Money Matters Update - August 6, 2012

Marc’s Notes:

Well here we sit a week or so later from our last update and nothing much has changed. Bernanke is holding fast on QE 3 although QE2 never really stopped. It’s just hidden.

The EURO members are still squabbling and the EURO central banks and the IMF are trying to persuade all the Euro countries (like Germany mainly) to agree to altering Euro rules and start money printing.

This of course is the last resort of a failed economic policy.

Banana republic type idiocy that will eventually lead most paper currencies into the toilet exhibited by rocketing inflation.

Right now the debt everywhere is causing deflation (debt repudiation and falling prices) except in commodities. They are being driven higher by the banks and investments firms who use Fed money they got for free to gamble in an attempt to garner more profits. Washington is apparently ok with this theft of the American people AND the devastating inflation their free money causes. It angers the hell out of me as people STARVE due to higher food prices in third world countries.

Our elderly suffer as well but hopefully don’t actually run out of food, although some are eating pet food to get by, all brought to you by the Federal Reserve’s easy money policies and Washington’s bank bailouts which are ongoing.

The “stimulus/create jobs” rhetoric is BS and the more Obama or whoever tries to create jobs, the only real lasting thing they create is more debt (which will eventually come home to roost) and higher prices which will stay and get worse.

Have you seen the price of food stuffs like corn (drought making it critical) , soybeans, meat (driven higher by corn prices) and cereals?

“you aint seen nothin yet”.

Look for a new program announcement driven by either:

Euro Central Bank agrees to QE, or a falling Dow, or unemployment not moving down, or whatever else they can blame the need for it on. The real reason is the US Treasury can’t sell all its debt. (Treasuries) and need the Federal Reserve to buy it. (Called “monetizing the debt”).

Already the Federal Reserve is buying more than half of it!(I see reports of up to 2/3 are being bought by Ben).

The markets rise in the face of dismal news all based on what the Feds will do next. News is out big time. Hedge managers are closing funds and returning client funds because they say they can no longer trade this market due to the reliance of the markets entirely on government intervention.

I agree!

These professional managers, many of them quality individuals who make an honest (albeit healthy ) living are calling it like they see it.

Government interference of the highest degree, with so many manipulations on so many levels as we question the very term “markets”. 

It’s more like a skewed and rigged game for the rich and powerful. So we wait with no other choice but to see what the FEDS do and like everyone else, play our cards accordingly based on the best information we can get, which honestly isn’t much.

We can read the news and what’s happening but the outcome of it all we haven’t a clue as we do not know what THEY will do. We play the hand we are dealt. As for you, education and prudence is the right course. Stay out of markets for the most part and continue to consider Money Matters core diversifications. 

I like savings accounts, offshore money, gold and silver funds and stocks and metal also in possession. Dividend payers if you wish to hold stocks and global corporate and government bonds, foreign currencies and even some real estate if you can afford it. (A big IF here). 

I stay away from firms and advisors because they load up on stocks and bonds only. A method of madness in my humble opinion.

Most importantly, learn about your money. Whether you take a class from me. golf to talk with me, a lunch or just learn from somebody else, DO IT NOW.

Education will be the only way you survive the madness we find ourselves in today.

Need something to read?  Try Moneyandmarkets  free newsletter or read the editorials on financialsense.com. Both are written by intelligent people with honest assessments of what’s really going on around us. All for now but consider looking into the classes I mentioned above as well as the section where I mentioned where I put my money.

Notes:

I opened up a Canadian Bank account. If you want a contact up there, email me! I may lead a trip up there for those interested in opening accounts there. Email me with interest. We will make hotel reservations for you if you want and lead you on a great trip in Victoria complete with great food (really the best I have had anywhere) and the world’s most consistent whale watching. They guarantee you see whales! Mostly killer whales but many others go through there too. The Butchart Gardens are also there for you flower lovers! A truly stunning sight! Check it out here:

http://www.butchartgardens.com/the-gardens/image-gallery/image-gallery.html

Add to this the diversification of opening an account in another country and it’s well worth the few bucks it will cost you. We fly to Seattle and take a ferry to Victoria!

I am also still looking to Everbank for a new Market Safe No Risk CD but no news yet. They do have a nice account for checking with guaranteed high rates. Here is the speal on that one with link if interested.Check it out if looking for a bank account with a good rate, called BONUS RATE. (Forgive the sale sounding text).

Here are the details on the Bonus Rate:

•           Bonus Rate increased to 1.25% for 6 months

•           Money Market Account First Year APY: 1.01% up to $50k

•           Checking Account First Year APY: 0.93% on accounts with $25k - $50k

•           Eligible Accounts: All NEW Yield Pledge Checking & Money Market Accounts

Even after the bonus rate period has ended, the Yield Pledge promise ensures these accounts will remain in the top 5% of competitive accounts nationwide – always. This consistently offers some of the highest yields in the nation (currently over 7X the national average for money market).

