Gold just hit $2,300 per ounce, and suddenly everyone wants to know if they should be buying. The short answer: maybe, but probably not for the reasons you think. Gold isn't a get-rich-quick investment-it's insurance against economic uncertainty, and it plays a very specific role in a balanced portfolio.
Most financial advisors suggest keeping 5-10% of your portfolio in precious metals. Gold tends to hold its value when stocks drop and currencies weaken. During the 2008 financial crisis, while the S&P 500 fell 37%, gold gained 5%. It won't make you rich, but it can help preserve wealth when everything else is falling apart.
The problem with gold is that it generates no income. Stocks pay dividends, bonds pay interest, and real estate produces rental income. Gold just sits there. Over the very long term, gold barely keeps pace with inflation. Its real value is in portfolio diversification-when stocks zig, gold often zags.
How you buy matters. Physical gold coins and bars give you direct ownership but require secure storage and insurance. Gold ETFs offer convenience and liquidity but come with ongoing fees. Gold mining stocks provide leverage to gold prices but add company-specific risk. Each approach has trade-offs.
Timing matters less than you think. Trying to buy gold at the "perfect" price is a fool's errand. If you believe gold belongs in your portfolio, dollar-cost averaging-buying the same dollar amount monthly regardless of price-removes the guesswork and emotional decision-making. Think of gold as long-term insurance, not a short-term trade.