The Golden Standard: A Robust Monetary System to Safeguard Your Wealth

Zachary Mitchell General July 16, 2023July 17, 2023financial, gold, investing

American golden standard concept- 20 dollar bill, gold bars, and bank note

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing financial world, stability and security are two qualities that we all seek in our monetary system. One such system that has stood the test of time and earned the trust of investors worldwide is the Golden Standard. This system, rooted in a currency backed by gold and silver, has proven its worth throughout history and continues to offer various benefits to individuals and nations alike.

Unveiling the Golden Standard

The Golden Standard is a monetary system where a country’s currency is backed by physical gold and silver reserves. Under this system, the value of the currency is linked to a fixed quantity of gold or silver. In essence, each unit of currency represents a specific amount of precious metal. This linkage creates a robust and reliable foundation for the economy, as the currency’s value is intrinsically tied to the scarcity and stability of these precious metals.

Benefits of the Golden Standard

1. Stability and Inflation Protection

One of the key benefits of the Golden Standard is its ability to provide stability to the economy. Unlike fiat currencies, which can be subject to inflation due to excessive money printing, a gold-backed currency maintains its value over time. The limited supply of gold and silver ensures that the value of the currency remains relatively constant, protecting individuals and businesses from the erosion of purchasing power caused by inflation.

2. Confidence and Trust

The Golden Standard instills confidence and trust among investors and the general public. Knowing that their currency is backed by tangible assets, individuals are more likely to have faith in its value and stability. This confidence leads to increased economic activity as people are more willing to save, invest, and engage in business transactions, resulting in overall economic growth and prosperity.

3. Protection Against Currency Manipulation

In a world where currency manipulation is not uncommon, the Golden Standard offers protection against such practices. When a currency is tied to gold and silver, it becomes much more difficult for governments or central banks to manipulate its value for political or economic gains. This stability ensures that individuals and businesses can plan for the long term without the fear of sudden currency devaluation or exchange rate fluctuations.

4. A Hedge Against Financial Crises

During times of financial turmoil or economic crises, the Golden Standard acts as a safe haven for investors. In uncertain times, gold and silver have historically served as a store of value, often rising in price when other investments falter. By investing in gold and silver, individuals can protect their wealth from economic downturns and preserve their purchasing power, providing a much-needed security blanket during turbulent times.

Investing in Gold and Silver: The Key to Harnessing the Golden Standard

To fully reap the benefits of the Golden Standard, individuals should explore investing in gold and silver. These timeless precious metals are not only an integral part of the monetary system; they also offer multiple advantages as investment assets.

1. Diversification and Portfolio Protection

Gold and silver serve as excellent diversification tools that can help balance the risk-to-return ratio of a portfolio. When other investments, such as stocks and bonds, are underperforming, the value of gold and silver tends to rise, acting as a hedge against market volatility. By incorporating these precious metals into their investment portfolios, individuals can reduce risk and safeguard their wealth.

2. Preservation of Wealth

Throughout history, gold and silver have demonstrated their power to preserve wealth. Unlike paper currencies that can become virtually worthless due to hyperinflation or economic instability, these precious metals retain their value over time. By investing in gold and silver, individuals can protect their purchasing power and ensure the long-term preservation of their savings.

3. Potential for Capital Appreciation

Apart from wealth preservation, gold and silver also offer the potential for capital appreciation. Over the years, the demand for these metals has continued to grow, driven by factors such as increasing industrial usage and global economic uncertainties. As a result, their prices have shown a consistent upward trend, presenting opportunities for investors to benefit from capital gains.

4. Liquidity and Universally Recognized Value

Gold and silver are some of the most liquid assets available, meaning they can easily be converted to cash or used as collateral when required. Additionally, their universally recognized value ensures that they can be exchanged for goods and services worldwide without the need for complex conversions or negotiations. This liquidity and universal acceptance make gold and silver highly versatile assets in any investment strategy.

Embrace the Golden Standard for a Secure Financial Future

The Golden Standard, with its reliance on gold and silver-backed currencies, has proven time and again to be a robust and secure monetary system. Its stability, protection against inflation, and resistance to currency manipulation make it an attractive choice for individuals and nations seeking a solid financial foundation.

By investing in gold and silver, individuals can not only harness the benefits of the Golden Standard but also safeguard their wealth, diversify their portfolios, and potentially capitalize on capital appreciation. These precious metals offer a tangible and resilient asset that has stood the test of time, providing peace of mind and financial security in an ever-changing world.

