The Option Genius Podcast: Options Trading For Income and Growth
Let's talk trading. Especially how to trade options for income. Whether you want to trade for a living, have a side hustle, or make extra monthly income from stocks, this is the place. We are here to help individual investors learn to trade options in a way that is simple, fun and profitable. The goal is to help you achieve Freedom. Financial freedom so you have no more worries about making ends meet and so you have more than enough for safety and security. Time Freedom so you can do what you want when you want. And Choice Freedom so you can live your life on your terms with no restrictions. We call it living the Option Genius Lifestyle. Where you can earn consistent monthly income by selling options using safe, conservative strategies. We place high probability trades and earn market beating returns in a way that takes just a few minutes a day. Listen in to learn how you can do the same. Hear from professional traders that have beaten the game. Some of the strategies we discuss are covered calls, naked puts, credit spreads, vertical spreads, iron condors, butterfly spreads, calendar spreads, strangles, straddles, and more. This podcast is about how we trade options and how it lets us life a lifestyle other people can hardly imagine. Trade from anywhere in the world, for just a few minutes a day, in a way that is super safe and can still make more than the averages? Listen in to learn how and check us out at OptionGenius.com
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The New Trump Trade (Not TACO) - 195
11/05/2025
The New Trump Trade (Not TACO) - 195
We've all heard of the "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade, but there's a new, more powerful government-driven strategy in play. This episode reveals a simple yet potent playbook for what we're calling: The New Trump Trade (Not TACO). We explore the simple thesis: when the U.S. administration takes a direct ownership stake in a company, we should consider trading right alongside them. This isn't just a theory; we're seeing the results in real-time. We'll look at the government's involvement with Intel (INTC) and how that stock has nearly doubled, and then dive into a watch list of rare earth and materials companies like MP Materials (MP), Lithium Americas (LAC), and Trilogy Metals (TMQ) that have seen explosive returns since the government stepped in. This isn't about capitalism at its best; it's about playing the market that we have. Are you ready to follow the ultimate smart money? Subscribe for more unique trading playbooks. Key Takeaways The New "Trump Trade" Thesis: The core idea is simple: if the U.S. government takes an ownership stake in a public company, investors should consider "following the smart money" and buying shares or long-term options, as the company is now a strategic national asset. The Intel (INTC) Example: The playbook started with Intel, which the government partnered with to secure the U.S. chip supply. Since the government's involvement, the stock has nearly doubled, proving the thesis that these companies "are not going to fail." The Rare Earth Materials Watch List: The strategy has expanded as the government seeks to secure domestic supplies of rare earth metals. A watch list of companies the government has already bought into includes: MP Materials (MP): Up from ~$30 to ~$89. Lithium Americas (LAC): Up ~66% in two weeks. Trilogy Metals (TMQ): Up from ~$2 to ~$8 in two weeks. The Government Will Set Price Floors: The administration has announced it will buy more companies in other industries and, significantly, will set price floors for these commodities. This is great for company profits (though not capitalism at its best) and provides a strong tailwind for the stocks. How to Play It: Stocks or LEAPS: Investors can trade these companies by either buying the stock outright for a long-term hold (aiming for 3x, 5x, or 10x returns) or by buying long-dated LEAP options (6+ months out) to control the position with less capital. "The Trump trade that I'm discussing... is that the companies that the administration buys or takes a piece of are could be very excellent traits... we should be trading right alongside the government." Timestamped Summary (00:40) The Old "TACO" Trade: A quick review of the old "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade, which was based on him bluffing about tariffs. (03:52) The Fed Playbook (Market Context): A brief look at the current market environment, with the Fed signaling rate cuts, which provides a bullish tailwind for the stock market into the end of the year. (04:48) The New Trump Trade Explained (Intel): The episode reveals the new playbook: follow the government's investments. It starts with the Intel (INTC) deal, which has seen the stock nearly double. (08:23) The Rare Earths Watch List: The host unveils the new watch list of materials and mining companies the government is investing in, including MP, LAC, and TMQ, and their explosive returns. (14:52) How to Trade These Stocks: A discussion on the best ways to play this trend, such as buying the stock for a long-term hold or using long-dated LEAP options for a cheaper entry. What do you think of this 'New Trump Trade' playbook? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you found this insight valuable, share this episode with a friend who is looking for new trade ideas. Enjoying our unique take on the markets? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us grow the show.
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Option Trading Brokers Reviewed - 194
10/29/2025
Option Trading Brokers Reviewed - 194
You can't trade without a broker, but having the wrong one is like trading with one hand tied behind your back. With all the consolidation and new players in the industry, how do you choose the right one for your options strategy? This episode is a complete review of the current landscape. We're talking about: Option Trading Brokers Reviewed. We'll break down the pros and cons of the biggest names in the game, from the undisputed champion of platforms, Thinkorswim (now at Schwab), to the pro-level (but difficult) Interactive Brokers. Learn why tastytrade's value may have changed since its acquisition and discover some lesser-known, low-cost brokers like eOption and TradeStation. We also discuss the rise of Robinhood and why, for serious options sellers, a desktop platform is still king. Don't just pick the first broker you see. This is your guide to finding the right fit for your trading style. Did you know your commissions are almost always negotiable? Subscribe for more essential trading tips. Key Takeaways Best Overall Platform: Schwab (for Thinkorswim): Despite a potentially slow setup process, Schwab is rated #1 primarily because it offers the Thinkorswim (TOS) platform, which is considered the most powerful and comprehensive tool for options analysis. Best for Professionals & Low Cost: Interactive Brokers (IBKR): IBKR offers the best fill prices and is the only major broker that does not use "payment for order flow." It's also the best choice for international traders. However, its software is notoriously difficult to learn, and customer service is lacking. The "Trader-Focused" Brokers (tastytrade, TradeStation, eOption): tastytrade: Built for options sellers but has seen a decline in value since being acquired by a private equity firm and the original founders departed. eOption: A great, low-cost "no-fluff" broker with excellent customer service, ideal for traders who use separate charting software. TradeStation: A new player with an interesting monthly membership fee model for commission-free trading, but its different platforms are still being integrated. Robinhood is Built for Phones, Not Complex Trading: While Robinhood is growing fast and adding features like SPX trading, its mobile-first focus makes it difficult to analyze and execute complex options strategies like iron condors. Most serious traders prefer a robust desktop platform. Pro-Tip: Your Commissions are Negotiable: Don't accept the default commission rate. Once you have a track record or a decent account size, call your broker and ask for a better rate. They can almost always go lower. "When you're just starting out, I think people try to pick the perfect broker. It's like, No, don't worry about it... in the first, maybe even 50 trades or 100 trades, we're not even trying to make money... We're just trying to learn the skills." Timestamped Summary (01:52) #1 Broker: Schwab / Thinkorswim: A breakdown of why the Thinkorswim (TOS) platform makes Schwab the top choice, despite its overwhelming initial appearance and the fact that most traders only use 5% of its features. (05:13) #2 Broker: Interactive Brokers (IBKR): An overview of the pros (best pricing, no payment for order flow, international access) and cons (difficult software, poor customer service) of IBKR. (09:20) The tastytrade Story: The history of tastytrade, its acquisition by a private equity firm, and why the departure of its founders has led to a decline for what was once a top broker for option sellers. (13:28) Low-Cost & Niche Brokers (eOption / TradeStation): A look at two smaller brokers: eOption, known for low costs and great service, and TradeStation, which offers a unique monthly membership for commissions. (16:53) The Robinhood Factor: A discussion on Robinhood's rise, its mobile-first limitations for serious options trading, and its focus on crypto and tokenization. Which broker do you use for options, and what's your favorite feature? Let us know in the comments. If you know someone just starting out and looking for a broker, share this episode with them. Enjoyed this broker breakdown? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us reach and empower more traders.
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The Fed is Cutting Rates. Here's What History Says Happens Next - 193
10/21/2025
The Fed is Cutting Rates. Here's What History Says Happens Next - 193
The Federal Reserve has officially started a rate-cutting cycle, and Chairman Powell has telegraphed that more cuts are likely on the way. For traders, this is a time to be "licking your chops." This episode is all about: The FED Playbook. We dive into the historical data to see what has happened in the 11 previous times since 1980 that the Fed has cut rates multiple times in a row. Discover why, in the absence of a major recession, the market has historically seen double-digit gains 12 months later. We'll explore which sectors—from defensive stocks and small caps to banks and homebuilders—tend to perform best during these cycles. This isn't a guess; it's a playbook based on decades of market history. Is it time to "back up the truck" and load up? Subscribe for more deep dives into the market forces that matter. Key Takeaways The Fed Has Signaled a Cutting Cycle: Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has clearly telegraphed that a rate-cutting cycle has begun, with potentially one or two more cuts expected before the end of the year. This removes a significant amount of uncertainty for the market. History Shows Strong Market Performance: In the 11 times since 1980 that the Fed has initiated a multi-cut cycle without a recession, the S&P 500 has been up an average of 14.5% twelve months later. The market was also higher, on average, three and six months after the first cut. The "Goldilocks" Scenario is Here: The current environment of a stable economy, manageable inflation (around 3%), and a Fed that is actively cutting rates is what many describe as a "Goldilocks" scenario for the stock market. Expect Broad Market Leadership: Historically, Fed cutting cycles tend to broaden market leadership beyond just the tech sector. Defensive stocks (like consumer staples) tend to gain early, while cyclicals (like banks, homebuilders, and small caps) often perform better later in the cycle. The Playbook Says: Be in the Market: Based on the strong historical precedent, the playbook for this environment is to have exposure to the stock market to capitalize on the expected upward trend. While a 10% pullback is always possible and healthy, fighting the long-term trend in this environment would be a mistake. "The Fed lowering rates multiple times in succession has happened before. History repeats itself. So what is the playbook? Well, let's take a look at what has happened before." Timestamped Summary (00:52) The Fed's Clear Signal: The episode kicks off with the news that Fed Chairman Powell has clearly telegraphed a rate-cutting cycle, removing market uncertainty. (02:30) The Historical Playbook: A deep dive into the data from the last 11 multi-cut cycles since 1980, revealing that the market is up an average of 14.5% a year later when there is no recession. (09:27) The "Goldilocks" Scenario: An argument for why the current combination of a stable economy, manageable inflation, and an easing Fed creates a highly favorable "Goldilocks" environment for stocks. (12:41) Which Sectors Perform Best?: A look at the historical data on which sectors tend to benefit most during a rate-cutting cycle, including defensive stocks, banks, small caps, and homebuilders. (14:30) The Bottom Line: "Back Up the Truck": The host's concluding thought that the historical playbook for this scenario is clear: it's time to have exposure to the market and "load up the truck." Are you bullish or bearish for the rest of the year? Share your take in the comments. If this episode helped you understand the Fed's impact, share it with a friend who is new to investing. Enjoying our market analysis? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us grow the show.
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When To Exit a Winning Trade - 192
10/16/2025
When To Exit a Winning Trade - 192
It's one of the toughest decisions any trader faces: your trade is a winner, but there's still more potential profit on the table. Do you take the money and run, or do you let it ride for a bigger gain? This episode is a candid, real-time debate about this very dilemma, exploring the topic of: When To Exit a Winning Trade. Using a live "Phoenix" trade on SPX as a case study, we break down the math and the mindset behind two different approaches. Is it better to lock in a solid 4.4% return early, freeing up your capital and mental energy? Or is it worth risking that profit for an additional 1.1% gain by holding until the end? We explore the psychology of never wanting to give back a profit, the concept of "velocity of money," and the danger of letting the word "need" creep into your trading decisions. There's no single right answer, but understanding the variables is key to developing your own consistent style. What's your thought process on taking profits? Subscribe for more real-life trading discussions. Key Takeaways It's a Trade-Off: Certain Profit vs. Potential More: The core dilemma is whether to lock in a guaranteed, solid profit now or risk that profit for a smaller, additional gain by holding the position longer. In the episode's example, the choice was between a certain $355 profit or holding for a potential extra $90. The Psychology of "Not Giving It Back": A powerful emotional driver for exiting early is the desire to avoid the painful feeling of a winning trade turning into a loser. For many traders, the goal of consistency means booking a win and moving on to the next opportunity without taking on unnecessary end-of-day risk. Risking Your Win: What's the Real Math?: A key question to ask is, "Am I risking my current profit to make a worthwhile additional gain?" In the example, the trader was risking a $355 profit to make an extra $90. Understanding this risk/reward ratio is crucial for making a logical, not emotional, decision. The "Velocity of Money" Concept: Exiting a trade early, even if you leave some profit on the table, frees up your capital and mental bandwidth to find and enter the next high-probability trade. This "velocity of money" can be more valuable than squeezing every last penny out of a single position. Beware the "Need" Mindset: A major red flag in your decision-making is when you start to feel you need to make a certain amount of money on a trade, perhaps to break even for the month. Trading from a place of desperation or "need" is a danger sign that you are likely to make a poor, emotionally driven decision. "I think that's one of the worst feelings in trading... you have a decent profit... and then you give it all back." Timestamped Summary (01:56) The Live Trade Scenario: An introduction to the real-life "Phoenix" trade on SPX that sparked the debate: a winning position with the choice to exit early or hold for more profit. (07:36) The Psychology of Exiting Early: A deep dive into the mindset of a trader who prefers to take a guaranteed profit to avoid the pain of giving back a win and to maintain consistency. (12:16) The Math of Letting It Ride: A crucial look at the numbers. Is it a good trade-off to risk an existing $355 profit to potentially make an additional $90? (15:15) The "I Need This" Danger Zone: A warning about the psychological trap of letting your P&L for the month influence your decision on a single trade, and why trading from a place of "need" is a red flag. (26:07) The "Velocity of Money" vs. Holding to Expiration: A discussion on when it makes sense to exit a longer-term trade early to free up capital for a new opportunity, versus letting a safe trade ride to expiration. What's your rule for taking profits on a winning trade? Share your strategy in the comments. If this episode made you think about your own exit strategy, share it with a trading buddy. Enjoying these real-life trading discussions? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us grow the conversation!
