Investments in gold: modern market trends. Various ways and types of investment in gold Investment gold bars

Previously, we considered such investment instruments as a bank deposit, real estate investment and currency investment. In this article, we will talk about investing in gold and other precious metals, as well as compare the profitability with the previously described investment vehicles.

Why is gold interesting as an investment?

For many thousands of years mankind has been chained to gold. It is the quintessence of wealth and success. For a very long time, gold was a real payment instrument. People bought for gold, sold for gold, there was a gold standard and therefore the human brain and human psychology perceives gold as something very guaranteed, permanent and reliable. In addition, gold is limited (compared to 4 times more silver reserves), which increases its value, because. it may not be for everyone. If all gold reserves are divided by the number of people on the planet, then for each person there will be 27 grams. Gold is limited and the demand is currently high. A huge part of gold is consumed by the jewelry industry, electronics and dentistry. Now let's talk about whether it is profitable to invest in gold?

What are the benefits of investing in gold?

They are actually very similar to pluses in dollars. Profitability is about the same and the pros are similar:

• low entry threshold, you can buy gold for literally a couple of thousand rubles;
• fast enough turnover into money (high liquidity), that is, in principle, gold, like currency, you can quickly return something back to rubles to buy, unlike an apartment that is sold there for a very long time. The pros end there. Our profitability is stable, repels inflation and does not allow you to earn.

Cons of investing in gold

• if we consider in rubles - low profitability;
• if we consider this case in dollars - negative yield.

5 tools for investing in gold

First, let's look at 5 main tools that you can use in your investment strategy:

1. Buy gold in a bank in the form of an ingot. Of the pluses, you can place a large amount of money here. Upon purchase, you will pay 18% VAT on the deposit. Also, the bank takes its commission for the storage of bullion.
2. Buy gold on an impersonal metal account, that is, in fact, gold will not be on hand, but the rate of your account will be tied to the dollar rate on the stock exchange.
3. Buying gold jewelry. Jewelry has limited liquidity, loss of value when sold to a pawnshop or buyers.
4. Buying gold coins. Of the obvious advantages, you do not have to pay 18% VAT, and the cost of some investment coins grows over time.
5. Buy gold futures on the RTS exchange. You get absolute liquidity, do not pay for futures storage. Broker commission from 2-4 rubles per contract + 0.5% spread when selling a gold futures. One of the most optimal options for investing in gold (on a par with CHI).

Buying gold bullion

The process of buying gold is simple. In order to purchase gold, an individual must present a passport or other identification document, and legal entities and entrepreneurs, in order to buy an ingot of gold or other precious metal, are required to provide a certificate of registration with the tax office (TIN).

Ingot 10 grams of gold 999 (the presence of impurities not more than 0.01%) and its certificate

When buying and selling gold, an act of acceptance and transfer of precious metal is drawn up (), cash documents are attached, which indicate the type of precious metal, its sample and weight, serial number and total number of bars, the total amount on the day of the operation.

Keep the certificate carefully, because his loss of the certificate is almost guaranteed to lead to a refusal to buy back the gold bullion by the bank. It will be possible to sell a gold bar only to a pawnshop, at the price of scrap.

Buying gold on an unallocated metal account (OMS)

Let's analyze earnings through the purchase of gold and other precious metals on an Impersonal Metal Account (OMA). An impersonal metal account (OMA) is an account that virtually reflects your gold or other precious metal (silver, platinum, palladium) in grams. You can always buy or sell metal to a bank at any time without getting it in your hands and without checking the bars.

Of the advantages of buying gold on OMS:

• you can start by buying from 1 gram of silver and 0.1 gram of gold
• easy to buy and easy to sell ()
• convenient metal storage
• no value added tax
• cheaper than ingots, because The cost does not include the cost of production and transportation.
• no risk of theft and loss
• convenient to manage

Disadvantages of buying gold on CHI:

• there is no provision for insurance of deposits of individuals, i.e. if the bank closes, you will lose your investment in CHI
• no accrual of interest on balances of precious metals

The scheme of earning on CHI is as follows ⇒ You buy metal on OMS, when the quotes rise to the level you need, you sell the metal.

How to open OMS in Sberbank

To open an OMS you need to have Personal Area in internet bank or mobile application Sberbank. In the office, find the "Metal Accounts" section. Then fill out a simple account opening form. After that, you will be able to buy gold and other metals.

3 banks where you can open CHI

Sberbank offers to open a metal account in gold, silver, palladium and platinum for free + account maintenance is also free. In addition, it is possible to issue a gold account for a minor, which is an excellent long-term investment for a child.

The minimum amount required to open an account is the cash equivalent of 0.1 gram of gold. If you are a client of Sberbank, you can open an OMS online and transfer funds from your current account to this account. You can also close or replenish your account through your personal account.

VTB 24 also offers the opportunity to open a metal account, one of the conditions is the presence of a current account in this bank. If there is no current account, it will be opened in parallel with the CHI. The opening of the CHI and its maintenance is free of charge.

The purchase or sale of the metal is limited to a minimum of 1 gram of silver or 0.1 gram of gold, palladium or platinum. Interest on the balance is not charged (as with Sberbank). The client does not have the opportunity to withdraw funds in the form of coins or metal ingots.

