--- title: "Blog | ProGoldTrader" description: "Insights on precious metals trading, futures markets, and risk management from Drew Rathgeber and the ProGoldTrader team." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://progoldtrader.com/#organization", "name": "ProGoldTrader", "alternateName": "ProFuturesTrader LLC", "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/", "logo": "https://progoldtrader.com/favicon.svg", "description": "Independent precious metals advisory specializing in gold and silver futures, spot bullion, ETFs, and vaulted allocations.", "telephone": "+1-949-996-4611", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "841 Lea Landing Drive", "addressLocality": "Wilmington", "addressRegion": "NC", "postalCode": "28412", "addressCountry": "US" }, "founder": { "@id": "https://progoldtrader.com/drew-rathgeber#person" } }, { "@type": "FinancialService", "@id": "https://progoldtrader.com/#business", "name": "ProGoldTrader", "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/", "telephone": "+1-949-996-4611", "priceRange": "$$$", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "841 Lea Landing Drive", "addressLocality": "Wilmington", "addressRegion": "NC", "postalCode": "28412", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": "US", "serviceType": [ "Precious Metals Advisory", "Gold Futures Brokerage", "Silver Futures Brokerage", "Bullion Consulting" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://progoldtrader.com/#website", "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/", "name": "ProGoldTrader", "publisher": { "@id": "https://progoldtrader.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Blog", "name": "ProGoldTrader Blog", "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog", "blogPost": [ { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Taxes: Why Section 1256 Contracts Often Beat Stocks, Options, Crypto, and More", "datePublished": "2026-06-02T07:11:24.942+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Rathgeber" }, "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog/taxes-why-section-1256-contracts-often-beat-stocks-options-crypto-and-more" }, { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Advice: Licensed vs. Unlicensed", "datePublished": "2026-05-29T11:13:28.454+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Rathgeber" }, "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog/advice-licensed-vs-unlicensed" }, { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Exchange-Traded vs. Spot Trading Explained", "datePublished": "2026-05-19T18:16:25.627+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Rathgeber" }, "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog/exchange-traded-vs-spot-trading-pros-and-cons-when-the-dealer-is-the-counterpart" }, { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Confirmation Bias in Social Media & AI", "datePublished": "2026-05-19T13:45:51.075+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Rathgeber" }, "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog/confirmation-bias-in-the-age-of-social-media-and-ai-how-were-tricking-ourselves-" }, { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Spot Storage Tricks and Risks", "datePublished": "2026-05-18T20:15:12.028+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Rathgeber" }, "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog/spot-storage-tricks-risks" }, { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Physical Gold vs. ETFs vs. Futures (2026)", "datePublished": "2026-05-15T19:41:44.141+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Rathgeber" }, "url": "https://progoldtrader.com/blog/physical-gold-vs-gold-etfs-vs-gold-futures-complete-2026-comparison-guide" } ] } ] --- [ P ProGoldTrader Precious Metals Consulting ](/) [About](/drew-rathgeber)[Experience](/experience)[Education](/education)[Blog](/blog)[Contact](/contact) [1-888-776-6359](tel:18887766359)[Schedule Consultation](/contact) Insights & Analysis # ProGoldTrader Blog [ ![Taxes: Why Section 1256 Contracts Often Beat Stocks, Options, Crypto, and More](https://xcjkbkqitykuhvkvjxkt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/covers/6670cab1-61ea-4303-b84e-61123ef0933a.jpg) Featured June 2, 2026 7 min read ## Taxes: Why Section 1256 Contracts Often Beat Stocks, Options, Crypto, and More Futures contracts offer unique tax benefits under