What are some traditional and non-traditional forms of investment?

Throughout history, people have searched for ways to protect and increase their wealth.  The traditional and one new means of investing wealth include a number of forms:

• Real Estate
• Stocks and Bonds
• Precious Metals
• Savings Accounts
• Cryptocurrency
• Antiques and Collectibles
• Fine arts paintings

Let's examine each way in a bit more depth:

REAL ESTATE

What you buy usually needs to be in the right place. You know what they say, "Location, location, location."

And the building needs to be amenable to your purpose for buying it. It may appreciate, if you buy wisely, but ordinary folks don't really know what properties that might be.

Sure, they listen to their realtor, but realtors don't have crystal balls either. They're making educated guesses.

STOCKS AND BONDS

You never know quite where you stand with stocks and bonds unless you're a conservative investor.

If you are one to take chances, it can pay off or on the downside, you'll lose your savings. This is still a means of accumulating wealth that needs some expertise or some luck.

PRECIOUS METALS

Silver, Gold, Platinum, and these days even Nickel are investment vehicles. With this method, you again have to take a chance that the metal will increase in value. You may not take a hit, as you would with ill-chosen stocks or over-priced real estate, but risk is still present.

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

In years gone by, savings accounts paid more than they do on average today. But even in retrospect, though this might have been the safest investment, it certainly wasn't one to help people accumulate wealth.

Unless you make an enormous investment, you won't get a big result. Right now, the average rate of interest in the US is a mere 4.5%. You can find some institutions that pay a whopping 5%, but they're few and far between.

CRYPTOCURRENCY

People who bought lots of BitCoin when it was $6 a share are now probably very wealthy, unless they divested at the wrong time. Yet, most folks don't understand crypto at all, and those who do know that if you want to seriously invest, you have to keep on top of the markets. Crypto is highly volatile.

Antiques & Collectibles

The antiques and collectibles market can be up or down depending on consumers' level of discretionary income. Today, with the price of gas, food, and all other necessary goods skyrocketing, this market will always depend on availability. A Ping Dynasty Vase, for example, will always be scarce. One sold recently for $80.2 Million. People who are already wealthy can afford to invest.

But there are many forms of investment. Some are dear, such as the above mentioned vase, to simple items people, they may have gold lying around in their attics.

Vintage baseball cards, furniture, coins, currency, stamps, and even toys are just a few areas that people will always hold interest in. And yet, folks collect many things from rubber girdles of the 1950s to old condom tins. It's all about the demand, just as it always was.

Fine Art

Though we're here last, collecting original fine artwork is not the least. Again, these items take many forms from paintings to sculptures, jewelry, photography, and even prints can be included.  Some works can be seen as refined genius and yet, some expensive works are  primitive. Think a DaVinci when compared to American Arts & Crafts furniture. These are very different in subject and quality, however, both areas have a rabid following.

Why Fine Art?

Art is the product of human genius and it can range from oil painting to digital artwork.  Fine art provides solid, increasing value as a hedge against inflationary times. The most valuable and sought after works can provide large tax shelters, as well.

Fine art can also be used as collateral for business loans, and aside from the economical benefit, it can provide an esoteric value for as long as it is owned, even across generations.

Marcello Galleries is all about the broad exposure of relatively unknown artists of great talent.  When viewed in their entirety, the collection of works by Frank G. and Irene Veronica Marcello emerge as testimony to the Great Silent Generation, which followed the generation of World War II.

When one views their works, as they evolved over time, you can see their maturity blossom. You get a window into their lives via their great bodies of work.

These two wonderful artists represent a very clear opportunity for discerning investors to get in on the ground floor, as their work is bound to become more popular and collectible over time.

Sadly, both artists died within three weeks of one another -- first Frank and then, Irene. She had lost interest in a life without her husband of 70 years.  To say they were close is a gross understatment.

Now is the time to collect Frank & Irene's work. Then sit back and watch your investment grow as they are discovered by the world.

We have only begun.