2016 in retrospect, page-47

The sentiment generally refers to gold (and the general precious metals) as wealth preservers. this excludes obviously people that trade frequently as then it doesn't matter what your vehicle is, trading is trading. The idea for precious metals investment is that its buying power remains the same throughout the ages. A 1/2 oz bar of gold would have been able to be traded for enough fiat currency to buy a tank of fuel (obviously an example) flash forward 100 years and the same 1/2 oz would still buy you a tank of fuel due to inflation, taxation blah blah blah.... it also allows you to hoard "value" away from the tax man, move "value" around the world under the radar and withstand flunctations in global finances... its a value holder, not really a typical investment class.... many would disagree but this is generally why it compliments a portfolio and isn't the entire play.