5 years in with my Gold IRA - The highs, the lows, and the harvest

• •Man, can't believe it's already been five years since I first put some serious cash into a Gold IRA.
• •Feels like just yesterday I was talking to my financial advisor – a good buddy of mine actually – about diversifying out of just stocks and bonds.
• •Being in agriculture here in Fresno, you learn pretty quick that real assets are where it's at when things get shaky.

Man, can't believe it's already been five years since I first put some serious cash into a Gold IRA. Feels like just yesterday I was talking to my financial advisor – a good buddy of mine actually – about diversifying out of just stocks and bonds. Being in agriculture here in Fresno, you learn pretty quick that real assets are where it's at when things get shaky. You can't eat a stock certificate, right?

I started with about $60,000 five years ago. I remember feeling a little nervous, wondering if I was making the right call. My wife, bless her heart, was supportive but definitely raised an eyebrow at moving that much into something I couldn't "touch." (Little did she know about the annual statements with the holdings!). My buddy helped me set up with Augusta Precious Metals. No complaints there, the process was smooth and they answered every dumb question I had. Over the past few years, I've dribbled another $15,000 in, just as I had some extra cash from a couple of good harvests.

So, the big question: returns. It hasn't been a rocket ship, for sure. There were definitely times, especially during some of those stock surges, where I looked at my Gold IRA statements and thought, "Is this really doing anything?" But then you look at global instability, inflation creeping up, and you remember why you diversified. My initial $60k is now sitting around $78,000, not including the additional contributions. That's not blowing anyone away, but it's a solid, steady climb. Plus, the peace of mind knowing I have a hedge against all the craziness is worth a lot more than just the dollar amount.

My portfolio overall is probably around $90k in gold now, maybe a little more on good days. It's a significant chunk, but it feels right for where I'm at. I'm 58 next month, so retirement isn't that far off. I'm wondering if any of you older folks have started drawing from your Gold IRAs yet? Any insights on that process? Also, for those further along, did you find yourself increasing your gold allocation as you got closer to retirement, or did you stick to your initial plan?