Posts by Kate Ortiz

Megan Williams9 said:Experts, I need some guidance here. A buddy of mine is looking to pick up about $7,500 worth of investment gold—specifically 20g bars. I’m heading out to Portland soon, so I’m wondering where the best spot would be to pull the trigger? Should he look in Germany, France, or Switzerland—maybe even Austria? He’s dead set against buying online; he wants to walk into a physical shop and handle the transaction in person. Any advice? THANKS

I've never bought anything outside the States, but for that kind of amount, the spread here in America is probably around 2-3%. Honestly, I doubt you'll find a significantly better price abroad either. Even if you do manage to save something, we're talking maybe $10 or $20 tops. It’s hardly worth the hassle unless you're already passing by the shop anyway.

I'm no expert, so maybe someone else knows more than I do.

Chris Booth6 said:Looking for some advice on buying precious metals

I’ve read through a good chunk of the posts here, but since I’m a total newbie, it’s all a bit overwhelming. Too many terms, too many different gold dealers, various coins versus bars... it's a lot.
I keep seeing wildly different prices and spreads. Some people suggest buying within the EU, others swear by silver or platinum...🙂🙂

Can anyone offer some guidance or at least point me toward where I can find reliable info? I haven't had much luck digging this up on my own yet.

The plan is to put away about $500–$1,000 every month or two into gold, platinum, silver, or whatever makes sense.
I’m not looking to day trade. This is meant to sit in the freezer for 5 to 10 years—or longer—just as a safety net, provided God forbid nothing goes wrong.

A small price difference doesn't bother me, but I've noticed some coins have a massive 15-20% markup, and smaller gold bars can be up to 15% higher. That spread is tough.

So, mathematically speaking (regardless of what the current market price is), what’s the smartest move for these amounts?
Or maybe a better way to ask: if you were in my shoes, what would YOU buy and where would you go?

Personally, I'm not a fan of gold (maybe 5% of my portfolio max) and I wouldn't recommend dumping money into it, but regarding your question... I doubt you'll find a place where you can grab gold with a low spread for that amount.

Better to save up for 6-12 months and buy a larger bar, or just buy shares in a gold ETF (like GLD). It basically tracks the same price, and if you use a low-fee broker, it's hands down the simplest way to go.

Can someone please tell me if I need to grab a certificate as an individual or as a business user for my sole proprietorship?

Sorry if this has already been covered before.