So, why wait? Embrace the timeless allure of the Golden Standard and invest in gold and silver today to pave the way for a prosperous and secure financial future.

Hosting a Gold Party

Zachary Mitchell General May 26, 2023July 17, 2023party

Hosting a gold party can be a fun way to turn your unwanted gold into cash.

The concept of a gold party is simple: invite your friends over, bring out your gold jewelry, and have a professional gold buyer assess and buy the items. Hosting a gold party is a great opportunity to socialize while making some extra money.

To begin, find a reputable gold buyer and make arrangements for them to attend your party. Then, send out invitations to your friends and family. Encourage them to gather any old or broken gold jewelry that they no longer wear or want. The gold buyer will then assess the items and make an offer based on the current market value of gold.

There are three main categories of gold: 24 karat, 18 karat, and 14 karat.

24 karat gold is pure gold, with no other metals added. It is the most malleable and ductile of all metals, but it is also more susceptible to scratching and wear.

18 karat gold contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metals, such as copper or silver. It is more durable than 24 karat gold and maintains its color better.

14 karat gold contains 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% other metals. It is more affordable than higher karat options and is often used in more affordable jewelry.

The color of gold can also vary depending on the alloys used. Yellow gold is the standard color, while white gold is usually alloyed with metals like nickel or palladium to create a silver-white hue. Rose gold is made by adding copper to yellow gold, resulting in a pinkish or red tint.

There may be several items in your home that may contain gold.

The most obvious is jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Other items that may contain gold include watches, cufflinks, and other small decorative objects made of precious metals. Household items with gold include flatware, plates, and other tableware. Gold may also be found in electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, as well as in wiring and circuitry.

Some musical instruments also contain small amounts of gold, such as the mouthpieces of brass instruments. Additionally, some home décor items, such as picture frames, can contain small amounts of gold leaf or gilding. It’s important to note that while some of these items may contain small amounts of gold, they may not be valuable enough to justify trying to extract the metal.

Hosting a gold party is not only a great way to make some extra cash, but it can also be an environmentally conscious choice. Instead of throwing away old jewelry, it can be melted down and used to create new pieces. Overall, hosting a gold party can be a fun and profitable experience for everyone involved.

9 Common Investing Mistakes

Zachary Mitchell General February 12, 2019July 17, 2023

Identifying and Avoiding Common Investing Mistakes

Investing always involves some level of risk. Even if you make smart investments, you could wind up getting hit with significant losses. Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to protect yourself.

A good place to start is by identifying and avoiding common investing mistakes like the ones listed below:

Not Being Able to Let an Investment Go After A Loss

A lot of investors struggle with the thought of selling at a loss. Instead, they hold on, hoping that the investment will climb back up to a point where they can at least get their initial investment back. In my opinion, this is partly due to the fact that we are conditioned to be competitive from the time we are young. The thing to remember is that investing is not a competition and you don’t have anything to prove. Take an honest look at each of your investments. If you wouldn’t buy them today, the time has probably come to sell. Even if you take a loss, you can invest the money that you make in more profitable ventures.

Failing to Sell After A Gain

A lot of times, investors also struggle to sell holdings that have appreciated in value. Typically, this stems from the fact that they are worried that the value of the investment will continue to rise after they sell the holding. While this does sometimes happen, the opposite also occurs where the value drops, and any gains are lost. In order to keep from losing what you have gained, you should consider selling at least a percentage of the holding. That way, you can make some extra money to invest in other areas. This is an effective technique to use when re-balancing your portfolio.

Failing to Come Up with An Investment Plan

You probably wouldn’t head out on a long trip without a GPS device or a map to help you find your way. The same should hold true for investing. Chances are, you probably have goals that you want to achieve with your investments. For instance, you might be building a retirement nest egg or helping to put your kids through school.

If you don’t take time to plan your financial future, you won’t have any idea how much money you need to make or what level of risk is appropriate.

You also won’t be able to tell whether or not you are making any progress toward your objectives. Making investments without a plan is a lot like driving your car around in circles without any direction in mind.

Attempting to Predict What the Market Is Going to Do

The market is unpredictable. Even during periods where it seems like it is going in a particular direction, trading always has ups and downs. It isn’t practical or advisable to try to time your buying and selling based on your predictions about what the market will do.

