Three Reasons it’s Time to Take Your Portfolio off Cruise Control
Posted onIf you are like many investors, your portfolio is on cruise control.
Maybe you have automatic paycheck deductions funneled toward your 401k. And, you chose your allocation and funds months or years ago and haven’t looked since. That’s normal. People are busy. Families, kids, weddings, jobs, sporting events, and even school plays.
Tending to your finances often falls to the wayside.
Here are 3 reasons why it’s time to add “Rebalancing Your Portfolio” to your to-do list this month
- Lock In Some Stock Market Profits
It’s not a profit until you actually exit the trade. Sure, the stock market is posting healthy gains in 2017, but those numbers you are staring at in your IRA or 401k account are just “paper gains.” Until you actually hit the button to sell out a portion of your stock position in a quarterly or yearly “rebalancing” effort, it is just a paper profit that could disappear fast in the next correction or bear market.
In a well-diversified portfolio, history suggests it is good to sell some of what has gone up and buy more of what has gone down in your portfolio from time to time. Stocks have gone up this year. If you intended to allocate 60% of your portfolio to stocks it could be at the 70% or even 75% level right now.
Now is a great time to lock in some of those paper profits.
- Rebalancing Helps You Manage Risk
It’s important for any investor to rebalance in order to manage risk. For example, in the current environment where the stock market has been strong it’s likely that an investor will have a larger allocation to stocks. This larger allocation brings with it more market exposure and may be riskier then that investor can tolerate or even wanted.
Rebalancing brings your portfolio back into alignment so you can sleep easy at night.
- Individual Investors Rarely Succeed In “Timing” The Market
Individual investors often fall into the trap of trying to time the stock market. It is easy to say “I’ll sell it at the top and then buy it at the bottom.” It has been shown time and again that trying to outsmart the collective wisdom of the millions of smart, well-informed people who trade in the market is very hard to do consistently no matter who you are.
Rebalancing also means that investors are buy low and sell high, which after all is the goal in investing. Without the discipline of rebalancing, many self-directed investors tend to buy high (when markets are hot and rising) and then sell low (when the market has tanked and they panic).
Disciplined rebalancing keeps you away from that market timing trap.
What is rebalancing?
Rebalancing simply means selling a portion your winners and not letting your portfolio get off track from your goals and objectives. Pick a regular time – either quarterly, twice a year or once a year and realign the portfolio for your pre-established risk-level.
How to rebalance
It’s simple and easy to do. Pull out your statements and take a look at your entire investment picture. Rebalancing simply involves selling a portion of your portfolio and using those proceeds to increase another investment. For example, in today’s climate, many investors are selling a portion of their stock exposure and transferring those proceeds into physical gold. That locks in their stock price gains in a vehicle that is proven to hold your wealth over time. You can even easily add physical gold to your IRA account.
Why precious metals?
Gold acts as an insurance policy, a hedge against equity market declines and a vehicle to protect and grow wealth. Blanchard and Company recommends that its clients allocate 10-15 percent of their investment portfolios to gold. Recent research has shown that portfolios with a 30% allocation to physical gold have shown better overall long-term performance. When the equities markets falter, gold performs strongly which is why diversification is important in the first place.
We can help
It may seem like a chore, but taking a few hours this weekend to shore up your portfolio may be one of the most important things you do this month. If you want some advice or help in the process, one of the Blanchard portfolio managers will be happy to walk you through the process. Give us a call today!
5 Surprising Facts about Black Friday
Posted onShoppers are getting ready. Black Friday is just around the corner and retailers will be welcoming them with door busters and discounts before the Thanksgiving meal has even ended.
If you are planning to scoop up some deals this weekend, you aren’t alone. About 164 million Americans plan to shop during Thanksgiving weekend, according to National Retail Federation’s annual survey.
Every year shoppers look forward to discounts and retailers look forward to ringing cash registers. Here’s what’s new this year:
- More Americans will shop online than in brick and mortar stores in 2017.
Why fight for a parking spot at the mall? The convenience of “click and buy” online is the number one way holiday shoppers will buy gifts this year. For the first time ever in survey history, online is the most popular shopping destination in 2017 cited by 59 percent of consumers in the National Retail Federation.
- There is more time to shop this year.
