Gold's been my rock during this inflation mess - anyone else feeling it?

• •I'd always just kinda shrugged off the idea of precious metals, thought it was for doomsday preppers or something.
• •I started small, maybe 1/3 of my IRA, about $40k worth, into physical gold last year.
• •Honestly, it was a bit of a leap of faith.

Okay, so I've been in the music biz here in Nashville for decades, seen plenty of ups and downs, but this inflation spike over the last couple of years has been something else. I'd always just kinda shrugged off the idea of precious metals, thought it was for doomsday preppers or something. But after seeing my usual portfolio take a hit and the cost of everything from groceries to studio time just keep climbing, I finally decided to look into a Gold IRA.

I started small, maybe 1/3 of my IRA, about $40k worth, into physical gold last year. Honestly, it was a bit of a leap of faith. I'm not gonna lie, the thought of holding actual metal instead of just digital numbers was a little weird at first. But seeing the price of gold hold strong, and even gain a little, while my other investments were getting chipped away has been incredibly reassuring. It feels like such a solid anchor when everything else is fluctuating wildly. It's not about getting rich quick, but more about preserving what I've got.

I know some people are skeptical, but for me, this has been a godsend for inflation protection. My 401k still has its ups and downs, but that gold portion just sits there, doing its thing. It's eased a lot of the anxiety I was feeling about my retirement savings. Anyone else here in a similar boat? Did you jump into gold specifically for inflation, or was it for other reasons? Curious to hear other folks' experiences, especially those who've been doing this longer than my measly year.