Consider the crucial need for reserves or a “safety margin” set aside for a rainy day. Now consider how under-reserved the world economy is with global debt levels at an all-time highs.
In addition to fulfilling the need for reserves, gold offers interesting benefits and attributes that are unique compared to stocks and real estate, which often move up or down with the economy. Gold is the ultimate safe haven asset.
Gold is durable, tangible, recognizable, and liquid (tradable) throughout the world. From the Roman Empire in 118 AD, to frontier railroad town saloons in 1888, to Middle Eastern markets in the 21st century, gold is the most consistent and honored medium exchange of value.
When you secure a portion of your net worth in gold, you join billions of people throughout ancient and modern history who believe gold is the most time-tested means of maintaining financial security.
It is not part of a government-controlled financial system or fiat currency, and it becomes even more exchangeable when currencies and countries fail.
In this way, an investment in gold truly completes your portfolio while at the same time giving you access to the stored value whenever you desire.
It is the age-old method of assuring heirs have a tangible store of value that is not a paper promise or tied to any government or debt obligations. No one wants investments they are unable to get out of on a rainy day.
If you invested $1,000 in the U.S. stock market 50 years ago, with dividend reinvestment your money would have grown to approximately $87,654.
If you followed run-of-the-mill financial advice and invested 75% in stocks and 25% in bonds, your portfolio would have less risk, but returns would be almost 20% lower. $1,000 invested 50 years ago with annual rebalancing would be worth just $69,822.
The same $1,000 invested in a portfolio of 75% stocks and 25% gold 50 years ago, rebalanced annually to the same 75/25 ratio, would be worth more than $111,823.
The rebalancing process forces “selling high” and “buying low” of each portfolio basket. Rebalancing across noncorrelated assets such as stocks and gold creates a portfolio that actually benefits from the market’s ups and downs!
Compared to stocks alone, $1,000 invested in a portfolio of 75% stocks and 25% gold 50 years ago, with annual rebalancing, would have at least a 10% higher return. And compared to the conventional 70/30 stocks-and-bonds portfolio, your total return would be more than 40% higher!
The other big reason to add gold to your portfolio is its lower volatility, or fewer dramatic ups and downs. Gold is none-correlated with the stock market, so when stocks go down, gold has a tendency to appreciate.
Thus, a balanced portfolio of stocks and gold has a significantly lower risk of a large drop, as illustrated by the example of 2008.
By adding some gold to your portfolio, you can cut your long-term risk almost in half.
The vehicles and variety of options you can use to accomplish your objectives are numerous also. Vaulted offers you
We also have advisors to help unpack the details of gold investing. Experts from America’s foremost precious metals investment firm, McAlvany ICA, are ready to advise users on entry points, trading strategies, and portfolio tactics. Our team members have an average tenure of more than 20 years of experience balancing portfolios, studying commodities markets, and buying & selling gold. They have guided investors in purchasing more than $2.5 billion in precious metals.