In these dark and uncertain times, do you feel like you’re being punished after a lifetime of doing the right thing to protect your retirement and your family’s financial future? Well, you’re not alone, friend, and there is a way out.
Meet Hank Monroe, a 62-year-old from Dallas Texas. Like you, Hank did everything “right.” He put in forty tough years working his way up from the stock room through the ranks of middle management at a prominent manufacturing firm. He played by the rules, contributing to his 401(k), diversified across sectors, and always listened to his financial advisor. By late 2024, he was ready. With $1.2 million tucked away, mostly in stocks, he envisioned warm mornings on the porch and trips to Florida with his grandkids. Then March 2025 hit.
A flash crash born of U.S.-China trade tensions, AI-driven hedge fund liquidations, and grim economic forecasts ignited panic. Some called it a “market correction.” For Hank, it was crushing.
His portfolio, rich in tech and energy stocks, lost 25% in weeks. That’s $300,000-gone. Years of sacrifice erased in a few headlines and keystrokes. Hank now wakes up every morning not to freedom, but to fear.
In his quiet private moments smoking a cigarette on late night strolls around his neighborhood, Hank remembered his grandfather, Lionel, a co-owner of a small machine and tool shop serving oil equipment manufacturers. By 1928, the shop had three employees, a new lathe, and Lionel had even started buying stocks “like the bankers did.” He put half his savings into railroad and utility stocks, widely regarded as a safe bet at the time. But when the market crashed in 1929, Lionel lost his investment, and over the next year, his shop, and house as well.
“I still remember Grandpa sitting by the fire in his armchair, polishing old wrenches. He never trusted banks again,” Hank remarked.
Lionel spent the rest of his life working odd jobs, never regaining the stability he once had. His story became a whispered warning in the Monroe family:
"Don’t trust what you can’t hold."
Sometimes it’s hard to remember what holds true through the ages when you’re busy doing everything right. Sound familiar?
Back in 2021, when gold was hovering around $1,800 an ounce, Hank had briefly considered shifting some of his portfolio into a gold IRA. But it felt too “old-school” compared to his tech and oil stocks, so he passed.
If only Hank had taken action.
In April 2025, gold surged past $3,200 per ounce as panic spread through the markets and investors stampeded into safe havens. But Hank didn’t own any.
If Hank had just moved 20%, or $240,000, into gold back then, that slice of his portfolio would have increased in value significantly. At $3,200 per ounce, that position could’ve been worth well over $425,000 by only April 2025. Instead of being down $300,000 overall, Hank’s total portfolio would be sitting close to $1.325 million - more than where he started.
That extra equity wouldn’t just be numbers on a statement. It would be freedom. Options. Dignity. It would mean not having to sell at a loss. Not having to downsize. Not having to question whether retirement was a mistake. Not having to wake up every day wondering if his financial plan would send him and his loved ones into ruins.
Once again, the words of Grandpa Lionel came to mind:
"Don’t trust what you can’t hold.”
Gold: The Missed Lifeboat
From Jan 2000 to Feb 2025, the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq each gained under 300% - less than 12% per year annualized, and that’s before inflation, taxes, and fees.
Gold, over the same period?
From $280 to over $2,890 per ounce. That’s nearly 1,000% growth, or more than 36% per annum on average. And unlike stocks, gold’s rise isn’t tied to corporate earnings or government policy.
And unlike stocks, gold’s rise isn’t tied to corporate earnings or government policy.
Bottom line: gold has more than tripled the performance of all of the 3 major stock indexes over this same 25 year time frame
Gold vs. Stocks: The Cold Hard Numbers
Gold: Not Just Stable. Dominant
Gold isn’t just hedging - it’s outperforming.
Driven by instability, war fears, and central bank panic, gold hit $3,200/oz in April 2025. Some analysts are quietly whispering $4,000 or higher if the U.S. slips into a full-blown recession.
Why a Gold IRA Makes Sense Right Now
True Diversification Stocks, bonds, and ETFs are all tied to the same economic engine. When it crashes, they all fall. Gold lives outside that system.
Tax Protection: A gold IRA allows you to defer taxes, just like a 401(k) or traditional IRA
Inflation: Defense While fiat currencies get debased, gold preserves purchasing power.
Crisis Resilience: Whether it's war, recession, or currency collapse—gold doesn’t care.
Since COVID, central banks have been on a gold-buying binge. In 2022 and beyond, they’re buying at the fastest pace in modern history. Why? Because they know what’s coming.
Something massive is shifting beneath the surface. U.S. gold imports just hit historic highs, dwarfing past surges. Governments and institutions are moving away from paper assets and into something real.
Follow the Money: Central banks and U.S. Gold Imports
The Lesson from Hank
Don’t be Hank Monroe.
Don’t wait for the pain to come before protecting your wealth.If you’re 55+, with savings in the $250,000+ range, you may not get a second chance. Now is the time to diversify into gold. Obtain a gold IRA, and secure the future you've worked a lifetime to build.
Because when the next shock comes, hope won’t cut it. You’ll need something you can hold.
AMERICAN GOLD AUTHORITY
Secure your future with the most reliable asset in human history: gold. Trust the experts to navigate you through uncertain times and protect the wealth you have built. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.
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