Coins and Bars

• Investors and dealers buy gold bullion coins based on the metal value. Prices for these items more closely mirror changes in the value of gold than those of older U.S. gold coins, which can have collector value that far exceeds their metal value. However, you will pay a relatively small premium over the price of gold even for bullion coins.
  
  

Stocks

• Through a broker, you can buy stocks in companies that mine or distribute gold. Share prices can be volatile when gold prices are changing.
  
  

Mutual Funds

• Gold and precious-metal mutual funds may hold physical gold and stock in gold companies. Because of their multiple investments, funds tend to have less volatile prices than individual gold stocks.
  
  

Fees

• When buying gold bars, consider the delivery costs or any storage fees, if you have a brokerage firm keep them for you. You may have to pay a commission to buy gold stocks, and some gold and precious-metal mutual funds have a sales charge.
  
  

Benefits

• Owning gold can help diversify your portfolio. It tends to be a relatively stable investment over the long term, and many turn to gold when the economy is down and they want to avoid the stock market.
  
  

Considerations

• Changing market conditions around the world cause gold prices to move up and down. You should not assume that gold will be worth more when you sell it than when you bought it.