What do finance influencers say about investing in gold?
Finance podcasters, YouTubers, authors and institutions have much to say about gold. Our experts weigh in on which statements you can really trust
We should take what financial influencers say about gold seriously – especially if they get things wrong. When a ‘finfluencer’ shares an opinion with their followers, this can affect how the audience thinks, invests and plans for the future. It changes lives.
Some finance influencers make helpful, accurate points about investing in gold. Others are less reliable. To bring some much-needed clarity and a balanced perspective, Barnaby Cotton, a Bullion Broker at The Pure Gold Company, has critiqued nine top influencers’ statements on gold investment.
We’ve included quotes from influential institutions such as the Royal Mint, as well as statements from prominent podcasters and social media personalities.
Gary Stevenson
You may recognise former stockbroker Gary Stevenson from his recent appearance on BBC Question Time, or from his YouTube channel, Gary’s Economics. Stevenson first excelled as one of Citibank’s star traders, and now works with equal vigour to highlight wealth inequality.
In an interview with Novara Media, Stevenson stated: “I’m unbelievably long on gold,” which suggests he expects gold prices to keep rising. I think what you’ll see is asset prices going up. This is my big confidence.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“It’s interesting to see someone with Stevenson’s background taking such a firm position on gold. His view that “asset prices are going up” reflects a broader concern about inflation and devaluation – both of which tend to favour gold over cash or bonds.
“What’s missing from the conversation, though, is the nuance around how you hold that gold. Buying physical gold gives you control and removes counterparty risk, whereas other gold-linked assets can be vulnerable to the very financial system you’re trying to hedge against.”
“Tyler” from Portfolio Charts
Known for creating Portfolio Charts, a financial data visualisation service, “Tyler” (who works under his first name only) used his own tech to conduct a global study into withdrawal rates. He found that “all of the top portfolios in both risk and return contain some amount of gold.”
“Some people hate commodities like gold because they’re unproductive things that sit on the side, and they have a natural inclination for productive assets. That’s the mantra in their head.
Another way to think about gold is that it’s the most global asset on my entire list. Beyond being a foreign stock, gold is the truly global traded asset that’s traded in every single country around the world.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“Tyler makes a great point about gold’s global recognition. Whenever there’s uncertainty around safe haven currencies such as USD, gold can be a great option not only to minimise exposure, but also to position yourself so that you’re ready to move again when that uncertainty disappears.”
Peter Schiff
Like ourselves, Peter Schiff sells gold – but our approaches to advising clients couldn’t be more different. Posting frequently on his YouTube channel, this brash gold influencer delivers ‘hot takes’ on developing financial topics.
In the financial sector, Schiff might be referred to as a ‘gold bug’ – someone who is extremely (or excessively) bullish about gold.
“Gold in the ground has never been this cheap relative to gold above the ground,” said Schiff in one recent video, referring to the price of gold mining company stocks.
“It makes no sense to buy above-ground gold when you can get such a good deal on below-ground gold. You still own it; it’s just in the ground.
“Sure, there are some more risks involved in owning a mining company […] but right now, the upside potential […] is so disproportionately and unprecedentedly high that it makes sense,” he said.
Schiff concluded his video by advising viewers to use an asset management company’s brokerage service.
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“We don’t always agree with Schiff’s bullishness, and we’re far more likely to take a conservative view on gold’s upside potential. However, we’ve been very much aligned in recent months.”
“Mining companies are a great route into gold investment, but the general feeling among our investors is that they’re buying gold for the “peace of mind”, and the upside is a bonus rather than the objective.”
“Exposure to the gold price via mining stocks will certainly give you upside, but does it give you the same peace of mind as a physical asset? If a fire is coming, do you want a picture of a fire extinguisher or a real fire extinguisher?”
Humphrey Yang
Finance influencer Humphrey Yang is known for his digestible content explaining personal finance topics.
In a YouTube Short, Yang listed several factors that could cause gold prices to rise.
“Gold is a safe haven investment that tends to perform better when there are times of uncertainty,” he said.
“Right now there are a lot of geopolitical tensions happening in the world such as wars and conflicts, so people are flocking to gold.”
Yang noted that central banks are stockpiling gold, which could also be inflating gold prices.
“[It] increases demand for gold even though the supply is relatively constant,” he said, before going on to explain that rising inflation tends to coincide with a rise in the price of gold.
