There is no shortage of reasons to invest in gold today. The element has an intrinsic value, has been an asset for thousands of years, is desired around the globe and isn't linked to any one specific country or banking system, as other currencies are.

If you're most interested in a long-term financial plan that will protect and preserve your assets, then physically owning gold may be a high-value investment that also carries low relative risk.

One of the world's most valuable elements is also one of the world's oldest and most historic investments. If you guessed gold, you would be right. For thousands of years, gold has been a tangible representation of wealth, and one that goes far beyond the confines of a single form of currency.

Investing in gold is a solid and stable choice for a number of reasons. First, gold has held its value throughout history. Whether you're looking at ancient Egypt, medieval Europe or modern day China, gold has been a currency and something of incredible value.

Many investors choose gold as the safe bet when it comes to their financial holdings. In many ways, it is easy to see why. Gold has been a valued commodity for thousands of years, and it is not tied to any one foreign currency or even one culture. 

With such a varied selection of traditional, offshore and alternative investments available, narrowing down the many options can be tough. Of course, diversity is also key; so choosing more than one type of investment will often be the best way to limit risk and vulnerability.

For many investors, there is a continual battle between security and freedom. On one hand, savvy investors know and appreciate that having low-risk and high-value investments like gold is a smart move today, a year from now and even 20 years from now.

Investing in gold has a number of perks. Some of the benefits of owning gold and other precious metals include the fact that it is not tied to any one specific foreign currency, it has a tremendous history of value and it is a smart investment that is able to resist inflation.