How to invest in gold? Worried about tariffs tanking my portfolio

[TrustButVerify]

Hey everyone, I’m nearing retirement (mid-60s) and freaking out a bit. With Trump pushing tariffs again, I’m worried my portfolio (mostly stocks and some bonds) is going to take a hit. Inflation’s already a mess, and I’m scared the dollar’s going to lose value fast. I’ve been reading gold might be a good hedge, but I’ve never invested in it before. How do you even get started? Physical gold? ETFs? Mining stocks? I don’t want to get scammed by some shady dealer, but I also don’t want to sit here watching my savings evaporate. Any advice for a newbie?

 

[Tim Beaton]

Gold’s definitely a solid hedge against inflation and currency devaluation, and it's performance in recent months has been quite astonishing. It seems like more people are becoming interested in precious metals because of the tariff rollercoaster. Essentially, you've got three options:

• Physical Gold (bars, coins): Buy from reputable dealers like JM Bullion or APMEX. Look for stuff like American Eagles or Canadian Maple Leafs—recognized and easy to sell later. Store it in a safe or a bank deposit box. Downside: storage and insurance costs.
• Gold ETFs (like GLD or IAU): Easiest way to get exposure without handling metal. Tracks gold prices, no storage hassle, tradable like a stock. Fees are low, but you don’t *own* the gold.
• Mining Stocks (e.g., Newmont or Barrick Gold): Higher risk, higher reward. If gold prices spike, these can outperform, but they’re tied to company performance too, not just gold itself.

 

[Smart Invest]

I feel you on the tariff panic. Supply chains are gonna get messy, and the market’s already jittery. Gold’s a good call, but don’t dump everything into it. Maybe 10-15% of your portfolio? ETFs are fine for beginners, but if you’re paranoid about economic collapse (I am too), physical gold’s the only thing you can hold when the grid goes down. Dealers markup can be brutal, though. shop around and don’t buy from those “WE BUY GOLD” strip mall clowns.

 

[Ian Eccles]

I feel you on the tariff panic. Supply chains are gonna get messy, and the market’s already jittery. Gold’s a good call, but don’t dump everything into it. Maybe 10-15% of your portfolio? ETFs are fine for beginners, but if you’re paranoid about economic collapse (I am too), physical gold’s the only thing you can hold when the grid goes down. Dealers markup can be brutal, though. shop around and don’t buy from those “WE BUY GOLD” strip mall clowns.

Physical gold > ETFs any day. If the economy tanks hard (and tariffs might push it there), paper assets could be worthless. I buy 1 oz coins from a local coin shop. Spot price is just the raw market price of gold per ounce. Google “gold spot price” or use Kitco’s site. Dealers add a premium (5-10% usually), so haggle a bit. I would recommend to stack some silver too.