Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue by linking to the content below.
It’s been more than 170 years since the California Gold Rush — but locals are once again finding gold dust, flakes and even nuggets glinting in the state’s rivers.
“Gold is everywhere,” Manny Goza, a prospector surveying the Bear River, told FOX40 News (1). The fall season has brought lower water levels, which makes it easier to access sections of the river that are usually inaccessible.
For Goza, a builder by trade, the search for gold 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 digging for gold.”
With the price of gold up more than 70% over 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 could expect to earn around $50 a day, while a more serious one could bring in “anywhere between $100 and $15,000.”
Like the original Gold Rush almost two centuries ago, striking it big often comes down to luck. One prospector recalled a time when a gold nugget “just rolled off—it was completely round like a baseball and it was half gold.”
However, the work can be exhausting. As another prospector put it, gold “doesn’t jump in the pan.”
And payday is never a sure thing.
“It’s exciting, 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 bed. But you don’t need a pan to get in on the action. Gold has long been prized 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 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, questioned the importance of gold.
“People typically don’t have an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC (3). “When times are bad, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Gold has long been regarded as the ultimate safe haven. Unlike fiat currency, it cannot be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks, making it a natural hedge against inflation. It is also not tied to any country, currency or economy. When markets falter or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often turn to gold, pushing prices higher.
On LinkedIn, Dalio shared, “I think most people make the mistake of thinking of gold as a metal rather than the most 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 that 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 a winning mode” amid ongoing dollar weakness (5).
Meanwhile, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said that in this environment, gold can “easily” rise to $10,000 an ounce (6). In December, the spot price of gold reached $4,484 – almost half of Dimon’s prediction.
For those looking to harness the potential of gold while also securing tax advantages, one option is to open a gold IRA with the help of Goldco.
The Gold IRA allows investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets in a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those 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 match up to 10% of qualifying purchases in free silver.
If you are curious if this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download our free gold and silver information guide today.
At the end of the day, the rising value of gold is a reflection of the falling value of the 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 is not the only asset that has helped investors preserve wealth. Real estate has also proven to be a strong hedge.
When inflation rises, property values often rise as well, reflecting higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to rise, giving landlords an income stream that adjusts to inflation.
According to the US Census Bureau, home prices have skyrocketed by more than 225% over the past 30 years. And in recent years, these price increases have been strong (8).
“Since the pandemic, home price appreciation has outstripped wage growth, making homes less affordable for many,” according to Bill Merz, head of capital markets research for US Bank Asset Management Group (9).
Many Americans need multiple streams of income to buy a home. For example, Goza, the gold digger from California, finally bought a house after years of panning for gold along with his job as a contractor.
High home prices and high mortgage rates make buying a home difficult. And if you want to buy a rental house, then be prepared for a lot of practical work – managing tenants, managing documents and maintenance and repairs, all of which can eat up time (and returns) quickly.
The good news is that you don’t have to buy a property outright – or deal with running taps – 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 stock for as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, painting and plastering, or managing 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 want to buy and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Beyond residential real estate, you could also invest in inflation-proof commercial real estate sectors. For example, with First National Realty Partners (FNRP), accredited investors can diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties—again, without taking on the responsibilities of ownership.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a portion of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart that provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net Leases (NNN), accredited investors can invest in these properties without worrying about cutting tenant costs into their potential returns.
Answer a few questions – including how much you’d like to invest – to start browsing the full list of available properties.
We only rely on verified sources and credible third-party reports. For details, seeeditorial ethics and guidelines.
@Fox40 (1); APMEX (2); @CNBCInternationalLive (3); @RayDalio (4); DoubleLine Capital (5); @CNBCtelevision (6); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (7); US Census Bureau (8); US Bank (9)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. Offered without warranty of any kind.
