I am no expert, but I personally am in favor of actually holding on to the physical gold, silver, platinum, or whatever. I am sure there is nothing wrong with ETFs or gold pools or whatever, I just find more peace of mind in being able to touch it. There are drawbacks with holding it, yes. You must think about safely storing and protecting it. A bolted-down safe, a guard dog, and a home protection hand gun and/or shot gun make a formidable defense. You might also consider insuring your investment if you store it yourself.

Also, I have heard that it is best to purchase those precious metal products that are the most easily convertible, like Maple Leafs, American Eagles, Krugerrand, etc. And don’t get suckered into the numismatic, or collectibility, of your items…some dealers will often overcharge for this.