How To Buy Silver

Get The Skinny On Silver

Silver Coach — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:35:50 +0000

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Get The Skinny On Silver Investing is a fairly quick read with only 120 pages.

It lays a very good and objective groundwork of silver history, the silver industry, silver’s use as money, silver leasing, potential market manipulation along with suggestions on the different ways to invest in silver.

For those interested in learning how to buy silver this book is a very helpful foundation. More often than not most questions about investing in silver could be answered by reading Get The Skinny On Silver Investing. Therefore, for anyone thinking of investing in the silver market you will be able to quickly assess the terrain with this book.

Order an instantly delivered digital copy for $10.

Order Get The Skinny On Silver Investing from Amazon.

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Silver Investment – Saving Options

Assistant Silver Coach — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:42:50 +0000

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

Investing in silver comes in various forms: silver bars, silver coins and certificates. These formats are the most recognized investment tools in which investors exchange their money. And the reason why it is so popular is because of the accessibility.

Silver bars and coins can be purchased directly from banks and online dealers giving investors all the needed leverage to save their wealth through an extremely liquid and stable medium.

Silver certificates, on the other hand, present investors a new option when keeping their investment. In this article, we will be discussing these options as a way for investors to save their wealth and show what each format is.

Silver bullion is a format that can be easily bought from a bank or an online silver dealer. The advantages you get when putting your money in silver bars is being able to physically hold your investment inside your safe at home. This gives the investor complete control on where the investment is stored.

So, most will not have to bother with paying or maintaining an account elsewhere just to secure the silver. Just by purchasing a home safe and placing it inside the silver investment can literally just stay at home until it is time to cash it in.

Silver bars can be bought in several sizes depending on what the investor’s needs are. From 5,000 ounce contracts or 1,000 ounce troy bars that weigh in at 68 pounds, or 100 ounce bars at 6.8 pounds, or even 1 ounce bars that weigh in at just 31.1 grams. There are sizes and weights for every need.

Another popular format is silver coins. Throughout ancient history, silver has been used as a monetary currency to increase wealth and pay for goods and services. Silver coins are still used to hold wealth. Several countries issue annual silver coins which are more expensive and have a higher value rating compared to others. And similar to silver bars, these silver coins also come in different sizes.

Silver offers so much versatility in investing options. For those investors that desire to purchase silver but without holding or keeping it physically then silver certificates are another option. Since not all investors are keen on storing their investments at home, they would much rather buy a silver certificate that allows them to buy and sell silver without the usual problems of safe keeping.

Another option is to have a third-party store the physical bullion you own. An excellent firm for this service is GoldMoney.

Of course, you can also try to invest in silver mining companies. It is similar to investing in the stock market where you wait for a company’s stock to appreciate and sell it when the value is right. But this kind of investing must be backed-up up with a thorough analysis of a company’s fundamentals and future performance for better profits.

Investing and saving in silver does present a wide range of options for the investor to maintain their wealth. Now, it all depends on the portfolio strategy that fits your projected investment growth.

Advantages of Silver Investment

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:18:37 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Every investment is hopefully designed to make the capital grow with the promise of less risk involved. Of course, all investments have risks, but it depends largely on how it will affect the projected value of your capital, if and when you decide to recognize gains. There are literally no completely safe investments. However, tangible assets are about as close as you can get because they can never become worthless.

The investment market today is filled with different options that an investor can take advantage of. Of course, there is the stock market that promises millions to hopeful investors that dream of becoming wealthy in a couple of years. There are also the bond market and mutual funds which is similar to stock market investing. Both rely on present economic conditions and market psychology, whether fundamental or technical, to boost up the prices.

Though these aforementioned investment tools can make instant wealth for a few lucky investors, they are still helpless when it comes to changes in economic cycles such as a recession or a market crash. For those familiar with the market crash of the 1930’s a lot of rich and wealthy individuals lost their hard earned money very quickly.

In fact, this problem is not only limited to the stock market, but it also affects the value of the dollar as well. When turbulent economic conditions such as a recession occurs, most investors will frantically sell their stock investments to quickly preserve their money and stay ahead of any market crash. But what this all does is create panic to other investors and make them sell their assets. This will, in effect, make the value of the stocks go down and will spread throughout other financial assets as well.

By the time a market crash occurs, the value of the dollar may also be affected and can cause devaluation. And this will have a snowball effect that can eventually greatly damage the economy. A currency crisis will greatly affect your investments no matter their size.

One investment that can literally save the value of your money is silver investing. Silver has been used for four thousand years as a currency and monetary coinage by most of the world’s nations. It is used for industrial, technological and financial purposes.

Silver as an investment that has provided investors with minimal risk. As a tangible asset silver can never become worthless. Most investors have enjoyed a steady growth of the price of silver over the last twenty years. In fact, silver is not affected by economic conditions that can bring down the value of the dollar. It is also a safe alternative to stocks, bonds and foreign currency investments; which can all become worthless.

Investors can safely exchange their money for silver. Once your investment is in silver form, no matter how much the dollar and the economy fluctuates, you money’s worth will be safe and always buy something.

Once you decide to recognize your gains then you can quickly exchange it and get your money back. Silver is a very liquid investment. This option provides the investor with a safe and reliable option to maintain one’s wealth over the course of time.

