Ray Dalio sounds alarm over looming ‘civil war’ in US — and our power to ‘hurt each other’ has never been greater

Core Insights - Wealth inequality in the U.S. has significantly increased, with the top 1% now holding 31% of the nation's net worth, up from 22.8% in 1989, while the bottom 50% saw their share decrease from 3.5% to 2.5% [1][2][3] - The national debt has reached $37.92 trillion, resulting in a debt-to-GDP ratio of 125%, an increase from 100% a decade ago, raising concerns about future economic stability [1][2][3] Economic and Social Concerns - Ray Dalio warns that the combination of poor government finances and widening wealth gaps are indicators that could lead to civil unrest or revolution, drawing parallels from historical civil wars [2][3] - Dalio describes the current state of the U.S. as being in multiple "wars," including financial, technological, geopolitical, and military conflicts, indicating a complex and potentially volatile environment [3] Investment Strategies - Dalio emphasizes the importance of diversification in investment portfolios, particularly advocating for gold as a key asset during turbulent times, suggesting that 15% of a portfolio should be allocated to gold [6][7] - Gold has surged over 50% in value over the past year, reinforcing its status as a safe haven asset during economic uncertainty [7] Real Estate Investment - Warren Buffett advises against holding cash during wartime, recommending investments in real assets like farms and apartment buildings, which can provide returns and hedge against inflation [9][10] - Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow smaller investors to access real estate markets with minimal capital, making real estate investment more accessible [11][12] Alternative Investment Options - Homeshares offers accredited investors access to the U.S. home equity market, providing a low-maintenance investment vehicle with target returns of 14% to 17% [13][14] - Art investment is becoming more accessible through platforms like Masterworks, which allows investors to buy shares in high-value artworks, with historical returns of 17.6% to 21.5% [16][17][18]