Possibly, yes, but only to be misled by their performance over the last 4-5 years.

According to the World Gold Council, Gold-backed Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) witnessed a meager 3% growth in their Assets Under Management (AUM) globally in 2018.

Out of major gold markets, North America and Asia witnessed outflows of 1.3% and 2.1% respectively. On the other hand, Europe registered a growth of 10%. Other markets combined together witnessed an outflow of massive 29%.  

Sharp drops in many emerging market currencies helped investors generate double-digit returns in their domestic currencies which seem to have triggered profit booking later.

Why is love for gold ebbing?

(Source: World Gold Council)

According to the monthly data published by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), Indians pulled out Rs 305 crore from gold ETFs. As compared to those in December 2017, gold ETFs collectively lost about 6% of their AUM which stood at Rs 4,571 crore as on December 31, 2018.

Indian investors have been bearish on gold for almost five years now.

Between December 2013 and December 2018 gold, in local currency terms, has generated only 3.1% returns.

Ever since the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) started to hike rates, gold turned less lucrative for global investors. Hence by 2018, the Dollar-denominated gold prices dropped nearly 41% from their 2011 peak. Thankfully for Indian investors, the gold has generated 3.1% compounded annualised returns over the last 5 years and 10.3% compounded annualised returns over last 20 years—which isn't bad.

Gold ETFs in India are seeing outflows at a time when Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in equity mutual funds are showing incessant inflows, which crossed the Rs 8,000 crore-mark on a monthly basis in December 2018.

This goes to show that investors believe in the prospects of equities, but not in the prospects of gold.

But this is an absurd assumption. Not investing in an asset class just because it has generated lackluster returns over the last 2-3 years is as bad as investing in an asset class that has generated stupendous returns over the short term.

You tend to make such mistakes only when you ignore your personalised asset allocation plan.

Did that sound cliché and repetitive?

But how can our response be any different if you aren't learning, not only from others' mistakes and from your own?

We believe good investments are essentially dull and boring.

Since many of you are upset about how your investment in gold has fared in the recent past. Perhaps, you have forgotten what it has done for you in the last 20 years.

In 2011, when the chorus for gold was growing louder, everybody was fixated on the horrendous memories of the 2008-global financial crisis. Have you ever thought why you couldn't benefit from the dream-run in gold that started in 2008 and ended in 2013?

Is it possible that's because you entered at a wrong time and then struggled to find a suitable exit?

You must be an omniscient to time every bull and bear phase flawlessly.

[Read: Why Dumping Gold ETFs Now Is Stupid!  ]

But how about having some exposure to gold and some to equity always, irrespective whether their outlook is bullish or bearish?

As you might know, these two asset classes move in the opposite direction investing in them simultaneously should pay off.

Some exposure might sound like a loose term to you.

You can replace some with any number (in per cent) depending on your risk appetite.

You could allocate more funds toward equities if these conditions permit you to take risk:

1. your risk appetite is very high;

2. the state of your present financial circumstances;

3. status of your distant financial goals.

For example, if you are young and have a huge risk appetite, your equity exposure can be as high as 75%-80% and your exposure to gold can be as low as 5%.

On the contrary, if you are in your late 40s, you might want to increase your investments in gold up to 15% of your portfolio and cap your equity exposure to 50%.

You can work out any combination that's aligned with your financial goals.

Do you still have apprehensions of investing in gold?  

Noteworthy factors that might drive gold in the foreseeable future:

• Federal Reserve may stop raising interest rates in the U.S. and end quantitative tightening.

• Brexit might create turbulence in the Europe and its contagion may spread fast to capital markets, triggering a mad rush to safe haven asset – gold.

• Tariff wars could exacerbate in 2019 and the U.S. and China may be unable to find common ground.

Needless to say these are just possibilities, not necessarily predictions. However if any of these factors emerge, gold would perform better.

Should all three come forth concurrently? Well, safe haven bugs might suddenly taste like manna from heaven.

Want to correct your mistake of ignoring gold? Learn about how to invest in gold the smart way.

[Read: 4 Smart Ways To Invest in Gold ]

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