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The Next GameStop? 10 Meme Stocks on Our Radar - 191
10/14/2025
The Next GameStop? 10 Meme Stocks on Our Radar - 191
The meme stock phenomenon is back, so much so that a new ETF has been created to track them. But what exactly is in this new basket of high-risk, high-reward stocks? This episode is all about: Meme Stocks. We dive into the top 10 holdings of a new meme stock ETF, exploring companies in sectors from real estate and energy to the cutting-edge world of quantum computing. Discover the one thing all these stocks have in common—high short interest—and why that makes them prime candidates for explosive "short squeeze" rallies. We'll also discuss the critical difference between a company with a questionable future like GameStop and a speculative company with a genuinely compelling story, like those in the quantum computing space. Finally, we'll explain why these highly unpredictable stocks are generally unsuitable for conservative options selling strategies. Are you ready to see what's on the new meme watch list? Subscribe for more insights into the market's hottest trends. Key Takeaways The New Wave of Meme Stocks: The meme stock trade is active again, leading to the launch of a new ETF designed to track them. This episode reviews the top 10 holdings of this new ETF. The Common Denominator is High Short Interest: The defining characteristic of a meme stock is not its business model, but its extremely high short interest. This means many institutional traders are betting against the company, making it vulnerable to a "short squeeze" if retail traders coordinate to buy the stock. A Separation of "Memes": Story vs. Obscurity: Not all meme stocks are created equal. Some, like GameStop, have a questionable long-term business model. Others, particularly in speculative tech sectors like quantum computing, have a compelling (though unproven) story that could lead to massive future value. Driven by Short Squeezes, Not Fundamentals: The rapid, thousand-percent gains seen in many of these stocks are not typically driven by fundamentals. They are the result of short squeezes, where short sellers are forced to buy back shares at higher and higher prices to cover their losing bets, creating a feedback loop. Unsuitable for Conservative Option Selling: Due to their extreme unpredictability and explosive volatility, these stocks are generally not suitable for conservative option selling strategies like credit spreads. The risk of a sudden, massive move wiping out a position is too high. "All of these things have one thing in common that makes them meme stocks is that the short interest is huge. They have a very high short interest because people are betting against it." Timestamped Summary (00:40) The Return of the Meme Stock ETF: The episode kicks off with the news that a meme stock tracking ETF is back after a previous failure, signaling renewed interest in the space. (02:27) The Top 10 Holdings Review: A walkthrough of the top 10 stocks in the new meme ETF, including Open Door (OPEN), Plug Power (PLUG), and several quantum computing companies. (09:22) The Critical Difference: Story vs. No Story: A discussion on how some meme stocks have a legitimate, albeit speculative, long-term story (like quantum computing), while others (like GameStop) have a much more questionable future. (13:48) Not For Conservative Option Sellers: The host's clear take on why these stocks, despite their high implied volatility, are generally too unpredictable and risky for premium-selling strategies. What's your favorite meme stock on this list, and why? Let us know in the comments. If you know someone who loves to follow the meme stock craze, share this episode with them. Enjoying our real-time market commentary? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us grow the show.
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Trading With Inverse and Leveraged ETFs - 190
10/09/2025
Trading With Inverse and Leveraged ETFs - 190
They promise 2x or even 3x the market's daily returns, but financial advisors warn they are a trap for long-term investors. So what's the real story? This episode offers a personal and unfiltered take on one of the most debated topics in modern finance: Trading with Inverse and Leveraged ETFs. We break down how these complex products work and why conventional wisdom says to avoid holding them due to fees and tracking "decay." Hear a personal account of long-term success holding a 3x leveraged ETF (TQQQ), challenging the mainstream advice. We'll also share two critical cautionary tales: one about a hedging strategy gone wrong during the Great Recession, and another on why inverse ETFs are particularly dangerous in bear markets due to "rip your face off rallies." This is not your typical textbook advice. It's a real-world perspective on the potential and the pitfalls of using these powerful tools. When is the best trade no trade at all? Subscribe for more honest trading insights. Key Takeaways They Offer Magnified Returns and Risks: Leveraged ETFs (like TQQQ) use derivatives to aim for 2x or 3x the daily return of an underlying index, while inverse ETFs aim for the opposite. This magnification works on the downside as well, making them highly volatile instruments. Conventional Wisdom Says "Don't Hold Long-Term": Most financial advisors warn against holding these ETFs for more than a day due to the corrosive effect of high fees and daily rebalancing, which can cause their long-term performance to "decay" and not perfectly track the underlying index. Personal Experience Can Differ: The host shares his personal, multi-year experience holding the 3x leveraged ETF TQQQ, stating that despite the conventional warnings, it has been his single best-performing holding and has significantly outperformed the underlying NASDAQ index. Beware of Inverse ETFs and "Rip Your Face Off Rallies": The host strongly cautions against using inverse ETFs to bet against the market. The reason is that bear markets often contain the most violent, explosive single-day rallies, which can wipe out a short position very quickly. The Best Trade Can Be No Trade: A powerful cautionary tale is shared from the 2008 crisis, where trying to hedge by owning both a 2x leveraged ETF and a 2x inverse ETF still resulted in a loss. The lesson: when the market is too wild and you don't know what to do, sitting in cash is often the smartest move. "The word on the street... is not to hold, not to own a leveraged ETF for the long term... But for me, I've held TQQQ in one account or another for years... and it is the number one best performing holding that I've had." Timestamped Summary (00:44) What are Leveraged and Inverse ETFs?: A clear explanation of how 2x and 3x ETFs work and the derivatives they use to achieve magnified returns. (05:15) The Conventional Wisdom vs. Personal Experience: A breakdown of why financial advisors warn against holding these products long-term, contrasted with the host's personal story of multi-year success with TQQQ. (08:44) A Hedging Strategy Gone Wrong (Cautionary Tale): Hear the personal story from the Great Recession of buying both a 2x leveraged and 2x inverse ETF, and still losing money, highlighting the instruments' decay. (11:15) The Dangers of Inverse ETFs and "Rip Your Face Off Rallies": Learn why betting against the market with inverse ETFs is so risky, especially due to the violent short-squeezes common in bear markets. (12:47) Trading Options on Leveraged ETFs: The host's take on why he avoids trading most options strategies on these products, arguing that a covered call defeats the purpose and spreads are better suited for less volatile underlyings. Do you use leveraged ETFs in your portfolio? Share your experience—good or bad—in the comments. If this episode provided a unique perspective on a complex topic, share it with a friend who trades ETFs. Enjoying our real-world take on trading? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us reach more listeners.
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Trading 0DTE While Working Full Time - 189
10/07/2025
Trading 0DTE While Working Full Time - 189
The allure of 0DTE (Zero Days to Expiration) options is powerful, promising fast-paced action and quick results. But can this strategy realistically and safely fit into a busy work schedule? We break down the hard truth about short-term trading: the market can shift on a dime, and you must have the ability to access your platform to manage trades when things go wrong. While 95% of trades may not require much attention, the other 5% are critical. We'll discuss the absolute minimum requirements for attempting this strategy and why, for many busy professionals, a longer-term approach is a much safer and less stressful path to success. If you have very limited time to check the markets, are strategies like covered calls and cash-secured puts a better fit for your lifestyle? Subscribe for more practical and honest trading guidance. Key Takeaways 0DTE Trading Requires Active Management: Unlike long-term investing, 0DTE and 1DTE strategies are not "set it and forget it." The market can move dramatically in a single day, and you must have the ability to access your trading platform (on a phone or computer) to make adjustments. The "5% Rule" is Critical: While the host estimates that 95% of short-term trades may not need much intervention, the 5% that get into trouble require immediate attention. If you are unavailable during those critical moments, you risk significant losses that can wipe out many small wins. If You Have No Time, It's Not For You: The host is unequivocal: if your job prevents you from checking the markets or your phone at all during the day, short-term trading strategies like 0DTE are not a suitable choice and will likely lead to you losing money. A Better Alternative: Longer-Term Strategies: For investors with very limited time, longer-term and more conservative options strategies like covered calls and cash-secured puts are a much better fit. These often only need to be managed once a month around expiration. Mental Bandwidth is a Factor: Even if you can physically check your trades, being in a position that requires monitoring can be a major mental distraction from your primary job, especially during important meetings or focused work. Short-term trading is not for everyone's personality or work situation. "If you're going to be in something that is so short in time, you're going to have to be able to access the computer... otherwise you're going to end up losing money. In the short term, there's no like, set it and forget it." Timestamped Summary (01:21) The Core Problem with 0DTE and a Full-Time Job: An immediate breakdown of why short-term trading is challenging for busy professionals, as the market can "shift on a dime." (03:13) The "5% of the Time" Rule: Understand why, even if most trades are quiet, your availability during the critical 5% of trades that go wrong is what determines your success or failure. (04:47) The Recommended Alternative for Busy People: Discover why longer-term strategies like covered calls and cash-secured puts are a much safer and more suitable starting point for those who cannot actively monitor the market. (06:06) The Mental Bandwidth Consideration: A discussion on the hidden "cost" of short-term trading—the mental distraction it can cause from your primary career, even if you are able to check your phone. Do you trade while working? Share your biggest challenge or best tip in the comments below. If you know someone considering 0DTE trading, share this episode with them for a realistic perspective. Enjoying our honest, no-fluff approach? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us reach more traders.
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My Biggest Money Fear - 188
10/02/2025
My Biggest Money Fear - 188
As investors, we move through different stages—from trying to make more money to trying to protect what we've built. But what is the biggest underlying threat to that wealth? This episode is a personal reflection on a critical, long-term issue facing all of us. This is: My Biggest Money Fear. Inspired by books like "The Fourth Turning is Here" and the work of Ray Dalio, we explore the potential decline of the US dollar as the world's reserve currency. Discover why this status has been the bedrock of American prosperity and what the consequences—like massive inflation and scarcity—could be if it erodes. We'll look at the geopolitical pressures from BRICS nations and a rising China that are challenging the dollar's dominance. This isn't about short-term market moves; it's about the fundamental stability of the financial system we all depend on. What can you do to prepare? Subscribe for more deep dives into the forces shaping our financial future. Key Takeaways The Biggest Money Fear: The Decline of the US Dollar: The host's primary financial concern is the potential for the US dollar to lose its status as the world's reserve currency, a shift that would have profound and negative consequences for the U.S. economy and standard of living. The Consequence: Massive Inflation and Scarcity: If the dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency, the U.S. would likely have to inflate its currency to pay its massive debts. This could lead to hyperinflation (40%, 50%, 100%+) and a scarcity of goods as production becomes uneconomical. The Geopolitical Drivers: Several global forces are challenging the dollar's dominance, including the formation of the BRICS nations alliance seeking its own currency, and the geopolitical maneuvering of a rising China against a declining U.S. empire, as described by Ray Dalio. The Bigger, Personal Fear: The Risk of War: The host notes that historically, shifts in global power from a declining empire to a rising one often lead to major military conflict. His biggest overall fear is the potential for a new world war and its impact on his draft-age children. The Recommended Preparation: Faced with this systemic risk, the books and analysis discussed in the episode recommend preparing by owning hard assets that exist outside the traditional dollar system, specifically gold and crypto. "If the dollar is no longer the reserve currency, life as we know it will change forever." Timestamped Summary (00:45) My Biggest Money Fear: The host sets the stage by explaining his personal financial position of "protecting capital" and introduces his primary fear: the decline of the US dollar. (04:41) Why the Dollar's Reserve Status Matters: A clear explanation of what the reserve currency is, how it has fueled U.S. prosperity, and the severe consequences (hyperinflation) of losing that status. (07:54) The Geopolitical Threats (BRICS & China): A look at the global alliances and power shifts, particularly the BRICS nations and a rising China, that are actively working to usurp the dollar's dominance. (10:29) The Bigger Fear: World War III: The host shares his deepest concern, citing Ray Dalio's work, that the shift in global empires could ultimately lead to a major war. (13:48) How to Be Prepared: The episode concludes with the actionable advice suggested by the source material: preparing for this potential future by owning a diversified portfolio of hard assets like gold and crypto. What's your biggest long-term money fear? Share your thoughts in the comments below. If this episode made you think about the bigger picture, share it with a friend or family member. Enjoying our unique take on the markets? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us grow the conversation.
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How To Trade Without Stress - 187
09/30/2025
How To Trade Without Stress - 187
Is your trading causing you tension, fatigue, and anxiety? For most, the constant need to predict the market's next move is a recipe for burnout. This episode explores a radically different, calmer approach to the markets and answers the question: How To Trade Without Stress? Inspired by the book "The Surrender Experiment," we discuss how the root cause of trading stress is trying to force your will on an uncontrollable market. Discover the power of letting go of predictions and instead trading the market you have, not the one you want. We'll contrast the high-stress, predictive style of Jim Cramer with the calm, patient, ownership approach of Warren Buffett. Learn how to use probabilities instead of predictions and how letting go of a single frustrating trade can unlock your entire portfolio's potential. This is your guide to shifting from a posture of stressful control to one of calm, disciplined flow. Is your stress a signal that it's time to change your approach? Subscribe for more insights into the professional trading mindset. Key Takeaways Stress Comes From Trying to Control the Uncontrollable: The primary source of trading stress is the futile attempt to predict and control the market. Accepting that the market is bigger than you and will never be under your control is the first step to reducing anxiety. Trade the Market You Have, Not the One You Want: A less stressful approach involves reacting to current market conditions with a probabilistic edge, rather than trying to force the market to meet your predictions. This means using strategies that have room to be wrong and can be adjusted with the market's flow. The "Surrender" Mindset: Inspired by Michael Singer's "The Surrender Experiment," the goal is to let go of the need to know what happens next. By trading with probabilities and not predictions, you can remove the emotional attachment to a specific outcome, thus reducing stress. The Cramer vs. Buffett Contrast: The episode highlights two opposing trading styles. The Jim Cramer style is predictive, fast-paced, and visibly high-stress. The Warren Buffett style is research-based, patient, and visibly low-stress; he buys good companies and lets them run without trying to micro-manage the outcome. Your Stress Can Be a Signal: Frustration and stress around a specific trade can be a powerful signal from the market (or universe) that you are trying to force something that isn't working. Learning to listen to that signal and exit or adjust the trade can be a revolutionary way to manage your portfolio and your well-being. "I try to have as less stress as possible in my trading, and I try to trade the market that I have, not the way I want the market to be, and I do that by not predicting." Timestamped Summary (02:00) The "Surrender Experiment" Inspiration: An introduction to the core philosophy of the episode, based on the idea of letting go of control and surrendering to the flow of life and the market. (05:50) The Root Cause of Trading Stress: A breakdown of why trying to predict the market and force it to meet your expectations is the primary source of frustration and anxiety for traders. (07:22) The Eli Lilly Trap: A Personal Revenge Trading Story: Hear a candid, personal story about how trying to force a win on one single stock created stress and held back the entire portfolio's performance. (08:34) The Cramer vs. Buffett Contrast: A powerful comparison between the high-stress, predictive style of Jim Cramer and the calm, patient, hands-off approach of Warren Buffett. (12:38) A New Experiment: Trading Based on Stress: Discover the host's new, revolutionary idea of using his own stress level as a signal for when to adjust or exit a trade. Does your trading cause you stress? Share your biggest challenge in the comments below. If this episode offered you a new perspective on trading, share it with a friend who could use a calmer approach. Enjoying the podcast? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us reach and empower more investors.
