Bullion coins and ingots are a relatively safe way to buy gold, though some investors prefer to invest in gold funds, such as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). One benefit of investing in stocks over physical gold is that it's easier to sell. When you have physical gold, you need to find a physical buyer, which can be difficult and time-consuming, especially when the market starts to go south. In contrast, selling stocks is as easy as a few keystrokes.