Looking to invest in gold

I buy bullion from time to time as a collecting hobby.

Like Others have said, apmex for online buying. Just know that you're going to be antsy waiting for a package that contains more than $1,300 in value being carried by the USPS.

If you want to buy local from a shop, I recommend Louisiana gold & coins on Sherwood. Also gold and silver of Louisiana next to the cove in citiplace.

As for prices, don't get hung up too much on premiums. The spot price changes multiple times every hour and your savings on that premium can be wiped out by one big purchase or sell off by a major bank or world event.

As for coins or bars? Always go for coins first. They cost a little bit more over spot than a bar will, but it's much harder to counterfeit a gold coin. So, speaking of counterfeiting I would advise you to purchase a Canadian Mapleleaf minted in the last two years. The security features they built into those coins in 2016 and 2017 is crazy good. With a maple, you're getting a .9999 fine gold coin with multiple security features built in for roughly $40 over spot. Can't beat it.

Another question for you to ponder, why not platinum? It's trading way below gold right now and if industries pick up like we think they will – platinum demand will increase and outstrip the supply even further.

Volkswagen says hello. Platinum, palladium. That was an interesting chart for a bit.

It was interesting to watch, and somewhat analogous to how shale producers enhanced technology after forced to by the decline in oil prices.

Anytime a critical commodity takes a dive, technology steps up to lower cost of production, or potentially even replace that commodity.

Technology is really my biggest conceren going forward. Everyone thinks they understand the Poloroid. And I'm sure they do. In arrears. My concern is what next advance make something that currently looks like a long term no brainer to be antiquated.

I've given a lot of thought about what to load up on during the nbext down turn. But I don't know what I don't know, or don't know what has yet to happen. As near as I can get it narrowed down, I think CSCO, AMZN, GOOG and a low cost index of dividend payers, or better yet, future dividend payers.

Back to gold. I beleive everyone should probably hold a p[ercentage of precious metals. Balanced asset class portfolio and all tnhat stuff that everyone preaches about, but no one does. I hold very little gold due to its utility. I do hold silver due to its uses and industrial deamnd. Science doesn't appear to be close to replacing it, but who really knows? Look at what Volkswagen did to the palladium / platinum related industrial demand.

I think there are a couple of almost certainties. I don't think science replaces vacant land in the near future. I don't think it replaces a need for housing or food.