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Gold has been a form of currency and mode of storing wealth for centuries thanks to its scarcity. Historians often herald the precious metal as being responsible for the banking industry meaning its intrinsic value goes back centuries. This is no 21 st Century cryptocurrency – it is a measure of wealth almost as old as time.
With countries all over the globe holding a percentage of their overall wealth in gold in order to protect themselves and their economy from financial risk, gold is seen as one of the steadiest forms of investment. We’re increasingly seeing this, as nations from Russia to China slowly transition their reserves from the volatile US dollar to the stable gold bullion.
Gold has been a form of currency and mode of storing wealth for centuries thanks to its scarcity. Historians often herald the precious metal as being responsible for the banking industry meaning its intrinsic value goes back centuries. This is no 21 st Century cryptocurrency – it is a measure of wealth almost as old as time.
With countries all over the globe holding a percentage of their overall wealth in gold in order to protect themselves and their economy from financial risk, gold is seen as one of the steadiest forms of investment. We’re increasingly seeing this, as nations from Russia to China slowly transition their reserves from the volatile US dollar to the stable gold bullion.
Gold is by far the best performing asset of the 21 st century, yielding an average return of 15% over the past decade alone.
Q1 and Q2 2019 were a tale of major gains for gold with investors – it smashed through the $1400 mark as markets dipped and peaked. We’ve seen global banks and private investors increasing their stocks and taking advantage of what could be the lowest prices we’ll see for the immediate future. In all cases it’s clear, gold ensures financial security for the future.
With market uncertainty surrounding world economies growing due to political and financial issues, the price of many commonly held assets has received a big hit. We have trade wars, Brexit and other geopolitical crises to thank – turmoil that has made gold more stable and more desirable than ever as elsewhere, markets experience huge amounts of volatility.
Gold has always been recognised as a safe, tangible asset and has proven to be a reliable investment option for thousands of years. Today more than ever, a growing number of investors and central banks are once again choosing to secure their wealth against financial risk by investing in gold. The modern investor able to move quickly is also seeing the value of their asset trending upwards giving security and real returns.
Current savings performance is severely limited by low-interest rates and the capital amount a bank or financial institution is required to hold at any time. This puts savers in a precarious situation, with several UK financial institutions being added to UK government watch lists as customer finances face escalating risk for very little return.
With Brexit just around the corner, inflation is set to rise to as much as 5% while interest rates pay as little as 1%. Against this backdrop, investment in gold and other precious metals is on the up.
Income, property, equity and savings are all taxed, but gold offers a tax-free solution to keeping hold of all of your gains.
Physical gold is a legitimate exception to the tax rule, similar to an ISA, but without the restrictions. This means you are able to keep greater control of your investment without being subjected to penalties on early liquidation.
Unlike shares and pensions, physical gold sits outside of the banking systems and therefore, isn’t affected by counterparty risks.
For investors considering adding gold to their portfolio, it is sensible to do a little research to see how physical gold measures up against other forms of investment.
Here, we offer in-depth analysis on gold versus other investment types so you can weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each asset for yourself.
Savings suffered a fall in absolute value in the period 2006-2016, despite seeing a minimal return on the initial investment due to interest rates.
When comparing the growth of gold against these other assets, the power and potential of gold is evident. As uncertainty in the global economy looks set to continue, gold investment offers a substantial investment opportunity and a much more profitable avenue than any other traditional asset class.
Shares might seem like an attractive proposition for investors, but with big rewards come big risks. As a longer-term investment opportunity, gold offers greater security and much more solid protection of wealth.
With a changeable and volatile world economy, investing in shares is becoming increasingly risky and is tipping the balance between risk and reward towards uncertain outcomes. Even the smallest return is not guaranteed, but with gold, financial protection against this uncertainty has been proven over the years.
There are countless examples of markets plummeting as a result of political and economic events, with 2019 proving particularly turbulent thanks to a US-China trade war, Brexit, stagnant EU economies and falling productivity worldwide. Financial policy makers are mulling policy changes and the threat of recession is ever-present. All of this is felt in market conditions and value. Gold by comparison offers investors the opportunity to grow their portfolio with much lower risk.
