Detroit perspectives: Physical gold vs. paper - The real

• •My first gold purchase was a few American Gold Eagles back in '03, right after I got a pension bump from Ford.
• •Started slow, then really ramped it up after the ’08 crash.
• •Had a good chunk, probably about 15% of my portfolio by the time I retired a few years back, all in physical.

I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter lately, especially from newer investors, about the pros and cons of physical gold versus these paper gold options – ETFs, mining stocks, even some digital gold schemes. As someone who’s been putting their money into precious metals for over 20 years now, mostly physical, I gotta say, it feels like we’re missing the forest for the trees sometimes.

My first gold purchase was a few American Gold Eagles back in '03, right after I got a pension bump from Ford. Started slow, then really ramped it up after the ’08 crash. Had a good chunk, probably about 15% of my portfolio by the time I retired a few years back, all in physical. We’re talking well over half a million dollars now in physical gold stored securely, and a smaller amount in silver. My total portfolio is probably closer to a million, so this isn't my whole world, but it's a significant bedrock. The peace of mind holding those actual ounces in my hand, knowing they’re mine, feels fundamentally different than looking at a number on a brokerage statement. Especially after seeing some of the financial upheaval we've gone through here in Detroit and nationally over the decades.

For me, the whole point of gold is its intrinsic value, its tangible nature. That's why I went with Gold IRAs in the first place. You can’t print more physical gold, you can’t default on it, and it doesn't disappear if a website crashes. With paper gold, you’re still subjected to counterparty risk, management fees, and a whole host of other things that dilute the very reason I invest in gold. Yeah, it might be easier to buy and sell, but is ‘easy’ always ‘better’ when you’re talking about preserving wealth? What are your experiences? Have any of you who primarily hold paper gold ever felt that little itch of doubt, that desire to actually see and hold what you own?