Slippery Slope Picks Up Speed

     It's a slippery slope from the devaluation of a barrel of oil to the devaluation of the US Dollar. Thanks to the Dodd-Frank Bill, our 401K accounts will slip-slide away from us, not only in value, but also as our own property. Everything we have worked for and saved for can be taken to pay to bail-in the financial institutions. Our lost money goes to pay millionaires salaries and benefits.

     As in other countries where this has happened, we won't hear about it in the news until it's too late to do anything about it. For instance, do you know the European Union passed an official bail-in clause into law on January 1st? A pensioner living in Rome recently lost 100,000 euros when Banca Etruria took over accounts to save itself. The pensioner wrote a note criticizing the transaction before committing suicide. In offering his condolences to the family, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the move of taking money from 130,000 depositors was necessary to save jobs. Three other Italian banks took the same action. Does this look like capitalism to you? 

Italian Bank On Auction

Italian Bankers Scramble To Save Themselves

   

     Off-shore banking is not about hiding wealth, nor is it only for people with more money than us. It's a tool for protecting our future. Find out about it. Just don't look to Europe for security.

     Read. Learn. Take defensive action. 

3 Things You Better Know About Your Bank Accounts

     Have you seen the film or read the book THE BIG SHORT? Both are vivid accounts of the stock market bubble which burst in 2008 and caused a financial catastrophe. Congress considered the event serious enough to create legislation to prevent a recurrence. And with the input from a lot of Wall Street lobbyists, the Dodd- Frank bill known as The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed into law in 2010. All 848 pages of it.
     Already the longest bill in US history, another 8,843 pages was added to it in July 2012. The final version is expected to be 30,000 pages long, the equivalent of reading Proust's complete IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME (3.032 pages) ten times I doubt any single member of Congress read the entire bill. This is Congressional transparency?
     Under the banner heading of No more bailouts, we now have a structure for bail-ins. The accounts I've read about this law, the most concise information coming from Chris Vermeulen, all boil down to three main points.
     1.)  FDIC will now recapitalize failed financial institutions by confiscating customer deposits. Depositors are legally defined as an unsecured creditor of the institution.
     2.)  Claims against a failed institution are to be paid in this order:
            I.) Administrative costs
           II.) The Government
          III.) Employee wages, salaries, or commissions
          IV.) Contributions to employee benefit plans
           V.) Any other senior liability
          VI.) Junior liabilities
         VII.) Salaries of executives and directors (keep in mind, this is a failed business)
        VIII.) Obligations to shareholders, members, general partners or other equity holders
So after everyone else is paid, you get whatever is left of your savings and checking accounts.
     3.)  As explained by Mr. Vermeulen, 'money you deposit into a savings or checking account no longer belongs to you. Technically and legally, [your money] becomes the property of the bank, and the bank issues you what amounts to an IOU.
     Such a thing would never happen. you say? It happened in Cypress. It happened in Greece. Now the confiscation of your wealth has been made legal here.
     Read. Learn. Take defensive action.


            

Do You Really Believe in Wishful Thinking?

     Remember the rhyme if wishes were horses beggars would ride? It's a 16th century English proverb to instruct children making a living takes real effort, not just wishing it so. Common wisdom.

     Today we have two new proverbs. All you need is a dollar and a dream. You can't win it if you ain't in it. Coined to sell lottery tickets. And people buy into this.

     So how often do you buy lottery tickets? Depending on the particular game, a single ticket can run one or two dollars a pop. $10? $20? I've witnessed people with long lists of their winning numbers. They wish. You?

     Consider this: if you put your lottery ticket money, dollars you throw away on a weekly basis, into a Karatbars account you would own an ounce of gold in about a month. Gold with real value, not a piece of paper tossed into the bin.

     Financial advisors say there has never been a better time to buy gold. They predict gold will go to $5000 an ounce in the next cycle. Even if gold misses that projection, gold is an investment not a gamble.

     Read. Learn. Invest.