Advantages of Saving in Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:13:15 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Silver is a natural resource that has been used for about four thousand years as a preserver of wealth, a symbol of power and monetary coinage. Though some may think that silver today is used only for making jewelry and other fancy decorations, they are sadly mistaken.

Opting for silver investment is generally safer than placing your money in a savings account in your local bank. Why? Because your money is still subjected to inflation or bank failure and that makes your money’s purchasing power diminish over the next couple of years. So, saving your money, though it may have interest rates, will still arrive at diminished value someday.

Aside from inflation your money’s value is also dependent on the economic environment. Hypothetically, if a war suddenly breaks out, your money’s worth in your savings account will be greatly affected and similar to the effects of inflation will have a lower value. Your money and capital is not safe whether in a bank account or in any other investment vehicle.

And this is where silver investing comes in.

As mentioned before, silver investing is safe. It is safe because silver is a tangible asset and can never become worthless. The value of silver for the last twenty years have been unaffected of wars, economic cycles and stock market crashes. And it is projected that the price will continue to increase over the next couple of years. This is literally a long-term savings plan that will help you money stay safe.

Aside from its continuing value silver is also a cheap and liquid investment. In fact you can buy silver online. There are a lot of online dealers that sell silver to willing investors. You can also sell your silver online should you need the cash. This is a far cry from other investments that need a broker and other third party to make the deal happen and who charge outrageous fees. So, buying and selling silver will be easier since you will not be dealing with any other party aside from the dealer and yourself. This makes silver transactions easy.

Since silver is also a malleable metal it comes in different forms for the investor to choose from. From silver bars, silver coins, silver certificates and exchange transfer funds; you can be sure that what you are getting suits your capital and financial needs.

For advanced investors and those with stock market portfolios silver is a great addition to your list of assets. Not only is it unaffected by the economy but also it is more stable than the daily fluctuations of the stock market. You do not even have to worry about its short-term value since it has a constant price growth every year. Your investment is truly safe in silver form.

Saving in silver is the best choice for wealth preservation and stable capital growth. Now, it may not make you rich as quickly as the stock market does, but it does keep your money’s value safe against any unforeseen economic events that can damage your savings. Investing in silver is, by far, one of safest ways to save money.

Saving in Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:08:17 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Saving your money in the bank for future use is a good way to maintain your capital. Your hard earned cash stays in your savings account until you eventually need them. But your money kept away in bank’s vault is still subjected to inflation and economic recession and those risks can cause your money to become worthless. It may sound like an exaggeration or twisted truth but this unfortunate effect has happened many times in the past and will happen again.

There is nothing wrong with saving your dollars. But with inflation affecting your money’s worth a $2,000 dollar savings may be worth something today but in twenty or thirty years it might have a completely different purchasing power. Your savings should grow in value as the years go by. Instead a hamburger or gallon of gas that cost $.25 thirty or forty years ago costs about $3-5 today.

One option that can assure you that your money’s value will remain consistent and will continue to achieve growth throughout the years is investing and saving in silver. Unlike other investment options that can have daily fluctuations in it value silver prices remain constant throughout the years. Its value is not affected by inflation and economic recession thereby allowing your money to be safe and reliable.

For example, pre-1964 quarters were composed primarily of silver. That quarter that used to buy a hamburger or gallon of gas decades ago will still buy a hamburger or gallon of gas today.

Putting your money in silver is a great financial insurance plan. Never mind the news about the stock market or other available investment options. They do provide growth, sometimes quickly, but you can also lose your money. If you want to have a long term safe and secure savings plan then silver is probably right for you.

Buying silver is rather easy. The Internet can help you find various silver dealers. Just make sure that you get a reputable dealer with a long history of good transactions with customers. Though the Internet can provide dealers you still have to manually check the background of your dealer to be sure you want to deal with them.

Once you find a reputable dealer then it is all up to the kind of silver that you want. From silver bars to silver coins, and even silver certificates, it all depends on how much you want to save. You money can easily be transferred in silver. Silver is cheap and very liquid so you will not have problems in buying or selling in the future.

And when its time to recognize the gain on your silver investment all you need to do is to sell it back to the dealer you bought it from or find another dealer. Silver is a very liquid asset so getting your money’s worth is not a problem. And your transactions do not involve any broker or third party that has claimed interests on your savings and charge you outrageous fees.

Saving in silver is the best way for your money to grow and not having to worry about an impending recession, inflation, war, bank failures or any other economic factors that may cause its value to go down. If you think that you are ready to save your money in a better method than the average person then I suggest that you start saving in silver.

Silver Investment

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:00:59 +0000

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

For most people, investing means putting away money for growth with minimal risk. But if that is the case then why do people still speculate and put their hard earned money into stocks, bonds and other investment vehicles that have a higher risk of losing their value when the market crashes? Investments should elevate the value of your money and not lose it.

Silver has taken the backseat of the investing showcase. Everywhere you look from magazines to bookshelves the focus is on the hot stock picks of the day and what company can you make money on. Out of the many publicly traded stocks on Wall Street there will be a couple of winning stocks that investors should definitely hold.

