You definitely want to buy the physical metal, not paper surrogates. There is a retail shortage that has hamstrung conventional sales by the treasury etc. This is not a total shortage but a market distortion caused by speculators. Try coin shows where it's cash on the barrelhead, and make gradual purchases to increase your stash. Forget about ETF's they do not have the metal to back up their shares, in violation of SEC regulations (except CEF, I believe, the Canadian metals fund). And do not expect to make a windfall overnight. Precious metals do not follow obvious free market expectations because the actual total market cap is small and can be effectively manipulated by a few large commercial speculators. But, if you go the private purchase route and buy real metal to have and hold, at least you will be invisible to the gubbermint. And that makes it the safest move available.That depends on what you want to do.
ETFs are great for speculating on price movements in metals and other commodities, but you are right about cashing them in for real stuff that will hurt your foot if dropped.
Bullion is great as a hedge against total economic collapse, but getting in and out rapidly is a problem.
Different tools for different problems.
When it all boils down to it, copper jacketed lead could be more valuable than gold.
When it all boils down to it, copper jacketed lead could be more valuable than gold. And I have had THAT particular situation covered for decades.
Folks, This (as you know, R. Extremist) isn't about survivalism, investment strategy etc. I'm just tired of my paper assets going down the drain, in ways that not even my broker has control over, much less myself having any control and I'm too lazy to want to do my own paper investing.