These Videos May Be Of Interest

     

That Would Never Happen Here

     'That would never happen here,' said Americans, the Japanese, the Greeks, the Spaniards, the Russians, the governments of the United Kingdom, France, Dubai, Ireland. The forecasters predict Italy will be next, but the United States is in line to take another turn sooner than any of us would like.  Events people say 'would never happen here,' happen.

     So when 'the never will' happens what should you do? Not a lot can be done by then . The time for doing is before it happens. Take Greece, for instance, since media coverage displayed in graphic detail the financial devastation which occurred. 

     Banks were closed. ATM machines were inoperable. People needed access to their money for basic living expenses, but the banks were closed and the ATM machines didn't work. Well, the ATM machines didn't work for the Greeks. They dispensed cash to tourists using cards from foreign banks. 

     There's a clue to what to do to prepare for financial cataclysm. Open an offshore bank. Not to hide money, but to have some you can drawn on if the need presents itself. When we establish that foreign account, we should be sure to get a debit card to go with it.
     Of course, a few grams of certified physical gold on hand to be easily exchanged for cash is a best practise for these situations.

Learn About Gold Here

Olympic Bronze Medalist Going For The Gold

    Remember Debi Thomas? You should. She won the US National Championship and the World Championship for Women's ice skating and went on to win the Olympic Bronze medal. All while attending Stanford as a full-time pre-med student. Only the second woman in US history to do so. Her rivalry with Germany's Katarina Witt was named the Battle of the Carmens because they both skated to music from Bizet's opera of that name. She was inducted into the US Skater's Hall of Fame in 2000.

   Now she is a physician and was forced to file for bankruptcy because the cost of maintaining a practise was greater than the income the practise provided. She has since  gotten back on her feet and wants to bring health care to the people of Appalachia. She is utilizing the Karatbars program to make that desire a reality. 

     Here's a link so you can read Debi's story for yourself. 

Debi Thomas talks about her life and Karatbars

     If Karatbars is the choice of a woman who studied full-time while building an Olympic career, perhaps you should give Karatbars another look. So here's a link to that, too.

Welcome to Karatbars

Gold Or Pyrite

     I first learned about Pyrite during a family camping vacation in Colorado. I found a stone in a stream and was certain I was rich. Turned out it was Fool's Gold, or Pyrite. A lot of people in the Gold Rush days were also deceived by this pretender to fortune. Finding a reputable bullion dealer today can be a lot like panning a stream, unsure of what you'll find.

    Today I'm sharing a link to reviews of some of the bullion dealers you'll find through a Google search. Quite a gallery here, some gold, some not so much, but you can compare them for smallest quantity offered and price, shipping or storage fees, and of course customer satisfaction. Oh, and you might also check to see if any of these dealers offer any sort of a savings plan or pay you for referrals I think you'll be surprised.

Gold Dealers' Customer Reviews

Afterward, take a look at the program I chose to convert some of my earnings to gold via a savings plan, and the opportunity to earn more by doing almost nothing for it.

Save and Earn Here

    

You're Invited

Special live broadcast from Karatbars to introduce you to the company and what you can garner from it. Tonight at 8 pm est via YouTube.

Hope you can join us.

Here's the link:

http://globalgoldbullion.us11.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=40f714766010224e5e48df776&id=eaf499a616&e=b2341d7bf0

3 Simple Rules

     You and I share a complicated world. Lines blur. Alliances come into question. It's like we're on the reality television show SURVIVOR. Only we aren't playing a game. This is our lives. We are trying to create a place of safety and security for ourselves and our families.

     Three simple rules comprise the basis of our success in attaining that goal. The first rule comes from the Hippocratic Oath: do no harm. The second is commonly known as The Golden Rule: do for others as you would want others to do for you. The third rule is the offspring of the first two: take helpful action. We can talk a great game, but we have to step up to the plate to score a run.

     I came across a video this morning courtesy of The Dollar Vigilante which offers a lot of valuable information about the financial turmoil we're facing now and how it is likely to progress in the months to come. I'm inspired to go into boy scout mode and 'be prepared.' I want you to be prepared as well, so I'm sharing a link to the video.

