Gold for inflation protection - my take and thoughts?

• •I've been thinking a lot lately about inflation, especially with all the talk about interest rates and the economy.
• •I initially got into gold a few years back specifically for this reason – hedging against inflation.
• •I've seen it play out in previous cycles, though admittedly, the past couple of years have been a bit of a mixed bag for everyone.

I've been thinking a lot lately about inflation, especially with all the talk about interest rates and the economy. As a military retiree here in San Diego, financial security is something I take pretty seriously, and protecting my nest egg from erosion is a top priority. My wife and I have worked hard to build up our portfolio, which is hovering around the $400k mark right now, and I've got a decent chunk of that in a Gold IRA. I initially got into gold a few years back specifically for this reason – hedging against inflation.

The core idea behind gold as an inflation hedge always made sense to me: when the dollar weakens and prices go up, gold tends to hold its value or even appreciate because its supply is finite. I've seen it play out in previous cycles, though admittedly, the past couple of years have been a bit of a mixed bag for everyone. I keep an eye on things, and sometimes I feel like I'm questioning myself, but then I look at the long-term trends. I was looking at a tool the other day, the Gold vs Stocks Comparison on Gold IRA Blueprint, and seeing how gold has performed against the S&P 500 over the last 10 years really puts things into perspective for me. Not always the flashiest returns, but definitely a solid performer during choppy waters.

My question for you all is, beyond just holding physical gold or a Gold IRA, what other inflation protection strategies are you folks employing? Are there other asset classes you're leaning into that have proven resilient against rising consumer prices? Or are you just doubling down on traditional hedges like gold and real estate? I'm curious about different approaches folks are taking. Always good to hear what other experienced investors are thinking.