Being Overly Concerned With Taxes

The taxes on gains from investments that are held in accounts that are taxable are quite high. Even though it is always a good idea to try to minimize your tax liability as much as possible, I believe that it is better to get taxed on a gain rather than having to deal with a loss.

Failing to Monitor Your Portfolio

Keeping tabs on your portfolio is important. Anytime a change occurs with a particular company, you should take a look at what the stock is doing. For instance, management changes, acquisitions or mergers, the introduction of a new competitor, or large selloffs of stock by the company’s leading executives are all situations that could affect the value of the stock.

This holds true for mutual funds, too. If there are changes in the manager of the mutual fund or if the assets that are being managed suddenly drop or increase from the norm, it is a good idea to take a closer look at the fund to see if you should sell it.

Not Maintaining A Balanced Portfolio

Along with planning your investment strategy, you also need to regularly balance your portfolio. Ideally, you should have a plan in mind for the various types of investments that you want to make and the total percentage of your portfolio that each investment type will comprise. Spreading your money across a variety of different investment vehicles is always a good idea. When crafting your investment policy, come up with a maximum and minimum percentage for each type of investment. Each year, sit down and evaluate your portfolio to make sure that your investment distribution is still in line with your investment policy.

The performance of various investments can differ over time. As a result, your portfolio can become unbalanced. In order to minimize risk, you should periodically re-balance it. For instance, if you have allotted 60% of your portfolio for stocks but your stocks have grown in value and now make up 75% of your portfolio, your risk exposure is higher than your initial plan. If the value of the stocks suddenly drops, your losses will be larger than you anticipated.

Being Held Back by Excessive Fear

This century got off to a rough start in terms of investing. The market dropped significantly between 2000 and 2002. It suffered a major hit again between 2008 and 2009. Not long ago, the Brexit vote also significantly impacted the stock market, causing a sudden, steep drop. All of these events have made investors wary.

Even though this fear is understandable, if you get caught up in the idea that events that have happened recently will continue, you may be too afraid to invest in a way that helps you reach your goals. Obviously, it is important to consider recent events when planning your investment strategy. At the same time, however, you can’t allow your sense of fear to keep you from taking the required action to reach your financial goals. This advice applies to both drops in the market and to prolonged bull markets.

Focusing on Individual Investments Rather Than Building A Portfolio

If you make random investments without following a specific plan, you probably won’t achieve the success that you want. Think of it like football. Every member of the team has a specific role that they fill. Together, all of the players come together to create a winning team. The same concept should apply to your portfolio. Each investment you make should fill a role in your investment strategy, helping you put together a winning portfolio.

There are no guarantees when it comes to investing. However, you can minimize your risk and improve your chances of success by avoiding these common mistakes.

Ten Points to Consider Before Investing

Zachary Mitchell General January 27, 2019July 17, 2023investing, tips

Read These 10 Things To Think About Before You Start Investing

Given the recent events in the markets, you might be wondering if you should be making any changes to your personal portfolio of investments.

Getting the assistance and consultation that a certified investment planner can offer might be something that you’d think about doing.

However, before you decide on anything, consider these 10 important areas and ideas …

1) Formulate Your Basic Financial Roadmap:

If you’ve never before made out a financial plan, then you should do so.

It’s a chance to sit down and honestly assess your whole financial situation as it currently is, and this is a smart move to take prior to any investing decisions.

The first step in any successful investing is going to be identifying your risk tolerance and goals, either by yourself or with the assistance of Burlington financial investment advisor who has been vetted in the industry. There’s never a guarantee that your investments are going to make you money. However, if you have the right facts about both saving and investing, and then commit to a smart plan, then you should be able to generate financial security over the coming years and enjoy the advantages of having managed your money well. Hiring an experienced financial advisor goes a long way when thinking about the direction you want to go.

2) Analyze Your Comfort Levels In Terms Of Risk:

Any investment is going to involve a degree of risk. If you’re looking at securities like mutual funds, bonds, or stocks, then it’s crucial that you know prior to investing that it’s possible to lose a portion or even all of the money that you put into it. Deposits into many banks are insured by the FDIC, and the same goes for credit unions covered by the NCUA. However, money you invest into securities is rarely federally insured. You can lose your entire principal, which is how much you invest. This can happen even when you buy investments through a credit union or bank whose savings and checking deposits are insured.

