Many top investment experts recommend a portfolio allocation to commodities, including gold, to reduce total portfolio risk. There are several ways to invest in gold. These include bullion (gold bars, coins), futures contracts, mining firms, and jewelry. With a few exceptions, only bullion, futures, and a few specialty funds offer a direct investment in gold. Other investments get some of their value from somewhere else.

Gold Bullion

Some people think of gold bullion as the large gold bars held at Fort Knox, KY. While massive gold bars are remarkable, their great size (up to 400 troy ounces) makes them illiquid and so expensive to buy and sell.
And if you own one enormous gold bar worth $100,000 as your whole gold holding and wish to sell 10%, you can't just saw off the end of the bar and sell it. Bullion stored in smaller-sized bars and coins, on the other hand, gives significantly more liquidity and is quite prevalent among gold owners.

Sovereign nations all throughout the world have issued large quantities of gold coins. Gold buyers often purchase coins from private dealers. There is premium attached above the underlying gold value (referred to as spot price). Premiums are anywhere from 2% to 5%. But in recent years, some premiums have risen to around 10% and higher in some situations.

Bullion coins have benefits. Their prices are readily available in worldwide financial periodicals. Gold coins are commonly struck in smaller sizes (one ounce or less), making them a more practical way to invest in gold than larger bars. Reputable dealers and vendors are easy to find and can be found in many major cities.

Buying bullion in gold bars and coins is a direct investment in the value of gold. Each dollar change in the price of gold affects the value of one's assets proportionally.

Gold-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)

A gold-based exchange-traded funds is an alternative to a direct purchase of gold bullion. Each share of these specialized instruments represents a fixed amount of gold, such as one-tenth of an ounce.

These funds may be purchased or sold just like stocks, in any brokerage account or individual retirement account (IRA). It is easier and more cost-effective than owning bars or coins directly—especially for small investors, as the minimum investment is only the price of a single share of the ETF. The annual average expense ratios of these funds are often much less than the fees and expenses on many other investments.

Gold Jewelry

Jewelry accounts for approximately 55% of global gold production.
With the world's population and income increasing on a yearly basis, the demand for gold used in jewelry creation should rise over time. Gold jewelry customers, on the other hand, appear to be price-sensitive, purchasing less if the price rises rapidly.

Purchasing beautiful jewelry at retail rates entails a significant markup—up to 300% or more above the base gold value. Estate sales and auctions can have better jewelry deals. The benefit of purchasing jewelry in this manner is that there is no retail markup; the negative is the time spent looking for valuable pieces.

Nonetheless, jewelry ownership is a fun way to possess gold, even if it is not the most profitable investment option.

In conclusion

The best gold investment for your portfolio is determined by your finances and investing goals. Large and small investors seeking direct exposure may decide to invest in gold bullion, although this comes with a premium and storage charges. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds that follow the price of gold provide low-cost exposure with modest minimum investments. However, because funds differ in their investment methods and fee ratios, it is critical to conduct research before purchasing these shares. Investing in gold mining businesses can provide additional exposure to the commodity, but these equities don't usually closely reflect gold's long-term performance. Finally, purchasing jewelry can be a gratifying way to acquire gold, though it is less likely to generate investment rewards.

References:
https://money.usnews.com/investing/funds/slideshows/best-gold-etfs-to-hedge-volatility
https://www.statista.com/topics/5163/jewelry-market-worldwide/#dossier-chapter2
https://www.callagold.com/metals/rule-of-thumb-in-calculating-the-cost-of-gold-jewelry/
https://www.kitco.com/ind/Shaefer/2014-01-29-5-Mistakes-People-Make-When-Buying-Gold.html
https://www.kitco.com/charts/livegold.html

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