Alfa Bank offers to open an unallocated metal account in branches or remotely, in the "online" mode. The minimum amount is the equivalent of the cost of 100 grams of silver or 1 gram of gold, platinum, palladium.

The client also does not have the opportunity to receive funds from the account in the form of ingots or coins; it is also impossible to credit funds to the MHI account using ingots. The Bank sets its own price quotes for metals.

Investment in gold jewelry

Investing in gold through the purchase of jewelry is only possible if, in addition to the increase in the price of gold, there is also an additional value in the jewelry itself. In other words, the jewelry you buy must be a piece of art. Thus, the cost of jewelry will consist of the following components:

Decoration = gold value + art value

Otherwise, investments in jewelry will not be profitable, because. selling them back to a pawnshop will be much cheaper than the purchase price.

Investments in gold investment coins

The main seller of gold coins is the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (do not confuse with commemorative coins issued by Sberbank). The value of a coin is determined by the value of the metal. On the plus side, you do not need to pay 18% VAT when buying coins. Selling coins is a little more difficult than buying, because. Bank acceptance of coins is limited and you will have to wait in line. As an option, sell coins to a pawnshop or buyers. Investing in gold coins is a long-term investment. The spread is around 8% on average, which will prevent you from buying and selling them frequently.

Most Popular investment coins:

• "George the Victorious"
• "Golden chervonets"
• series "Signs of the Zodiac"

The chart below shows the exchange rate of the “George the Victorious” coin. Data taken from the website of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

An interesting trend is shown by the relatively new gold coin"Sochi 2014" with a face value of 50 rubles. The graph of its cost is shown in the figure. Both this and the previous coin have investment attractiveness.

Change in the price of the investment coin “Sochi 2014” with a face value of 50 rubles per year

Buying gold futures

And the last investment in gold is the purchase of a futures contract for gold on the stock exchange. This financial instrument is traded on the RTS and can be bought through the main dealing companies FINAM, ATON, etc. One of the main advantages of investing in futures of gold and other precious metals is high liquidity. You can always sell futures without significant time investment.

Let's take a look at what futures to buy? The table below compares the returns of various precious metals futures.

Below are graphs of these futures for the year (data taken from ivesting.com). The figures clearly show the volatility and trendiness of the instruments.

Short term investments. Comparison of investment in gold with alternative investments for the year

Consider a short-term investment (within one year). For example, let's compare annual investments in gold and other alternative investments: such as buying real estate, investing in other precious metals, classic bank deposits, bonds, and investing in the RTS index.

Graph of changes in the cost of housing. For the year, there is a drop in profitability from 172,000 rubles per square meter to 167,000 rubles. This is about -2%.

In 2017, the most profitable investment option was the purchase of palladium (43% growth). Gold, bank deposits and bonds give approximately the same yield.

Long term investment. What would happen to your 7 years investment in gold?

Consider long-term investments (more than 5 years). So, what would happen to your money if you bought gold in 2010? Let's turn to the numbers.

The stock index of gold is measured in terms of the price of gold per 1 troy ounce. For one troy ounce in 2010 they gave $ 1230 (one thousand two hundred and thirty dollars). And in 2017, 1224 $ dollars. For seven years, gold not only did not increase in price, but also lost a little of its value, but we live in Russia and if we invested in rubles, then due to fluctuations in exchange rates due to the fact that the ruble depreciated in rubles, our profitability would be 89% in 7 years. We can say that investment in gold for Russians would be equal to investment in the dollar.

Also, gold could be bought on an unallocated metal account (OMS). We could buy it for 1200 rubles in 2010 and sell it for about 2100 rubles in 2017, the yield is again at the level of 89%, well, for reference, we’ll tell you that gold, which is sold as scrap, that is, for the value of the metal, it cost 700 rubles in 2010 , and it became worth 1300 rubles, the yield is again the same 87-89%.

Everyone is familiar with such a phenomenon as the “gold rush”, which began in the 19th century. But if then it was expressed in mass insanity on gold mining, then in modern world it has acquired a more modernized look. In today's reality, people in the current economy are prone not only to hoarding, but also to making a profit. But everyone wants to get a significant benefit without making any effort. And most importantly, that the profit should be 100 percent, and the way to extract it is safe. Today it has become possible. Due to the fact that gold has passed the test of time, it is not surprising that it is really the most profitable investment. And the popularity of investing in gold is quite logical and historically conditioned.

Gold cannot lose its value. This is because it acts as a collateral for all world currencies.

But the main advantage of this asset is that it can also generate income.

When there are free funds, a person involuntarily thinks about where they can be invested. There are various options: this is a bank deposit, bonds, and, of course, investments.

The most accessible option that does not require special knowledge is investing in gold (including White gold). But for citizens, the question remains: how safe is this investment?

Most experts are unanimous in their opinion regarding the correct choice of gold as an investment. This is due to the following factors.

