Quotes of the Day

Podcast with Dave Janda

Silver Circle Movie - Coming Soon

Friday Afternoon Wrap-Up

Monday Morning Commentary

Expectations

Ranting Andy's Mailbox

This was a 3 day week for us because of the holiday schedule.  Irrespective, we did more business than in any single week in years.  The buying is monstrous in here. I would point out that the type of buying we are seeing at our firm is happening across the country.  There is a bit of a run on gold and silver here.

-Bill Haynes

The East has been 'carrying' us like a prize fighter toying with his opponent.  They could have already 'knocked us out' years ago, but why do so when we still had 'money' to sell.  That is, it only makes sense to bleed as much metal (real money) as you can before the 'knockout,' you can accumulate more, and leave your opponent with NONE!

-Bill Holter, Miles Franklin

In the last 6,000 years, around $8 trillion of gold has been produced.  Just since 2006 - when Bernanke became the Fed Chairman - the U.S. debt has gone from $8 trillion to $16 trillion.  Thus, it took 6,000 years to produce $8 trillion of real money (gold); and for Bernanke, just six years to 'produce' the same amount of fiat money.

-Egon von Greyerz

The truth that no one wants to acknowledge is the standard of living for every person in Europe, the United States, and Japan will decline. The choice is whether the decline happens rapidly by accepting debt default and restructuring; or methodically through central bank created inflation that devours the wealth of the middle class.

-Jim Quinn

When can you point to a time in history when the leaders of the developed world - the owners of the world's reserve currencies - have all decided they are going to destroy the value of their currencies? We've seen it before, but never when Europe, Japan, and the United States, have a declaration of war on their currencies.  The average American, Japanese, and European, must vastly increase their holdings in precious metals, now.

-Michael Pento

The present manipulation in gold is purely Western, and any other thought is rank nonsense. This event is both short term and very short sighted in terms of people's published analysis.

-Jim Sinclair

Never in modern history have we seen so many governments agreeing to make the same mistakes.

-Alisdair MacLeod

The reason I like your company over others is all of you are very easy to contact; and if there is a problem, I know there's an expert that can answer a question or two rather than a customer service rep.

-Miles Franklin client "A"

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On Sunday afternoon, December 30^th, I taped a segment on the fabulous Operation Freedom radio show, with Dr. Dave Janda; per below:

Podcast with Dave Janda

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READERS:  I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE IMPACT THIS (NEW-AGE ANIMATED) FILM WILL HAVE ON THE PERCEPTIONS OF GLOBAL YOUTH - PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE TIMING OF ITS PLANNED RELEASE.  I HAVE MET THE PRINCIPALS OF THIS PROJECT - YOUNG, SMART PEOPLE REPRESENTING BADLY-NEEDED HOPE FOR AMERICA, AND THE WORLD.  I PLAN ON RUNNING THIS PROMOTION AND COMMENTARY UNTIL THE FILM IS RELEASED; AND, AT THE LEAST, I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH THE TRAILER AND LEARN WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

Ranting Andy readers are getting an exclusive look at the Silver Circle movie.  A film about the upcoming economic collapse in 2019 will hit theaters in January, but not before taking a promotional tour this Fall for lucky viewers around the country!  More details about the release -i.e., exact dates - will be published soon, so stay tuned at SilverCircleMovie.com, and watch the TRAILER here:  

Silver Circle - Official Trailer

In last December's "2012 EXPECTATIONS," I expressed reluctance to predict near-term events. Frankly, I find most "year-ahead" forecasts to be USELESS; particularly when utilized as marketing tools rather than honest thought pieces. I feel no differently of this age-old rite of the financial industry; so again, I am caveating my "forecast" with the following disclaimer...

I mean, who knows what will happen?  There are simply too many moving parts to gauge, as the global economy is a 'living system' comprised of volatile, unpredictable human beings and - in today's world - increasingly dangerous computer algorithms capable of reeking incomprehensible damage by accident.  Throw in the wrath of Mother Nature - who in recent years has been on the warpath; and the largest unknown of all - collective human confidence - and such forecasts become comical at best.

Nearly all "2013 forecasts" I've read thus far are simple extrapolations of what we see today; a psychological trait common to all human activity, particularly in financial markets where for centuries investors have 'bought high and sold low' - following the near-term trend instead of understanding the bigger picture. 

Given these constraints, and exponential growth in government market intervention - both OVERT and COVERT; I will not attempt any wild predictions - "pulled out of my arse," as some might say.  Instead, I will cite general trends that I expect to continue, if not accelerate, in the coming 12 months.  Forgive me if I too, fall victim to the "extrapolation bias."

