A quick word of caution if you are thinking about buying or selling gold or silver through Facebook Marketplace or similar platforms.

Verifying authenticity, purity, and weight in a private sale is harder than it sounds. Counterfeit or plated bars and coins exist for both gold and silver, and even experienced buyers can get burned. Once money changes hands, there is usually no recourse.

There are also safety and legal considerations. Meeting strangers while carrying high value assets, dealing with unclear provenance, and having no formal documentation can create issues. These range from personal security concerns to tax and reporting problems later on.

Gold and silver can absolutely have a place in a portfolio. But how you buy or sell them matters just as much as what you are buying. Reputable dealers, transparent pricing, proper receipts, and secure custody exist for a reason.

If a deal relies on trust instead of verification, or sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

This post is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized investment advice.