Gold has an actual value and it can’t be created as money can.  It also tends to keep its value when the dollar looses its value, and is considered by many investors as a safe investment with minimal risk factors.  It is an investment that can guard against losses during times of inflation.
Buying gold for investment purposes can be accomplished in several ways.  You can acquire gold as a physical and tangible asset in the form of bars or coins.  Collectable numismatic gold coins can be bought through a reputable coin dealer.  It is essential that you do your research and compare prices before purchasing the gold coins that you want.  Bullion coins are newly minted such as The American Gold Eagle.  The value of bullion coins is based on their weight and gold content.  These coins can be acquired from the U.S. Mint.
The value of gold bullion bars is also based on their weight.  They are sold by private firms, but since they can be easily counterfeited, it is necessary to make sure the firm is a reputable one.  Genuine bars often have special markings to ensure their authenticity.
Investing in gold futures can be a risky venture, but has the potential to give a high return on a small investment.   When buying gold futures the investor is betting on a certain day that gold will either gain or lose value.  Luck as a lot to do with the results and the investor can make a lot of money or lose a lot of money depending on the outcome.
Gold backed exchange traded funds are purchased through a broker.  Each share of an EFT signifies a percentage of ownership.
Adding gold to a portfolio can create a safe haven for investors since it is likely to keep its value and can be a buffer against inflation.

Gold is considered a foundational asset within an investment portfolio.  Investors have long considered gold to be a safe and stable value that can protect their capital assets and preserve their wealth.  Gold offers investors protection from widespread default risks, because it isn’t dependant on an issuers promise to pay.  It insures investors against extreme fluctuations in the value of other assets. 
Statistically, portfolios that include gold among its assets are stronger and are less volatile than those that don’t contain gold.   Adding gold to the traditional portfolio containing stocks and bonds can add diversity and protection against value fluctuations, because the risk factors that affect the value of gold are different than those of other assets. 
Even in fluctuating markets, gold maintains its purchasing power.  For centuries, the value of gold and the goods and services it can buy, has remained stable while the purchasing power of other forms of currency have declined.  Investing in gold can protect against inflation and fluctuating currencies.  Gold can also protect investors against the rise and fall of the value of the dollar.  When the main trading currencies of the world appreciate, the dollar cost of gold falls.  When the dollar falls in value as it relates to other currencies, the value of gold responds by going up.  Gold behaves more like currency which makes it less volatile than most commodities.  This reduces the overall risk of the investor’s portfolio. 
The mining of gold is a time consuming process.  The methods are not flexible and can not be altered in response to demand.  So even though there has been a continual increase in gold’s value since 2001, it has had little effect on the supply.  The sustained growth in in the demand for gold has set the groundwork for the most positive outlet that its had in the last quarter century.  

Before you set a plan in motion to begin building your wealth by investing, you first need to be aware of just how much money it takes to be considered rich in the United States.   According to the Associated Press, to make it into the top 10% of wage earners in the U.S. you need to earn $130,000.00, pre-tax, per year.  The top 5% earn $180,00.00 per year.
Beginning and sustaining a savings plan is the first step to building your wealth.  In order to have money left over each month, you need to take stock of your spending habits, cut back on unnecessary items, and resist the urge to buy on credit.  Using automatic withdrawal from your paycheck right into your savings account is very effective because you never see the money or get the chance to spend it on something else. Once you have a savings plan in place, you can began looking for the right place to invest and begin building your wealth.

When tackling the question of how much to save for investing, you need to take into account several factors.  You need to determine how much of an annual income will you require from you investments.  In other words, how much will it cost annually to live the life you want to live.   You  also need to take into account the age you will want to access your funds and at what age you begin your investment plan.  The younger you start, the less you have to save for the same amount of retirement income.  You may also decide that it would be worth meeting your goal earlier by making some sacrifices today that will allow you to save more per month.  Giving up some luxuries today, such as that new car or bigger house, could allow you to save more for investing and reach you savings and wealth goal sooner