Investment/Trends

Retirement Myth Reveals the Possibility of Great Socioeconomic Change

"So now we know: Even a million dollars isn't enough to retire on. Sounds reasonable, given all the obstacles to retirement in the West and especially in the US. But there is a problem with this article that is much bigger than the retirement issues it explores. The problem is – and we can see from the article's feedback – that the readership is a good deal more sophisticated than the article itself. As we've often pointed out, when people cease to believe in the narrative provided to them by their own elites, then inevitably society begins to change in fundamental ways. As we can see, this article glosses over the REASONS for increasing retirement problems." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRetirement Myth Reveals the Possibility of Great Socioeconomic Change

Millennials Mired in Wealth Gap as Older Americans Recoup Wealth

"The damage inflicted on U.S. households by the collapse of the housing market and recession wasn’t evenly distributed. For households headed by someone 40 years old or younger, wealth adjusted for inflation remains 30 percent below 2007 levels on average. Net worth for older Americans has already recouped the losses. With fewer young people owning homes, not as many are benefiting from the rebound in home prices. What’s more, heads of households under age 40 aren’t benefiting as much from a boom in equity prices, which have hit record highs this year. About 27 percent of 18 to 29 year olds owned stocks as of April 2013, compared to 61 percent of 50 to 64 year olds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMillennials Mired in Wealth Gap as Older Americans Recoup Wealth

Loan Program For Investors With More Than 4 Properties Financed

"In 2009, Fannie Mae rolled back a mortgage rule that prevented real estate investors from financing more than 4 properties at once. At the time, investors were limited to 4 properties financed, which included their primary residence. Today, the maximum number of allowable, simultaneously financed properties is 10. You wouldn't know it, though -- few banks actually offer the program. This article describes how to get a mortgage if you have 5-to-10 homes in your portfolio. So, why don't all banks participate in the 5-10 Properties Financed program? The probable answer is that underwriting a 5-property-owning investor's mortgage application can be very hard work." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLoan Program For Investors With More Than 4 Properties Financed

Housing in U.S. Cools as Rate Rise Hits Sales: Mortgages

"After a roller-coaster decade of boom-bust-boom, the U.S. housing market is going downhill just when many economists thought annual sales would be heading up. Sales of previously owned properties in March tumbled 7.5 percent from a year earlier to the slowest pace in 20 months, while purchases of new houses sank 14.5 percent from February, according to reports this week. Mortgage applications to buy homes plunged 19 percent from a year earlier, indicating slowing demand during what is typically the busiest season for deals. Mortgage interest rates are rising from record lows as the central bank withdraws its stimulus, and investors are now retreating." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHousing in U.S. Cools as Rate Rise Hits Sales: Mortgages

Former US Consumer Finance Watchdog Voices Support for Bitcoin

"Raj Date, the former Deputy Director of the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a consumer finance watchdog, said in an interview this week that he supports – and is now investing in – bitcoin. During a segment of Bloomberg Television’s 'Street Smart,' Date commented that, on a personal level, he sees a lot of potential in digital currencies like bitcoin. In the interview, Date said that bitcoin has the potential to deliver faster and more secure payments than is currently possible for most consumers, and remarked that the pace of innovation could result in a broader evolution in digital currencies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer US Consumer Finance Watchdog Voices Support for Bitcoin

The richest man in Asia is selling everything in China

"Here’s a guy you want to bet on– Li Ka-Shing. Li is reportedly the richest person in Asia with a net worth well in excess of $30 billion, much of which he made being a shrewd property investor. Li Ka-Shing was investing in mainland China back in the early 90s, way back before it became the trendy thing to do. Now, Li wants out of China. All of it. Since August of last year, he’s dumped billions of dollars worth of his Chinese holdings. The latest is the $928 million sale of the Pacific Place shopping center in Beijing– this deal was inked just days ago. So what does he see that nobody else seems to be paying much attention to? Simple. China’s credit crunch." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe richest man in Asia is selling everything in China

Getting the Best Rates on Currency Conversions

"Forex trading platforms allow you to convert and transfer your money for minimal charges and are perhaps the best way to do so. You may want to consider Interactive Brokers as a forex platform (but do shop for other forex trading platforms in your jurisdiction). You can do all sorts of currency conversion with Interactive Brokers, and it has extremely competitive spreads. For certain currency conversions involving the US dollar, the spread can be smaller than 1 pip (1/10,000th of dollar or 0.01%). Moreover, you can execute limit orders. These spreads are attractive considering most banks operate at a spread of about 2.5-3%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGetting the Best Rates on Currency Conversions

Evidence That Consolidated Global Power Is Wielded by a Tiny Elite

"For the past 12 years an elite cell at the US Treasury has been sharpening the tools of economic warfare, designing ways to bring almost any country to its knees without firing a shot. The strategy relies on hegemonic control over the global banking system, buttressed by a network of allies and the reluctant acquiescence of neutral states. Let us call this the Manhattan Project of the early 21st century. The stealth weapon is a 'scarlet letter', devised under Section 311 of the US Patriot Act. Once a bank is tainted in this way - accused of money-laundering or underwriting terrorist activities, a suitably loose offence - it becomes radioactive, caught in the 'boa constrictor's lethal embrace'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEvidence That Consolidated Global Power Is Wielded by a Tiny Elite

Does Anti-Money-Laundering Work? Rick McDonell of FATF Answers

"Can you put in place effectively a system that identifies who is sending what to whom? In terms of virtual currencies that remains the same. [..] One significant issue is identification of the beneficial ownership of trusts, entities and companies, the ability of criminals to hide behind a corporate veil or some other legal instrument. That is a challenge we are dealing with. We have a new standard in place for that, and it will be tested in practice very shortly. That will require much closer cooperation between different arms of government that haven’t perhaps had to work together before. I would put that down as a significant challenge going forward." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoes Anti-Money-Laundering Work? Rick McDonell of FATF Answers

Global Debt Exceeds $100 Trillion as Governments Binge

"The amount of debt globally has soared more than 40 percent to $100 trillion since the first signs of the financial crisis as governments borrowed to pull their economies out of recession and companies took advantage of record low interest rates. The $30 trillion increase from $70 trillion between mid-2007 and mid-2013 compares with a $3.86 trillion decline in the value of equities to $53.8 trillion, according to the Bank for International Settlements and data compiled by Bloomberg. Borrowing has soared as central banks suppress benchmark interest rates to spur growth Yields on all types of bonds, from governments to corporates and mortgages, average about 2 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlobal Debt Exceeds $100 Trillion as Governments Binge