1. Investments in gold in Russia are offered by banks with an excellent reputation, fairly solid and stable companies. Extradition of all required documents happens without fail. And this suggests that all operations are carried out in accordance with the law.
2. Gold as an investment is attracted by the fact that this precious metal, as a rule, only adds to the price. This can be seen by examining the statistics for past years. And even when you go to any jewelry store, you can notice a tendency to increase the price per gram of this precious metal. And this explains the rise in price of gold jewelry, the purchase of which can also act as an investment.
3. Gold has such an important quality as durability. It does not require any care (which cannot be said, for example, about silver). It cannot rust, deteriorate unexpectedly, break, melt, or simply evaporate. It can only grow (in value). We can say that this metal is eternal. If you have purchased 10 grams of gold, then in a century you will also have 10 grams of gold.
4. Gold is not only a noble metal, but also a very compact one. Its storage does not require much space. It can even be at home in a safe built into a wall or closet. But to ensure security, the option of storing in a bank is more preferable. It is he who is chosen by the majority of investors (especially since rent is not expensive).
5. For this precious metal, fires, storms, accidents, that is, any cataclysms and disasters, are not dangerous. To prevent this from happening, gold will still remain. It may be in a modified form, but it will exist. For example, with investment papers, the situation will be quite different.
6. Investment gold is also safe from a political point of view. At the moment, one currency may be dominant, and in the future it will be different. It may happen that there will be no state with a currency at all. But gold will remain precious anyway. The rate of gold is constant, stable.
7. If it seems to a person that buying and storing gold is a costly business and takes time and nerves, then you can think about investing in “metal accounts”. This is a way by which you can earn extra money on changes in the price of gold. The meaning of such an investment is that money is deposited, and grams of metal are recorded on the account. The security of such an account is that you do not need to think about the safety of gold. It is not stored in cells, because everything is carried out virtually.
8. Experts say that the more severe the crisis, the more expensive this precious metal becomes.

And most importantly, that the states themselves determine their financial stability by gold in the form of gold reserves. Citizens can also create their own stock of the precious metal.

In the Internet resources you can find many forecasts of the gold price. This is not surprising, because gold has always been well valued and to this day is of great interest. The rate of this precious metal from 2001 to 2012 was in constant increase. But in 2013, the price of gold fell sharply, it fell by about 28%. This is the largest decline since 1981. This situation led to the fact that there was an increase in demand for physical metal. Those who invest in it for the long term see the price drop as a chance to accumulate assets. But the Austrian Mint (according to Blumberg Luxury) is in operation 24 hours a day, trying to meet the growing demand for gold coins.

The low price of this metal does not unequivocally mean that gold quotes will quickly go up in the near future. Further more: Saxo Bank predicts the possibility of the price of the metal reaching even lower levels. But despite this, prices promise to strengthen somewhat. On the this moment experts do not have a consensus on what will happen to the price of this precious metal. Some have expressed great uncertainty about the direction of the price of gold.

What are the options for investing in gold?

• Purchase of gold bars. When buying a gold bar, there is a need to pay VAT, the amount of which is 18%. It is assumed that this type of investment is intended for a long-term strategy. Gold bars are stored either in a safe at home or in a bank safe. For most, the second option is more acceptable. Due to the fact that there are difficulties in transportation, verification of a sample of gold and storage itself, the use of a bank account through assigned vaults is becoming increasingly popular and in demand.

Until 1997, private individuals were prohibited from owning gold bars in our country. After removing this taboo, it became possible to have two types of ingots:

• Gold bars are in excellent condition (these are the owners of a smooth and clean surface, on which there are no burrs, scratches, abrasions). They should not have any inclusions of a different composition. Certificates for such bars must be in perfect condition.
• Gold bars are in satisfactory condition (they may have dirt, wear, dents, scratches that do not affect the weight of the bar itself). In such ingots, inclusions of a different composition are possible, and certificates for them may have spots and tears (but the certificate must be readable).

· Impersonal metal account. This option is quite profitable. This is primarily due to the fact that there is no need to pay taxes. The disadvantage of such an investment is that in the event of a bank failure, return cash there will be no opportunity for gold. From the point of view of security, it is worse than a bank deposit (in that case, in case of bankruptcy, the state will return the full amount or part of it). The advantage of this method is that you can buy an almost unlimited amount of gold. The cost of such metal will be slightly lower than the price of real metal. This is due to the fact that its price does not include the cost of creating ingots and their transportation. But working with such gold is no more difficult than with real.

IMPORTANT: if an investor still wants to invest in real metal, then you need to remember that gold bars have different weights. Their cost per gram of gold can also vary significantly. Often, with an increase in the weight of the gold bar itself, the price per gram of metal becomes lower. This means that a more massive ingot has less liquidity.

• Gold mining companies, their stocks. To invest using this option, you must first select a suitable company. The disadvantage of this method is that the company is not immune from bankruptcy during the financial crisis.
• Investment in commemorative coins. Such an investment can give excellent returns. The only problem is that its extraction is subject only to professionals. Any such coin has the potential to rise in value in the future. But it is difficult for a beginner to determine such an opportunity. At the time of buying commemorative coin You also need to pay a tax of 18%. Such coins are made only of high quality, which greatly affects their price. Investment coins have one difference. Their most important feature is that when buying such a coin in a bank, it is no longer possible to sell it to him. In this case, a numismatic auction is used.
• Buying jewelry. This method is questionable. A significant number of celebrities prefer it and buy jewelry of various prices. But it is also necessary to take into account the fact that the price of jewelry is also included in the work of the master, and not only in gold. And most importantly, it is used in an alloy with some other metals. Selling jewelry for the same price is almost impossible. It can only be sold at the current price per gram of precious metal and receive a small amount of money.

