This San Francisco man purchased 1 small Costco product in April of 2024 — then resold it for a $600 profit only 11 months later. Here's what he bought and how to mimic his savvy move

In April 2024, Yang purchased a one-ounce gold bar from Costco for $2,359.99. This past March, he walked into a gold dealership in San Francisco and filmed the moment he sold it for cash.

“Right now, we’re paying $2,955.42 [per ounce],” an employee told him.

With the spot price for an ounce of gold hovering around $3,020 at the time, Yang agreed to the deal — noting the price was reasonable given dealers typically buy slightly below market value.

Moments later, Yang walked out with a stack of bills and a simple takeaway.

“That was surprisingly easy,” he said. “$2,955 — that means I made a profit of $596 over the past 11 months or so.” The exact amount was $595.43.

Gold prices have been surging recently. Since Yang sold his gold bar, the price has increased to approximately $3,300 per ounce. Goldman Sachs has raised its year-end forecast for gold from $3,300 to $3,700 — with a projected range of $3,650 to $3,950 — according to multiple news outlets.

Why gold still shines in 2025

Gold has long served as a store of value — and that hasn’t changed. Unlike fiat currencies, the glittering metal can’t be printed at will by central banks, making it a powerful hedge against inflation and monetary instability.

It’s also long been viewed as the ultimate safe haven. Gold isn’t tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in — driving up its value.

That may help explain why, while markets are getting whipsawed by tariff uncertainty and global tensions, gold has emerged as a bright spot. Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal had surged by more than 37% by early July.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, recently highlighted gold’s role in a resilient portfolio.

“People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC in February. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

A gold IRA is one option for building up your retirement fund with an inflation-hedging asset.

Opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA.

With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.

If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today.

A time-tested income play: real estate

Gold isn’t the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).