Investing in Gold: 10 Facts You Need to Know

Gold tends to do well in times of trouble. Well, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic putting the global economy on lockdown, investors have trouble in spades.

With gold prices climbing back toward all-time highs, you might be tempted to add some to your portfolio. Many investors already have. Sales of gold-backed exchange-traded funds have set records this year, with net inflows of $23 billion in the first quarter. And gold has delivered solidly positive returns during this bear market in stocks.

But pouring a chunk of your assets into gold isn't always a good idea. In fact, gold actually has a spotty long-term record as an investment.

Here are some critical nuggets you