Feeling pretty good about my Palladium IRA right now (long-term hold)

• •I know this sub talks a lot about gold and silver, and for good reason!
• •But I wanted to share a bit about my Palladium IRA and how it's been performing for me over the past few years.
• •Gold felt a bit crowded, and silver's volatility, while exciting, wasn't quite the steady, diversified play I was looking for.

I know this sub talks a lot about gold and silver, and for good reason! They're the OGs. But I wanted to share a bit about my Palladium IRA and how it's been performing for me over the past few years. Full disclosure: I'm a bit of a research nerd (professor life, you know), so when I first got into precious metals back in 2018, I spent a solid month deep-diving into all the options. Gold felt a bit crowded, and silver's volatility, while exciting, wasn't quite the steady, diversified play I was looking for.

After a ton of reading on industrial applications, supply constraints, and geopolitical impacts, I decided to allocate a portion of my precious metals strategy to palladium. I started with about $75k in a self-directed IRA, buying mostly PAMP Suisse bars. It wasn't my entire metals allocation, mind you – I've got some physical gold stashed away too – but enough to make a difference. The first couple of years were a bit of a rollercoaster, but sticking to my long-term outlook (and ignoring the daily fluctuations, tough as that was sometimes) really paid off.

Fast forward to now, and I just checked my statement. That initial $75k has grown to just over $150k. That's a 100% gain in about six years, which feels pretty damn good, especially when I compare it to some of my more traditional portfolio holdings during the same period. While I missed the absolute peak, I'm still well outperforming my initial expectations. Living here in Richmond, VA, the extra capital is making me think seriously about finally upgrading the kitchen or maybe even taking that sabbatical I've been eyeing.

I know past performance isn't indicative of future results, and palladium has its own unique risks, but this has been a great example of applying a research-driven, long-term approach to a slightly less conventional precious metal. It's really reinforced my belief in diversifying beyond just the household names. Anyone else here holding palladium? What are your thoughts on its future trajectory, especially with the automotive industry's ongoing shifts?