What is a GSB Gold Standard Group?

When it comes to investing in precious metals, you may or may not be familiar with a term known as the “gold standard.”  What is it, though, and why does it seem to carry so much weight with it?  That is just one of the concepts that I will get into today, so do be sure to stay tuned.

However, something else that I would like to note is why joining investment groups can potentially benefit you.  Obviously, it will not be a solution for everyone, but I do think it is something valuable to consider.  If you are not certain about it, I understand – just hear me out!

Understanding the Gold Standard

In simple terms, the gold standard is a way to look at economics.  In the past, it was used as a sort of monetary regime, though it has fallen out of fashion in the last several decades.  Part of that is due to the rising popularity of paper currency.  In many nations, though, it was used as a measure of how much gold could be converted into currency and vice versa at a fixed rate.

Now, the phrase can also be used to refer to a set of international trade rules.  You see, in this system, bank receipts for gold (or the metal itself) can serve as a principle for a medium of exchange.  How it works is that certain countries who want to be a part of it set a rate for exchange of their currency versus gold.

Why does it Matter?

You might be wondering why this matters right now.  After all, if it is all in the past, why should we care?  While it is not all that popular today, as you can read here, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/goldstandard.asp, that does not make it less valuable to understand.

A lot of how our currency works today is based upon this old system.  It has not faded from the way we handle our economies, so it only makes sense that it also influences our investing in things like precious metals.

Of course, it does mostly seem specific to gold.  However, that is not entirely true.  There was also a silver standard!  The main take away here is that in general it impacted the price of precious metals, and without that, these commodities have taken a bit of a different role in our economies.

How to Start Investing

This is where many people get hung up.  There are a lot of options and opportunities out there and honestly, it can feel quite overwhelming.  Sorting through the details is challenge enough without having to worry about potential scams on top of it!

Thankfully, it is a lot easier than it might seem.  You can find a broker almost anywhere these days – at least that is what it feels like.  They are online and in person, though I usually prefer to work with the ones online.  I find I can look at reviews a bit more easily that way.

How to Pick a Broker

This is the other aspect where things get hard.  It can be a challenge to find a reputable one.  So, I will give you some examples of positive qualities, along with some red flags to watch out for.

The first recommendation that I will make is to do your research.  You should start that process as early and often as you can.  There are a lot of scammers out there, so you need to make sure you find a reputable broker.

A good place to start your research is with the Better Business Bureau.  You can check to see if the broker you’re considering is registered with the BBB, and whether or not they have any complaints against them.  Of course, that is not the only mark of a good company, but I do recommend starting there.

There are also websites like Kingold Jewelry that can offer you some further perspectives on companies.  Looking at them can be a way to get an unbiased opinion of a broker.  Just be sure to read reviews from a variety of sources and take them with a grain of salt if you are uncertain.

Finally, you could always check in with any friends or family members that have invested in gold to see who they worked with.  They might be able to point you in the right direction or help you steer clear of providers who will not work out for you.

As far as red flags go, if a broker has complaints levied against them, that is probably not the best sign.  In addition to that, if they are pressuring you to make an investment with little to no preparation, or if they are not insured, those could be some warning signs.  I would always recommend erring on the side of caution.

Final Thoughts…is an Investment Group Worth it?

When most of us think of gold investing, our first thought probably is not of investment groups.  However, they can be surprisingly beneficial, even for commodities!  Sometimes they are known as investment clubs, so keep the different terminology in mind.

Their main purpose is to expand the field of investing to make it more accessible for those in all sorts of financial situations and brackets.  So, if you are worried that you cannot afford buying bullion or stock, this could be a potential choice for you!

As far as whether they are worth it – for the most part, that is going to depend on your own situation and perspective.  Some might feel like they are a rip off while others consider them to be quite beneficial.  I cannot really say either way.

The main thing to note is that in general, they have expanded opportunities to those who found investing inaccessible previously, and that is certainly a net positive.  I think having more people on the playing field can only benefit us all in the long wrong.  So, they might be an option to consider!