Compared to stocks and foreign currency trading where big bucks are made overnight there is hardly any news about a silver investor who made a fortune in silver bars or a silver coin.

In fact, you hardly hear about silver investing today. With a fast paced society that is completely dominated by the Internet most of the younger generation wants things to be fast and wants everything now.

With a volatile stock market that changes its perceived value everyday it is difficult to maintain a sound investment without having to worry if the market will suddenly take a different direction from its current trend. It is downright impossible to monitor the movement of the stock market without experiencing fear and paranoia.

The value of silver has steadily increased for almost 20 years. During 1990, the price of silver per ounce was approximately $4.068. And by 2008, the price of silver per ounce was at $14.98.

Here are some of the choices to consider if you are planning to invest in silver:

• Silver Bullion: These are large silver bars that can be purchased from banks and possibly stored at home.

• Silver Coins: Silver coins issued by the Government.

• Silver Rounds (or Medallions): A piece of silver in round form.

• Silver Certificates: Investors can own silver but without actually keeping it in physcal form.

• Silver Accumulation Plans: This gives the investor the option to acquire silver in a gradual basis.

• Silver Futures Contracts: An agreement made on exchange with the promise to make delivery at a later date.

• Options: Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to buy and sell silver at a strike price in the future.

• Exchange Traded Fund

• Mutual Fund: A fund that holds a collection of silver based equities.

Silver investments provide a better option for investors. It is a safer and has lesser risk than the stock market. It can never become worthless. Purchasing silver is easy and there are many online silver dealers who can provide you with the best options available for your budget.

Think of silver investing as an armor-plated piggy bank that can hold your money and withstand the attacks of inflation and other economic factors. You can even outlast the performance of the stock market.

Silver Uses – Common Uses Of Silver – Uses For Silver – Use Of Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:56:08 +0000

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

SILVER USES – USES OF SILVER

The uses for silver been both common uses of silver and industrial uses of silver for thousands of years. The most common use of silver is money and throughout the world silver prices, like the gold price or platinum price, are quoted. Silver uses as money, next to gold, has been unparalleled and a common ingredient in silver jewelry, silverware and silver decorative items.

Silver uses are divided into three main categories: (1) traditional or common uses of silver, (2) industrial uses of silver and (3) emerging technology. Why are there so many uses of silver? The uses for silver come from a variety of unique properties including strength, malleability, ductility and thermal ability. These properties make silver a valuable commodity in the world economy and are the reasons for refining silver.

SILVER USES – COMMON USES FOR SILVER

Use of silver as money has taken place as currency and coinage for thousands of years. Silver coins and silver bars are used as silver investment vehicles for investors desiring to protect their wealth and achieve financial growth.

Another of the uses of silver is fine jewelry. Silver’s fine luster finish and malleability make it a great choice. Pure silver is tarnish resistant but rather soft and so this use of silver is not very advisable. So, many silversmiths combine pure silver with other metallic alloys such as copper for jewelry use.

Use of silver in photography is another primary use. Silver-based photography is founded on light-striking silver crystals on a set of film. This produces a sharper image and is a cheaper alternative to the high cost of maintaining digital based photo images.

Other common uses of silver include electronics such as cell phones or laptops, medicinal uses for silver harnessing its anti-microbial or anti-biotic properties, dentistry, mirrors, optics, clothing and etc. Silver uses are extremely wide and varied in the world economy.

SILVER USES – INDUSTRIAL USES OF SILVER

The melting point of silver is 1,763.2°F or 961.78°C and the boiling point of silver is 3,924°F or 2,162°C. There are many industrial uses of silver because of silver’s high tolerance for heat and silver’s electrical conductivity. For example, a use of silver is to coat the touch-sensitive switches and buttons in television sets, telephones, cell phones, toys and computer keyboards.

Another of the silver uses is with circuit boards in computers. Most motherboards contain silver. Compact disks and DVD’s are coated with silver for its high-glossy look and to help with information retrieval. Many batteries are manufactured using silver alloys. Though expensive silver cells are usually superior to alternatives.

SILVER USES – THE USES OF SILVER WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Important uses of silver are in the field of medicine. Several studies have shown that silver has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-biotic characteristics. For example, burn victims require a daily change of bandages. A use for silver is to line the inside the bandages prevent infection growth.

Another of the silver uses is with solar energy because silver paste is used in silicon photovoltaic cells to harness the sun’s energy. Silver is environmentally friendly.

CONCLUSION – USES FOR SILVER

The uses of silver in ordinary daily life are tremendous. There are common uses of silver ranging from cell phones to dentistry or industrial uses of silver such as televisions or circuitry. With new techniques and important uses for silver being developed every day the silver mining industry has consumers for their product. Because silver is money and the use of silver by the world economy these are only a few of many reasons to buy silver.

History of Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:49:15 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

The long history of silver goes back to at least 4,000 BC. One of the oldest treasures found that was composed of silver and gold was discovered in Varnia, Bulgaria. The earliest known production of silver is Anatolia, which is known today as East Turkey.

During the Bronze Age, people were already mining silver for the purposing of making jewelry. Since the silver deposits were still abundant during those days therefore silver was easy to find in Europe and in West Asia. However, the problem with silver ore was it contained some particles of lead which was poisonous and resulted to the death of numerous silver miners. The solution for this problem was to force slaves to mine silver.