Retailers are cheering because shoppers have an extra day to pile up the gifts in 2017. “Christmas falls 32 days after Thanksgiving this year, one day more than last year, and is on a Monday instead of Sunday, giving consumers an extra weekend day to complete their shopping,” the NRF said.
- Holiday season is more than 1/4 of annual U.S. Retail Sales.
Holiday shopping is huge. The holiday shopping season accounts for more than $1 Trillion (yes, with a T) in sales and over one quarter of total annual U.S. Retail Sales, according to the Deloitte 2017 Holiday survey.
- People spend…a lot.
In 2017, the average shopper will spend $1,226 this holiday season. For high income folks (or those earning over $100.000 that doubles to $2,226).
- Holiday shopping can be budget busting.
While this is the season of giving, it’s also the season of stretching budgets. NerdWallet’s 2017 Consumer Holiday Shopping report found that some Americans are still paying off holiday bills from 2016.
“Baby boomers were the most likely to accumulate debt (63%) among those who shopped during the 2016 holiday season, compared with 58% of Gen Xers and 40% of millennials. Of those who incurred holiday shopping debt in 2016, however, millennials and Gen Xers are more likely than baby boomers to still have it — nearly a quarter of millennials (24%) and 16% of Gen Xers have yet to pay theirs off, compared with just 8% of baby boomers,” the NerdWallet report said.
Key Takeaways
The holiday shopping season is a critical time for the nation’s retailers. Holiday shoppers have been conditioned to look for lower prices. Savvy online shoppers can easily look for the best deals there.
What’s On Your Shopping List?
Silver Coin Makes a Shiny Stocking Stuffer
As you make your lists and check them twice, consider the gift of something with true long-term value. A gift of gold or silver coins are something that will be treasured and can increase – potentially significantly – in value in the months and years ahead. Like cars, many material items bought for gifts decrease in value from the moment they leave the store. Not so with gold and silver coins, the long-term trend points higher for precious metals.
There might not be a better surprise in a stocking than a gift that is truly an investment. You can purchase a 1 ounce American Eagle silver coin for under $20. Deals don’t get any better than that.
Don’t Panic!
Posted onPeople are getting scared. Forbes warns that “China’s Economy Will Overtake The U.S. In 2018.” Meanwhile, others are issuing equally dire warnings. Fortune stated that “China Says It Will Lead the World Economy.” For more than a decade major news publications have proclaimed that China’s rise to dominance is inevitable. In fact, the threat of China absorbing American jobs was a central issue our last presidential campaign.
These concerns, however, ignore a key point that should lay many of theses anxieties to rest: we live in an increasingly globalized world. The rise of one could easily mean the rise of another. Why? “China dreads the wrath of an alienated Western middle class,” remarked The Atlantic. As major trading partners, the U.S. and China share more goals than most understand.
Why does this matter to gold investors?
Recently, the World Gold Council reported that gold “ETF inflows slowed sharply from the spectacular 2016 levels.” As we’ve explored earlier, gold ETFs, don’t offer some of the most cherished characteristics of physical gold. However, this downward movement in the ETF world can have ramifications for even those holding physical gold. Bad news right?
Wrong.
As ETF flows near a halt, bar and coin investment is up. Who is responsible for this restorative effect? China. In the third quarter, gold bar and coin demand spiked 17% year-over-year, and China was the largest contributor to this growth with demand up 57%. Moreover, China has experienced the second highest volume of demand for bar and coin investment on record. This news should delight anyone holding gold no matter where they live.
China’s renewed interest in gold comes amid two developments in the country. First, many fear an eventual devaluation of the yuan coupled with rising inflation. When concerns surrounding currency pervade a country gold often becomes a hot commodity. Second, while some new investment opportunities are opening to Chinese citizens, there are still relatively few to choose from. This scarcity of options is compounded by recent moves to restrict real estate investment in the country.
The ordinary investor living in the U.S. may have little regard for these sweeping trends in China. But, as the economy continues to globalize, “the butterfly effect” is becoming less of an abstract concept and more of an economic truism. Of course, the global economy is more complicated than the network of transactions linking the U.S. and China.
Consider, for example, that recent gold prices are supported by a 36% increase in bar and coin demand in Europe compared to the third quarter last year with Germany as a key driver of the total demand. The rise of economies in other countries does not necessitate peril in the U.S. As these increases to bar and coin demand abroad have shown, U.S. investors can benefit from the success of others when the asset is a globally accepted currency.
