Plenty of people stand completely aghast at federal debt and deficits, and they will tell you the dollar’s future looks grim. Yet only a small fraction are ready to attempt a rescue of their purchasing power by switching their dollars for physical bullion. So many recognize the problem; so few actively seek a solution.

Perhaps they are victims of the campaign to marginalize gold and silver. If they have asked their financial advisor what he thinks about gold, they probably got a pained look and perhaps a lecture about not paying any attention to “gold bugs.”

On top of what people hear from their brokers, owning physical silver or gold is unfamiliar territory for most. They just don’t know what to expect. Many of us have heard this question from someone who understands that owning some metal makes sense, but isn’t sure what comes after the decision to buy; “So what do you do with it once you buy it?” Here’s how to answer…

How Long to Hold Your Precious Metals

The first thing people should do with their metal is hang on to it. Gold and silver represents a long-term investment. It offers unique potential for wealth protection and profit during the inflationary age we are living in.

Buy it now – while it is cheap and out of favor with just about every commentator on CNBC. Build a holding and wait. Currency debasement, metastasizing debt and deficits, and improving supply/demand fundamentals are going to translate to higher prices over time. Compared with holding depreciating dollars in a zero percent savings account, or stocks at wildly stretched PE valuations, the case for metals is pretty compelling.

When holders of physical bullion are ready to sell it, they can do so instantly and easily. No, we aren’t contradicting what we just said about hanging on to it! Now is the time to accumulate. But we know many people avoid BUYING because they don’t realize how easy SELLING will be.

Worried about How to Sell?

Metals investors can be assured dealers across the country – from the local coin shop to larger national dealers like Money Metals – will be happy to buy their metal when the time comes. Reputable dealers will buy bullion coins, rounds, and bars right on the spot, for something very close to the melt value. We make a two-way market – like stock brokerages. We are equally as happy to help you purchase OR sell.

Anyone can find Money Metal’s buy-back prices for each item posted live on our website. Locking a price can be done in about 30 seconds, either online or by phone. No haggling, no low-balling, and no complicated process. Once you have locked the price, just ship the metals back to us. We issue payment immediately upon receipt.

Metals investors are participants in big and liquid markets. Owning bullion is an investment with some similarities to conventional assets that most Americans are familiar with. But physical gold and silver also carry some unique characteristics likely to prove valuable in these uncertain times.

It is like buying a stock you think has potential to appreciate. You build a position when it looks undervalued, and sell it when you identify better opportunities elsewhere. Only with a bullion investment, you take personal possession and get completely outside the rickety financial system. And, unlike shares of a company, there is no chance of bankruptcy, mismanagement, or hard economic times completely destroying the value of your investment.

Unlike real estate and most other tangible assets, gold and silver are portable. You can just grab it and go.

Precious metals are also private. You won’t be registering your purchase or sale with the county office. Bullion can be bought and sold in a matter of minutes, not a matter of months. As long as you avoid thosescammy rare coins, there is no uncertainty regarding how to price it.

And if the U.S. dollar completely collapses, your coins and bars will be there to fulfill their role as history’s most barter-able assets. Not too shabby. Physical metal is easy to trade and there are excellent fundamental reasons to be buying right now. Don’t let the “paper bugs” tell you otherwise!