When all other asset types struggle due to an uncertain market, gold rallies making it a safe and reliable haven for investors, especially those with a lower appetite for risk.
Shares, on the other hand, are very much at the mercy of fluctuating markets and demand plenty of skill and luck in order to reap big rewards due to the inherent complexity of this asset class.
Investing in shares can be exciting, but many investment decisions of this type are based on speculation and on the hope that the company you invest in will remain profitable to enjoy the rewards. It is a far riskier investment opportunity than that offered by gold.
With factors outside of the control of investors or financial institutions making shares vulnerable to a wide range of potential threats, invest in the wrong shares at the wrong time, and you could be left with nothing.
Although many people invest in shares in order to provide them with an additional income, unless you are willing to put in a significant investment at the start, it is unlikely that any dividends will finance a luxury lifestyle in the near future. Even a significant investment may not be enough – what is certain is that the stakes are higher and capacity for losses much greater.
However, as gold is in such high demand the world over and is easy to liquidate, investing in this precious metal can help provide additional funds for life-changing events due to its flexibility.
Investing in gold coins can offer greater flexibility and easier liquidation for smaller or more specific amounts, so this can help boost income whenever you feel the need arise.
A cornerstone of the global economy, banks have been around for centuries as a place for the population to store its wealth. However, with growing political uncertainty and financial upheaval, banks are no longer the safe haven that we’ve all come to depend upon.
Although banks are useful financial institutions for day to day use due to the wealth of services they offer, they are very much at the mercy of financial markets and many people who have worked hard to accrue savings over the years are finding that the interest paid on their money is underwhelming to say the least. This makes the bank as an investment option increasingly less attractive, especially when compared with other options such as gold investment – an asset class almost as old as time, equally as historic, traditional and safe as banks and a tried-and-tested safe haven.
Gold not only falls outside of the influence of the banking system, but any investment remains the sole responsibility of the investor. This is significant because, the wealth inherent to gold can be traded or sold at the investor’s discretion, unlike savings held in a traditional bank account.
The precious metal is also safe from the impacts of economic downturns and bank failures and retains a consistent value in a time of crisis due to its rarity and strong reputation as an investment safe haven.
Getting money out of a bank is usually a straightforward process, but what many potential investors fail to realise is that gold also offers ease of access to funds.
For those that wish to access part of their investment in smaller increments, gold coins are an excellent investment option as they can quickly and easily be exchanged for goods or currency with minimal effort.
One of the newest forms of investment opportunity, digital currencies such as Bitcoin have been making waves in the media over the past few years with an equal balance of success and horror stories. While the highs make headlines, the lows have been similarly attention-grabbing. In January 2019 for example, Bitcoin compounded six straight months of losses with a further decline in value. Some traders tell of making and losing $1 million in Bitcoin almost at the drop of a hat due to the hugely volatile nature of this asset.
Is this new generation of digital currencies a match for the wealth safeguarding benefits of gold? Almost certainly, not.
First released as open source software in 2009, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that uses digital encryption in transactions. Created by a team of anonymous programmers, the currency has enjoyed significant exposure (thanks in large part to its huge volatility) and uses peer-to-peer transactions with no intermediary. Records are kept in a digital ledger known as a blockchain.
The Bitcoin currency is stored in a digital wallet and is a secure online payment method that far exceeds the security of even the most heavily encrypted credit cards. This encryption has helped the currency gain significant attention from investors.
The success of Bitcoin is partly due to its international currency status. In certain parts of Africa, more than 30% of the population owns a digital Bitcoin wallet, but the number of Bitcoins available for circulation worldwide has been capped at 21 million, meaning that more than 75% of the available currency is already in circulation.
Although Bitcoin has soared in value since its inception, it’s also suffered mountainous losses and seems unable to hold its value for any length of time. Investors ride a roller coaster with highs and lows seemingly interchangeable. This makes it perhaps the most volatile of all of the asset classes and arguably, unsuitable for serious investors. Certainly, those searching for other investment avenues to offset risk would be well advised to avoid cryptocurrencies.
Although you can’t stop the inevitable march of technology, gold has been a traditional wealth store for thousands of years and still offers exceptional benefits for investors.