However, with risk usually comes a reward, and in this case, it’s the possibility of an investment return greater than the principal that you put into it.

If your financial goal is one with a longer-term horizon, then you’re more than likely going to make the most money by investing carefully into asset categories with higher levels of risk, such as certain stocks and bonds, instead of restricting investments to lower-risk assets, such as cash equivalents. On the flip side, solely investing in cash investments might be more appropriate for shorter-term financial goals.

The main concern for anyone investing in cash equivalents is the risk of inflation, which is a risk if inflation outpaces and even erodes returns over the course of time.

3) Picking A Proper Investment Mix:

When you include asset categories that have investment returns which rise or fall during various market conditions in your portfolio, you can protect yourself against losing too much. There are three major categories of assets, being stocks, bonds, and cash. Historically speaking, they don’t move in unison, meaning they don’t all three go up or down simultaneously. Market conditions which might make one of them perform well can actually encourage poor returns in another category. If you invest in all three categories, then you minimize your risks of losing money, so the overall returns you get from your investment portfolio are going to go a lot smoother. If you see a dip in the returns from any one investment category, you can counteract those losses by having higher returns in one or both of the other two categories.

Additionally, asset allocation is crucial since it has a significant influence on when or even if you’ll wind up meeting the financial goal that you established. If you don’t put enough risk into your broader portfolio, then your investments might not generate substantial enough returns to make it happen. For instance, college educations and retirement are both long-range goals for many, but the majority of financial experts out there are going to tell you that at least some portion of your portfolio will have to be stocks or mutual funds that involve stocks.

4) Be Wary Of Investing Too Heavily In Any One Stock:

Have you ever heard that you shouldn’t put all your eggs into one basket? Of course you have. It might be a cliche, but it’s also one of the most pertinent ways to minimize your risk because it means that you diversify your investments. When you pick the proper group of investments in any asset category, then you can possibly limit any losses and smooth out the fluctuations of your investment returns all while not giving up too much of your possible gain.

You expose yourself to too much risk if you invest too heavily into any individual stock, and that’s doubly so for your own current employer’s stock. If your employer stock doesn’t do well, then you’re going to lose out on a lot of your money, and possibly even your primary source of income if you lose your job!

5) Make A Rainy Day Fund, And Keep It:

Do you have six months of income saved up in a very conservative savings product or account to handle emergencies like losing your job?

If you don’t, save up to that before you do any other kind of investing. You’ll sleep better at night knowing that it’s there. Also, never touch it unless you really need it. If you can, fill it up to nine months or even two years.

6) Pay Down High-Interest Debts:

If you have any high-interest debt, such as credit cards, pay them off as quickly as you can. This is a strategy for investing in your future that pays off really well, and with no risk. When you owe money like this, then paying down the balance as much as you can as quickly as you can is a smart decision in all market conditions.

7) Use Dollar Cost Averaging:

Dollar cost averaging is one particular investment strategy that can give you protection from putting all of your available money in at a moment that could prove to be wrong. Instead, what you do is consistently add sums of new money to your investments over a longer span. When you invest regularly, typically with identical amounts every time, then you get to buy more investments when prices are rather low but less when the prices are instead high. Individuals who typically make lump-sum contributions to their individual retirement accounts usually do so either in early April or at the end of a calendar year. Instead, they might want to think about this investment strategy as a way to smooth out their ride in volatile markets.

8) Don’t Leave Free Money On The Table:

Quite a few employer-sponsored retirement plans involve the employer matching some or even all of the contributions.

If you have access to one, make sure that you contribute enough to get the full match, otherwise, you’re letting free money pass you by.

9) Re-balance Once In A While:

Re-balancing is as simple as putting your portfolio back to the original mix of asset allocations that you had decided on. When you rebalance, you’ll make sure that you get your portfolio back to your personal comfort level in terms of risk, nor will it overemphasize any particular category of assets.

Re-balancing shouldn’t be done too frequently. Either do it when one of your asset classes gets too far out of whack, or just every six months or every year.

10) Don’t Fall For Fraud:

Scammers read the headlines just as much as you do, if not more so. Many time, they’ll exploit very public news in order to trap prospective investors by making the ‘opportunity’ they offer sound reputable. SEC recommendations for investors include asking lots of questions and verifying those answers with unbiased sources prior to investing.

Take your time and talk to people that you trust.

