Nov 30
By John W Murphy

For online investing to be treated seriously as a viable option the companies involved need to demonstrate commitment to investors.

When online investment programmes first started they quickly gained a bad reputation as many of them were revealed as scams. This severely damaged the public view of these opportunities and that perception still exists.

I believe it is time for things to change. The global economic crisis has shown that even well respected financial institutions cared little for their small investors with the result that interest rates on savings accounts are now derisory.

This is a golden opportunity for online investing companies to attract these disillusioned people but they must do it in a credible and honest way.

Is regulation the answer?

Nearly all online investments make it abundantly clear that their dealings fall outside any existing regulatory framework as they want to avoid members running to the authorities at the merest hint of a problem.

There are many horror stories where online investment companies have fallen foul of regulators (especially in the US) and the result has virtually always been losses for investors. So, I don’t believe online investing companies would currently welcome regulation under current legislation. Ultimately, this may be an aspiration as authorities learn and understand more about how these companies work.

Where to Start

So if formal regulation isn’t viable what alternatives exist? Some companies may argue that their industry is currently being regulated by the myriad of online monitoring sites as these demonstrate whether programmes are paying or not.

Personally I don’t believe this is the answer as monitoring sites can only work in a reactive way and are not that useful for predicting whether an opportunity is viable to start off with.

To my way of thinking there are two options to consider:

An independent group of investors could be set up to undertake due diligence on a programme that wishes to offer online investing services. They would need access to the company to be able to verify the claims that are being made on how funds are generated and the people involved
A self regulating body set up by the companies themselves which would define a code of practice that companies would need to adhere to if they wish to join. This should also include investor representatives as this is a key element of trust building

Time for Change

For too long online investors have suffered poor service, patchy communication and untrustworthy programme administrators. As I look at some of the online programmes today I can see that things are changing but we are still not at a point where the ordinary investor would consider an online investment as a viable alternative to basic savings accounts for example.

Clearly there will always be greater risk involved in online investments but I don’t think programmes should hide behind that as an excuse for poor service. If the risks are explained fully and clearly, if programmes communicate often and honestly then I believe the industry would reap great rewards both in terms of their own reputations but also in the number of people that would trust them with their investments.

Isn’t it time online investors were offered a better and more reliable service…

For more great tips and commentary on online investing you can visit my blog at http://www.onlineinvestingguru.com
From John Murphy and Online Investing Guru

Nov 30
By Graeme Renwall

What should you invest in? As a society we’re living longer, so there’s no question that we should include investing as part of our retirement plan. But often we’re uncertain about what we should invest in, or how much we should invest. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Appreciate appreciation

One of the most basic “rules” when investing is to invest in things that appreciate, rather than depreciate. How exactly can you do that? Buy a classic car rather than a new model. Purchase a painting by an established artist, rather than an up-and-coming one. Put your money in a mutual fund, rather than a savings account (whose interest rate won’t beat inflation). Yes, there’s a chance that the value of your investments could still depreciate. However, certain items have consistently appreciated over the years. So do your homework and determine which investments will most likely grow in value.

2. Start now

The best time to start investing is now. Forget about starting tomorrow, next week, or next year. Too many retirees look back on their lives and wish that they had started investing sooner. The main reason you should start investing now is related to “opportunity cost.” The money that you spend today on an electronic gadget or outfit that you didn’t really need-could have earning interest in a mutual fund.

3. Look for high yields and lower risks

Any type of investment will involve a certain amount of risk. The key is to maximize your yields, by minimizing your risks. For instance, while you can earn a ton of money by playing the Stock Market game, you can also lose your shirt. A better option is a mutual fund, since several people will be investing in several different stocks. While mutual fund values also go up and down, they tend to provide excellent long-term yields, and are significantly less risky than buying and selling stocks.

4. Focus on after-tax returns rather than pre-tax returns

Pre-tax returns are a better indicator of how lucrative an investment is, than after-tax returns. Locate, state, and federal taxes on investment earnings can pile up really quick. So before you make any type of investment, it’s crucial to learn exactly how much you’ll have to pay in taxes. In fact, you may ultimately determine that the amount that you’re taxed for the investment, makes it an unwise one to make. While tax stuff can be as exciting as a root canal, it’s something you need to learn before making investments.

5. Consider alternatives to bank-based investments

An annuity is definitely one of the best high-yield and safe investments to consider. This is not only an excellent investment, but it’s an excellent investment for your retirement. When most people refer to a “pension,” they’re actually talking about an annuity. After you secure an annuity through a life insurance company, it can provide you with yearly income through the guaranteed-income-for-life feature.

