Frequently Asked Questions
about Precious Metals

Physical precious metals are tangible assets like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in the form of coins (e.g., American Gold Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf) or bars (e.g., 1 oz gold bars, 10 oz silver bars) purchased for investment or wealth preservation.

Hedge against inflation: Metals often retain value when fiat currencies weaken.
Portfolio diversification: They have low correlation with stocks and bonds.
Safe haven: Demand rises during economic or geopolitical uncertainty.
Tangible asset: Physical ownership provides security for some investors

Gold: Widely recognized, stable value, high liquidity (99.5%+ purity). Silver: More affordable, higher volatility, industrial uses (99.9%+ purity). Platinum: Rarer, tied to industrial demand (e.g., automotive) (99.95% + purity). Palladium: High demand in catalytic converters, volatile (99.95%+ purity). Choice depends on budget, goals, and risk tolerance.

Coins: Government-minted (e.g., American Gold Eagle, South African Krugerrand) or privately minted, valued for purity and collectibility. Bars: Refined ingots (e.g., PAMP Suisse, Perth Mint), typically cheaper per ounce but less liquid than coins. Rounds: Privately minted coin-like discs, lower premiums but not legal tender

The spot price is the current market price per ounce of a metal (e.g., gold at $2,000/oz), set by exchanges like COMEX or LBMA. Dealers charge a premium (2–10%) above spot for coins/bars, covering minting, distribution, and profit.

Premiums: 2–5% for gold, 5–10% for silver over spot price.
Shipping and insurance: $10–$50 per order, depending on value.
Storage: Home safes ($100–$1,000 one-time) or depository fees ($50–$300/year).

Home storage(Prohibited with IRA metals): Use a high-security safe or hidden vault, but risks include theft or loss (can insure via homeowner’s policy but that opens other risks). Bank safe deposit box: Not recommended - this is legally bank property, costs $20–$200/year, access is limited to bank hours. Private depositories: After 20 years on the industry we have 1 vault that we work with and highly recommend. Please ask for details.

Yes, but liquidity varies. Storage location is a big factor. If you have the metals vaulted it is a simple phone call or email. If stored at home ask us for options.

Price volatility: Metals prices fluctuate based on market demand, inflation, and geopolitics.
Counterfeit risk: Fake coins/bars require buying from reputable dealers and verifying authenticity.
Storage costs: Ongoing fees reduce returns.
No income: Metals don’t pay dividends or interest, unlike stocks or bonds.