You can also deposit checks from your mobile phone! The EverBank mobile banking app allows you to simply snap a photo of your check and send the image for deposit.

Use the following links for the Yield Pledge Money Market and Yield Pledge Checking accounts if interested:

Money Market: https://www.everbank.com/personal/high-yield-money-market.aspx?referid=13286

Checking: https://www.everbank.com/personal/interest-checking.aspx?referid=13286

Money Class 2 is now being offered! September 28th, 2012. 11.00 am in Alta Sierra by Grass Valley. Email me now for a seat.

If you have taken Class 1 and now want to attend Class 2, please email me ASAP! This class will be a smaller setting and take place where Class 1 left off.

We will cover in greater detail:

Real Estate, Offshore Money, Swiss Annuities, How to open a Canadian Bank Account. (We may also plan a group trip there to get everyone who is interested up there and at the right bank! We will also make hotel reservations if you like). We will also go over more gold questions, Apple questions, stock brokerage issues, opening a brokerage account, AND take as many questions as you have in the time allowed. This smaller setting allows me to talk more personably with those attending and answer specific questions. I will also be open to any and all questions in this smaller setting. We will probably limit class size so I can answer all questions.

Email us NOW to sign up.

Cost is $199.00 per person and includes lunch. Don’t wait. I assume this class will fill up as they all usually do.

New date for Class 1 is not set yet so stay tuned. Ditto for Class 3!

NOTE: If we have your old check or you have signed up at KVMR, you still are paid up so you can attend any class you desire. Just email us you are interested.

Class 1 and Class 3 date and time coming soon so stay tuned to this email.  (New sign ups cost $199.00 each and includes food and drink).

If you just want to sign up, then mail us your payment to PMB 101, 578 Sutton Way Grass Valley Ca 95945. Include your email address and what class (1 or 2 or 3) you prefer and include your EMAIL ADDRESS on the check. Either class is $199.00 per person. First come, first serve. Make check to Bay Area Process Inc.

Golf too! Let’s get together! Email me to talk shop on the course instead of in class.

Now here is an article for your enjoyment and enlightenment. I think you will enjoy this one immensely.

Euro Problems Persist

I’m getting tired of doing articles on the Euro situation but it’s not getting any better over there and since it could have a dramatic effect on our markets here, investors should understand just what is going on in Euro land and in actuality, it’s quite easy to understand.

Just imagine you spend too much money and now owe so much you cannot only pay the principal, you can’t pay the interest.

Along comes an Uncle (the European Central bank in this case-ECB) and offers to loan you money to make your interest payments.  The loan may help you to pay your interest payments today, but soon you’ll be out of money again.

Making matters worse, that loan also has interest on it which only adds to your debt level and subsequent interest payments. In reality, the loan helped you for a day but because it was a loan, it did nothing to solve the underlying problem which is too much debt.

Then imagine you just keep overspending. You will now also keep adding to the debt you already can’t carry.

Your Uncle (the ECB) could just GIVE you the money, but:

1) It’s against the law for the ECB to do so.

2) Other over indebted entities would then also want free money themselves.

3) Many of the members of the Euro system won’t agree to give away free money anyway.

Now replace the YOU in the parable I just told you and substitute Greece, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal, to name a few. 

It’s easy to see with so many nations owing so much, none of them can pay their interest payments and all are crying for a help.  The ECB keeps loaning everybody money but loans don’t help and actually add to the problem. 

There is talk about GIVING money to these countries but that is illegal, opens up a whole new group who would demand they also get free money and many Euro members will have nothing to do with giving free money away to anybody.

Hence the mess they and WE find ourselves in today. Loan more and solve nothing or give money away and break the law, go against influential Euro members and then face even more nations demanding they get free money.

Now put yourself in the ECB’s shoes. What the solution? 

Can’t think of any?

Neither can they.   It’s the reason I keep having to do news reports on the Euro problem.

It won’t go away because there is no answer except to allow these over indebted nations to declare bankruptcy.  That would send world markets and their banking systems into a tailspin, and that would mean another multi trillion dollar bailout to “save the system”.

Unfortunately that’s exactly what’s eventually going to happen for no other reason than there is no other way out.

So get your wallet out, you’re about to bailout out the banks again.

 

This article expresses the opinions of Marc Cuniberti. Mr. Cuniberti hosts “Money Matters” on KVMR FM 89.5 and 105.1 FM on Thursdays at noon. He has been featured on NBC and ABC television and on a host of made for TV documentaries for his economic insights. His website is www.moneymanagementradio.com

 

Here I am at the Lions Den!