You’re not the only one who is thinking of ways to protect an investment portfolio beyond traditional stocks and bonds, especially given market swings and rising prices. Gold probably keeps coming up as an answer, as it’s had one of the most remarkable runs in the past years.
"A stable market is the enemy of gold prices," says Jordan Chesler, Editor of Investing and Banking at Money.com. "We've seen volatility spikes over the past several years that have really accelerated that uncertainty, which has encouraged investors to turn to safe haven assets like gold."
The conditions that drove the increase in gold prices haven't disappeared.
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There's a reason gold tends to dominate financial headlines during uncertain times.
Gold set a number of all-time highs last year, according to JP Morgan, and eventually surpassed $4,000 per ounce for the first time in October 2025. That’s a climb of around 55% over the course of a year.
Part of what could be driving it is where investors aren’t putting their money, suggests Chesler.
"When rates are low and the market is volatile, investors don't necessarily have that draw to go into dividend stocks and traditional slow and steady equity market safe havens," Chesler says. "So they look beyond alternatives and gold, in particular, has benefited from that."
You've probably heard gold described as a hedge against inflation.
What it means in practice is that when the purchasing power of the dollar weakens, gold tends to hold its value much better. The U.S. Dollar Index fell by 9.7% in 2025, which was the worst performance since 2017.
"As inflation continues to rise and the U.S. dollar erodes, gold, which has withstood the test of time, becomes more attractive as a safe haven and a hedge against inflation," Chesler says.
Most forecasts expect continued erosion of the U.S. Dollar, with most looking at the U.S. Dollar Index to weaken into late 2026. This could mean that gold will continue to be in demand. Take a look at what institutions are doing. Central banks around the world purchased 863 tons of gold in 2025, almost double the annual average between 2010 to 2021.
What this means is that sustained demand could push prices even higher by the end of this year.
Yes, gold is performing well, and forecasts of increasing values may seem like gold is a “safe” investment. But it’s worth stepping back and taking a more realistic look at your goals and investment strategy before you act.
"Just like with stocks, you're going to see short-term volatility with precious metals,” Chesler says. “Over the long term, they tend to be a little more stable, but in the short and medium term, they're going to have as much volatility as you're going to see anywhere else."
What this means is that if you want to buy gold, use it as part of your overall investment strategy. It should be the entirety of your portfolio, as a diversified strategy is best. Gold itself doesn’t generate income like stocks or bonds where it can pay dividends or interest.
If markets or economic conditions were to change, investors may liquidate their gold to access cash, which can drive the price of cash down. Some of the safe-haven demand today could mean gold’s value could flatten out.
That’s not to say you can’t invest in gold. Rather, use it as your overall strategy. How much you should invest will depend on your goals and investment time horizon.
If you decide to invest in gold, one way to do so is by utilizing Gold IRAs. These accounts let you purchase and invest in physical gold. The account structure is similar to a Traditional IRA.
When comparing accounts, Chesler says to approach it like any other financial decision. "You want to know what the recurring fees are, the spread they charge, and then you can take that information and shop around, just like you would if you were going to put your investments in any other stocks or ETFs," he says.
Look for providers that are transparent about storage fees, purchase minimums and buyback policies. You can also ask others for recommendations. Doing your own research and understanding the pros and cons will help you make the best decision for your needs.
American Hartford Gold is one of the most accessible ways to invest in gold, as it only has a $10,000 minimum investment. That amount is lower than the industry average.
American Hartford Gold has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and processed more than $2 billion transactions. What sets this company apart is its lifetime buyback commitment. When you’re ready to sell your gold, the company will repurchase it at current market price with no liquidation fee.
Depending on your account type and how much you have invested, you may even have setup fees waived and even storage costs for the first year.
Thor Metals Group takes a more straightforward approach to precious metals investing. It focuses heavily on education to help you decide what your best approach is, and then helps you open a gold IRA. You can purchase government-backed bullion like American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs, and the company sources all metals from vetted wholesalers. You also won’t be charged a liquidation fee when you want to sell.
Priority Gold stands out for its help with IRA rollovers if you’re interested in using some of your existing IRA funds. The company offers a dedicated specialist and helps you throughout the setup process and any help you may need beyond that. If you have over $50,000 in your account, you could get your storage and administrative fees waived.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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