That said, I reviewed my 2012 forecasts and found them to be pretty close to reality - by essentially ALL metrics - per the bullet points below...

1. The European debt crisis will dramatically deteriorate
2. The U.S. Economy will weaken�  
3. "Global QE" will become increasingly OVERT
4. Gold will rise for the 12th straight year  
5. Gold will not remain below its 200 DMA for long
6. The gold/silver ratio will decline
7. Market volatility will EXPLODE  
8. Survivalism" will grow, worldwide
9. The 2012 U.S. elections will break all records of campaign contributions, lies, smear campaigns, and SURPRISES

10.Most investments will be deadly

Frankly, the ONLY thing I did not gauge correctly was the extent TPTB would intervene to prevent the inevitable from occurring. That is why I was incorrect about points #7 and #10 - while being DEAD ON about the other eight.

Going into 2013, the aforementioned inevitability appears FAR MORE acute than a year ago. That is, Currency Collapse, Hyperinflation & Social Unrest are GUARANTEED to spread through the Western world; with the only question being when.

Will it be 2013, or will TPTB survive another - likely traumatic - year or two before the END GAME expresses itself in 2014 or 2015? Frankly, I have no idea; although the list of potential "swans" - black, white, or otherwise - grows longer each day. Thus, I have decided to "go with my gut" on forecasting 2013; that is, to utilize the ultimate in extrapolation bias - by giving the EXACT same forecast as a year ago!

Sorry to disappoint those hoping I'd predict WAR - or PEACE, for that matter - as I haven't a clue what will ultimately occur. However, I have learned well that "the trend is my friend;" and given what I view as a dramatic deterioration in global political, economic, and social trends over the past 12 months, "the trend" should only GAIN momentum in 2013.

Frankly, the only real question I have is whether TPTB will still have the ability to disprove points #7 and #10; as only massive MONEY PRINTING, MARKET MANIPULATION, and PROPAGANDA can prevent market volatility and significant asset losses. And I'm not talking the "2012 level" of such intervention; but a new, "amped-up 2013 level" that puts 2012 to shame.

Can they do so without DESTROYING confidence - and with it, countless fiat currencies? I don't know, and I'm TERRIFIED to find out.

PROTECT YOURSELF, and do it NOW!

Call Miles Franklin at 800-822-8080, and talk to one of our brokers.  Through industry-leading customer service and competitive pricing, we aim to EARN your business.

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Andy,
 
Thanks for all you do to educate people about the coming economic crash!
 
I know you live in the Denver area and I wanted to get your feedback since I live in Boulder.  Currently I'm renting a 1 bedroom apartment, putting as much money in gold and silver as possible.  However, listening to your "rants" - as well as others' opinions who I trust (Eric Sprott and John Williams); I realize the coming crash will most likely happen sooner than I thought: 2013 or 2014.  So I'm starting to change my focus to other issues to survive the crash such as: food and water storage, other supplies, safety, etc. 

Currently my plan is to quickly move into a larger apartment in, where I'll have much more room to store supplies to survive a few months of economic chaos.  I'm also considering other options such as buying a more secure location (Boulder town home or house).  Any advice or feedback you can give me about my thoughts would be most appreciated.  I'm just starting the process of focusing on the nonfinancial aspects of surviving the coming collapse.
 
Also, what do you think the chances of the power grid going down during the collapse will be?
 
Finally, how long do you think people need to prepare for until some order is restored?
 
Thanks in advance for your help!
 
D

D,

I am a big fan of home ownership, particularly with a low or no mortgage - and ONLY if you don't have plans of (or uncertainty regarding) potential moves. Thus, it is your OWN place, and no one can take it from you; which is particularly relevant when storing the things you discuss (moving gold, food, and other survival items is not a desirable situation).

That said, buying is not for everyone; and clearly, renting has its advantages, too.

As for your other questions, there is simply no way of knowing how bad things can get; and even less knowledge of the ultimate resolution.

All I can say is thus; PREPARE FOR THE WORST, BUT HOPE FOR THE BEST.

Andy

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Andrew ("Andy") Hoffman, CFA joined Miles Franklin as Marketing Director in October 2011.  For a decade, he was a U.S.-based buy-side and sell-side analyst, most notably as an II-ranked oil service analyst at Salomon Smith Barney from 1999 through 2005.  Since 2002, his focus has been entirely on Precious Metals, and since 2006 has written free missives regarding gold, silver, and macroeconomics under the moniker "Ranting Andy."  Prior to joining the company, he spent five years working as an Investor Relations officer or consultant to numerous junior mining companies.   An archive of Andy's "RANTS" can be found on the Miles Franklin Blog here.