If you’re going to invest, then it’s crucial to maximize your yields. These tips will help to make your investments work for you.

Graeme has been writing articles for nearly 3 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://www.usedhottubsstore.com/ which helps people find the best used hot tubs at the best prices. His hot tub accessories found at http://www.usedhottubsstore.com/Hot-Tub-Accessories.html strives to make your life easier too.

Nov 30
By John W Murphy

Online Investing can be a realistic source of additional funding as long as you take the time to research things properly.

In my first 7 tip article I introduced online investing beginners to some of the key things that they need to do to be successful. But of course there are always other things that will help to ensure success and this article aims to help with that.

1. Use software to manage confidential information

As soon as you decide to invest online develop a strategy for keeping your account details secure. Be mindful that online investment opportunities are tempting targets for thieves. Use a robust strategy for user names and passwords to minimise the chances that anyone could access your account. Do not use the same user name and password for more than one account.

SIDEBAR: Search online for free software that will help you with this

2. Find an ecurrency exchanger

Online investing programmes use payment processors to manage deposits and withdrawals. Financing payment processors can normally be done either by a direct payment from your bank account or through an e-currency exchanger. Make sure that the e-currency exchanger you use has a verifiable track record and deals with your transactions quickly and efficiently.

3. Do your own research

As you will be investing your own money in a programme the onus is on you to do the necessary research into its viability. There are several good sources of information available to you which will enable you to make your decision. One thing you should be aware of is that online investment websites are not always the best source of information and should always be treated with caution.

4. Find something you have an interest in

As you should treat any online investing as a business it makes sense to look for online investments that you have an interest in. Currently there are programmes that specialise in forex, sports arbitrage, investment funding and environmental projects to name a few. By focusing on one area to start with you will learn to spot trends and how these may impact the investments you have.

5. Decide whether you want passive or active

The decision to get involved in either passive or active online investments will depend heavily on the time you have available and your knowledge and interest in a particular area. The advantage with active trading is that you keep full control of your funds whereas with a passive approach you are entrusting your funds to a group that you may know little about.

6. Use Discretion

Not everyone you know will be supportive of your attempts to invest in online programmes. Don’t let this put you off, it is highly likely that they know very little about the subject and speak from a position of ignorance and fear. Keep your dealings private and don’t broadcast your involvement widely as discretion will serve you well in the end

7. Diversify

Even if you start out with a limited bank be prepared to invest in more than one opportunity straight away. Given the higher risk profile of online investments it is crucial that you develop a strategy for diversification right from the outset. Whilst this may mean your funds could grow at a slower rate you are reducing the potential to lose them all if a specific programme fails.

Nothing is more important than protecting your own money…take the time to get it right

For more great tips on online investing you can visit my blog at http://www.onlineinvestingguru.com

From John Murphy and Online Investing Guru

Nov 30
By Saffron Samson

Brazil, now firmly on the tourist map has had numerous tips to becoming the place to holiday and live in the years to come. As part of the infamous BRIC economies, Brazil is seen as a powerhouse for the future. The Amazon basin and all that goes with it are rarely out of the news, but when you are deemed the lungs of the earth it is hardly surprising.

On Sunday 31st of May 2009, Brazil celebrated winning the host country for the FIFA World Cup 2014 and all the publicity and tourism that it will bring. This World cup effect will keep Brazil in many peoples minds for many years to come. Natal and Recife in North East Brazil have been named as two of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup and so bringing a massive boost to those areas and beyond.

On top of this great sporting event Brazil did it again by its winning bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. The IOC deemed it suitable and it will be the first time it has been hosted in South America. This football-mad society has a lot of infrastructure and planning to achieve over the next 6-7 years.

Brazil will now have to deliver on its proposals and meet the expectations of two very strict governing bodies. As such construction will play a massive part in getting ready for these two events. Apart from the stadiums and sporting arenas, accommodation for athletes and tourists will need to be built to cope with demand.

The property market in Brazil started attracting more foreigners in recent years and so there have been a succession of new development being built along the North East coast of Brazil to cope with demand. Many local Brazilians like to holiday on the beach, so developers have tapped into this market as well.

Many host cities of big sporting events in the past have seen real estate price increases due to demand and investors taking advantage of getting in early. Even though at present we still have global economic uncertainty it is forecast that Brazil’s property prices will rise significantly over the next 10 years, which is hard to ignore if you are a medium term investor.