     Share if you care. As with all things, it's up to you.

The Golden Rule, The Rule of Gold

What Do 100% of People In The Workforce Do?

     We talk. People like to talk. We like to gossip. We enjoy tell other people what they should do. 

     I for one love going to the theater and to movies. Part of the fun is telling people about it the next day at the office or posting a recommendation on Facebook and Twitter. The same goes for books I read.

     What do you do when you have a delicious meal in a restaurant? If you're like me, you tell people how great the food and service were. And it it wasn't so great, you tell even more people the down and dirty than you would have told had it been a pleasant experience.

     We make recommendations to people all the time. We consistently tell people what to see, where to go; whether it's a Broadway show, a movie, a hairstylist, manicurist, clothing store, or dry cleaners. Even a good doctor, lawyer, tax accountant, or insurance agent. Sometimes we are given a little something for referring a new client or customer. 

     So why be shy when it comes to talking about a program to convert some of your cash into gold, while saving and earning more cash or gold for just talking to people? Something we all do on a daily basis, often for free. Oh, you don't like network marketing. Well, as I pointed out we network everyday for every little thing. 

      Give yourself a few minutes to watch a video to learn how you can save while earning a second income with the Karatbars program. After the video, the next step is entirely up to you.

Opportunity Awaits

   

2 Ways To Protect Earnings & Grow Wealth

     So how about that Powerball drawing on January 13th, eh? The holders of three winning tickets will share the $1.5B prize and another handful will become millionaires. Were you one of them? Neither was I. Games of chance get people excited, but that's all they are: games. I'm happy for the winners. The odds turned in their favor; the same odds for getting struck by lightning, so they might want to take extra precautions in stormy weather going forward. Still, good on them I say.

     Chances are another record-breaking lottery jackpot is a future dream. So what do people like us do? People who do not enjoy the level of financial freedom to live where we want, to have the time to do all the things we want to do?

     Financial advisor with 24 years of experience, and author of two books, FISCAL FITNESS, and ALL THE RULES HAVE CHANGED, Matthew Rettick discovered a 2-step approach to our dilemma. Karatbars.

     Karatbars offers a way to protect our hard-earned wages by buying physical gold. As afilliates we can also earn an income by helping other people protect their future with gold. Here's a link to Matt's 4-minute video on the program. Listen to what he has to say. Karatbars isn't right for everyone. You decide if you think you might like to join Matt and me along with a team consisting of educators, accountants, bankers, and other business professionals, contact me and I'll provide information on how you can start saving and earning today. 

    Preserving Your Buying Power

Living On The Edge

     Statistics show the average American earns $51,939 per year.  The average American attempts to augment this with credit cards which in reality amounts to $15,263 of debt.   Another $30,738 pays for a car, but then license, fuel, and maintenance are extra expenses. The biggest chunk of the not quite $52,000 income is housing. The average mortgage is $147,591. Living in a house requires maintenance, furnishings, electricity, gas, water, and of course cable TV, Internet, and phone service. In short, Americans spend 5-6, maybe 7 times their incomes on survival. It could be assumed the credit cards pay for food and clothing, but not likely. So who in middle America can afford to not take action to protect the value of the time they spend at work to earn the money to afford this average lifestyle? Who can honestly raise a hand and say they don't need any extra income?

     We all do. So what are our options?
     Well, the lottery comes to mind. People line up to buy tickets on a chance for the big win knowing they have a greater chance of being struck by lightning. Lightning strikes are so rare the  majority of people don't even personally know anyone who has been lightning struck.
     There's always a second, part-time job. Employment rates don't include the people who have been unemployed for so long they no longer receive benefits. The employment stats don't list the people with master's degrees and doctorates who are working at jobs unrelated to their fields of study and beneath the expected pay grades for their level of education. December job growth reports don't reflect the holiday seasonal jobs that disappear in January.
     So what's left? The popular proverb advises 'don't work harder, work smarter.' In other words, let's take a step back from the ledge so we can get a new perspective.
     Think about that and I'll catch up to you tomorrow.
     

