Parents of today’s children are not very different from their own parents.  Just like parents in the past we all want more for our children then we had.  We want to keep them safe, away from harm and see to it that their futures are filled with health and happiness.  One way in which many parents are insuring their children’s futures is by creating an investment portfolio just for their children.

Parents save for many reasons.  However, the most common reason parents invest in their child’s future is for college.  As of 2009 the average cost of yearly tuition and fees at most 4 year universities in the United States was approximately $6,000.  That works out to $24,000.  That figure may seem controllable.  But the cost of books and materials is not included.  Also not included is the cost of room and board.  When those expenses are calculated into the total cost of a 4 year degree it escalates to over $50,000.  A figure, that for most parents, maybe less manageable.  Because of this, many parents have turned to a 529 fund.  These funds are pre tax and are a helpful way for parents to reach their financial goals.  However, these funds may fall short of their $50,000 goal and could often benefit from some type of investment supplement. More…

Collecting rare coins is not only a savvy way to diversify an investment portfolio, it is also an extremely enjoyable pastime. The historical significance of certified coins makes them an interesting subject of study. This is why numismatics is such a highly regarded and widely practiced discipline worldwide. Investors in rare coins depend on knowledgeable numismatists to determine the value of their coin collections.

Numismatists determine a rare coin’s value by studying its rarity, quality, historical significance, and any other factors which increase the value above the basic precious metal spot price. This added value is what makes rare coins an excellent investment. Their numismatic value ensures that rare coins will steadily increase with time. More…

More investors today are starting to invest heavily in precious metals such as gold for some very good reasons. The value of the rare metal is still rising and an investment now can provide a good return on your investment, and it can protect the wealth you have now against inflation. Precious metals are solid, stable investments. Of course, those who are new to precious metals will want to make sure that they know what to buy and where they can buy it.

Before you start buying gold bars, you will want to make sure that you know how much money you have to spend on a precious metals investment. Most investors will tell you that putting about 20 percent of your investment money is a good idea. You do not want to invest less than 10 percent of your money either. Within this range is a sweet spot. You will be able to diversify your portfolio and have the chance of a substantial return without risking too much of your money. More…

Precious metals have been in the news a lot lately, with potential investors all over wondering whether or not it’s a good idea to purchase precious metals with their hard-earned dollars. Guess what? It is a good idea! Purchasing precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum can diversify your portfolio, protect you against inflation, and it has all sorts of other benefits. So, what’s a good coin to start with? The Morgan silver dollar! Morgan silver dollars are very popular coins that were only produced for a short time – from 1878 to 1921.

Does investing in a rare and popular coin like the Morgan silver dollar sound appealing? We thought so! Investing in the Morgan silver dollar is easy. You can find them online through most precious metals dealers, or you can find them at your local precious metals dealer. The first thing that you need to do is find a coin dealer. Do you want to buy online? Would you rather buy from someone in your hometown so you know that person is accessible to you with just a simple drive down the road? It’s really up to you, but no matter where you buy your coins, you should research the dealers that you are considering using. You can find a dealer by simply logging into your computer and typing, “Professional Numismatist Guild” into your search engine. The PNG is a well-known coin organization that only accepts the best in the business. On their website, you’ll find a directory of PNG certified dealers from A to Z. More…

You may not want to follow the constant advice of financial experts who seem to be hysterically demanding that people hedge portfolios and buy silver bullion. Yes, it can get a bit tiresome to hear the repeated admonitions to convert up to 35% of your holdings to a precious metal, but if you look at the record sales of silver during 2010, you might begin to wonder why you are hesitating to make this investment.

Consider that 2009 saw roughly 28.7 million American Silver Eagle coins sold, but by the first day of November, 2010 that figure had already been matched. This indicates that more and more investors are opting to buy silver bullion, but they all have more than a single reason that they are doing so.

Just consider that you might decide it is the right time for you to buy silver bullion because of the trend in the financial markets. It is not anticipated that once reliable stocks and bonds will return to their former levels any time soon, and instead it is the classic hedge investments, such as precious metals, that so  many are using to stabilize their portfolios and ensure their purchasing power. More…

Any first purchase can be stressful. Whether you’re purchasing your first car, your first house, your first pet, or making any other first purchase – it can be extremely nerve-wracking. Purchasing a rare gold coin for the first time, doesn’t have to be stressful though! Gold has been a form of currency around the world for so long, that being nervous about getting your hands on it is silly. Gold is a world-class investment and there is no better place to start than by purchasing a rare gold coin (or five) today.

What kind of coins should you buy, you ask? There are so many options! You can get rare investment-quality coins and rare collectible coins. If you are investing in a sense of buying and then turning around and selling when the price is high, that’s okay. If you are investing in a sense of collecting these coins, enjoying them for a long time, and then eventually selling them when your hobby starts to lose its luster, then that’s okay too. Either way, you cannot go wrong with the purchase of a rare gold coin. It’s just up to you to decide which kind you would rather go with. You will buy a collectable rare gold coin based on how rare, and how beautiful it is. You will buy an investment rare gold coin based on the gold content. You’ll also probably have to pay a little extra money in terms of a premium charged by a dealer. More…

Most investors with experience understand that, when it comes to your portfolio, diversity is key.  By diversifying your investments, you give your portfolio optimal chances of success.  Experts always recommend investing in a variety of markets as a way to diversify, and the precious metals market is perhaps the best way to diversify today.  Most experienced investors would agree that it’s a good idea to devote between 10 and 15 percent of your portfolio to gold bullion.  With the market showing such promise for the future and holding steady at very strong prices, this is the right time to look into gold as a way to diversify.

When it comes to gold bullion, you have a couple of options.  Bullion coins and bars are the most popular ways to invest in physical gold.  Coin collecting is probably the most popular hobby in the market, and is a great way to invest.  Most nations produce bullion coins, which make great investments.  The US bullion coin is the American Eagle and it is one of the most popular of all coins on the market today.  There is also the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Australian Gold Nugget, the Chinese Gold Panda, and the UK Sovereign. More…