Why Precious Metals Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Among Younger Savers

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Updated: February 15, 2024
by TJ Salvatore

Investing in precious metals is no longer just the domain of seasoned investors or retirees. In recent years, younger savers have begun to invest in gold and silver as a way to protect their finances from market volatility, inflation, and other economic uncertainties.

But why are precious metals increasingly popular among the younger generations? There are some reasons more and more young people are taking advantage of the security that investing in precious metals brings. Let's find out what's happening in the investment world right now. If you have some spare cash to invest but don't know how to go about it, I hope this blog post can help you get somewhere.

Why Precious Metals Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Among Younger Savers

Did You Know?

  • Ownership Trends: Over 30% of millennials prefer investing in precious metals compared to older generations, with less than 20% showing similar preferences.
  • Economic Uncertainty: Approximately 70% of younger investors cite economic uncertainty as a key reason for investing in precious metals.
  • Inflation Hedge: Around 60% of young adults view precious metals as a hedge against inflation.
  • Digital Investment Platforms: Nearly 80% of millennials use online platforms for purchasing and investing in precious metals, significantly higher than the 30% of baby boomers.
  • Market Growth: The global precious metals market is expected to grow by 9% annually, with younger demographics leading the charge.

Gold and Silver Investments vs. Digital Currencies

Precious metals, including gold and silver, have long been considered a safe investment, but they are becoming increasingly popular among younger savers.

According to the study publication released by Bank of America in October 2022, 75% of young investors (ages between 21-42) do not think they can achieve decent returns solely from stock or bond investments. Whereas only 32% of investors over the age of 43 have the same opinion.

A number of factors are involved, as you can imagine, including the current economic climate and the historical performance of precious metals.

Young investors understand the potential of digital currencies, but they know that precious metals such as gold and silver are still more reliable and trustworthy investments. They recognize that digital currencies can be volatile and are subject to scams or frauds, so they embrace both investments in their portfolios.

Precious metals provide an insurance policy against market downturns because of their tangible value and global acceptance. Young investors appreciate having this form of security while also enjoying the growth potential offered by digital currency investments.

Precious Metals vs. Traditional Investments

Precious metals tend to be a more stable investment than stocks or other traditional investments. This is because their value is not based on the performance of a company or the economy, but rather on supply and demand. This makes them less volatile and more resistant to economic downturn.

Gold and silver offer a hedge against inflation. Over time, the value of traditional investments such as stocks and bonds tends to decrease in real terms due to inflation. Precious metals, on the other hand, retain their value in real terms over time.

When you look over the long term, gold and silver have outperformed traditional investments. While there are always ups and downs in any investment, gold and silver have consistently outperformed stocks and bonds since 1900. So you see why for young investors looking for long-term growth potential, precious metals are an increasingly attractive option.

Did You Know?

  • Diversification: About 50% of young investors believe precious metals are crucial for portfolio diversification.
  • Gold ETFs: Investments in gold Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have seen a 120% increase among investors under the age of 35 in the past two years.
  • Silver as an Investment: Over 40% of younger savers are interested in silver due to its industrial uses and potential for price appreciation.
  • Sustainability Concerns: Approximately 25% of millennials consider the environmental and ethical sourcing of precious metals before investing.
  • Cryptocurrency Comparison: Around 35% of younger investors compare the volatility of cryptocurrencies with the stability of precious metals, favoring the latter for long-term investment.

The Case for Precious Metals

Precious metals have long been seen as a safe investment, but their popularity among younger savers is on the rise. There are several reasons for this trend, including the fact that precious metals are a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.

With interest rates remaining low and stock markets volatile, many young savers are looking for alternative investments that will protect their savings from inflation. Precious metals offer this protection, as their value tends to increase when inflation is high.

Economic uncertainty is another factor driving the popularity of precious metals among young savers. In times of economic turmoil, investors often flock to safe-haven assets like gold and silver. This demand can drive up the prices of these metals, providing investors with a potential profit.

For these reasons and more, precious metals are becoming increasingly popular among younger savers. If you're looking for an investment that offers protection against inflation and economic uncertainty, consider investing in precious metals.

Did You Know?

  • Financial Education: Nearly 65% of millennials report a lack of financial education regarding precious metals, indicating a growing interest and demand for information.
  • Palladium Interest: Interest in palladium has grown by 50% among younger investors due to its use in clean energy technologies.
  • Physical vs. Digital Ownership: About 55% of young adults prefer owning physical precious metals, while 45% are comfortable with digital or paper ownership.
  • Legacy and Heirloom Investing: Over 30% of young savers view precious metals as a way to pass wealth to future generations.
  • Social Media Influence: Social media platforms and influencers have driven a 60% increase in awareness and interest in precious metal investments among younger audiences.
Finance Check

Finance Check

If You Have Spare Cash of $2,000

If you have $2,000 cash to invest, it may be worthwhile to buy a combination of both gold and digital currency. Gold has historically been viewed as a safe-haven asset and can provide stability when markets are turbulent or uncertain. Additionally, investing in digital currencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum could offer potential growth opportunities due to their popularity among investors and the fact that they are highly volatile assets with the potential for high returns.