Land in Brazil is also a business that has been growing over the past few years. Brazil is not in short supply of good land that is not rainforest and so developers have been buying it up and selling it onto investors, so that they can build villas in the future and add value to their investment.

One such company has been marketing its new Coral Lake and Beach Resort for under a year and is offering plots of land for sale in the Flexeiras area 1 hour from Fortaleza in Ceara.

The development aims to be a sustainable development staying clear of the urban jungle developments further down the coast. It principals will encompass:

Beautiful landscaped gardens that will compliment the natural surroundings and blend in
Low density, low-rise villas and buildings
Rainwater/grey water harvesting and wind power utilisation will add to the sustainability of this development

Please find a video of the Coral Lake and Beach Resort on QIK here.

Nov 30
By Jo Romano

All business-minded individuals are interested in increasing their returns on their investment. The concept is easy. They want to reap the fruits of what they have sown and business-oriented people want to receive enormous revenues from their businesses.

To increase your return on investment (ROI) it is necessary to understand what it is all about. Your full understanding on this matter will help you predict the benefits you will enjoy and reap from your company. It will also help you to minimize errors and reduce your costs.

To successfully increase your investment returns, it is necessary to consider the following:

1. Consider your time. Your time is one of your most valuable investments, so you must make use of your time very well. If you take into account the time you spend, you always become cautious with your decisions, plans, projects and approaches for both your personal and business life. Time is a necessity for everyone, especially if we want to receive the best from our business. You can never reap mature and abundant fruitage from your vineyard if you will not allow a reasonable time for them to grow well and mature as you cultivate and propagate them. Likewise, you can never expect a business to produce remarkable and predicted results if you don’t spend time to focus on it.

2. Utilize your skills. Each of us is capable of doing a lot of things. We are all creative in our distinct ways. We do things efficiently and effectively when we feel knowledgeable and capable. That means we become satisfied and we attain our objectives. For example, if you enjoy painting and you discover that you are really good at it and some of your works are outstanding, then perhaps you can sell them so you make money from them. The same is true when it comes to business. If we try to open our mind and think of the skills that we have and utilize them, you will absolutely discover what you can do
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3. Shun unconstructive desires. Desire is necessary to produce beneficial results. But desires can also lead a person to destructive things too. Consider for example your fondness of watching television. Watching TV is not really bad. We learn a lot of things and we become well-informed, but too much of anything becomes counterproductive. Your obsession to watching television might affect your routine activities and your health, and will eventually cause you to be lazy and unproductive. In business, we need to discern our desires and set our limitations when it comes to our personal desires and decisions. Desire impacts our thinking and decision-making. Mistakes from desires are the most difficult to justify and alter. Prevention is always a better option.

4. Develop a sound mind. You can never have a productive business if you don’t have a mature mind. Maturity is your edge in building a business. You cannot approach situations or difficulties and decide accurately if you don’t have a reasonable frame of reference. Realizing your natural and learned gifts of reason will result in raising your return on investment.

“Jo Romano is a National, State, and Community Certified Professional Coach, Organizational Change Consultant and Facilitator with a consistent record of achieving top performance through innovative and collaborative strategic planning and a systems approach to managing a learning organization. She enjoys co-creating with CEO’s, Mid level managers, and team leaders a plan of action that raises up their talents, interests, strengths and passions and achieves their personal and professional desired outcomes. She fosters a holistic approach to the art and science of what it means to be a leader in today’s turbulent times. Free reports: http://www.realworldleaderreport.com and http://www.innercoachingcircle.com

Nov 30
By Jeffrey Lewis

Inflation is an easily understood phenomenon. Although it takes a myriad of think tanks to find the root of the problem, the issue is quite simple, and investors can easily prepare their portfolios against the ravages of inflation.

The Source of Inflation

Inflation can occur for a variety of reasons. One of the most common is the issuance of new currency by the central bank and the reduction in interest rates. Another source is government debt issuance, whereby one nation borrows money from another and increases the amount of money in circulation within the borders of the borrowing country.

The last source of inflation, and undoubtedly the weakest, is the velocity of money. When money is moving faster through the economy, prices are quicker to inflate, although the supply remains the same. The velocity of money is usually only temporary, such as the increase in prices in a specific city during the Olympic Games.

