Investing in Gold: 10 Facts You Need to Know

Gold can do well in times of trouble, but its long-term record isn't so shiny.

Small gold nuggets in an antique measuring investing in gold
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ask any veteran goldbug about investing in gold, and they'll likely caution you that the precious metal will too often break your heart.

True, investing in gold tends to work in times of trouble. For example, gold prices vaulted past $2,000 an ounce in early March 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Just understand that despite some illustrious returns in the 1970s and the first decade of the 21st century, gold has generated disappointing long-term returns compared to stocks. Even its reputation as an inflation hedge isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Historically, at least, gold returns have only kept up with inflation over the long haul; the metal hasn't outperformed. Over the short and medium term, gold's record as an inflation hedge is generally pretty poor.

To be sure, gold ETFs and gold miner stocks can be effective tools in the hands of traders and tactical investors. But that means knowing when to get in — and when to get out.

As for investing in gold for the long term? Suffice to say a buy-and-hold approach has too often ended in tears.

Just look at recent events. If any year should have been good for gold, it was 2022. U.S. stocks plunged into a bear market, and bonds got killed too. Investors worried incessantly over the odds of recession or possibility of stagflation. Inflation hit levels not seen in four decades.

And what did gold prices ultimately do? They ended the year almost exactly where they started. 

Since investing in gold is obviously not easy, here are some critical nuggets you must know before betting on the precious metal.

Disclaimer

Data, prices and returns are courtesy of Kitco, DQYDJ, the Perth Mint, the World Gold Council, YCharts, the U.S. Mint and Morningstar.

Dan Burrows
Senior Investing Writer, Kiplinger.com

Dan Burrows is Kiplinger's senior investing writer, having joined the august publication full time in 2016.


A long-time financial journalist, Dan is a veteran of SmartMoney, MarketWatch, CBS MoneyWatch, InvestorPlace and DailyFinance. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Consumer Reports, Senior Executive and Boston magazine, and his stories have appeared in the New York Daily News, the San Jose Mercury News and Investor's Business Daily, among other publications. As a senior writer at AOL's DailyFinance, Dan reported market news from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and hosted a weekly video segment on equities.


Once upon a time – before his days as a financial reporter and assistant financial editor at legendary fashion trade paper Women's Wear Daily – Dan worked for Spy magazine, scribbled away at Time Inc. and contributed to Maxim magazine back when lad mags were a thing. He's also written for Esquire magazine's Dubious Achievements Awards.


In his current role at Kiplinger, Dan writes about equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities, funds, macroeconomics, demographics, real estate, cost of living indexes and more.


Dan holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master's degree from Columbia University.


Disclosure: Dan does not trade stocks or other securities. Rather, he dollar-cost averages into cheap funds and index funds and holds them forever in tax-advantaged accounts.