Investing in gold, when done correctly, can offer a tax-free investment opportunity and sits outside of interference from financial markets. As gold also has the tangible element that Bitcoin lacks, the price will never drop below zero, unlike its cryptocurrency counterparts as the precious metal is still in high demand.
As we have already seen, cryptocurrencies are also subject to huge losses and widespread volatility that’s impossible to predict. Months and months of price drops are not uncommon, nor is the launch then failure of a new crypto coin.
Comparing gold investment to that of currency is a little like comparing apples with oranges. They are both highly representative of two very different approaches to investment.
Currency investment fluctuates on an almost hourly basis and focuses on much shorter-term profits, unlike gold that seeks to gain value and safeguard wealth over a more extended period of time.
Also known as Forex or the foreign currency market, investing in currency on the world’s largest financial markets offers a plethora of investment options that can make the heads of even the most experienced of investors spin.
The most volatile of all financial markets, Forex trading offers high rewards, but the risks often put many savvy investors off joining the 4 million trades that are conducted each and every day.
Currencies move in relation to each other, so as one rises in value, another must fall making it a risky way of diversifying an investment portfolio that isn’t tied to any particular national market.
Another downside to Forex trading is that the market is often seen as corrupt and heavily manipulated, and it is often the smaller players that lose out as the key thing to remember is that as one investor is making big gains in the market, another is losing.
Gold, on the other hand, offers a longer term, fairer approach to investment with fewer risks. A durable and reliable form of investment that has been a way to store wealth for centuries, gold operated outside of financial markets making it ideal for anyone seeking to preserve their investment against market fluctuations and financial crashes.
One of the most high-performing assets of the past decade, gold saw an increase in value of almost 400% between 2012 and 2015, so although that gold doesn’t offer the ability to get rich quick, it does provide a stable and reliable investment opportunity for those that value security.
If you want your money to work harder for you, the low-interest rates currently offered by banks offer very little in return for your loyalty.
With most interest rates failing to keep up with inflation and counterparty bank risks, many people are turning to gold as a safer, more reliable wealth store than ever before.
The way that banks works has been the norm for decades. Customers save money in bank accounts in return for interest, and the banks are able to use this capital to lend to others in return for repayment fees and interest in borrowing.
Although this system has been effective for many years and has been mutually beneficial for all parties involves, plunging interest rates have seen the deal change for savers who often feel underwhelmed on their returns.
Banks are affected by wider financial markets and political factors too, therefore increasing the risk for customers who have poured their life savings into these established institutions. In fact, should a bank fail for any reason, savers are only protected to the tune of £85,000 per bank which is a major concern for those that have entrusted large amounts to the bank of their choice.
In the US, there has been much talk about interest rates of late as it looks likely that the Federal Reserve will make interest cuts. This is bad news in the long term, with CNN reporting that interest rate cuts are rooted in desperation and bad news long term for investors. Rate cuts mean cheap money but, with jobs growth and economic growth slowing, more debt is on the horizon – and this can only be bad news for investors with US debt already at trillion dollar levels. Should the US fall into recession, many other nations would likely follow suit, putting savings at risk worldwide.
As a physical asset, gold has an established value thanks to a scarcity that allows it to climb far higher than interest rates. Free from the constraints of financial institutions including banks, gold can be securely stored in vaults, under the guidance of an expert or even locked safely elsewhere thus removing wealth from general circulation and giving back power to the investor on how and when their wealth is used.
Gold has also enjoyed a significant long-term price rise over the last decade and has far exceeded even the best savings account products meaning that investor wealth can work far harder when used to purchase tangible gold.
When you mention the word ‘investment’, many people think of owning shares connected to an interest in a company. Known as equity shares, this form of investment is often the default for those wishing to dip their toes in the stock market.
However glamorous this form of investing may seem, playing the stock market with shares is no longer an attractive a proposition as it once was, with several pitfalls that potential investors need to be aware of as gold offers a far safer and reliable investment opportunity.
Investors will most likely feel a rollercoaster of emotions with this form of investment as stocks can be on the up one day and down the next due to a wide range of factors outside of investor control. All it takes is a little negative press, a bad political headline or unexpected economic hiccups (such as a decrease in growth or increase in unemployment) and your seemingly sound stock market investment can be worth virtually nothing and may never recover.
