A Beginner’s Guide to Gold Investment

Closeup image of gold stamp

Gold is an excellent and withstanding choice for investment for a multitude of reasons. It can be used as a hedge against inflation and will retain or increase in value due to increasing scarcity. Gold is also a great portfolio diversifier for investors of many kinds.

So, what types of gold should you invest in as a beginner?

As gold becomes scarce and currencies fluctuate in value, the value of gold may increase. For investments in gold in the long-term, you can invest in both funds that invest in gold and physical gold, because their values move closely with the gold market’s price. Many investors choose to physically invest in gold to have a more reliable and fool-proof investment in the market.

Keeping physical gold in the long-term can be costly, however, because there is often a cost associated with storing it. It may also take time to liquidate the investment into cash and storing gold this way does not generate interest or dividends.

Want to learn about the different types of gold jewelry on the market? Read more here.

Alternatively, you can invest in the gold market and gold-related investments, which include a variety of methods and fund types to choose from. But – there are some drawbacks and costs to market investments that investing in physical gold does not have.

Do you want to know the value of your physical gold investment? Contact us today for a free consultation.

Here are a few different ways you can start investing in gold as a beginner:

Physical Gold Investment

If you want to have an investment that better withstands the economic crisis, physical gold may be the best choice for you.

Physical gold stores its value in the form of a tangible physical object, just like cash in your wallet. Physical gold can also be used to hedge against inflation, or as a portfolio diversifier.

Much like other investments, there are risks and fluctuating prices directly linked to the economy. Always keep an eye on gold prices before you decide to sell physical gold.  

Physical gold is readily available and can be purchased or sold at  Westlake Gold and from professional jewelers. You can choose between common types of gold like gold coins or gold bullion bars. Gold bars are generally priced lower than gold coins, as coins tend to have intricate designs that create a higher premium.

Do you want to know the value of your physical gold investment? Contact us today for a free consultation.

Trading in the Gold Market

If you want to have easier options with no storage costs, gold market investments may be the best choice for you.

Options include gold-related investments, including stocks in gold-mining companies, gold-backed ETFs, mutual funds, options, and futures. These will allow you to easily fund, capitalize, and trade during changes in the gold market. ETFs and mutual funds provide a lower-cost way to enter the gold market and diversify your investment, while futures and options carry higher risk and reward.

It is important to keep in mind when investing in ETFs or mutual funds that they may invest in gold-mining stocks. Their ultimate performance may be influenced by more than just the gold market price, including the gold-mining companies’ expenses and performance.

To start trading, sign up with a trading account. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a broker fee. Your investments will also be affected by market risks other than gold prices and USD exchange rates.

Need to determine if your gold is real? Read our guide here.

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

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Jason Quintana

left us a 5 star review

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I've sold gold at Westlake Gold a couple times, and the experience has always been top notch. Unlike some less scrupulous precious metal buyers, Westlake will give you fair value for the metals you bring in. This is my go to and I highly recommend anyone to make this their first stop when selling gold or silver

Jason Quintana October 10, 2026
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First time coming to the Westlake Gold and my experience didn't disappoint There is a reason why this place receives such good reviews. They are fair, honest, communicative, and professional I will use them again and I highly recommend.

Donald Hayes October 6, 2026
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Very simple and easy experience. I would have liked to know how many grams my items totaled however. I left feeling uncertain if I received the right amount for whatever the total weight was.

KaysaLove October 5, 2026
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I had a wonderful experience selling my gold at Westlake Gold. Joel took the time to look at each piece I brought in and was honest about the few that weren’t worth anything, which made me trust the process. He was friendly and professional throughout, and the whole visit was easy. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to sell gold.

Christine Brown October 3, 2026
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Super nice, and professional. Would definitely use again!

Sheri Danos October 1, 2026
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Honest no pressure transaction. Just what I wanted.

Paul Diggs September 30, 2026
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They were kind, excellent, fair and transparent. I will use them over and over again and I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Lindsay Leimbach September 28, 2026
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Great service, honest with fair pricing.

Dave Lane September 22, 2026
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Prompt courteous service. Very Knowledgeable. I appreciated the education more than anything. I sold a Rolex datejust for a very fair price.

Chris M. McBrearty September 15, 2026
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Excellent experience as always doing business with Westlake Gold!

Loren N. Kaplan September 3, 2026
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Great experience. Worked with Nikki twice over two weeks. Very clear and transparent process. Would recommend!

Michael August 31, 2026
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Every time I have gone in, has been nothing short of an exceptional experience! This most recent time, was above and beyond what I expected, which was already wonderful service. I always and will continue to send friends and family their way. Highly recommend Westlake Gold!

Alexa Lynsay August 30, 2026
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brought in a bunch of gold that was my mom‘s and my father‘s and they were very honest with me on the pricing and I was surprised at how much money I received for trading and all this gold. I’m definitely gonna be back with my kids for the jewelry that my mom left them

Sasha Maksic August 28, 2026
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I had a very positive experience when I sold my silverware at Westlake Gold. They were very professional and knowledgeable. I went to Gold Union nearby and they tried to take advantage of me and offered less than one tenth of what I got from Westlake Gold.

Maurice Feldman August 22, 2026
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Nicole was great. Very patient and thorough!

Lawrence Byer August 19, 2026
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If I could give 10 stars, I would. Knowledgable and professional team led by Joel who took time to explain the process and pricing for full transparency. Excellent experience.

Marianna Shapiro August 17, 2026
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First time going here! I went in for my consultation and Patricia was so knowledgeable and kind. I can’t wait to come back and be pampered by her again! Highly recommended this company and Patricia!

