Is Silver Always A Good Investment
Silver has not historically performed as well as gold during recessions and stock market crashes. As mentioned above, this is due to its high industrial useif economies weaken. demand for this portion of silver normally declines.
But as this article has shown, there are numerous factors working in silvers favor for the foreseeable future. And like gold, silver is a monetary metal and thus will respond to monetary dilution and fiscal unrestraint. Until the current system is retooled to discourage rampant currency creation and politicians are more financially responsible, history says silver will remain a strong asset to own.
New Supply Is Falling
The silver price crashed after peaking in 2011, and over the next five years it fell a whopping 72.1%. As a result, miners had to scramble to cut costs to turn a profit. One of the areas cut dramatically was exploration and development of new silver mines.
It doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand that if you spend less cash looking for silver you will find less silver! That drought in exploration and development is starting to take effect, as this chart shows of the output from the top 10 largest silver producing countries.
This has had an impact on the amount of supply that comes from the mining industry each year. The past four years have never seen a drop like were currently experiencing.
Part of the explanation to the drop is that about two-thirds of silver mine supply comes as a byproduct from base metal operations . But these miners have also spent less on mine developmentwhich means they will produce less silver, too.
Meanwhile, low silver prices have affected how much scrap metal is available, tootheres less incentive to turn in scrap metal if the price is lower.
These realities have set the stage for a peak in silver supply. If demand stays at current levels, it will be difficult for everyone who wants silver to get as much as they need. And dont look now, but
Watch For Low Volume Price Spikes Over Christmas And New Year
Also keep an eye out for sharp drops in the price of gold and silver over the low volume Christmas and New Year holidays. In 8 of the last 12 years we have seen the gold price fall sharply around this time . Therefore also making it a good time to buy gold and silver near the end of the calendar year. Will 2021 prove to be the same? We havent seen this occur for the last 3 years, so maybe its not so likely this year? But who knows so keep an eye out in case you get a chance to buy at lower prices.
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Why Investors Like Gold
Gold has a proven track record for returns, liquidity, and low correlations, making it a highly effective diversifier, says Juan Carlos Artigas, director of investment research at the World Gold Council.
These qualities are especially important for investors:
- Returns: Gold has outperformed stocks and bonds over certain stretches, though it doesnt always beat them.
- Liquidity: If youre buying certain kinds of gold-based assets, you can readily convert them to cash.
- Low correlations: Gold often performs differently from stocks and bonds, meaning when they go up, gold may go down or vice versa.
In addition, gold offers other potential advantages:
- Diversification: Because gold is generally not highly correlated to other assets, it can help diversify portfolios, meaning the overall portfolio is less volatile.
- Defensive store of value: Investors often retreat to gold when they perceive threats to the economy, making it a defensive investment.
Those are a few of the major benefits of gold, but the investment like all investments is not without risks and drawbacks.
While gold performs well sometimes, its not always clear when to purchase it. Since gold by itself doesnt produce cash flow, its difficult to determine when its cheap. Thats not the case with stocks, where there are clearer signals based on the companys earnings.
Gold Is A Liquid Asset
Gold is traded worldwide and can be easily converted to cash equivalents.
Gold transcends barriers. It has no native language, no border constraints, and no expiration date. You can buy gold in one country, then sell it in another. Hold on to it for two days or 20 years. Gold will still be internationally respected and recognized. Few currencies or symbols of wealth share the same economic transcendence. Gold is gold, from China to Canada, Russia to South America.
According to the World Gold Council , gold trades more than many other major financial assets, including German bonds, UK gilts, and all Dow Jones and S& P 500 stocks.
The market size for physical gold is larger than a variety of stock and bond markets, including the market size of major global financial assets that include Canada, Hang Sang, German bunds, French OATs, Italy, FTSE 100, and UK gilts, adds the WGC.
More practically speaking, consider how long it would take to convert a traditional asset into cash. Youd probably have to wait on a hedge fund manager, real estate agent, or banking associate. The process could be time-consuming and completely out of your control. When you own gold, you dont have to wait on other people or institutional red tape. Gold puts you in control.