U.S. tax law, particularly for active traders. Regulated futures (and certain related instruments) qualify as Section 1256 contracts, providing a more favorable treatment than most other investments. This can lead to meaningful savings, especially for short-term or high-volume traders. Read article ](/blog/taxes-why-section-1256-contracts-often-beat-stocks-options-crypto-and-more) [ ![Advice: Licensed vs. Unlicensed](https://xcjkbkqitykuhvkvjxkt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/covers/b83fbf17-a096-47a6-9f8d-6939cc0f5157.jpg) May 29, 2026 5 min read ## Advice: Licensed vs. Unlicensed In the high-risk world of commodities, futures, gold, silver, and leveraged trading, trusting unlicensed “experts” can be costly—or even disastrous. Always seek advice from professionals registered with the CFTC and members of the NFA. Regulation delivers mandatory disclosures, background checks, customer fund protections, and accountability that unregulated gurus simply cannot provide. Your capital deserves real safeguards, not slick marketing. Verify registration before you invest. Read article ](/blog/advice-licensed-vs-unlicensed)[ ![Exchange-Traded vs. Spot Trading Explained](https://xcjkbkqitykuhvkvjxkt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/covers/49a805b9-2dde-43cc-aa79-ebfdb583bd2d.jpg) May 19, 2026 5 min read ## Exchange-Traded vs. Spot Trading Explained Exchange-traded futures and ETFs vs. spot OTC trading: how settlement, counterparty risk, costs, and transparency differ for serious traders. Read article ](/blog/exchange-traded-vs-spot-trading-pros-and-cons-when-the-dealer-is-the-counterpart)[ ![Confirmation Bias in Social Media & AI](https://xcjkbkqitykuhvkvjxkt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/covers/e59b615b-f752-4c92-b670-82d2077f9f43.jpg) May 19, 2026 5 min read ## Confirmation Bias in Social Media & AI How confirmation bias, social media algorithms, and AI quietly reinforce what we already believe—and practical ways to think more clearly in 2026. Read article ](/blog/confirmation-bias-in-the-age-of-social-media-and-ai-how-were-tricking-ourselves-)[ ![Spot Storage Tricks and Risks](https://xcjkbkqitykuhvkvjxkt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/covers/95f09b9d-a19d-4964-8d27-ac5907221793.jpg) May 18, 2026 8 min read ## Spot Storage Tricks and Risks Spot Gold Storage Risks: The Bait-and-Switch Scheme Many Bullion Dealers Use to Switch Clients to High-Premium Numismatic Bullion (2026 Guide) Read article ](/blog/spot-storage-tricks-risks)[ ![Physical Gold vs. ETFs vs. Futures (2026)](https://xcjkbkqitykuhvkvjxkt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/covers/aa8edfbc-bbc1-45c2-b8f1-84d77d829044.jpg) May 15, 2026 5 min read ## Physical Gold vs. ETFs vs. Futures (2026) Compare physical gold, gold ETFs, and gold futures in 2026: ownership, liquidity, leverage, costs, and which fits your goals at $4,690+ per ounce. Read article ](/blog/physical-gold-vs-gold-etfs-vs-gold-futures-complete-2026-comparison-guide) P ProGoldTrader Precious metal consultants helping one client at time. 949-966-4611 841 Lea Landing Drive, Wilmington NC 28412 [New Client Questionnaire](/admin/forms/new-client-questionnaire) © 2026 ProFuturesTrader LLC, dba: ProGoldTrader. All rights reserved. [Privacy](/privacy)[Website Policies](/website-policies)[Terms](/terms)[Risk Disclosures](/risk-disclosures)[Cookies Policy](/cookies-policy)Cookie Preferences ProGoldTrader is a dba of ProFuturesTrader.com for precious metals education and is an independent introducing broker (IIB) offering electronic futures. ProFuturesTrader.com is registered with the CFTC, member of the National Futures Association (NFA) and National Introducing Brokers Association (NIBA). NFA ID# 0552506. Futures and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Investors should know and understand the risks involved in trading and carefully consider whether such trading is suitable in light of their financial circumstances and resources. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Spreads can vary depending on market conditions and liquidity. ProGoldTrader is a dba: ProFuturesTrader, LLC We use cookies to operate our site, analyze traffic, and improve your experience. You can accept all, reject non-essential, or customize your choices. Read our [Cookies Policy](/cookies-policy). PreferencesReject allAccept all