As we have mentioned before copper prices reflects the future expectation of of consumer demand. Consumer demand comprises 2/3rd of the GDP. Copper is a major metal used in numerous consumer goods and related services. The current price pattern for copper is showing a head and shoulders pattern. Without getting too technical, this basically is […]
Category: Self-Directed IRA and The Economy
Gold Recognition As Money And Its Effect On Self Directed IRAs
In the June 18 meeting of the Fed ad FDIC they reviewed what are known as the Basel III standards for Banks. As a result of that meeting, the following key points were established: 1. Tier 1 assets, for banks, are the safest assets that a bank can hold in reserve 2. Gold is defined […]
What The Lastest CPI Numbers Mean For Self Directed IRA
The latest CPI numbers show that overall prices increased 0.05%. However, what this fails to acknowledge, and what the rest of us that live here know is that gas prices were up more like 7% in July. But, when we look at the infamous government figures the should be showing an increase of 0.24% vs. […]
Crowdfunding And Self Directed IRAs
For all of our recent memory and experience, its been illegal to solicit people or investors for investments into any business. This investment space has been relegated to the few that dwell on Wall Street and associate with the right people. As most of us have learned from the 2008 meltdown, we are mere mortals […]
The ISM Report And Your Self Directed IRA
The July 2012 ISM report just came out and the the number came in at 49.8 versus the June number of 49.7. The ISM report is a general measure of manufacturing activity and specifically how much manufacturers are planning in procuring for the business. A number below 50 indicates negative or contractionary environments. The ISM […]
The FOMC Meeting And Your Self Directed IRA
The FOMC – Federal Open Market Committee just completed their most recent meeting. They decided to leave interest rates at historic lows. In prior missives we discussed the downsides and negative economic impacts of these low rate. Without re-visiting prior articles, the downsides of such a continued policy is that retirees cannot move funds into […]
Q2 2012 GDP And Your Self Directed IRA
The reported, headline, GDP numbers just came in at 1.5% in the second quarter. This is a major revision downward from 2% in the first quarter of 2012. This brings the overall annual growth rate in at 2.2% versus the previous 2.4% in Q1 2012. Overall these numbers are not statistically significant. In fact, it […]
The Storm is Coming – Check Your Self-Directed IRA
We wanted to show you a couple of simple graphs to tell a simple, but it’s a scary story. The first chart shows the federal debt since 1965. We would like to point out a simple inflection point of 1971. It was in 1971 that we moved off of the gold standard (thanks a lot, President […]
June Housing Numbers (Corrected) and Your Self Directed IRA
Monthly changes in June home sales showed a decline of 8.4% for new homes, a decline of 5.4% for existing homes. Though large on a monthly basis, in the big scheme of things there numbers were not meaningful. Both numbers continue to show a developed and established pattern of low-level stagnation. Weakness in homes sales […]
Taxes, Spending, Politics And Your Self Directed IRA
In prior postings we touched on what is referred to as the Fiscal Cliff. That so called cliff is a perfect storm of events coming together at years end. What are these events: 1. Bush era tax cuts will be rolled back thereby increasing the effective tax rate on top earners from 36% to 39% […]
What Dr. Copper Is Telling Us About Self Directed IRAs
Background Historically, copper foreshadows what is and will be happening in our economy. It is often stated that copper is the metal with a Ph.D. in economics, and the data for the most part bears this out. When copper is down, the US economy is in recession; when the indicator is up, the US economy […]
Macroeconomic Gold Outlook And Your Self Directed IRA
In the recent World Gold Council report, they highlighted some important, forward looking, economic issues that will be in place for the second half of 2012: Deflationary trends will continue raising the increased likelihood for more fiscal stimulus. This will debase the currency and increase the risks of inflation in the long run. Despite some […]