Precious Metals: Here’s the #1 Question I Get Asked

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Hi real money tribe,

Whenever I speak with new clients or family and friends, the most common question I get is: “Which precious metal should I buy right now—gold, silver, or platinum?” It’s a simple question, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as most people think.

Each metal has its own strengths, risks, and opportunities, and what’s right for one may not be right for another. There is no one answer.

In this article, I’ll break down current prices, performance so far in 2025, and relative value comparisons, including ratios like gold-to-silver and silver-to-platinum. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of which metals may offer the best opportunities based on your goals, budget, and risk tolerance.

Gold – The Classic Safe Haven

Gold has long been considered a reliable store of value and a cornerstone of wealth preservation for thousands of years. As of time of writing this article, gold is trading at $3,588 USD per ounce, meaning its becoming less affordable for more people. Its enduring appeal comes from more than just price: gold has historically maintained its value through periods of economic uncertainty, inflation, and geopolitical instability. Unlike paper assets, gold is tangible—you can hold it in your hand—which gives many people a sense of security that stocks or bonds cannot always provide.

Central banks around the world have been and continue to be actively buying gold at record levels, adding thousands of tons to their reserves (so why are they stockpiling so much???). This demonstrates a strong institutional belief in gold’s stability and its role as a hedge against fiat currency risk. When interest rates are high, gold may seem less attractive because it doesn’t yield interest. But with interest rates dropping around the world and likely being cut in the U.S. this month, gold becomes more appealing, as the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets decreases.

Gold is particularly well-suited for smart people who want to protect their savings and wealth rather than chase rapid gains or hold it as cash in a bank account only losing value to inflation.

It’s ideal for those seeking stability, a hedge against inflation, financial privacy, and/or a safeguard during times of political or economic turbulence.

How to buy gold more affordably? Fractional gold, available in sizes from 1/20 oz to 1/2 oz and gram weights like 1g, 2.5g, and 5g, makes ownership much more accessible for new investors. Popular examples include the 1/10 oz Canadian Maple Leaf, 1/4 oz American Eagle, and 2.5g Valcambi bars.

✨2025 Performance: Gold has surged approximately 37% year-to-date, driven by a weakening U.S. dollar, expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, and increased central bank demand.

Silver – The Industrial Growth Metal

Silver is often called the “industrial metal” because it’s widely used in electronics, solar panels, health sciences, clothing, and electric vehicles. Currently, silver is trading at $41.06 USD per ounce, marking a 14-year high. Its industrial demand provides strong long-term support, and compared to gold, silver is still historically undervalued, offering growth potential for people who are comfortable with some volatility.

With its more affordable price per ounce, silver is more obtainable for more people even for those with modest budgets. In my opinion, silver is best suited for investors seeking a hedge against inflation with potential growth, while accepting larger short-term price swings than gold.

✨2025 Performance: Silver has surged roughly 38% year-to-date, driven by industrial demand and constrained supply.

Platinum – The Contrarian Choice

I don't talk about platinum too often but that doesn't mean it's less important than gold or silver - it's just slightly different and the third precious metal.

Platinum often flies under the radar compared to gold and silver, but it has been showing impressive gains this year. At $1,381USD an ounce, it is less expensive right now than gold but more than silver. Supply constraints make platinum rarer than gold or silver, and its current price suggests it may be undervalued relative to historical norms where it was priced higher than gold.

Platinum can be more volatile than gold or silver, but it offers an opportunity for investors seeking a contrarian play or exposure to the green energy transition. When shopping for it, it can be harder to find at local coin shops or online dealers so you may need to shop around a bit more but it is certianly available in 1oz coins and bars and even fractional sizes such as 1/10oz coins.

✨2025 Performance: Platinum has risen around 48% in 2025. Its demand is heavily tied to industrial applications, particularly green energy technologies like hydrogen fuel cells and automotive catalysts

Determining The Best Value: Using Ratios

Investors often use historical ratios to compare precious metals. Three common metrics are the gold-to-silver ratio, gold-to-platinum ratio, and silver-to-platinum ratio:

• Gold-to-Silver Ratio: This measures how many ounces of silver it takes to equal the value of one ounce of gold. With gold at $3,588 and silver at $41.06, the current ratio is roughly 87:1, above the historical average of ~60:1. This suggests silver may be undervalued relative to gold.

• Gold-to-Platinum Ratio: With platinum at $1,410 USD, the gold-to-platinum ratio is about 2.55:1, below historical averages, indicating platinum may be undervalued relative to gold.

• Silver-to-Platinum Ratio: This shows how many ounces of silver equal one ounce of platinum. With silver at $41.06 and platinum at $1,410, the ratio is roughly 34:1, above the historical average of 20–25:1. From a ratio perspective, platinum may offer better value relative to silver right now.

By examining these ratios, you can see that today silver is cheap relative to gold, platinum is cheap relative to gold, and platinum may be a better value than silver if comparing the silver-to-platinum ratio.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Each metal serves a different purpose and has different price volatility and potential given different elements such as interest rates, supply/demand, what's happening in the world, etc. Gold offers stability and protection, silver provides growth potential with industrial relevance, and platinum is a contrarian play with exposure to green energy.

At the end of the day, it all comes back to your needs - what do you want precious merals to do for you? Are you looking for safety and a place to park a large or small amount of cash? Are you looking for inflation protection/something to hold its value? Are you more of an investor looking to earn some growth?

These are all questions I discuss with clients whom are curious or ready to protect and build their financial independence, privacy and wealth using gold, silver and/or platinum.

A diversified approach that includes a mix of these metals—chosen according to your goals, risk tolerance, and budget—often can make the most sense.

Factional options in gold make it possible to start small and build over time, while platinum provides a unique opportunity for those looking beyond the more traditional metals. Silver, though its appreciated significantly in 2025, still is at a price within the reach of many and still offers good value.

If you are interested in having this conversation to explore whether precious metals may be right for you, you're invited to book a free 15 minute "Discovery Call". Remember, I don't sell precious metals nor am affiliated with any dealer. My opinions and insights are purely unbiased and in your best interest - never any strings attached or any pressure, only answers.

To your financial health 🥂,

David

The Precious Metals Coach + Money Mindset Mentor "Real Money For We The People"

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