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Gold In The Modern Economy
Even though gold no longer backs the U.S. dollar , it still carries importance in today’s society. It is still important to the global economy. To validate this point, there is no need to look further than the balance sheets of central banks and other financial organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund. Presently, these organizations are responsible for holding almost one-fifth of the world’s supply of above-ground gold. In addition, several central banks have added to their present gold reserves, reflecting concerns about the long-term global economy.
Alternative Investments To Gold That Produce Cash Flow Earnings
When you are investing for the long term, you want an asset than can compound your growth to get really great long term results. And these productive assets would give you the opportunity to do just that.
Remember our gold cube would just sit there. It doesnt pay dividends, it doesnt reinvest in itself, it doesnt produce anything.
Compare that to these assets here. If you instead spent your money on these assets, the farmland would sell about $450 billion in product during a year, Apple sells about $325 billion in phones, airpods, and other products, Microsoft gets about $160 billion, and Amazon gets about $419 billion.
That is $1.35 trillion dollars that would get sent to you if you owned these assets compared to the gold cube. And theres lots of ways to value assets, some people look at cash that is produced, or maybe net income what is left after every employee is paid, tractor is purchased, etc.
And that would result in over 1 quarter of a trillion dollars in your pocket in just one year. You still have all the assets, plus now you have a quarter trillion to reinvest in something else, to buy another business, or whatever you want to do.
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Best Place And Way To Purchase Copper & Platinum
As in the case of gold and silver purchases, customers who intend to buy copper and platinum will benefit more from making their purchases online than at a local coin shop. Purchasing copper and platinum from an online vendor entitles them to the same advantages offered on online gold and silver orders such as easier accessibility, better pricing and more privacy. Furthermore, at JM Bullion, the transaction process remains the same regardless of which precious metals the customer chooses to purchase. While we respect the individual preferences of our customers, we would like to warn customers who intend to purchase copper and platinum locally that the availability of these precious metals will be dependent on the specific inventory of each coin shop.
World Demand Is Growing
Despite the effect of the global pandemic, global demand for silver is growing. Virtually all major government mints have seen record levels of sales, with most already operating at peak production.
Surging demand is nowhere more evident than China. This behemoth market has a long history of cultural affinity toward precious metals. And with its population growing , its tremendous appetite will continue.
This kind of demand doesnt happen in a vacuum. Sooner or later there will be consequences when surging demand meets crimped supplyand those consequences are all positive if you own the metal.
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You Should Invest In Gold If
Gold may be right for you if youre an investor with tens of thousands of dollars or more to invest in the asset class and you want to add stability to your portfolio or are looking for a store of value during tough economic times. Gold investments are better for investors who:
- Have a Few Thousand Dollars to Invest. Gold is a highly valuable asset. Because commodities are cheaper in higher quantities and tend to make up less than 10% of a well-diversified investment portfolio, its important to have enough money in your portfolio to purchase a couple of ounces or more at a time. At todays prices, a pair of one-ounce gold bars requires about $3,500.
- Want to Hedge Against Inflation. Gold has historically grown in value at a rate faster than the U.S. dollar has lost value to inflation. As a result, the yellow metal makes a great hedge against inflation-related risks.
- Want Stability in Your Portfolio. As an asset known for generating stable growth, gold is a great option for those looking to add stability to their portfolio in order to balance out the risks associated with other investments.
What Are The Risks Of Investing In Silver
Of course, silver like any investment isn’t all reward the metal brings its fair share of risks, as well.
- Sensitive to recession: Driven as it is by industrial growth, the price of silver can be decimated by an economic slowdown
- Vulnerable to technology shifts: There’s always potential for silver to be replaced by another metal in its manufacturing uses. Or for something to happen to the industry itself witness the decline of photographic film, a big user of the metal
- Limited income/appreciation potential: as a tangible commodity, silver doesn’t offer any interest like a bond, or dividends like a stock. Your only chance to benefit is if you sell it during a price rise.
