- 18 Jan 2023
- Bonds
- Precious Metals
- Comments: 0
Precious metals and cash reserves are two of the most popular and widely used methods of storing and investing wealth. Each asset has advantages and disadvantages, so investors need to understand their differences.
Precious metals such as gold and silver have been used as a store of value for centuries, while cash reserves are more liquid and can be easily converted into other forms of currency.
While the COVID-19 epidemic was at its height, the economy ground to a halt, the stock market plummeted, and its eventual recovery was doubtful. Because of this, the last year saw a stampede from riskier investments towards cash.
As with silver, gold had record inflows in 2020, with total worldwide holdings in exchange-traded funds increasing by nearly 877t.
Both assets have unique qualities that make them attractive to investors, so it is essential to consider which is more suitable for your needs. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of both assets, helping investors make an informed decision about which is best for their situation.
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Cash
Holding cash reserves is a practice that has been around for centuries and is based on having access to a certain amount of liquid funds to cover expenses or unexpected costs. In ancient times, people stored valuable items such as gold coins or other valuables to have ready access to them in times of need. This was especially important during economic hardship when access to credit was limited or nonexistent.
Over time, this practice evolved from storing physical items to storing money in banks. The first bank to offer safe deposit boxes for storing cash in the United States was established in 1782. Since then, more people have begun using bank deposits to store their money instead of relying solely on physical items for security. This provided them with more convenience and flexibility regarding managing their finances.
Today, holding cash reserves is still important for many businesses and individuals. Cash reserves can provide financial stability and liquidity, allowing businesses to meet their obligations and pay their bills without financial distress. They can also be used to invest in long-term projects or opportunities, providing a buffer against unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, they can act as a source of emergency funds in case of unexpected expenses.
Reasons for Holding Cash
When comparing cash reserves with other investment options, it is important to understand why people hold cash. There are many compelling reasons why investors opt for cash, including:
Liquidity
Having a certain amount of cash available allows investors to access their money when needed quickly. Cash provides immediate liquidity for emergency expenses or sudden opportunities that require an infusion of capital. Although liquidity is usually viewed as a positive, it can work against an investor depending on their specific goals.
If you need your money right away, cash can help you meet the financial needs of difficult situations. However, if your goal is to invest in long-term projects or pursue capital appreciation over time, keeping liquid assets on hand could be detrimental to your overall portfolio performance.
Store of Value
Many investors believe that cash has a higher potential for capital appreciation than other investment forms. To be a good store of value, an investment must meet certain criteria, such as having a predictable and stable return of capital, low volatility and high liquidity.
Cash can provide investors with all of these attributes, making it a desirable option for those who want to protect their assets from inflation.
Safety
Holding cash reserves can help prevent investors from facing financial distress. Cash on hand can act as a buffer against unexpected expenses or market downturns, providing more security than most other investments. Be aware, however, that cash reserves may not be the best choice for investors who want to pursue capital appreciation over time.
One of the more critical aspects of having a cash reserve is managing one's risk. An investor's risk management strategy must consider every aspect of their personal and professional life and financial independence. If you embark on a new professional or personal venture, you must consider your risk tolerance and adjust your holdings accordingly.
Risks of Holding too Much Cash
Cash is king, but not always. With inflation and taxes included, it may even be a negative-yielding asset.
The problems that arise from keeping an excessive amount of cash on hand should be understood by everyone who does so.
Cash Is Not A Scarce Asset
Cash is not a scarce asset, as it can be created in unlimited amounts by the central bank. For instance, a central bank that issues physical cash has no limit on the number of notes it can produce. In this sense, cash is less valuable than other forms of money since there will always be sufficient supply in the market.
Cash Has Zero Expected Return Before Inflation Adjustment
Aside from the fact that cash is not scarce and its supply is unlimited, keeping too much money on hand also exposes investors to unexpected inflation. The purchasing power of cash can decrease over time, making cash reserves a negative-yielding asset. Investors who opt to hold too much cash may need more representation in investments that can preserve their wealth as inflation increases.
Cash May Not Protect Assets Against Unexpected Risks
Cash reserves serve as a buffer against uncertainty, but they may not be the best option for protecting your assets. Cash reserves may not be able to shield your assets against market downturns or unexpected risks that may arise in the future. For example, you may lose your entire cash reserve if securities in your portfolio decrease significantly in value. This can happen even without a major market crash, so a cash-heavy portfolio might not provide the protection investors expect.
