Gold moving on rate hikes? Thoughts on my strategy.

• •Watching the Fed today felt like reliving a tactical brief, albeit with less classified intel and more economic jargon.
• •Part of me, the Admiral that drilled on economic stability during deployments, understands the rationale.
• •It’s been a bedrock for me, especially since retiring from the Navy and diversifying out of just standard equities and bonds.

Watching the Fed today felt like reliving a tactical brief, albeit with less classified intel and more economic jargon. Another rate hike. Part of me, the Admiral that drilled on economic stability during deployments, understands the rationale. The other part, the investor who’s been through a few downturns now, is just wondering how much more tightening this economy can take before something really breaks. I've got a decent chunk, probably 15% of my overall 7-figure portfolio, tied up in physical gold and some mining stocks, mostly the bigger, more established players. It’s been a bedrock for me, especially since retiring from the Navy and diversifying out of just standard equities and bonds.

My gold coins, a solid mix of Eagles and Buffalos primarily held in an authorized depository, haven't exactly shot the lights out lately, but they haven't cratered either. It's the stability I signed up for, especially with inflation still being a sticky wicket, even if the Fed wants us to believe otherwise. I’ve always viewed gold as my ultimate insurance policy – a hedge against the kind of systemic risks you just can’t predict. Think back to '08, or even during some of the geopolitical volatility we’ve seen in the past few years. It’s been comforting to know I’ve got that physical asset sitting there, uncorrelated to much of the market noise.

What are others thinking about gold’s performance given these persistent rate increases? Are we seeing a temporary drag, or is this the new normal where higher rates consistently outweigh gold's safe-haven appeal? I’m based out of Virginia Beach, and frankly, local advisors often push more towards REITs or municipal bonds for income. I’m secure income-wise, so capital preservation is more my game. I’m considering adding a bit more to my gold holdings, maybe another 5% of my portfolio if there's a dip, but I’m curious if anyone else is seeing a bigger picture I might be missing. Is the opportunity cost of holding gold too high right now with bond yields where they are? Always learning, even after a long career.