Ask Becca: Can I Protect My Retirement with Precious Metals?

Great question. One of the most common things I hear is: "Becca, how can I protect my retirement?" It’s a fair concern, especially when you consider the rollercoaster we call the global financial system.

Most financial advisors will recommend a blend of investments like CDs, Treasury bills, U.S. savings bonds, money market funds, mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, and bonds. That sounds diversified, right? But let’s pause for a moment and ask the bigger question: What are all of these actually backed by?

One thing: the U.S. dollar.

Each of those assets, while different in function and risk profile, are still denominated in dollars. So, if we were to have a currency reset or major devaluation (and history tells us these things do happen), then you’re left asking: What exactly will I be paid in?

Let’s get real for a second. During Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation, people were carrying trillions of Zimbabwean dollars just to buy a loaf of bread. In some cases, insurance and pension payments became so worthless that people didn’t even bother cashing them in. There’s a story out of Germany post-WWI, where the currency collapsed so dramatically that a postage stamp cost more than the insurance policy people were trying to redeem. That’s how fast fiat can fall.

Now, I’m not saying your portfolio should be 100% precious metals. But ask yourself this: Do I want 100% of my retirement to be tied to paper assets backed by the same currency? Even real estate, as tangible as it is, can be heavily impacted by interest rates and market volatility. But physical metals like gold and silver? Those don’t require a counterparty. They don’t depend on a functioning stock exchange. And they don’t evaporate if the dollar does.

Let’s not confuse this with owning a gold or silver ETF. That’s a paper product, not physical ownership. If there were ever a true crisis, would you want to own the metal, or simply hold a share in a financial product that may or may not be redeemable?

I believe there’s real wisdom in what one of our clients did.

She was never married, spent most of her adult life in ministry, renting a small room from the sisters she worked alongside. She didn’t own a home, didn’t have flashy investments, but a few years ago she came across St. Joseph Partners and made the choice to allocate a portion of her retirement account into physical metals. She was diligent. A good steward. And over the past few years, that allocation grew in a way that allowed her to withdraw funds and purchase her very first home. A modest one, yes. But her home. After years of renting and serving others, she was able to bless herself with a piece of stability she had always dreamed of.

Her story is a testament to thoughtful stewardship. And while I must say (for legal reasons!) that not everyone will see the same growth, many of our clients have seen similar results. The point isn’t to chase performance—it’s to build resilience.

Now may be the time to ask yourself: Isn’t it wise to have at least a piece of my retirement pie in something tangible? Something that doesn’t rely on a central bank, a stock ticker, or the health of the dollar?

You don’t need to overhaul your whole plan. But being a good steward sometimes means asking different questions. And maybe, just maybe, it means giving gold and silver a place at your table.

Have a question for a future Ask Becca? Send it my way at info@stjosephpartners.com—I’d love to hear from you!

Here’s to asking questions, learning something new, and making your financial journey feel just a bit more grounded.
So, let’s get started.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

—Becca


Past performance is not indicative of future results.