Experts say that regardless of whether you invest in gold bars or a depersonalized metal account, such an investment should be long-term. It is important that it lasts at least one year, and preferably three to five years. Then the investor can hope to make excellent returns.

Alexander Igorevich

Reading time: ~ 6 minutes

Despite a certain reduction in the price of gold, investments in this precious metal continue to be an effective tool for diversifying investment portfolios for both large investors and individuals.

Why is investing in gold so popular? There are several reasons for this, and here they are:

• high liquidity (selling gold is very easy);
• gold is the measure of security for money at all times;
• unlike currency, gold is not tied to the country's economy;

Ways to invest in gold

To date, companies and private investors have several methods of investing assets in gold. It:

Of course, each of these investment methods has pros and cons, as well as features of investment activities. Therefore, before deciding to use one or another method of investing in a precious metal, it is worth studying it in detail.

Non-cash metal accounts

Today, almost every Russian bank offers its customers to open an initialless metal account. When opening such an account, it should be borne in mind that it does not fall under the deposit insurance program, so it is better to choose a stable banking institution, for example, Sberbank or VTB 24. By visiting the bank's website, you can find out the conditions for opening such an account.

A metal account is similar to bank deposits, however, the account does not contain currency, but a certain amount of precious metal. It can be gold and silver, platinum, palladium and so on. However, most often investors choose gold.

The advantages of this type of investment in gold:

• no expenses associated with opening an account (commissions and other payments);
• the ability to get metal on hand at any time;
• no taxes on certain metal purchase options.

Trading through a broker

This method of investing in gold (silver) does not involve the direct participation of the investor in metal purchase and sale transactions. All the necessary actions are performed by the broker himself, and the investor only has to make the right and timely decisions regarding the purchase of certain volumes of gold and their sale.

All gold coins are divided into investment and collection.

• Investment coins can be purchased at any bank licensed for this type of activity, they do not have a mirror surface, and their value is close to the price of pure gold. Also, their purchase is not subject to VAT. In Russia, many banks are engaged in the sale of gold coins, including Rosselkhozbank, VTB, Sberbank, and so on.
• Collectible coins more expensive than investment because they have artistic and sometimes historical value. If there is demand, the price of such a coin can grow several times over a short period of time. However, it is not easy to acquire such coins, especially those that are produced in limited editions. You can track the issue of such coins on the website of the Central Bank of Russia.

You can read more about investing in gold coins at.

Buying gold bars

This type of investment in gold involves the purchase of bars of a certain size, and the transaction itself is secured by a special certificate. It is worth noting that banks have restrictions on the minimum amount of gold sold. Therefore, this instrument of investing assets in gold, as a rule, is the prerogative of large investment companies. It also implies certain additional costs, including the need to store gold bars.

Purchase of gold items

This type of investing in gold is popular only among private individuals who, by buying gold products, seek to protect themselves from the effects of inflation, as well as to “make reserves” for the future. From the point of view of commercial investment, compared to other ways of investing in precious metals, such as investing in gold mining, this method of increasing financial assets has a number of disadvantages:

• products are not made of pure gold;
• their value is exaggerated due to trade markup, taxes and other factors;
• products are difficult to sell even at the price at which they were bought.

What are the pros and cons of investing in precious metals? Is it profitable to invest in gold in 2017? How can a gold price chart be useful?

Hi all! Denis Kuderin is in touch - an expert in the field of investment.

My friend has been collecting memorabilia and commemorative coins, including gold. So, some of them have grown in price by 5-15 times or more in just 10 years. For example, he showed me the Sower coin, which he once bought for 1,000 rubles. Now it costs about 20,000 rubles. It can be sold to the same Sberbank at any time.

The price of the “George the Victorious” coin, issued in 2008, rises by 20-30% every year. In the year of release, it could be purchased for 6,000 rubles. Now it costs 17,000. If I had bought a dozen of these coins at one time ... Will we count the lost profits or will we figure out together how to invest in gold wisely? That's right, let's find out!

I will also tell you which companies can be trusted with “gold” investments and tell you about the possible risks of such investments.

Go ahead, friends!

1. What are the features of investing in gold

Precious metals and especially gold have been one of the most reliable and profitable investment areas for thousands of years.

No economic reforms and political upheavals will cancel the fact that the reserves of this metal on the planet are limited and a real decline in value does not threaten it either in the near or in the distant future. Unless new alchemists will appear and learn how to extract gold from lead. But this is, to put it mildly, unlikely.

It is noteworthy that economic crises do not reduce gold prices, but vice versa.

Example

According to Sberbank, the profitability of depersonalized metal accounts over the past 3 years amounted to 84%. And the price per gram for 5 years has grown from 1,600 to 2,500 rubles.