Gold and Silver – Still a Good Investment

Zachary Mitchell General July 5, 2018July 17, 2023gold, investing, silver

Is Investing in Gold and Silver Still a Wise Choice

Investors continue to turn to precious metals, especially considering the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar continues to decline year after year. A lot of people still don’t realize that the dollar’s decreasing value is an ongoing think and that one of the best ways to protect one’s purchasing power is holding precious metals.

Many people can’t grasp the concept of dollar devaluation, but we will go into more details about this, so you have a better idea of things.

Gold: is it a Good Investment

If you purchased $100 in gold in 1971, it would be worth around $3,000 today. Let’s discuss how much your investment would be in regards to individual purchases. That much money would allow you to buy six tickets to the Bahamas, a very good television set, a paid sports package for three decades or you could payoff your electric bill for a year or two.

The purchasing power of your 1971 dollars are maintained and it has actually increased. However, if you only saved $100 in cash, then you would still only have that amount. In today/s world, it would have only retained around 17% of its former value.

Silver as an Investment

Let’s say you bought $100 in silver in 1971, you would have over $1,000 in today’s money. Even $1,000 can buy a lot of things, such as four months worth of groceries, surround systems, a few quality cameras and weekend getaway and many other things. In short, $1,000 can go a long way in terms of purchasing things.

The government prints money out of thin air or they simply inject new dollars into the country with just a few keystrokes, and this is why real silver and gold will continue to rise in price. It’s always a good idea to invest in different types of money, especially one that is proven to stand up against time. This includes silver and gold bullion.

How To Invest In Silver

Many people are interested in buying gold and silver. In fact, a lot of people tool advantage of the falling prices of silver and gold.

This is because they wanted to add to their precious metals portfolio.

Silver: Is It A Safe Investment

Silver is a safe investment, and the longer you decide to hold onto it, the safer it becomes to hold and maintain. Unlike a company that you buy shares in, silver won’t go bankrupt. Unlike investing in bonds, silver cannot default. These are only a few examples of how it is a safe investment.

Silver has many uses, which is why it won’t ever go to zero. It has a history of being used as a form of currency, and this goes back many years. The bottom line is there will always be a market for silver coins, regardless of how much money they are worth.

Gold Or Silver

A lot of people fully understand what buy low sell high means. However, a lot of people wait until the prices of silver and gold have skyrocketed before they decide they want to invest in it. In other words, they tend to wait far too long before making a decision.

Still, many people have their own reasons for buying. Some are confident in their decision. Some people will still have questions they don’t have answers to.

One of the most common questions people ask is how can people spend their silver and gold assets in a barter-type economy. People often want to know if they can take their gold and silver to a shop or give it to a tradesman in exchange for their services. The bottom line is people want to know if they can spend silver and gold as if it were money.

Silver and gold has many advantages in regards to financial transactions. Every single deal requires a seller to make an offer, as well as a buyer to accept the offer. No deal is made unless the buyer pays the money, and the buyer has the final say in whether or not they should walk away from the deal so they can find a seller that accepts silver and gold.

There may come a time when the U.S. dollar collapses, and this can cause you to suffer tremendously, in terms of finances. Hyperinflation can send the price of the dollar to soar. If either of these happens, your silver and gold assets will still have value, which means you’d be more than likely able to use those assets to barter for services and goods.

Gold Or Silver: Which Is Better To Invest In

It’s a good idea to invest in both. Having gold and silver gives you more power to barter and trade.

Plus, you’ll have more versatility.

Gold and silver may both be precious metals, but they can perform very differently in various economic conditions. For example, when a credit crisis hits or if deflation occurs, then gold tends to fair better. Silver tends to do better than gold when inflationary upswings are occurring.

There will be times when silver will be priced better than gold and vice-versa. Silver might be the better metal to buy when the ratio for gold/silver nears the high end of the normal range. As of lately, gold tends to be more expensive, and this is why more people are buying silver. It’s all about keeping an eye on the market.

If a total breakdown occurred, then precious metals would become a main form of currency. Most people would have no problems accepting it. This goes for services and goods too.

In a financial collapse, those who hold silver and gold would be in charge of transactions involving metals, not the sellers.

Remember, you need the services and goods, but the seller needs currency.

If the seller is competing with other sellers, then you’re the one in charge, not the seller.

If a financial collapse happened, then you would be glad to own silver and/or gold.