With the unfolding turmoil taking place in economies and financial markets worldwide, investing your hard earned money is riskier now more than ever.
But believe it or not, many folks consider the here and now a prime investment opportunity! How could this be, you ask? Simple - it is in volatile periods when investing in gold and silver bullion makes the most sense.
Let's take a look at some of the advantages these precious metals can offer.
For starters, understand that gold and silver have always been valuable.
From the days of kings, queens, and travelling by horseback (and even earlier), these metals have been universally considered as money.
Even after crossing an ocean in ancient times, if you wanted to do business, you had better have your purse full of gold, or silver.
In addition to gold and silver holding its' place as a primary form of money throughout recorded history, it has also been recognized by virtually all corners of the earth as valuable.
Kingdoms as well as individual merchants conducted their business in gold and silver, since everyone considered it an acceptable form of payment.
Even as recently as the 20th century, sovereign nations paid for goods among themselves in the form of precious metals.
Although cumbersome, a country knew beyond a reasonable doubt that a payment in bullion was legitimate.
Both gold and silver hold their value.
A paper note can lose it's value (take Zimbabwe or Argentina as modern day examples), and a government issued bond can fall into default (as of this writing, Europe is having plenty of trouble with selling bonds to investors).
These scenarios aren't at all far fetched; just read any major newspaper today for specific examples of these very real scenarios.
Although the metals' value does fluctuate, it still has-and holds-value.
In fact, both gold and silver appreciate long term.
The metals remain precious.
Only in children's fairy tales or in mythology can a person create gold from thin air.
Although there are plenty of technological advances nowadays, there's only one method to increase the supply of both gold and silver.
Namely, that means digging it out of the ground.
And even then, bullion can't be found everywhere.
Only certain parts of the world are blessed to have bullion deposits in the earth.
And it is very unlikely that one of those places is your backyard.
Thus, it's scarcity adds to its' value.
Another less commonly viewed advantage, is that gold and silver bullion can protect wealth.
If a person was concerned with losing his savings, or preserving hard earned capital, investing in gold and silver would act as a form of insurance.
Therefore, if market events proved too volatile, one could enjoy a hedge from uncertainty.
And gold and silver can even represent a valuable inheritance.
For many investors, this can be the ultimate safety vehicle.
What do these factors have to do with you? Everything! Regardless of your age, occupation, or station in life, both gold and silver bullion can be practical, prudent investment now and in years to come.
These five factors represent just a portion of the advantages to be had by investing in these precious metals.
Even if you're not a "player" in the stock market, buying some gold or silver today could be a wise investment for years to come.