By: Marlene Affeld
"There is no precious metal in the world coveted more than gold. The famous “yellow metal” has been a standard by which wealth is measured for centuries, and as civilizations took the first steps out of the Dark Ages and into international trade in the Middle Ages and beyond, gold was there as the standard unit of commerce used by nations and people who spoke different languages. Despite language and cultural barriers, everyone understands the value of gold. Today, gold remains a primary vehicle for private investment and the protection of wealth."
Now is the perfect time to invest in a gold claim. Although hording gold as a hedge against the devaluation of the dollar is a great idea, cut out the middleman and find your own gold on your own claim.
With the bottom falling out of oil prices and the stock market in a state of chaos, there are a lot of people lamenting they did not diversify their portfolios and invest in gold. When the finances of the world are volatile, investors flock to the security of gold, which in turn raises gold prices.
In today’s world of terrorist attacks, and financial uncertainty, many people, are converting assets to gold as it often out-performs other investment options. Historically, proves an excellent hedge against inflation with the price of gold typically increasing more than inflation.
Interwoven into the history and culture of the majority of the countries of the globe, gold is respected for its value and rich history. For 2,000 years gold has been an ideal method of protecting wealth; through wars, stock market crashes, and currency collapses, gold holds its value and is seen as a way to pass on wealth from generation to generation.
The increased wealth of emerging markets impacts the world demand for gold. India remains one of the world’s biggest consumers of gold with most worn as jewelry. In China, gold bars traditionally are used to store wealth with China’s demand remaining consistent.
The price of gold tripled between 1998 and 2008, dramatically escalating in value to a record value of a $1,000 an ounce. From 2008 to 2012, the price of gold went “through the roof” hitting an all-time high of $1,900.
Gold finished 2015 at $1.060 per ounce; down ten percent for the year. However, back then, investment advisers continued to recommend allocating a portion of one’s portfolio to the precious metal. Gold bounced back. Today, sage money managers remain confident in the power of gold, trusting in the knowledge that it has been exchanged for thousands of years and is a proven store of value.
Symbolic of wealth, status, and power, gold not only retains its value when the economy is vigorous; it maintains its value during times of geopolitical uncertainty. Gold is often referred to as a “crisis commodity” as investors flee to its relative safety when world tensions threaten to disrupt the normal flow of commerce. Lord knows, we are in a crisis now as inflatioin skyrocks and we all are feeling the pinch.
Financial investors consider gold as an essential part of a diversified investment portfolio. The price of gold consistently increases in response to world events that deflate the value of paper investments such as stocks and bonds. Today gold is at $1975.00 and climbing.
Although the price of gold is cyclical and can be volatile in the short term, gold remains a sound hedge against inflation and the erosion of major currencies, making purchasing a gold claim an investment well worth consideration.