I’ll admit it—I wasn’t always a “gold guy.” In fact, for most of my early investing years, I thought of gold the same way I thought about my grandmother’s jewelry box: pretty, sentimental, but ultimately not very useful. Stocks? That’s where the real action was. Real estate? Now that’s an investment with cash flow, appreciation, and the ability to leverage. Gold? Just some ancient relic people hoarded during doomsday scenarios.

But life, as it tends to do, threw me a curveball.

The Wake-Up Call

It was 2008, and I was riding high on my stock portfolio. Tech stocks were making me feel like a genius. Then—BAM! The financial world collapsed like a house of cards in a hurricane. Suddenly, my “safe” investments weren’t so safe. The market tanked, real estate plummeted, and I found myself staring at my account balance, wondering how it had shrunk so fast.

A friend—let’s call him Dave—was the first to say it: “Man, you should have had some gold.”

I scoffed. Gold? That’s for conspiracy theorists and survivalists who think the government is out to get them, right?

“Look it up,” he said. “Gold is the ultimate hedge.”

So I did. And what I found changed my entire perspective on investing.

Why Gold Matters More Than You Think

If you’ve spent as much time reading the information from Turner Investments, you’ll realize that gold isn’t just a shiny metal people make rings out of—it’s a financial anchor. Throughout history, civilizations have crumbled, currencies have collapsed, but gold? It has always held value.

Here’s why that matters:

1. Gold Is Crisis Insurance – When the world panics, gold shines. Every time there’s a recession, inflation spike, or geopolitical mess, gold tends to move up while everything else goes down.
2. It’s a Hedge Against Inflation – Your dollars are losing value every year (thanks, inflation!). But gold? Historically, it keeps pace, making sure your purchasing power doesn’t evaporate.
3. No Counterparty Risk – Stocks and bonds? You rely on companies, governments, and middlemen. Gold? You own it outright. No third-party failure to worry about.
4. Diversification That Works – Smart investors know not to put all their eggs in one basket. Gold balances out the riskier parts of your portfolio.

How I Got Started With Gold (Without Messing Up)

Once I realized gold was a missing piece in my portfolio, the next challenge was figuring out how to invest without making rookie mistakes. Spoiler: There are plenty of ways to mess up gold investing.

Here’s what I learned (the hard way):

1. Physical Gold: The Real Deal

The first thing I did was buy some physical gold—actual coins and bars. Holding real gold in my hands? That was a surreal moment. This wasn’t a number on a screen; this was tangible, solid wealth.

• Best way to buy: Reputable dealers (avoid Craigslist like the plague).
• What to get: American Gold Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs—well-known coins with high liquidity.
• Storage matters: No, stuffing it under your mattress isn’t smart. I went with a private, insured vault—not a bank (because, well, banks aren’t exactly reliable in a crisis).

2. Gold ETFs: The Lazy Investor’s Way

Not everyone wants to deal with vaults and insurance. That’s where Gold ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) come in. I tested out SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), a fund that tracks gold’s price movements without me having to store or transport anything.

• Pros: Easy to buy and sell, no storage headaches.
• Cons: You don’t physically own gold. If things really go south, paper gold won’t be as valuable as the real deal.

3. Mining Stocks: High Risk, High Reward

Feeling adventurous? Gold mining stocks offer leverage—when gold prices rise, mining stocks can skyrocket. But they also come with more risk. Some companies go bust, and operational costs can eat into profits.

I picked a few well-known names (Barrick Gold, Newmont) and stayed away from speculative junior miners.

4. Gold IRAs: Tax-Advantaged Wealth Protection

This was a game-changer. A Gold IRA lets you hold physical gold in a tax-advantaged retirement account. I set one up with Goldco (after vetting a few companies) and felt much better knowing a portion of my retirement wasn’t tied to stocks or fiat currency.

• Pro Tip: Be careful—there are rules about what kind of gold you can hold in an IRA. Not all coins and bars qualify.

What I’d Do Differently (So You Don’t Make My Mistakes)

Hindsight is 20/20, and if I had to start over, I’d do a few things differently:

• Start sooner. I was too focused on stocks and ignored gold until a crash forced me to wake up.
• Go heavier on physical gold. It’s tempting to take the easy ETF route, but owning gold beats tracking gold.
• Ignore the noise. People will always have opinions. Some say gold is outdated, others swear by it. But history proves it’s a smart long-term play.

Final Thoughts: Why Gold is a Must-Have

Look, I’m not saying sell all your stocks and go full pirate mode with buried treasure. But if you’re serious about protecting and growing your wealth, gold needs to be in your mix.

The world is unpredictable—recessions, inflation, banking crises… they’re not if scenarios, but when scenarios. Gold is your financial insurance policy.

If I could go back in time and shake my younger self by the shoulders, I’d say, “Dude, buy some gold already.”

So… consider this your shake.