A Beginner’s Guide to Gold Investment

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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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Lynne A.

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Met with Joel to see if the silver and gold coins I found were worth anything. He was very nice and only one coin was worth a few bucks. He suggested just...

Lynne A. September 29, 2023
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Joel took time and patiently explained the value of my jewelry and how he calculated it. I believe I got a good, honest deal and I would highly recommend him.

Anne Andrews C. September 28, 2023
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I could not have been more pleased and satisfied with Joel at Westlake Gold. If you have spare jewelry and gold that you want to get top dollar for, this is the only place that you need to go. Do not go to downtown LA. Do not go to any jewelry store and especially do not go to a pawn shop! Joel is the only man that you need to see. He is professional, kind, and as sincere and honest as they come. He has a low overhead for his business and he is without question going to give you the best possible price for your valuables. I didn’t even know that some pieces that I had were worth more than I had expected… but Joel being as honest and sincere as they come made sure that I had what I needed and did with a gracious understanding and very friendly demeanor. After leaving this place, I was both impressed and so happy to see that there are still people out there that do care about others. Do not waste your time and go anywhere else… this is the man to see!!!

Steve Benezra September 20, 2023
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Very professional and detailed in their evaluation. I felt very comfortable.

Ali Farboud August 9, 2023
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The team at Westlake Gold was both kind and professional. Joel is very knowledgeable and fair - and I really enjoyed working with him on the sale of some estate jewelry. I highly recommend!

Dana Barrett July 10, 2023
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*Respectful, surprisingly great appraisal, very safe and honest.* Joel meets his customers in a clean and neat office inside of an office building, instead of many others in the area. This allows me to feel more comfortable to start with. He was very respectful, friendly, and courteous. The best part comes with the pricing. This was not my first time releasing old gold and jewelry, and I received way more than I thought I would have given my past experience with other jewelry buyers. Thank you, Joel. Wish I had met you in the past, but sure am happy I do now.

Birgitte Tan June 30, 2023
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I was very happy with the transaction and the money that he offered to us when I sold gold jewelry. He was very knowledgeable and kind to me and my...

Mithila U. June 2, 2023
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Great experience selling gold silver and jewelry. Joel is very skilled and explains the transaction.

Mike Kale May 19, 2023
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What a hidden treasure, pun intended. Overwhelmed with a large collection that I wasn't sure was costume or the real deal. impressed with how each piece was tested even the ones marked for authentication. professional and honest.

janie ahlberg May 14, 2023
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If you are looking for an honest appraisal and fair deal, this is the place to go! I walked in with what I thought was seven 1oz Canadian silver dollars worth $25 each, turns out they were 1oz Canadian platinum coins with worth $1,000+ each!! He operated with 100% integrity and patience with me. He took the time to educate me on coins. I will defiantly return!

John Strote May 12, 2023
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Highly recommend Westlake Gold. I had a bunch of estate jewelry to liquidate and I feel like I got a very fair price for my items. I definitely will return. Thank you!

Rana Mohr May 12, 2023
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I highly recommend Westlake Gold - Joel is very knowledgable about gold and diamonds and I loved his authenticity when giving me the information I needed. He’s very professional, and courteous. I’ll definitely be back in future!

hannah de boisblanc December 16, 2022
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Joel, thank you for your help with the silver we brought into your shop. You were very helpful and pleasant to work with.

Robin Johnson December 5, 2022
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Just met with Joel while taking care of selling my father's gold (after his passing). Joel was honest, fair, and professional. Highly recommend Westlake Gold.

Cathy Anderson August 2, 2022
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I highly recommend Westlake Village Gold! I took my Jewelry to several places,I receive the best price from Joel his customer service, Attention extremely detail. I knew the first few minutes of meeting him that you can trust this man, Definitely will be back.

Rebecca de la Torre September 14, 2020
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Joel always provide incredible customer service. Joel is very knowledgeable about gold and diamonds and is also very polite and I always enjoy my conversations with him when trying to sell him gold. I highly recommend working with Westlake Gold.

Patrick rohn September 10, 2020
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I bought two rings from Joel and was blown away by the experience. He is extremely honest, professional, and knowledgeable. He normally doesn't make jewelry sales to walk in customers, but just so happened to have exactly what we were looking for. And he even arranged to have our rings resized and polished. They are beautiful and exactly what we wanted.

Stephanie Bland March 30, 2020
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Very professional, knowledgeable and honest. More than fair, highly recommend.

Doug Weil January 9, 2020
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Joel is great at what he does. He helped me with valuing some coins I needed. If you need to find the value on any jewelry you must go here. Thank you so much for your help!

Probate Services Inc. November 2, 2017
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Joel was extremely knowledgable, professional, informative and expeditious in the overall process. I will be coming back if/when I have a need to sell silver, gold and/or jewelry!

Scott O'Malley July 14, 2016