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Congress Insider Trading - 186
09/25/2025
Congress Insider Trading - 186
Is the stock market a level playing field, or is the system rigged against the little guy? This episode dives headfirst into one of the most glaring conflicts of interest in modern finance, sparked by a recent legislative push. We're talking about: Congress Insider Trading. We break down the recent bill proposed to ban members of Congress, their spouses, and other high-ranking officials from trading individual stocks. Discover the shocking resistance this common-sense idea has faced and hear the outrageous justifications from politicians who argue that being a senator would become "unattractive" without the ability to trade. This discussion highlights the stark contrast between the self-serving attitudes of today and the civic-duty mindset of the nation's founders. Is it a step in the right direction, or will the system protect its own? Subscribe for more discussions on how Wall Street and Washington impact the individual investor. Key Takeaways A Bill to Ban Trading Faces Resistance: A bill was recently introduced to ban members of Congress, their spouses, the President, and the Vice President from trading stocks, a move widely supported by the public but facing significant political opposition. The "Unattractive Job" Excuse: In defending his vote against the bill, one senator outrageously claimed that being a senator would become "unattractive" if they couldn't trade stocks, highlighting a profound disconnect with the idea of public service. A Glaring Conflict of Interest: The ability of lawmakers, who have access to non-public information and the power to create market-moving legislation, to trade individual stocks is seen by many as a form of legalized insider trading. A Step in the Right Direction: Despite the opposition, the bill managed to pass an initial committee vote, signaling that public pressure and transparency are beginning to have an effect, even if the road ahead is difficult. A Departure From Founding Principles: The episode contrasts the self-serving arguments of modern politicians with the civic-minded ethos of figures like George Washington, who reluctantly accepted leadership roles out of a sense of duty, not for personal enrichment. "He came out and he said that I voted against it because it would make it, quote, unquote unattractive to become a senator. If I could not trade stocks". Timestamped Summary (00:45) The Premise: A System Rigged Against the Little Guy: The episode kicks off by discussing the public perception that the government isn't on our side, using the rampant success of congressional stock trading as a prime example. (01:58) The Bill to Ban Congressional Trading: A breakdown of the new legislation aimed at preventing lawmakers and their spouses from trading individual stocks and the political hurdles it faces. (03:30) The Outrageous "Unattractive Job" Quote: Hear the direct, shocking quote from a senator explaining why he voted against the bill, revealing a mindset focused on personal enrichment over public service. (04:55) A Stark Contrast with the Founding Fathers: The discussion compares the modern political attitude toward wealth and power with the reluctant, duty-bound approach of figures like George Washington. What are your thoughts on this issue? Should members of Congress be banned from trading stocks? Let us know in the comments. If you believe in fair markets for everyone, share this episode with your network. Enjoying our take on the markets? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us grow and reach more listeners.
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Why You Should Own ETH? - 185
09/23/2025
Why You Should Own ETH? - 185
We've all heard the stories of missing out on early investments like Apple or Amazon. But as history shows, new technological waves are always emerging. This episode dives into one of the most significant digital assets today and asks the question: Why You Should Own ETH? We explore the compelling case for Ethereum, not as "digital gold" like Bitcoin, but as "digital oil"—the fuel that powers a vast ecosystem of other crypto projects and decentralized finance (DeFi). Discover the powerful catalysts on the horizon, from companies being formed just to hold ETH to major technological upgrades. We'll discuss why we may be in the "1996 of the internet" moment for digital assets and how a simple strategy like dollar-cost averaging can be a smart way to gain exposure. Is ETH the next great technological investment you can't afford to miss? Subscribe to hear our take on the opportunities shaping the future of finance. Key Takeaways ETH as "Digital Oil": Unlike Bitcoin, which is often compared to digital gold (a store of value), Ethereum's primary value comes from its utility. It acts as the foundational layer, or "digital oil," that greases the wheels for countless other crypto projects, smart contracts, and the DeFi ecosystem. Powerful Catalysts for Growth: The demand for ETH is poised to grow due to strong catalysts, including new companies being formed with the sole purpose of acquiring and holding Ethereum, as well as significant technological upgrades coming to the Ethereum network. Adoption is the Key Indicator: The increasing adoption of digital assets by individuals, institutions, and even governments signals that they are becoming a permanent part of the financial landscape. We are still in the early stages, comparable to the internet in 1996, with massive room for growth. A Parallel to Past Tech Revolutions: Missing the boat on ETH could be analogous to missing out on early investments in foundational tech companies like Apple, Amazon, or Microsoft. Each technological wave presents new opportunities for investors who get in before mass adoption. Dollar-Cost Averaging is a Smart Approach: You don't need to perfectly time the market. A disciplined strategy of dollar-cost averaging—investing a fixed amount regularly—is a prudent way to build a position over time, buying at various price points and benefiting from the long-term upward trend. "Bitcoin is digital gold, and you hold it... Ethereum is more like digital oil, because it's used to make other things. It's used to grease the wheels of other projects." Timestamped Summary (01:55) The "Digital Oil" Analogy: An explanation of why Ethereum's value is tied to its utility in powering other projects, distinguishing it from Bitcoin's "digital gold" status. (04:15) The Catalysts Driving Future Growth: A look at the key factors expected to increase demand for ETH, including institutional buying and the expansion of its ecosystem. (06:18) We're in "1996 for Digital Assets": Hear the argument for why we are still in the very early innings of crypto adoption, suggesting significant long-term growth potential. (07:40) The Forrest Gump / Apple Stock Parallel: A relatable story illustrating how getting in early on major technological shifts (like Apple then, or crypto now) can lead to massive wealth creation. What are your thoughts on the future of Ethereum? Let us know in the comments below. If this episode made you think differently about crypto, share it with a friend who is still on the fence. Enjoying the podcast? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps us reach more investors like you.
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I Dont Save For Retirement Anymore - 184
02/28/2025
I Dont Save For Retirement Anymore - 184
Alright, hey there, passive traders. This is Allen, coming to you with another episode of the Option Genius Podcast. Today, I wanted to talk about something that has been a pretty cool milestone for me, something I'm very excited about, but it's not something I can really share with friends or family. But I thought that if I shared it with you, you guys would appreciate it. And there's also a human relations, human nature lesson as well. And so, you know, it comes back to, like, is there ever a time, or is there something that you know to be maybe not true, right? It's like it goes against your common sense, but you still do it because you've just heard it done so many times, and so many people have said to do it, and it's just what everybody does. Yeah, you know, anything like that? And you just keep doing it. I mean, I am known as the passive trading guy, right? And I preach it all the time that, hey, look, if you can get your money to make money for you as much as you spend every month, then you can essentially retire, right? So if your expenses are, say, $10,000 a month, and from your trading, you can make $10,000 a month, then you can retire. You don't have to work anymore. You've just replaced your income. But I guess I don't follow that. I mean, I do, but I don't. And it goes back to, like, when I was very young, right after I got married, my wife was a big saver, and I, at that point, was not. And so she had savings. I had nothing. I was starting to trade. But her savings were really, really significant, and so I had to do something to show her that, look, we're going to be secure. I'm going to take care of you. And so I started putting money away in our Roth IRAs at that point, right? So I'm putting the money away, and that's the thing to do, right? You put your money away, you put it in a retirement account, and you let it grow, and you let it compound, and then eventually you get old, and then you retire, and you don't have to worry about money, right? That's what you're supposed to do. Now, my goal all the time was to retire early, but I'm still plugging all this money away into the retirement account every year. And then I started a company, and then the CPA told me, "Hey, you know, you should probably start a retirement account from the company. So the company pays money into your retirement account. For you, it's deductible. You'll save some money on your taxes." And I'm like, "Okay, that sounds good. I like saving money on taxes." So we started putting more money away. We started putting more money away, and it just kept going. And I didn't really think about it. Now, I read a book recently. It's called Die With Zero, and that got me to think. And so recently, at the end of the year, I went and I looked at, you know, all my finances, the balance sheet, and the net worth, and assets, liabilities, all that stuff. And I'm looking at it, and I'm realizing that, look, in our retirement accounts, for me and my wife, we have a substantial amount of money, especially with last year, you know, the market going up 20%, the year before that the market was up 20%, and so it's grown a lot, and we have a substantial amount of money in our retirement accounts. Maybe I don't have to put any more money in there, I don't know. So I took out my calculator, and I'm like, "Hey, this is going to be... let's see, right?" So I took the amount of money that I had, and let's call it "A," right? Just to make it simple, let's call it "A." And I said, "Okay, if I have this 'A' pile, right? I have 'A,' and that's the nest egg. Now, I'm going to retire at 65, let's just say, it's the number everybody uses, 65, want to retire, and I've got 17 years left. So if I have 'A,' and it grows at a decent rate of return, maybe 6, 7, 8, 9%, I don't know. You know, it varies. But if it grows at a decent rate of return, how much money am I going to have in my retirement account, my nest egg, in 17 years when I'm 65?" I did the numbers. We did it at different percentages, and it's going to come out to a very big number, you know, let's call it "Y." So the future nest egg is "Y," alright? The current nest egg is "A." Then I talked to my wife, and I'm saying, "Hey, babe, you know, 15 or 17 years from now, I'm going to be 65, you'll be a little younger. How much money do you think we can spend every month?" You know, we talked about it, we went over like, "Hey, you know, the kids will be grown. We're not really going to spend much money on them. Maybe the house will be paid off. And we're not big spenders as it is. So maybe we'd be spending, I don't know, on average, maybe $150,000. Now with, you know, inflation and whatnot, I'm not going to count that in. I'm not going to count taxes. I'm not going to count other expenses. And also, that's not the only, you know, this nest egg, the 'Y,' is not the only money I'm going to have. I'm going to have other investments and Social Security and Medicare, Medicaid, whatever, and all that stuff too. So I'm not going to even count any of that." So she said, "Okay, $150,000." I'm like, "Okay, that makes sense." So I took my "Y," divided it by $150,000. So if that money does not grow at all, you know, I take it out completely, out of the market. It's sitting in cash, it's sitting in my mattress, whatever, and it's not making any more money. Doesn't grow at all, and I deduct $150,000 every year from it to live off of, that money is going to last me roughly about 30 years. Now, I'll be 65, 30 years, I'll be 95. I don't know if I'm going to make it to 95, but most likely, I probably will have enough money to last for the rest of my life in retirement from just "A," if it grows the way it's been growing. And so I do the math several times, and I'm like, "Wait a minute, I don't have to put any more money away for retirement. My retirement is secure, in a sense, right? It could always go down, yes, but then, you know, there's going to be other stuff that we have as well. And worst comes to worst, I'll tell my kids they gotta, you know, take care of Dad and Mom." I've got that backup plan; I have, like, Plan C. So anyway, to me, that was really exciting. I was like, "Oh my God, this is really, really cool. This is awesome. This is..." And it's sad that I can't really talk to any friends or family about it because they're just going to get jealous, or, you know, they're going to say stuff. But I thought that you'd be interested in it. And, you know, you might be thinking, "Okay, hey, is that going to be enough money? What if you run out? Inflation, this and that?" And in that book I mentioned, Die With Zero, the author talks about this concept. He didn't bring it up, he didn't make it up. But he talks about something called the three stages of retirement. And so, in the first stage, right when you retire, those are called the Go-Go years, and then you have the Slow-Go years, and then you have the No-Go years. So in the Go-Go years, right away, you're like, "Hey, I just stopped working. I'm energized. I've got energy, my knees work. Let's go traveling. Let's go see our friends. Let's go travel the world. Let's knock off all this stuff on the bucket list, right? Let's go climb a mountain, maybe. Let's go climb a mountain, maybe. And so you're going to use more money, and you're going to go more places, and you do more things in the first few years, the Go-Go years. Then you transition into the Slow-Go years because now you're like, "Man, you know, if you've seen one museum, you've seen one cathedral, you've seen them all, right? Like, I don't need to see another museum." And so maybe you take up hobbies like gardening or trains, or whatever, right? And so you still go places, but you don't go as much, and you don't spend as much. And then, unfortunately, we have the No-Go years, which is, like, you know, when we're really old, and it hurts. Everything hurts. It hurts to get up. It hurts... you know, "Oh my God, I can tell when it's going to rain," kind of thing. And, you know, "It's a good day when Jeopardy has reruns," right? So those are the No-Go years; you're going to spend very little money. And so, I mean, that made a lot of sense to me. I was like, "Oh, okay, so yeah, I think even if we spend more money upfront, in the later years, we won't be able to spend that much. We won't be doing that much, and we're going to be fine." And if something happens to me, and if I pass away, like, you know, I've got life insurance, my wife has life insurance. So if one of us passes away, we'll have even more money, and then we'll definitely not run out of money. And plus, I probably won't be... I don't know, we'll see. I don't think about it, but without her, I don't want to do much traveling anyway. But, um, that's the thing. So, like, that's the goal, that's exciting. And it's just... it's the opposite of what I teach, but it's something that people always drum into our heads, like, "We have to do it, we have to do it, we have to do it." I have to interrupt this message because I am super excited. I haven't been this excited about something in trading since I first discovered trading options. Okay, it is that important. Now look, this is a new strategy that I've discovered recently that is just out there kicking butt and taking names. I can't give you all the details here, but if you go to , you can get all the information. Again, that's . Trust me, you want to know what this is. Now, back to the show. So what are you doing that has been drummed into your head that doesn't make sense, you know? It's counter to common sense, counter to what you know. But everybody else is doing it, and everybody's telling you to do it, and if you don't do it, people are like, "Man, you're stupid. You know? Why are you rocking the boat?" kind of thing. Now, in this case, it kind of worked out, right? It helped, you know, that I would have had the extra funds, but now I have the extra money. So the money that I'm not putting away... because every month, every year, I was putting a lot of money away, right? I don't have to put that money away, and now I need to spend it on us. So if I had gone back in time, I probably would not have put so much money into retirement because, I mean, I got there 17 years early, right? I mean, I could have waited a little bit, a little bit, a little bit, until I got closer to 65, and then put a lot of money in, but it grew, right? But my point is that I probably wish that I had spent more money, you know, because there's... to me, in my mind, there's, like, two types of rich. There's one kind of rich, which is when you have a lot of money, you know, you have the big nest egg, you have a lot of money in savings, you have a lot of that, but you don't feelrich because that money is sitting there. You don't use it. It's there for a rainy day. It's there for retirement. You don't really get to go and play with it, right? And so you're still living on a budget, you're still living under your means. You're still like, "Oh, no, no, no, can I afford that?" And you have to think twice. The other type of rich is the person who's making a lot of income now, whether they have money in the bank or not, it doesn't matter, because in that person's mind, right? The money's going to come every month. So, "I'm going to make money this month, I'm going to make money next month, I'm going to make money the month after that. And so what do I do with all this money? Yeah, I could put it away, or I could have fun with it." And so there are two different types of rich. One is income rich, and one is asset rich. Asset rich is great, but you can't spend it. You know, all my money for all these years has been sitting in these retirement accounts that I can't even touch until I'm 65. I'm not supposed to touch it, right? Otherwise, I pay fees and taxes and all that stuff. So it's like, I don't even have it. Is it there? Yeah, great. But it doesn't make me feel rich. But if you have the income coming in, then that's when you're like, "Oh, yeah, you know, like, I mean, I want to buy a new car. Well, I found this car I want to buy. It's going to be around $2,500 a month. That's the lease payment. Okay, that's an expensive car. If I was asset rich, I would have to take out, you know, $2,500 every month from my assets. So I'm actually getting poorer every month. I'm getting poorer by paying for this car. And I'm like, 'Oh, that's not a good feeling.'" But if I have the income, and I know it's going to replenish every month, I don't feel that bad paying $2,500 for a car payment because, I mean, I have a lot more, and I'll get more next month, right? So no big deal. And eventually, I'll pay off the car and be fine, and then I'll have the money saved over. So you really have to figure out, like, what type of rich do you want to be? You can do both. You can try. I do think that income rich is a lot better because when you're income rich, and you know how to make the money, even if something bad happens, you still know how to make the money. You can start over. When you're only asset rich, and if that money goes away, you're done because it took you years and years and years to get that money. And for most people, what they do, all they do is they know how to save it. They know how to put it in an account and just let it sit there. They don't know how to make it grow. So you guys need to decide what type of rich you want to be. You could be both, but which one is the priority? Asset rich or income rich? I think, and I preach, income rich. But, right? What is it? Like they say, "Do what I say, not what I do," right? Kind of. So I'm telling you, "Hey, go for income rich," but I went for asset rich, even though, in my mind, I'm preaching this stuff every day. So that's human nature, right there, right? And it's crazy. So hopefully, this episode was helpful, hopefully, this gave you something to think about. And I hope that you go for income rich, but you can go for both. Or maybe, depending on how old you are, it depends, you know, maybe you're just going for income, but I think income... if I would do it all over again, now that I know what I know, I would go for income rich first. I would want to focus first on generating my income to a certain level. You know, it's like, keep focusing on income, keep growing the income, keep growing the income to maybe something that's, you know, more money than I can spend every month. And then I take that extra and I put it away, and then that becomes a safety net. But in the beginning, while I'm young, while I can work hard, while I can put in the hours, I think that generating income is the best. So saving for retirement, saving in your IRA, saving in your 401(k), even if there's a match, might not be the best idea, even though that is what every personal finance book tells you out there. Yeah, you have to make the decision for yourself, and so I'm not going to give you the answer because it's different for everybody. I went one way when I should have gone the other way, but hindsight is... well, you know, I'm still going to get to my goal. I still have the income, but now I don't have to put any more money in for early retirement. So hey, that's great, too. I'm going to have an extra several thousand dollars every year, and maybe I'll use that to go buy a car. I finally hit the car. Alright, folks, well, you take it easy. Have a good day. Trade with the odds in your favor, and we'll see you next time. Bye.