One famous silver mine was found in Laurion in Greece. In 500 B.C, the Greeks found a mine filled with huge deposits of silver. Since the mine was on their land the silver was extracted and used to finance Athens’ first naval armada and eventually lead to the development of Greece’s powerful city-state.

After the dominance of Greece, the Carthaginians took possession of the silver mines. The money generated from the silver mines was used pay to the demands of the emerging Roman Empire.

But unknown to the Carthaginians, the Romans were also mining for silver in parts of Europe, in places such as Britain, France, Italy, Sardinia. The Roman Empire also had control of mines in Asia Minor and the Middle East.

In other parts of the World, the Muslims have also taken their interest in silver after their occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. This has greatly affected their influence and dominance towards other nations during this time. The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus spawned the rapid exploitation of silver mines in places such as Bolivia, Peru and Mexico.

During the 19th century George Hearst, the father of the famed newspaperman William Randolph Hearst, discovered the Comstock Lode in Nevada. This discovery helped start of the mining industry in the United States. The excavations in this mine produced an approximate amount of $400 million in silver and gold deposits. The mine has also played a significant role for the growth of the state and the advancement of silver mining techniques.

By 1873, the demonetization of silver by the United States Congress led to the use of gold in the monetary system. This eventually caused the available supply of silver to increase as it was not being used any more for coinage. The oversupply eventually caused a sharp down turn for the price of silver. Gold was monetary standard in the United Sates until 1933 when FDR issued the confiscation order. In 1971 President Nixon closed the gold window and did not allow international holders of dollars to redeem them for gold and promised.

The depletion of silver deposits in recent years has greatly affected its current value. . Though silver deposits are slowly diminishing this will just increase the demand for the precious metal and will eventually lead to higher prices.

All throughout history, silver has been used for generating wealth for individuals and for nations. With the current silver mining technology and more methods to extract owning this precious metal will greatly increase and improve your ability the capability to create wealth.

What is Silver?

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:33:17 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Silver is a white shiny metallic element that has been used since ancient times. It has been valued as the precious monetary metal next to gold. And its significance throughout the years is due to the fact that its name in Latin and in Greek – Argentum or Argos is known literally as money. It is no wonder that for four thousand years, most of the ancient societies wealth and prestige comes from the accumulated number of silver deposits acquired.

Silver has been found in ancient tombs in various archeological digs throughout the world. Different artifacts such as silver jewelry and silver plated armor have been found. This shows that silver has been used and valued by human society for a very long time.

When mined, silver is combined with other alloys such as gold. Chemical elements such as arsenic, sulfur, chlorine and antimony are also attached. The major sources of silver are ores from copper, combinations of copper-nickel and lead. Most of the silver mined today is found in such countries such as Mexico, China, Peru, and Australia among others.

In its purest form, silver is a lustrous shiny metal that easily gets tarnished when exposed to the elements for a long time. In some cases, the silvery effect will be replaced by greenish black layer tarnish. However, with polishing and a little maintenance, the shiny appearance will appear again.

Silver’s characteristics being very ductile and malleable are considered perfect for creating fine jewelry, utensils and monetary currency such as coins. Aside from other functions, its high thermal and electric conductivity also makes it a good material for lot of different industrial applications in medicine, energy and computer hardware.

In addition to its industrial uses, silver is used in a number of health care products due to its anti-bacterial components. This is where the term” Silver Bullet’ got its name. Silver is used in hospitals to treat bacterial infections in burn victims. Wound dressing are layered with silver to prevent the growth of any malicious bacteria that may cause secondary infections.

Compared with other metals, pure silver so far has the highest rating in thermal conductivity. It also has the whitest color and high optical reflectivity. It is partly used sometimes to make high-quality mirrors although aluminum is sometimes used as a substitute.

Aside from its physical application, silver is also valued as an investment tool to preserve and accumulate wealth over long periods of time. Similar to stock market investing, investors will buy silver bars, silver coins and other forms of silver bullion at a lower price to eventually sell them at a higher price for a profitable returns or to just preserve and protect their capital.

Silver as an investment tool is a widely used tactic by smart investors to diversify their holdings against economic downfalls such as recession. In fact, some the leading financial advisors in the world forecast the unparalleled investment opportunity that silver has in the future. And with silver deposit below the ground are starting to diminish then the value of this precious metal will surely appreciate to higher levels.

Disadvantages of Saving in Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:49:20 +0000

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

The act of saving your currency in our current society is almost purely digital. When we deposit our cash in the bank it is converted to digital form for our convenience and our future use. This simple procedure spares us from carrying all our hard earned cash and investments wherever we go.

But even though technology and electronic cash has found its way in our daily spending; silver as a monetary currency and savings tool is still saved and stored in physical form.

This is similar to a child’s savings concept where most of the quarters and coins that they have are stored at home in their own piggybank. Now, on a certain level, saving in silver is similar to saving your money in a piggybank. You physically have to store it and keep track of your money and its location inside your home.

A silver investment is similar. As most precious metal investors know, their silver investments can be kept physically secure inside a safe at home. This can be a difficult task for some, as they may have to purchase a safe that can hold enough silver bars or silver coins.

