Re:There's A Gold-Dispensing ATM on West 57th Street
by pmorici on Thursday June 12, 2014 @01:17AM
(#7881919)
"Physical precious metals have some of the worst spreads/fees"
Here is a site that buys 1 ounce gold bars for $10 below the current spot price and sells them for 30 above. that is 0.8% spread on the side a slightly over 2% on the buy side.
http://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/topProducts
Are there bad vendors out there, sure, but they are in every market. Look at Bitcon ATM's some of those charge fees amounting to 10%
Stocks: $5 flat fee per trade is typical, index funds charge as low as 0.05% / year.
Bonds: Cheap bond index funds charge 0.1% to 0.3% / year. Buying bonds directly from the treasury carries no fees.
Bitcoin: 0.20-1% fee is typical when purchased online
The only common asset class that is worse in this regard would be real estate, but unlike precious metals, real estate can at least produce income or provide utility while it is held.