Sorry, but I need to take a week off from the Audioblog, as my head is
about to explode. Scripting – and reading – Audioblogs is a highly
mentally-intensive process; and given that I am taping seven podcasts this
week alone; and writing five articles, including this one, there’s isn’t a
heck of a lot going on that I haven’t discussed already, in great
detail. Moreover, the process of planning and marketing our growing
cadre of meetings – I’ll announce a new one at the end of this article;
booking private consultations; and, for the first time since joining Miles
Franklin in 2011, fielding a significant amount of client calls, is consuming
as much of my mental capacity as my time. Thankfully, I love what I do
– which, care of the relentlessly positive feedback I receive, gives me a
sense that I have a true “calling” in life.
Scanning the “horrible headlines” of the past 24 hours alone, I could
easily find a half dozen topics worthy of my attention, and your action
to protect yourself from what’s not only “coming,” but happening as we
speak, such as…
1. Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, dramatically reducing its revenue
and earnings guidance – again! Regarding the “top line,” it now
expects 2016 worldwide revenues to be flat with 2015, versus its
previous expectation of up 3%-4%. Worse yet, it blamed the
strong dollar (Federal Reserve intervention) and rising minimum wage
(government intervention) above all else. In other words, a case study
of how Orwellian central planning is destroying the world – which is probably
why Walmart just fired 10,000 people, and is doing everything it can to make
sure as few employees as possible work enough hours to be considered
“full-time” – and thus, eligible for benefits. In other words, Ayn Rand
and George Orwell’s FICTIONS are rapidly becoming FACT.
2. Speaking of central planning, the momentum toward a “cashless society”
– featuring negative interest rates and capital controls – is exploding, as I
warned of in Monday’s “NIRP
vs. Gold, Part VI” article. At this point, if you don’t yet realize
this is coming – likely, soon – I’m not sure what will convince you,
that you need to get as far out of the system as possible, as quickly as you
can. To that end, the “biggest equity short squeeze since 2007” – and
Precious Metals capping – affords the perfect opportunity to act whilst
you still can. Frankly, the only question remaining, in my view, is
which of the past week’s blatant manipulations ends the quickest, and most
violently. Will it be stocks, where the “Dow Jones Propaganda Average”
has been goosed by an incredible 1,000 points – based on absolutely
ZERO positive news? Or oil, where “production cut” – and “production
freeze” – rumors, yet again, were proven unfounded? Or gold and silver,
whose fundamental, sentimental, and even technical strength continues to
surge, despite Monday’s “President’s Day Desperation Raid” – and yesterday’s
all-out, decidedly failed attempt to push gold below $1,200.
3. Sadly, a significant percentage of the world’s population no longer has
the ability to protect itself from government destruction – as in Venezuela,
where the Bolivar was again devalued yesterday, by a further 37%.
4. The PBOC indebted China by an additional $1 TRILLION in the first two
months of 2016 alone. Gee, I wonder how that will end.
5. Last but not least, perhaps the most important news story NO ONE
appears to be considering, despite the potential for it becoming a major,
economically cataclysmic event by year-end. Which is, the rising
possibility that the UK will “Brexit” the European Union by year-end, based
on credit market-based expectations rising to their highest level since the
ill-begotten, ill-fated union was created.
That said, I need to take a break – albeit briefly, as I have three
podcasts scheduled in the next 24 hours – from the negativity of
what’s going on in the world, to reflect on the positivity emanating from
Miles Franklin. Not that many of our competitors aren’t advancing their
positions as well – as frankly, it’s been refreshing to witness how the
“cream of the crop” are thriving, in their efforts to not only promote their
respective businesses, but our cumulative message of wealth protection.
That said, few, if any bullion dealers have been publishing free
educational material as long as the Miles Franklin Blog – as when
David Schectman first started writing the Miles Franklin Report at the
turn of the century, the internet had barely been invented. Moreover,
few, if any bullion dealers publish as much content, both quantitatively and
qualitatively. In my view, the reason it is becoming so widely read –
and listened to – is due to the dedication of the entire Miles
Franklin team; which, starting from the top, believes as strongly in its
product as its business model.
Moreover, from the day Miles Franklin opened its doors, it has been ethics
that have defined us – in which numerous competitors have come and gone,
often due to shady tactics like the promotion of low-value numismatics;
cutthroat sale prices, but exorbitant purchase bids; and generally
speaking, a lack of the hands-on customer service our team of professionals –
on average, sporting nearly 25 years of industry experience – provides.
As let’s face it, we are being trusted with your life’s savings, and are well
aware of the anxiety it can cause you. Which is why we are so proud of
our A+ Better Business Bureau rating; and the fact that we have not
had a single registered complaint in our entire 27 years.
Throughout nearly three decades of operations, we have urgently sought to
differentiate ourselves in in industry that on the surface is
commoditized, but in reality is just not so. The high level service we
provide; the free, daily blog; and the industry’s highest buy-back prices
(particularly for Miles Franklin clients) are major, game-changing
differentiators, in my view. As is our Brink’s
Montreal storage program; in my view, the world’s best – and David and
Andy Schectman’s, too, which is why we all utilize it personally.
Which, I might add, will shortly be expanded to another Canadian city –
likely, in the next month or so. To that end, I’d bet few realize our
Brink’s program – to the best of our knowledge – is the only bullion storage
program charging by the ounce, rather than as a percentage of bullion
value. In other words, if the price of gold and silver double, your
storage fees won’t follow suit.
Additionally, our staff is constantly seeking unique ways to optimize your
portfolio, in cost effective ways that benefit all parties involved. No
one more so than Andy Schectman, who in two decades of Precious Metal
trading has been a pioneer in the field of product swaps – be they related to
the gold/silver ratio, tax considerations, over- and undervaluation of
numismatics, or otherwise. Particularly in today’s environment,
following a four-year “correction” that appears to have run its course, the
opportunity to “right size” your PM portfolio has never been greater – as
discussed in great detail in the podcast we conducted last year, “swaps,
trades, and repatriations.”
Last but not least, our efforts to travel the country – and world, for
that matter – to educate of the reality of the propagandized economy,
manipulated markets, and opaque bullion industry. Particularly now, per
the nationwide “Q&A Rap Session” tour Andy and I commenced last month
here in Denver. Next up, we are appearing in Minneapolis on February
26th, and Phoenix March 16th – followed by our newest “tour date”…drum roll
please…on April 21st in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. And after that, who
knows – as honestly, the requests for us to appear have come from no less
than a dozen different cities. To which, I must emphasize that any
attempts you make to facilitate such events – such as the smaller ones
we are shortly going to put on in Las Vegas and Raleigh – will help us to prioritize
our extremely busy schedules. As for the Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Ft.
Lauderdale dates, if you are interested in attending, simply call Miles
Franklin at 800-822-8080, or email me at ahoffman@milesfranklin.com.
To conclude, it has always been – and always will be, as long as there’s
metal to be bought, sold, or stored – Miles Franklin’s “Mission Statement” to
give the best service available; with the highest degree of ethics; and to
add the most value for your hard-earned dollars, Euros, Yen, or other fiat
currencies. To which, I must vehemently add – particularly to those new
to the Precious Metal bullion industry – that such positive qualities are
decidedly NOT pervasive in this largely unregulated business (except,
ironically, in our home state of Minnesota). And thus, that bullion
dealerships are far less “commoditized” than you think.
