How are you doing on the personal security front? “My son-in-law E.J. Smith recently acquired another favored Sig Sauer 226 MK 25 chambered in 9mm,” I wrote in my September 2015 issue of Richard C. Young’s Intelligence Report, “I am a big fan of the 9mm handgun, and own a Beretta.
“In E.J.’s case,” I continued, “he has invested a lot of time and energy in the Sig 226 to gain proficiency. The price of the Sig 226 is up 25% over the last five high-demand years. As E.J. notes in a recent post at his website, www.yoursurvivalguy.com, ‘Often times the best investments are made when making a profit is the last thing on your mind.’ I wish more collectors as well as retirement-oriented investors thought this way.”
Think Like a Collector
You see, my goal over the more than five-decades of advising investors just like you, has been to help you invest like a world-class collector—whether it be collecting dividends from stocks, collecting income from full-faith credits, or collecting ammo, toilet paper, and burgundy (to name just a few must haves), for your survival cache.
Survival is a Serious Term
Yes, survival is a serious term. Yes, it is a serious subject. Too serious? You tell me. Are your finances and the well-being of your family not to be taken seriously? I think not. It’s why my daily work, and that of E.J.’s at www.yoursurvivalguy.com, is focused laser-like on ways for you to fortify your family’s situation—to survive and thrive—in an uncertain future. Because in the future, you will be confronted with the unexpected. Just ask E.J., “The Survival Guy.”
I remember like it was yesterday, the two of us sitting down, discussing, and dissecting a fire event at his property in Newport, RI. This was serious stuff. Thankfully no one was hurt. If you’re not familiar with the E.J.’s fire, read it by signing up for his weekly survival emails at www.yoursurvivalguy.com.
Your Vulnerabilities and The Prudent Man
With your survival mindset, you quickly become aware of your vulnerabilities. In a world drowning in information—your survival mindset helps you gain understanding—the basis of my favored Prudent Man Rule.
As I explained to you in my September 2015 issue of IR, “based on common law stemming from the 1830 Massachusetts court formulation Harvard College v. Amory. The Prudent Man Rule directs trustees ‘to observe how men of prudence, discretion and intelligence manage their own affairs, not in regard to speculation, but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income, as well as the probable safety of the capital invested.’
Since I started our family investment management firm in 1989, I have operated under the assumption that the Prudent Man Rule to this day carries as much weight as it did in 1830. Common sense and prudence just don’t go out of style—ever.
In these strategy reports, I have been writing about my four Ps—Protect, Preserve, Patience, and Perspective. I will now add a fifth member to my Ps family: Prudent. Over the five decades that I have been helping investors save and plan for a comfortable and secure retirement, there have been only three completed phases of the long-term interest rate cycle.”
Survive the Next Cycle
How will you survive the next cycle? Do you remember the crash year of 2008, with the NASDAQ down a staggering 40%? My favored Vanguard GNMA was up 7.2%.
“It’s time to get your lazy money off the couch and back to work,” E.J. wrote in his piece Why Vanguard GNMA Works for You in 2017 at www.yoursurvivalguy.com, “You know the lazy money I’m talking about,” E.J. continued, “The rainy-day fund that’s turned into a big-screen TV, the matured CDs that took a cruise to the islands, and the emergency cash that’s betting on Apple. Let’s not forget where your safe money should safely be employed: At Vanguard GNMA.” Good ‘Ole GNMA is a survivor.
Make 2018 the year you get acquainted with “The Survival Guy.” Make it the year you invest like a collector—the year you follow the Prudent Man Rule—the year you survive and thrive with the peace of mind you deserve. Make it a good year with www.yoursurvivalguy.com.