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It’s been more than 170 years since California’s Gold Rush — but locals are once again finding gold dust, flakes and even nuggets glittering in the state’s rivers.
“Gold’s all around,” said Manny Goza, a prospector sifting through the Bear River, speaking FOX40 News (1). The fall season has brought lower water levels, which make it easier to reach stretches of the river that are usually inaccessible.
For Goza, a builder by trade, panning for gold has paid off.
“I did it every day. I’ve been here since 2005, bought a house in 2010 because I could pay my bills off the gold,” he said. “When I’m not contracting, I’m here digging gold.”
With gold prices up more than 70% over the past 12 months, the precious metal is drawing renewed attention from locals looking for opportunity in their own backyard (2).
Goza said an “amateur” prospector can expect to make around $50 a day, while a more serious one might bring in “anywhere from $100 to $15,000.”
Just like the original Gold Rush nearly two centuries ago, striking it big often comes down to luck. One prospector recalled a moment when a golden nugget “just rolled out — it was completely round like a baseball and it was half gold.”
Still, the work can be grueling. As another prospector put it, gold “doesn’t jump into the pan.”
And payday is never a sure thing.
“It’s emotional, some days you find $15,000, some days you don’t find anything,” Goza said.
Of course, not everyone has the time — or the back muscles — to dig for gold in a riverbed. 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.
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Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has been pounding the table on gold’s importance.
“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC (3). “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Gold has long been viewed as the ultimate safe haven. Unlike fiat currency, it can’t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks — making it a natural hedge against inflation. It’s also not tied to any one country, currency or economy. When markets wobble or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often flock 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 as the most established form of money,” adding, “Unlike fiat currency debt, gold doesn’t 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’s 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 gold spot price hit $4,484 — nearly half of Dimon’s prediction.
For those looking to capitalize on gold’s potential while also securing tax advantages, one option is to open a gold IRA with the help of Goldco.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within 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 potentially hedge 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. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.
If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today.
At the end of the day, gold’s rise in value is a reflection of the declining value of fiat currency — the U.S. dollar, in America’s case. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, $100 in 2025 has the same buying power as just $12.05 did in 1970 (7).
But gold isn’t the only asset that has helped investors preserve wealth. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.
When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, housing prices have skyrocketed by more than 225% over the past 30 years. And in more recent years, those price increases have been stark (8).
“Since the pandemic, home price appreciation has outpaced wage growth, making starter homes less attainable for many,” according to Bill Merz, head of capital markets research for the U.S. Bank Asset Management Group (9).
Many Americans require multiple income streams to buy a home. For instance, Goza, the gold prospector in California, eventually bought a house after years of striking gold alongside his contracting job.
High home prices and elevated mortgage rates make buying a home challenging. And if you’re looking to buy a home to rent out, then be prepared for loads of hands-on work — managing tenants, handling paperwork, and maintenance and repairs, all of which can quickly eat into your time (and returns).
The good news is, you don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, painting and plastering, or handling 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’d like to purchase 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-resistant sectors of commercial real estate. For instance, with First National Realty Partners (FNRP), accredited investors can diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties — again, 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.
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@Fox40 (1); APMEX (2); @CNBCInternationalLive (3); @RayDalio (4); DoubleLine Capital (5); @CNBCtelevision (6); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (7); U.S. Census Bureau (8); U.S. Bank (9)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.