(Zero Hedge)—In Brazil, it is common for shoppers to use a card that works both as a debit card and a credit card, with most credit cards also accepting the option to pay in installments.
Data by a Statista Consumer Insights survey shows that a high 72 percent of online respondents aged between 18 and 64 years old said that they owned a credit card in 2024.
As Statista’s Anna Fleck shows in the chart below, credit card ownership is also high in Canada, at 68 percent.
Surveys on the topic have found that one of the top reasons Canadians carry credit cards is for their rewards programs. Canada is considered to have one of the highest credit card penetration densities of the world, with many Canadians owning either one or two of the payment cards.
It is one of the few countries with more credit cards than debit cards.
In the U.S., 49 percent of respondents said they owned a credit card last year, versus 42 percent in China and just 38 percent in the Netherlands.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