- Unpredictable price moves: Because silver has worth in multiple categories, its price can vacillate wildly, caught in a tug-of-war between its industrial and investment valuations. Say investors bid up silver prices. “As the silver price rises, the incentive to recycle silver from industrial scrap, jewelry, and silverware grows,” says Camerana. “As there is a lot of potential scrap around the world, it could cause unexpected oversupply,” which would then cause the price to drop.
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Best Place To Buy Gold
Buying gold online is a good idea if you do not have time to go from store to store looking for what you want. It also gives you the chance to look at several dealers and their products so that you can get the best price possible. Like we mentioned above, Kitco, Monex, and JM Bullion are all great online dealers to check out.
When you are ready to buy gold, it is important to remember a few things. First, always make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer. Second, be sure to understand the product that you are buying. Gold can come in many different forms, so make sure you know what you are getting before you purchase. Finally, don’t buy more gold than you can afford. Gold is a valuable commodity and should be treated as such.
Why Invest In Silver
Like gold and other natural resources, silver is classified as a commodity a publicly traded, tangible asset. Tangible assets’ prices generally move in the opposite direction from stocks and bonds.
For this reason, many investors turn towards commodities like silver when the stock market has a poor outlook or in times of economic recession or political turmoil. Since it’s impacted by different influences, silver can be a good way to diversify and counterbalance your portfolio vis-a-vis equities or other paper securities.
Silver also acts as an inflation hedge. As a physical asset, it has intrinsic worth, unlike the dollar or other currencies. Silver holds its value long term and fares well when interest rates are low and fixed-income investments aren’t earning much.
In these ways, silver functions like gold as an investment, serving a similar “safe haven” role. However, silver is an industrial metal as well as an investment metal which significantly affects its price performance and outlook.
Silver is used in the manufacture of a variety of things, from glitzy jewelry to humble batteries, from medical equipment to microcircuits. It’s also at the forefront of some innovative fields.
So investing in silver can be a way to bet on the technological advances and the clean energy movement.
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Alternatives To Investing In Precious Metals
When it comes to investing in precious metals, youll spend more time agonizing over the rise and fall of their value on any given day instead of building equity on a home or rental property or seeing growth in your 401.
Every day you keep an investment, youre making the decision to keep your money tied up in it regardless of its current market value. That means you need to invest in things that will make you more money over timelike real estate and mutual funds.
The most important thing is that you dont invest in anything you dont understand. Having a good investment professional on your familys team can help you tell a good investment from a bad one and help you build wealth over time. Ready to get started? Connect with a SmartVestor Pro in your area today.
About the author
Ramsey Solutions
Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.
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Buying Silver Bullion As An Inflation Hedge
Investors who want protection against inflation buy silver and gold as inflation hedges. During the 1970s, silver and gold prices skyrocketed in response to price inflation that reached 13%. During the 70s, popular silver and gold investments included any form of silver bullion, from 1-oz silver rounds and pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver coins to 100-oz silver bars and 1-oz Krugerrand gold coins. When the Federal Reserve brought inflation under control in the 1980s, much of the silver bullion and the gold coins purchased in the 1970s were sold and the proceeds put back in paper investments.
Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying Precious Metals
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Buying physical gold or silver as an investment is not always as straightforward as it sounds. Novice investors often get lost in a variety of options: Should I buy minted bars or sovereign coins? Maybe that limited edition coin would be a good investment?
Sensible investors evaluate bullion options by the price and premium on the gold spot price. But the premium is only one part of the equation. It doesnt necessarily mean that youll get that premium back upon the sale.
Worse, there are unscrupulous dealers out there. They will try to trick you into buying numismatics and other collectibles that have a huge premium and wont retain their value over time.
As a result, its essential to get an understanding of precious metals before dipping your toes into this market.
In this article, Ill answer some of the most important questions you should ask yourself before buying precious metals.
What Is the Best Way to Invest in Precious Metals?
You can invest in precious metals by buying the physical metal like bullion bars and bullion coins or through financial products such as gold exchange-traded funds .
Each method has advantages and disadvantages.
While investing in precious metals through ETFs sounds appealing due to its convenience, there are several key issues that investors need to be aware of in relation to this method of investment.
In this regard, buying the physical metal is a more sensible option.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
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