Another disadvantage that silver has is its bulk and size. Though it is easy to store a couple of silver bars inside your bag when going to the bank, it is still impractical and unsafe. Walking around the corner towards your local bank with you silver bullion inside your bag is not exactly the safest way to transport your investments. Some of these bars can weigh about 70 pounds!

Silver dealers and buyers are also very critical on the quality of silver that they purchase. Though the internet is filled with how-to articles on refining silver at home, and they are very practical in reaching out to aspiring investors in making silver, dealers and banks are quite hesitant when buying silver bars and coins that are not minted from a reputable company. So, although silver can be refined at home, selling it for value can be a problem.

And of course, there is the aspect of taxation. Now, unlike stocks, bonds and mutual funds in which the price value of your investment can be known immediately after the sale; silver investments can be trickier to value and may have a 20% taxation rate. Not only does this diminish your expected rate of return but it also shows that this investment does not exactly keep your investment in your own hands with your own value. The government will still have its share of your profits from this investment.

Silver may seem to stand on solid ground when it comes to withstanding economic downfalls, winters and inflation rates that can cause other investment values to fluctuate or evaporate. But silver is not perfect. So, it is all up to you on what suits your financial and future needs.

Silver Bars

Assistant Silver Coach — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:11:37 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Investing in silver or gold has always been looked upon as the avenue of the rich and famous. With the amount of money traded on various stock exchanges all over the world, it is easy to say that the average person with a middle class income is not only intimidated, but would much rather stick to their savings account to protect their wealth. Most people would think that investing means putting your money in stocks, bonds and mutual funds in order to let if grow and get higher returns when you decide to recognize profits.

Of course, not every investment is perfect. There are a lot of stories about eager investors that lost their fortune because of an unexpected market crash and unforeseen economic events. These individuals most likely had investment analysts and stockbrokers to guide them in buying and managing their assets. But despite their decisions and apparently the expert opinions of their analysts, why do some investors still lose their money over time?

Well, when you look at the overall picture, equities investing revolve around the concept of what’s hot and what’s not. When investors learn about a new company with promising fundamentals, they just buy the stocks with hopes that other investors will jump in to increase the price. This will build a momentum that will abruptly end when investors feel that the trend has reached its highest possible price and will decide to recognize profits. And naturally, people will follow any trend that occurs hereafter. This market motion exposes your investment to the risk of depreciation in value.

Alternative methods of investing have surfaced in recent years due the daily inconsistency of the stock market. People have started to turn to precious metals investing to keep their wealth intact and hold its value against the rising rates of inflation. And for recent years, silver has been the top choice for investors. Why?

Silver, as with gold, has a stable performance compared to stocks. Its value has steadily increased to give investors more return. The value of silver since 1999 has grown from $4 per troy ounce to $14 per troy ounce as of early 2009. Any investor who has held their investment since that time will have more than what they initially would imagine.

Purchasing silver bars and bullion are the traditional way of investing in silver. It is safe and very liquid in terms of exchange value. And most major banks today allow investors to purchase silver bars silver coins or silver bullion over the counter. Unlike stocks, where third parties such as a stockbroker or a fund manager handles your investments, silver can be taken home and stored in your personal possession. This allows the investor to physically hold their investment. As a tangible asset silver can never become worthless.

Silver investing has been around for thousands of years. The most successful investors use this white metal to diversify and increase their portfolio’s value and balance. This strategy is the better option when it comes to ensure the safety of your money against unexpected risks.

Buying Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:45:31 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Economic depression and recession are among the world’s most discussed financial condition and can occur at any specific time . Since the aftermath of the great depression of the 1930’s and the other key points such as the dot.com bubble burst of 2000 people have been wary of what kind of investment vehicle they use that can safeguard their capital’s value and provide enough returns for them to make a profit.

The stock market, as promising as it may be, is susceptible to economic downswings that can bring down one’s hard earned lifetime savings to nil. In fact, its volatile market direction either ends up as a huge profit or a heartbreaking loss for the investor.

That is the kind of risk that most Americans that invest in the stock market face everyday, from the opening bell to its last trade from the pit. Stock market investing is just one of the many investments that most are aware of. And most are not informed that another great alternative investment is available to them and with much less risk compared to others.

Investing in silver and other precious metals such as gold may not be as glamorous as stock market trading. But this form of investing is more reliable and silver has been a currency for a thousand years. Aside from the shiny physical attributes of silver bullion, the holder of this precious metal can be assured that their value is safe from recession and economic events. The fact that these metals are also rare and highly limited in quality increases the demand and their value.

Luckily, those that are interested in buying silver can easily acquire them from sources on the Internet. During the old days, those individuals that are looking for silver must physically look for them through panning and mining. But with today’s Internet technology, willing investors can easily locate a silver dealer.

The Internet has certainly increased the possibility of getting silver bullion or silver coins from anywhere in the world. Just be aware that aside from reputable dealers, there are also illegal operators that pose as official dealers, so make sure to buy silver from a respectable silver dealer that has an impeccable reputation.

The best way to start investing is to buy silver coins. This is cheaper and the easiest option. For more experienced investors with large amounts of money to spare, purchasing silver bullions from a major bank is definitely a good investment vehicle that you can add to your portfolio. Most successful investors try to mix up and diversify their holdings to achieve better long term growth.

