Weekly Economic & Market Wrap Up

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Here's A Brief Overview Of This Week's Stories:

The Inevitable Collapse of Our Financial System and How to Protect Your Wealth

Have you ever wondered why your hard-earned money seems to buy less and less every year? The harsh reality is that our current financial system, built on fiat currencies and fractional reserve banking, is a house of cards destined for collapse.

Fiat currencies, such as the U.S. or Canadian dollar, are essentially worthless pieces of paper with no intrinsic value. They are not backed by tangible assets like gold or silver; their value is determined solely by the government's decree. This system allows central banks to print money out of thin air, leading to inflation and the erosion of purchasing power over time.

Fractional reserve banking is another concerning practice that underpins our financial system. Banks can lend out much more money than they have in their reserves, creating money out of nothing. This practice, combined with the limitless printing of fiat currencies, has led to a massive debt-based economy that cannot sustain itself indefinitely.

As Peter J. Merrick, Trust and Estate Planner (TEP) and renowned cross-border insurance and trust specialist, explains, "The money's not worth anything. People will stop trading with the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada. They're going to find other ways to store their wealth." This realization is already dawning on many, as evidenced by the growing interest in alternative assets like precious metals.

Continue Reading: The Inevitable Collapse of Our Financial System and How to Protect Your Wealth

?Alberta: A Beacon of Growth Amidst Economic Uncertainty

As the economic landscape shifts, Alberta stands poised as a beacon of growth within the Canadian context. Amidst rising interest rates and inflation concerns, the province's resilient economy is expected to maintain its momentum, offering promising prospects for investors across various sectors. Among these, multifamily rental apartments emerge as attractive opportunities for discerning investors.

Continue Reading: Alberta: A Beacon of Growth Amidst Economic Uncertainty

Gold Poised for Strongest Monthly Close as Fed's Inflation Gauge Meets Expectations

Gold is set to achieve its strongest monthly close since February 1, as the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure met consensus forecasts, maintaining the possibility of interest rate cuts later this year. The precious metal's appeal as a non-yielding asset tends to increase when interest rates are expected to fall, making it an attractive investment option in the current economic climate.

Continue Reading: Gold Poised for Strongest Monthly Close as Fed's Inflation Gauge Meets Expectations

Solving Financial Challenges - A Case Study in Tax and Insurance

Solving Financial Challenges - A Case Study in Tax and Insurance: In my 32 years in the financial services industry, I've encountered various complex challenges. A recent case, tackled alongside Jeffrey Cait, MBA, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., TEP, a top tax and insurance expert and best-selling author, highlights the importance of innovative solutions in seemingly difficult situations.

Continue Reading: Solving Financial Challenges - A Case Study in Tax and Insurance

Who Really Owns Your Stocks and Bonds?

As individual investors, we often assume we have full ownership rights to the stocks, bonds and other securities held in our brokerage and retirement accounts. However, the legal reality of modern security ownership is more complex. Due to dematerialization and the rise of intermediaries over recent decades, individual investors technically own "security entitlements" rather than direct title and control.

Continue Reading: Who Really Owns Your Stocks and Bonds?

Equitable Poised for Robust Future After Pivotal 2023

Equitable Life Insurance Company concluded 2023 with impressive milestones that position the firm for ongoing success, as announced in a recent Newswire Canada press release.

With a robust financial standing, strong growth momentum, an emphasis on client-centricity, and the launch of a new five-year strategic plan, Equitable seems ready to enter its next century of serving clients.

Continue Reading: Equitable Poised for Robust Future After Pivotal 2023

Canada Struggles to Attract Foreign Investment Despite Labor Market Success

Despite Canada's robust labour market performance, the country is grappling with a concerning trend: a significant outflow of foreign investment from its equity markets. According to BMO Capital Markets, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) saw a record net sell-off of $48.7 billion worth of Canadian equities by foreign investors in 2023. This staggering figure represents the largest annual outflow on record for Canada, a stark contrast from the typical net buying of approximately $12 billion in a "normal" year.

Continue Reading: Canada Struggles to Attract Foreign Investment Despite Labor Market Success

Troubled Commercial Real Estate Sector Poses Risks for Global Banks

The battered commercial real estate (CRE) market represents a growing vulnerability for banks and a potential source of financial instability, warns a new report from Morningstar DBRS.

After booming for years, CRE markets worldwide now face declining property values and refinancing hurdles. Lingering impacts of remote work have crushed demand for office space, pushing U.S. vacancy rates to record highs. Valuations in hard-hit sectors like CBD offices are falling as rents stagnate.

Continue Reading: Troubled Commercial Real Estate Sector Poses Risks for Global Banks

Is The Current State Of The Economy Keeping You Up At Night?

With all the economic and market uncertainty, you may have questions or concerns about your financial well-being. As a valued Lasting Financial Security subscriber, we are offering a complimentary portfolio evaluation to confirm if your current?investment strategy?will meet your financial objectives. To learn how we can help you protect and grow your wealth during these uncertain times, please email me at [email protected] or use my Calendly Link to book your private strategy session.

To continue receiving my posts, please follow Adrian C. Spitters FCSI?, CFP?, CEA?, and sign up for my newsletter, Lasting Financial Security.

Do you find value in the articles I write? Please subscribe to my weekly newsletter, which summarises my best stories of the week: SUBSCRIBE.

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