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Part 2 - The Dollar Game: How Currencies Drive Global Power with John S. Pennington Jr - 183
05/22/2024
Part 2 - The Dollar Game: How Currencies Drive Global Power with John S. Pennington Jr - 183
This is part 2 of my interview with John S Pennington Jr. Make sure to listen to Part 1 first. Allen It seems like I mean, because all the stuff you're mentioning, you know, Ray Dalio in his books, he talks about it too, you know, like, how does one Empire take over from another one? And it's because of the the currency, it's because of you know, and he's been talking about it for a while that there's a collision course coming. And everybody's afraid of it. You know, I mean, I'm even afraid of it. Because if we go to war in 10 years from now, you know, I have two boys that are 13 and 11, they're probably going to be drafted because everybody in the United States is overweight, and they can't fight it. So there's got to be some, right? There's gonna be some serious problem with the Army not having enough people. So my kids are gonna be fighting in a war. I don't want them fighting in and like, everybody's freaking out about it. And like you said, you know, China, they brokered the deal. They're making friends in the Middle East. They're making friends in Africa. They're giving loans like you said, US gave loans to everybody. They gave loans in trillions of dollars, not even billions, but I think it was trillions of worth of loans to build infrastructure in Africa that is then maintained owned and run by Chinese. It's not run by the Africans, the Chinese are in charge of it, the Silk Road Project that they built those highways all the way from China all the way to the, you know, the Mediterranean. I mean, yeah, they've been doing it crazy. And so it seems like everything that you're saying it lines up. And it's like, now that we see John last year in the last year and a half, while the last few months, India has stopped on some level, not all the way stopped buying Russian oil. They just read some reports this last month that they have, they have curbed their Russian oil purchases. Really. Okay. Now, I don't know exactly why. But I do know, there's tons of companies that have moved from China, to South Korea, Thailand, and India. And I believe India is now choosing Wait a minute, we want to be in good graces with the United States because that's where we're going to suck up all those jobs on China. They're going to come to India. Right. And I think India's Modi, President Modi over there is making a strategic move to go with you know, the US dollar and to do that he's got to appease the the United States by saying you know what, Russia, we even though your oil is cheaper, doesn't matter. We're gonna go with US dollar purchases for oil. That Allen could be because China is also having territorial disputes now with India over certain areas. It's funny because we have a an oil Options program where we train, we do coaching on oil options, and we you could see it in the news play out when Russia was putting all their tanks on the border of Ukraine, you know, everybody knew it, they're coming in, they're going to invade and everybody was like, when is it gonna happen? When is it gonna happen? I told her, I'll tell all my traders it's like, you know, just wait. It's not going to happen until the Olympics are open. Olympics are over because the Olympics are in China is like they have the closing ceremonies, like four hours later, boom, there's an invasion. It's like, okay, now we can play it now. It's, you know, it's, yeah, he was insane. So now you said, now I'm trying to figure out like, okay, alright, how can I make money off of this? Right. So it's like you said that Russia and China are still buying gold. So is that? Is that an investment that's going to continue to ramp up because I think gold is at all time highs right now? John Yeah, it's all time high. Silver is kind of trying to get up there. But Silver's having a tough time. So let's go to Okay, let's go to the summer of 2020. All right, summer 2020. The SEC, which is part of the team, you have the team, you know, US dollar, the SEC sues JP Morgan. What are they suing him for? They're suing him for manipulating the precious metals market for nine years. Silver gold, okay. And they lose, JPMorgan loses and they're fined almost a billion dollars a billion dollar fine for nine years and mutilation the SEC. Okay. The point is, JP Morgan figured out how to manipulate and control a market that's 30 times bigger than Bitcoin. Gold and silver and gold for nine years. And they finally SEC found out about it pseudonym wins, finds you billion dollars, but guess what, no one that I know of went to jail. Allen I mean, it wasn't that big in the news, they get headlines, John kind of kept quiet, right. So millions of people that buy and sell silver and gold were fleeced out of how know how many much money but no one goes to jail. But you just find they probably made 20 billion but they're only find a billion it was it was 930 million, but I rounded a billion because we talked about a billion seconds earlier. Right? Okay, so nine 30 million, but close to a billion dollars. All right. So my theory in my book that I explain is you have precious metals market that have been manipulated through using futures and all kinds of different manipulations. And a year from there, now you're in summer of 2021. Bitcoin is trading around $31,000. This is July. Okay. So August, September, October, November, four months later, Bitcoin hits all time high $69,000. My theory is that the Federal Reserve, US government viewed Bitcoin as a competitor possible to the US dollar. And so they took the playbook that they learned from JP Morgan, and I think they had JP Morgan personnel help them do it right. Clandestine to control try to control Bitcoin. And that's why it went from 31,000 to 16,000 in a four, three and a half month period of time. So November it hits $69,000. And so how are the way that you control Bitcoin? Well, one JP Morgan used a futures market. Okay, now what I'm about to tell you all these things that I'm gonna tell you happen in November 2021. Okay, one bitcoin hits all time high. Number two, the SEC approves a Bitcoin ETF not I first bought only four futures right and they denied grayscale the spot one Why would you approve one for futures and not one for spot doesn't make any sense. So that happened November also, also November and Allen hold that for people who are listening to spot means the current price futures means prices in advance. So the actual the actual Bitcoin John not a Hypothecation the actual non derivative, the actual Bitcoin, right? So the SEC says no you can't you can't operate, we're not gonna allow you to operate a ETF that actually buys Bitcoin, we're only going to allow this other company, an ETF that actually buys futures on contracts, right just contracts, which is the what the way JP Morgan was one of the ways they were able to manipulate the silver and gold market for nine years. Okay, that's the third thing that happened in November, the SEC extends their lawsuit against a ripple XRP coin. Why XRP from the nanosecond XRP was invented. Its one goal was what to do to circumvent the SWIFT system, which would decrease the demand for US dollars. So the SEC extends the EC the lawsuit for no apparent reason. And they just kind of lost it. They lost the SEC last last summer, and then they appealed. So they're this lawsuit still going on against XRP? Okay, a former thing that happened in this month, in November, Hillary Clinton came out and said, Bitcoin could damage the US dollars, reserve world currency. Now, again, back to probabilities and predictions, you can say she just went to a microphone and just talking. That's you can believe that, or what's the is that a probability high probability? Or is the probability that she had been privy to previous meetings months earlier, that the Federal Reserve was going to try to pinch Bitcoin control, they don't want to kill it, they just want to control it. And so she got in front of microphone, which she loves to do to tell all her memes. Hey, listen to me, I always know the truth. I always give you the truth. Guess what the Bitcoin could take over the US currency, which is our number one product and why so he's she's sending a coded message, maybe? Maybe not. But the probability, I think the probability is high that she had some information that the government was using a clandestine approach to try to control Bitcoin, Allen because she was a congresswoman and she was sitting on committees and all that, yes, yes. John One other way you can control a traded commodity or traded stock or whatever or bitcoin is if you can get 45 to 60 days of trading volume, meaning if if bitcoin trades 100 coins a day, you would need 4500 coins. If it trades 1000 coins a day, you would need 45,000 coins are 60,000 coins. This is what how you do it. So let's just say hypothetically, that from July 2021 to November 2021, the Federal Reserve had to obtain 45 days of trading bonds 66 days trading bond that means they have to buy bitcoin. They're buying Bitcoin buying Bitcoin buying Bitcoin buying Bitcoin buying Bitcoin, that means the price is going up, up, up, up up. Once they have 45 or six days of trading volume, they take their 45 Day Trading bond, and they stick it at six $9,000. And they put it there for sale, all this at a limit price 60,000 or so we start buying you buy I buy we're buying. And then we keep hitting 69 69,006 96 Night Out signal, there's a ceiling, there's a price ceiling, the ceiling, and we can see it and we go Wait, there's a big seller at 16,000 or so mean, you start selling. So we start selling everyone starts selling and it goes down to 68,000. Guess who's buying at 60,000 The Federal Reserve, they're replenishing their 60 day supply or 45 day supply of trading volume. So that mean you go Wait, there's a buyer at 68,000 and we start buying again. And it goes to 68,000. They don't let it go to 69 because that would be a bullish chart, right? They can have a they can have a higher high. They can have a lower high and they put their 45 day trading volume boom right there as 68,800 and they start selling and same thing happens. We sell and it goes down. That's one way you can control a market right now. So lately as we know, Bitcoin has hit a new all time high. Yeah. And so maybe maybe what happened was, this is there's another hypothesis. Maybe they realized they alone couldn't do it. Okay. So last summer, the SEC basically told 11 companies Listen, we're going to approve 11 companies all at the same time to try A Bitcoin spot and ETF spot so they approved 11 ETFs to trade Bitcoin spot. Now, what I think happened in October, Bitcoin was trading 31,000 27,000 31,000 31,000 27,000 27,000 If Gessner of the head of the SEC told them Hey, guess what we're going to do? In a few months we're going to let you guys start trading Bitcoin what you guys should do is buy a Bitcoin to control the market. So Bitcoin went from 27,000 to sweat 72,000 Something like that. Right? Yeah, today, but I'm saying I'm saying on January I think was January 11. Okay, all the Bitcoin went up 11 Bitcoin went alive, right? Okay. Now think about what just happened on January 11. There are record number of buying a Bitcoin record number. And in 11, or 12 days, it goes from, from where it's at down to $39,000. Why there's a record number of buyers, it should go up. But wait, if all the ETFs bought at 31,000, knee ETFs, bought at 32,000 35,000 42,000 If they were buying it, so that when the ETFs went live, they could sell it to you. That's why the price went down. There's no other there's no other explanation. Because if they had bought zero, when a record numbers came in to buy bitcoin, they would have to take your US dollars and go buy Bitcoin that would go up, the way it goes down. It went down like 18% in 11 days with record inflows, that means that I believe BlackRock and all the other 1011 ETFs are in on the game of manipulation of Bitcoin, right? And so this is back to my theory that no matter what it is, if it's the yuan, or if it's gold, if it's Bitcoin, and it and it has the potential of damaging the number one product of all time, the Federal Reserve, the US Navy, the president, the SEC, the IRS, even the CIA, that's their number one job. Now, a lot of times Congress forgets their number one job. Allen I was gonna ask you about that, too. I was like Congress get the memo. Because yeah, John they don't get it. But but but people criticize. Powell had the federal they criticized him all the time. I don't. I think he's doing a great job. Listen, if we went back in time, okay, we'll go back in time, Alan, we're going back to 30 years, okay. 30 years ago, I said, you're going to be the head of the Federal Reserve. Okay. And I'm going to be Congress, right? Your job is to protect and promote the US dollar. And all I do that Congress, I spend trillion, I spend a trillion, I spend a trillion, I spend a trillion, I spend a trillion. And I say to you, hey, figure out how to pay for it. Right? So you can criticize Powell all you want. But man, he's still we still are 58% of the world reserve currency. And the Congress doesn't stop spending. It's like a couple. You have a couple one spouse spends tons of money on credit cards, and they turn the other spouse pay for it. Right. And Powell must be just for it. If I was I'd be screwed top my lungs, would you guys stop spending? All you got to stop because I'm doing my best to keep this number one product afloat around the world. I'm doing my best. Right. And so I don't criticize Powell. I've actually under the circumstances, I think he's doing a fantastic job, even though people call him stupid. People don't like what he says. But I don't listen to what he says. I just listen when he does. And I and I realize he has a partner called the US Congress. Who is there just out of control spending? Yep. And he's done it. He's doing a great job by keeping our agreements accepted around the world. Yeah, Allen I agree with you. I mean, you know, after COVID, and all that money that was spent on everything, you know, to maintain it to not even go into recession to have Yeah, inflation was a it could have been a lot worse than who it was. Without all that spending all that money that's just unaccounted for. So John I think right now, the Congress is spending about $1 trillion every four or five months, six months. That's, that's, that's what's going on right now. That's just amazing. So back to your question. As you can tell, I have long answers. Gold, silver, Bitcoin real estate, okay. If you keep spending a trillion dollars every six months, additionally, items are going to go up in price. Gold, silver, Bitcoin, eventually, it's just going to bubble up you. It's kind of you almost can't stop it. Right. wheat, wheat soybeans, I mean, real estate farmland, if you just give a trillion dollars every six months, and how long can the us do this? I bet they can. You know, look, look the US Dollar might be the greatest Ponzi scheme ever invented a headline, it might it might be, but this is the thing. There is no mathematical way to taper a large Ponzi scheme, it can't be done. So therefore, the only way to play it all out is to play it all the way through. Okay, just to play it out, right? Let's don't get mad at me. I didn't create this. I was born into this system. Right? I am pro US dollar. Why? Because I'm in the Ponzi scheme, because all of our money is in US dollars. I don't want to wake up tomorrow morning and have the US dollar at zero because I will be broke. My parents will be living in my basement. My kids who live in my basement way my my house would be for sale because I'd be broke because everything I have almost is in US dollars. Right? Bait US dollar based, right? I have some bitcoin I have some gold. I have some real