A Lifetime of Collecting Coins and the $30 Million Payoff
Posted onPeople start collecting coins for many different reasons.
It was John Jay Pittman’s grandmother who first infused in him the sense of wonder and history captured within each coin that she gave to him.
Make no mistakes, John Pittman was not brought up with a silver spoon. He was born in North Carolina in 1913, the oldest of 7 children. His father worked at the railroad.
John Pittman was a man of humble roots and ordinary means throughout his life. Yet, he assembled, over a lifetime, a collection that ultimately sold for over $30 million after his death.
Due to his acumen, his love for the history behind the coins, and willingness to buy when the opportunity presented itself, his family and loved ones left behind will never have to worry about money for their entire lives.
The Amazing Story of Pittman’s Legendary Coins
Pittman worked his way through college and then moved to Rochester New York in 1936 to work for Eastman Kodak. A career man, he worked there for almost his entire life. He was happily married for over 50 years to Gehring, a math teacher in the public school system.
How did he amass a collection worth $30 million?
The answer is simple. On a limited budget, throughout his life, John Pittman pursued his passion for numismatics.
He consistently purchased, when he could, U.S. gold and silver coins. He chose the rarest coins that he could afford on his salary.
History is what drove him to search out and purchase whatever rare coins that he could on his limited budget. He wasn’t after the money or a fortune.
In the mid-1950’s, John was chasing some special coins. The hunt led him and Gehring all the way to an auction in Egypt. John took out a second mortgage on his house to pay for the trip. In the end it paid off.
One of the coins he purchased in Cairo was an 1833 $5 gold piece for $605. Later, that same coin sold for an incredible $467,500.
He was not a wealthy man, yet he assembled a collection worth over $30 million in his lifetime. Estimates are that his total investment was a mere $75,000.
If John Pittman, a man of humble beginnings can do it, anyone can. Here are tips to help you along your journey. You may be surprised at what you can build in a short amount of time.
3 Tips to Assemble the Coin Collection of a Lifetime
- Have patience and seek out quality. Talk to trusted advisors and well-respected coin dealers. If you have a certain coin that you are searching for, let your portfolio manager at Blanchard know. We have deep connections within the numismatic world and may be able to assist.
- Be complete. Build collections that include “sets.” Be persistent and complete your sets. Often collections with sets have more value than the individual coins on their own.
- Follow your passions. Is there a certain period in history that fascinates you? Learning more about that time can enrich your ownership of a specific coin.
Four Gold Hordes We’re Still Trying to Find
Posted onFew things fire up the imagination like lost treasure, buried away just waiting to be found. We take a look at four gold hordes that people continue to look for to this day.
The 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet
A fleet of twelve Spanish ships was en route to Spain from the New World when a catastrophic hurricane hit. Only one ship survived. The other eleven sank off the eastern coast of Florida. Each carried immense wealth. However, one, in particular, carried the motherload. The San Miguel is considered by many to be one of the most valuable treasure galleons ever lost. To this day, treasures from this ship and others from the fleet wash up on Florida beaches. In September of 2013, one lucky family found $300,000 worth of gold less than 200 yards offshore. The total value of the San Miguel and other ships is well into the hundreds of millions and people continue to search the seas for the fortune.
Fenn’s Folly
Nothing changes one’s perspective like a terminal diagnosis. In 1988, art dealer Forrest Fenn learned that he had cancer. Doctors told him he had less than two years to live. This ticking clock inspired him to bury $1 million of his wealth. He encouraged treasure hunters to find the horde and even provided cryptic clues. He wrote a poem with confusing lines like, “Begin it where warm waters halt And take it in the canyon down, Not far, but too far to walk.” Though the idea came to him after his diagnosis, he buried the treasure twenty years later after beating the illness. No one has found the stash though Fenn claims some seekers have come as close as 200 feet to the site. Fortune hunters be warned: two people have died searching for Fenn’s legacy.
Victorio Peak
Some gold hunters believe the Southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico are hiding millions in god buried within a collapsed mine shaft. The story begins with Milton Ernest “Doc” Noss. He was on a deer hunting trip when he made the find. Liberating the treasure proved difficult. There was only one way out of the mine, and the opening was too narrow to effectively remove the gold. Foolishly, the “Doc” decided to use dynamite to blast a larger opening. This attempt, unsurprisingly, collapsed the entrance sealing the riches away. Doc Noss lived only a few years more; an associate shot him amid a dispute. Thought the Noss family continued to press for access the US government stepped in taking control of the area for use as a nuclear testing site. Officials claim they never found Noss’s alleged gold. To this day we don’t know who is telling the truth.
