THE SAFETY OF GOLD

Today’s World Situation

We are living in a time in which the economic and financial problem is the most obvious in every single country of the world. The slowdown of the economy seems to prolong the situation, so people are trying to find new ideas to save their money in a manner that is profitable. More and more people have lost their trust in banks; some have difficulties in deciding which currency to save, while others have found the solution: buy gold coins. Gold is the only way to save the fruits of your work in a profitable manner; actually, gold coins are the solution. In the past few years, specialists have noticed that there has been an inclination towards saving in gold coins because gold offers security, reducing the risk of losing your money through inflation. Gold is so secure because it is used as a counterweight to any paper currency, in fact it is its own currency. For example, if the US dollar happens to fall, the cost of gold will rise, because is priced in dollars; this has also happened to other currencies such as the Thai baht, which fell in 1997 as a result of an Asian crisis. The price of gold rose to a very high level.

Owning a Gold Coin

If you wonder how to save money through gold, gold coins are the answer. Buying gold coins is the easiest way to own gold. There are several types of gold coins: bullion coins and rare gold coins. Bullion coins are very expensive, but their value is very high due to the fact that they the price of gold is at new highs. Collectors are not very interested in this type of gold coin because they were minted on a wide scale. However, several types of bullion coins are very popular among those who save their money in gold: the Gold American Eagle and Buffalo, the Gold Canadian Maple Leaf and the South African Krugerrand. With rare coins most of them have a higher value than a bullion coin because, in addition to the content of metal, they are scacer than bullion, which increases their value. Most of these rare gold coins are those minted between 1795 and 1933 in the United States.

Regardless of the type of gold coin you choose for your savings, you should know that your money is very safe.

Gold-oriented funds

These funds involve products which are financially regulated. Most investment vehicles, generally referred to as collective investment engines, invest in gold mining companies by attaining shares in the companies. These collective purchases can include open-ended investment funds, mutual funds, unit trusts and closed-end funds which exist in most countries. Since the funds are regulated, details about a specific fund can be hard to explain or provide.

An investment may differ from one fund to another depending on the structure of each particular fund. There are those who may choose to invest in mining equities while others buy shares in gold mining companies. Some buy into mines for other minerals; others would rather invest in futures while others may find it interesting to buy partially in metals and partially in the mining equity for the particular metal.

Since there are major differences between direct investments and investments in a gold mining company, it is difficult to equate the two. The appreciation level of gold mining firms is determined by expectations for future gold prices, new gold discoveries and the cost of mining as a whole. Investment profits may largely be determined by future growth potential and earnings of the mining company.

Gold mining equities (or companies) happen to outdo gold prices in respect to volatility since they are subject to the risk factors which normally influence the price of gold. It follows that companies face more risks, especially individual companies mining gold.

It is always advisable for potential investors to seek financial advice from a reputable organization or stockbroker when it comes to gold-oriented funds investment. It is important to understand the gains and the possible risks faced when investing in this sector. This does not mean that the risks outnumber the advantages. But information is your best protection against loss. It is essential that you fully understand what you are getting yourself into.

Let’s face it, gold has not been losing value, and while we sit and wait for that day, there are individuals and institutions making a killing from their gold. If you delay buying for fear of loss, you will never take that first step forward towards achieving your life goals and fulfilling your dreams. Individuals must take risks and be prepared to gain sometimes and lose at other times. Gold is the perfect commodity in which to own because it will come in handy in these fragile economic periods.

Factors that Affect the Price of Gold

There are many factors that make now a good time to buy gold coins. Only you can determine if it is right for you. The following are factors that affect the price of gold in a positive way normally. Many of these factors are happening right now.

Spikes in interest rates are often followed by increases in gold prices. Higher interest rates work to increase inflation as the cost of borrowing increases which in turns increases the cost of living.

Oil prices and gold prices don't work hand and hand though there has been a correlation throughout the last few decades. As oil prices have risen or dropped dramatically the price of gold has followed in turn.

The health of banks is a leading indicator to the health of the economy. When banks are in trouble or stop lending it adds fear into the markets. This was noticed in the banking crises that saw the failure of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers in 2008 where many people turned to gold instead of keeping their money in banks.

Debt crises and loan defaults makes people uneasy about paper money or money tied up in assets that could go to nothing. Physical gold has never had a value of zero and adds security as you personally take possession of it.

