus 30% of their earnings. Earn $5 just for signing up. Signup to InboxDollars SurveyTime.io, $1 SurveyTime.io stands out as the only survey panel with truly instant rewards — complete a survey and get paid to PayPal immediately. The referral model is equally clean: $1 automatically deposited into your PayPal account the first time a referred friend completes a survey. No waiting, no minimums. Get your SurveyTime.io account. Opinion Outpost, $1 Opinion Outpost is a straightforward, clean survey platform with consistently available surveys and a $1 payout per referred friend. Nothing flashy, but dependable — exactly what our community looks for in a long-term earner. PaidViewpoint, $1 PaidViewpoint is one of the few survey sites with a $1 signup bonus and a reasonable survey frequency. On the referral side, you earn 20% of your friends' earnings up to $25, a compelling lifetime structure for an active referral. Sign up now to PaidViewPoint and start earning. Hiving, $5 Hiving mixes surveys with other earning tasks and pays a clean $5 flat bonus per friend referred. Simple to share, simple to earn. Qmee, $0.50 Qmee is a lightweight PayPal cash app for legitimate, instant-pay surveys. The $0.50 signup bonus is small, but the no-minimum cashout (including direct PayPal payouts) has made it popular among our members who hate waiting to access their earnings. Sign up through this link to claim your free $0.50. PrizeRebel, 15% of earnings PrizeRebel is a solid all-rounder — surveys, small tasks, gift card redemptions — and your referral earns you a 15% cut of all points your referral accumulates. Good for a long-term passive stream if you refer active earners. Sign up to PrizeRebel and start earning. KashKick, 25% of earnings KashKick is the most generous of the percentage-based survey referral programs: 25% of your direct referrals' earnings, plus 5% of what their referrals earn. If you refer active survey takers, this adds up meaningfully over time. Sign up to KashKick and start earning. Top Cashback Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend Cashback portals are some of the most underrated income tools our community discusses — you get 1%–10%+ back on purchases you'd be making anyway, plus a signup and referral bonus on top. These work best when you share them with people who shop frequently online. Here are the cashback portals our members have vetted and continue to use. Rakuten, $25 Rakuten is the king of cashback portals and a perennial TopGold.Forum recommendation. With 2,000+ stores available, it's almost impossible not to find your regular shopping destinations here. Refer a friend and earn $25, while your friend gets a $10 signup bonus after making a qualifying $25+ purchase through their account. BeFrugal, $15 BeFrugal offers one of the highest flat cashback referral bonuses: $15 for you, plus a $10 signup bonus for your friend after they make a $25+ purchase. Worth stacking alongside Rakuten. ExtraBucks, $5 + 5% Extrabux runs one of the more interesting hybrid referral structures: $5 upfront for every referral, plus 5% of their cashback earnings for the full first year. Your referred friend also gets the $5 bonus for joining through your link. That 5% tail makes it particularly attractive for referring heavy shoppers. Sign up to ExtraBux and start making money. Dollar Dig, $2.50 Less well-known than Rakuten or BeFrugal, Dollar Dig is a solid supporting option. Refer a friend and both you and your friend receive $2.50. You'll need a minimum $25 balance to cash out via PayPal or cheque. Slide, $20 The Slide cashback app pays up to $20 for each friend you refer, and your friend can receive the same welcome bonus. One of the highest flat referral amounts in the cashback category. Dosh, $10 Dosh offers up to 40% cashback on grocery shopping and has negotiated private rebate deals with 10,000+ brands. Refer a friend and earn $10 when they link a valid debit or credit card and receive their first rebate. Practically zero friction for the referral. TopCashback, $10 TopCashback is a popular alternative to Rakuten among our UK and US members. Earn a $10 referral bonus once your friend joins and earns $10 in cashback through the platform. Mr. Rebates, $5 + 20% Mr. Rebates keeps on giving — you get $5 upfront plus 20% lifetime referral fees for as long as your friend actively uses the platform. If you refer a consistent shopper, this is a better long-term earner than most flat-fee alternatives. Signup now to Mr. Rebates Rebaid, $10 Rebaid is a rebate site focused on deep discounts — particularly on Amazon. Your friend gets access to free products and heavy discounts, while you earn $10 per referral. A strong combination of real value for the referred friend and an easy incentive for you. Ibotta, $5 Ibotta is the coupon and cashback app our members recommend for grocery shopping in particular — $0.50 back on bread, $1.00 for trying a new brand of chips. Savings accumulate fast. Refer a friend and earn $5 while your friend gets $10 just for joining through your link. Must be installed through a referral link for both bonuses to apply. Giving Assistant, $5 A unique cashback site that lets you donate your cashback to non-profits, or keep it. Earn $5 per referred friend, with your friend also receiving a $5 bonus. Your referral credit is added once your friend earns cashback. Shopkick, $1 Shopkick has a fun angle — you earn points (called "kicks") simply for walking into stores and scanning