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Is Buying Physical Gold Still a Good Idea

November 16, 2025
By Henrique

In recent years, gold has made a strong comeback to the center of attention in investments. With recurring financial crises, persistent inflation, and growing distrust in traditional monetary systems, more and more investors—both institutional and individual—are turning their eyes back to physical gold as a store of value.

Historical store of value Gold has been used as a form of wealth for over 5,000 years. It has survived empires, monetary collapses, and technological revolutions. It continues to be accepted and valued globally.
Free from counterparty risk Unlike financial assets, physical gold doesn’t depend on any institution. If you have a bar in your hand, it’s worth what it’s worth, regardless of what happens to the bank, broker, or government.
Protection against inflation and crises Historically, gold tends to preserve value during periods of currency devaluation. It doesn’t guarantee returns, but it maintains purchasing power.
Portfolio diversification Including physical gold in your portfolio can reduce volatility and mitigate losses during times of turbulence in financial markets.

Risks and limitations

Storage and security costs Storing physical gold requires care: either you pay for a safe (at home or in a bank), or you assume the risk. This has logistical and emotional costs.
Low immediate liquidity Selling physical gold isn’t as simple as clicking a button. You need to find a buyer, negotiate the price, and ensure authenticity.
Spread between buying and selling There’s a significant difference between the price you buy at and what you get when selling (spread). This impacts profitability.
No yield generation Physical gold doesn’t pay interest or dividends. Gains only occur with asset appreciation—and that can take time.

How to buy physical gold (without falling into traps)

If you decide to proceed, pay attention to some points:

Buy only gold with recognized certification (e.g., LBMA Good Delivery)
Avoid jewelry or non-standardized pieces: they have lower liquidity and variable value
Check the spread charged—some sellers apply abusive margins
Keep proof of purchase and authenticity
Consider diversifying storage locations if the amount is significant

Some authorized platforms and refiners operate online and deliver to Portugal with quality guarantees. There are also companies specialized in safes and storage.

Is physical gold for everyone?

Not necessarily. If you’re just starting to invest, it might make more sense to first build an emergency reserve, learn to handle more liquid financial instruments, and only then explore physical gold as protection and diversification.

But if you already have a robust portfolio, concerns about monetary stability, or simply value assets outside the banking system, physical gold can be a valuable piece in your long-term strategy.

Conclusion: is it worth it?

It depends. Physical gold isn’t a miraculous investment, but it can be an anchor in an increasingly volatile financial world.

If you enter with realistic expectations, awareness of costs, and a long-term focus, it can be a useful addition to your portfolio—as a store of value, diversification, and independence.

If you’re guided only by fear or hype… maybe it’s better to wait.

Want to delve deeper into this topic? On Gustavo’s channel, there are videos dedicated to the history of gold, alternatives to physical investment, and comparisons with digital assets.

All content in this article is for informational and educational purposes only, and does not represent any type of financial advice. Any mention of financial products and investments in these articles does not represent any recommendation and should not be taken as financial, accounting, tax, or legal advice.

Investing in financial instruments is subject to risks, including the risk of partial or total loss of invested capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read and understand risk disclosures to help in decision-making.

The gold rush in 2025

If you’re paying attention to the market, you’ve probably noticed the increase in searches and content about gold, including videos like the most recent one on the YouTube channel. This doesn’t happen by chance: since 2020, the price of gold has seen significant appreciation, surpassing historical highs on several occasions.

This movement has been fueled by:

Geopolitical instability (war, China–US tensions, etc.)
Persistent inflation in various economies
Expansionary policies from central banks
Growing demand for “solid” assets that are less exposed to the traditional financial system

It’s not just a fad: there are real reasons for this trend. But it’s worth understanding the context and risks before diving headfirst into investing in physical gold.

Physical gold vs. financial gold: they’re not the same thing

First of all, it’s important to distinguish between physical gold and exposure to gold through financial instruments:

Physical gold: bars, ingots, or coins that you buy, store, and transport. You have direct possession.
Financial gold: ETFs, certificates, futures, or shares in mining companies. You don’t own the metal itself.

In this article, we focus on physical gold, due to its unique characteristics: it’s tangible, scarce, with no counterparty risk, and doesn’t depend on trust in financial intermediaries.

Advantages of physical gold

1. Historical store of value
Gold has been used as a form of wealth for over 5,000 years. It has survived empires, monetary collapses, and technological revolutions. It continues to be accepted and valued globally.

2. Free from counterparty risk
Unlike financial assets, physical gold doesn’t depend on any institution. If you have a bar in your hand, it’s worth what it’s worth, regardless of what happens to the bank, broker, or government.

3. Protection against inflation and crises
Historically, gold tends to preserve value during periods of currency devaluation. It doesn’t guarantee returns, but it maintains purchasing power.

4. Portfolio diversification
Including physical gold in your portfolio can reduce volatility and mitigate losses during times of turbulence in financial markets.

Risks and limitations

1. Storage and security costs
Storing physical gold requires care: either you pay for a safe (at home or in a bank), or you assume the risk. This has logistical and emotional costs.

2. Low immediate liquidity
Selling physical gold isn’t as simple as clicking a button. You need to find a buyer, negotiate the price, and ensure authenticity.

3. Spread between buying and selling
There’s a significant difference between the price you buy at and what you get when selling (spread). This impacts profitability.

4. No yield generation
Physical gold doesn’t pay interest or dividends. Gains only occur with asset appreciation—and that can take time.