Throughout history from different economic conditions gold has been a safe haven to diversify your portfolio and reduce your risk. Current financial uncertainty and the possibility of a double dip recession have gold prices hitting a brand new record in June of 2010.

Factors that Affect the Price of Gold

There are many factors that make now a good time to buy gold coins. Only you can determine if it is right for you. The following are factors that affect the price of gold in a positive way normally. Many of these factors are happening right now.

Spikes in interest rates are often followed by increases in gold prices. Higher interest rates work to increase inflation as the cost of borrowing increases which in turns increases the cost of living.

Oil prices and gold prices don't work hand and hand though there has been a correlation throughout the last few decades. As oil prices have risen or dropped dramatically the price of gold has followed in turn.

The health of banks is a leading indicator to the health of the economy. When banks are in trouble or stop lending it adds fear into the markets. This was noticed in the banking crises that saw the failure of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers in 2008 where many people turned to gold instead of keeping their money in banks.

Debt crises and loan defaults makes people uneasy about paper money or money tied up in assets that could go to nothing. Physical gold has never had a value of zero and adds security as you personally take possession of it.

Throughout history from different economic conditions gold has been a safe haven to diversify your portfolio and reduce your risk. Current financial uncertainty and the possibility of a double dip recession have gold prices hitting a brand new record in June of 2010.

US Mint Gold Coins: The Current Market Scenario

According to the CoinNews.net report of July 22, 2010, the demand for American numismatic gold coins has increased, compared to the previous US Mint item sales. All coins, except ten US Mint gold coins, exhibited no alteration in demand, seven of which belonged to the smaller Presidential $1coin category. The bigger dollar products that fell lower were the three First Spouse gold coins – two of the Jane Pierce Fillmore $5 numismatic gold coins and the proof Margaret Taylor. What improved the weekly sales still remains a matter of speculation.

US Mint Gold Coins: Major Gainer of the Week
The most likely reason for the improvement in the US Mint gold coin sales was the launch of the 2010 US Mint Uncirculated Coin Set on Thursday, July 15, 2010. There were 200,764 orders placed for the 2010 Mint Set. Since the 2010 coin collection raised immense interest in the other collectible items, it is speculated that same would be the case with the 4-coin 2010 US Proof, which has been the most sought-after annual set.

US Mint Gold Coins: Drop in Prices
On July 21, 2010, the US Mint lowered the prices for numismatic gold coins. This price decrease followed a general decline in gold prices. The United State Mint usually fixes numismatic gold prices according to the average London Fix rates. The prices are settled upon after taking into account the average price on the previous Thursday AM till the present Wednesday AM. If there seems to be a discrepancy in the average price (and is in agreement with the Wednesday PM Fix rate), the prices are altered accordingly.

The following are two of the most recent gold coins from the US Mint:

2010 Proof Gold Buffalo: This was released first, on June 3, 2010. This coin contains one troy ounce of 24k gold. The initial price decided upon was $1,510 and this rate stuck on till it slumped this week.

First Spouse Gold Coins: This was released periodically and roughly followed the Presidential dollars. The latest releases include:
• Sarah Polk
• Margaret Taylor
• Abigail Fillmore
• Jane Pierce

All these are available in proof as well as uncirculated formats. The most recent releases saw a pricing of $779 for the proof coins and $766 for the uncirculated coins.

Investing in Twenty Dollar Gold Coin

Twenty dollar gold coins, commonly known as Double Eagles, are the largest-denomination regular-issue gold coins minted in the US. "Twenties" are commonly traded in the market and, with a composition of 0.9675 gold per ounce, they trade slightly below the gold bullion. Twenty dollar gold coins are commonly traded in the range of $760 and $800.

Twenty Dollar Gold Coin: A Brief History
The $20 Liberty Double Eagle is one of the most recognized gold coins in the world. The coin had been a building block of the US economy and the financial market during the 19th and 20th centuries. They were used by the average individual as well as international traders. Around the time of issue of the $20 Liberty, gold was officially trading at $20.67 an ounce. Consequently, the coin’s weight was fixed at 0.9675 oz. Prior to the issue of the twenty dollar Liberty in 1849, the highest-denomination of coins issued by the US Government was $10, known as the ‘Eagle.’