items. You and your friends each get 250 kicks (worth $1) when you walk into a store or scan within seven days of installing the app. Drop, $5, US & Canada Link your bank cards to Drop and earn cashback automatically when shopping at partner merchants — no manual scanning or coupon codes. Your friend gets a $5 signup bonus when they join through your link. Available in the US and Canada. Ampli, $5, Canada Ampli is my personal favorite for passive cashback in Canada — link your bank cards and get cashback automatically. No steps to remember. Refer a friend and earn $5 when they sign up. Canada-only. Fetch Rewards, $2, USA Fetch Rewards is a US-only app where you upload receipts to earn points redeemable for gift cards. Sign up and both you and your friend each receive 2,000 points when they upload their first receipt. Caddle, $1, Canada Caddle is the receipt upload app for Canadians — earn 10 cents per receipt, plus survey bonuses. What makes Caddle's referral unique: your friend doesn't even have to spend money to qualify for your referral fee — completing a quick survey counts. Top Personal Finance Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend This is the category where referral bonuses scale up meaningfully. Investment tools, money transfer services, and loan refinancing platforms often pay the highest flat referral fees — sometimes $100–$300 per referral. Our TopGold.Forum community has discussed and tested many of these, particularly among members building wealth or managing international finances. Here are the ones that genuinely deliver. SmartyPig, $10 SmartyPig is one of the quieter tools on this list, but a genuinely clever one — it functions as an online goal-based savings account. Declare a financial goal, pursue it, and earn $10 per referral (up to 100 referrals). A great share for anyone trying to build a savings habit. Personal Capital, $20 Personal Capital is one of the best free finance dashboards available, and our members who use it for tracking net worth and investment performance swear by it. The referral program gives both you and your friend a $20 Amazon gift card once they link at least one financial account. Trim App, $25 Trim is an AI-powered bill negotiation tool — it analyses your spending, cancels forgotten subscriptions, and can negotiate your cable, internet, and phone bills down by up to 30%. Refer a friend who signs up for Trim Premier, and you receive $25. Digit.co, $5 Digit is a set-and-forget savings and investment app that intelligently moves small amounts from your checking account into savings without you having to think about it. Refer a friend and currently earn $5 per referral. Qapital, up to $100 Qapital is an award-winning goal-based savings, investing, and spending app. Their referral program can pay up to $100, making it one of the higher-ceiling options in personal finance. LendKey, $200 LendKey is a student loan refinancing platform worth knowing about if you have an audience with student loan debt. Refer a friend and earn $50 when they're approved for a loan, and $200 if they actually take it out. Significant earning potential if your referral converts. LendEDU, $300 One of the highest single-referral payouts in this entire list — LendEDU pays $300 for every person you refer who refinances their student loans. If your audience includes US graduates with student debt, this one is worth featuring prominently. SoFi, $100, USA SoFi started as a student loan refinancing platform and has since expanded into personal loans, investment accounts, and banking. They pay $100 for every friend you refer who refinances their student loans. Check SoFi. Paytm, $10, Canada Paytm Canada lets you pay bills via credit card for services that normally don't accept credit cards — meaning you unlock cashback and travel points on otherwise inaccessible payments. Earn $10 for every person you refer (referral code: PTM7410130), and your friend also gets $10. Lending Loop, $25, Canada Lending Loop is Canada's first fully regulated P2P marketplace, connecting Canadian businesses seeking loans with local investors. Refer a friend and both parties earn $25. Tangerine, $125, Canada Tangerine leads the online banking space in Canada. New accounts opened with an orange key (use 48902575S1) receive a $50 signup bonus, plus an additional $75 bonus for switching to payroll deposit. A standout for Canadian members. Top Online Investing Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend Investing referral programs deserve special attention on a forum like TopGold.Forum — our members actively invest, and they're naturally positioned to refer others doing the same. Many of these platforms offer free stock, managed account time, or substantial cash bonuses just for getting a friend signed up. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned trader, there's something here worth sharing. Robinhood, free stock Refer a friend to the Robinhood investing app, and you both receive a free stock added to your account. Simple, immediate, and a great way to start investing for free. Webull, one free stock Webull is another solid brokerage with commission-free trading and free stock rewards for referrals. The bonus details change periodically, so check your dashboard after signing up for the current offer. Acorns, $5, USA Acorns is our go-to recommendation for absolute beginners looking to start investing with minimal effort — it rounds up your purchases and invests the spare change. Earn $5 for every friend you refer who gets approved and invests $5. No cap on referrals. Interactive Brokers, up to $200 IBKR's referral program is designed for experienced investors: your account needs a net liquidation value of at least $2,000 and at least one securities trade to qualify. Once eligible, refer a friend and earn up to $200 with no cap on total referral bonuses. A premium option for the serious traders in our community. Public.com, $3–$300 in stocks Public.com offers commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs, and crypto (US only). Refer a friend and earn a free slice of stock in a company of your choice, worth $3–$300. Your friend also gets a free stock slice when they sign up. Tornado, $10–$1K Formerly known as Nvstr, Tornado is an investing app where referral rewards are randomised — a minimum of $10 per referral, with the potential to hit $1,000. Your friend also receives a signup bonus in the same range. Betterment, one month managed for free Betterment is a trusted robo-advisor (US only) popular with our members who prefer a hands-off investment approach. Refer a friend, and they receive three months managed for free; you receive one month managed for free. E-Trade, $50 Amazon card E*TRADE is one of the pioneers of online retail investing. Refer a newly qualified signup and earn a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card. Commission-free trades on US-listed stocks and ETFs make it an easy recommendation. Groundfloor, $10 Groundfloor is a real estate investing platform accessible to everyday investors. Refer a friend and both parties receive $10 — your friend just needs to invest at least $10 to trigger the bonus. Wealthsimple, $50 Wealthsimple invests your money in low-cost index funds and is available in the US, Canada, and the UK. New users can start with a $50 signup bonus, and each referral earns you $10,000 managed for free — a compelling value proposition for anyone with a meaningful portfolio. Firstrade, $50 Firstrade is a well-established stock trading platform. Both you and your friend receive a $50 bonus when you deposit $5,000. Best shared with more serious investors. M1 Finance, $50–$70 M1 Finance allows you to build and automate your investment portfolio. The referral program pays both you and your friend $50–$70 (amounts adjust periodically). A clean, modern investment app worth recommending to anyone interested in automated investing. Bumped, $1 Bumped blends cashback and investing — you earn free stock ownership based on your purchases. The referral bonus is modest at $1 of stock per referred signup, but the concept resonates with members who want to passively accumulate equity. Worthy Bonds, $5, USA Earn $5 for each person who signs up and invests in business bonds through your link. A niche but legitimate fixed-income option with a clean referral structure. Questrade, $70, Canada Questrade is Canada's leading discount broker — with the lowest fees, no annual charges, and no ETF purchase fees. Refer a friend and earn $70, while your friend receives $50 in free trades. The best brokerage referral for Canadian TGF members. Top Money Transfer, Credit & Gift Card Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend With a globally distributed community across Bucharest, Dubai, London, and beyond, money transfer and fintech platforms are a natural conversation topic on TopGold.Forum. Many of our members send and receive payments internationally and have first-hand experience with these services. Here's what the community recommends. Wise, $50 Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the international transfer platform our community trusts most. Fees are transparent, exchange rates are real, and it works. Their referral program offers your friend their first transfer of up to $3,000, and you earn a $50 bonus for up to three friends. Western Union, $20 Western Union covers transfers to 200+ countries and territories online, in person, or via app. Refer up to 25 friends and earn a $20 Amazon e-gift code per friend who transfers at least $100. Sign up to Western Union and earn $25. RIA Money Transfer, $20 gift card Refer a friend who completes a money transfer through RIA and receive a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card. A solid pick for members with contacts who regularly send international remittances. WorldRemit, 15€ WorldRemit operates in 130+ countries and is widely used by our members for remittances to Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. After your first transfer and receiving your referral code, you earn 15€ when your friend completes their first transfer. Cash App, $10 Cash App started as a P2P money transfer tool and expanded into stock and crypto buying. It's fast, free, and popular for everyday money movement between friends. Sign up with a referral code, send your first $50, and earn $10. As a referrer, you receive $10 for every person who signs up and sends their first $50. Plastiq, $10 A clever fintech play: Plastiq lets you pay rent, mortgages, and other non-card-eligible bills with your credit card — unlocking credit card points on payments that usually never earn any. For every friend you refer who sends at least $1,000, both of you receive a $500 fee-free transfer allowance, worth roughly $10 in credit card rewards. Raise, $5 At Raise.com, you buy gift cards at discounted prices — often meaningfully below face value. Earn $5 per referred friend (up to a $100 cap), and