Best Gold and Precious Metals Companies

Having a portion of your savings in physical gold can be an effective way to hedge against economic instability, currency devaluation and downturns in the stock market.

Gold has a long history of protecting against uncertainty of all kinds, which is why many experts suggest you have about 10% or so of your long-term assets invested there.

In times of inflation or economic instability, gold tends to hold its value well or even increase. Holding gold or other precious metals within an IRA adds tax advantages, since contributions are pre-tax or tax-deductible, and earnings growth is tax-deferred. This can help your retirement savings grow more quickly compared to taxable accounts.

There are unscrupulous players in the gold business, so choosing the right company is critical. When buying gold or funding a gold IRA, you’ll want to find a reputable company offering a wide selection, reasonable storage and account fees, and, in the case of a gold IRA, provides IRS-approved coins and bars.

Take your time researching companies, checking their ratings and complaints, and comparing costs.

Following are some companies to check out. Talk to more than one before making a decision.