estate, right. But it's US dollar base. You too. We're we're in the Ponzi scheme. Okay. So therefore I think with the US think about the US Navy, think about the powers think about everything they could they could for what proliferate this for another 20 3050 years. They are very powerful. The Federal Reserve is the most powerful entity, along with the US Navy, along with the IRS along with the SEC along with the President. They are incredible team. And look, look, you know, China, only having 2.7% 2.7% of the world reserve currency, and we have 58% and the Euros 20%. And they got it they got a big mountain to climb, right, and they can climb it, but it's gonna take a long time. But the problem is this. Again, China is now printing more money than we're printing. Because they're in a they're in a 1929 depression right now. It's bad over there. Unemployment is youth unemployment, ages 18 to 30. is so bad China stopped reporting it. That's how bad it is. They don't report it anymore. Yeah, the estimates they have, if you are a college aged kid in China, college, graduated kid in China, and you're in a big city. This is 18 to 30 years old, okay? You graduate in college, and you have a job. Your average salary is $700 to $950 a month. Wow. That's the average salary right now in a big city. In China. They're in a 1929 depression. So they're not going to fix this in one to six months. It's going to be years to fix this in China. And the US is, I believe, putting pencils on them trying to even control them because they're sending a message to Saudi Arabia. Anyway, so this is people go man, John, you really got a lot of information, like you just said, you have all this information. And you put together like a puzzle, right? And it's conspiracy theory. And I go, it might be I might be totally wrong. But it just keeps fitting together. The more I put more puzzle pieces together, they keep fitting. Yeah. So Allen I have another question. And this is about a different commodity. Now, we talked a little bit of we talked about how the Fed control the prices of Bitcoin, how the Fed is controlled, trying to try and try to trying to or and how it's handling other issues. What do you think? Do you or do you think that they're doing something similar to oil prices? Because it's not oil? Yeah. It's not directly tied to the dollar, but it is tied to the economy. And yeah, John yeah. So I remember when President Biden took office is first thing he did was he turned off the Keystone pipeline to Canada. And I was like, why? Allen environmental reasons, right? Why John would you do that? And I put the US dollar in, wait a minute, we have to buy some oil from Saudi Arabia. So we, as a gesture to Saudi Arabia, to keep oil prices up, we turn off the Keystone pipeline to reduce oil here in North America, so that Saudi Arabia can have a better something like that. And they you know, there is some type of manipulation a little bit around the world, but oil is huge, right? Everyone's got a little bit oil and some kinds of we have a lot of oil for some reason. Saudi Arabia has a lot. Russia has a lot. And so but I would say to you that oil is a commodity base is every once in a while manipulated, but you know, turning off spigots reduces supply, which increases so but what's happened is for the oil trader, your old traders the next 510 years, maybe five years, everyone has gone green, and they're making solar panels and windmills in Germany, right. And they've been the last, you know, since that big huge problem that we had in that tidal wave in Japan. With that nuclear reactor over there, that nuclear power plant, everyone went away from nuclear. So we went through this last winter I believe there were power outages or power Our reductions in Germany, Canada, there are places that just had was worried about their power being right. And so what happens is, so many people have swung over to the green agenda, which is a good thing. They've left the agenda in buying Chevron and Exxon Mobil, and...
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Dollars, Gold and Bitcoin with John S. Pennington Jr - Part 1 of 2- 182
05/09/2024
Dollars, Gold and Bitcoin with John S. Pennington Jr - Part 1 of 2- 182
Allen Welcome passive traders. Welcome to another edition of the Option Genius Podcast. Today, I am here with someone that's going to blow your mind. I'll give you his name, you probably haven't heard from him. But what he says is going to make a big difference for you. So John S. Pennington Jr. in 2008, co founded a family of private investment funds that by 2021 had over $28 billion of assets under management and completed a successful IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. John then retired that same year but remains a significant stakeholder and is now partner Emeritus at the company. He has been married 38 years with three sons, five grandchildren, and he recently wrote a book which we're going to be talking about called Dollars, Gold, and Bitcoin. It's right here, I could not put it down, you can find it on Amazon and Audible. You guys need to get a copy of this book, because we are not going to be able to talk about everything in this book on this interview. John, thank you so much for being here. John Allen, so good to be here. Thanks for having me. Allen So now I have done. I have heard you speak in the past. And so a few podcasts, I don't should have looked at the episode, but it's one of the past episodes called billionaire lessons. I have talked a little bit and gone over some of the things that you presented on which were covered in your book as well. So it was one of our most popular episodes, really happy that you're here. I just want to get into it. So the book is titled dollars gold and Bitcoin. Now I've already you know, talked about your successful guy you're doing well. Why did you write this book? John When I retired, some people asked me to speak on stage. And I, you know, I didn't charge them. And I just went to these masterminds and I thought, What do I want to talk about? And, you know, I just I looked at what everyone else talks about. And I thought, well, I got to talk about something different. So I started talking about economics and the Federal Reserve and the strength of the dollar and how, you know, the dollar is just a fantastic product worldwide. And I actually, you know, followed the Federal Reserve and how they promoted the US dollar over the years, and how they nudged people to make their product more acceptable around the world. And I kind of used that formula. In my company, or me and my partner's company, as we grew, we kind of use the same type of tactics that the Federal Reserve and the US government has used over the years to promote their number one product, which is the US dollar. And so so it's kind of a, it's kind of reflection of my business history. But it's also a reflection of how I studied and watched the the greatest product ever become the greatest product ever. How did it get there, and then I just kind of wanted to learn from the best. So I just kind of use those tactics with me and my partners to kind of push our business kind of the same way. So that's why I kind of wrote it. Allen Cool. Now, you know, the first time I heard you speak, I've heard you speak twice. And the first time and second time, I'm listening to you, and you are taking these what seemed to be very random events around the world. Yes. It's like, Oh, this guy said this, made this comment. And then this person visited this country, and then nothing happened. And then that happened. And then you took all of these to me, they were just random, you know, like watching the news. You story after story. But you took them and you whoa, this intricate, detailed story that linked them all together. And I'm like, Whoa, how does this guy think like this? how do you how do you come up with this? , John I don't I don't know. I just I just I think as an entrepreneur my whole life, I started my, well, my career, but when I was a young man, I just was really slow reader. I wasn't a good, I wasn't a good student. And I knew that I could not survive in corporate America. I just knew it would eat me alive. It didn't I just wouldn't fit there. And so I knew I had to be my own boss. And that means I probably need to just start my own companies. And so I remember looking in the mirror and this is I think I was 17 or 18. And I said to myself, these words and and I I've repeated this in the mirror, every year, 10 times a year, whatever, I don't know how many for 30 something 40 years, but I said this to myself in the mirror of John, you're not afraid of being poor. And John, you're not afraid of being old, you're just afraid of being old and poor at the same time. And that is stuck with me to push myself in the areas of, I have to start my own business, I have to save money to take risk, right. And so I started 14 businesses in my lifetime ish. And three, I've made a lot of money on obviously, the one I did with the funds and still in it made a lot of money, I three I've lost money on and the rest of them in the middle, you know, I made some money on them, they were pretty good for a while. But you know, so over those periods of time, when you'd make good money on one, you have to save the money and live beneath your means. So that when the next opportunity comes up, you have a war chest to go and try again. Because if you try a business, and it doesn't work, you lose the time and money. And sometimes I might, I've had a couple of businesses in a row not work. So you spend 910 months getting a business launched, and then you wait six, seven months, it doesn't work, and you go on men 18 months later, and now you're kind of out of money if you didn't save, and then you have another idea come up, and then you try that idea. And that's going to take a year, year and a half to figure out and spend all the money. So you always I always live below my means way below my means so that I would always have a war chest to take risk until I really, really, really made it. And when I first started my first fund in 2004, and then my second fund in 2007. And my third fund in 2008. You know, I didn't really know if it was going to work, work, work work work until about 2013. And up until that time, I was driving a car with 200,000 miles on it, you know, so but once I got there, then I got a Mercedes, you know, a small number, say a used Mercedes kind of thing. And so, but I was always I always lived beneath my means because I just knew I had to be a entrepreneur. So what I'm getting at was my business antennas, my business antennas my whole life since I was 17. I had been up trying to read listen to receive things, right? And when I graduated college in 8898, with an economics degree which if you have an economics degree, there's not a lot of really, you're not trying to do much right unless you go on to get a masters or PhD trained. Well, what do you I'm saying, right? I didn't matter I had a degree in and I wanted to start my business. My first business that I started right at night, not my first business but but my first successful business right out of college is in 1989 Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, they took down the wall in Germany, there used to be a wall right down the middle of Berlin, a physical wall, and they took it down. And before that time, kids in Eastern Europe could not get American products. They can watch American TV or watch American movies, but they couldn't get made in USA products. And when that wall came down, there was a flood demand because the US was like this golden child. And everyone loved the US for about 99 About 95 They just love love, love anything made the USA was the best. And they wanted American huge Levi's. Or they want American Levi's jeans because Mr. Levi Strauss in San Francisco was the first guy to ever make denim jeans. And he did him with a button flying and the original was the button fly 501. Well, all over the all over the world. These were being sold for hundreds of dollars. They were a fashion gene but in the Western United States, we'd had them for 100 years they were worth jeans. We grew up with them in high school, right but so anyway, two of my partner's eventually moved to Southern Germany and I stayed in in Utah, and I collected us Levi fiber ones all over the United States, mainly the Western United States, cleaned them up, sewed them had seamstresses, scrubbing them, cleaning them up taking the stains off of them sewing, and it shipped to my partners in Germany, and they sell them to Prague and all over the western eastern states. So I could buy new fiber ones on sale for 1499 in Utah, and they would go for 100 $120 in profit. So I had my antennas up. And so when I found out early on in Ada or early on at nine that we had a friend over there in Europe saying that people were at you know, walking up to him on the street trying to buy his jeans on down for $100 100 US dollars. And we could buy them used at a thrift store over here for $6. What's the probability I can make a business so we I ran this business for nine years From 89 to about 1988 1998. We ran this was my first real big, huge business. And it was booming. I mean, we were doing a lot of jeans. I think our best year total sales was $8.5 million. US Levi's, I think that was 9094, maybe 95. Somewhere in there. But it was the fast business. And I had, you know, seems so what I'm trying to say is, you asked me the question, how do I think this way, right? If you have your business antenna up, always trying to receive some information, and someone tells you, hey, people in Austria are paying $100 For usually buy 501 jeans, and you live in a place where you can buy them for $10. You have to think of how do I make that into a business? What's the probability? Not the prediction? What's the probability I can make that into a business? And that was my first real run into business employees in Germany employees here. It was really a fantastic, great, like classic arbitrage. Yep. Just yeah, that's right. We were value adding we were cleaning them up, right. We were selling them. We were repairing them. But yeah, it was it was a kind of arbitrage. Take a product. That's a in Nevada, or California or Utah. Move it to a place where it's a fashion gene and charge what the going rate is. Yeah. Allen Cool. Awesome. All right. So let's get into the book. Now. I think that correct me if I'm wrong, but the big topic or the big overwhelming subject matter of the book is how the Fed operates and how they boxed in Bitcoin, John or the US dollar no sorry, or gold or US dollar or the Chinese yuan. The basic point of the book is, I use the example of trying to box Bitcoin in because it appears to be an a competitor to the US dollar. Right. Gold. One point is your was a part of the US dollar and competitive US dollar. And I go in the book, I dip into the Chinese yuan that has become trying to become a competitive US dollar and the Fed, Federal Reserve's number, the US government's number one product, it sells better than hotcakes, people say it's selling like hotcakes. Well, they should start saying it's selling like the US dollar. So Allen, if I gave you $1 a second, right, like 123456. And I never stopped, never slept Neverland the restroom, it would take me 31.7 years to give you $1 billion. In other words, if you wanted to count to 1 billion, you would still be on the Zoom call this podcast 31 years from now. Right? So I tell them that on stage a lot because a lot of people misrepresent the word 1 billion they misinterpret it. They'll say John, I was just outside. And I saw this huge flock of birds, there must have been a billion birds. And I was gonna know there wasn't, you know how I know. I did the math. You know why I did the math. When my fund hit $1 billion. We started with managing $1 billion. It was like, holy cow, how much is a billion I started calculating it. 31.7 years of seconds. So when