Investing in gold in 2017 is just as profitable as it was a year or 5 years ago. Moreover, experts believe that the cost of this metal is likely to increase by the end of the year. Another issue is the payback period of such investments.

And yet, you should not immediately run to the bank and exchange cash for gold bars. First you need to weigh all the pros and cons of such a decision and learn the basic rules for investing in precious metals.

The first rule that an investor in precious metals needs to know is that investments in gold are designed for profit in the long term. It will not work to get real income in 3 months and even in six months. The payback of such investments is measured in years. See the charts of gold price growth on the websites of major banks.

Here is an example of such a chart.

The next point is the choice of investment method. Every citizen of Russia has the right to purchase ingots or coins in a bank, as well as open an unallocated metal account (OMS) in gold and other precious metals. Each method has its own characteristics and risks, which I will discuss in detail in the corresponding section of the article.

The main advantages of investing in gold:

• gold almost does not fall in price - this is not about seasonal fluctuations, but about long periods of price quotation;
• this metal does not rust, does not corrode, does not wear out - if your great-grandfather bought a 1 kg ingot 100 years ago and handed it over to you as an inheritance, weight and appearance metal will remain virtually unchanged;
• it is easy to store - the ingots are compact and do not require special care;
• gold is liquid - it can always be sold to banks or others;
• it is a universal currency that is valued on all continents and in all countries.

The main disadvantage of gold as an investment instrument is its high purchase price. Not every citizen has free money to purchase the amount of gold necessary to obtain a stable income.

Another disadvantage is the long waiting period for profit. I have already talked about this - in order to get a solid profit, you will have to wait several years. In addition, gold is property, and it is taxed.

Method 3. Impersonal metal accounts

An interesting and promising way to invest. CHI is opened in a bank licensed for this type of operation.

The client purchases gold virtually at the price set by the banking institution. As a rule, this price is slightly higher than the exchange value of gold on that day. The buyer has nothing to do with the metal itself, just the amount that he deposits on the deposit is converted into grams of the precious metal.

In the event of an increase in gold prices, the client receives a guaranteed income. If he closes the account, he is returned the monetary equivalent of the value of the metal, but already recalculated at the current gold rate.

Significant advantages of OMS:

• unlike "physical" gold, depersonalized accounts are not subject to VAT;
• the price of gold for OMS is as close as possible to the stock exchange, which allows, in the case of a demand account, to sell assets as profitably as possible;
• bank interest is accrued on the accounts (albeit small).

There are also shortcomings that experts and analysts talk about. Most importantly, such deposits are not insured by banks, like cash deposits. This increases the risk for the investor. Therefore, when choosing a bank for opening a CHI, be extremely careful. Choose only proven and reliable institutions with a long track record.

Method 4. Exchange trading

This is the easiest way to invest in precious metals. It is not necessary to acquire "physical" gold, and therefore there is no question of its storage. At the same time, brokers receive income not only due to an increase in the price of gold, but also due to a decrease in it.

Leverage allows you to trade in volumes exceeding the deposit, which also has a positive effect on profitability. And yes, you don't have to pay taxes.

There are risks, where without them. The probability of losing a deposit is present in any exchange transactions. It all depends on the reliability of the broker and the effectiveness of the chosen trading strategy.

In the table, the pros and cons of each method are presented in a visual form:

№	Ways to invest	Advantages	Flaws
1	Ingots	Over the years, gold does not fall in price, but grows	VAT 18% on the purchase of an ingot
2	coins	The cost of investment coins is steadily increasing	To purchase collectible and commemorative gold coins, you need to understand numismatics
3	CHI	No account opening tax	Deposits are not insured
4	Exchange trading	Eliminates the issue of storing gold	It is not easy to find a reliable broker and a good trader

For more information, please refer to the relevant publication.

3. How to invest in gold - a step by step guide for beginners

So, you have firmly decided not to keep money under the mattress anymore, but to make it work for you. When you start investing, prepare yourself mentally: gold is a reliable tool, but there are risks in any financial transactions.

It is necessary to act systematically, soberly, reasonably.

Step 1. We assess the current financial condition and put our finances in order

The step is obvious, but I can’t not include it in the instructions. Any investment involves a preliminary assessment of their financial capabilities. Calculate your assets, including additional income, and compare them with liabilities.

If, for example, you have a mortgage or credit debt that takes 30% of your main income, you can hardly count on a significant amount of free funds. Overestimating your investment opportunities is the main mistake of every beginner.

But too much caution will not bring benefits. One dollar today is always more valuable than the same dollar tomorrow. To keep savings, they must be invested. This is how the economy works, regardless of the scale of available funds.

Step 2 We designate the goals and objectives of investment

Investments are not abstract. Having made a contribution, you need to know how much it will bring you and for how long. Decide on the goals and objectives of investing.

For example, you need to increase your funds by 50% within a year and a half to purchase a Peugeot 408 car. To implement such a plan, you will have to choose the most profitable and at the same time risky way to invest. Having achieved the goal, withdraw the assets from the game and buy a car.