Try Spending Ashes

Consider the results of a fire on your stashed wealth. Paper money burns and turns to ashes. Gold could melt if the fire is hot enough, but it's still gold. The store won't give you anything for ashes, but gold retains value and can be traded for cash to buy food and shelter.

Consider establishing a plan to save with physical gold. #goldsafe.us

We're Not Alone

"Martin Fridson, who focuses on the high-yield bond market, says his 'base scenario' is for between $1.6 trillion and $2 trillion in defaults in high-yield bonds over the next three years."

~Troy Ferguson
THE QUESTION AND ANSWER GUIDE TO GOLD AND SILVER

Note: Martin Fridson is a financial writer and the author of several books, including  HOW TO BE A BILLIONAIRE and UNWARRANTED INTRUSIONS: The Case Against Government Intervention in the Marketplace.

http://www.martinfridson.com/

The Significance of 2007

"Let's just consider the past two decades. In 1994, there was the Tequila Crisis in Mexico that spread through Latin America. The US government and the New York FEd stepped in and bailed out the banks.  In 1997-98, there was the Asian crisis followed quickly by the Russian default.  The FEd orchestrated a bailout. In 2000-02 we had the tech bubble. In its aftermath, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates to 1% which ultimately inflated the housing bubble and financial crisis of 2008-09. Here we are seven years later and interest rates are still 0%.* The federal debt has more than doubled since 2007....On September 30, 2007, the US federal debt was $9 trillion. It is now $18.8 trillion."

~Troy Ferguson
THE QUESTION AND ANSWER GUIDE TO GOLD AND SILVER, 2015

*Note, The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on short term loans on December 16, 2015, exactly seven years after dropping the rate to 0%.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/12/business/economy/fed-rates-explainer.html

A Few Words About Banks From US Presidents

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the the continent their fathers conquered....The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."

~Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809).

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

~Thomas Jefferson

"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance."

~James Madison

"I am a most unhappy man.  I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Out system of credit is concentrated.  The growth of the nation, therefore, and all of our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst rules, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world, no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men."

~ Woodrow Wilson, several years after signing the law that created the United States Federal Reserve

And from one British Prime Minister...

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."

~ Sir Winston Churchill

As cited by Troy Ferguson in his book THE QUESTION & ANSWER GUIDE TO GOLD AND SILVER, Amazon Digital 2015.

Gas Gauge

It's been building. Yesterday it happened. The Chinese stock market farted and the whole world reached for the room spray and the Pepto.

This report from the BBC last November may explain the reason:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34957580

Reason To Be

I'm no different than the people I know. When it comes to money,  my focus is on the checkbook balance, credit card payments, rent, and groceries, and fingers crossed for a bit extra for clothes and entertainment. These days I've become a cash sieve; get paid on Friday and by Monday waiting for Friday again. Don't you?

I never studied business or financial matters; the arts took center stage in my education. I've performed on stage, on television/films and I've published two novellas and written a screenplay with a day job in retail. A good life. Once. Now not so much. The holes in the sieve have gotten bigger. Holding onto to the value of my earnings has become more of a challenge, so I've been reading to educate myself. A lot. So many books. So many blogs. So many YouTube videos. 

The surprising thing is almost all of the books and blogs and videos carry the same message: the world is changing. How business is conducted is changing. The value of currency has changed. All these changes are moving to a new rhythm and so we need to get in step if we're to maintain our standard of living. If we are to survive.

Survive? Your eyebrows just raised. Yes. The coming changes are matters of life and death, or mastery v. slavery if you prefer. I could recommend all the books I've read, the blog, and the videos, but I want to help, not overwhelm. So I'll share quotes. On occasion my own opinion. Put in my two cents.

Except due to inflation, my two cents is now five. My goal is to help you close some of the holes in your sieve and preserve the value of what you do to earn a living.