Schultz’s Shuffle
The life of a crime boss is hard. Dutch Shultz was a New York Mobster living large in the 1920s and 1930s. He made a fortune bootlegging and conducting organized crime. It wasn’t long, however, before the tax man came knocking. Eventually, he was indicted by a Grand Jury. He arranged for a professional to build a special watertight safe in which he stashed $7 million to keep away from other mobsters and the Federal Government. He hid it in the Catskill Mountains with the intention to retrieve it later in life. Schultz was eventually shot and killed. Many believe his fortune remains buried. Find it, and it’s yours.
Gold During the Changing of the Guards
Posted onWith a relatively new president in office many have cited the uncertainty of our times with regard to investing. However, this notion that a US president can single-highhandedly control the economic landscape of the country is misguided. In truth, policy changes from Federal Reserve hold much more sway over the state of our markets. Now is an especially good time to revisit this fact as Janet Yellen, the current Chair of the Federal Reserve prepares to step down. Jerome Powell will soon be taking over prompting many to question how this new leadership will influence our economy.
Many consider Powell to be a continuation of Yellen’s policies. “A Powell Fed might look a lot like it has since Mr. Greenspan retired in 2006,” remarked The Wall Street Journal. Though many are comfortable with Powell as a successor this changing of the guards has become a reminder of how administration changes can wield influence. A clearer, though less discussed, example is the news that William Dudley, the leader of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, announced that he’ll be stepping down early than expected. This move has led some to speculate on “the uncertainty over whether the central bank will be more hawkish with its rate increases moving forward depending on who fills the open positions.”
Why does this matter for gold investors? Unexpected events like this help stabilize gold prices by effectively creating a “floor” even in times of falling value.
Gold prices have fallen in recent weeks hitting multi-month lows. This comes at a time when gradual increases in rates has reinvigorated investors’ appetites for yield-bearing investments. However, uncertainties in other areas, like the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, keeps investors vigilant. This cautiousness helps prevent further slips in gold prices.
On a global scale, instability in Spain’s government and Venezuela’s economy are also fueling the fire. Investors can get a concise, holistic measure of uncertainty around the world with the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index. This single number represents a reading based on two components. The first quantifies uncertainty within newspaper coverage of economic policies. The second gauges how many federal tax code provisions will expire in the coming years. A reading of this figure from January 1, 1997 to October 1, 2017, shows a clear upward trend reaching an all-time high in January of this year. Until October of 2008 the figure had never risen above 200. Since then the index has broken the 200 mark on six occasions.
This is a visual illustration of the pervading uncertainty that makes gold a worthwhile, long-term investment. While many eager investors get caught up in the moment, the long-term is what counts. Recent events, which are pushing gold down, are fleeting. However, the supportive elements that prevent a complete collapse of gold prices are consistent because they’re based in the inherent uncertainty of an increasingly complex world.
The key for success remains the same; investors must maintain perspective on the wider picture while ignoring the headlines that pray on passing fears.
Proof Coins: The Gifts for Kings
Posted onIn the 1800’s, American proof coins were minted primarily as gifts for kings and foreign dignitaries. In later years, fortunate U.S. congressmen and senators were also bestowed with these exceptional gifts.
President Andrew Jackson’s 1836 gift of a U.S. proof coin set to the King of Siam is a numismatic legend.
The first U.S. envoy to the Far East, Edmund Roberts, took the coin set with him on a voyage aboard the USS Peacock in 1835 and arrived in Siam in the spring of 1836. Roberts presented the coin set to King Ph’ra Nang Klao (Rama III) of Siam in April 1836.
The King’s son, Rama IV, was the inspiration for the famous Broadway musical, “The King and I.”
A Gift to his Governess
For over a hundred years, this exceptional coin collection was unknown to numismatics around the world. It wasn’t until 1962 that the set emerged in London. It is believed the King of Siam’s son, Rama IV, gave the coin set to his British governess, Anna Leonowens, who died in 1915. It was their relationship that was the basis for the musical “The King and I.” Over 120 years after the coins had been gifted to the King, two descendants of Leonownes sold the coins to a London, England dealer.
