Gold has always held a unique position as a hedge against economic uncertainty, inflation and currency fluctuations — but the bull run that occurred over the past year may have been an even bigger selling point for investors. Starting the year at about $2,063 per ounce, gold’s price moved upward quickly, hitting numerous new price records before peaking at over $2,736 per ounce in late October. That uptick in price helped to attract lots of new investors to the precious metals market.

While the price of gold has dipped a bit since that point, many analysts still expect gold to hit the unprecedented milestone of $3,000 per ounce soon. So, if you’ve been planning to join the new and seasoned investors who have added gold to their portfolios recently, you may want to make your move quickly. Gold’s price tends to fluctuate over the shorter term, so if you wait, you could miss out on the opportunity to buy gold at a lower price point.

Before you start investing in this precious metal, though, it’s important to recognize that not all gold investments are created equal. As we look ahead to 2025, certain gold assets stand out as potentially promising opportunities, while others carry risks that may outweigh their potential rewards.

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4 gold investments to consider for 2025 

Investing in these gold assets could pay off next year:

Gold bars and coins

Investing in physical gold in the form of gold bars and coins remains one of the safest ways to capitalize on potential price increases. These tangible assets provide direct ownership of gold and are highly liquid and universally recognized, making them an excellent choice for those seeking a straightforward hedge against economic instability. And, given all of the economic unknowns as we close in on 2025, making this type of gold investment could be a smart move to help protect your portfolio.

Find out more about your gold investing options today.

Gold ETFs

Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a convenient and cost-effective way to gain exposure to gold without the need for storage or insurance. These funds closely track the price of gold and are easily traded on stock exchanges, making them accessible to most types of investors. And with the expectation that gold prices will continue to rise over time, gold ETFs provide a flexible option for investors looking to benefit from upward momentum without committing to physical assets. 

Gold mining stocks

Gold mining companies often experience amplified returns when gold prices rise, making these stocks an attractive option for growth-oriented investors. Stocks in major gold producers could see significant gains if gold’s price climbs in 2025, so it makes sense to consider this type of gold investment in the new year. Investing in mining stocks also allows you to benefit from operational efficiencies and discoveries that can further boost profitability.

Gold royalty and streaming companies

Royalty and streaming companies could be another smart option for 2025. These companies provide financing to mining operations in exchange for a percentage of future production or revenue. This model insulates them from the operational risks associated with mining while still allowing them to profit from rising gold prices and their diversified portfolios and lower exposure to production costs make them a stable investment for those seeking exposure to the gold market.

4 gold investments to avoid for 2025

It could also make sense to avoid these gold investments right now:

Leveraged gold ETFs

While standard gold ETFs are a solid investment, leveraged ETFs are a different story. These funds use borrowed money to amplify returns, which also increases potential losses. Leveraged ETFs are designed for short-term trading, not long-term holding, and can be highly volatile. With gold’s trajectory uncertain despite optimistic predictions, these instruments are too risky for most investors right now.

Speculative junior mining stocks

Junior mining companies, known for exploring and developing new gold deposits, can offer massive upside potential but are also incredibly risky. Many of these companies operate without generating consistent revenue, relying on capital markets for funding. If gold prices fail to rally as expected, these speculative investments could result in significant losses. 

Gold futures contracts

Gold futures contracts allow investors to speculate on the future price of gold, but they require a high degree of expertise and risk tolerance. Small price movements can lead to substantial gains or losses, so unless you’re an experienced trader, futures contracts are best avoided, especially in a potentially volatile gold market.

Gold jewelry as an investment

While gold jewelry has intrinsic and aesthetic value, it is typically not a practical investment vehicle. High markups, craftsmanship costs and limited resale value make jewelry an inefficient way to capitalize on rising gold prices. Purer forms of gold like coins, bars or ETFs tend to offer better returns.

The bottom line

Given the current economic landscape, 2025 could be a pivotal year for gold investors. Focusing on reliable investments like physical gold, gold ETFs and established mining companies can help you capitalize on it. At the same time, avoiding risky ventures such as speculative stocks, leveraged instruments and risky futures contracts will protect your portfolio from unnecessary volatility. By staying informed and strategic, you can position yourself to benefit from what could be an exciting year for the gold market.

It can be tempting (and easy) this time of year to simply swipe your credit card without a second thought. With holiday spending expected to rise this year, many Americans are planning on spending thousands of dollars in the final weeks of 2024. And many already have. 

But a delay in dealing with credit card debt is always a mistake, especially in today’s unpredictable economic climate. If you’re one of the average credit card users already in thousands of dollars worth of debt, it could prove costly to wait until 2025 to deal with this expanding issue. Below, we’ll break down three big reasons why waiting until the new year to tackle your existing credit card debt would be a mistake.

See which debt relief option makes sense for your financial situation now.

Why you shouldn’t wait for 2025 to tackle your credit card debt

While January doesn’t feel that far off, waiting just a few months to work through your credit card debt could be a mistake. Here’s why:

Credit card interest rates may continue to rise

Average credit card interest rates have surged recently, hitting a new record high of 23.37% in October. And that’s after inflation dropped for most of 2024 and after the Federal Reserve issued a larger-than-anticipated 50 basis point cut to the federal funds rate in September. So it’s possible, if not likely, that interest rates on credit cards will continue to rise as they’re influenced by a complex web of factors, with the Fed’s actions just one component. And remember that the 23.37% rate is an average, so many users may be paying even more. If you’re one of them, don’t delay action any further.

Explore your credit card forgiveness eligibility here today.

Your debt will compound in the interim

Find a credit card debt calculator online and plug in your outstanding debt and your existing rate. Then extend it over a few months to determine how much it will compound by delaying action. That extra money will be paid to the lender with no material benefit to you, the user. And that calculation will be completed on the assumption that you don’t add to your debt with gift-giving, food shopping and more during this holiday season. If you add that to the equation, the resulting balance could quickly become prohibitive, so do everything you can to avoid letting your debt compound further.

It takes time for relief programs to work

Debt relief takes time to make a dent in your balance. It won’t be an overnight fix or even something that makes a huge difference in just a few months. Credit card debt forgiveness, for example, can take years to reduce your balance and, even then, only usually by 30% to 50%. Delaying this approach until January or later, then, would only make your financial situation worse. Instead, it’s worth shopping around for debt relief companies and exploring your options now so that you can start the process immediately.

Explore your debt relief options here to learn more.

The bottom line

If you’re one of the many Americans stuck with high-interest credit card debt, it makes sense to fight through the temptation to delay it past the holidays and instead work toward ways to reduce what you owe now. With credit card interest rates elevated, the risk of compounding debt and the knowledge that most debt relief options take an extended period to improve your situation, it behooves credit card users to act promptly. By being proactive users can work toward regaining their financial independence both now and in 2025.