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More than 170 years have passed since the California Gold Rush, but residents are once again discovering dust, flakes and even nuggets of gold glistening in the state’s rivers.
“Gold is everywhere,” Manny Goza, a prospector who travels the Bear River, told FOX40 News (1). The fall season has brought lower water levels, making it easier to access normally inaccessible stretches of river.
For Goza, a builder by trade, gold panning has paid off.
“I did it every day. I’ve been here since 2005, I bought a house in 2010 because I could pay my bills with gold,” he said. “When I’m not contracting, I’m here panning for gold.”
With gold prices up more than 70% in the past 12 months, the precious metal is once again attracting the attention of locals looking for opportunities in their own backyard (2).
Goza said an “amateur” prospector can expect to make about $50 a day, while a more serious prospector might bring in “between $100 and $15,000.”
Just like during the first gold rush nearly two centuries ago, success is often a matter of luck. One prospector remembers a time when a gold nugget “just came out – it was completely round like a baseball and it was half gold.”
Still, the work can be grueling. As another prospector said, gold “don’t jump in the pan.”
And salary is never a sure thing.
“It’s emotional, some days you find $15,000, other days you find nothing,” Goza said.
Of course, not everyone has the time – or the back muscles – to pan for gold in a river bed. But you don’t need a frying pan to get in on the action. Gold has long been seen as a store of value – and some of the biggest names in finance are urging investors to make room for it in their portfolios.
Read more: Warren Buffett Used 8 Solid, Repeatable Money Rules to Turn $9,800 into a $150 Billion Fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)’
Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, defended the importance of gold.
“People generally don’t have a sufficient amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC (3). “When tough times come, gold is a very effective diversification tool.”
Gold has long been considered the ultimate safe haven. Unlike fiat money, it cannot be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks, making it a natural hedge against inflation. It is also not tied to any particular country, currency or economy. When markets falter or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often flock to gold, driving prices higher.
On LinkedIn, Dalio shared, “I think most people make the mistake of thinking of gold as a metal rather than the more established form of money,” adding, “Unlike fiat currency debt, gold does not have the same inherent credit and devaluation risks (4). »
Jeffrey Gundlach, founder of DoubleLine Capital and widely known as the “Bond King,” echoed this sentiment. He recently said that a 25% portfolio allocation to gold “is not excessive,” calling the metal an “insurance policy” that is likely to remain “in winning mode” amid continued dollar weakness (5).
Meanwhile, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, said that in this environment, gold can “easily” reach $10,000 per ounce (6). In December, the spot price of gold reached $4,484, almost half of Dimon’s prediction.
For those looking to capitalize on the potential of gold while enjoying tax benefits, one option is to open a gold IRA with help from Goldco.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets in a retirement account, which combines the tax benefits of an IRA with the protection benefits of an investment in gold, making it an attractive option for those potentially looking to protect their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Additionally, the company will offer up to 10% free money on qualified purchases.
If you’re curious if this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free information guide to gold and silver today.
Ultimately, the rise in the value of gold is a reflection of the decline in the value of fiat currency – the US dollar, in America’s case. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, $100 in 2025 has the same purchasing power as just $12.05 in 1970 (7).
But gold isn’t the only asset that has helped investors preserve their wealth. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.
When inflation rises, property values also rise, reflecting rising costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to increase, providing landlords with an income stream that adjusts for inflation.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, real estate prices have soared more than 225 percent over the past 30 years. And in recent years, these price increases have been brutal (8).
“Since the pandemic, home price appreciation has outpaced wage growth, making first-time home buying less accessible for many,” according to Bill Merz, head of capital markets research for the U.S. Bank Asset Management Group (9).
Many Americans need multiple sources of income to purchase a home. For example, Goza, the gold prospector in California, finally bought a house after years of finding gold alongside his work as an entrepreneur.
High housing prices and high mortgage rates make buying a home difficult. And if you’re looking to buy a rental home, prepare yourself for a lot of hands-on tasks: tenant management, paperwork management, maintenance and repairs, all of which can cost you time (and income).
The good news is that you don’t need to buy property outright – or deal with leaky faucets – to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to gain exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived lets you invest in rental housing stocks for as little as $100, all without having to mow the lawn, paint and plaster, or deal with difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a selection of homes that have been reviewed for appreciation and income potential. Once you have found a property you like, select the number of shares you wish to purchase, then sit back as you begin receiving positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Beyond residential real estate, you can also invest in inflation-resistant commercial real estate sectors. For example, with First National Realty Partners (FNRP), accredited investors can diversify their portfolio through commercial properties anchored by grocery stores – again, without the responsibilities of 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. With Triple Net (NNN) leases, qualified investors can invest in these properties without worrying about rental costs reducing their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions, including how much you want to invest, to start browsing the full list of available properties.
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@Fox40 (1); APMEX (2); @CNBCInternationalLive (3); @RayDalio (4); DoubleLine Capital (5); @CNBCtelevision (6); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (7); United States Census Bureau (8); American Bank (9)
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
