Gold has long been a popular investment as a hedge against inflation, economic turmoil, currency fluctuations, and war. When investing in gold, remember that there are options beyond just physical gold, including shares of gold mining companies, gold ETFs, options, and futures contracts. Investing in physical gold can be a different experience for those used to trading stocks and bonds online, as it generally involves interacting with dealers outside of traditional brokerages and incurring costs for storage and insurance. The main options for physical gold investment are bullion, coins, and jewelry. Bullion, the most common form of physical gold investment, comes in bars weighing from a few grams to 400 ounces, with one- and 10-ounce bars being the most widely available. Unlike stocks, there is no option to purchase fractional shares of a gold bar. When investing in gold bullion, using a reputable dealer , paying for delivery with insurance, or arranging storage in a secure location