Before purchasing physical bullion, a careful buyer can answer ten questions covering purpose, budget, metal, format, pricing, dealer, payment, delivery, storage, and exit plan. If you can answer all ten specifically, you are making a decision; if several are blank, you are making a guess. This checklist is educational — it prepares you to decide, it does not decide for you.
The ten questions
- Purpose — why am I buying? Diversification, tangible ownership, collecting, gifting, long-term holding? Your reason shapes every later answer. “Because prices will go up” is a prediction, not a purpose — no one can promise it.
- Budget — what amount fits my finances? An amount whose loss of market value you could tolerate, held for a horizon you control. Bullion produces no income and its price can fall; money you may need soon has different needs.
- Metal — gold, silver, or both? Value density, storage burden, premium levels, and volatility differ meaningfully. The comparison →
- Format — coins, bars, or rounds? Recognizability vs. efficiency vs. flexibility. The tradeoff map →
- Price — what is spot, and what premium am I paying? Compute premium per ounce for every candidate. Compare across at least two reputable dealers on the same day. The math →
- Dealer — have I evaluated them? Pricing transparency, published policies, fulfillment terms, service accessibility, buyback program. The dealer guide →
- Payment — which method, at what effective price? Card, wire, check, and other methods often price differently; know the real total for your method.
- Delivery — how does it arrive, and who bears risk in transit? Confirm shipping insurance, signature requirements, and the dealer’s published policy for loss or damage before you order.
- Storage — where does it live the day it arrives? Home (control, but security and insurance questions), bank box (access hours, insurance typically separate), or third-party vault (fees, counterparty terms). Decide before, not after.
- Exit — how would I sell, realistically? Who buys this product back, at what typical relationship to spot, with what verification? Recognizable products in common sizes usually exit easiest.
Scoring yourself, honestly
All ten answered specifically: you are prepared to act deliberately. Seven to nine: close — resolve the blanks first; they are usually storage and exit, the two that hurt most later. Six or fewer: stay in the education stage; it costs nothing, while rushed premiums and bad exits do.
Checklist complete? Browse live inventory with your format shortlist and premium baseline in hand.
View Current Bullion Options at JM Bullion →You will continue to an independent third-party dealer. Pricing, inventory, terms, shipping, and fulfillment are controlled by the dealer.