Hedging Against a Down Economy with Gold

market takes a hit because higher rates make it more costly for companies to pay for debt. Higher rates hurt corporate profit margins and reduce stock value, bad news given the deep debt situation so many companies are in today."

Paper is Passé
According to Lubaszka, the U.S. dollar has lost more than 80% of its original value since the early 70's when we went to a floating currency, a situation not helped very much by the debut of the Euro in the late 1990s. Unlike American dollars, a portion of the Euro is gold-backed, a stability feature that has helped it outperform the dollar over the long haul. It is for this reason that many foreign investors have been taking money out of U.S. dollars and putting it into gold and oil instead, one explanation for why the price of both has continued to rise in recent months.

"Gold prices are climbing right now because the Federal Reserve is printing dollars in flood proportions to keep the real estate market afloat," adds Richard Russell, editor Dow Theory Letters, a stock market trends and securities report published since 1946. "This is creating inflation, which erodes purchasing power. All the world's central banks are inflating right now, reducing confidence in paper globally and encouraging gold-buying. India and China are spurring gold prices as well. India is the world's largest gold-consumer, and the Chinese government is actively encouraging its citizens to buy gold."

All are extremely encouraging signs for gold investors. Over the course of the past 35 years, gold has climbed in value from a modest $35 an ounce to nearly $600. Contrast that with the battered U.S. dollar, a currency currently worth only 20% of its value in 1970.

"When gold peaked-out in the 1970s, interest rates were at an all-time high," Lubaszka says. "Right now we're waiting to feel the effects of the last 9 interest rate increases which generally take 6-9 months to begin impacting the economy. Now's the time to buy gold because when rates go up, downward pressure is exerted on real estate, stocks and bonds and commodities like gold tend to increase. The opposite occurs when rates travel from a high to a low. That's the time to reduce gold assets and increase the paper part of a portfolio."

Buy Without Getting Burned
Michelle Henderson, a talent agency owner in Los Angeles, Calif. understands the stakes when it comes to investing. "As an agent I work in a commission-based world, and have to invest in both people and ideas all the time," she says. "Though I'd had bad experiences with stock investments in the past, I knew I would eventually find something that would work for me. I invested in a diversified metals portfolio made up of palladium, silver and gold, and earned a profit of 38% with the palladium alone. Staying focused on making money, and following World Financials advice, I was able to earn an above-average return and greatly increase the overall value of my assets safely."

Lubaszka explain, "It's probably best for the first time investor to begin conservatively by purchasing physical metals instead of gold stocks, which can be very volatile". According to Clearwater, Fla.-based talk show host and gold analyst, Tom O'Brien, when metals gain 20%, gold equities jump by fifty or sixty per cent. That's great when it happens but the reverse can occur as well.

Buy gold bars or coins, and put them in a safety deposit box. If you chose to purchase coins from a coin shop, make certain you pay the lowest price possible and that they have a buy back policy. If you elect to go with a broker, fees will be inevitable because you are purchasing a tangible commodity.

There are brokers, and then there are brokers. The best of the breed will answer all questions, and make the process of first-time gold buying less nerve-wracking. Great brokers are also accessible when needed, and quick to call with any new information that affects the value of the investment.

Work with established companies, five years in business is good, ten even better. Don't bother with firms that badger you with telemarketing offers or apply high-pressure sales tactics. Avoid paying high commissions too. Some brokers have layers of fees, through which they earn more money then they do investing on behalf of customers. There are also companies out there that will not buy metal back. Stay away from them as well.

"Check references and Better Business Bureau ratings", Lubaszka adds. "Deal with a company that takes an active interest in doing business with you. World Financial, for example, offers a five-star customer satisfaction guarantee. If questions are not answered or we fail to respond to a prospect's call or email within 24 hours, that person receives a one ounce silver American Eagle coin free of charge. A financial advisor's job is to ease the investment process, and to insure that customers get the most for their money. Good advisers are merely good, but the best are worth their weight in gold."

To contact World Financial directly call 818.264.4085. World Financial is the premiere provider of precious metals to investors nationwide. Aside from offering numerous incentive programs, World Financial offers clients the right type of precious metal strategy for every investor's needs. They are located at 12198 Ventura Blvd Ste 200, Studio City CA, 91604.

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