They must be, in order to comply with the regulators, since each one performs its own specific function. At the same time this becomes an added layer of security: by remaining independent, they reinforce operational security, solvency and good professional practice.

Thanks to our exclusive access to the LBMA refiner, we offer our clients the most secure custody service available, since their gold is held at the refiner’s own facilities. This guarantees security, traceability and liquidity, as nobody handles our clients’ gold.

Every purchase our clients make is of allocated physical gold. This means the client is the sole owner of the bars and that these are segregated from other clients, as well as from the balance sheets of THE REAL MONEY and of the company holding them in custody. Through our client area you can therefore request partial or total sales, as well as delivery of the gold to your home, at any time and with complete convenience.

At THE REAL MONEY we only trade precious metals from LBMA refineries and from the leading mints of various countries; they are the ones that guarantee and certify each and every piece our clients acquire. You can see all our certifications and authorisations on our website.

Thanks to our experience and standing in the market, we are able to give our clients access to LBMA monetary gold directly from the refiner itself, with no intermediaries and without buying back gold from other clients.

At THE REAL MONEY we only trade precious metals sourced directly from the LBMA refinery and from the leading mints of various countries; they are the ones that guarantee and certify each and every piece our clients acquire. You can see all our certifications and authorisations on our website.

Professionally speaking there are three types of gold: industrial gold, paper gold, and investment gold — known as monetary gold in certain countries.

– The first is the type of gold used for jewellery, electronic components, etc.… and any refinery can produce it.
– The second is the name given to contracts that speculate on the price of gold, but they are not purchases of physical bars allocated to an owner.
– The third is the bars bought by central banks. This type of gold must meet certain manufacturing and purity standards and has unique features, such as being exempt from VAT, since it is treated as one more currency in the IMF’s “currency basket” (International Monetary Fund). This is the one we trade.

Besides a minimum purity of 995/1000 (995 parts pure gold per 1000 parts), each bar must have stamped on it the purity, the name of the refinery, a unique reference number identifying the bar and guaranteeing its traceability, and the weight of the bar. In the case of coins, to be considered investment gold they must meet the following requirements: purity equal to or above 900/1000, minted after 1800, being or having been legal tender in their country of origin, and currently traded at a price no
more than 80% above the value of the gold they contain. Although the minimum purity must be 995/1000, there are 999.9/1000 bars, and these are the only ones THE REAL MONEY trades. These bars are of the highest purity and very few refineries produce them. Such refineries usually carry the LBMA (LONDON BULLION MARKET ASSOCIATION) hallmark and standard

The LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) is the world’s most important association of professionals in the sector. Among other things, it sets the global gold price twice a day and oversees the market to safeguard its proper functioning and transparency. Only a few refineries hold LBMA accreditation, and they are the ones producing the so-called “Good Delivery” bars with a purity of 999.9/1000. Access to this select group of refineries is increasingly restricted, but at THE REAL MONEY we have agreements that guarantee the supply of this type of bar, and they are the only ones we trade.

Investment gold is exempt from VAT, but all other precious metals are subject to it. For tax purposes all precious metals are taxed as a capital gain in the case of individuals and must be declared when sold (purchase invoice against sale invoice); in the case of legal entities, being a company asset, they fall under corporation tax and their value is declared annually

It is important to understand that investment or monetary gold is not added to your wealth in order to make money, since it is not an asset that pays dividends, but rather to protect that wealth from inflation and from other volatile assets. For years it has acted as a hedge against inflation: the more a currency (euro, dollar, pound…) is devalued, the more of that currency is needed to buy the same amount of gold. That is why it has historically been used to protect savings. You should also be aware that, as an asset traded on the markets, it may undergo price corrections at particular times, which could mean losses in value. At THE REAL MONEY we provide you with a personal manager to guide and advise you in any situation.

Absolutely — in fact it is the preferred option for most of our clients, since we can fit the meeting around whatever time suits you best without you having to travel. Simply request a meeting and our client service team will book your appointment with our consultants.