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The rise in silver prices may not be over yet.
Case in point? According to the agency, the price of the precious metal reached a new record high this week, exceeding $64 per troy ounce on Thursday. American Hartford Gold. This happens after hitting the metal previous price records only in Octoberwhen it was about $50 for the same amount. But the price jump is even more pronounced compared to where it was in December 2024, when it was trading at just $29.04 an ounce. Overall in 2025, the price rose from $28.92 on January 1 to $64 on December 11—an increase of more than 121% this year alone.
But that doesn't necessarily mean that investors, especially those new to precious metals, should automatically rush to get started. silver. As with all investments, a balanced and informed approach is the right way to go. And that means understanding some key things about precious metals right now. Below we detail three that are worth exploring.
Compare the best investment options in silver and gold to learn more..
What New Investors Should Know About Precious Metals as Silver Prices Rise
Investing in precious metals can play a crucial and cost-effective role in your larger portfolio if you now understand these three key points:
This is (usually) not an investment that can generate quick profits.
Precious metals such as gold and silver are not typically the type of investments that will yield quick profits. Instead, individually or in combination with each other, they serve better portfolio diversification tool to offset the volatility experienced with stocks, bonds and other investments. They can also help hedge against the ravages of inflationsince during such periods they often maintain and even increase their value.
At the same time, these are unusual times for both metals (gold has also risen in price in recent years). Thus, with a strategic and timely approach, investors will be able to buy and sell these metals relatively quickly and profitably. It's just not a traditional way to benefit from both.
Learn more about smart ways to invest in precious metals here..
You may have to get creative with your approach.
With gold now priced at over $4,000 an ounce and silver up over 100% year to date, the days of easy, affordable investing in any metal may be over, perhaps forever. So you may have to get creative now. This may mean acceptance dollar cost averaging approachin which you invest the same amount of money in metals at regular intervals.
As a result, you won't be able to get full ounces right away, but it also means you won't overspend and be overleveraged at the same time. Or you can look fractional amountswhich allow you to make purchases in amounts less than a typical troy ounce, increasing your investment over time. Overall, you may have to take a unique approach at this time, but if the end result means you're comfortable investing without spending too much or putting other investments at risk, then it's worth it.
They should still form a limited portion of your portfolio.
With its aforementioned reputation as a portfolio protector and inflation hedge rather than a regular source of income, gold and silver should still make up a limited portion of your portfolio, even now that prices are rising. Experts recommend limiting precious metals 10% of your portfolioand if you invest in both gold and silver, that means 5% in each rather than 10% in each metal.
Don't lose sight of what these investments can and can't do for you, especially if you have an advanced investing schedule. Limiting them will allow you to make better use of your other investments while maintaining a basic level of metal safety.
Bottom line
A new record price for silver could understandably attract investors unfamiliar with the precious metals market. But preparedness and awareness are critical to increasing your chances of success in the precious metals space. By understanding the potential for profit in precious metals, knowing cost-effective ways to invest, and being aware of the limitations that these metals have to play in their broader portfolio, beginners can greatly improve their chances of success with the metal both now and over the long term.
