With the drop of the dollar, one of the big items that people have been investing in because of its safety is gold.

An effective financial institution to invest in gold with is HSBC. HSBC was created in 1990 as a global bank with branches across the United States in addition to major cities overseas such as London and Hong Kong. Buying gold through HSBC and holding it there is a good way to keep up to date on the price of gold, but more importantly, it provides an effective method of selling gold and putting the money elsewhere.

Contact an HSBC securities financial adviser. This adviser will provide you with the necessary information needed to set up the exact type of account you want. Furthermore, he might be able to help steer you in the most effective investment direction. To contact the general line for investment help, call (800)662-3343. You will then be redirected to an area-specific adviser.

Determine the amount of gold that you want to purchase. According to the Family Preparedness Guide, your portfolio should contain a minimum of 15-17% precious metals at all times because these types of investments are considered so safe. If you don't have enough money to purchase the quantity of gold you want, you can get a gold loan from HSBC. This loan matures after three years and then must be paid back.

When you are ready to make an investment, contact the same HSBC financial adviser that you began working with. Typically they can do a wire transfer for the funds; another option is to send a check. Once the money has cleared, the gold will appear in your portfolio.

Sell whenever you want. When the time comes that you want to get rid of your gold, you can sell it just as easily as you bought it and get the money immediately transferred into your bank account. Gold is an especially good investment. In 2009 alone it shot up from approximately £552 to over £747. Over a five year period ending in 2009, gold increased in value by nearly £487. Because of this, many investors trust in gold as an especially safe and profitable investment.