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If you're a gold or silver owner tired of storage fees draining your precious metals holdings, Monetary Metals, led by economist Keith Weiner in Scottsdale, offers a fresh approach.
This in-depth review explores how their yield programs, leasing, and bonds turn idle bullion into income-generating assets, weighing pros, cons, fees, and security.
Discover if it's the right fit to earn returns without selling your physical metals.
Prior reading further, it is important to acknowledge that investing your savings is a not easy. When it comes to incorporating precious metals into your investment portfolio, how can you tell which companies are reliable?
After devoting extensive time and effort, we have conducted thorough research within the precious metals industry and compiled a selection of the most trustworthy companies.
Take a moment to read our list and determine if Monetary Metals has what it takes to make the list this year!
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Key Takeaways
- Monetary Metals allows gold and silver owners to earn yields on their bullion, transforming storage costs into returns through leasing and bonds, backed by a team with expertise in banking and metals.
- While offering physical metal ownership with income potential, risks include market volatility and counterparty issues, so careful evaluation of fees and security is essential.
- For long-term bullion holders seeking passive income without selling assets, Monetary Metals is worth considering, especially compared to traditional storage alternatives.
Pros and Benefits of Monetary Metals: Earning Yield on Gold and Silver
Monetary Metals facilitates the conversion of idle gold and silver bullion into revenue-generating assets for their owners through innovative leasing and bond programs.
This initiative aligns with the company's core mission to enable individuals to save, earn, and finance transactions utilizing physical precious metals.
Turning Storage Costs into Returns
Monetary Metals lets you lease your bullion. You earn yields in extra gold or silver ounces.
This offsets the usual 0.5% to 1% yearly storage fees.
Clients get returns in metal ounces, not fiat currency like dollars. Fiat means government-issued money.
This wipes out storage costs. For example, lease 100 ounces of gold to earn 2% to 4% yearly, about 3% on average.
This gives you passive income as extra ounces. You keep your holdings. Key advantages include compounding your assets over time.
At $2,000 per ounce, a 3% yield means three extra ounces each year. That's $6,000 worth. It cuts risks from selling and protects your money during ups and downs in the market.
Physical Metal Ownership with Added Income
You keep full ownership of your gold and silver. Monetary Metals leases them securely to earn yield. Your metals stay a safe bet against rising prices, with no loss of control.
Take Sarah, a long-time metals investor facing tough times-she leased 1,000 ounces of silver with Monetary Metals to diversify her portfolio.
She earns yearly interest paid in extra silver ounces. She still owns her original stash fully.
This setup protects against inflation. Keith Weiner, the economist behind Monetary Metals, notes that metals hold their buying power as dollars lose value. They beat bonds by 5-10% in shaky times like 2020-2022.
Start by checking secure storage in vaults. Pick a lease term of 6-12 months. Track your yields on the client dashboard.
This boosts your retirement savings by 1-5% a year in metal value. It builds lasting wealth.
Cons and Risks: What Could Go Wrong?
Monetary Metals brings fresh ways to earn on your metals. But watch for risks like market swings affecting rates and delays in getting your metals back.
Trustpilot users give it 4.5 stars for great service.
Main risks include:
The primary challenges associated with these programs are as follows:
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Is This Worth the Investment for Bullion Holders?
Do you hold bullion and want to earn yield on your gold and silver? Monetary Metals could be your go-to choice. It pays returns in metal ounces, perfect for mixing into retirement plans like Gold IRAs during tough economic times.
The table below compares traditional idle bullion holding with the yield programs offered by Monetary Metals, drawing on platform data and IRS guidelines for Gold IRAs applicable to accredited investors.
| Aspect | Idle Bullion | Monetary Metals |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0% (no income) | 2-5% annually in ounces (e.g., 3% on gold leases) |
| Fees | 1-2% storage (e.g., Delaware Depository) | ~1% program fee, no sell-off required |
| Custody/Support | Self-custody (high risk/control) | Professional storage with relationship manager |
Accredited investors love Monetary Metals for earning yields via leases. It beats options like Augusta Precious Metals, run by Doug Young. Try splitting your investments 50/50 for smart risk balance.
Long-term holders gain big here. Metal values may rise 3% yearly, per World Gold Council data, beating the 1% fees. You boost returns without selling. Talk to a financial advisor first.
But How Do Their Yield Programs Actually Work?
