You’re in. You’re sold. You’re ready.

Now, how do you go about managing your risk when precious metals buying?

If that seems like it’s a good question to ask, that’s probably because it is. In fact, it’s one of the most prudent questions that an investor can ask when thinking about buying shares in precious metals or, really, in any potential holding in industry. No matter what you’re looking into, there’s probably a decent amount of risk involved, and it’s incumbent on you to decipher what, exactly, that is and how best to hedge against it.

Fortunately, when it comes to precious metals buying, there’s less associated risk than there is with most other potential options out there. But there’s still risk.

So let’s explore it.

First, the Good News

It’s worth noting that, when having a conversation about the associated risks in precious metals buying, gold, silver, platinum and palladium are actually well situated for success in this respect simply because of what they are: portfolio hedges.

That’s right, one of the most common applications of precious metals buying just so happens to be doing the very thing for the rest of your portfolio that you’re hoping to make sure that you do with precious metals: minimize short- and long-term risk.

Suffice it to say, then, that for various reasons, precious metals buying isn’t likely to be nearly as risky an investment endeavor as can be some other investment options.

Why, Exactly, Is That?

Good follow-up question.

This is primarily for two reasons, and the second perpetuates the first.

First, precious metals simply respond differently to changing market factors than do most other investment objects. This isn’t to say they’re inversely proportionate; they’re not, which is good because that would mean that while they’re likely to do well for you when times are bad, they’re just as likely to hurt you when times are good. So this should come as good news that gold, silver, platinum and palladium aren’t like that.

Again: they’re just different. Not “inverse,” but “independent.”

Second, because of this remarkable property, many investors have keyed in on gold, silver, platinum and palladium as their go-to bail-you-out-type investments the second the rest of their holdings begin to sour along with the rest of the stock market. This sudden surge in demand does the same thing for price, and thus, you have gains.

Help Me Manage My Risk

Now, what you’ve been waiting for.

As is the case with most anything else, managing your risk is all about knowing your risk. When is it at its highest? Its lowest? When are there good times for you to take chances? Should you take chances at all? These are questions you should be asking yourself if you’re considering precious metals buying. Now, the answers.

Think of it this way: the risk in precious metals buying is inversely proportionate to how close your holding is to the actual metal itself. That means that if you’re buying up coins, bars or bullion, your risk is likely to be relatively low. That’s because there aren’t as many layers to your investment; its success or failure is predicated almost entirely on the success or failure of the commodity itself – hardly anything more. (Of course, there is still risk. Just significantly less risk.) In the same token, if you’re buying common stock in, say, a gold mining company – which is, in fact, a great way for you to get into the market – there’s likely to be more risk involved, because for you, gains depend on not only the strength of the metal and the industry, but also a specific company.