we talk about big numbers, I always do that on stage. So people really getting getting their head, how big $1 billion is and how erroneous that a lot of people use the term billion over time. So let me just do a little history for you. Okay. So, in 1914-ish, the Federal Reserve was created because there was a stock market crash in 1907, not not 2007 1907, the stock market crash. So they created the Federal Reserve. And then in 1929, we know there was a huge stock market crash again. So 1929, the country's really, really, really hurting. And then in 1933, two things happen. The SEC was created so that we would never have a crash again, okay. And in May 1933, now get this in May 1933, the president, FDR, he signed an executive order that made it illegal for your grandfather and my grandfather to own gold. So you had to sell all of your gold to the Federal Reserve. Or if you had a gold note, because it used to be that dollars were backed by gold, you had to sell your gold note your gold coin or your gold bars to the Federal Reserve. And they would give you a paper dollar for it. And then they would take that gold and put it in Fort Knox, and that gold would backup the US dollar and help us get out of the recession or the depression. And so if your grandfather, my grandfather was caught with five gold coins in their pocket, they could go to jail. This is United States of America. Okay, but it was patriotic, I think I think if you go back it was kind of patriotic. Like, we're all doing this together. We're all in together. We all have To support our number one product, the US dollar. Okay, so, so in that that was 1933. Okay. And so how long did that last year? 41? Obviously, so 1971 ish. Oh, wow. I'll get there in just a second. Okay. Yeah. So in 1944, we knew we were going to win the war. Why? Well, we were making 96,000 planes a year, and Germany was making 38,000 planes a year. We were making, I don't know if the numbers were making 21,000 tanks, they were making 4000 tanks. We just knew by math, we were gonna win the war. So 1944 44 countries sent 1000 people to a little place called Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. And they went there to reset the dollar. So the dollar was reset by the Federal Reserve in 2019 14. Then it was reset again in 1933, by the gold confiscation, and then in 1944, it was reset again. So what happened was at 1944, everyone agreed all the countries Listen, the French franc is no longer going to be backed by gold. The French franc is going to be backed by the US dollar. And the US dollar is going to be backed by gold. Why? Because this is a crazy Alan, this is a craziest This is in 1944, the United States had 66% of all gold bullion in the world. We had it here. And there are a couple of reasons. In the first part of World War Two, we didn't get involved. We were just selling our tanks, our steel, we're selling steel to Russia, they're paying us in gold. We're selling whatever to France, they're paying a single in a world war, one synth kind of same thing happened, you know, so, and we had a gold confiscation in 1933. It was illegal for a US citizen to own gold, but it wasn't in 1944. Say 1946. Okay, my granddad had a $100 bill. He couldn't turn that in for gold. But if you were a US, if you were a French citizen, and you had a $100 bill, you could turn it in for gold. Okay, so we have like we always do, we abused this thing called the world reserve currency. Okay, we abused it. And by 1971, President de Gaulle of France knew we had been printing too many paper dollars, okay. Too many paper dollars. So he sent two ships across the Atlantic with all of their US dollars. Okay. So he sends the two ships over, and he demands here's my US dollars, give me my goal. And on. It was a Sunday night, August 15 1971, President Nixon came on live TV and announced to the world. He said basically, this, market manipulators around the world are trying to hurt our US dollar. And so he said temporarily, we're going to stop having the dollar backed by gold right now. Right? So he just told to tape your show. You're not getting your gold, right. And that was a temporary fiat currency. And that has lasted till today. So it's 5354 years old ish, right? Our dollars 5354 years old. Okay. So, and it was Allen supposed to be temporary? It was that it was supposed to be temporary? John That's what he said. He said, This is a temporary pause, Allen just like like income tax? John Yes, exactly. So, but in 1990, am I gonna get my dates wrong? I was gonna do a cheat sheet because I don't want to mess my dates up. The 1960. The world reserve currency, the dollar was about 45% of all world reserve currency. Okay. In 2001, it was about 70 plus percent, maybe 78% of all world reserve currency is US dollars. And 19. In 2023. Just last year, my last statistics were 58%. Okay, so in 2023, US dollar is 58% of all the world reserve currency. The euro is 20%. Okay, the Chinese yuan is 2.7% of world reserve currency. Right? So we have a huge huge Headstart and a dominance with with our number one product across the world. And so we we mean you and everyone listening to this in the United States that use US dollars, we have an advantage where we we can go anywhere in the world and just throw our US dollars around and people will love them. Yeah, that's not true for other countries, right? You have to live in other countries. You just can't walk around and use your your fiat currency and just pay for things. And so we have a huge advantage. And so my question in my book is, how did that happen? How did we are the beneficiaries how do we become the beneficiaries of having most of the world use US dollars and In one way, in 1944, the Bretton Woods Agreement. No, it doesn't doesn't say this, okay. But this is kind of what happened. After World War One. Everyone's Navy is gone. China's Navy's gone. Japan's Navy's gone. Germany's Navy's gone, Italy's need is gone, France Navy's gone, everyone rushes Navy's got everyone's Navy is gone, the US has their navy intact, and Britain had some Navy still intact. Okay. And so basically what happened was we basically said, listen, navies are one of the most expensive things for a country to have. And if you just kind of agree to buy and sell your oil in US dollars, you don't even need anymore, we the United States will protect your shipping lanes. And so a little country anywhere in the world, if they buy and sell in oil in US dollars, then you don't need a navy anymore. And that allows us little countries sell their goods all over the world and take take their citizens from poverty levels up to you know, middle class. And so this is a phenomenon that's happened since 1944. Now, in 1971, when President Nixon did this, that's when our dollar became what's called the petro dollar. And that's when it really kind of heated up. And, you know, Saudi Arabia. So let's, let's just go to 1974. Okay, you live in Germany, and you want to buy a container of oil for Germany? You can't, you know, wire your Deutsche Marks from Germany down to Saudi Arabia. No, no, no, no, you have to wire your Deutsche Marks, using the SWIFT system, which will get back into the SWIFT system to the New York Fed, the New York Fed will then change your Deutsche Mark into US dollars, then you can wire US dollars to Saudi Arabia, then Saudi Arabia will send you oil, this creates insatiable demand for US dollars, right. And so to have a the number one product on the planet, by definition, you have to have insatiable demand, right? That's by definition, you have to have huge demand, right? So and the reason I know this, because we will make off the assembly line, we'll make a trillion dollars of our product, we'll make a trillion of them. And you and I will work 80 hours a week to get them more. The other people will lie, cheat and steal to get them right. They'll risk their lives on, you know, some crab ship in north north Pacific, you know, trying to get crabs and almost die trying to get more of these dollars. And then they'll...
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These Unloved Stocks are Exploding in 2024 - 181
04/16/2024
These Unloved Stocks are Exploding in 2024 - 181
Hey there, if you're looking to invest in 2024, you've probably already heard of the AI boom and how those stocks have already taken off and gone into the stratosphere, you've already probably looked at the weight loss drugs like Eli Lilly and how that's already exploded and gone into the stratosphere. And you've probably even looked at, you know, the mega cap tech stocks and how they've already taken off and gone. So far so high? Well, there is one sector, it's an unloved sector, but it is on fire and it is going to do amazing in 2024. That's what I want to talk about today. So what is this sector? Well, it's not really a sector, it's more of a commodity, which commodity? Well, it's not the normal ones you normally think about. It's uranium. So if you look at uranium prices, uranium prices have doubled in the last year, and they're probably going to double even more, I don't know more than double, but they're gonna go up continuously, maybe even doubled this year that those are the expectations. Why? Because uranium is used in nuclear power plants. And more and more countries are getting away from coal power plants are shutting their coal ones down. And they're building nuclear plants. Only problem is there is a shortage of uranium. So uranium only comes in a few places. It doesn't come from everywhere, you can't mine it everywhere. It's only in a few countries and only in a few mines. And creating a new uranium mine takes millions of dollars and years of planning and research and development to actually get the uranium out of the ground. So right now there is a shortage of uranium. But the demand continues to explode. Pun intended, right. And so that is why your energy prices continue to go higher and higher and higher. Now, if you were companies starting to do a uranium mine, right now to take advantage of these higher prices is going to take you years before you get your money back. And before you even start mining. So the companies that are already there, they already have mines, they are making a killing. And they're making more and more money because their costs are staying relatively the same, but they're making more money when they sell their uranium because the prices continue to go up. Now you can go ahead and check to see a chart of uranium and see how it's going from the bottom left to the top right, and how it continues to grow. Now, if you look at some of the companies themselves, they're doing great as well. There are companies that do mining, they're also ETFs that can only focus on the uranium. Now normally, if you are looking at a miner versus the commodity, you will make more money on the miner than the commodity usually, because there's more Alpha there, there's it can grow faster. But the uranium utility or ETF are also going to be doing very well as well. You might even even get into the futures I haven't even checked to see if there are futures. But that might be an option to play as well. So why is uranium prices going up? Well, one of the reasons is because of the explosion in or not the explosion, but the demand for more nuclear power plants, right? For energy, because the world continues to need more and more energy and wind and solar are not getting the job done in terms of renewables, because of battery power problems. You can't store the energy, so they need a different source. Nuclear is one of the cleanest ones out there. I don't want to get into the politics of it, but it is very clean. And it's a very powerful source of energy. So we have a imbalance in supply and demand. Right. One of the largest mines of uranium is in the country of Kazakhstan. Now Kazakhstan puts a limit on how much uranium is allowed to be mined every year. And so, the main mind there, they announced a few months ago that they were only going to be able to produce about 90% of that limit, because of their own little internal problems. Recently, about a week or two ago, they announced that they're only going to be mining 80% of their prediction, and that chant that sent prices up even higher. And if you look at the price charts of some of these companies, you'll see, there was a big gap on that day. So these are companies and stocks that are not going to go up, you know, 500% in a year, like on the video, right, but they are slow and steady, and the train has not left the station, they've already gone up a lot, they've already more than doubled. But there's a lot more room to go. And that's why I think in 2024, uranium is going to be a very hot ticket. Now there are some ticker symbols that I want to give you. So you can take a look, put them up on your charts, see which ones you like, if you'd like them, great. If you don't, no worries, the first one is CCJ. Okay, this is probably the biggest company out there. It's a Canadian company. And it has mines all over the world. So this one, if you're looking for the biggest one, the more reliable one, I think this is the one that you can look at. Now, disclaimer, okay, I do not own any stock in any of these companies or ETFs. Neither does my hedge fund, okay. But we are trading CCJ, we're trading options on a we're selling naked puts on it as it goes up. So if we own it, we might own it. But I just want to give full disclaimer that yes, we are trading CCJ. Because this is a theme that I think is going to work for all of the whole year. And I'm sharing it with you to help you make some money off of it as well. And so, I think that CCJ is a good one another one is you are n m, okay, you are n m, the next one is DNN. The next one is LEU. The next one is UROY then you have an NXE, you have UEC you have UUUU this for us. And then the last one is URG. Now, do your own research. Look at these companies, see which ones you like if any, if you want, use your own judgment, talk to your financial advisor make an investment if you want. But I think this is a sector or a commodity that is going to do very well. As long as that supply demand balance stays out of balance. It could take two years, three years, four years for more uranium supply to come online. And as long as nothing happens to the demand of uranium, the price is going to continue to go up. So that's how it is. And even if these companies don't mind more, as long as price continues to increase of uranium, the stock price will go up as well. So it's not going to go as fast as you know, Eli Lilly did, but those stocks, the weight loss, the mega cap tech, and the AI boom, right? Those have run up so far so fast. It's kind of like I don't know if I want to get in here because they've gone up so far, there has to be a pullback, eventually there will be who knows when it's going to come. This train has left the station, but it's a slower moving trade, you could still make a lot of money. And it's investable, I believe, like now. So take that with a grain of salt trade with the odds in your favor. We'll see you around. Are you ready to get started with passive trading, and be a consistent and confident and profitable trader generating cash flow consistently from the stock market? Well, I have some great news for you. For a limited time we are offering my new book passive trading for free. All you got to do is go to passive trading.com/free book. And we will send you the book in the mail for free as long as you cover the postage and handling. So if you didn't cover that, we'll send you the book for free. We've already printed it, we got it for you. We're gonna send it out to you. It's free. All you got to do is just go to passive trading.com/free book and learn the basics of passive trading. Get the behind the scenes, get some examples, learn the strategies, and put this stuff to work in your life right now. Remember, go to passive trading.com/free book and get yours now while this offer is still available.