Twenty Dollar Gold Coin: Types and Specifications

Twenty dollar gold coins in circulation are available in two broad variants:

• The Liberty ‘Coronet Head’: Minted between 1849 and 1907, this features the bust of Lady Liberty facing the left on one side and an eagle with stars and sun-rays on the other.

• The Saint Gauden coins: Minted between 1907 and 1933, these coins are named after its designer, bear a standing Liberty on one side and a flying eagle on its reverse.

Twenty Dollar Gold Coin: A Great Investment Option?
Twenty dollar liberties have a return value at the time of purchase itself, due to their high composition of gold (around 91.67%). Besides, these coins have the dual advantage of gaining in value when gold prices rise and when their value as collectors’ items rise.

The market of Saint Gaudens is just as strong, since it is stocked by government treasuries as well as several royal families. Besides their market value, the stunning design of Saint Gaudens makes them popular collectors’ items.

Twenty dollar gold coins are classified as a rarity by the US National Government. Besides, these coins accompany more flexible reporting requirements than regular gold bullion.

What are My Gold coins Worth

This is a question asked very frequently by coin owners, sometimes for selling the coins or just out of plain curiosity. It actually gives immense satisfaction to a person to know how valuable his collection is. Whatever the reason may be, here is how you can determine the value of your gold coins:

Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value of the gold coins would be the price of the gold when it is melted and valued. The gold bullion coins of today are actually valued close to their intrinsic value since buying gold coins is likened to investing in gold. These kinds of coins do not have any premium attached to them. Modern bullion coins are the American Eagles, South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs.

Collector Coins

There are gold coins that are rare or old and are collector’s item. These are more valuable than ordinary gold coins. They are priced for their value as a rare coin along with the price of the gold.

Of course for the person who is knowledgeable about rare gold coins either as a collector or a numismatic, such numismatic coins are a much better option as an investment. They know the trade and they know the value of the coin. A medieval gold coin like an Angel can sell for $3 million too. Clearly the history of the coin increases its value.
The four important things that make the value of the collector coins are:

1. The condition of the coin, it should not be defaced or damaged
2. How rare it is
3. If it is linked to history – like a commemorative coin or belonging to a particular significant era
4. Quality of the coin

Your bullion coins are valued close to the gold spot price, and it is easy to check that as it is declared in the newspapers and gold markets daily.

Should I hire a community association management company to help organize my community?

The first question you need to ask does your Homeowner Association Board have extensive and practical experience in financial budgets, governance, community operations, and training for new board members. If you didn't immediately answer yes to each of those questions than a professional community association Management Company could be of service to your board. One more thing to consider is with your homeowner association board is not just do you have the experience, though do you have the time.

Unless your homeowner association board is made of fulltime board members which it probably is not, you have other responsibilities to your own business or employment that take priority for your time. This is why hiring a community management company is so important. That way you have a fulltime staff working to run your community.

One of the most beneficial items from using a professional community management team is operational budgets. The process of having a detailed and accurate budget for board members to make decisions from is crucial to community success. Since management companies with extensive experience have created many successful budgets the difference in accuracy is immense. With realistic budgets and planning your board members can feel confident that they are making the right decisions for their residents. Management services can guide board members through operational challenges that will arise no matter how detailed planning is. The biggest mistake most homeowner association boards make is a lack of a consistent communication process to updates and how the challenge will be solved.

When all community processes are handled by trained fulltime staff your community can run smoothly and it makes you look good for your residents. The reality is that most home owners only notice their association board when there are issues. The best boards are the ones that the residents don't even think about.

Have you ever been frustrated with new board members? Not that they are not bright and highly accomplished people, though they lack the experience of how your board and community works. Professional community management companies should have experience in how to train new board members into effective decision members that can contribute faster to their respected development.

The part that most residents notice the most is the up keep around the properties. Making sure that every person or business responsible is delivering can be overwhelming. The most effective community management companies have systems in place to organic and manage each community to keep property values and impressions up.

Just think if your homeowner association board is having any issues that professional community management could take care of. Less head aches and smoother management makes being on a association board more enjoyable and effective.

Parker Finch specializes in professional community management with online resident services for home owners.

Going green - how do you know if a product is green?

If you want to help the environment and go green, here are some tips to get you started. Why go green at all? What exactly is green? How do you know which items to purchase? There are many people out there looking to cash in on the green fad. How to shop safely.

