Precious metals, like gold and silver, have long been sought-after for their beauty, scarcity, industrial uses and reliability as stores of value. These assets continue to play an important role in many investment portfolios, with investors often viewing them as a potential hedge against inflation and market volatility.
What makes precious metals particularly appealing is their tangible nature and limited supply, along with historical price trends and diverse industrial uses. Unlike stocks, which can fluctuate dramatically based on company performance, or currencies that central banks might devalue, precious metals have often retained their value—at times even rising during economic downturns.
If you’re considering investing in precious metals, here are four key things you should know before you get started.
This post originally appeared at Forbes Advisor.