The Gift
The proof coin set included nine denominations ranging from half cent to eagle. The set was stored in a custom made case covered in yellow leather – the color of Siamese royalty. Inside the case, each coin was secured in a slot depressed into a lining of blue velvet.
Its value is astounding. The King of Siam proof set sold in 2005 for $8.5 million. Previously, the set changed hands for over $4 million in 2001.
What Sets Proof Coins Apart
Proof coins are the highest quality coins created by the United States Mint. Today, collectors highly value Proof gold U.S. coins and when they appear on the market they are quickly snapped up. Most proof coins have extremely low mintages. Some issues may emerge only once or twice every few decades.
Blanchard recently acquired 9 awe-inspiring proof coins. The uniquely rare and valuable coins sold within a week.
Many proof gold coins today are housed at the Smithsonian, or in the hands of a fortunate collectors.
“American currency is a reflection and a record of our history,” noted Brent D. Glass, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Proof coins are the pinnacle of currency minted by our government.
Why Proof Coins Are Important
Because of their unbelievable beauty and rarity, discerning collectors covet gold proof coins as an extremely valuable part of their collections.
Proof gold coins are struck twice, resulting in a more defined and intricate result. The end result is that typically a proof coin of the same date will be more expensive, rare and valuable than a non-proof uncirculated.
How Proof Coins Are Graded
- Proof – the term itself suggest superior condition of a coin.
- PR 70 is the highest grade possible for a proof coin and represents a perfect coin.
- Gem Proof (PF-65) – The surfaces are brilliant. There are no noticeable blemishes or flaws.
- Choice Proof (PF-63) No major flaws. The surface of the coin is reflective, with only a few blemishes.
- Proof (PF-63) The surface may be dull and have a few contact marks or hairlines.
What’s the difference between Proof and Mint?
The United States Mint began producing Mint sets in 1947. These are uncirculated coins that are specially packaged, but have nowhere near the value of proof coins.
Gold Coins: The Ultimate Charity Gift
Posted on“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”― John Bunyan
Each year at Christmas time, generous donors around America walk up to a Salvation Army Red Kettle and drop a gold coin in as a donation. It makes headlines each December, when the “first gold coin” donation is excitedly found.
Last year, on a cold and snowy night in late December in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a benevolent soul was busy making his or her own Christmas miracle. On Thursday December 22, 2016, a donor dropped a total of 40 coins into six different kettles. On Friday, December 23, the donor repeated the magic, dropping 40 more gold coins into Salvation Army kettles in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
The coins of choice? The coins were American Eagle 2016 One Ounce Gold Coins valued at that time at $1,130 each. That meant the total donation of 80 gold coins was valued at $90,400.
This is a recurring theme for the Salvation Army. You may have heard of the mystery of the gold coins that kept appearing each December in a small town in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For years, a shiny South African Kruggerand kept appearing in the bell ringer’s buckets. For 15 years, the benefactors managed to keep their identity hidden, which was a feat in and of itself in a town of less than 8,000.
In December 2012, the donors fessed up. “It made us feel good to give,” said Dick Unger.
Unger had bought six South African Krugerrands in the 1980s as an investment: one for each of his four daughters, one for himself, and one for Ruth Jean. After keeping them in his safety deposit box for years, he was inspired to drop them into the Salvation Army bucket with no note or hint to their identify.
Even after Unger donated the original six gold coins. He wanted to keep up the tradition. He bought more to donate. As the price of gold skyrocketed, his donations became worth more and more. In 1997, the coin Unger slipped in the bucket was worth $287. As gold prices climbed to their all-time highs in 2011, the coin was worth $1,700, reported Priority, the magazine of the Salvation Army.
In 2014, in Libertyville, Illinois, another generous well-wisher dropped seven gold coins into a Salvation Army bucket outside a Jewel grocery store along with a note. Those coins were gold Swiss Francs each made up of .19 ounces of gold. That donation was valued at about $1,500, the Salvation Army said.
These heartwarming stories make a real impact. Nearly 70 percent of the Salvation Army’s funding comes from donations dropped into the red kettles during the holiday season. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign is the largest and oldest charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States. It started in 1891 in San Francisco.
