Ways to Invest in Gold Silver | Generated by AI
There are several practical ways regular people invest in gold and silver:
Physical metals
You can buy actual gold or silver from coin dealers, online retailers like APMEX or JM Bullion, or sometimes even local pawn shops. Common options include coins (like American Eagles or Canadian Maples), bars, or rounds. You’ll pay a premium over the spot price, and you need to think about secure storage - either a home safe or a bank safety deposit box.
ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds)
These trade like stocks and track gold/silver prices. Popular ones include GLD and IAU for gold, SLV for silver. You buy them through any brokerage account. This is convenient since there’s no storage hassle, though you don’t own physical metal.
Mining stocks or ETFs
You can invest in companies that mine precious metals, or funds that hold multiple mining companies like GDX. These tend to be more volatile than the metals themselves.
Fractional ownership platforms
Apps like OneGold or Vaulted let you buy small amounts of physical gold/silver that’s stored for you. Good for starting small.
IRAs
Some people use precious metals IRAs to hold physical gold/silver in a tax-advantaged retirement account, though these have specific rules and storage requirements.
Things to consider: Gold and silver don’t generate income like stocks or bonds do - they only gain value if the price goes up. They’re often used as a hedge against inflation or economic uncertainty. Most financial advisors suggest precious metals as just one part of a diversified portfolio, typically 5-10% at most.
What’s drawing you to gold or silver specifically? That might help narrow down which approach makes sense for you.