Author: Jing Pan

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

The price of gold has surged 24% in 2024 and is currently around $2,570 an ounce. It has lowered since reaching an all-time-high in October, but according to Peter Schiff, chief economist and global strategist at Euro Pacific Asset Management, this rally might just be the beginning.

During an interview with “The Lead-Lag Report” last month, Schiff offered an ambitious forecast for the precious metal.

“If gold can go from $20 an ounce to $2,600 an ounce, it can go from $2,600 to $26,000, or to $100,000,” he stated.

At today’s prices, a climb to $100,000 would represent an impressive upside of over 3,700%.

And there could be even more room for growth, as Schiff emphasized, “There’s no limit because, cause again, gold’s not changing — all we’re doing is decreasing the value of the dollar.”

Schiff is the founder and chairman of precious metals dealer SchiffGold and serves as an investor and advisor at Goldmoney, a company that offers precious metals trading services, including storage solutions.

US dollar poised to ‘lose so much value’

Schiff’s bold forecast for gold’s future price is rooted in his long-held view on the risks of excessive money printing and inflation.

“I think the potential [for gold] is much higher because we’re just going to print so much money. We’re going to have so much inflation that the dollar is going to lose so much value that you’re really going to need a lot of dollars to buy gold,” he explained.

Gold has long been considered a popular hedge against inflation. Unlike fiat currency, the yellow metal can’t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks. And with its value untethered to any specific currency or economy, gold often acts as a "safe haven" asset, especially during periods of economic or geopolitical uncertainty.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of American Hartford Gold. Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those seeking to ensure their retirement funds are well shielded against economic uncertainties.

When you sign up with American Hartford Gold, you’ll be eligible for an offer to receive up to $15,000 in free silver, along with the assurance of the best pricing through their price match guarantee.

9% inflation in 2025?

The headline inflation rate in the U.S. has subsided. In October 2024, the U.S. consumer price index showed a 12-month increase of 2.6%, a significant drop from its recent peak of 9.1% in June 2022.

While some economists have declared victory in the fight against inflation, Schiff has a different view.

“[Inflation] is not gone at all — it’s going to reemerge stronger than ever, not that it ever disappeared,” he stated.

“The CPI is finished going down and now it’s headed back up … we’ve been banging around 3% for the last year or so — that’s kind of like the bottom. And I think we’re trending back up and by 2025, we can easily be back up at 9% again year over year, maybe higher.”

Schiff isn’t just voicing predictions; he’s investing according to his beliefs. The latest 13F filing from Euro Pacific Asset Management reveals a significant emphasis on gold within Schiff’s investment strategy.

As of Sept. 30, the largest holding at Euro Pacific Asset Management was gold mining company Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). Meanwhile, Euro Pacific’s second-largest holding was Barrick Gold (ABX), another heavyweight player in the gold mining business.

Whether or not you share Schiff’s enthusiasm for gold mining stocks, it’s easier than ever to start investing. Trading apps like Public allow everyday investors to capitalize on the stock market by investing in fractional shares for as little as $5. You can easily pack your portfolio with your favorite companies, with zero commissions.

Of course, not all stocks are the same. To make more informed decisions, investors can use research tools like Moby, which provide expert analysis and market insights, helping users optimize their portfolios.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

Vince Vaughn made a name for himself in Hollywood by starring in some of the biggest comedies of the 2000s. But instead of squandering his success, Vaughn took a different path: protecting his earnings through smart investments.

“I was fortunate to make money at my profession, and I didn’t want to lose it,” he explained in an interview with business coach JT Foxx.

Unlike many of his colleagues, Vaughn took an active interest in managing his finances, noting, “There were so many actors I knew who were intimidated and didn’t deal with it.”

Vaughn took the initiative, making his first major investment in gold.

“So I thought, I want tangible assets. First, I bought some gold, but there’s no passive income off of it,” he recalled.

Gold is indeed a tangible asset — and a well-known hedge against inflation. The reason is simple: unlike fiat currencies, the precious metal can’t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks.

However, as Vaughn discovered, gold doesn’t generate income on its own.

To create that steady income stream he was after, Vaughn turned to real estate.

“So I just started to buy some small buildings that I could rent out,” he said. “And I knew that the buildings would go up in price [and] I’d have some money coming in passively from it.”

Earn passive income from real estate

By purchasing small rental buildings, Vaughn tapped into two powerful advantages of real estate: passive income and the potential for appreciation.

As tenants pay rent, he collects income that doesn’t require daily work. Plus, because property values and rental income tend to rise alongside the cost of living, real estate serves as a reliable hedge against inflation.

After his initial foray into real estate, Vaughn expanded his portfolio. He began “buying a bunch of farms” and acquired properties in Florida, targeting “areas that were getting nicer.”

Looking back, Vaughn emphasizes the importance of continuously building knowledge and learning from each investment. “I think the more you spend time on it and get a feeling for what you think is doing well, you get better each year,” he remarked.

Vaughn’s strategic investments have served him well. His net worth is now estimated at $75 million, according to Yahoo.

