However, this isn’t the first time the world has seen a geopolitical shock. The global economy has weathered upheaval before — recessions, trade wars, financial crises. And while no one can predict the exact landscape ahead, investors can still build out a path — especially by focusing on assets that can hold up when uncertainty runs high.Indeed, Carney has cautioned before that Trump’s sweeping tariffs “will rupture the global economy (3).”And Canada isn’t alone in absorbing the shock. The U.S. is the worl ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the contrasting investment philosophies of Warren Buffett and Elon Musk, highlighting Buffett's focus on value investing and sustainable competitive advantages, while Musk emphasizes innovation and excitement in investing [2][3][5][6]. Investment Strategies - Buffett's investment strategy revolves around identifying strong companies with steady cash flows and predictable performances, rather than chasing high-stakes ventures [6]. - Value investing, as advocated by Buffett, seeks out beaten-down and overlooked companies, exemplified by his portfolio including DaVita HealthCare Partners and Louisiana-Pacific [5]. Market Performance - In the first three months of 2024, even professional hedge fund managers have underperformed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, indicating the challenges of stock picking [8]. - Berkshire Hathaway's stock has increased by 12.7% in 2024, slightly outperforming the S&P 500, which is up 10.5% [8]. Retail Investor Insights - Retail investors who invested in low-cost index funds tracking the S&P 500 have outperformed hedge fund indices, demonstrating the effectiveness of a "boring" investment approach [9]. - The article emphasizes that simple, boring investing combined with compounding can lead to significant wealth generation for retail investors [9]. Tools and Platforms - SoFi offers a self-directed trading account with no commission fees, promoting a DIY investment approach [1]. - Public provides a community-driven platform for investment insights, allowing investors to share ideas and collaborate on strategies [6].

The dollar’s shrinking buying power is familiar to Americans. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, a current $100 bill has about the same purchasing power as $12 in 1970. [6]“There won't be a default — the central bank will come in, and we'll print the money and buy it,” he said. “And that's where there's the depreciation of money.”With the U.S. national debt at $38.33 trillion as of Nov. 24, that scenario is no longer far-fetched (5).Musk isn’t the only billionaire sounding alarms. Ray Dal ...

“Years ago, rather than listen to my poor dad’s advice of ‘Go to school, get good grades, get a job, pay taxes, get out of debt, save money, and invest in a well diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds,’ I followed my rich dad’s advice. I became an entrepreneur, investing in real estate, using debt, and instead of saving fake money, I have been saving real gold, silver, and today Bitcoin.”“AI cannot fire me because I do not have a job,” he wrote (3).Kiyosaki is a passive-income evangelist a ...

Instead of 60% stocks and 40% bonds, Morgan Stanley chief investment officer Mike Wilson now favors 60% stocks, 20% fixed income and 20% gold.For decades, the classic 60/40 portfolio — 60% stocks and 40% bonds — served as the cornerstone of balanced investing. But amid persistent inflation and volatile bond markets, Morgan Stanley has suggested a different approach: add gold to the mix.Of course, not everyone can afford to buy thousands of acres in Saskatchewan or run a full farming operation with employees ...

And the number of seniors who are continuing to pay into the program is rising due to a combination of factors — one of which is that, while Social Security benefits get an annual cost-of-living adjustment, the thresholds for combined income have not been adjusted since 1993.Social Security gets most of its funding from payroll tax revenue, according to the SSA, but the program also gets money by taxing some seniors on their monthly benefits.The reality is that completely eliminating taxes on Social Securit ...

Gold (GC=F) futures opened at $4,258.30 per troy ounce Thursday, 0.8% higher than Wednesday’s closing price of $4,224.70. The price of gold also rose in early trading. The Fed lowered its target interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday to a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, with a 9-3 vote. Two of the dissenters voted for no rate change, and the third voted for a half-point reduction. The discord among committee members shows the challenge of the current economy: The job market is weaker than it should be, while ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve is under scrutiny as President Trump seeks to replace Chair Jerome Powell, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting a potential announcement before Christmas [1][6] - Ray Dalio warns of a "debt death spiral" due to the U.S. national debt reaching approximately $37.86 trillion, which could lead to a decline in the value of the dollar and bonds if inflation is not controlled [3][6] - Dalio draws parallels between the current economic climate and the early 1970s, highlighting concerns over inflation and the effectiveness of fiat currencies as stores of wealth [4][8] Economic Conditions - The U.S. Dollar Index fell by 10.8% in the first half of 2025, marking its worst performance since 1973, while inflation continues to erode purchasing power [6][8] - Experts are warning of 'stagflation,' characterized by moderate GDP growth, high inflation, and rising unemployment rates [7][8] Investment Strategies - Dalio advocates for gold as a hedge against economic uncertainty, suggesting a portfolio allocation of 15% to gold due to its historical performance during market downturns [10][11] - Jeffrey Gundlach supports a significant allocation to gold, calling it an "insurance policy" amid ongoing dollar weakness [12] Real Estate and Alternative Investments - Real estate is highlighted as a strong hedge against inflation, with property values and rental income typically rising during inflationary periods [16] - Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived and Homeshares offer accessible ways for investors to engage in real estate without the burdens of direct property management [19][21] - Art investment is emerging as an attractive option for diversification, with platforms like Masterworks allowing investors to buy shares in high-value artworks [24][26]

Data from ADP — a global human resources and payroll services software — is used to complement the usual U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) numbers. However, the government shutdown in October and November further obscured just how jobs are doing, due to delayed BLS’ reporting. The next jobs report is expected to be released on Dec. 16. Meanwhile, ADP’s latest monthly jobs report suggests the private sector lost 32,000 jobs in November (2).Part of the problem in establishing a consensus on how the econom ...

“I believe we could get started in earnest next year on the price decline and see a rather large drop historically speaking, but still think it could take several years to bottom,” she told Newsweek (4).Wright believes the coming correction could take several years to fully play out, but she thinks the downturn could begin as early as 2026.There are already hints of a shift. Zillow recently reported that 53% of U.S. homes lost value over the past year — the highest share since 2012 — with an average drawdow ...