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Passive Trading Part 13 - 180
04/09/2024
Passive Trading Part 13 - 180
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 12 - 179
04/05/2024
Passive Trading Part 12 - 179
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 11 - 178
03/24/2024
Passive Trading Part 11 - 178
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 10 - 177
03/21/2024
Passive Trading Part 10 - 177
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 9 - 176
03/19/2024
Passive Trading Part 9 - 176
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 8 - 175
03/14/2024
Passive Trading Part 8 - 175
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 7 - 174
03/12/2024
Passive Trading Part 7 - 174
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Part 6 - 173
03/08/2024
Passive Trading Part 6 - 173
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Audio Book Part 5 - 172
03/06/2024
Passive Trading Audio Book Part 5 - 172
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to: https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Audiobook Part 4 - 171
02/22/2024
Passive Trading Audiobook Part 4 - 171
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Audio Book Part 3 - 170
02/19/2024
Passive Trading Audio Book Part 3 - 170
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading Audiobook Part 2 - 169
02/14/2024
Passive Trading Audiobook Part 2 - 169
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As part of the celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for free! If you would like to get the physical copy, head to https://passivetrading.com
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Passive Trading AudioBook Part 1 - 168
02/02/2024
Passive Trading AudioBook Part 1 - 168
OptionGenius is turning 15 years old in February! As a celebration, we are releasing the audiobook of Passive Trading for all to enjoy. If you would like to get the physical copy, please visit:
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2024 Threats To Your Wealth - 167
01/25/2024
2024 Threats To Your Wealth - 167
Hey there, passive traders, I got a really special treat for you today. Recently, we did a special presentation. And the feedback was amazing. And so we decided, hey, we need to share this. So this is why we're putting it out there. Okay, the two things that we talked about in this presentation, were number one, we talked about what are the things that are coming down the pike in 2024? What are the threats that we should be aware of now there are two different types of threats, there's first order threats, and then second order threats. First Order threats are the things that we all know about. We see him in the media with him in the news, all that stuff, those we cover some of them the ones that are really important, but we also go over the second order threats. Now, second order threats are things that are not covered in the media, they are the result of other things, those are the things that are really scary, and we really need to be worried about. And these are some of the things that I am most concerned about right now for myself and my family. And that's why I went through them. So you would be aware of them as well, you will see the signs of what's coming. And you could take action, but not everybody can take action. So that's why part two of this presentation was very important, because I go over that there is a actually elite group of people that are insulated enough that they do not have to worry about these threats as much as the rest of us. Okay, they are, I don't know, lucky, hardworking, whatever you want to call them. But they don't have to worry about them as much. Now some of the things they do, but they can insulate themselves, so that these second order threads do not affect them as much. And then I go into who these people are, and how they're insulated, and then how we can insulate ourselves from these second level threats. So that's the gist of this video and presentation. I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you take notes and implement what you're going to learn. Thing is that whenever we talk about trading, right, everybody says I want more money. That's number one, like I just want more money, I want to be free, I want to have more time that it up. But when you do, when you go deeper into it, it's more about the way you feel. And it's more about being happier, being more carefree, having less stress. Don't you agree. I mean, money is great. But you can't eat it. Right? You can buy stuff with it, you can make yourself feel better. But it's all about the emotions and the feelings and how we feel because you know, you can't take it with you. So what's the point of it, while we're here, we need to use it to make ourselves feel better. And so when it comes to these feelings when it comes to the way we want to be perceived, according to Tony Robbins, there are six basic human needs, that we all need to live a fulfilled life, right, and you can see the six there. But the first one, the very first one and the core, human need is certainty, without certainty, without being sure without being, you know, knowing what's happening, you will never feel safe, you will never feel protected, and you're never going to feel happy. It's not it just doesn't happen. Without that basic layer on the bottom. That certainty if you don't feel that, you know, if you're if you're always afraid of what's happening, or what's coming or you know, you're uncertain, it's very stressful for the body, stressful for the mind, and you never feel protected or happy. But when you think about the current state of the economy, what do you guys think? Do you think you feel certainty with the economy? Or do you feel a certain certainty about the economy? Most of us, at this point, are feeling uncertainty, and a lot of it. And 2024 is going to be dishing up a lot more than we had in 2023. A lot more than usual. Because Americans right now are living more in fear than ever in recent history. You see, like Robert says, right? He's uncertain, but not just about the economy. Right? And I don't want to dwell on this too much because the point of the workshop is going to be to help you create a plan to help you not be affected by all these, but we need to know what we're dealing with. So I want to ask you again, what is keeping you up at night? So a lot of you guys said that you are feeling uncertain. You are feeling that? You know, there's stuff there that's bothering you. What is it what is keeping you up at night? What fears are you dealing with right now? And I really would like to know the answer to these to see if we can address them. Right? What do you see coming down the horizon? Like stuff that's happening? You know, we're gonna go over some of them. But if there's something specific that you tend to be worried about, so Joel is saying lack of funds. That's a good one. I often hear people saying, you know, the health issues are a problem. Having enough money for retirement, somebody said that they wanted more money in retirement supplemental income, right, that's another one. So the first thing I want to do is show you how many of us have stuff in common. And then I'm gonna go over a few that you might not even be thinking about, I'm talking about the fears, right? So Jen saying making sure she has enough money in the future, even when the market goes down, or stalls, this is great, because those things might be happening, they might be coming, right? So here are the top fears in 2023. The top fears that Americans had this year, now, there's a bunch of stuff on there, you take something as simple as drinking water now, where I live, which is outside in the suburbs of Houston, right? We don't even think about drinking water. It's like a non thing. Like if our drinking water wasn't safe, there'd be like an uproar. Right. But the people in Flint, Michigan, you've heard that stories, they still don't have clean drinking water. Right? And I hear people asking, Well, you know, if they don't have drinking water, why did they just move on, or they just fix it? Well, I bet they would love to, but they're not able to probably because they can't afford it. And then you got other stuff on here. You know, cyber terrorism, biological warfare, government, corrupt officials, there's so much stuff out there, that these are neither just the top 10. And these are not even the ones that most of the ones that I had identified. So here's some more, you know, Social Security for those you guys who are worried about retirement or getting close to retirement, and those of us who are paying into Social Security, the administration itself this year, said that it's not going to be able to pay the full amount of benefits. After 2033, In 10 years, right? In 10 years, Social Security might be bankrupt or might not be able to resolve it. In a Gallup poll this year 57% of working adults said that they're not going to have enough money for retirement, that's more than half the people in this country are not going to have enough money for retirement. And then, you know, obviously, they're expecting Social Security to bail them out. But then we just saw Social Security might not even be there, when we're in might not be able to give all of it that it's supposed to. So we got some big issues coming. Now. They asked the AARP members, what are the things you're afraid of? And so these are them some of their answers. So number one was inflation. Right? And it's inflation is the number one reason that people are pushing back their retirement years. So they're supposed to retire this year, they're gonna retire next year, the year after two years from now. That's horrible. That's scary, right there to push back. Number two is fear of Social Security. being wildly it's not going to be there. Right. That's the the main source of income for three out of five retirees. So what is that I don't even know what the percentage is, like 60 Some percent, or 70% of the people that are retired retirees, most of their money comes from Social Security. And they've sat there, geez, look out, look out below, right. They're afraid of a volatile market, I believe Jen said the same thing, right? If you are on a fixed income, then any shock to the stock market is going to be a problem is going to be an issue. And this is whether you're younger, older, retired or not. Number four, this was a weird one that I had never thought about. But it's fear that the kids won't leave. So whatever the reason, and we're gonna get into a bunch of reasons, a lot of kids are going to be coming back home or they're already home, and they're not going to leave. That's another one. And then fear of the unknown. So we had different things happen this year, bank failures, layoffs, all that sort of thing. It's going to get worse. Right? So what else is coming? Well, the recession still hasn't come yet. According to statistics, com, there's a 56% chance that the recession will be coming next year, September, if you remember, right, all the guys on TV, all the pundits are like, Oh, the recession is here. It's actually needed and then never showed up. And then they were like, oh, yeah, and now there's no recession coming, what what happened, right, but the data definitely shows that things are slowing down, that things are not as rosy as they say on TV. And also, we're expecting massive layoffs, not just a little layoff because in 2023, the bright spot, the thing that everybody was pointing to was the tight labor market, meaning if you wanted to get a job, you could originally there were two jobs out there for every one person looking for a job. That's not the case anymore. And in 2024 92% of companies are expecting layoffs 92 It's like everyone, every single company is expecting to layoff people. That's nuts. right? So if you have a job right now, yeah, you need to be re-examining that. It's like how secure where what kind of situate If you deny it, then if you don't get laid off by the economy, there's a good chance that you might just be completely replaced by artificial intelligence. And these are just some of the jobs where people have already been replaced by AI. And you have designers, you have lawyers on this list, you have doctors, accountants, truck drivers. I mean, I don't know if you guys know this, but they have self driving semi trucks all over Florida, where there's nobody in the cab, there's nobody there. Like, and that's, that's coming across the country. All the images that you will see in this presentation, we're done by AI, I did not hire a graphic designer to go out and create these images. I went over to Bing typed in what I wanted, and it gave me the images for this. And you'll see some of them are freaking amazing. Is your job on this list? If it's not, unfortunately, it probably will be sued, if it's automated at all in any way. And so guess what else we have? And coming in 2024, we have a presidential election, and according to a lot of Republicans, the last ones to push it over? So who's gonna know who knows what's gonna happen in this one? Right? And whether you agree with that or not, I mean, in my case, I believe that we have one candidate who I have serious doubts about if he's even going to be alive at the election time, and the other one who might be in jail at election time. So it's definitely going to be a circus, something to watch. Unfortunately, it's going to impact us one way or the other, it's going to be a major impact. Now, what about interest rates? Aren't they coming down? No, not really. According to Jerome Powell, the head of the Fed, he says they still might go up again, and they're not going to come down and flail inflation is at 2%, which should happen sometime in 2026. So we still got another three years before rates come down. And if they don't come down, then again, shrinking the economy. But the rates themselves cannot go down. Because the US Treasury needs to continue selling large amounts of debt, to pay for the bills, the US is running, right? Currently, the US debt is over $33 trillion, $33 trillion, is what our debt is, and it just continues to grow. And those of you who are like Dave Ramsey fans, probably not gonna like this fact. But the government collects $5 trillion in revenue, that's how much it gets in taxes and all the other stops, but it spends six and a half trillion, so we're going negative every year, that's just didn't spend it. Forget about the debt, this is just a spinning back, we already have a lot of debt, we have to pay interest on it, this is several separate, so they won't be able to lower the rates, because they're gonna have to keep the rates high, because otherwise nobody's gonna borrow the money from the US. It's not now as you probably already know, this something that's going to hit us right in the wallet, right? We already know food prices have gone up. But not only do food prices have gone up, but companies are making the food smaller. So you see this package of Oreos, this used to be the original size. Now it's like this. I mean, you're probably getting how many left fewer cookies are you getting. And then over here, this with the ketchup packet, that's a Whopper Jr. A Whopper Jr used to be pretty big. Now it's smaller than your fist. I mean, it's incredible. And even if inflation goes down, even if inflation goes down, like the prices go back down, the size of the food and the size of the packaging will not go back to where it was. Because companies are higher are happy, right, their costs are less, but the prices will be high. So they are not going to change, we will still be ending up paying more just to get the same amount that we were getting before. And so the government will keep spending more money, it will keep borrowing more money and paying higher interest rate to borrow their money. More and more people are gonna get laid off, people are going to cut back on spending because they're getting laid off or they're afraid of getting laid off as much as they can. Which means that companies will sell less, and they will make more profit, which means stocks will go down. And everyone's gonna go crazy over the election. And that's, that's just I'm just getting started. Unfortunately, if that wasn't bad enough, I want to go into the things that I'm most scared about. I'm not even worried about these things. I'm looking at the things that I'm most scared about. And these are issues that are not so obvious. But they will definitely impact all of us out there. I mean, doesn't matter, right. And they're already are impacting us. So number one, we talked about the federal debt and the continuous spending. Well, what do you think happened? Are you What do you think is going to happen? When that continues? Where do you think the government is going to get the money to pay all of its bills? There's only one place it can get the money. And that's us. Yeah, more printing? No, no, Rob, it's coming from us. Because they already printed a lot. They can't print more. There's nobody else there's gonna be he's gonna borrow it. They're gonna get the money from us. You and me. You can bet your bottom dollar that your taxes are going up. I don't care which party is in charge. They will raise taxes, income tax, state tax, property tax, sales tax debt tax inheritance tax, they will raise tax on the companies. And the companies will then just what turn around and raise prices on everything. So we will be ending up paying that tax as well. So that is coming. Number two, war with China. I think this is pretty much a given. The question is when the why doesn't even matter could be Taiwan, it could be trade, it could be something who knows? It's going to happen. Because if you look at history, that's the way it works. Right? Now, if you know want to know the exact reason, then there's a book out by a guy named Ray Dalio, who explains it in detail. He is the founder of the world's largest hedge fund. So the guy's pretty smart. He's got a lot of assistants that did a lot of research. And they looked at all of the empires in the world going back hundreds of years, and what they have together, and what makes one go up, what goes down. And so that's it, you have the Empire of the US. And then you have the growing empire of China. And the only way for China to overcome and overtake the US and being the dominant is through war. That's the way it happens. So the war is coming. The threat is real. And so for the US to stay on top to be the top empire of the world, right? We cannot spend less money on our military, especially the Navy, and the Navy is the most expensive branch of the armed forces. So we can't spend less, especially when you add in the fact that over 50% of our youth cannot even serve in the army because they're too fat. This blows my mind. It gets really scary. Like, what happens if we go to war, and half the people can't even go to war? Because they're too fat? So does that mean there's going to be a shortage of soldiers? Yes, obviously, what do they do then? Are they going to have a draft? Possibly. And for people like me, and for many like you, if you have boys or brothers or whatnot that are going to be of draftable age, you know, anywhere from like 16 or 18, up to 30? In the next few years? It really makes me scared. It really makes you wonder I don't want my kids going to war in a situation. But if it's not, you know, for defense, I don't know. Right? To me, this is the biggest fear I have. But when you have money, there are choices. Okay, I hope that the war is avoided. But if human history is any indication, it's a matter of when not if. And then the last thing that I'm worried about is probably the largest. And that's climate change. So I don't care if you don't believe or, you know, you if you do believe in global warming, if it's man may not may, man, whatever, the world is getting warmer. And that's affecting everybody this year, on record hottest year ever, right. And there are three major changes happening right now because of warming. Number one is migration. So we already have an issue with illegal immigrants at the border, it's only going to get worse, because most of the migrants that are coming from those countries sit on the equator, right, where it's very hot, people will do whatever they have to do to survive. And that means a lot of them will move. So you can see how many people what percent of the population is already moving around the world. And it will affect us in the US as well. The coasts are already seeing flooding, and massive beach erosion, adding the wildfires adding the droughts, the water shortages, and all the major rivers like the Colorado and the Mississippi, and you have, you're gonna have massive migration, you're gonna have massive people moving from one part of the country to the other, just like all over the world. And then there's the second thing that I want to go into anybody know what this country is? Let me know in the chat. Anybody have any guess what this country is? I'll give you a hint. It's run by this guy. Okay. Kentucky, no It is Syria, Syria. This guy. Assad has been in power since the year 2000. So he's been in power a while. But then in 2011 11 years after he took over. There was a civil war erupted. And it's still going on. It's still not over. Right. So what was the tipping point? What caused 1000s and 1000s of peoples to take arms against the government to fight back and risked their lives? Do they just wake up one day and be like, oh, man, hey, it's a good day to die today. Let's go fight somebody, or was it something else? Right, probably. Here it is. There's something else was that the country suffered a massive five year drought from 2006 to 2011, which resulted in agricultural failure, mass poverty and joblessness. So, yeah, warming led to drought, which led to crop failing, which led to migration to the cities, which led to not enough food or jobs, which led to civil war. Anybody...
