Friday Reader Q&A: Where Should I Put $5,000 Right Now?
Q: Jerry, I am currently 71, and I am taking the required minimum distribution from my IRA account. This amount is $5,000 annually. I have another source of income and do not need the IRA money to pay my monthly expenses. Do you have any suggestions on how to invest this money? Thank you for all the work you do. (L. Gann, Spokane, WA)
Friday Reader Q&A: Is a Direct Selling Business a Good Stream of Income?
It’s Friday. And that means that its time for FTMDaily’s Reader Q&A. Each Friday, we reserve our daily column for our readers and their questions. Whether you have a question about your money, our Five Levels of Financial Freedom, the global economy, commodities, or retirement savings, we invite your questions.
Making Money in Real Estate in 2011
According to the National Association of Realtors, all-cash buyers accounted for 30% of existing home sales last month. That’s up from 25% in May 2010, and 12% two years ago. If you go back to March of this year, cash buyers made up an astounding 35% of all existing home sales.
Friday Reader Q&A: Can I Get Back the Premiums I Pay for Life Insurance?
It’s Friday. And that means that its time for FTMDaily’s Reader Q&A. Each Friday, we reserve our daily column for our readers and their questions. Whether you have a question about your money, our Five Levels of Financial Freedom, the global economy, commodities, or retirement savings, we invite your questions.
My Recent Run-in with the Federal Reserve Police
Most Americans have no clue that the Federal Reserve is not part of the U.S. Federal government. But even fewer know that they have a machine-gun toting police force as well.
Friday Reader Q&A: Which Foreign Currencies Should I Buy?
It’s Friday. And that means that its time for FTMDaily’s Reader Q&A. Each Friday, we reserve our daily column for our readers and their questions. Whether you have a question about your money, our Five Levels of Financial Freedom, the global economy, commodities, or retirement savings, we invite your questions.
The Fed Is Going To Make You Beg
It helps if you think of the Fed as a drug pusher. Pushers don’t “market” their drugs. Instead, they rely upon the addicts to come crawling back for more. The Fed doesn’t need to push QE3 on the public. This would only bring more attention to its true intentions. Instead, the Fed will let the public demand it.
Random Thoughts on the U.S. Economic “Recovery”
Stocks are getting hammered today after U.S. companies added fewer employees than forecast in May. Here are some of my random thoughts on the U.S. economic “recovery.”
Friday Reader Q&A: Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Buy Silver?
It’s Friday. And that means that its time for FTMDaily’s Reader Q&A. Each Friday, we reserve our daily column for our readers and their questions. Whether you have a question about your money, our Five Levels of Financial Freedom, the global economy, commodities, or retirement savings, we invite your questions.
Precious Metals Market Update – May 21, 2011
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In this week’s Precious Metals Market Update segment with precious metals advisor, Tom Cloud, learn what’s happening in the precious metals markets and what lies ahead for gold, silver, and palladium.
The Day I Woke Up From the Consumption Trap
In today’s piece, I recall the moment that I realized the difference between consumers and producers.
Tired of the Rat Race? It’s Time to Change Your Thinking
Instead of seeing a world full of “haves” and “have-nots,” I tend to see a world that is full of “producers” and “consumers.” Over the next several days, I am going to confront this issue of the “consumer” mindset vs. the “producer” mindset. It is here that many can be set free from the “rat race.”
The Future of Oil and the End of the Dollar
My basic thesis is that the U.S. is an empire in decline. In the past, it has made some brilliant moves that secured its place as the supreme economic, political, and military leader of the globe. But in its twilight years, America has fallen prey to the common trappings of empire: military overreach, an entitlement mindset, and currency depreciation.
Bankrupt U.S. Government Now Raiding Pensions
In typical fashion, Republicans and Democrats are using the debt ceiling debate to get the upper hand politically in today’s headlines. While “Rome” burns, the lipstick is carefully being applied to the pig.
How America’s Petrodollar System Influenced the 2003 Iraq War
One of the more sensitive, and therefore veiled, aspects of the petrodollar system is how it has impacted America’s relations with the Middle East. In life, everything boils down to incentives. If we are hoping to grasp how the world around us works, we must understand that behind every decision lies an incentive. Let’s see what role the power of incentives plays in the petrodollar system when it comes to American foreign policy in the Middle East.
The Big Secret to Running Your Own Successful Business
There is no short cut to financial success. However, over the years, I have learned that there are smart ways, and some “not-so-smart” ways, to make money.
What a Hamburger Can Teach Us About the Coming Dollar Collapse
To help understand the faltering petrodollar system, I often use an illustration about a hamburger stand. Here it goes…
Meet the System That Will Collapse the U.S. Dollar
The coming breakdown of the global petrodollar system will result in the total and complete collapse of the U.S. Dollar. And yet, very few people have even heard of this system, let alone understand it.
Peak Oil 101: Waking Up to the Reality of Peak Oil
Despite being warned for decades that the U.S. would eventually face peak production, the U.S. government has done nothing to date to solve the energy crisis that will soon strike America’s shores with a fury. The ugly truth that few are telling you is that the world is preparing to be plunged into an era of declining oil production which will lead to enormous energy price increases.