Don't be greedy. The pursuit of superprofits often ends in ruin.

Step 3 We develop an investment strategy

There are many investment strategies. Study them beforehand. Let time be spent, but basic economic knowledge is the same capital.

Strategies are active and passive, long-term and short-term, aggressive and moderate, high-risk and vice versa. The choice depends on your goals, amount of capital and temperament.

Step 4 Determine the way to invest

I have already talked about the instruments of investing in gold. The choice is yours. Experts advise beginners with relatively solid funds to start with depersonalized gold accounts. The risks here are moderate, the profitability is quite predictable. The main thing is to open an account in a reliable bank, which is not in danger of ruin in the next 5-10 years.

Step 5 Choosing a company and investment program

Investments in precious metals are offered by banks, investment funds and other financial institutions. How to choose a reliable partner?

I offer several criteria for choosing a company:

• experience - ideal if the institution has been operating on the market for more than 10-15 years;
• availability of a functional website with interactive features and useful content for users;
• the number of investors;
• choice of investment instruments - the more offers the company has, the better.

The best option is to find an institution on the recommendations of acquaintances who have already received real income from their investments in this company.

Step 6 We submit an application and conclude an agreement

The next step is to contact the representatives of the company. If the company offers free consultation to clients, be sure to use this option.

Let the manager or consultant explain to you all the nuances and subtleties and help you choose the most suitable program.

Step 7 We deposit funds and get profit

It remains only to deposit funds and wait for the profit. The Internet allows you to check the profitability of investments at a distance. Create a personal account and periodically monitor the status of your account.

4. Rating of companies for investing in gold - an overview of the TOP-3 reliable

To make it easier for readers to choose reliable companies for investing in gold, we have selected 3 of the most reliable Russian organizations working with precious metals.

Read, compare, analyze and make decisions.

The bank was founded in 1990 and is the oldest institution in the new Russia. One of the most dynamically developing banks in the Russian Federation, the industry leader and the strongest player in the financial market. The company's assets are estimated at 250 billion rubles. There are branches in 55 regions of Russia. The head office is in Yekaterinburg.

Included in the top 100 most reliable banks in the country. It occupies the highest lines in the ratings of independent organizations. The National Rating Agency assigned the bank the AA level - the highest degree of solvency and reliability.

The bank offers customers deposits in gold and silver. This is a good opportunity to earn income due to rising prices for precious metals. Consumers have access to time deposits in gold and demand deposits. Compulsory medical insurance is a guarantee of saving funds from inflation, plus the absence of problems with the storage, transportation and certification of the precious metal.

Specify the terms of investment deposits in gold directly on the site and by phone.

according to the Interfax agency. More than a million clients, 18 years of experience in the exchange of currencies and precious metals, 3 international licenses. The dealing center offers clients all the tools necessary for working on the stock exchange.

Gold trading requires special knowledge and skills, so beginners should take the help of experienced traders.

The reliability of Sberbank is evidenced by at least the fact that it is the oldest financial institution in the Russian Federation. The bank was founded in 1847. More than 70% of Russians are Sberbank clients and active users. The company has more than 17 thousand branches in 83 subjects of the Russian Federation.

Sberbank buys and sells gold bars of various weights, coins (investment and commemorative), offers customers to open metal accounts on the most favorable terms. The site has up-to-date price charts for gold, silver, platinum and palladium since 2003.

5. How to reduce risks when investing in gold - 3 useful tips

As I said, there is no investment without risk. But there are ways to reduce the chance of losing funds.

Read expert advice and don't forget to put it into practice.

Tip 1. Use various investment tools

In economic parlance, this is called diversification of deposits. It is wiser to divide the capital into several areas and thereby protect funds from a complete loss.

If one tool turns out to be suddenly unprofitable, then others will protect your investment portfolio from a complete collapse.

Tip 2. Objectively assess your financial capabilities

Invest only free funds - that is, those whose loss will not lead to a decrease in living standards. You should not invest in gold accounts if you have mandatory spending in the near future.

Investing in gold has been relevant since ancient times. This precious metal is actively used for jewelry, industry, etc. There is a demand for it even in the most difficult times. Gold reserves, on the contrary, are limited, and the production of the metal is constantly rising in price.

How to invest in gold is usually thought of by "conservative" investors who do not want to take risks once again. But it makes sense to use the “yellow metal” in the portfolio for other categories of investors as well. In any case, you need to figure out where it is better to buy gold for investment, what tricks and subtleties can await with this method of investing money, and, in general, is it worth waiting for profit from this metal.

Investing in gold has been popular for many centuries. This tool is considered as a classic way to preserve and increase capital.

The main advantages of investing in gold

• Wide range of tools. It is not necessary to buy “real” gold, you can only buy paper gold through OMS, brokers, etc. Another plus is that alternative instruments are also available (for example, shares of gold mining companies), which also depend significantly on metal prices.
• Large investments are not required. CHI and some other tools allow you to start making investments with free 10,000 or 1,000 rubles.
• Reliability. This is probably the main advantage of gold. It feels confident during a crisis in the economy, falling stock markets and other stressful situations.
• The reality of the asset. Unlike cryptocurrencies and many other instruments, the precious metal is quite tangible. It has practical applications in jewelry, various equipment, etc.
• The opportunity to start investing even for beginners. Many types of investments (for example, CHI, mutual funds) do not require special knowledge. This plus is relevant for investors who do not want to constantly spend time managing assets and obtaining relevant knowledge for this.