Recovery from dips take a long time to realise, and it really is a game of chance and skill to make the figures work in your favour, so it is better to view stock market investments as more of gamble rather than a reliable method of safeguarding wealth for the future.
Another major appeal for those investing in equities is the regular payments of dividends. These payments are a share of the company’s profits, but unless you are willing to plough a significant of money into buying shares, the outcome probably won’t allow you to lead a lavish lifestyle on the dividends alone.
Although gold does not provide a direct income in the same way, the purchase of tangible gold coins allows investors to trade or exchange smaller amounts of their investments at intervals to suit them as it is always in demand and easy to liquidate.
One of the main disadvantages to the stock market and equity shares is the unpredictable and uncontrollable swings that all investors, no matter how big or small, are subject to.
Gold is a tangible asset with a proven track record of sustainable and reliable growth, which actually increases when confidence in financial markets is low, making it a safe haven for investors.
As gold is a way to store wealth outside of the stock exchange and banks, it helps prevent catastrophic losses in the event of an economic downturn and can actually rise in value as all other goods and commodities fall.
Simple to open and manage, an ISA product is often the first port of call for anyone seeking a tax-efficient way of growing and safeguarding wealth for the future, but how do they measure up against gold?
After researching the best paying ISAs currently available from UK financial institutions, interest rates tend to sit at around the 2% mark, meaning that investments of £100k ten years ago will have resulted in a total of £130k today once inflation is accounted for.
Investing the same figure in gold over the same time period would have garnered far better results, with a total of £286k delivering a 186% increase in value today. Is it any wonder that gold is consistently cited as a strong, stable and highly regarded investment option?
Another key consideration when comparing gold with ISA’ s is the restrictions and time restraints placed on investors. ISA’s often limit how much can be added or removed during a particular timeframe and some even place heavy liquidation fees on investors who want to withdraw funds early.
Gold offers far greater flexibility, as amounts can be traded or exchanged at any time without such penalties. As there is always a demand for gold, it is easy to gain access to currency from your investment without facing fees for doing so.
What makes ISAs so attractive for those looking to safeguard wealth for the future from a tax perspective can also be said of gold. As the precious metal is exempt from several taxes including VAT and Capital Gains Tax in the UK and the EU, many savvy investors choose gold coins as their investment of choice as they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax as they hold a currency status.
A tax efficient, tangible asset that outperforms ISAs in terms of wealth growth and accessibility, gold offers investors the chance to invest without restrictions and make far more significant gains over the same time period.
If you’ve been researching gold investment for some time, but still have some burning questions that require an answer before you make your investment, here are some of the most frequently asked questions to help put your mind at rest.
If you still have a query on our services, then feel free to contact us and a knowledgeable and professional member of our team will be in touch to discuss your question in more detail.
The question of buying gold or coins depends on personal circumstances, financial status, investment amount and portfolio plans. Broadly speaking, purchasing gold coins provides good levels of flexibility.
UK investors also benefit from legal tender coins being tax exempt, whereas gold bars are not. Owning part of a very large portfolio in 1kg gold bars can deliver price savings. To decide what’s best for your own investment journey, talk to a member of the Gold Safe team today.
We take financial security very seriously, but customer payments do not typically require any additional ID to be provided. However, we may contact you to confirm some security details for insurance reasons.
If you are buying on behalf of a company or consortium, we will require further information, so please get in touch with a member of our team.
Gold has been a form of currency and mode of storing wealth for centuries thanks to its scarcity. Historians often herald the precious metal as being responsible for the banking industry meaning its intrinsic value goes back centuries. This is no 21 st Century cryptocurrency – it is a measure of wealth almost as old as time.
With countries all over the globe holding a percentage of their overall wealth in gold in order to protect themselves and their economy from financial risk, gold is seen as one of the steadiest forms of investment. We’re increasingly seeing this, as nations from Russia to China slowly transition their reserves from the volatile US dollar to the stable gold bullion.
Gold is by far the best performing asset of the 21 st century, yielding an average return of 15% over the past decade alone. Q1 and Q2 2019 were a tale of major gains for gold with investors – it smashed through the $1400 mark as markets dipped and peaked. We’ve seen global banks and private investors increasing their stocks and taking advantage of what could be the lowest prices we’ll see for the immediate future. In all cases it’s clear, gold ensures financial security for the future.
