With the price of gold topping $4,000 an ounce for the first time Tuesday, you might be wondering whether the precious metal should be a bigger part of your investment strategy. Prices have soared by 54% so far this year, putting it on track for its best yearly performance since 1979 . Investors often turn to gold when they lose confidence in other assets, typically in periods of economic uncertainty or market stress, because it's seen as a store of value that holds its worth. And when the U.S.