Gold has soared and hit one record after another this year, putting physical gold at the center of many conversations. Now is the time to think about Krugerrands, gold coins and collectables as the ultimate alternative asset.

Twenty-five years ago, Robert Kiyosaki's book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" was first published and has gone on to sell more than 32 million copies. This runaway bestseller is probably on your bookshelf. "Rich Dad Poor Dad" is considered the #1 Personal Finance book of all time..., and Kiyosaki dishes varied advice, including this nugget:

"Commodities such as gold and silver have a world market that transcends national borders, politics, religions, and race."

2024 is shaping up as a year of uncertainty. Whether it’s the upsurge in armed conflict, the redrawing of the global energy-resources map, or rapid progress inartificial intelligence (AI), the world is changing at a mind-boggling speed. No one knows what's next, and this is creating a bump in interest in owning gold coins. There has been a massive spike in interest in gold since the beginning of the year.

Gold has always held a special place as a store of value and a hedge against economic uncertainties. That—along with its other unique benefits—has led many to add the precious metal to their portfolios in recent years. The popularity of physical gold is only growing, with more and more people deciding that gold is the right addition to their portfolio mix.

Here are some practical reasons to consider gold:

History and Stability: Unlike paper currency or other assets, gold has maintained its value throughout the ages. Gold is a way to pass on and preserve wealth from one generation to another.

Properties: Gold is tangible and moveable. It is also a highly liquid asset, whereas other alternative assets are relatively illiquid.

Combats inflationary concerns: in addition, buyers of physical precious metals are motivated by the fact that Gold is a currency hedge.

Limited Supply: Gold's supply is limited, supporting its role as a store of value—the worldwide supply only increases by about 1.5% each year. Making it the winning store of value.

Official Support: Central banks and governments worldwide own Gold as a reserve asset. If central banks purchase Gold because they believe Gold can serve as a store of value, why should you act differently?

The general public is justifiably jittery. Adding some gold coins, particularly Krugerrands, to portfolios is a sound countermeasure. Throughout history, few assets have rivalled gold in popularity as a hedge against almost any trouble.

The general wisdom is that gold coins are for holding. Gold coins are about wealth preservation and generational wealth creation. In the long term, Gold holds its value against inflation.

Another gem from Kiyosaki is:

“If I have cash and I can't figure a way to put it into real estate or my business, I hold it in gold and silver.”

In 1967, you could buy a Krugerrand for R27. Today, the same coin is priced somewhere north of R45 000. Think about it.