Should I Buy Gold and Silver?
Just as with other investments, there are pros and cons to investing in gold and silver. Some of the positives are that it serves as a useful hedge against inflation, as well as a safety tool during market uncertainty and political upheaval. But most importantly, it may serve as a good diversifier to other asset classes. Some of the negatives include the volatility that comes from short-term market speculation.
The last two points, market speculation and volatility, are of particular interest. It’s hard to miss news about how well gold and silver have done so far this year as compared to the S&P 500, which is used as a proxy to the overall market. However, viewing these numbers in isolation or in a short-term time frame is like looking at a work of art from only a few inches away. In order to see the true picture, you have to step back to appreciate it. The same is true when looking at investment returns.
So, if we expand our time frame from over a decade or more, history shows us high growth and extreme volatility relative to the market. We now start to see a very different picture: one where the market outperforms by multiples, while gold and silver remain flat.*
At Ciccarelli Advisory Services, we believe in creating a fully diversified portfolio. What does that mean? Well, it means investing in a diverse group of asset classes over the long term. The asset classes have a low level of correlation between each other, allowing some investments to do well when others are not.
In the case of gold, silver, and other precious metals, adding this asset class as part of a fully diversified portfolio may make sense based on the financial plan that you and your financial advisor have designed.
Fortunately, the proliferation of investment products have made it easier to invest in gold and silver, which were once considered esoteric asset classes. For the regular investor, this can be done through ETF’s or ETN’s (Exchange Traded Funds or Notes), as well as through mutual funds, managed accounts, stocks of mining companies, futures contracts, and in the physical form of coins and bars.
In conclusion, gold and silver can be a good investment, but it has to be done for the right reasons – as part of a fully diversified portfolio over the long term.