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12 Books A Year - Part 4 - 166
11/09/2023
12 Books A Year - Part 4 - 166
This is the final part of the series that shows you a better way to read if you want to accomplish more, and make more money. All right, welcome, you made it to Part 4 - the last part of our series. Now, if you missed part one, two or three, please go watch or listen to at least part one, because that explains everything. Otherwise, you're just going to hear me talk about books, and you're not going to understand what I'm talking about. But to give you a quick recap, I changed the way I read books, because I was finding out that I was just reading and reading just to read and just accomplish, but I was not using the information, I was not learning anything. And so it wasn't worth it. I was reading a lot spending a lot of time reading, but it wasn't worth it. Because it wasn't making any difference in my life. And I realized recently, so I've been teaching my my seven-year-old how to do multiplication tables, right? And so she asked me, Dad, I want to learn this stuff. How do I do it? I say, Well, you write them down. And then you say them over and over and over again, and you memorize them. That's the, that's the way I knew how to do it. I was taught that way. And that's, you know, that's what I taught her. And so she's been working on it. And you know, she's seven, and she got hers, she got the ones, you got the twos, you got the 5s 10s 11s. So now she's working on the threes and the fours. And she's doing really great. But again, he's just reading it over and over and over again. And so that's kind of what I'm doing with these books, I picked out 12 books that make a big difference in different aspects of my life that I want to work on. And so I identified those areas that I wanted to work on first. And then I found the books that really helped me and give me stuff to do and think about, and though I chose one book per month, so that month, I will read that book, maybe I read it two times or three times, and then I will implement. And I spend the whole rest of the month implementing everything in that book, if I can, if I'm done with the book, or if I don't want to do any more than I'll go on the next month to the next book. Or I'll just keep working on that book if I'm making a lot of progress. So that's how it works. In part two, and part three, I went through four books each. So the first eight books of the year, I talked about and I think, you know, if you are a reader, if you want to get better at your life at different areas of your life, then those two parts would definitely be something that you want to go back and cover and do. And if you're not a reader, I haven't talked about this before. But all of these books are available as audiobooks, right, you can listen to these books, you don't have to just read them, you can listen to them. And there was something I read that. And I don't know if this is true or not. But it said that if you listen to the book while you are reading it, you remember it more. Now, I haven't ever tried that I'm not no big into audiobooks. I like reading. I like having the book in my hand. I don't even like the the Kindle versions or the ebooks. And so I have a bunch, but I like the physical books. So all these 12 books, I have them physically, I tried to get all of them in hardcover, so they last and I enjoy reading them over and over again. Every time I read them, I'm learning new things, and I'm implementing again, and I'm like, Oh yeah, cuz I'm in a different spot in my life every time I read them. So really helps. Let's go ahead and jump into the books here. So this is a book. The first one is if things are going wrong, like if there's an issue, if there's a problem, if you're facing some kind of setbacks, and you don't know what to do, the book is called Everything is figureoutable. That's the word everything is figure out double. And that's basically the the idea behind the book. Now the author, Marie Forleo. She's a great author. The book is well written great stories funny, she has a business that geared more towards women. So her products, her the way she talks, everything is geared towards women, I thought it would be put off by that it wasn't that big a deal. But I really liked the way she wrote the book. And I liked it. Her other products I didn't really resonate with, but I really loved the book, I really loved the idea behind it. And so I really recommend this book for people for anybody, anybody that wants to, you know, have an easier time in life. Just need some encouragement, right? Everything is figureoutable. I mean, if you have that mindset, if you have that thing that thought in your mind that no matter what problem I have, no matter what issue I have, I'll be able to figure it out. Somebody will be able to figure out and I'll be able to get help, and it'll happen and it'll be fine. Everything's gonna be fine. Right? So if you have that idea in your mind, man, failure is not anything to be afraid of. Because if it doesn't work out, guess what, we'll just have to figure it out. Right? It's figureoutable, nothing is impossible and that sort of thing. So that was that was a great book. I really liked that one. The next one is a thinker book not really a doing book, but it's a thinking book. So everything is figureoutablee it has some stuff in there that you know if you have any challenges or whatever it we're helps you work through them. This one is called the the 8020 principle. All right, so this one is really good. In terms of it'll blow your mind. If you haven't read it, if you don't know, if you don't understand how it works, this one will blow your mind. And really, it's Pareto's Principle, it's, you know, 80% of your results come from 20% of your work. So it's about working smarter, not harder, right? In anything, even in nature, this formula somehow works. So if you're in business, 80% of your profits come from 20% of your customers, 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your products, and then it goes even further. So then you have the 20%, and then the top 20% of the 20%, bring in 80% of that, so you can go down and he gets really crazy. So if you look at it in terms of results, if you turn and look at it, science, health, all these issues, you know, 20% of the food you eat gives you 80% of the nutrients, all the other stuff is just junk that we're eating, right, so you want to cut out calories, cut out the junk, and you'll still get all the nutrients that you're eating right now. But you'll eat 80% less crazy. I mean, there's so many different concepts that you can implement it in and the the guy in the book, he goes through several different ones. Very smart guy, very intelligent, you know, he gives you different examples of how it works, how it how to use it. And it really gives you a different way to think that if you have a job to do, if you have work to do, if you have a business, if you have, if you're managing people, the 80-20 principle is amazing in how you can be more effective in less time with less work. And the subtitle of the book is the secret to achieving more with less. And that's, that's really what it does, you know it, you get to do more, you get to accomplish more, but it takes less time, less work, less energy. And that sounds pretty good to me. So that's why I read it, I get re-energized every time I read it. And then I apply it to different areas of my life, like, okay, how can I do this? Okay, how can I apply this to, you know, how much time I spend with my kids? Like, if I only have a certain amount of time with my kids every single day? Because I'm busy, they're busy, they're getting older? How do I make the most of that time? If I know that I'm with them for an hour, but only 20 minutes or 10 minutes of that is quality, then how do I improve that? Right? So that's just one example, but there's so many different ways that you can incorporate that into your life, read the book, it's really great. And it'll make things easier, faster, simpler in your life. All right, then we have this one is, I don't know how it's gonna go over. I don't know how it if it's gonna go over with you, but it's called the Untethered Soul. Okay, so this one, it's not about accomplishments. This is not about life, psychology, anything, this is about your soul. It's a spirituality book. And it's life changing. Realistically, it really, the book is about focusing on the hereafter, it's about focusing on your soul. It's about focusing on what happens to us, and how we deal with pain, how we deal with issues, how we deal with life in general. And it's a deep book. It's a very, very, very deep book. But if you have any type of trauma, grief, self esteem issues, anything of that nature, mentally, emotionally, that you are working on, that makes you unhappy, or just makes you feel like life is not all that, then this book will help you. And it really, it really makes you happier if you follow the instructions and follow the steps. So this man who wrote his book, he has a couple other books, I suggest you read those as well. The first one maybe before you read this one is called the surrender experiment. It's his life story, an amazing, amazing story. It you know, he started off as a basically a hippie that wanted to live in the woods. That's all he wanted to do. He wanted to live in the woods and he wanted to meditate. He had an experience when he was younger, when he was meditating. And that's all he wanted to do. Just have that experience over and over and over again. Right. But life had other plans. And so he surrendered to life. And he went with wherever it took him. He ended up starting a company that was became a billion dollar company. He was the CEO of a billion dollar company, when they had gone public, sell shares did all this stuff. It's still around today. And I mean, his whole story of how everything just worked out, you know, from having no money, really nothing and just wanting to meditate all day in the woods, to going building up companies multiple companies. Helping 1000s of people employing 1000s of people, building a massive company going public merging. You know, everybody in everybody in business, everybody on Wall Street knew this company. That's how big it was. Right? And it was all started by this guy who he just wanted to meditate. But life had other plans. Right? Life took him on that direction. And he didn't fight it, he. And so that's the, that's the story. He tells in that book, the surrender experiment. And then in this book, he actually explains why and one of the things he talks about, is that how we all have the voice in our head. Like, why don't we have peace? Right? When we're thinking, we're, there's always something, there's always a voice going on our brain, there's always something. There's always thinking, there's always talking, Oh, you didn't do that, right? Oh, this guy didn't like you, Oh, that guy cut me off. Oh, man, this is too hot. Oh, it's too cold. It's too this is too that. And none of that. Our brain is always going on and on and on and on. And in this book, he tells us and he explains that we are not that voice. You know. So he does talk about meditation, he does talk about how to deal with certain things like grief, and trauma, and all these things, how to look at life, how to look at the beauty of life. And so if you have any type of those type of issues, if you're looking for, this not a religious book, it has nothing to do with any kind of religion, right? Doesn't matter what religion you are, the book can help. And so that's why I bring it here. I mean, some people might have with it, but it was game changing. For a lot of people, millions of people have read this book, and many, many more billion people recommend it. So if you haven't read it, that's a really, really good one. But it is a deep book. And so I read that one in November, you know, it's towards the end of the year. You know, it's my birthday time. And so I'm thinking of, you know, just, it's a relaxing period, for me, you know, usually November and it's a celebratory period, because it November also has Thanksgiving. And Thanksgiving is my favorite, favorite holiday. Because we actually see on one day we stop, everybody stops and actually give thanks and being happy and grateful. Right. And so that and spirituality and the birthday, you know, when you're older, it's like, oh, you know, what's gonna happen with me, all that kind of stuff. It all just comes together. And so that is a perfect time for this particular book for me. And so yeah, I really, really recommend that one, a lot. Final book. Now, this is one that I was not sure if I was going to add, but this one is, for me, it's pretty cool. And I've read this book several times, it's called the future is faster than you think. Now, this book is going to be outdated, and probably already is outdated. As soon as it comes out. This book was probably outdated. And the thing behind this author, he's written a couple other books. He's written a book called Bold, is written a book called Abundance. And then this was the third book. And I think he's working on the next one. This particular guy, he is what they call a futurist. Right. So he focuses on the technologies that are coming down the pipe, he looks at all the different technologies that people have been working on. And then he sees how they work together in the Confluence and what could be possible. So in this book, here, he talks. And basically, it's how converging technologies are transforming business industries and our lives. And if you don't know what's coming down the pipe in the future, if you read this book, it will blow you away. Right? So most people, they look at what's wrong in the world. They look at all the negative. Oh, It's getting harder every year. Oh, the politics are this, oh, there's so much garbage in the world. Oh, people don't get along. Oh, there's so much. There's so much war, intention, and, and scarcity and all these different things. And this guy, he takes a different approach. He's like, you know, if you look at it, if you look at the numbers, life has never been better for people on this planet. We're living longer, we're healthier, we have more food than ever, we don't have to worry about food. We have cars and food and entertainment at our fingertips. And there's so many things that we can be grateful for so many things that are unimaginable just 10 years ago, 20 years ago, right, and the way that the future is coming, and he explains all the different technologies, you know, he talks about flying cars, when they're coming, how they're coming, how they're gonna get here, he talks about AI, he was talking this book came out years ago, way before ChatGPT and all the AI companies that are going crazy now, people have been working on AI for years, but it wasn't ready to be mainstream. Now. It's actually coming to be mainstream. So every other other predictions he made in this book are coming true right in front of our eyes. So it's incredible. So some of those predictions have come true already. The other ones are going to be coming true. So if you want to know what the future holds for humanity, this is one of the books that is really, really good. And I'd say it's already outdated, because there's a lot of thing that's already happened. And there's more things that are happening now that he hasn't covered in the book yet. So maybe in his next book to be even more things, but these guys are on the cutting edge of technology. And so one of the things is that we're going to be able to live Have a lot longer and he explains how so 120 150 years old is doable, maybe not. For you, I don't know how old you are maybe not for me, I might live to 120, my kids, they might get to 200. Because the technology is in the advancements in health and all this stuff is growing crazy fast, just all the stuff that happened during COVID-19 time, right? The technologies that they came out with the way they streamline the processes, how everything became faster, because they needed to be faster. Health-wise, they made huge jumps, what used to take five years or 10 years before in health was able to be done in five months or less. And so it's amazing, you know, like before, I never even my doctor never even considered doing a zoom call with me. And now that's the only way I talked to her I haven't talked to I haven't seen her in years as you're on Zoom, and that's it. Because I don't want to go to our office, I don't wanna sit there for an hour in the waiting room, then sit there in the cold room with the with the nurse that doesn't smile, and then you know, see my doctor for like 10 minutes, and then she's out the door, I don't want to I got work to do, I don't have two hours to wait, waste at the doctor. So this is something that maybe I never thought about that would happen. But he predicted it in the book. And it came true. So this one, there's really nothing for you to do in this book. There's no work. And so this is why I put it at the end of the year is just it's inspirational. It makes me like, Oh, holy cow, holy cow. This is the type of book that when I read it, I tell everybody about it like, Hey, did you know about this? Oh, do you hear about this and people like, I don't care, you know, because it's like, okay, but for me, the the future stuff, the technologies that are coming, they're, they're really cool. I love this kind of stuff. So, you know, when you're trading, it's really passive trading, right? The idea is that we want to make money and have our money make more money for us so that we don't have to work. And it's called, that's what it's called passive, we're not really doing too much work. And so what do you do with all that free time? Well, in the future is going to be a lot different than it is now. So the time that we have, right is going to be way more fun. And we're gonna have a lot more of it, because you're just living longer. So the advancements in health that are coming down the pike, organs, you know, pig organs and transplants, and this and that, and it's insane, the stuff that's coming, and they already have it. I mean, everything he talks about in the book is already here, right nuclear power and how they use it and how they're cleaning the how they're cleaning the ocean, and how they're turning salt water into fresh water, and all this stuff. These technologies are here, they're not maybe all of them are not ready for primetime. But with enough investment, they could be and they could change the world. So these type of technologies, these type of companies that are doing this kind of research and stuff, they need investment. And so if we want to really make a big difference in the world, we want to leave it at a better place than when we got here, taking the money that we're making from trading, and then giving back to the world. You know, helping solve some of the world's problems would be a wonderful way to use your money. And so people ask like, oh, yeah, you know, I got this question today, like, how much money do you need? Right? Like, you keep trading? How much? How much do you actually need? Do you actually want? Do you do it for fun? You do it for for greed, what do you do it for? And I'm like, there are so many things that I want to fund, there are so many things I want to bring to the world. And I don't have to be the one doing all the research and being the scientist and the technologists and all that stuff. But if I can help them by funding the company, or by making an investment, then that's going to help my kids, my grandkids, my great grandkids, and on and on and on, because I'm scared for them. I'm scared for future generations, because I see the news do I see things, you know, might not be getting better in all aspects. But then I read a book like this, and I have hope, I hope for the future, I have hope for technologies that are coming down the pike that will...
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