your friend receives $5 off their first purchase. CardCash, $5 Similar to Raise — buy and sell gift cards at a discount. You earn $3 on your signup when you spend $25+, and $5 per referred friend. Your friend gets a $5 off coupon on their first purchase. Gift Card Granny, $5 Gift Card Granny pays a clean $5 per referral, and your friend receives $5 as well. No thresholds or conditions beyond signing up. Top Shopping Websites That Pay You To Refer A Friend Tesla, $100 Yes, even Tesla has a referral program — and it's one of the most interesting on this list. Through Tesla's referral programme, new car orders earn both you and your friend 1,000 miles of free Supercharging. On the solar side, referrals earn the buyer a $100 award after activation, while you earn $400 per solar referral — and a free Powerwall after 10 solar referrals. Amazon Prime, $5 Know someone who isn't on Amazon Prime yet? They get a 30-day free trial, and you get a $5 Amazon gift card when they sign up. Amazon Prime Student, $10 Amazon Prime Student gives students with a valid .edu email a 6-month free trial. Refer one and earn a $10 Amazon gift card. Amazon Mobile Shopping, $5 Haven't downloaded the Amazon mobile app? There's a $5 gift card for your first app purchase — and you earn another $5 for every friend you refer who does the same. Walmart Grocery, $10 Order groceries online and pick them up in-store — Walmart makes it easy. Currently offering $10 off your friend's first order, and you earn $10 per referral. Groupon, $10 Refer a friend to Groupon and earn a $10 Groupon gift card if your friend makes a purchase within 72 hours of signing up. Vimbly, $10 Vimbly is a deal site for experiences and activities in major cities, with a particular focus on dating and social outings. New users get a $10 credit, and you earn an extra $10 per friend who makes a purchase. Pottery Barn Kids, $25 Each friend you refer gets $25 off their first purchase of $100 or more — and once they redeem it, you receive the same offer. With a cap of 15 referrals per year, that's up to $375 in purchase discounts annually. Top Travel and Riding Services That Pay You To Refer A Friend Travel is a major topic on TopGold.Forum — our community is globally distributed, with members frequently moving between Bucharest, Dubai, London, Singapore, and beyond. Travel isn't cheap, but these referral programs can meaningfully offset the cost. Here's what our community actively uses and recommends. Lyft, $5 One of the two leading rideshare apps in the US. Sign up through a referral link and earn a $5 credit for your first ride. If you want to drive, Lyft offers up to $480 in signup bonuses for new drivers. The Clymb, $10 A Groupon-style platform for travel gear and experiences, The Clymb gives both you and your friend $10 in credit when they spend $50 through your referral. Uber, $20 Uber's referral program offers a $20 credit for first-time users, and you earn $20 per friend you refer. If you're willing to drive, the driver signup bonuses are significantly higher. Airbnb, $25 Airbnb is the obvious recommendation for any frequent traveler in our community. New users get a $25 signup bonus to try it, and you can earn up to $100 in travel credit for every friend you refer who books a stay. Fat Llama, $25 Whether you need a bike, tent, drone, or motorhome, Fat Llama is the rental marketplace for items you don't own. New users get a $25 signup bonus, and you earn $25 in credit for every friend you refer. Turo, $25 Often described as "the Airbnb for cars," Turo lets you rent out or rent private vehicles. New users start with a $25 signup bonus, and you earn up to $100 in credit for every friend you refer. Boatsetter Know anyone with a boat they'd want to monetize? Boatsetter is the peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace — refer boat owners and earn a percentage of every rental they make. The platform suggests this can be $50+ per rental, making it one of the more interesting recurring-income referral models on this list. Marriott Rewards Programme Marriott lets you earn points redeemable for free hotel stays. In your first year, earn 2,000 points ($20) for each stay you make. Refer a friend who also stays at a Marriott property, and you earn 10,000 points — equivalent to roughly $100 in hotel credit. A long-term earner for members who travel regularly for conferences and events. Conclusion: Let the TopGold.Forum Community Work With You If you've made it through this entire list — well done. This article represents years of collective testing, discussion, and real-world earnings reports from the TopGold.Forum community. Nothing here is theoretical. Every platform has been used by our members, and the ones that proved unreliable, slow-paying, or overhyped never made the cut. Referral income isn't a get-rich-quick scheme — but if you're already using these services, sharing them with friends is genuinely one of the easiest sources of supplemental income you'll find. Stack a handful of these, post your referral links in our TGF referral links section, and let 50,000 community members do some of the heavy lifting for you. If you've found a platform that deserves to be on this list — or if something here has stopped paying or changed its terms — drop it in the comments or open a thread on the forum. That's how this list stays accurate. I'll test it through your link and add it here if it checks out.

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.