The setup uses a secure online portal for deposits into insured vaults. Bullion gets leased to earn income, paid monthly in gold or silver ounces.
This process leverages the company's advanced software platform, extensive banking expertise, and educational resources for users.
To participate in the program, please adhere to the following procedural steps:
The full setup usually takes one week.
Talk to a relationship manager right away to avoid issues like international transfer fees.
Bonds and Financing in Physical Metals
Monetary Metals offers gold bonds that enable accredited investors to finance the production of precious metals, providing fixed yields denominated in ounces through secured financial instruments (our review evaluates its overall value for investors).
These bonds align with the company's mission to facilitate saving and earning in physical assets. The bonds deliver yields of 4% to 6% in metal ounces over terms ranging from one to five years, yielding a tangible return supported by underlying physical assets.
For instance, an investor funding a silver mining project via a Monetary Metals bond would receive monthly interest payments in silver ounces, thereby directly contributing to production activities while benefiting from potential appreciation in metal values.
These bonds also protect against inflation. They reduce risks from falling paper money value.
Based on Monetary Metals' 2024 market analysis, a $50,000 investment could generate an annual return equivalent to 2-3 ounces of gold.
Storage Security and Custody Features
Monetary Metals prioritizes the security of bullion through the utilization of insured vaults located in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, complemented by strategic partnerships such as World Freight Services Ltd for secure shipping. This approach incorporates segregated custody arrangements that preserve client ownership rights throughout all leasing and bonding programs.
Every bar gets logged per U.S. rules like UCC Article 8 for safety.
For international transfers, Monetary Metals facilitates compliant shipping protocols through trusted partners, with all bullion insured up to $1 million per shipment. For instance, a 100-ounce gold bar valued at $200,000 would receive full coverage under this policy.
Set up your account with Know Your Customer checks. This means sending ID and proof of money online.
It takes 1-2 business days, then you get full access.
Our secure online portal lets you track inventory in real time. You can start lease agreements easily. It connects smoothly with other software to handle transfers to third-party storage providers without hassle.
Fee Structure and Cost Breakdown
Monetary Metals keeps fees clear and simple. Leased metals cost nothing to store. You even earn yields on them.
Setup includes a one-time shipping fee. Pay by bank transfer or wire, usually 0.5% of your holdings' value.
Monetary Metals beats traditional options for cheap passive income on your metals.
For example, leasing services involve only a 0.2% administrative fee, in contrast to the 1% annual storage fees common in traditional vaults. Bond setup incurs a flat fee of $500, which is substantially lower than the recurring shipping expenses of self-holding, often exceeding $100 per transfer.
| Aspect | Monetary Metals Leasing | Traditional Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | 0.2% administrative + yields | 1% storage |
| Bond Setup | $500 flat | N/A (self-hold: $100+ shipping) |
This approach is particularly well-suited for investors seeking low-fee passive income opportunities, where yields frequently offset 100% of associated costs, as evidenced by Trustpilot reviews (4.8/5 rating). Prospective clients are encouraged to contact customer service regarding potential fee waivers for setups exceeding $10,000, in accordance with company guidelines.
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Company Background: Team and Mission
Monetary Metals launched in 2019 in Scottsdale. Keith Weiner founded it, drawing on expertise from banking, software, and precious metals. Advisor Doug Young helped shape its goal: let people save, earn yields, and handle finances with real gold and silver.
Alternatives and Broader Context in Metal Investing
Monetary Metals stands out with programs that generate yields from precious metals. Think of it as a smart way to make your gold and silver work for you.
Options like Augusta Precious Metals focus on Gold IRAs for retirement.
Use this info to weigh costs, income, and diversification wisely. Related insight: Noble Gold vs Birch Gold Group provides another comparison of popular IRA options.
| Aspect | Monetary Metals | Augusta Precious Metals |
|---|---|---|
| Yield/Income | 2-5% in ounces via leasing | No direct yield; emphasis on appreciation |
| Fees | Variable storage (0.5-1%) | 0.5% annual IRA fees |
| Use Case | Passive income for liquidity | Tax advantages for long-term savings |
Many other options just store metals without yields. A 2024 Federal Reserve study on beating inflation shows precious metals beat bonds by 3-4% each year.
Try mixing leasing income with an IRA. Work with a financial advisor to boost your mix. This helps protect against big inflation jumps, like the 7.2% seen in U.S. Treasury reports.