Last Updated on Dec 24, 2019 by James W
Physical gold makes for an excellent investment, and it is often said that it is a good hedge against inflation, but you need to be careful where you purchase your gold from to ensure that you are buying the genuine article. The last thing you want is to find out that the money you worked hard for and invested in gold has been lost as you ended up buying counterfeit gold. It need not be the case though, as by doing some careful checks and due diligence, you can ensure that you purchase genuine gold with a hallmark for your investment portfolio. Below are a few pointers on what to look for in a gold broker and how to find a good one.
Research The Market Before Investing
Before you take the plunge and look to purchase gold from a reputable supplier, you should first research the market and look at some of the predictions for the short and long-term. Keep up to date with the latest developments in the large mining corporations around the world and get a feel for the market before investing your money. You can check gold bullion price daily, and when you feel ready, make your first investment in the gold market.
Learn What To Look For
The first thing that you should look for when it comes to gold bullion is a hallmark. Just the same as when you are looking at jewellery, there will be a stamp from an Assay Office which certifies the weight and purity of the gold. If the gold has not been hallmarked, it may still be genuine, but you will need to get it independently tested before purchasing it. You often see bullion bars have filled with tungsten, which give the bars a dull sound when struck together, whereas sold gold has a chiming sound to it so it is a god way to check for counterfeit gold.
Store Your Gold Yourself
Many companies will sell you an amount of gold bullion and then store this for you, and many of these companies are 100% legitimate. However, there are companies out there that deal with counterfeit gold because of the profits that can be made, so one way to avoid being ripped off is to store your gold yourself. Whether it is in a safe in your home or office, or you use a third party such as a company hiring safety deposit boxes, storing your gold yourself allows you to physically see and touch your investment and ensure that it is genuine. To know how to spot fake gold, there are articles you can find online that give you useful tips.
Only Deal With Trusted Traders
Another way that you can ensure that you are purchasing genuine gold for your investment is to deal with trusted and reputable companies within the gold bullion industry. You will want to make a list of as many different local companies as you can and have a look at their online reputation looking at their social media account, online reviews, and independent testimonial sites. Gather as much information as you can and narrow down your list to about three potential companies. You can then contact each of the companies and judge the level of customer service that you receive and use this to decide which company to purchase your gold bullion from for your investment.
With the tips above, you should be able to avoid counterfeit gold and just buy the authentic ones.