The good news? You don’t need Hollywood funds to start building wealth through real estate. Platforms like Arrived, backed by prominent investors like Jeff Bezos, make it easy for everyday investors to buy shares in rental properties without a hefty down payment or the hassle of managing tenants.

To get started, you can browse through a curated selection of homes, vetted for their income and appreciation potential, and choose the number of shares you want to buy.

If you’re an accrdited investor looking for new opportunities, another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which targets necessity-based commercial real estate.

The platform lets accredited investors [own a share of institutional-quality properties] leased by national brands like Whole Foods, CVS, Kroger and Walmart. Investors have the opportunity to collect stable, grocery store-anchored income every quarter.

As a private equity firm, FNRP acts as the deal leader and offers white-glove service to investors, providing expertise and doing the deal legwork. While the FNRP team takes care of sourcing new deals, you can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all on FNRP’s secure platform.

Gold revisited

While gold doesn’t offer the passive income Vaughn was after, it remains a popular choice for investors as a hedge against economic uncertainty and inflation.

In 2024, gold prices surged by 33%, surpassing $2,700 per ounce. Investors often turn to precious metals like gold and silver during periods of market volatility or global instability, as their value isn’t tied to any particular currency or economy.

Gold is frequently considered a "safe-haven" asset because it tends to perform well when other investments, like stocks, face downturns, offering a form of insurance in an investor’s portfolio.

Economist Peter Schiff sees substantial further upside for gold. “If gold can go from $20 an ounce to $2,600 an ounce, it can go from $2,600 to $26,000, or even to $100,000. There’s no limit because, again, gold isn’t changing — it’s the value of the dollar that’s decreasing,” he recently stated.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is with a gold IRA with the help of American Hartford Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those seeking to ensure their retirement funds are well-shielded against economic uncertainties.

When you sign up with American Hartford Gold, you can get a free investor guide and you’ll be eligible for an offer to receive up to $15,000 in free silver, along with the assurance of the best pricing through their price match guarantee.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

Many investors are eager to uncover the secret behind Warren Buffett’s remarkable success in identifying winning companies.

Between 1964 and 2023, his company, Berkshire Hathaway, achieved an astonishing total return of 4,384,748%.

In an interview at Georgetown University, an audience member cut to the chase, asking, “What would you think is the most important thing — the key — in evaluating a company?”

Without missing a beat, Buffett responded, “The most important thing is to be able to define which ones you can come to an intelligent decision on and which ones are beyond your capacity to evaluate.”

Buffett emphasized that you don’t need to understand — or be right about — thousands of companies to succeed. Instead, as he put it, you only need to be right about “a couple.”

To illustrate his approach, Buffett shared a memorable exchange with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

When Gates tried to convince Buffett to enter the computer age

On July 5, 1991, Buffett and Gates were in Seattle when Gates, eager to share his enthusiasm for the burgeoning world of computers, turned to Buffett and said, “You’ve got to have a computer.”

“Why?” Buffett asked.

Gates replied with a practical suggestion, “Well, you can do your income tax on it.”

But Buffett, whose approach to wealth focused on reinvesting rather than receiving income, responded matter-of-factly, “I don’t have any income. Berkshire doesn’t pay a dividend.”

Gates pressed on, suggesting that a computer could help Buffett keep track of his stock portfolio. But Buffett, whose investment portfolio consisted solely of Berkshire Hathaway, simply responded, “I only have one stock.”

Undeterred, Gates insisted, “It’s going to change everything.”

This prompted Buffett to dig deeper. “Will it change whether people chew gum?” he asked.

“Probably not,” Gates admitted.

“Will it change what kind of gum they chew?” Buffett followed up, prompting Gates to again reply, “Nah.”

With that, Buffett summed up his thoughts: “Well, then I’ll stick to chewing gum and you stick to computers.”

Buffett used this story to highlight his investment philosophy. His success didn’t stem from understanding every emerging technology or industry trend; rather, it came from staying within his “circle of competence.”

In his view, you don’t need to know everything about every industry to succeed as an investor — you just need to thoroughly understand a few.

Billions in gum and soda

Chewing gum firmly falls within Warren Buffett’s “circle of competence.” In his 1993 letter to shareholders, Buffett identified Wrigley as “dominant” in the chewing gum market.

When food giant Mars sought to acquire Wrigley in 2008, Warren Buffett invested $6.5 billion — buying $2.1 billion of Wrigley preferred stock and $4.4 billion of its bonds — to help fund the deal.

The bet paid off handsomely: between interest payments, dividends, and gains on the bonds and shares, Buffett reportedly made an estimated $6.5 billion from his Wrigley investment.

Beyond chewing gum, Buffett has long been a fan of another staple: soda. Coca-Cola, a brand that’s been around since 1886, captured Buffett’s attention because of its vast market presence.

“Coca-Cola’s been around since 1886. There’s 1.8 billion 8-ounce servings of Coca-Cola products sold everyday now. If you get one penny extra — that’s $18 million a day, and $18 million times 365 is $6.57 billion annually… from one penny. Do you think Coca-Cola is worth a penny more than, you know, Joe’s Cola? I think so,” he explained.

