Geopolitics and Gold - What are you seeing lately?

• •I've been watching the gold market pretty closely the last couple of years, especially with all the geopolitical crap hitting the fan.
• •My portfolio sits around $180k right now, mostly in my Gold IRA that I rolled over from an old 401k a few years back.
• •Working in the casino industry here in Vegas for so long, you get a pretty good handle on risk and how fast things can change.

I've been watching the gold market pretty closely the last couple of years, especially with all the geopolitical crap hitting the fan. My portfolio sits around $180k right now, mostly in my Gold IRA that I rolled over from an old 401k a few years back. Working in the casino industry here in Vegas for so long, you get a pretty good handle on risk and how fast things can change. I mean, one day you're up, the next you're down, but generally, there's a method to the madness, right? I've always thought of gold as my safe bet, especially when the world goes a bit sideways.

Lately, it just feels like the "sideways" has become the new normal. Every other headline is about another conflict flaring up, trade wars, or some new political instability. I expected gold to be soaring even higher than it is, given everything. Don't get me wrong, it's done well for me, particularly this past year, but I guess I anticipated a more dramatic surge. Is anyone else feeling this disconnect? Are these geopolitical events already priced in, or is there a lag I'm not accounting for?

I’m trying to figure out if I should adjust my allocation, or if this is just the calm before the storm. I’ve been using the Retirement Planner tool a lot lately to stress-test some scenarios with different gold price assumptions. It’s been really helpful for visualizing potential outcomes, but it’s still tough to forecast exactly how much these global tensions will directly impact demand and price in the short to mid-term. What are your thoughts on how geopolitical events are truly impacting gold right now?

Are you factoring in these global uncertainties differently in your own Gold IRA strategies? Any insights from those of you who've been through a few more cycles than I have would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to keep my head above water and make smart moves for the long haul.