A lot of people use gold as a safe way to hold onto their wealth. Most people will tell you that in times of uncertainty it is best to place most of your money in the gold market. Continue reading to learn how you can protect and grow your wealth using gold.

Only certain kinds of gold are suitable for contributing to your retirement fund. It has to be given the stamp of approval from the IRS. They have to be 24 karat coins or bullion bars. Since gold bars are worth more than coins, it is best to buy them instead.

If you have no idea what your gold might be worth, than an appraisal is a good idea. This may cost a small fee, however it is crucial if you want to know the true value of your item. Be sure to select an appraiser who is accredited and independent for a realistic appraisal. Understand that you probably will not get the full appraisal price when you sell your gold.

Anything that contains gold can be sold. It may consist of decorative items, gold table ware, old items of jewelry and so on. It doesn’t have to be all gold either. It could be gold plated or a bit of gold and still be sold. You’ll still get a decent return on your sale.

You need to only sell your gold to buyers that are licensed. Though you still may be taken, licensed buyers tend to be more trustworthy. There is no shortage of places to do gold trading, so don’t feel pressured to take the first offer you get.

When you’re selling your gold, you have to do the proper research. Check out the competition and what they are offering. In this way, you will have a good idea of how to price your gold. Always start a little higher that what you are actually hoping to get, so you have room to negotiate.

You must know what investments to make before you actually start investing in gold. There may be unscrupulous dealers claiming to be experts in order to get you to invest with them. Any claims that promise overnight fortunes must be taken with a grain of salt. Gold investing should be long term investments.

Many times earring posts are made of solid gold, even when the actual earring is not solid. Necklace clasps and bands to rings are usually real, too. They don’t weigh too much so you may want to sell them all together. You may get more money this way.

Investigate with the Better Business Bureau before selling your gold to any purchaser. The BBB has information about each business including any complaints or reviews from others who have used their services. Pay special attention to any complaints and if they were resolved or not. If there are a lot of complaints on their record with the BBB, move on to a different business.

You can make gold investments in ways other than actually having physical possession of gold. It is possible to purchase stocks of gold mining companies, shares in a gold ETF or a mutual fund whose focus is gold. You should always consider the costs to store gold.

If there are any forms involved in your gold dealing, make sure to read them word for word. Gold is a huge business that makes a lot of money. Know what you’re agreeing to when signing anything. If you don’t like the terms, be prepared to move on. It can be worth it to make sure you have that extra protection.

Always check the price of gold a few times before jumping into any online market transaction. Many times there is a local dealer in your area that offers a much better price. While simply dropping the gold in a box and shipping it because you’re short on time can seem convenient, if you can make a lot more money locally, you should.

Learn more about a the seller’s buyback policy. Some buyers charge premiums for reselling gold while others don’t. Also consider the expense of shipping to a dealer who is not located nearby. You don’t want to purchase gold only to leave it with the dealer.

As with the majority of investments, gold investments are best entered into with a long-term expectation. Do not purchase gold when prices are high. In fact, that is not the time to buy anything as an investment. If you buy in both positive and negative times for gold, you will get a cheaper overall price.

You can easily invest in gold if you do your research first. Once you learn a bit about the gold market, you should be able to jump in with both feet. Make sure you put the strategies learned to good use as you invest wisely.