True to his investment philosophy, Buffett’s conviction in Coca-Cola has stood the test of time. Berkshire first invested in Coca-Cola in 1988, and today, it holds 400 million shares of Coca-Cola, a stake now valued at $26 billion.

As we approach 2025, with the world growing more complex — marked by political uncertainty, economic pressures, global tensions and a rapidly evolving tech landscape — Buffett’s straightforward investment philosophy stands firm and relevant.

His approach reminds us that we don’t need to chase the latest trends to find success. Instead, Buffett advocates focusing on one’s circle of competence, sticking to businesses that are easy to understand and have enduring demand.

Rather than constantly predicting “the next big thing,” Buffett finds long-term value in companies with proven, lasting appeal.

It’s also easier than ever to start investing. Trading apps like Public allow everyday investors to capitalize on the stock market by investing in fractional shares for as little as $10. You can easily pack your portfolio with your favorite companies, with zero commissions.

To make informed decisions within your circle of competence, investors can use research tools like Moby, which provide expert analysis and market insights, helping users optimize their portfolios.

‘The best thing to do’

While Buffett is legendary for picking winning companies, he’s an even bigger advocate for a simpler, tried-and-true strategy: investing in an S&P 500 index fund.

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” he famously stated. This straightforward approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across various industries, providing diversified exposure without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

Buffett believes so strongly in this strategy that he has instructed 90% of his wife’s inheritance be invested in “a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund” after he dies.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: link your cards, and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio. With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the hit series Yellowstone, isn’t just making waves in the entertainment industry — he’s also cashing in on his real estate.

Yellowstone is a gripping drama that follows the Dutton family as they navigate the challenges of running their vast cattle ranch. While much of the show is filmed on location in Montana, Sheridan’s sprawling Texas ranches have also served as key filming locations for the show and its spinoffs.

Sheridan has reportedly been charging Paramount as much as $50,000 per week to use his properties, a figure that highlights his dual talents as a storyteller and savvy businessman.

Paramount spokespersons have praised Sheridan’s work, with one noting, “Taylor’s shows are among our most successful and profitable.”

This lucrative rental income stems from some significant investments. In January 2022, Sheridan and a group of investors purchased the legendary Four Sixes Ranch in Texas for $350 million.

The historic property covers over 266,000 acres, cementing Sheridan’s real-life connection to the Western lifestyle portrayed in his work. He also owns Bosque Ranch, a 600-acre property in Texas where Yellowstone, and its spinoffs, often film.

Earn rental income

Many people, like Sheridan, have come to recognize the potential of real estate as a powerful wealth-building tool. Well-chosen properties can provide a reliable stream of rental income, making it a favored choice for those looking to build multiple income streams.

Beyond providing regular cash flow, real estate is also viewed as a dependable hedge against inflation. As inflation drives up the cost of materials, labor, and land, property values tend to rise as well. This not only preserves the purchasing power of the investment but also helps property owners build long-term equity over time.

Of course, most of us don’t own multimillion-dollar properties or have connections to production studios willing to pay $50,000 a week in rent.

The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright to start earning rental income.

Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived have made it easier for average Americans to invest in rental properties without the need for a hefty down payment or the burden of property management.

With Arrived, you can invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants. The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase, and then sit back as you start receiving rental income deposits from your investment.

If you’re an accredited investor looking for new opportunities, another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which targets necessity-based commercial real estate.

The platform lets accredited investors own a share of institutional-quality properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, CVS, Kroger and Walmart.

Investors have the opportunity to collect stable, grocery store-anchored income every quarter.

Agricultural land

Acquiring agricultural land might seem like an ambitious investment, especially when it involves hundreds of millions of dollars, as in Sheridan’s case. However, there are compelling reasons why investors like Sheridan see farmland as a valuable asset class.

Farmland generates income through crop production or leasing land to farmers, creating a consistent revenue stream. Moreover, the demand for agricultural products remains ever-present because, regardless of economic conditions, people will always need food.

This consistent demand makes farmland resilient during economic downturns, offering investors a reliable hedge against uncertainty.

Farmland also serves as a natural inflation hedge. During inflationary periods, rising food prices often drive up land values, helping preserve investors’ purchasing power.

It’s no surprise that Sheridan isn’t alone in appreciating this asset class. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, for instance, has amassed approximately 275,000 acres of farmland across the U.S., making him the largest private farmland owner in the country.

But you don’t need to have the wealth of Sheridan or Gates to invest in U.S. farmland. Two publicly traded REITs — Gladstone Land (LAND) and Farmland Partners (FPI) — offer investors exposure to this sector without the need for direct land ownership.

If you are looking for options outside the stock market, FarmTogether is an all-in-one investment platform that lets qualified investors buy stakes in U.S. farmland. The platform identifies high-potential agricultural properties and then partners with experienced local operators to manage the land effectively.

Depending on the type of stake you want, you can get a cut from both the leasing fees and crop sales, providing you with a cash income. Then, years down the line after the farm rises in value, you can benefit from appreciation of the land and profits from its sale.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.