There are also downsides to investing in gold.

• Absolutely not suitable for speculative investments. A high spread will easily leave an investor without a profit.
• Profit is usually available only in the long run. The main disadvantage that stops investors is the possibility of a fall in the price of an asset in the short and medium term.
• The opportunity will face the difficulty of making a profit on a number of instruments. Due to the high spread on OMS, you will have to wait a long time for the price to rise enough to generate income. The situation is similar with some other types of investments.

The 7 Best Ways to Invest in Gold in 2020

Funds are actively invested in gold for portfolio diversification by both large organizations and individuals. There are no special problems how to invest in this precious metal. There are many tools for this.

Before investing your finances in gold, it is worth comparing the best available methods. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Buying gold through a forex broker

Forex Market It is primarily currency trading. But transactions with gold are also available on it. You can also invest not directly in the metal, but by investing in futures, ETFs, shares of foreign gold mining companies.

Features of investing in gold through forex brokers

• quite easy to open an account;
• high potential return on investment;
• it will not be difficult to understand the interface of the trading platform;
• high risks associated with volatility;
• the minimum amount for investment is not actually set;
• for transactions, you can use leverage to increase profits;
• To make a profit, you need to learn.

Unfortunately, there are a huge number of scammers among Forex brokers. It is necessary to approach the choice of a company responsibly. Many of the forex brokers are registered offshore and actually operate without the control and supervision of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. If a client transfers money to a fraudulent company operating under the guise of a forex broker, then it will be very difficult or impossible to return them at all.

Investing in gold through a Russian broker

Russian brokers such as Tinkoff Investments or Sberbank allow you to purchase gold in the same way as currency. It will be taken into account on the broker's account. It can be fully managed through online tools, for example, the Sberbank Investor application.

It is possible to make money on the purchase of precious metal directly only if the investment period is long enough. As an alternative, Russian brokers can offer the following instruments:

• Gold ETFs- funds that are traded on the stock exchange. An instrument similar to mutual funds, but differ in lower costs for commissions associated with management.
• Gold futures– derivative financial instruments with a specified term (3 months or six months). They are traded on the futures market. The investor receives income from the difference between the purchase and sale prices.
• Investment in shares of Russian gold mining companies. The price of gold does not 100% affect the value of producer shares. Business in any situation is aimed at making a profit. Income can be obtained both through changes in the value of shares and through dividends.

Most Russian brokers offer convenient online tools for asset management.

Mutual funds

Mutual investment funds (UIF) are companies that specialize in managing client money. They operate under a license. Investors acquire shares, and investing money in various instruments is already carried out by the fund's specialists. The larger the share the investor has acquired, the more profit he can receive.

Of the mutual funds, not all are focused on gold mining. Most Russian companies do not buy metal directly, but invest in ETFs.

Investments for beginners in mutual funds can seem very attractive. After all, you do not need to have any special knowledge, work directly with the platforms. But it must be taken into account that the potential for profitability of mutual funds is low due to commissions. They are charged even with negative returns.

Commissions may be provided for the following actions:

• for the purchase of shares;
• for management;
• for repayment.

Quite often, a situation may arise when the client incurs losses and still has to pay for it.

Impersonal metal accounts (OMS) in banks

Impersonal metal accounts (OMS)- a convenient option for earning on gold for beginners and experienced investors. In fact, it is a normal one, but instead of money, it takes into account gold. No data about the sample, manufacturer, numbers of ingots are shown and not taken into account.

The cost of gold accounted for in the CHI is completely dependent on quotations on the world market. The instruction and guidance for investing in precious metals through OMS is as simple as possible - buy cheaper, wait for the rate to rise and sell at a higher price.

Features of the OMS that need to be taken into account

• For transactions with precious metal There is no VAT on OMS. You will also not have to pay personal income tax from income if funds for compulsory medical insurance are placed for a period of 3 years or more.
• Impersonal metal accounts are not insured by DIA. Store gold on OMS in Russian commercial banks with little capital. It is better to place such accounts with large credit institutions with state participation - Sberbank, VTB, Promsvyazbank.
• In some banks, OMS provides for the calculation of interest. Unfortunately, large credit organizations usually cannot offer income on placed gold.
• Theoretically, the client has the right to transfer investments into gold bars, simply by withdrawing it from the account. But there is a fee for this operation.
• The cost of buying and selling gold is determined by the bank independently. It differs from the prices set by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation by several percent (sometimes significantly).

Buying physical gold in the form of jewelry

Sometimes, wanting to make money on investments in gold, people begin to buy jewelry. Often this approach does not justify the expectation. The sale price includes the following items:

• the work of the master;
• the value of the most precious metal;
• costs and arrived store, manufacturer.

Pawnshops and other organizations buy jewelry at the price of scrap. This will almost always result in a loss for the investor instead of a profit.

