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Steven Feldman is co-founder and CEO of GBI.
In a rapidly shifting geopolitical and financial landscape, gold is experiencing a powerful resurgence among America’s wealthiest individuals — emerging not just as a hedge, but as a key pillar in comprehensive wealth and mobility strategies.
Over the past year, there has been a dramatic behavioral shift among high-net-worth investors as they respond to macro risk and uncertainty. As a result of that shift, investment in precious metals as a core strategic asset has increased dramatically, with a 3%-10% allocation fast becoming the norm among high-net-worth portfolios. GBI’s physical precious metal sales have increased 50% year over year, and our firm has had record flows from new accounts that had never purchased precious metals in the past. Recent data from Barron’s estimates that central banks collectively hold USD 4 trillion in gold, and private investors USD 5 trillion, representing a 3.5% global portfolio allocation across all financial assets.
For wealthy American families increasingly exploring secondary residences, citizenship planning, or international wealth diversification, gold offers a unique form of monetary sovereignty that transcends borders, currencies, and regimes. As geopolitical uncertainties mount and traditional financial systems evolve, US millionaires are rediscovering gold not merely as an investment vehicle, but as a strategic component of their broader mobility planning.
Gold's enduring appeal lies in its universal recognition. Unlike fiat currencies or digital assets that depend on institutional backing or technological infrastructure, gold requires no intermediary to validate its worth. From emerging markets to established financial centers, gold speaks a language understood globally: intrinsic value. This characteristic makes it particularly valuable for US high-net-worth individuals considering a multi-jurisdictional presence.
As more American families consider ‘Plan Bs’ through residence or citizenship options abroad, gold provides a parallel track of financial flexibility that aligns with geographic diversification strategies. While residence and citizenship portfolios provide geographical optionality, gold provides its monetary equivalent.
The modern financial system has dramatically reduced the flexibility once afforded to cross-border wealth. As reporting frameworks expand and financial oversight increases, traditional banking assets face growing complexities when moved across jurisdictions.
Gold offers investors a degree of control and resilience that is increasingly rare in an interconnected, highly regulated financial system. For US millionaires contemplating global mobility options, this represents financial sovereignty and increased adaptability in an unpredictable world.
History repeatedly demonstrates gold's role as a crisis hedge. During the 2008 financial crisis, while equity markets collapsed, gold appreciated by over 25%. When the Covid-19 pandemic triggered market turmoil in 2020, gold again served as a stabilizing force in diversified portfolios. Today, we are not in a financial or health crisis, but there is no doubt that the world has permanently changed. The record gold price reflects this dynamic.
Perhaps gold's most underappreciated quality for the globally minded US millionaire is its perfect fungibility. Unlike real estate, which is tied to location, or businesses, which may face cross-border transfer restrictions, gold maintains consistent utility regardless of geography.
This fungibility manifests in several ways. Gold is universally accepted and can be converted to local currency virtually anywhere. It is standardized — a one-ounce gold coin or bar contains precisely the same value whether in New York, London, or Singapore. Gold also carries a liquidity premium — unlike other portable assets (art, gems, collectibles), it trades with minimal spread due to its deep, global market.
For those considering residence or citizenship options beyond the US, this characteristic complements geographical optionality with financial flexibility. The ability to relocate capital as efficiently as one relocates oneself represents a valuable dimension of global planning.
For US millionaires exploring global options, implementing gold as part of a broader mobility strategy requires consideration:
Allocation: Financial advisors typically recommend gold comprise 3%-10% of a diversified portfolio, with higher allocations during periods of heightened uncertainty.
Form: Physical gold offers maximum portability.
Storage and jurisdiction: Non-bank storage is critical and experts such as Brinks, Loomis, and Malca Amit can provide professional storage services. Storage location matters. Jurisdictions such as Singapore and Switzerland offer strong property rights and ease of access. The globally mobile investor needs an intermediary that can deliver around the world.
As more US millionaires consider their options in an increasingly complex world, gold remains uniquely positioned as a companion to broader geographical flexibility. Its perfect fungibility across borders, cultures, and political systems makes it an ideal complement to the residence and citizenship planning that provides geographical optionality.
Henley & Partners assists international clients in obtaining residence and citizenship under the respective programs. Contact us to arrange an initial private consultation.
