Why is physical gold not held in every investment portfolio?
The price of gold over the last 10 years, and most notably since the start of the current financial crisis, has outperformed virtually every other available asset class with average (real) returns of over 25% per annum. Despite this performance, gold is still seen as a luxury good and one that is out of reach for the run of the mill investor.
A recent survey of 1,000 investors undertaken by the US based precious metals provider Gold Bullion International LLC (GBI) identified the types of assets investors hold as part of their investment portfolio. The survey looked at the investments currently held and their attitude towards investing in physical assets such as gold. As well as being essential market research for physical gold suppliers, the results of this survey also highlight the lack of understanding many investors have for investing in physical gold and the role it can play in their portfolio.
Survey Results:
The survey highlighted increasingly strong demand for investment in gold, be it through physically held assets or pooled investment vehicles. More than half of respondents (63%) saying that they would like to own a physical asset like gold coins or bullion as part of their investment portfolio. A further 29% said they would prefer to invest in the gold market through pooled, non-physical assets like gold stocks and mutual funds.
In contrast only 2% of those questioned currently own investment grade gold. This in itself represents a huge gap between those who believe in gold as an asset class and would like to invest, and those who have taken the steps to hold physical gold in their portfolio. A large number of investors (44%) felt that they did not know enough about physical gold as an investment asset and therefore had not seriously considered including it in their portfolio. Investors felt that gold is too difficult to purchase (37%) with 22% of respondents not knowing how or where they can purchase gold.
With the correct marketing and support there is huge potential in the market for physical gold companies, with more than half of those questioned in the survey (51%) saying that they would own physical gold bars or coins if recommended to them.
If you would like to own some physical gold in your portfolio, then please contact me on 020 7404 4022 to make an appointment. I am able to source and supply it for you at very competitive rates and also recommend where and how to store it. Thank you.
If you would like an appointment, then please do call for a free consultation in our central London Hatton Garden office and we would be glad to try and help you. Our details are on the main page of the Lewis Malka London website.
