Investing in gold is a very popular way to protect your savings from inflation. More people are ensuring their wealth through gold more than ever. Novice and experienced investors will find value in the tips below.

When you sell gold, you should obtain a type of estimated value from multiple sources. There are lots of services, jewelry stores and pawn shops that buy gold. Of course, they will want to make a profit when they sell it. When you have several estimates, you’ll have a better idea of what fair market value is.

When you invest in gold, the best way to invest in is bullion bars. These bars are available in a number of different weights. The bars vary in size from half an ounce to 400 ounces. However, the really big bars are very hard to come by.

Changes in the current price of gold will affect the price you will get. If you decide to sell your gold, pieces with different karat values should be weighed and valued separately. Stay away from selling high-end jewelry pieces because they have more value.

Always use a reputable company when selling gold. Get with the Better Business Bureau or check out reviews online if you’d like to learn about someone’s business. A buyer with a good reputation is going to give you a better deal for the gold you have, and they probably will have great customer service too. Protect your invest and look into these companies.

Make sure to research prospective buyers in advance in order to find a reputable one. You want to determine how the business treats its customers and whether there are outstanding complaints against it. Also get more than one offer for your gold. This will ensure you get the best possible price.

If you buy gold for your retirement fund, be sure it’s the proper kind. Gold as an investment must be designated as approved by the Internal Revenue Service. They have to be 24 karat coins or bullion bars. Consider bars more than coins, since they have more value.

Know that gold in any form can be sold. Valuable gold can be made into anything that is now broken such as jewelry and any home items that could be around. Note that these items need not be pure gold. Items that are partially constructed of gold or even gold plated are acceptable. It’s still possible to make money this way.

Never sell to an unlicensed gold dealer. This does not prevent you from getting scammed, but a licensed buyer probably has a better reputation. There are plenty of buyers for gold, so do not think that you must make a sale to the first buyer that you meet.

Gold is a lot of fun to purchase, but refrain from announcing it to everyone. You can never really know who is listening, nor who you are able to trust. Protect your gold by storing it somewhere secure. This ensures that your gold is protected under all circumstances.

To verify that a particular piece of jewelry isn’t simply plated, you can try testing it yourself with a magnet. If the piece is real gold, the magnet will not be attracted to it. Sometimes, the only thing real about a piece of gold jewelry is the clasp. A magnet can help test jewelry quickly.

You do not have to physically own gold to invest in it. You could buy stocks in a mining company or shares in a gold ETF. If you decide that you wish to own physical gold, be mindful of the security costs you will be paying for storage.

Gold is usually a good investment, but there are no guarantees. If you cannot tolerate ups and downs, look elsewhere. However, if you have some ability to weather such swings, still be sure to safeguard your downside potential risks. You want to maintain a diverse portfolio of other investments and make gold only a small portion of it. Many experts say that no more than 5 percent of your assets should be devoted to gold.

Gold has always been an integral part of people’s lives. When you have the correct information, you can invest in gold and make a fortune over time. This article provided you with a great starting point.