The Route of Inflation

Inflation’s road map is generally very simple. Due to the processes that create inflation, it typically affects certain markets before others. One of the first markets to experience inflationary conditions is the commodities and metals markets. When central banks lower the interest rate, investment banks and other investors find it less expensive to leverage upwards, and thus, they make larger bets in the capital markets. In addition, the capital markets come with few restrictions and excellent liquidity, providing an opportunity to move new money in and out of the market relatively quickly.

The next sector that is prone to inflation is the real estate market. Although real estate is typically considered illiquid, it is full of investors and ordinary homeowners who use low rates created by a central bank to buy housing inexpensively.

The final destination for inflation is consumer prices at retail outlets, stores and restaurants, as the higher prices in raw goods on the commodities market make their way down the supply chain to the end consumer.

The Cost of Inflation

Inflation has dramatic impacts on the business cycle and even larger impacts on the raw spending power of consumers. A stable currency and exchange rate are one of the keys to a solid and productive economy.

Prior to the creation of the US central bank, the US economy experienced one of the greatest growths in productivity during the Industrial Revolution. A stable currency allowed for companies to make long term contracts, and the capital required to make large investments was available without large fluctuations in the price of the currency.

Today, however, volatility in the value of the currency prohibits companies from making long term contracts and guaranteeing prices, which has further eroded the spending power of consumers.

Investing in Inflation

Inflation is a market problem that only affects those who are not properly hedged against the risk of growth in the money supply. Although precious metals are often regarded as a hedge, they typically perform better than the rate of inflation and the increase in the money supply.

For example, the US dollar has depreciated by only 8% in 2009, yet silver’s price has grown more than 57%. Although prices may have increased in US dollars, they’re down considerably from the start of 2009 when priced in silver.

It has never made more sense to own silver coins – not only protect yourself from the threat of inflation, but also to grow your spending power as the US dollar deteriorates.

Many people new to precious metals find it difficult navigating the waters of the non-main stream. Small steps are a great way of getting started.

For a great way to get started now investing in silver coins, download our Free Guide.

Nov 30
By Jeffrey Lewis

Growing your money is not the most important element of wealth. In fact, growth should come secondary to the preservation of wealth and purchasing power. Too often do investors get distracted with nominal changes in their personal wealth only to find that the thousands of dollars they have collected is worth considerably less than it was when the initial investment was made.

Purchasing Power 101

Purchasing power is a calculation of how much you could buy with X amount of money. Although prices seem stagnant in the short term, and are even depreciating for some products, general increases in consumer prices are only a natural response to inflation.

Purchasing power should be at the forefront of a proper investment plan. Does it really matter if your investments are on track to be worth $1 million in 20 years if a loaf of bread will cost $20 and a gallon of milk $50?

The Failures of Cash Investments

Many people falsely believe that by storing cash in an interest bearing savings account or certificate of deposit, they are hedging themselves against inflation. However, this is rarely the case. Because bid interest rates (those you receive for lending, or depositing, in a bank) often lag true inflation, the damage to purchasing power is done long before true inflation in prices arrives.

CPI is Not an Inflation Measurement

Many banks and institutions sell “inflation-protected” debt instruments that are tied to the inflation rate. Usually, these investments pay a certain percentage per year with a bonus added to rival the inflation rate, thus guaranteeing that investors always earn more than the rate of inflation.

This couldn’t be more intellectually dishonest, as the Consumer Price Index fails to take into consideration the change of the money supply, but rather the change of prices of consumer goods. The CPI is calculated by finding the prices for a “basket” of consumer goods and charting the average change in price over a period of time. Much of the “basket” is centered on consumer staples like groceries, gasoline, etc., as they make up the most basic elements of modern life.

Where the CPI Fails

One of the failures of the CPI index is that it only reflects the changes in the sticker price – and not the changes in the amount of the consumer goods. If you visited a grocery store in the past ten years, you have likely noticed that the sticker price of many goods has not changed, but the weight of the product has. For example, bags of sugar (one part of the CPI) were almost universally sold at $1 per 5 lb bag until five years ago. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a single 5-lb bag of sugar, as most companies have begun to sell 4 lb bags, but at the same price of $1 per bag.

Although the price did not change, the quantity did by 20%. However, this change went unnoticed by the CPI calculation.

How to Track True Inflation

The only way to track the true inflation rate, and thus protect your spending power, is to invest in hard assets (commodities, physical metals, etc.) that rise in value as the value of the dollar drops.

Gold and silver especially track the change in the money supply with accuracy, as the amount of gold and silver at the surface of the earth proportional to the number of people remains consistent. In contrast, inflation increases the amount of dollars in circulation. When you have more paper money while the supply of precious metals stays consistent, this only leads to an increase in the value of the precious metals themselves.