Investing in Precious Metals
Investing in precious metals has been a popular investment choice throughout history. These investments have been seen as a haven for investors looking to hedge against market volatility and protect their assets.
Precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium have been used as a currency since ancient times. They have been highly sought after for their beauty, rarity and intrinsic value. Gold, in particular, has been coveted by many civilizations throughout the centuries. Its value is linked to its scarcity and ability to serve as a reliable store of wealth.
The earliest known use of gold as a medium of exchange dates back to 560BC in Egypt and was used by the Babylonians and Phoenicians shortly after. In the 1600s, the Dutch East India Company began to trade gold for goods and services in India, spreading this practice to other parts of the world.
By the 1700s, gold had become an accepted form of international currency, and European countries widely used it to pay off debts and settle international trade disputes.
Throughout the 19th century, the value of gold continued to increase as more countries adopted a gold standard system, which tied the value of their currencies to a fixed amount of gold. This system was eventually replaced with the Bretton Woods system in the 1940s, which established the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency.
As a result, the price of gold dropped significantly, but it has since rebounded and is still seen as a reliable store of value.
In modern times, precious metals continue to be popular investments due to their hedging capabilities and potential for capital appreciation. Many investors prefer to invest in precious metals because they are not controlled by central banks and are extremely difficult to counterfeit.
Precious metals are also easy to transport, making them more desirable than other forms of currency since they can be moved anywhere in the world instantly.
Why Invest in Gold and Other Precious Metals?
Gold and other precious metals can be valuable investments for several reasons. These include:
Hedging Against Inflation
Gold has historically been seen as a haven asset, as its value tends to increase when paper currencies decrease. For example, the price of gold increased significantly during the financial crisis in 2008. It reached a high of $1,917 in 2011, reflecting investors' concerns about U.S. currency devaluation due to massive debts incurred by the government and the central bank (i.e., The Federal Reserve in the U.S.).
Many investors saw this as an opportunity to buy gold, knowing its value would likely increase significantly over the coming years as global economies recovered and inflation continued to rise.
Protection Against Risky Investments
Gold and other precious metals protect against financial market downturns because they tend to appreciate over time. As a result, many investors hold these assets as part of their portfolio to protect them against market volatility and unexpected risks that may arise in the future.
For instance, investors who own gold or silver bullion may not have to worry about their investments diminishing value due to an unexpected drop in asset prices.
However, precious metals are not perfect investments because they might not provide the same protection against market downturns as an S&P 500 index fund or a balanced mutual fund.
While it may be true that these assets are very difficult to counterfeit, investors should remember that precious metals are still subject to the same market forces as other investments. For example, investors in gold or silver bullion must still worry about the potential for a decrease in value if the price of their asset drops.
Capital Appreciation
Precious metals are stable assets that typically increase in value over time, which makes them a popular choice for investors hoping to maximize their wealth. In addition to gold and silver bullion, investors can find less-expensive investment alternatives such as gold coins, platinum coins and palladium coins.
Some of these alternatives allow investors to purchase fractional amounts of the precious metal as low as one ounce, so it is relatively easy for individuals to invest smaller amounts of money when they first start investing in precious metals.
Portfolio Diversification
Many investors use a variety of strategies to diversify their portfolios and reduce their overall risk, including investing in mutual funds. However, precious metals offer another option for investors looking for additional diversification.
Since they are not controlled by central banks and have a high degree of volatility, precious metals can be effective hedges against unexpected risks that may arise in the future. They can also provide portfolio protection if a financial crisis occurs.
Capital Preservation
In addition to investing in precious metals as an alternative to other forms of currency, some investors use them as a form of currency. By placing a small portion of their assets in gold or silver bullion, investors can see their holdings increase significantly over time, allowing them to preserve their remaining value and ensure they never lose it altogether.
Protection Against Government Interventions
Many investors hold precious metals to protect their assets from the risk of government seizure. Many governments have been known to confiscate the assets of their citizens, and it is difficult for investors to get their money back once it is taken.
This risk became a reality in 1933 when Congress passed the Gold Reserve Act, which required all citizens to turn in their gold bullion and gold certificates. As a result, many U.S. citizens were forced to turn in their precious metals, losing their assets' value overnight.
However, this risk is not limited to the U.S. government. Since governments could choose to confiscate the assets of their citizens at any point, investors should ensure that they hold a significant portion of their wealth in gold or other precious metals so they can access it quickly if necessary.
Greater Liquidity Than Other Assets
Many investors who buy precious metals may expect them to appreciate significantly over time, which could make it difficult for them to find a buyer when they are ready to sell. As a result, some investors might want to avoid tying up their wealth in assets they do not plan on using in the near future.
