For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Everyone should have some gold, but it is an individual decision as to what best fits one's risk tolerance and personal financial makeup," says resources expert Curtis Hesler, editor of Professional Timing Service.

"Bullion in some form, be it bullion coins or bullion ETF's like StreetTracks Gold ETF (NYSE: GLD), should be fitted into one's portfolio -- for diversification, if no other reason. I would consider this a top speculative idea for 2008.

"However, be mindful that bullion profits, even in the ETF form, are taxed at a higher rate than gold-mining stocks. So, bullion ETF's are perhaps best held in a tax-sheltered account, but that is an individual call."

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My top conservative play for 2008 is a repeat of my top pick from last year, StreetTracks Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)," says Mark Leibovit, editor of VRYTrader and last year's #1 rated market timer by Timer Digest.

"StreetTracks Gold seeks to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the trust's expenses. The trust holds gold, and is expected to issue baskets in exchange for deposits of gold, and to distribute gold in connection with redemption of baskets.

"The gold held by the trust will only be sold on an as-needed basis to pay trust expenses, in the event the trust terminates and liquidates its assets, or as otherwise required by law or regulation. The trust is not managed like an active investment vehicle, and it's not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

This article is part of a 20 article special report on "Metals, miners and money".

In his Commodity Trend Alert, Eric Roseman believes a short-term correction is "highly likely." But the resource expert still considers ASA Limited (NYSE: ASA) a "terrific bargain."

He explains, "For value investors, a great buying opportunity in commodities looms this fall. The fundamentals for commodities remain extremely bullish as we progress into 2008. A weaker U.S. dollar, lower interest rates, and supply deficits across a spectrum of raw materials promises to snowball into another formidable rally for commodities."

However, he cautions, this buying opportunity will come after a "period of digestion." He observes, "Commodities indices have come a long way over the last two months following the mid-August market low. Heavy investor speculation in many raw materials -- namely oil, gold, and wheat -- implies a short-term correction is highly likely."

The advisor notes, "Banks, hedge funds, individual investors, and sovereign wealth funds are all on the same side of the dollar bear market ship; historically, too many bears on the same side of a trade means someone will lose their shirt -- and soon."