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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Investor Alley => Topic started by: celerystalks on January 05, 2018, 08:28:14 AM

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Post by: celerystalks on January 05, 2018, 08:28:14 AM
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Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: chasesfish on January 05, 2018, 08:43:07 AM
I'm kind of jaded, I've watched a close relative screw their retirement by going almost all in for gold and silver from 2010 onward.  Had they invested that money in an S&P 500 fund, it would be up 100%.

I have no problem with someone playing around in gold and silver, just know that it doesn't pay a dividend or have underlying earnings, so its not going to perform as well as fractional ownership in companies or rental real estate long-term.
Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: ingrownstudentloans on January 05, 2018, 08:48:29 AM
I hold about 5% of my invested assets in gold/silver, weighted towards silver, because I like to.  Expect to get some blowback on here as PMs don't have an intrinsic return (e.g., employees making things and therefore increasing value).
Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: trollwithamustache on January 05, 2018, 09:08:41 AM
Not quite at Stacker-status, but yeah when we got beyond our first goal, we hold a very small % of assets in Precious metals, primarily split between gold and silver. 

Our intent was diversification.  I guess if I had to come up with a rule, it would be 1-5 % of portfolio above 1mm in precious metals as gold/silver. As one goes down this road there is palladium and copper but that feels like a different form of speculation on industrial materials.  Everything is held as physical metals, not in etfs, not in rented warehouse space were you don't know if they have enough to cover yours and certainly not in any leveraged financial etf/product, that's how people really F up an IRA...

There is a lot of inflation and end of days talk around Precious metals, so to be clear, if you are worried about rampant inflation I  think the best hedge is improving your job skills or adding new marketable ones.
Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: DrumAllDay on January 05, 2018, 10:22:36 AM
I have been looking into adding some PMs to my portfolio, I currently have none.

Most of my research has been on gold, I have not found much about silver. The research I have done has mostly been books from the library.

Some points on gold vs silver:
-Storing gold coins is easier than silver because it is worth so much more (less coins for more value) and gold does not tarnish like silver.
-However if SHTF silver may be more attractive as currency because its value in a one ounce coin is much less and will be easier to exchange.
-Silver is attractive for someone like me who is starting out because there is less of an upfront cost. I dont have that much extra cash and I don't want to sell stocks for this.

I am still on the fence as to whether I should continue saving for gold coins or just start out with silver right now.

Glad to see this post about Silver!
Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: Car Jack on January 05, 2018, 11:42:47 AM
I'm very anti-silver.  If you want to collect for the same reasons you'd collect stamps or circulated all copper pennies, for your own enjoyment, then that's fine.

I did buy in about 5 years ago.  So, that obviously means my silver coins are worth significantly LESS than what I paid 5 years ago.

There are costs to buy.  When you see APMEX prices, you'll see that indeed there is a spread between buy and sell.  There will likely be more costs to buy.  For me, it was probably zero because I buy at a shop that is physically connected to the Subway where I ate lunch.

When it comes time to sell, I sold some back to that same dealer.  Maybe a dime in gas because I am at a different job but was driving by the exit on my way home from a customer visit.  Sold some dimes at 10.5 times face.  (probably 2 months ago).

I decided to check out craigslist.  I found what looked like the least sketchy buyer and met him near my house.  Figure $0.70 gas total.  He paid 11.5 times face for mercury dimes and quarters.  Much better return.

What did I pay originally?  Something like 17 times and 20 times face.  So yah...I'm taking a bath.  I'm not comfortable mailing, so APMEX doesn't work for me.  I'm only bringing limited quantities with me just in case someone is a craigslist crook.

My recent fear with coins?  Counterfeits.  Just what I'd need....to buy a bunch of coins only to find that they were fake.  I'm currently selling off the rest of what I have.  I'll consider the probably $1k loss to be a learning experience and lesson to stick with index funds and savings bonds.
Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: JAYSLOL on January 05, 2018, 11:45:25 AM
I keep ~3% of my NW in silver, which I might bring down a little as NW grows.  I bought most of what I have before i found MMM and now that i know a fair bit about old coins, I buy and sell for fun and put a few aside when i find a good deal on them.  I wouldn't call myself a "silver stacker", I'm just an MMM FIRE wannabe that strays slightly off the path for a little extra diversification (and fun). 
Most of the people on YT i see "stacking silver" have nothing in the stock market or in bonds etc, and it does drives me crazy when i watch people that only invest in silver, especially the people that buy mostly high-premium stuff.  I really feel its best used as a way to diversify and keep a cash like asset that would sort of keep up with inflation over time. 
Title: Re: Any silver stackers here?
Post by: wienerdog on January 05, 2018, 02:22:49 PM
I hold about 5% of my invested assets in gold/silver, weighted towards silver, because I like to.  Expect to get some blowback on here as PMs don't have an intrinsic return (e.g., employees making things and therefore increasing value).

I do the same.  Bought some silver in this last dip below the $16 spot.