However, many investors who purchase gold or silver bullion can also purchase items they can use in the future, such as jewelry and electronics. This means they can liquidate their holdings when needed, even if their asset price has risen significantly over the years.
Should You Hold Both Cash and Precious Metals?
The common misconception is that you can only exchange gold for cash. Cash, gold and a wide variety of other financial assets, such as those purchased while investing in stocks on an online exchange, all have a place in a long-term investment plan with horizons of 20 years or more. Finding the sweet spot between return and risk is crucial for each investor.
Cash on hand is essential in the short run. People should set aside money in emergencies to cover any costs that may appear out of the blue. However, although having cash on hand might be reassuring, putting too much of your assets into cash won't help you get rich. You shouldn't have all your eggs in one basket, whether that basket is made up of cash, gold, real estate, mutual funds or anything else.
People who have amassed large sums of money in a savings account may choose to diversify their holdings into a commodity like gold to preserve the purchasing power of their assets. Gold is a time-tested investment with limited connection to the larger stock market that has endured the test of time (e.g., the S&P 500).
Various Ways to Invest in Precious Metals
There are several ways you can invest in precious metals:
1. Physical Precious Metals
This involves buying physical gold, silver, platinum or other precious metals and storing them safely. You can buy physical precious metals in coins, bars or jewelry. Coins and jewelry are the most popular choices for investing in precious metals as they are generally easier to buy and sell than bars, and they also tend to have a much higher value than coins.
Physical precious metals can be used to diversify your portfolio because you can purchase them from a variety of online sites or invest in physical precious metals through various options. Physical precious metals are also very secure because you can store them at home or anywhere else you think it is safe, such as in a vault or safe deposit box.
2. Precious Metal ETFs
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) allow you to invest in a basket of precious metals without buying the physical metal. Precious metal ETFs track the price of gold, silver, platinum or other precious metals and can be bought and sold just like stocks.
ETFs generally have low fees compared to other types of investments. They also allow investors to benefit from price fluctuations in precious metals by creating a demand for buying or selling the ETF. However, just like stocks, Precious metal ETFs are at risk from economic trends and could fall in value if the global economy declines.
3. Precious Metals Futures Contracts
Futures contracts work similarly to other futures contracts, such as livestock and currency futures. Investors can buy and sell futures contracts as they would stocks, avoiding the need to purchase physical precious metals and store them in a safe place.
Futures contracts can be bought through an online broker or on an exchange, but they often have much higher price margins than ETFs and physical precious metals. This means that investors using futures contracts may lose money while waiting for their contract to be fulfilled.
The current price of precious metals determines the price of future contracts, and the investor must pay a fee per contract to sell their metals as soon as it becomes available. The spot price of the metals is fixed at the time of purchase and naturally rises over time as the price increases. This can be a long-term investment if you expect precious metals to increase in value over time.
4. Precious Metal Mutual Funds
Mutual funds invest in various stocks, bonds and other securities. Some mutual funds focus on precious metals and offer exposure to gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals. Like other investment vehicles, mutual funds are at risk from economic trends and may fall in value. If a specified percentage of the fund's assets are invested in precious metals, they can fall drastically in value if the economy declines.
5. Precious Metal Mining Stocks
Another way to invest in precious metals is through the stock of companies that mine and produce gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals. Mining stocks are similar to other types of stocks, such as oil and gas companies, and can be bought and sold on the stock market.
Stock prices for mining companies tend to fluctuate based on the expectations for future production, which means that investors can easily lose or gain money. Mining stocks also carry the same risks as any other company operating in the global economy: if the economy declines significantly, mining stocks could plummet in value.
Can You Convert Cash into Gold IRA?
A gold IRA is a type of individual retirement account that allows you to hold physical gold and other precious metals as an investment. These accounts are self-directed, meaning you have more control over the investments in your account than you would with a traditional IRA.
To set up a gold IRA, you will need to follow these steps:
Final Thoughts
Investing in precious metals is the best option for protecting your wealth and ensuring financial security. Precious metals are more reliable than cash, as their value increases over time, and they have a long track record of appreciation. They also have an inherent store of value and are less affected by inflation or market fluctuations.
Furthermore, precious metals are tangible assets that can be converted into cash. Investing in gold and silver can provide a hedge against economic hardship and a way to diversify your portfolio. Investing in precious metals is undoubtedly the right choice if you want to secure your financial future.
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