With market uncertainty surrounding world economies growing due to political and financial issues, the price of many commonly held assets has received a big hit. We have trade wars, Brexit and other geopolitical crises to thank – turmoil that has made gold more stable and more desirable than ever as elsewhere, markets experience huge amounts of volatility.
Gold has always been recognised as a safe, tangible asset and has proven to be a reliable investment option for thousands of years. Today more than ever, a growing number of investors and central banks are once again choosing to secure their wealth against financial risk by investing in gold. The modern investor able to move quickly is also seeing the value of their asset trending upwards giving security and real returns.
Current savings performance is severely limited by low-interest rates and the capital amount a bank or financial institution is required to hold at any time. This puts savers in a precarious situation, with several UK financial institutions being added to UK government watch lists as customer finances face escalating risk for very little return.
With Brexit just around the corner, inflation is set to rise to as much as 5% while interest rates pay as little as 1%. Against this backdrop, investment in gold and other precious metals is on the up.
Income, property, equity and savings are all taxed, but gold offers a tax-free solution to keeping hold of all of your gains.
Physical gold is a legitimate exception to the tax rule, similar to an ISA, but without the restrictions. This means you are able to keep greater control of your investment without being subjected to penalties on early liquidation.
Gold has been a form of currency and mode of storing wealth for centuries thanks to its scarcity. Historians often herald the precious metal as being responsible for the banking industry meaning its intrinsic value goes back centuries. This is no 21 st Century cryptocurrency – it is a measure of wealth almost as old as time.
With countries all over the globe holding a percentage of their overall wealth in gold in order to protect themselves and their economy from financial risk, gold is seen as one of the steadiest forms of investment. We’re increasingly seeing this, as nations from Russia to China slowly transition their reserves from the volatile US dollar to the stable gold bullion.
Gold is by far the best performing asset of the 21 st century, yielding an average return of 15% over the past decade alone.
Q1 and Q2 2019 were a tale of major gains for gold with investors – it smashed through the $1400 mark as markets dipped and peaked. We’ve seen global banks and private investors increasing their stocks and taking advantage of what could be the lowest prices we’ll see for the immediate future. In all cases it’s clear, gold ensures financial security for the future.
With market uncertainty surrounding world economies growing due to political and financial issues, the price of many commonly held assets has received a big hit. We have trade wars, Brexit and other geopolitical crises to thank – turmoil that has made gold more stable and more desirable than ever as elsewhere, markets experience huge amounts of volatility.
Gold has always been recognised as a safe, tangible asset and has proven to be a reliable investment option for thousands of years. Today more than ever, a growing number of investors and central banks are once again choosing to secure their wealth against financial risk by investing in gold. The modern investor able to move quickly is also seeing the value of their asset trending upwards giving security and real returns.
Current savings performance is severely limited by low-interest rates and the capital amount a bank or financial institution is required to hold at any time. This puts savers in a precarious situation, with several UK financial institutions being added to UK government watch lists as customer finances face escalating risk for very little return.
With Brexit just around the corner, inflation is set to rise to as much as 5% while interest rates pay as little as 1%. Against this backdrop, investment in gold and other precious metals is on the up.
Income, property, equity and savings are all taxed, but gold offers a tax-free solution to keeping hold of all of your gains.
Physical gold is a legitimate exception to the tax rule, similar to an ISA, but without the restrictions. This means you are able to keep greater control of your investment without being subjected to penalties on early liquidation.
Unlike shares and pensions, physical gold sits outside of the banking systems and therefore, isn’t affected by counterparty risks.
For investors considering adding gold to their portfolio, it is sensible to do a little research to see how physical gold measures up against other forms of investment.
Here, we offer in-depth analysis on gold versus other investment types so you can weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each asset for yourself.
Savings suffered a fall in absolute value in the period 2006-2016, despite seeing a minimal return on the initial investment due to interest rates.
When comparing the growth of gold against these other assets, the power and potential of gold is evident. As uncertainty in the global economy looks set to continue, gold investment offers a substantial investment opportunity and a much more profitable avenue than any other traditional asset class.
