The Price of Gold Has Dropped — But You Still Shouldn't Buy It

Gold is often hailed as a stable long-term investment that resists depreciation—and that’s understandable given its significant growth in recent years when it broke multiple price records.

This rise is attributed to gold's ability to hedge against inflation and diversify portfolios by heavily investing in stocks and bonds. However, despite the surge earlier this year, the price of gold has notably declined since its peak on May 20.

On Jan. 1 of this year, gold sold for $2,063.73 per ounce, spiking 18% to $2,439.98 on May 20. But now the precious metal is back to $2,236.43 per ounce, an 8% drop in a little over a month.

If you're considering investing in gold to grow your wealth for your retirement, it might be wise to think again.

Read on for eight reasons to reconsider investing in gold and three alternative investments that may offer better long-term payoffs for retirees.

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1. Gold can be a volatile asset

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Generally speaking, gold tends to maintain its value over time, but gold is much more volatile as a short-term asset.

For one thing, gold typically has an inverse relationship with the U.S. dollar. Gold usually costs less when the U.S. dollar is strong compared to other currencies, and vice versa.

For another, gold’s price changes dramatically depending on its physical supply and demand, which depends on gold-mining companies’ schedules and whether gold jewelry is in vogue worldwide.

As a retiree, you want low-risk, stable investments, not high-risk, volatile investments. If you want to keep your assets relatively safe in the short-term, then gold probably isn’t the right choice.

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2. Gold ETFs don’t pay dividends

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Many people invest in gold through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and while some ETFs pay dividends, gold ETFs don’t.

Since investing in gold isn’t a good source of passive income, it isn’t the best choice for retirees using cash flow from investments to boost their monthly Social Security checks.

You can consider investing in dividend-paying, gold-mining company stocks instead of gold ETFs, but stocks (especially gold-related stocks) are more volatile than stable bond investments. And depending on your age, they might not be suitable for your portfolio.

3. Gold has a high premium to purchase

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ETFs have an actual value (the inherent value of the physical gold held by the ETF) and a market price (tied to how highly traders value gold at any given moment).

If the market is stable, these two values should be pretty similar — but that usually isn’t the case with gold, which is a more volatile asset.

Instead, gold usually trades at a premium, meaning you’ll spend more money than the gold is worth to invest in an ETF. Physical gold also has high premiums.

4. Gold isn’t a useful commodity

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Commodities like wheat, corn, and cotton have multiple uses and demonstrable real-world value. In contrast, gold is mainly considered valuable because humans like it, not because they need it (besides a small amount in some electronics).

Gold no longer officially backs any global currencies, and unlike other precious metals that are also used for jewelry, gold has limited industrial uses.

If gold suddenly falls out of fashion, it’ll lose nearly all its value — unlike silver, which can be used in several applications besides necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

5. Gold is difficult to store

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Instead of investing in gold ETFs or gold-mining companies, some individuals try purchasing gold themselves and storing it at home in hopes the gold will still be valuable if the U.S. dollar loses its value.

This is impractical for several reasons, but one of the most important is how inconvenient it is to store gold at home. You’ll need a secure location in your house that won’t draw attention.

Plus, you risk losing it if a disaster ever strikes your house. You’ll also worry about the gold at home when you’re traveling.

6. Gold can be stolen

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Even though gold doesn’t have many practical uses, humans still consider physical gold interesting, valuable, and unique — which means having a substantial stash of gold at home can make you a target for thieves.

You’ll need to go out of your way to store your gold in a completely secure, out-of-the-way area in your home that only you and maybe one other trusted person know how to access. Frankly, for most people, the hassle and stress of storing gold just isn’t worth it.

7. Gold can be taxed more as a collectible

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Whether you own physical gold stored at home or invested in gold through an ETF, gold is typically considered a collectible by the IRS.

Collectibles are taxed at a rate of 28%, much higher than the 15% to 20% tax rate for capital gains.

8. Gold doesn’t offer the best return on investment

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For all the reasons we listed above and more, gold isn’t the best option for reaping profits. Even if you profit from investing in a gold ETF or mining company stock, that profit is almost certainly lower than the return from other investments.

If you want to make your nest egg last as long as possible, consider looking away from gold and toward one of the following alternatives — each of which tends to provide a much better return on investment than gold.

Alternative: Stocks

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Stocks are a riskier investment than bonds but yield greater rewards.

While you should move into less risky investments as you age, keeping some money in stocks (including dividend-yielding stocks) can help your savings account stretch further.

Alternative: Bonds

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Treasury bonds are some of the most stable investments you can make.

You’re practically guaranteed a return — which makes Treasury bonds the type of risk-averse investment you want if you’re in retirement or getting close.

Alternative: Real estate

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Unlike gold, real estate has seemingly endless value in the real world. After all, even during more volatile economic times, there’s always a demand for housing.

Plus, while houses themselves don’t always appreciate over time, the land the home is built on almost always does.

Property could be more valuable than investing in gold bars or jewelry if you're looking for a physical investment.

Bottom line

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Investing in commodities like gold can be crucial to a healthy, diverse investment portfolio, but it definitely shouldn’t dominate your portfolio. And steer clear of liquidating your investments in favor of purchasing gold.

Instead, talk to your financial advisor about how to make wise investment decisions as you move from pre-retirement into retirement.

Personalized advice from a fiduciary expert is the best way to ensure you’re making smart financial moves that will help boost your bank account and make your savings last as long as possible.

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