Ultimately, deciding whether you should purchase gold or a digital currency depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals.

You may want to note that there has been a growing demand for precious metals from Asia and other emerging markets. This increased demand has helped push prices higher in recent years and is expected to continue doing so in the future.

For all these reasons, it's no wonder that young savers are turning to precious metals as a way to grow their wealth over time.

Physical Precious Metals

How to Invest in Precious Metals

The most common way is to buy physical metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. These can be purchased from a variety of sources, including coin dealers, online dealers, and even some banks. Physical metals can be stored in a safe deposit box at a bank or in a home safe.

You can also invest in gold/silver through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are investment funds that hold assets such as stocks, bonds, and commodities. And some ETFs invest specifically in precious metals. These ETFs trade on stock exchanges and can be purchased through online brokerages.

Finally, investors can also purchase shares of mining companies. Mining companies are engaged in the business of extracting precious metals from the ground. Their share prices tend to move up and down with the price of the underlying metal. However, investing in mining companies is generally considered riskier than investing in physical metals or ETFs.

Did You Know?

  • Risk Management: Approximately 70% of millennials see precious metals as a low-risk investment compared to stocks and real estate.
  • Affordability: Around 40% of young adults find silver more affordable and accessible as an entry point into precious metals investing.
  • Mobile Trading Apps: The use of mobile apps for trading precious metals has increased by 80% among millennials in the last year.
  • Return on Investment: Young investors expect a 10-15% ROI on precious metals over a 5-10 year period, aligning with long-term investment goals.
  • Global Economic Trends: With 75% of younger savers concerned about global economic stability, precious metals offer a sense of security and tangible value.

Gold IRA Among Young Investors

Gold IRAs have also been gaining popularity among younger investors. A gold IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, is a retirement account that invests in physical gold rather than stocks and bonds. It’s similar to a traditional IRA in the sense that you can deposit pre-tax dollars into it and defer taxes until retirement age; however, instead of investing your money in stocks and securities, with a Gold IRA you are purchasing and holding physical gold bullion coins or bars within the account.

This offers many advantages including providing diversification from paper assets like stocks and bonds, protection against inflation as well as hedging against potential market downturns. The safety and security of having real precious metal stored in an insured vault add another layer of protection to your hard-earned retirement savings.

Starting a gold IRA is an easy process that can be handled in three simple steps.

  1. You'll need to find a reputable custodian who will facilitate the purchase and storage of your gold assets, such as self-directed IRAs or precious metals IRA companies.
  2. Choose the type of account you want to open; Roth or Traditional Gold IRA accounts are available and allow for different tax benefits depending on which option you choose.
  3. Select your investments; this could include physical gold coins or bullion bars, mutual funds with a focus on gold mining stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) backed by physical holdings of gold bullion bars, and other options like ETF shares representing ownership in physical vaults storing large amounts of all types of precious metals. 

With a Gold IRA, investors can physically own and hold the precious metal, which some see as a more tangible form of wealth than paper assets such as stocks and bonds. Many young investors are attracted to the fact that gold is a finite resource and its price is not as subject to the volatility seen in other markets.

Gold Will Help You Retire Early

Investing in gold can be an effective way to ensure that you are able to retire early and with greater financial security. Gold is a finite asset, meaning its price isn't subject to the same fluctuations as other investments. This makes it one of the most stable options for long-term investors looking for ways to diversify their portfolios and ensure that they have enough money when they need it. Investing in gold allows individuals to hedge against inflation, as well as protect their wealth from market volatility or downturns. Furthermore, because gold does not produce income or pay dividends like stocks do, there is less risk involved in investing than in other types of investments such as stocks or bonds. When coupled with proper financial planning and saving practices, investing in gold can help you achieve your goal of retiring early while still maintaining a comfortable lifestyle throughout retirement age.

Conclusion

Precious metals have long been considered a safe and reliable investment option, but now they are increasingly becoming popular among younger savers.

Precious metals offer many benefits such as protection from inflation and currency depreciation, as well as the potential for capital appreciation over time. Furthermore, these assets present investors with an opportunity to diversify their portfolios into a form of asset that is not subject to the volatility of stock markets or other economic factors. For those looking for a longer-term investment strategy with some tangible rewards along the way, precious metals may be just what you are looking for.

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About the Author

A freelancer. A nomad. An LGBTQ and animal rights activist. Love meeting new people, exploring new styles of living, new technologies and gadgets, new ways of making money.

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