Peak Oil 101: Q&A with Jerry Robinson
In this second article of our series on America’s Energy Crisis, I will answer some of the most common questions about the Peak Oil theory.
America’s Energy Crisis 101: Introduction
Today, our entire global economic infrastructure — not just America’s — has been built and designed around petroleum-based products. In fact, our entire way of life today would be virtually impossible without the amazing properties that we find within petroleum. Oil has become largely irreplaceable in today’s exploding global economy.
It’s Good to Be Back…
Last week, my wife and I traveled to a town near Philadelphia to present a three-day financial seminar explaining the roots of the economic crisis, along with real steps that individuals can take to ensure their own financial security. We had a great time but it’s great to be back at our office in Houston.
Silver in your Pocket Change: A Quick Guide to Junk Silver
With silver prices soaring, many people have no idea that they may be holding some of the popular metal in their everyday pocket change. Here’s a quick guide to some common U.S. coins that are worth more than you may think.
Our Top Four “Stable” Foreign Currencies (and Three Easy Ways to Buy Them)
Here is a list of four of the most stable foreign currencies along with three simple ways to buy them. What is the most stable currency? Learn more here.
Diversifying with Foreign Currencies: 9 Currencies That Are Outperforming the U.S. Dollar
In this article, I will introduce the concept of using foreign currencies for savings diversification and will discuss nine currencies that have outperformed the U.S. Dollar.
Diversifying with Precious Metals: Where to Buy Gold and Silver
With the price of precious metals making new highs, many people are wondering where they can buy gold and silver. In this article, I explain how and where you can gain exposure to gold, including physical metals, stocks and ETF’s, and the options and futures markets.
Diversifying with Precious Metals: 6 Different Ways to Buy Gold and Silver
Today, I will begin explaining how to diversify one third your six month liquid savings reserve into precious metals. We begin with a discussion with at least six different ways to gain exposure to gold and silver.
Creating an Investment Exit Strategy
Because of the many risks that await you as an investor, it is vital that you have an investing plan before you invest even a dime of your money. And one of the most important lessons that every investor should learn is the exit strategy. This is a protected post. Learn more about becoming an FTM Insider.
Investing Questions from our Readers with Jerry Robinson
Over the last several weeks, the number of people emailing us with questions about whether or not this is a good time to exit the stock markets has been unusually high. Read Jerry Robinson’s answers to your investing questions here. This is a protected post. Learn more about becoming an FTM Insider.
Eleven Obscure Places to Hide Cash in Your Home
Here’s a sampling of some of the places that our readers tell us that they are hiding their cash.
The DSL™ Savings Strategy 101 – Diversification With U.S. Dollars (Part 1)
Welcome to a new financial teaching series on our DSL™ Savings strategy. In this first teaching article, I will briefly explain some of the various ways in which you can hold your one-third in U.S. Dollar denominated dollars when using our DSL™ Savings strategy.
How to Inflation-Proof Your Savings Through Diversification (Part 3)
Here’s how we create stellar returns using a basket of foreign currencies, precious metals, and U.S. Dollars.
How to Inflation-Proof Your Savings Through Diversification (Part 2)
Here’s the results of a study that was done on our DSL (Diversified Six-Month Liquid) Savings strategy measuring total returns for three different time periods. The findings are completely stunning!
How to Inflation-Proof Your Savings Through Diversification (Part 1)
If you want to dampen the ravaging effects of inflation on your money, diversifying your savings should be a priority.
March Madness Strikes Washington
In March, the U.S. Federal government collected $194 billion in tax revenue but reported $1.1 trillion in expenses. The ponzi scheme continues…
FTMDaily Financial News Update – The Fed is Dead Wrong… Again
Almost three years after Bloomberg LP requested details on the emergency bank loans given out by the Federal Reserve at the height of the economic crisis, the records are finally being delivered.
Wal-Mart CEO: ‘Serious’ Inflation is On the Way
Wal-Mart CEO, Bill Simon, is sounding the alarm of what he is calling a coming wave of “serious” inflation that he says will strike U.S. consumers in the coming months. f
The Year of Black Gold
2011 is turning out to be a boom year for OPEC. If oil can stay consistently above $100 until December, the cartel is projected to reap $1 trillion in oil revenues by year’s end.
FTMDaily News Update – What’s Behind Russia’s Dramatic Economic Rise?
In 2010, the Russian MICEX Index has returned over 22%. And now in 2011, the index is already up 15%.
(In contrast, China is up only 5% so far this year. Brazil is down around 2% for the year while India has lost 10% so this year.)
So what’s behind Russia’s recent and dramatic rise?
Goodbye “Cheap” Chinese Goods
When my daughter was younger, I used to offer her 25 cents for every item that she could find in our local Wal-Mart store that was not “made in China,” or some other Asian nation. Needless to say, she rarely walked out of the store with any money.