Shares might seem like an attractive proposition for investors, but with big rewards come big risks. As a longer-term investment opportunity, gold offers greater security and much more solid protection of wealth.
With a changeable and volatile world economy, investing in shares is becoming increasingly risky and is tipping the balance between risk and reward towards uncertain outcomes. Even the smallest return is not guaranteed, but with gold, financial protection against this uncertainty has been proven over the years.
There are countless examples of markets plummeting as a result of political and economic events, with 2019 proving particularly turbulent thanks to a US-China trade war, Brexit, stagnant EU economies and falling productivity worldwide. Financial policy makers are mulling policy changes and the threat of recession is ever-present. All of this is felt in market conditions and value. Gold by comparison offers investors the opportunity to grow their portfolio with much lower risk.
When all other asset types struggle due to an uncertain market, gold rallies making it a safe and reliable haven for investors, especially those with a lower appetite for risk.
Shares, on the other hand, are very much at the mercy of fluctuating markets and demand plenty of skill and luck in order to reap big rewards due to the inherent complexity of this asset class.
Investing in shares can be exciting, but many investment decisions of this type are based on speculation and on the hope that the company you invest in will remain profitable to enjoy the rewards. It is a far riskier investment opportunity than that offered by gold.
With factors outside of the control of investors or financial institutions making shares vulnerable to a wide range of potential threats, invest in the wrong shares at the wrong time, and you could be left with nothing.
Although many people invest in shares in order to provide them with an additional income, unless you are willing to put in a significant investment at the start, it is unlikely that any dividends will finance a luxury lifestyle in the near future. Even a significant investment may not be enough – what is certain is that the stakes are higher and capacity for losses much greater.
However, as gold is in such high demand the world over and is easy to liquidate, investing in this precious metal can help provide additional funds for life-changing events due to its flexibility.
Investing in gold coins can offer greater flexibility and easier liquidation for smaller or more specific amounts, so this can help boost income whenever you feel the need arise.
A cornerstone of the global economy, banks have been around for centuries as a place for the population to store its wealth. However, with growing political uncertainty and financial upheaval, banks are no longer the safe haven that we’ve all come to depend upon.
Although banks are useful financial institutions for day to day use due to the wealth of services they offer, they are very much at the mercy of financial markets and many people who have worked hard to accrue savings over the years are finding that the interest paid on their money is underwhelming to say the least. This makes the bank as an investment option increasingly less attractive, especially when compared with other options such as gold investment – an asset class almost as old as time, equally as historic, traditional and safe as banks and a tried-and-tested safe haven.
Gold not only falls outside of the influence of the banking system, but any investment remains the sole responsibility of the investor. This is significant because, the wealth inherent to gold can be traded or sold at the investor’s discretion, unlike savings held in a traditional bank account.
The precious metal is also safe from the impacts of economic downturns and bank failures and retains a consistent value in a time of crisis due to its rarity and strong reputation as an investment safe haven.
Getting money out of a bank is usually a straightforward process, but what many potential investors fail to realise is that gold also offers ease of access to funds.
For those that wish to access part of their investment in smaller increments, gold coins are an excellent investment option as they can quickly and easily be exchanged for goods or currency with minimal effort.
One of the newest forms of investment opportunity, digital currencies such as Bitcoin have been making waves in the media over the past few years with an equal balance of success and horror stories. While the highs make headlines, the lows have been similarly attention-grabbing. In January 2019 for example, Bitcoin compounded six straight months of losses with a further decline in value. Some traders tell of making and losing $1 million in Bitcoin almost at the drop of a hat due to the hugely volatile nature of this asset.
Is this new generation of digital currencies a match for the wealth safeguarding benefits of gold? Almost certainly, not.
First released as open source software in 2009, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that uses digital encryption in transactions. Created by a team of anonymous programmers, the currency has enjoyed significant exposure (thanks in large part to its huge volatility) and uses peer-to-peer transactions with no intermediary. Records are kept in a digital ledger known as a blockchain.
The Bitcoin currency is stored in a digital wallet and is a secure online payment method that far exceeds the security of even the most heavily encrypted credit cards. This encryption has helped the currency gain significant attention from investors.
