Invest in USD or gold

On the afternoon of the 12th this month, a fellow investor asked me: Should we invest in USD or gold now?

1. Core binary choice: USD + gold allocation strategy
   If choosing only these two, prioritize "70% USD + 30% gold DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging)". The core logic is to avoid the pullback risk of gold at its current high level (4300-4400 range):

Gold DCA: Invest in segments by price (taking $30,000 as an example) — 5% at 4300 range ($9,000), 5% at 4250 range ($10,500), 5% at 4200 range ($10,500), avoiding full position at once. The lower the price, the heavier the position, building an inverted pyramid. Alternatively, small fixed-amount DCA weekly/monthly to average costs.

USD allocation: Prioritize "US Treasury bonds" (high liquidity, stable returns), directly earning interest, more cost-effective than holding USD cash. Short-term Treasury bonds (e.g., 3-month/6-month, lower risk) can be purchased directly in a US stock account.

1. Beginner-friendly alternative: Domestic Nasdaq ETF DCA (no need to open a US stock account)
   If seeking higher potential returns than USD Treasury bonds without complex operations, prioritize "Domestic Nasdaq ETF DCA":

Advantages: Diversifies tech giant risks (covering Apple, Microsoft, etc.), no stock-picking for beginners, purchasable via securities accounts, low threshold (starting from $100); or allocate to QQQ or domestic Nasdaq ETF for DCA.

Operation: Refer to the public account "Great Peer's" article "Choosing Nasdaq ETFs", fixed-amount DCA weekly/monthly (e.g., $2,000-$5,000 monthly), first cultivate interest through stable returns, then explore US growth stocks after making profits;

Core logic: Adds a layer of tech growth returns compared to holding USD/Treasury bonds alone, suitable for beginners with no investment talent or who dislike hassle.

1. US stock trial transition suggestion (advanced option)
   If wanting to try US stocks, start with "low-threshold account opening + small-amount DCA":

Account opening: Prioritize beginner-friendly platforms like Longbridge, Bibei (simple process, supports small deposits). Interactive Brokers suits professional investors, not recommended for beginners yet.

Funds: Start with $5,000 to test, practice and familiarize with rules first, avoid blindly chasing highs;

Targets: Beginners should not pick stocks, directly DCA into US index funds (e.g., S&P 500 ETF), or continue the domestic Nasdaq ETF approach to reduce decision difficulty.

1. Core principle: Match personal understanding + control opportunity cost
   No absolute best solution: USD/Treasury bonds suit those seeking stability and fearing risk (earning certain interest); gold suits hedging inflation and diversifying risk (not relying on a single currency); Nasdaq ETF suits those wanting long-term growth returns and can tolerate minor fluctuations.
   Key for beginners: Start with small, simple solutions (e.g., domestic Nasdaq ETF), upgrade strategies after making profits, avoid confidence hits from complex operations or high-risk targets.