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Investors may be feeling uneasy as stocks struggle amid ongoing trade tensions and tariffs. But according to economist Peter Schiff, one asset is standing out amid the uncertainty: gold.
“Today marks a monumental moment in gold history as the spot price closes above $3,000 an ounce. Despite the media’s silence, this development is significant,” Schiff wrote on Instagram on March 17.
Despite gold’s 40% surge over the past year, Schiff believes the rally is just getting started.
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“While central banks stockpile gold, retail investors have a unique opportunity to capitalize. With gold expected to rise to $4,000 and beyond, now is the perfect time to invest,” he wrote.
In 2024, central banks added 1,045 tonnes to global reserves, marking the third consecutive year of net purchases exceeding 1,000 tonnes, according to the World Gold Council.
For Schiff, central bank buying isn’t just about portfolio diversification — it’s a warning sign.
‘Dumping dollars to buy gold’
Many investors turn to gold as a hedge against inflation, since — unlike fiat currencies — it can’t be printed at will by central banks.
Schiff argues that central banks’ growing appetite for gold signals something deeper.
“Investors haven’t even woken up to what central banks are doing, but the central bankers are the insiders of the fiat monetary system,” he said. “The insiders in the fiat monetary system have been dumping their dollars to buy gold. They obviously know something, and the public hasn’t caught on yet.”
So, what do they know that retail investors don’t?
Schiff believes it’s simple: inflation isn’t going away.
“Investors haven’t woken up to the reality of high inflation, as far as the eye can see, they still believe that the Fed is going to be able to bring inflation back down to 2% — there’s no chance that’s going to happen,” he stated. “Inflation isn’t going anywhere near that. In fact, it’s already bottomed out and is headed much higher — none of that has really been priced into gold yet.”
So, just how high can gold prices go?
“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 said in October 2024.
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
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 looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
1 income-producing alternative
Gold has long been a go-to hedge against inflation. But it’s not the only option. Real estate has also served as a reliable store of value, with the added benefit of generating income.
When inflation rises, property values often increase in tandem, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to climb, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.
Over the past decade, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has climbed by 94%.
These days, you don’t need to purchase a property outright to invest in real estate. First National Realty Partners (FNRP), for instance, allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions – including how much you would like to invest – to start browsing their full list of available properties.
New investing platforms are also making it easier than ever to tap into the residential real estate market.
For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.
With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.
With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.
If you’re not an accredited investor, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.
Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process allows accredited and non-accredited investors to take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class without any extra work on your part.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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