Stewart Thomson
Graceland Updates
Aug 3, 2012
Some of you are worried that some ETF funds can't be held in PSC (physical stock certificate) or DRS (direct registration) form.

In the example of GDX, note that Barrick, Newmont, & Goldcorp comprise almost 40% of the fund's assets. 

My "seniors six pack" portfolio (Anglo, Newmont, Barrick, Agnico Eagle, Kinross, Goldcorp), is a proxy for GDX. 

You can substitute those stocks for GDX, and place some/all of them into DRS/PSC format.

Some GCIP (gold community idiot patrol) are screaming at their brokers that DRS registration costs are too high.
(Fidelity in 2012 is ~$120  -FNC)

If you have $2million in Barrick stock, and the charge is $500 for DRS, is that too high? 

No. Brokers aren't whipping boys & girls. There are no commissions paid to advisors for DRS stock, and 
they can be classified as off-book assets. 

Since brokers are generally paid a fee based on their on-book assets, suddenly they can be working for you for free. 

There's a normal and win-win way to rationally discuss the benefits of DRS with an advisor.

Also, If the markets start tanking, as they could on Aug 7, 2013 and Oct 1, 2015, and 
you have your stock 100% in DRS, and you try to sell, you may find your broker less than accommodating, and rightfully so.