The success of Bitcoin is partly due to its international currency status. In certain parts of Africa, more than 30% of the population owns a digital Bitcoin wallet, but the number of Bitcoins available for circulation worldwide has been capped at 21 million, meaning that more than 75% of the available currency is already in circulation.
Although Bitcoin has soared in value since its inception, it’s also suffered mountainous losses and seems unable to hold its value for any length of time. Investors ride a roller coaster with highs and lows seemingly interchangeable. This makes it perhaps the most volatile of all of the asset classes and arguably, unsuitable for serious investors. Certainly, those searching for other investment avenues to offset risk would be well advised to avoid cryptocurrencies.
Although you can’t stop the inevitable march of technology, gold has been a traditional wealth store for thousands of years and still offers exceptional benefits for investors.
Investing in gold, when done correctly, can offer a tax-free investment opportunity and sits outside of interference from financial markets. As gold also has the tangible element that Bitcoin lacks, the price will never drop below zero, unlike its cryptocurrency counterparts as the precious metal is still in high demand.
As we have already seen, cryptocurrencies are also subject to huge losses and widespread volatility that’s impossible to predict. Months and months of price drops are not uncommon, nor is the launch then failure of a new crypto coin.
Comparing gold investment to that of currency is a little like comparing apples with oranges. They are both highly representative of two very different approaches to investment.
Currency investment fluctuates on an almost hourly basis and focuses on much shorter-term profits, unlike gold that seeks to gain value and safeguard wealth over a more extended period of time.
Also known as Forex or the foreign currency market, investing in currency on the world’s largest financial markets offers a plethora of investment options that can make the heads of even the most experienced of investors spin.
The most volatile of all financial markets, Forex trading offers high rewards, but the risks often put many savvy investors off joining the 4 million trades that are conducted each and every day.
Currencies move in relation to each other, so as one rises in value, another must fall making it a risky way of diversifying an investment portfolio that isn’t tied to any particular national market.
Another downside to Forex trading is that the market is often seen as corrupt and heavily manipulated, and it is often the smaller players that lose out as the key thing to remember is that as one investor is making big gains in the market, another is losing.
Gold, on the other hand, offers a longer term, fairer approach to investment with fewer risks. A durable and reliable form of investment that has been a way to store wealth for centuries, gold operated outside of financial markets making it ideal for anyone seeking to preserve their investment against market fluctuations and financial crashes.
One of the most high-performing assets of the past decade, gold saw an increase in value of almost 400% between 2012 and 2015, so although that gold doesn’t offer the ability to get rich quick, it does provide a stable and reliable investment opportunity for those that value security.
If you want your money to work harder for you, the low-interest rates currently offered by banks offer very little in return for your loyalty.
With most interest rates failing to keep up with inflation and counterparty bank risks, many people are turning to gold as a safer, more reliable wealth store than ever before.
The way that banks works has been the norm for decades. Customers save money in bank accounts in return for interest, and the banks are able to use this capital to lend to others in return for repayment fees and interest in borrowing.
Although this system has been effective for many years and has been mutually beneficial for all parties involves, plunging interest rates have seen the deal change for savers who often feel underwhelmed on their returns.
Banks are affected by wider financial markets and political factors too, therefore increasing the risk for customers who have poured their life savings into these established institutions. In fact, should a bank fail for any reason, savers are only protected to the tune of £85,000 per bank which is a major concern for those that have entrusted large amounts to the bank of their choice.
In the US, there has been much talk about interest rates of late as it looks likely that the Federal Reserve will make interest cuts. This is bad news in the long term, with CNN reporting that interest rate cuts are rooted in desperation and bad news long term for investors. Rate cuts mean cheap money but, with jobs growth and economic growth slowing, more debt is on the horizon – and this can only be bad news for investors with US debt already at trillion dollar levels. Should the US fall into recession, many other nations would likely follow suit, putting savings at risk worldwide.
As a physical asset, gold has an established value thanks to a scarcity that allows it to climb far higher than interest rates. Free from the constraints of financial institutions including banks, gold can be securely stored in vaults, under the guidance of an expert or even locked safely elsewhere thus removing wealth from general circulation and giving back power to the investor on how and when their wealth is used.
