I recently told readers of my Real Wealth Strategist newsletter: Now is the time to buy gold.

I believe we are in the initial stages of a bull market that could see the price climb 500% or more from here. It happened in the past … and it is showing signs of repeating.

The price of gold (in U.S. dollars) continues to rise. It bottomed in December 2015 around $1,050 per ounce. Since then, it settled into a pattern of rise and fall — with the new lows higher than the previous ones.

That’s a good indication that the price will continue to move higher. You can see what I mean in the chart below.

As you can see, the gold price should end the year higher than it began, for the second year in a row. In 2016, we ended a three-year skid that sent gold down 45% of its value.

The last time the price of gold fell for three consecutive years was from 1996 to 1999, when it lost 39% of its value. The bull market that followed, from 2001 to 2011, saw the price of gold climb over 583% in value.

I believe the fear that’s feeding the current price rise will continue. The fear of a weakened United States. The fear of a hot war in North Korea. The fear of Russian ascendance.

That’s what’s driving not just individuals, but sovereign nations to buy gold right now. In fact, Russia is a prime example.

The Bank of Russia is buying gold at an astonishing rate. According to the World Gold Council, the bank’s buying, in April, May, and June, made up 38% of all the gold bought in the world in that period.

We don’t know for sure what will happen with the gold price in the future. However, if you bought gold after the last fall, it was an excellent performer over the next decade.