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“These are all very sensible points. I believe 2022, 2023 and 2024 were all record years (with the highest figures since the late 1960s) for institutional buying of gold, and Q1 of 2025 has made similar waves.”
“The question investors need to answer is: will these uncertain times continue? We understand many central banks plan to increase their gold holdings again in 2026, which would suggest they’re either bracing for continued uncertainty, or they’ve potentially bought less than they expected to need this year.”
Poku Banks
Alternatively known as ‘Mr Banks’, Poku Banks is a popular finfluencer whose videos explaining personal finance topics are viewed by thousands on TikTok and Instagram.
In one social media post, Banks described gold as “a mid investment at best”, although he conceded it has merit as a store of value.
“The main reason people invest into gold is because it’s a tangible asset and has intrinsic value,” said Banks
“They invest in it as an actual store of value, just in case our fiat currency goes to nothing, zero, zilch.
“It’s a safe store of value that’s been used since the Iron Age, bartering days.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“Banks’ take is a familiar one – and we actually agree with some of it. Gold isn’t meant to compete with high-growth investments; its job is to protect wealth, not multiply it.”
“Where we’d push back is on the idea of it being a “mid” investment. In reality, gold has quietly outperformed most other assets over the last 50 years, including property. And in times of economic uncertainty, its reliability becomes its greatest strength. Safe doesn’t mean boring – especially when markets are anything but.”
Ben Carlson
A blogger, podcaster, author and public speaker, Ben Carlson is a prominent figure in the spheres of personal finance and investment.
“As with most asset classes, you could craft a good reason for or against gold depending on your start or end date of historical returns,” he writes.
“The long-term case for gold is up in the air. There are no cash flows – no dividends or income or earnings. But people have placed value on gold for thousands of years. That means something.
“There are also the diversification benefits, which you can clearly see when breaking out the annual returns by decade.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“Diversifying with physical gold is something we absolutely advocate. We insure our homes, our health, our cars, but we don’t insure our savings or pensions. Physical gold can give you that missing layer of insulation against worst case scenarios.”
Jasmine Birtles
Jasmine Birtles has authored 38 books, delivered keynote speeches on financial topics for companies such as NBC and Visa, and worked as TV presenter, reporter and pundit for organisations including the BBC, Sky News and ITV.
“Gold [is] hitting all-time highs every few weeks at the moment. Today was yet another high and people keep telling me they’ve missed the boat. I don’t think so,” Birtles wrote.
“I think gold has a long way to go… we’re just at the start of the rise. [It’s the same] with silver – in fact even more so for that metal given its usefulness in so many technologies.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“If you’re investing in gold as a long term store of wealth, the record highs are something you’d want to see. Its proven ability to break new ground, consistently through the generations, is why people use it as a store of wealth.”
“The potential issue when buying gold is that the value is never likely to be too far from its peak – but remember, that’s exactly what you want when looking for an asset that retains its value. I remember having conversations at the £1,600 mark with many clients about them “missing the boat”, and it took a lot of convincing to assure them gold was still right for them. When I speak to those same clients today, their feeling tends to be “I can’t believe I bought it so cheap.”
The World Gold Council
You’d expect the World Gold Council to be upbeat about the possible outcomes of investing in gold. Still, the body’s advice is interesting and undoubtedly influential.”
“Our analysis illustrates that adding between 4% and 15% in gold to hypothetical average portfolios over the past decade, depending on the composition and the region, would have increased risk-adjusted returns,” the organisation states on its website. “
“One of the simplest ways of obtaining gold as an investment is to buy investment bars and coins, from a bank or reputable dealer.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“There’s not much to add here, beyond agreeing wholeheartedly with The World Gold Council’s perspective.”
“Buying investment bars and coins is a tangible, reassuring and pleasing way to convert currency into a stable store of wealth.”
The Royal Mint
Every Brit is familiar with the Royal Mint, the UK’s official coin-maker. The government-owned company shares some guidance on investing in gold via its website:
“Although people will have their own reasons to invest in gold, for many, gold investment is about preserving and protecting their wealth.”
“Similarly, many choose gold to protect the rest of their portfolio from risk and to add diversity to their portfolio. “
The article goes on to explain how some investors buy gold for eventual resale:
“If you buy it and hold it until the price goes up, you can sell it – hopefully for a profit.”
Broker’s View – Barney Cotton, The Pure Gold Company:
“Sensible as always from TRM, and we completely agree.”
“Diversification and protection from risk are key motivators for investing in gold.”