The only way to preserve your spending power and your wealth is to meet or exceed the true rate of inflation, not the rate of inflation as calculated by complicated (and often corrupted) economic models.

Most people have no idea where begin with silver coin investing. Download our Free Guide to get started today.

Nov 30
By Garrett L Strong

Investors looking to store their money in hard assets like gold are finding that they should do so quickly before the price gets away from them. In 2001 we saw the price of gold at $250/oz and today it is shocking to see the price at $1,170/oz. Gold is the world’s hedge against inflation, and many investors are turning to gold as a safe haven

Very few people know why they should even own gold, much less why their money is not safe in banks or the stock market. This article is not directed towards gold, even though I love gold. Silver is the topic of the hour, and that is because silver is a much better investment that gold. Silver will make many smart investors very happy as silver’s true price is soon going to be revealed in a big way.

The price of silver per ounce is $18.60 today. Silver was about $4.00 per ounce in 2001. The increase is 400%, and steadily rising. But, you may be wondering why silver is such a great investment. After all, gold made 400% increases in price. Let me share some facts with you.

In above ground inventories, silver is more rare than gold by a long shot. The amount of gold above ground is about 5 billion ounces, while the amount of silver above ground is under 1 billion, with only about 300 million of that available for investment purposes. The other 700 million ounces are for industrial purposes.

Silver is consumed as soon as it is mined. What I mean by that is it is used for tv’s, refridgerators, solar panels, medical purposes, and many other applications. Basically any kind of electronics consumes silver. Silver is used and put into land fills never to be seen again.

95% of the gold mined is still in investment form, because gold does not have an industrial role. Silver is simply consumed and thrown away, and that’s why the inventories of silver are at all time lows. The levels are dangerously low because companies consume silver at a much faster rate than can be mined. The USGS has informed us that by 2020 silver will go extinct.

Silver really is rare than gold and many economists are planning for silver to reach prices comparable to gold and even higher. It only makes perfect sense that a silver explosion is on the horizon. Some silver experts have stated that owning just 500 ounces about 3 years ago could buy you a median priced home in the near future.

Let’s look at the price of rhodium if you are having doubts whether silver could really go that high in price. The price of rhodium has risen to $10,000/oz from a low of $300/oz in the past several years. This really can happen to a metal, and especially silver due to all of the bullish factors.

There has been price manipulation of silver and gold for many years now on the COMEX. This price suppression of silver has held the price artificially low for a long time and is about to bust. Certain banks have been illegally short selling silver contracts in order to suppress the price of silver. Some organizations are putting a stop to this illegal activity, and once the short sellers are forced to get in line with the position limits on the COMEX there will be a historic price explosion.

If it is not evident to you that you must be in silver coins, silver bars, silver bullion, or Silver American Eagles then I have not done my job. Invest in silver to protect yourself from inflation. Most people will not listen to this advice until the pundits on CNN are spouting about how high the price of silver is, then it will be too late.

Please click the link will silver outperform gold? to learn more about silver.

Nov 30
By Jeffrey Lewis

At the foundation of any macroeconomic theory, the trade balance is one of the most important economic indicators. The trade balance is the calculation of the difference between how much a country exports and how much it imports. In the United States, the trade balance has been in the negative for decades due to the importation of oil and the reliance on the manufacturing abilities of other nations to produce our goods.

The Dollar as an Investment

The US dollar is actually an instrument for investing. When you hold US dollars in your bank account, your wallet or purse, or even by the process of holding stocks (which are priced in US dollars), you are investing in the economic production and vitality of the US economy. The value of any currency is not just set by the amount of the currency in existence, but also the confidence in economy backing the dollar.

Many countries, international businesses and banks hold their reserves in the US dollar, showing their confidence that the United States will remain politically and economically stable. However, should this belief disappear and investors shift to other currencies, the value of the US dollar would drop to show the weakened confidence in the US economy.

The Dangers of the Trade Imbalance

Look at the economy as a kitchen sink with many different faucets, and likewise, many different drain holes. The faucets and drain holes range in size and in the amount of water they add or take from the sink. If we were to make a model of the US economy, we would have very few faucets, as the United States exports very little. The biggest faucets would be pharmaceuticals, software, entertainment and films and military devices. At the bottom of the sink would be many large drain holes. Energy, consumer products and appliances make up a substantial portion of the imports reaching our shores.

