Gold vs. Other Investments
Stocks, bonds, real estate, even crypto — they all have a place. But compare gold against them over the last 20 years, and the consistency is hard to ignore.
The Comparison
Investments come in many shapes and sizes — stocks, bonds, real estate, even crypto. Yet when you compare gold against them, the results can be surprising.
By many measures, gold has been the most consistent store of value over the last 20 years — as the 2006–2026 comparison shows.
Performance Over Time
The S&P 500 is the benchmark, averaging about 10% annually and growing roughly 550% over 20 years — phenomenal by most standards. Gold grew closer to 850% over the same period. On the stock market comparison, gold is a clear winner.
Real estate offers intrinsic value, cash flow, and tax advantages — but it can be volatile, as 2008 showed. Median home prices rose about 167% over 20 years. Strong, but well short of gold's roughly eightfold increase.
Bonds are seen as the safest long-term hold, designed to beat inflation with guaranteed returns. That safety caps their upside — even aggressive estimates reach only about 100% over 20 years, dramatically trailing gold.
Interest on cash often falls below inflation, so idle cash loses real value. Even in a high-interest account, growth caps around 25% over 20 years — at its best, less than 1/30 of gold's performance.
Fitting Gold In
Two paths to gold: tax-advantaged retirement accounts, or direct ownership you control.
The IRS allows gold in tax-advantaged accounts — IRAs, 401(k)s, and pensions — but only approved coins, bullion, or bars qualify, and they must be stored at an IRS-approved facility (keeping gold at home counts as a taxable withdrawal). We help you browse eligible options, purchase, and deliver to the depository of your choice — and convert accounts to maximize tax advantages.
Outside retirement accounts you have full freedom — buy any coins, bars, or bullion and store them where you like. Our experts help you explore what fits your strategy, with delivery to your home or chosen location. The gold is under your direct control: hard currency that hedges against uncertainty and diversifies your holdings.
Why Gold Belongs at the Cornerstone
Gold has grown in value throughout history. It floats above inflation — as fiat currencies inflate, gold's scarcity holds its value — while steady demand, including in precise electronics, keeps accelerating it.
When governments print money, they devalue the currency. Gold can't be printed, so it holds its intrinsic value — it simply takes more dollars to buy it. That's why so many currencies ran on a gold standard for so long.
Gold is valued for its own sake — prized by nearly every society in history. It resists corrosion, conducts well, and is highly malleable. Above all it's scarce, so no one can flood the market and devalue it.
Gold pairs reliable growth with stability, consistently outperforming most other stable options. Stability and upside in a single asset make it efficient — a leading choice for retirement accounts.
There's no mandate to invest in gold, but it's popular for a reason. Speak with a Citadel Gold expert to explore your options, balance them in your portfolio, and find the most tax-advantaged strategy.
