During market swings, jumping into speculative plays usually ends badly. As geopolitical tensions spike, smart money shifts gears—hunting for stable assets, decent yields, and prices that already bake in the chaos.

Traditional hedges like gold and government bonds offer that shelter. Problem is, they each have their own baggage. Gold ties up capital without generating returns. Bonds face rate uncertainty and inflation erosion. Neither feels like a home run when you need real conviction.

The real play? Understanding what "safety" actually costs in your portfolio. Different regimes call for different moves.