Unfortunately, for America, more water flows out of the drains at the bottom than comes into the sink via the faucets. As such, what was once a sink overflowing with water (or money) is now dry. Each and every drop that comes out of the faucet is immediately sent down the drain. When the American kitchen sink runs dry, credit dries up and the economy comes to a standstill – much like the financial crisis of 2008.

Throwing the Stimulus Down the Kitchen Sink

When the sink runs dry, governments often bring in the five gallon buckets of water known as an economic stimulus. By infusing vast amounts of water into the sink at one time, the sink is again full, and the economy begins to move again. However, the existence of the water in the sink is only temporary if the drains are not plugged.

In a modern example, the $787 billion stimulus program in the United States filled up the economic sink again, but it will be less than two years before all of the money goes out the drains and into the coffers of other nations. On the other hand, the $500 billion stimulus package in China has been incredibly successful, as the nation maintains a health trade balance, and the fresh infrastructure investments have helped Chinese producers to become more efficient in transporting goods. While both governments enacted stimulus programs, China’s sink is overflowing, while the United State’s sink is on its way to becoming dry again.

Putting All the Ingredients Together

It is evident that the plugs won’t be restored to the US economy, which will further create a necessity for fiscal stimulus. Unfortunately, fiscal stimulus is paid for in two ways: inflation or debt, which both devalue the currency and make precious metals more expensive.

Profit is virtually guaranteed for those who invest early in precious metals. Any economic recovery in the United States will be short lived, as the fresh capital again exits through the unplugged drain. Silver is the perfect hedge for overconsumption, spending and a trade imbalance and should only rise in value as economic mistakes are repeated time and time again.

Many people are curious about how to protect their money, but often overlook the many benefits of silver coins. Take a look at our Free Guide to get started today.

Nov 30
By Jeffrey Lewis

The precious metals market was stunned when India opted to buy 200 tonnes, or nearly half, of the International Monetary Fund’s gold reserves. India’s dramatic play on gold is good for precious metals investors, and it generates renewed interest amongst traditional investors.

The Momentum is Shifting

Never particularly sought for its rapid changes in value, precious metals were present in only a handful of investment portfolios as recently as one decade ago. However, even amongst the general investing populace who hold greater amounts of debt instruments and stock portfolios than precious metals, a change in tide is occurring. After seeing silver prices rally from $4 per ounce nine years ago to $17, while consumer prices stayed flat during the same time period, precious metals are now more of an investment than a hedging instrument.

Two Untapped Markets

Nations, which have historically held vast precious metals reserves, and the common investor are the last frontier for precious metal investments. As countries and ordinary investors realize the potential of precious metals, namely silver, as both a hedge against inflation and as a way to solidify a portfolio, it is certain that prices will rise favorably higher than the percentage shift in demand.

Even India’s purchase of 200 tonnes of gold (which is approximately 1/12 of all worldwide production in 2006) was valued only at $7.5 billion. In the grand scheme of international debt obligations, gold and silver production is currently tiny to the amount of money that trades hands every day in the world economy. Should nations begin to stock up on gold and silver, the price could ultimately run through the roof, as less than $50 billion in gold and silver is produced each year while trillions of paper dollars are created by inflation and debt.

Why You Must Own Physical Metal

In the world commodities marketplace, there are billions of dollars of gold and silver that trade hands, but are never in existence.

In one recent example, an exchange-traded fund with more than $3 billion ceased trading. The fund was said to track the value of oil through counterparty trades and futures positions. However, after the closure of the fund, not a single oil contract was traded by the company to bring monies back to investors. The only saving grace shareholders had was the health of the Deutsche Bank, which backed the fund. However, had Deutsche Bank fallen on hard times, it would not have been able to pay out to the investors, who would have lost their entire investment – without a single drop of oil to show for it. The Physical vs. Paper Price Disparity

The rarity of physical metals is often understated. In the commodities marketplace, it is easily seen that the supply of paper gold and silver vastly outweighs the amount of physical metals being made available to investors. On the spot markets, investors pay a premium of only a few pennies, while physical trades often involve a premium of 4-5%. Why does this disparity exist? There is more relative demand for physical metals than there is for paper metals. Physical metals can only be created through mining and taking ownership of the metal, whereas paper metals can be created out of thin air via counter-party risk as seen in the oil fund mentioned above.

In today’s economy, cash is no longer king. Instead, paper monies are quickly being replaced by gold and silver, and the adage may easily become, “precious metals are king.”

Most people have no idea where begin with silver coin investing. Download our Free Guide to get started today.

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