Welcome!  On this page are some of my most popular resources.  I hope that you find this information to be of help.

Retirement Investing

I have been an outspoken critic of conventional retirement planning for almost 20 years, warning of multiple deep flaws in the underlying theory, and explaining why millions of investors would never be able to realize the returns they were led to believe were near guaranteed. 

The linked readings include: why the rapid climb in government spending as a percentage of GDP may cripple the long-term performance of stock investments, how government efforts to fix the economy are being paid for by reducing the future standard of living of retirement investors, and a concise refutation of the core financial assumptions underlying most financial planning.  Read more.

The unemployment crisis gripping America is the worst since the Great Depression - but the official unemployment rate is under 10%. How could that be? The true unemployment picture is hidden by essentially splitting jobless Americans up and putting them inside the three different "boxes" shown above.

Two articles reveal: 1) how the government keeps 9 million jobless Americans out the unemployment statistics; 2) the depression that is being hidden through massive deficit spending. Read more.

Are you frustrated by very low interest rates which don't even come close to keeping up with inflation?  Do you find that supposed inflation-indexed cost of living adjustments are failing to keep up with your actual cost of living?

These problems are no accident, but are the result of a government strategy which economists refer to as Financial Repression.  This hidden $500 billion tax on savers hits retirement investors the hardest even as it destroys conventional financial planning. Read more.

Eurozone Crisis

What could happen if the Euro collapses?  Will there be a rapid redistribution of wealth in Europe that could be highly profitable for some and catastrophic for others?  How would this effect US investors and workers?

The linked readings examine a potential Euro collapse not from an "end of the world / doom and gloom" perspective, but rather with explorations of the specific implications for the rapid redistribution of wealth between segments of society in Europe and the US.  Read More.

Recent Articles

Ongoing articles and commentary about current financial developments are sent directly to subscribers (subscription is free, and is included with the free book).  A sampling of several recent articles can be found here.

Deadly Dow 36000

Beginning with an eye opening look at the past and the "secret history" of a 70% market loss, and then moving to today and showing how the illusion of the greatest "bull market" of our lifetimes could destroy 80% of investment values for millions of investors, this resource provides the essential investor education needed for financial survival.  Read more.

 

Hidden Gold Taxes

The #1 reason investors buy gold is to protect themselves against inflation, but governments have a "secret weapon" when it comes to gold.  For unprepared gold investors, the higher the rate of inflation, and the more gold profits climb - the poorer the investors may end up, as a little understood tax consumes their real wealth.

 

The linked educational resources include: 1) a tutorial which uses step by step examples to explain the essential basics of these hidden taxes; and 2) three historical case studies showing how under current law the US government effectively confiscates profits as well as starting net worth from gold investors during times of high inflation. Read more.

 

With unfortunate regularity in recent years, the US government and Federal Reserve have relied on the ability to create trillions of dollars out of thin air in order to give secret bailouts to banks, finance massive deficits, and manipulate interest rates for the entire mortgage industry. 

 

This use of rampant monetary creation in lieu of taxes is a recent development, it is extraordinarily dangerous - and few people (including journalists) understand even the basics of how it actually works.

 

Using simple and understandable steps, the series of readings in this unique primer show exactly how the money is created, how the Fed passes money to favored Wall Street banks without triggering instant inflation, how the process "hollows out" the banking industry while creating a facade of strength, and the extraordinary risks and costs for us all.  Read more.

 

Real Estate

Placing inflation-adjusted mortgage payments and current rental property cash flows in a 20 year context, and a long-term look at the inflation-adjusted pricing relationship between two popular contrarian assets.    Read more.

 

Six Deficit Layers

This reading starts with the annual US budget deficit and then adds five more layers of deficits on top of that base, using simple illustrations and a per household approach that makes the huge numbers both personal and understandable.

 

By the time you finish - you will see just how much worse the situation is than most people realize, and why it is that retirement investors and retirees will be the ones paying the extraordinary price for out of control deficits, rather than their grandchildren.  Read more.

 

 

This website contains the ideas and opinions of the author.  It is a conceptual exploration of financial and general economic principles.  As with any financial discussion of the future, there cannot be any absolute certainty.  What this website does not contain is specific investment, legal, tax or any other form of professional advice.  If specific advice is needed, it should be sought from an appropriate professional.  Any liability, responsibility or warranty for the results of the application of principles contained in the article, website, readings, videos, DVDs, books and related materials, either directly or indirectly, are expressly disclaimed by the author.

 

Copyright 2006-2012 Daniel R. Amerman, CFA