Economic Concerns - Ray Dalio warns about the U.S. economy's mounting debt burden, comparing it to arterial blockage that could lead to a financial "heart attack" [1] - The U.S. national debt has exceeded $37 trillion, with Moody's projecting the debt-to-GDP ratio to rise from nearly 100% in 2025 to approximately 130% by 2035 [2] Investment Recommendations - Dalio suggests investors allocate "somewhere between 10% and 15%" of their portfolios to gold as a hedge against market instability, with gold futures recently reaching record highs near $3,600 [3] - Gold is characterized as uncorrelated with other assets, typically increasing in value during crises when other assets decline [4] Market Valuations - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have gained over 12.25% and 14.33% year-to-date, respectively, closing at record highs amid expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts [5] - Dalio's warnings highlight concerns regarding elevated market valuations in the context of underlying fiscal pressures [5]