Emily Seymour August 14, 2026
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WESTLAKE GOLD is a professional company that knows its business well. My transaction was easy, quick, and fair.

Luisa Kapitz August 13, 2026
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They made the process very quick and easy . The lady that helped me was very nice. Felt safe and gave me top dollar for my items. Would highly recommend

edward August 12, 2026
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I had a great experience at Westlake Gold. They are fair, honest and accurate. I highly recommend going there.

Denise Rozenboom August 11, 2026
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Westlake Gold is the best in the area, it was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint. Nikki was very helpful, very professional, considerate and nice. They are an honest business, have current equipment and pay a very fair price. Just to put it in a perspective, they paid me 5 times more than another place in Westlake, that keeps sending flyers. There was no hassle and their check cleared overnight. I will definitely use their services again.

Arous Dabagyan August 10, 2026
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They were very nice and helpful! Made the process much better!! Thank you!

Jennifer Campbell August 6, 2026
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Very fair and reasonable transaction.

Jerry Ostrowiecki August 5, 2026
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Absolutely go to Westlake Gold to sell your gold jewelry. Very fair and explains the whole process.

Debra Punch August 5, 2026
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Very honest and professional

Bradford August 2, 2026
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Had a silver medallioin which Westlake Gold evaluated for authenticity using 3 different instruments. The daily silver strike price was updated continuously on the display board which took any guess work out of the discussion. Just previously I had the medallion appraised by another silver/gold shop which greatly undercut the price. I feel I got a fair price at Westlake Gold where I was offered 12% below the strike price. The other gold/silver shop offered me 29% below the strike---adios to them. I feel you will get a good evaluation of your asset and a fair deal at Westlake Gold.

B&K K July 30, 2026
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The staff was welcoming, very helpful, extremely knowledgeable and very nice!!

Randy Pentis July 28, 2026
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Friendly and convenient. Transaction went smoothly and prices are fair.

Steve Adachi July 21, 2026
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Professional, kind, got through the sale quickly and we left feeling respected.

Kimberli Scully July 7, 2026
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Very knowledgeable and fair prices

Jennifer Ruiz July 2, 2026
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Excellent service, quick and easy, highly recommended!

Greg Dominguez July 2, 2026
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I had a great experience here! Nikki was so kind and lovely. I met Joel briefly, and he was great. This business is run with honesty and integrity.

Susan Francisco July 2, 2026
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Westlake Gold was very professional and trustworthy. I appreciate doing business with them.

Believe2113 June 24, 2026
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Very professional staff. Friendly, fair, knowledgeable, and answered all my questions. Felt comfortable during the whole experience. I’d definitely recommend them .

Linda Summers June 24, 2026
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Professional services

Sharee C Crossley June 22, 2026
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It was a very good experience. After I collect a few more items I will use them again. Very polite and great with customer service.

Diane Hunn June 19, 2026
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Great service. Very knowledgeable and courteous. I would recommend them to all my friends. A wonderful local business.

David Saul June 10, 2026
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I recently visited this store and couldn’t be more impressed with the experience. From the moment I walked in, the staff were welcoming, professional, and completely transparent throughout the entire process. They took the time to answer all my questions without any pressure and made sure I felt comfortable every step of the way. In an industry where trust is everything, this team truly stands out. There were no hidden fees, no surprises — just honest, straightforward service from start to finish. You can tell they genuinely care about treating their customers with respect. If you’re looking for a place that combines professionalism with integrity, I highly recommend this store. I left feeling confident and satisfied, knowing I was dealt with fairly. I’ll definitely be coming back and will be recommending them to friends and family without hesitation.

Pierre Gh June 2, 2026
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I found Westlake Gold to be very honest, straight forward, knowledgeable, and took the time to clearly explain everything with buying/selling valuables. They offered the best prices for my family jewelry! It was a pleasure working with Joel at Westlake Gold and I'll go back to him for the best honest pricing and a seamless experience.

Ken Tong May 30, 2026
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This is my second time with westlake gold and I would definitely come back. He was kind enough to take my stones and diamonds out of my rings and necklaces. Which I truly appreciate as those have sentimental value to me. Thank you for your kindness and professionalism!

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Fast and efficient.

Patty Behringer May 26, 2026
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Great experience, will definitely use them for all future gold and silver selling

Cheryl Donaldson May 25, 2026
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Very nice service and friendly assistant! We will definitely come back and recommend to others

Brian Hammer May 22, 2026
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This was my first time at this business selling my gold and I gotta say that Joel knows his stuff and he’s been in the business for a while. He treated me with respect and courtesy, and he gave me honestly the best pricing for a gold dealer of all of LA County and I’ve been in the business myself as well for a little bit so his pricing is extremely competitive. He explained the process very easily, tested all my pieces and gave me prompt payment. I’m going to be doing business with him more and bringing him a lot of more customers. I really appreciate him. :) 5/5 stars totally recommend Baron

barry May 12, 2026
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Joel is professional and fair with prices . Enjoyed chatting with and learning from him. I recommend him for his honesty.

M Day May 12, 2026
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A+. Great guy, good service and very fair.

gayle shaw May 4, 2026
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Westlake Gold is the most professional, trustworthy and competent trading shop.

Parul Narain May 3, 2026
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Just loved doing business with honest and loyal people like Joel I will be back and sending all my friends to him thank you to mark too

Chris Aber May 2, 2026
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I brought in three troy ounces of silver and I could not be happier with the experience. Very professional and paid a high rate for the metal. Will definitely be bringing back more in the future.

Rhodes Bennett April 28, 2026
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Easy, comfortable experience. So trustworthy, fair, and helpful.

Lauren Daniels April 24, 2026