Three Things That Should Scare Some Investors this Halloween
Posted onAs equities continue to ride high investors are seeking aggressive ways to amplify their earnings. However, beneath the euphoria of today’s bull market are risks that hide in the shadows. Here, we take a look at three things that might give investors the creeps.
BATs and FANGs
No, I’m not talking about Dracula. In recent months investors have flocked to this core of outperforming stocks. BATs consist of Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent. Each are major players in the Chinese economy and have posted strong gains. Meanwhile, FANGs are more recognizable to U.S. investors. That group includes Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google. Profits have been substantial here also. Lured by performance, many investors fail to notice the high costs of some of these holdings. Consider, for example that today Baidu trades for 44 times earnings. Alibaba is trading at a whopping 59 times earnings and Tencent at 53. Not cheap. These high prices mean each will need to generate major revenue to support the heavy expectations. Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google are all pricey as well at 39, 280, 242 and 37 respectively. These high costs are representative of the stock market as a whole.
Interest Rates are Back from the Dead
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen has made clear her willingness to keep the option open for another rate rise before the year ends. Moreover, three additional rate increases are expected in 2017. What does this mean for exuberant equity investors? It means the surge in stock prices will face pressure in the coming months because as Russell Investments has reported “On average, U.S. equities perform somewhat worse in rising interest rate periods than in falling rate environment.” Even the Wall Street Journal has reported in recent weeks that “The stock rally could stall if the Fed moves to normalize monetary policy faster than expected, investors and analysts say.” Investors should take caution but few are allowing this reality to temper expectations.
The Man in the CAPE
Nobel Laureate Robert Shiller is the man in the CAPE. The specter of his cyclically adjusted price-earnings ratio (CAPE) looms large. This valuation measurement is at a near historic high. In fact, it has only been higher in 1929 and 2000, periods of catastrophic decline in the stock market. “We are at a high level, and it’s concerning,” he remarked in June of this year. This lofty figure has prompted some to warn that valuations are running too high and that a correction is due. Of course no one can (or should) attempt to time the market, however, when a measurement like this is at its second highest level since the late 1800s it’s time to consider how risks are growing.
Is doom around the corner? Likely not. But, investors would be wise to reevaluate their diversification strategy with commodities like precious metals. Gold and silver help spread out risk. Also, the same research cited from Russell Investments above noted that commodities “showed superior returns rising vs falling rate periods.” Sometimes the scariest things are those we don’t see until it’s too late.
5 Must-See Charts for Gold Investors
Posted onYou’ve surely heard the saying: “A picture is worth 1,000 words.” We found five charts that show why gold is a smart investment for everyone.
Chart 1: Currency in Circulation
The amount of currency in circulation continues to rise and is at an all-time high. This is paper currency, not backed by a hard asset. The printing presses remain in high gear.
Chart 2: Total U.S. Debt at $20 Trillion
Total U.S. debt continues to rise. The price of big wars, tax cuts and economic stimulus packages have boosted debt levels over the years. Is the problem getting better or worse? Will policymakers ever be able to right the debt ship? If not that leaves Americans vulnerable to higher interest rates and eroded purchasing power with paper money in the years ahead.
Chart 3: Long-Term CD Rates
You may remember several decades back when CD rates were at double digits. Many retirees used CDs as a safe way to generate income on their savings. Today, you are lucky if you can generate 1.00% on a savings account. There is no return on paper money and your purchasing power with paper money continues to decline (see chart 4).
Chart 4: Purchasing Power of the Dollar
The purchasing power of your dollar continues to decline. It’s been a steady erosion since the Great Depression ended. While you may amass more dollars through your income, or capital gains in the stock market, what is that dollar really worth?
Chart 5: Long-Term Gold Chart
In 1973, an ounce of gold was worth $100. In 2011, an ounce of gold traded over $1,800 an ounce. The long-term trend remains up. Well-known forecasters predict the price of gold will surge as high as $2,000 an ounce by 2020. For investors who are keen on protecting the true value of their assets, gold is a vehicle that preserves and protects your future purchasing power.
Wall Street money managers are now recommending diversification up to 30% in physical gold. How confident are you in your current investment plans? Contact a Blanchard portfolio manager today at 1-800-880-4653 for a confidential, personalized evaluation of your individual financial goals and learn how tangible assets can help you achieve the financial freedom and security you desire.