Silver in any form is a great way to retain your savings for future use. If you are planning to save for your children’s college education or simply a retirement fund for later years, this is the better option compared to the stock market and other investment tools. And silver’s value will stand strong against inflation and other economic downswing.

Should you decide to learn how to buy silver then be cautious and avoid potential scams. You may be interested in a book by David Morgan, one of the world’s leading silver experts, called Get The Skinny On Silver Investing.

Selling Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:39:06 +0000

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

For many years people have tried different methods to maintain their capital or savings for future growth. From the stock market, foreign currency trading and mutual funds there are many options. Investments in the equities market have their own advantages and disadvantages to consider. But there is a wide range of volatility and this is certainly a big risk for any investor.

Investing in precious metals such as silver is one of the best ways to preserve your capital. Silver has less risks compared to stocks. In fact, it is the cheapest and most liquid of all investment options. Unlike stock market investing where you may need a broker to facilitate transactions silver is much easier to buy and sell.

The moment you decide to cash silver in, your silver dealer can buy your silver. If you decide, however, to sell silver over the Internet then there are other buyers available. Transactions are so easy that even if you only possess the silver certificate and not the actual bar you just have to follow the printed instructions on the contract.

There are many silver investment methods available for the willing investor. Purchasing silver bullion bars or silver coins from banks is the traditional way of acquiring silver. These can be directly bought over the counter and stored in your safety deposit box or home safe. But a safety deposit box has problems.

Silver coins are also available from banks as well. This certainly provides an easier way to keep silver since it is not as heavy or bulky as the bullion bars. There are mainly two types of silver coins available; fine silver and junk silver. Junk silver coins have lesser percentage of silver in them.

Another option is to buy Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) or Certificates of Ownership. However, the GLD and SLV ETFs have serious problems. This option gives the investors an easier transaction by not having the need for the actual bars for the exchange. This kind of method is similar to way the stock market works.

Silver investing is still a small market since most investors are unaware of its growth potential. Many investors would much rather stick to what they know such as stocks, forex and options than take risks on what they do not know. Precious metals investing can be great addition to any portfolio. Diversification of investments is a great strategy that makes a good investor stand out from the rest.

Every investor’s goal is to have better returns from their investment while still being liquid to easily acquire cash anytime they want. Silver investing certainly makes this happen quickly and efficiently.

Silver Mines

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:28:40 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Silver has been the choice of currency since its discovery and through the great civilizations of Persia, Greece and the Roman Empire. During this time silver was abundant in large quantities and this provided a great deal of wealth for the inhabitants.

However, some despots began to debase the currency which led to a mass depreciation of the currency over time. But as time passed the amount of silver deposits began to diminish and created a turning point in the supply and demand for this precious metal. This imbalance caused silver to begin to reclaim its true value and regain the status as one of the world’s most valuable commodities and currency.

In Northern America and particularly within the United States there are a number of silver mines. Places like Colorado, Missouri, Alaska, Idaho and New Mexico are some of the places where silver mines are located. The 1949 Gold Rush in California was one of the many movements that came about for the search of these precious metals.

The procedure of extracting silver is a result of other extractions from metallic elements such as nickel, copper and zinc. In 2007 the United States generated about 1,200 metric tons of silver.

The remaining amount of silver used by the United States came from Mexico which has the second highest amount of silver mines and production in the globe today. Aside from Mexico, other Latin American country such as Peru also have undeveloped silver deposits that have the potential to generate tremendous wealth. The continuous development of this mineral has contributed positively to the Mexican economy for the last couple of years.

With the international demand for silver, there are many silver mines all over the world that are consequently being used to generate other precious metals. This may have an unalterable effect on the remaining silver deposits as silver is consumed thereby decreasing the number of remaining silver mines.

With few remaining deposits available and decreasing supply there will be an eventual demand for silver and probably cause its current value to appreciate. This may raise the price of precious metals such as gold and silver.

In the United States, there are at least 36 known silver mines. Individuals that intend to pan for silver will have a great degree of difficulty. Silver is not easy to pan like gold as it is does not sink to the bottom of the pan. One of the more convenient ways to gather silver is to look for old computer circuits and wirings. Those with the time and the right equipment can make their own silver bullion at home.

For those people that are looking for more practical ways to acquire silver can always buy silver from dealers. Aside from buying silver bullion, you can get silver coins, certificates, etc. This is a very efficient way to acquire precious metals. There are many things to consider about how to buy silver.

Refining Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:11:00 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Are you aware that there are a several methods to gather old silver and refine it for your profit and investment?

The refinement process for gold can also be used for silver. This will be much easier to do since you can find silver in old wirings and electric circuits in used appliances and computer motherboards. Silver is among the most conductive metallic elements and can be found almost anywhere in your home.

This refinement procedure starts with nitric acid. This chemical compound can easily purify silver to its base state and remove unwanted elements. Take note, however, that this process should be done outside as the fumes excreted by the nitric acid may contain chemicals that are hazardous to your health. Safety is a high priority. If you attempt to refine silver on your own then at least put on protective gears such as masks and gloves to avoid any untoward accidents.

