For anyone looking to protect their wealth, physical silver is a classic choice. But if you aren't careful, "hidden" costs like dealer markups and shipping fees can eat into your investment before you even hold the metal in your hands.
: Produced by private mints with simple designs, these contain the exact same .999 fine silver but at a lower price point.
: These often trigger a 3–4% surcharge to cover processing fees.
The single most effective way to lower your cost per ounce is to buy larger bars. It takes nearly the same amount of effort for a mint to manufacture a 1 oz bar as it does a 100 oz bar. By choosing a larger size, you spread those fixed manufacturing costs over more ounces.
Many new investors are surprised to find that the price they see on a website isn't what they pay at checkout.
: Often carry the highest premiums, sometimes $2.00+ over spot .
