At the end of July, another bank collapsed. The fall of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas didn’t receive nearly the same attention as banks that collapsed earlier in the year because the government carefully managed it. They announced it on a Friday afternoon and only AFTER the FDIC had already brokered a sale and bailout.
This is extremely concerning to any American who can read the writing on the wall. There were no warning signs, no rumblings in financial sectors, and no leaks. The FDIC was able to take a bank from dying to sold without anyone in the public being aware. This tells us two important things. First, they now have contingencies in place to manage bank collapses which tells us they’re expecting more. Second, it means that anywhere we are banking may be in distress at any given moment and we will have no idea until it’s too late.
The Heartland Tri-State Bank collapse worked well. As far as we can tell, nobody was majorly harmed by it as the only inconvenience was not having access to the physical bank on Saturday morning. Checks and ATMs still worked and by the following Monday the replacement bank was put in place for business as usual.
The next collapse may not be as smooth. Or the one after that. Or the 10 at a time that could come at any moment. By no means am I trying to be a fearmonger, but as I noted earlier the proverbial writing appears to be on the wall. This is where it can get ugly.
Bail-Ins
Some Americans are familiar with the “bail-in” ploy that was put in place following the 2009 economic downturn. Instead of government stepping in with taxpayer money through a bail-out, a bail-in uses money from those who have funds in the bank. According to Investopedia:
Bail-ins provide immediate relief when banks use money from their unsecured creditors, including depositors and bondholders, to restructure their capital. Banks can convert their debt into equity to increase their capital requirements. Although depositors run the risk of losing some of their deposits, banks can only use deposits over the $250,000 protection provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
That last part is comforting for those who do not have more than a quarter million dollars in the bank, but FDIC protections would be meaningless in a catastrophic scenario such as rapid hyperinflation or the reversing of the U.S. Dollar as the world reserve currency. Both scenarios, while not very likely today, are still possible and are becoming increasingly likely with every passing day of poor economic policies and a world that seems bent on taking us down.
For those with assets greater than $250,000 in the bank, now would be a great time to diversify. Clearly our preference is for physical precious metals. Advisor Metals can do cash purchases of bullion and ship it discreetly to your door; metals in the safe are quickly becoming a solid option over money in the bank. Genesis Gold Group specializes in converting 401Ks, IRAs, and other retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs backed by physical precious metals. Both options are being strongly considered by people across the nation.
Central Bank Digital Currency
All of the banking shenanigans support the advancement of a Central Bank Digital Currency to replace the U.S. Dollar in the near future. Implementation is the tricky part, which is why some are saying the banking collapse is being manufactured. It’s much easier to implement CBDCs after a consolidation of banks in which smaller and regional banks are mostly engulfed by the big banks that are already on board with a near-future “Digital Dollar.”
This, too, supports the notion of moving portions of wealth or retirement to physical precious metals. Money in the bank, stocks in the portfolio, or cryptocurrencies in the wallet are all threatened by the rise of a CBDC in America. Physical precious metals are not only less threatened by most economists’ reckoning, but they may actually benefit greatly from a shift to a Digital Dollar. This is why central banks themselves are buying up as much gold and silver as possible.
Physical precious metals are strong hedges no matter which direction the nation heads with CBDCs. If they’re never adopted, precious metals can be liquidated into fiat currency. If CBDCs are adopted soon, the moves by central banks and asset managers like BlackRock tell us precious metals will convert to Digital Dollars just as easily as they’d convert to paper dollars. And if things get really bad in a hurry, precious metals have an opportunity to provide true wealth protection through massive economic turmoil.
This is why we strongly encourage readers to contact Genesis Gold Group and/or Advisor Metals to secure their life’s savings with gold and silver.
The real threat in all of this isn’t the government. It’s not just the central banks. It isn’t even just the Globalist Elite Cabal. The real threat is complacent adoption of the machinations in store for us by a population that is generally unaware and uncaring. Don’t be one among the masses who fail to act because they don’t know or don’t care. Make the move to smart money today.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.