Gold IRA paying off big time - feeling a mix of relief and validation

• •I know there's a lot of debate here about precious metals, but I just had to share something that's making me feel incredibly validated today.
• •I started my Gold IRA back in 2018, putting in a decent chunk, about $150k at the time.
• •Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and with all the market volatility and inflation fears, I decided to get an updated valuation.

I know there's a lot of debate here about precious metals, but I just had to share something that's making me feel incredibly validated today. I started my Gold IRA back in 2018, putting in a decent chunk, about $150k at the time. As a professor and someone who researches economic history, I've always had a healthy skepticism of fiat currency, and the historical data on gold's role as a store of value just resonated with me. My wife thought I was a little old-fashioned, but I figured it was a prudent move to diversify what was otherwise a pretty standard equities heavy portfolio.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and with all the market volatility and inflation fears, I decided to get an updated valuation. My initial investment of $150k is now comfortably over $280k. That's a return I frankly wasn't expecting, especially not compared to some of the ups and downs I've seen in my 401k during the same period. It's not "get rich quick" money by any stretch, but the stability and growth have been a huge relief. We're thinking about using a portion of the gains for a down payment on a new place here in Richmond – maybe something with a bigger yard for the dog.

I distinctly remember agonizing over the decision, reading every white paper and market analysis I could get my hands on. Some of my colleagues at VCU scoffed a bit, favoring the latest tech stocks. While they've certainly had their wins, seeing this gold position perform exactly as I'd hoped – safeguarding capital and even generating significant growth – feels incredibly good. It’s not about beating the market for me, it's about preservation and having that foundational security.

Anyone else have similar experiences or reaching some milestones with their Gold IRAs lately? I'm curious to hear how others have navigated the past few years with their precious metals investments. Did you rebalance, add more, or just let it ride, like I mostly did? I'm debating whether to take some profits or let it continue to appreciate given the current global climate.