Gold has also enjoyed a significant long-term price rise over the last decade and has far exceeded even the best savings account products meaning that investor wealth can work far harder when used to purchase tangible gold.
When you mention the word ‘investment’, many people think of owning shares connected to an interest in a company. Known as equity shares, this form of investment is often the default for those wishing to dip their toes in the stock market.
However glamorous this form of investing may seem, playing the stock market with shares is no longer an attractive a proposition as it once was, with several pitfalls that potential investors need to be aware of as gold offers a far safer and reliable investment opportunity.
Investors will most likely feel a rollercoaster of emotions with this form of investment as stocks can be on the up one day and down the next due to a wide range of factors outside of investor control. All it takes is a little negative press, a bad political headline or unexpected economic hiccups (such as a decrease in growth or increase in unemployment) and your seemingly sound stock market investment can be worth virtually nothing and may never recover.
Recovery from dips take a long time to realise, and it really is a game of chance and skill to make the figures work in your favour, so it is better to view stock market investments as more of gamble rather than a reliable method of safeguarding wealth for the future.
Another major appeal for those investing in equities is the regular payments of dividends. These payments are a share of the company’s profits, but unless you are willing to plough a significant of money into buying shares, the outcome probably won’t allow you to lead a lavish lifestyle on the dividends alone.
Although gold does not provide a direct income in the same way, the purchase of tangible gold coins allows investors to trade or exchange smaller amounts of their investments at intervals to suit them as it is always in demand and easy to liquidate.
One of the main disadvantages to the stock market and equity shares is the unpredictable and uncontrollable swings that all investors, no matter how big or small, are subject to.
Gold is a tangible asset with a proven track record of sustainable and reliable growth, which actually increases when confidence in financial markets is low, making it a safe haven for investors.
As gold is a way to store wealth outside of the stock exchange and banks, it helps prevent catastrophic losses in the event of an economic downturn and can actually rise in value as all other goods and commodities fall.
Simple to open and manage, an ISA product is often the first port of call for anyone seeking a tax-efficient way of growing and safeguarding wealth for the future, but how do they measure up against gold?
After researching the best paying ISAs currently available from UK financial institutions, interest rates tend to sit at around the 2% mark, meaning that investments of £100k ten years ago will have resulted in a total of £130k today once inflation is accounted for.
Investing the same figure in gold over the same time period would have garnered far better results, with a total of £286k delivering a 186% increase in value today. Is it any wonder that gold is consistently cited as a strong, stable and highly regarded investment option?
Another key consideration when comparing gold with ISA’ s is the restrictions and time restraints placed on investors. ISA’s often limit how much can be added or removed during a particular timeframe and some even place heavy liquidation fees on investors who want to withdraw funds early.
Gold offers far greater flexibility, as amounts can be traded or exchanged at any time without such penalties. As there is always a demand for gold, it is easy to gain access to currency from your investment without facing fees for doing so.
What makes ISAs so attractive for those looking to safeguard wealth for the future from a tax perspective can also be said of gold. As the precious metal is exempt from several taxes including VAT and Capital Gains Tax in the UK and the EU, many savvy investors choose gold coins as their investment of choice as they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax as they hold a currency status.
A tax efficient, tangible asset that outperforms ISAs in terms of wealth growth and accessibility, gold offers investors the chance to invest without restrictions and make far more significant gains over the same time period.
If you’ve been researching gold investment for some time, but still have some burning questions that require an answer before you make your investment, here are some of the most frequently asked questions to help put your mind at rest.
If you still have a query on our services, then feel free to contact us and a knowledgeable and professional member of our team will be in touch to discuss your question in more detail.
The question of buying gold or coins depends on personal circumstances, financial status, investment amount and portfolio plans. Broadly speaking, purchasing gold coins provides good levels of flexibility.
UK investors also benefit from legal tender coins being tax exempt, whereas gold bars are not. Owning part of a very large portfolio in 1kg gold bars can deliver price savings. To decide what’s best for your own investment journey, talk to a member of the Gold Safe team today.
We take financial security very seriously, but customer payments do not typically require any additional ID to be provided. However, we may contact you to confirm some security details for insurance reasons.
If you are buying on behalf of a company or consortium, we will require further information, so please get in touch with a member of our team.