First, you need to have at least two containers or a pail and roughly 150-milliliters of nitric acid for every once of silver. The container should be large enough to hold at least 3 to 4 times of liquid. This is to prevent unwanted overflows from the reaction of the metal and the nitric acid.

Second, make sure to melt the silver that you have before the refinement process so that you can maximize the volume of acid available. The melted silver should immediately be placed inside the container filled with nitric acid. At this point, a bubbling chemical reaction will occur and it is advisable to let this simmer down for a few minutes. If the reaction is clear then the nitric acid inside the container should be poured into a separate container.

Third, as you transfer the nitric acid into the other container be careful not to include the solid sediments. Once you have separated the acid then pour at least an ounce of silver precipitant crystals for every 40-ounce of dissolved silver. A solid mixture will eventually settle down at the bottom of the container. This mixture is now silver.

Finally, before you dispose the remaining acid inside the container allow at least a half-hour for the silver mixture to complete the process. Prepare at least two drops of ammonia after you have rinsed the silver mud of acids. Use water to cleanse the silver. Once this is done then you have accomplished your first silver refining procedure and created your first pure silver bullion.

The refinement process is relatively easy for any person to do at home. This is a way for enterprising individuals to create an extra source of income. You can use this knowledge as a small starting ground for a home business that caters to family, friends and relatives.

This is also a good way to introduce silver as an alternative investment. You do not have to spend an extensive amount of money to buy silver from dealers or banks. You can just find and use existing objects at home. This is definitely an exciting way to get started investing in silver.

Mining Silver

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:04:28 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Silver mining is a process that has been done throughout history. Since ancient times, societies from Greece and Rome have long utilized this method to acquire and capitalize on this natural resource, the ‘tears of the moon’ or silver, to increase their wealth and dominance.

This activity continues in modern times and technology has vastly improved the extraction process while the objective remains the same. Silver mining methods will continue to evolve as silver deposits are constantly discovered underground.

In silver mining, the basic form of silver that is extracted from the ground is a called a nugget. This form comprises different kinds of metals such as copper, lead, combinations of copper-nickel and gold. Silver refining is used to purify and extract each metallic element. This procedure will remove unwanted elements and impurities to expose the silver contents of the nugget.

The first step in silver refining is the acid bath. This process is usually done to melt the metal element to its pure form to produce pure silver bullion The silver bullion can then be used to create silver bars, silver coins and other silver-based items. Silver is used for jewelry as well as conductors in electronic devices. Consequently, silver is an extremely important commodity that is used in our everyday items.

In silver mining, there are generally two kinds of operations to extract the metallic alloys from the ground. One procedure is called sluicing, a process that involves the assembly of trenches in irrigation holes to filter out the heavy metals from the mine. This method is used also in gold mining. But this method is hardly effective in extracting gold from the ground. It is mainly due to the fact that silver is lighter and more difficult to filter than gold. In most cases, other methods are utilized.

Another mining operation used is hard-wall extraction. Hard-wall extraction uses drills and heavy machinery to single out the element. This same procedure is similarly used in gold mining. This is a very basic process that digs out silver nuggets and ores from the mine.

But despite the vast improvements in drilling machinery and techniques, silver mining still comprises basic methods that use basic drills, chisels and hammers to get a silver nugget. This method, by far, is still the most practical and efficient way to extract silver from other metallic elements and impurities.

Silver mining is an intriguing yet fascinating method that has increased wealth and brought money and authority to nations throughout history. In recent years, the increase of technology has resulted in a faster mining rate that may cause the number of mines to diminish but this effect may cause more developments in better mining techniques in the future. As the number of silver mines diminish the value will increase which is very positive sign for those in silver investing.

The Deal On Silver Dealers

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:53:48 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Silver dealers usually do not come to mind when somebody mentions the word investment. Instead many people think about stocks, bonds, options and foreign currency trading. This is probably because investors are willing to put their money in high-risk investment with a possible high return investments.

Most investors and speculators are just trying to ride an upward trend that is due for a sudden unexpected correction. Economic situations and unpredictable fluctuations will greatly affect all available investment vehicles. When this happens, a lifetime’s worth of capital and savings can be completely wiped out.

Silver and gold, two of the most precious and sought after metals in the world, can be used as alternate investments to safeguard your assets from any uncertainty and risk. Unlike the stocks and bonds, where prices fluctuate daily depending on the market sentiment and can become worthless, gold and silver are currency and can never become worthless. Of course, no investment is risk-free but metals such as silver and gold are as close as you can get.

YOUR SILVER PLAN

As with every new investment, the first thing you should decided upon is the overall value of your capital. How much are you willing to put into your investment nest egg? Though there are several tips on how to do this, the decision will solely be based on your own financial growth plan and your investment portfolio.

SILVER DEALER

Once you have laid out your investment plan for buying silver bars or coins, the next obvious step is finding a reputable online silver dealer. There are a lot of dealers on the Internet with all kinds of silver available for your purchase. Make sure to check how long the dealer has been in business before making any transaction. Use the Better Business Bureau ranking system.

REPUTATION

Next to the dealer’s reputation, you have to check their inventory on what kind of silver is available for you to buy. For starters, you can try to get coins or small bars, as most are cheap and economical, and easy to store. As you gain more experience with silver investments you will gradually move on to larger silver bars or other forms of silver bullion.

