In an endless sea of options, precious metals — such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium — stand out as one of the few remaining honest stores of wealth. For centuries, these metals have been considered a symbol of wealth and stability, with their values standing the test of time. In today’s increasingly volatile economy, precious metals offer people something that many other asset classes can’t — unrestricted access to wealth that can be held and passed down from one generation to the next.
Precious metals are one of the oldest and most established asset classes, having an incredibly rich history of use as a store of value. Gold has been used as a form of money since the earliest civilizations, with gold coins surfacing as early as 550 B.C. in Lydia (modern day Turkey). Silver, too, was used as a form of currency and traded by civilizations throughout the world, including Ancient Rome and Greece, China, Egypt, India and others. With its use as a medium of exchange going back millennia, precious metals have long been recognized for their value as a reliable and durable form of money. The value of precious metals has stood the test of time.
But beyond being a financial instrument, precious metals have also served as a powerful symbol of wealth and status for thousands of years. Gold and silver jewelry have been worn since antiquity, while crowns and other regalia were made from gold and other precious metals as symbols of royal power. This historical significance has established a collective perception of their value, transcending time and geographic boundaries. The enduring cultural and historical association with precious metals reinforces their intrinsic worth and contributes to their status as a sought after asset class. While other asset classes may come and go, precious metals have remained a constant throughout history — a testament to their enduring value and appeal.
Precious metals’ intrinsic worth is multi-faceted and deeply rooted in their unique characteristics and properties. The inherent value of precious metals has been recognized by civilizations throughout history and continues to underpin their appeal as valuable assets in the modern world. Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are all limited in supply and are relatively scarce natural resources. This scarcity and wide-reaching demand makes them particularly resistant to the volatility of fiat currency and market manipulation, providing a level of long-term security and stability that escapes many other asset classes.
The value of precious metals are not dependent on the performance of a company or nation, nor do they have any counterparty risk — meaning they are not dependent on another party fulfilling its obligations. Their durability and portability make them ideal for storing wealth and passing it down from generation to generation — a practicality that adds to their universal recognition and appeal. It is the combination of scarcity, durability, and broad recognition that makes precious metals one of the most liquid asset classes available today. With the spot price of gold and other metals constantly fluctuating, owners can move in and out of the market quickly — allowing them to capitalize on value shifts and take advantage of lucrative opportunities when they arise.
In addition to precious metals’ physical properties, their chemical properties have also made them invaluable in a broad range of industrial and medical applications, increasing their upside potential. Gold, for instance, is non-corrosive and highly conductive — making it ideal for use in electronics and electrical equipment, while silver boasts excellent thermal and electrical properties that make it a key component in many industrial processes. The versatility of precious metals creates a wide array of applications, driving up their market value and contributing to their overall worth. Given their inherent value, liquid nature and historical significance, the enduring appeal of precious metals should come as no surprise.
The economy is known for its constant flux and unpredictability. With geopolitical tensions intensifying and economic uncertainty on the rise, many financial advisors have been strongly advocating for people to diversify their savings and help mitigate concentration risk. This routinely overlooked source of risk arises when people concentrate their savings in a single asset class, leaving their holdings vulnerable to market downturns and financial loss. By allocating a portion of their capital to precious metals, experts argue that precious metals can help hedge against economic risk and help protect themselves against the inevitable ebbs and flows of a volatile economy.
During the last three recessions in 2020, 2007, and 2001, gold prices rose significantly in all three cases, handily outperforming the S&P 500 index during that time. People who maintained highly concentrated portfolios saw steep drops in their net worth, while those with diverse holdings that included gold and other precious metals often fared much better. This is because gold and other precious metals’ correlation to traditional financial markets is low, meaning they often behave differently and can help offset losses incurred from other assets. This dynamic makes them a valuable diversification tool and helps to reduce overall risk exposure.
With highly concentrated savings, people are left with limited options when markets turn south. But by including precious metals, many experts contend that people can better position themselves for success in any economic conditions. The benefits of precious metals extend beyond their intrinsic value – they offer stability and security when uncertainty abounds.
The rise in popularity of fiat currencies following the collapse of the gold standard in 1971 ushered in an age of monetary policy built on the control of central banks. Without the backing of a commodity such as gold, fiat currencies are based on the faith and credit of the issuing government. As such, their purchasing power is tied to underlying economic fundamentals. Inflationary pressures, fueled by the unchecked printing of paper money, have consistently eroded the value of fiat currencies, leading to an 87% decline in the U.S. dollar’s purchasing power since the U.S. abandoned the gold standard. As former Chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan once famously remarked, “In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation.”
As a tangible asset with intrinsic value, gold and other precious metals offer owners a viable defense against the erosion of purchasing power that comes with the printing of paper money. While currencies can be printed freely and in unlimited quantities, the supply of precious metals is finite, providing a degree of scarcity that helps maintain their value over the long run. This is especially true in times of economic turmoil, when fiat currencies are prone to high levels of volatility and governments can resort to extreme monetary policy measures such as quantitative easing. While the price of the U.S. dollar continues to decline, the price of gold has risen by more than 5000% since 1971. Similarly, the price of platinum and palladium saw increases of 1000% and 3700%, respectively, over the same time period.
Research has revealed a compelling correlation between gold prices and periods of high inflation in the United States. Historical data spanning from 1974 to 2008 demonstrates that gold prices, on average, surged by nearly 15% during the eight years characterized by the highest inflation rates. This empirical evidence underscores the effectiveness of gold as an inflation hedge and highlights its ability to protect against the damaging effects of currency devaluation. With economists pointing to lingering inflationary concerns in the United States and abroad, owners may find reassurance in precious metals’ proven ability to protect against eroding purchasing power.
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