Exceptions can be made only for products of special artistic, historical, etc. value. But this investment option is focused more on collectors and connoisseurs of art than on an ordinary investor.

Investments in gold bars

Buying gold bars- one of the most reliable types of investment. In fact, each ingot is just a cast piece of metal of 999 fineness, i.e., practically without impurities (0.1%).

The client acquires a gold bar of a certain mass for his money and can sell it at any time. You can usually buy gold bars in the branches of large banks. The minimum weight of an ingot that can be found on sale is 1 gram.

The following points must be taken into account

• Safe storage of ingots is the concern of the owner. When placing them in specialized storage facilities, you will have to pay for the service, and when stored at home or elsewhere, you will have to take care of security and/or insurance on your own.
• The storage of ingots must be correct. Their unsatisfactory condition leads to a sharp price reduction or forces the owner to sell the ingot at the price of scrap.
• The loss of documents for ingots is equal to the damage to the metal itself. If they are lost, they may request a revaluation or even refuse to purchase an ingot.
• The cost of buying and selling bullion is different. It, like exchange rates, is set by a particular bank. Although a credit institution usually focuses on the settlement price of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the final offer will differ from it and sometimes significantly. When choosing where to buy gold bars, it is necessary to evaluate the prices of several banks.
• On operations with bullion in the Russian Federation, VAT is still levied. The state is considering the possibility of abolishing this tax, but so far the corresponding changes have not affected ordinary investors.

Another option to buy gold for investment is buy gold coins. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation issues them in limited editions, and banks sell them. In this case, VAT does not apply. There are 2 types of gold: collectible and investment.

Collectible coins are distinguished by complex coinage. Their value is determined mainly by rarity and demand from numismatists, and the price of the metal itself has little effect on it. For ordinary investors without specialization in the field of numismatics, such coins are practically uninteresting.

Investment coins have a simpler look. Their value is almost entirely tied to the value of the metal they contain.

How much you can earn by investing in gold with the help of bullion coins largely depends on fluctuations in the price of this precious metal. But the spread (the difference between the sale and purchase price) for a given type of coin of a particular bank or company that trades coins is also of great importance. It can range from 3-4% to 30-40% or more.

Return on investment: how much can you earn?

Each potential investor, of course, is interested in the question of whether it will be profitable or not to invest in gold. Precious metal is not an essential item. Theoretically, a person can do without it. But for several centuries, buying gold for several years is usually profitable.

Modern states often only print banknotes that are not backed by anything. But gold can generate income and is popular with conservative investors who invest money for the long term.

When evaluating whether it is profitable to invest in gold, the following points should be taken into account:

• The value of gold is volatile. It can both rise and fall.
• The price of gold is set in dollars. Because of this feature for Russia, the prospects for investment in this metal look much better.
• How profitable it will be to invest in gold will depend on the chosen instrument(OMS, ingots, etc.). The actions of the investor himself will also have an impact on profits.

To evaluate the profitability of gold, here are a few facts:

• In 1968, they gave only 40 dollars per ounce, and in 2020 - 1527 dollars.
• At the beginning of 2008, a troy ounce cost about 839 dollars, and at the end of 2012 it was already fluctuating confidently around the levels of 1650-1750 dollars.
• At the beginning of 2019, gold quotes were at a level just below $1,300, and in mid-August they already began to fluctuate around $1,500.

Major pitfalls and pitfalls

In fact, any investment instruments have pitfalls, gold is no exception. They must be taken into account in order to make a profit, and not a loss from investing your own funds.

The following pitfalls must be considered

• Long periods of storage. The best investments in gold can be made during quiet times for the market. If you plan to place funds for several years (or better - several decades), then when a crisis occurs, there will be a good profit. But when selling at a calm time - at the best will be able to cover inflation.
• Costs for storage, maintenance, etc. If you buy real gold in the form of bars, coins, then it must be properly and carefully stored. For the maintenance of brokerage or other accounts with "paper" gold, commissions may be provided. Because of this pitfall, income is tangible only with a significant jump in value.
• Big difference between the buy and sell price. Selling gold for 3329 rubles. per gram, the bank offers to buy it back already at 3056 rubles, and this situation is no exception to the rule.

The pitfalls for investors are mainly related to taxation. If you own metal for less than 3 years, you will have to pay personal income tax. There are a number of situations where you can avoid tax, for example, by taking advantage of the right to deduct. But the investor will have to study all these nuances, collect papers and be interested in these dirty tricks.

Is it worth investing in gold

Of course, everyone has the right to decide whether or not to invest in gold. But for most people, the answer is yes. The investment will be especially profitable if the purchase of gold was made at a quiet time. When selling in a crisis or simply in an unstable economic situation, in this case, you can get a good profit.

The guide to investing with gold suggests giving about 5-10% of the portfolio for this instrument. This will allow, in the event of a crisis, to calmly go through a difficult time, without the need to take drastic and thoughtless actions until a fairly bright period arrives.

Sometimes it is recommended to immediately invest money in gold and silver. This is acceptable for portfolio diversification, but it must be taken into account that the fall in interest in silver in recent times and other moments associated with this precious metal.