When choosing your silver dealer you should perform a thorough background check just as you would when choosing your stockbroker. You should not entrust your hard earned money to any silver dealer you find. This can be avoided if you are trading cash for silver coins or silver bars and can verify the quality of the silver at the time of the transaction.

Do your homework first. Purchasing negative or low quality silver from an unknown dealer can cost you your investment when it is time to cash it in. In fact, you may even get less return than what you actually paid for.

Investing in silver is a better alternative to stocks, bonds and other investment instruments. It is cheap, liquid, can never become worthless and comes in different kinds to choose from. Aside from this, where you buy silver is also a big factor when cashing in. So be sure to know everything about the background of the dealer, and you will not have any problems with your investment.

Silver Coins

Assistant Silver Coach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:44:55 +0000

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Silver coins have been used for thousand years as currency for purchasing goods and maintaining wealth for succeeding generations. Ancient civilizations in the Middle East such as Persians during the Mesopotamian era were among the expanding societies that used silver as their main currency.

In later years during the 16th century, European countries such as England started utilizing silver coins as currency to trade for goods and other services. This practice eventually started to spread to other countries. No other currency to date, aside from gold, has had the longevity of silver as a currency.

Though it has been substituted with more affordable materials, silver more or less retains the credibility as a reliable long-term investment for investors. Similar to gold, purchasing silver coins is considered among the best method to start precious metals investing.

Compared to gold, silver is easily molded and can be transformed into different forms such as coins, jewelries and other valuable items. Aside from its malleability, silver is also known for its attention-grabbing finish that attracts avid collectors and investors alike. There is no wonder that silver is one of the top metals aside from gold to be used for expensive designer jewelries all over the world. As the supplies of silver slowly decrease in the future the value of silver and demand is projected to ascend and will be protect wealth and purchasing power against any inflation.

The act of purchasing silver coins is relatively easy. With the abundance of online silver dealers on the Internet, any aspiring investor with hopes of acquiring this precious metal can easily buy their investment without having to go to bank or other locations. Take note, however, that silver prices can differ from one dealer to the next. Therefore it is better to check the best prices available when purchasing silver coins.

For almost 20 years, the overall value of silver has steadily increased in value. This record alone shows that silver is among your best investments in any economic cycle.

The United States and Canada are two world’s countries that create silver coins for investment. Both countries also produce silver bars that are simple to keep, but most people prefer silver coins, as they are still the affordable option to get started in silver investing.

Precious metals investing are the best way to guarantee that your capital and lifetime savings will appreciate over a period of time. Never mind the stock market, as its value fluctuates over the years and may experience down trends in its cycle, leaving your investment at risk.

Even as the dollar loses its current face value, your metal investments can stand firm against any decline of currency value with the FRN$. Precious metal commodities such as gold and silver are still the best option to let you money grow. Gold and silver have been used for a thousand years and history shows that it will outlast any economic cycle that threatens other investment tools.

Disadvantages of Silver Investments

Assistant Silver Coach — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:34:39 +0000

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

Like most investments, silver has benefits as well as disadvantages for most investors. Despite its promising advantage as a formidable security vehicle against economic cycles and inflation that deeply affect stocks and bonds silver does have its own fair share of drawbacks that few investors really know about. From every method and form the information presented here in this article is just a basic primer in order for any aspiring investor to know what kind of investment they are getting into.

To start off, silver has a long history as a monetary currency that dates back over four thousand years. It was used by ancient civilizations as a wealth preserver and a sign of authority for its value. It is no wonder that up to our present time silver is still used for the same purpose as it was during those early times.

But as modern societies progressed and with paperless currencies that continue to create a big impact on how we spend and save our money; silver has yet to advance and follow this new format in the digital and information age.

One of the most noted disadvantages of silver is physical storage. The use of credit cards and debit cards today that allow us to buy without holding any paper money or coins. The current stock market transaction that has almost erased the need for manual and physical exchange of share ownership, silver investments still rely heavily on bullion, coins, and medallions as a medium of exchange.

In fact the number one problem that most silver investors have is storing of their precious metals in safes at home or safety deposit boxes elsewhere.

Unlike other investments that have used papers and electronic substitutes in place of money, silver is still a physical investment that needs to be bought, stored and exchanged as is. And for this very reason, despite the advancement of electronic saving and banking, silver storage does not differ from its original method of safekeeping as it was before.

Another disadvantage that silver has is its level of taxation. Silver is taxed heavily at an average rate of 20% depending on the nation. When you start investing your money and are waiting for that perfect time to cash in, you still have to factor how much you are going to profit after tax expense. Consequently, while silver has many accolades it still keeps several skeletons in the closet.

And lastly, generally silver’s price does not fluctuate as much as the stock market. So, those who think that putting their money on silver for a quick profit, will find themselves disappointed with the short term returns of this metal. But as the speculator’s metal of choice silver can be extremely volatile.

Furthermore, silver’s value and strengths rely on a long-term investing strategy that is completely different from speculation and stock market trading. So try to get investment tools that fit your plans and your lifestyle, as silver investments are not for those people who want to instantly make a quick buck.