So, do you really want to do your part? Do you want to help the environment, the economy and future generations? Everyone is going green these days and it's a good thing. It shows that people are becoming more conscious of their impact on the world around them. There are so many things that our society wastes. We waste food, water, building materials such as wood from trees and many many more. It's disgusting when you think about all of that money wasted. Think of the time that's wasted too. If you don't change the way you live and shop - you will be leaving the world in a terrible state for future generations.

Do you want to go green? What exactly is going green? What exactly makes a product a green product? If you check the label or item description from the manufacturer - you should see no harmful chemical. All of the ingredients and materials should be easily found in the earth. They should be made using natural processes. Don't buy products that were made in a lab using all kinds of nasty substances. Going green means saying no to harmful toxins and unsafe chemicals in your home or workplace.

Green products must be made using methods that are environmentally friendly. There's more to going green than just leaving out toxic chemicals. We must use methods to produce our goods and services that are sustainable. Think about some of the factories you have seen. They produce a lot of items. They also produce a lot of waste material. It seems like madness when you really think about it. There is absolutely no reason to be spending more just to produce less. Don't let the big guys at the top play with your future, just so they can make a few quick dollars. Green products are products that are good for the earth, the economy and everyone on it. If this isn't true about a product that a manufacturer is offering - it's not green. Don't buy it!

Go green and do your part for our environment.

Natures Organic Market has low prices on organic toys, organic iced tea, and more.

What's the Gold Market LIke

The gold market is unique in the world of finance because gold is unique. Much more than merely another investment, gold is an asset in its own right, a raw material, a natural resource and also a trusted store of value and medium of exchange.

Gold plays more roles in more lives than any other commodity, other than water and possibly oil.

Gold's variety of roles and broad utility mean that the gold market itself is unlike any other market.

Gold reacts differently to the economic and geopolitical factors which impact the financial markets.

For example, hyperinflation, which has historically been terrible for stocks and bonds, prompts people to seek the safe haven of gold, and gold has historically increased in value during periods of high inflation.

The same can be said for other factors:

Geopolitical crisis, such as the threat of war or sudden terrorist attacks, usually result in an increase in the price of gold. In the wake of the September 11th attacks back in 2001, US stock markets were interrupted for a week, but gold rose in value and continued to trade internationally throughout the period.

Currency crises, such as those that occurred in Mexico in 1995, Asia in 1997 and Russia in 1998, disrupt local stock markets dramatically. But in each of those instances gold increased in value dramatically, relative to those local currencies.

Banking crises, such as the one that occurred in the US in November of 2008, also are usually very bad news for the stock markets. Meanwhile, gold holds its value as people seek safe havens.

In summary, the kinds of factors which tend to make the value of stocks, bonds and other assets suffer, tend to make the value of gold increase. There are, of course, exceptions, but over the long-term this axiom has held true. Gold zigs when paper zags.

There are some other interesting aspects of the gold market that also set it apart from other markets.

For instance, there are more ways to own gold than any other asset class. You can own physical gold in the form of bullion bars, wafers or coins, such as the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf or South African Krugerrand. You can also physically own gold in the form of rare gold coins.

For those who do not require the added security of physical gold, there are still other indirect methods of owning gold.

Some individuals choose to participate in the gold market by owning shares of companies that mine and/or refine gold. Along the same lines, mutual funds which acquire the stocks of such companies are another alternative which provides added diversification.

Gold buyers should be aware, however, that this method does not duplicate the direct ownership of gold.

There are still other methods of gold ownership.

One of the latest is the "Exchange Traded Fund" or ETF. These types of funds invest in physical gold and then turn around and sell shares which represent an undivided ownership interest in the holdings of the fund. In this way, investors can participate in movements in the price of gold, again, without the physical security of gold ownership, however.

Another widely followed method of participating in the gold market are the futures markets in which individuals can take positions in the market using leverage to participate in increases and decreases in the price of gold.

There is one final thing that sets the gold market apart:

Gold is a market that never sleeps. Gold trades around the world 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, all year long. No matter what time it is, somewhere the gold market is open and gold is trading. So, gold may close at one price in New York at the end of the trading day and open at a dramatically different price the very next morning due to action on the bourses in places like London, Paris, Zurich, Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney. No other asset or commodity is traded as widely and as actively as gold.

ITM Trading offers expert service to buy gold coins including information on how to buy gold coins.