Should you be buying gold as an investment today? I wouldn't because the price of gold has been extremely volatile lately and if you get in at the top, it's like getting in at the top of the real estate, stock and any other market, any gains may be lost. If you're going to go into the gold market, the rules are the same as any other investment, it's best to go in a little at a time. Invest the same amount of money every month and any ups and downs will be smoothed and you won't be concerned by the violent swings.

There are other reasons to buy gold besides making a killing in the market. Even conservative investors should have some gold in their portfolio no matter what the market is doing. Not necessarily as an investment, but as insurance. In worst case scenarios, gold will always be worth something, in the best case, gold will be worth more than cash that's in the banks and stocks.

What kind of gold do you buy?

Isn't gold, gold? There are gold coins, gold bullion, antique gold coins, gold stocks, gold mines, futures and commodities markets, stocks and funds that invest in gold mining and equipment that's used to mine gold and precious metals.There are American gold coins and several countries produce gold coins of some sort and in several different denominations, sizes and quality.

Should you buy gold online?

How do you know an online dealer is reputable? The same way you know a brick and mortar gold dealer is reputable. Check the Better Business Bureau, check with independent sources from Internet, family and friends. If they've only been in business a short time, be extra wary, but even established dealers have been known to have problems.

One of the several questions you should be considering is if you want to keep the gold yourself or have the dealer keep it for you. If you're extra cautious and want to ensure your gold is actually in your hands instead of a piece of paper saying it's in a vault somewhere, you may be paying a premium for shipping and insurance. This is another good reason to buy small quantities spread over time. Then there's safety deposit rental if your bank doesn't provide one for free.

What about gold confiscation?

A major reason given for buying gold coins instead of bullion is that in America's history, the government confiscated all gold bullion and reimbursed citizens in paper dollars for their gold, whether they liked the price or not. This law is still on the books and is still a valid law that many, especially now are particularly worried about. An exemption was made during the confiscation for dentist gold, gold jewelry and coins that had intrinsic value to collectors. Does this mean the American Eagle gold coin series has intrinsic value to collectors? New American Eagle gold coins are considered bullion and may be subject to confiscation. If that's a particular concern, ensure you're buying antique gold coins. Those coins come with a hefty premium, dealers and brokers know that and try and push the sell of old gold coins for exactly those reasons.

Selling your gold is the easy part. Because it's gold, you can sell it any time and anywhere in the world. There are always dealers in any decent sized metropolitan area, but like any insurance policy, you shouldn't cash it in unless you absolutely need it.