I held $500,000 in Gold and I Can't Let Go

By Daniela Cambone

Robert Kiyosaki, New York Times best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad once told me that just being in the sheer presence of gold makes you richer.

How so, you ask? Well, Kiyosaki would tell you it’s because gold has mystical properties that attract more wealth – he discovered this on a personal trip to Fiji when he met a guru who he says was “dripping in gold,” and enlightened him about the mysterious powers the metal possesses.

The Fijian soothsayer taught the best-selling author that if you want $1,000 a month in income for example, you should hold $1,000 of real gold somewhere in your house.

“Gold is not only real money, it’s spiritual money,” Kiyosaki told me…”gold attracts wealth, and has done so for thousands of years.”

Fast forward to a warm September day when I received an unexpected call from the Royal Canadian Mint: having covered metals and commodities for close to a decade, I was informed that I was invited to a private, exclusive tour of the Mint’s operations. The idea was kind of overwhelming -- being surrounded by trillions of dollars’ worth of gold and the chance to see how numismatic coins come to life. How could I pass up the opportunity?

Call gold what you want; pet rock, currency, safe-haven, or even a relic -- but there is something about gold that makes you feel you are holding greatness.

Once at the Mint, I was able to hoist up bars worth over $500,000 ….they were heavy, shiny and I liked it. 

And while my bank account did not receive any boost after being close to all that gold, I can definitely vouch that holding half a million dollars of the yellow stuff definitely gave me the tingles. So...if you have the chance, go for it - hoist that bullion up!

One last thought,  passing  through the various layers of clearance and security reminded me of the incident involving one RCM employee that still managed to  smuggle $180,000 worth of gold in well...a special place.