Not a day passes without a prognosticator preaching economic and financial ruin. Such a dire prediction stirs fear in the hearts of some yet supports a state of denial for others. Personally, I don’t believe in the school of economic collapse, at least not in the typical sense we so often read of. I believe the economy is and will continue a course of correction. Now, let me be perfectly clear. This correction could potentially feel like collapse since far too many are socially, spiritually, individually, and economically prepared for anything other than a stereotypical state of normal.

I blame a government that refuses to instill individual responsibility, promotes institutionalization, and….. in some cases – a cradle to grave dependency for such widespread inaction. Unfortunately, physical silver or gold isn’t even on the radar of our ill prepared.

The correction each must recognize affects us individually, and in many ways. Far too many have made the prudent step to buy physical PM (precious metal) but are at risk of becoming a short-term PM seller stemming from a lack of overall preparedness. In other words, they will sell their metal, to continue living a life of normalcy, just when they most need PM. This could come from desperation or it could come from monetary ignorance; it’s just too soon to tell .

The collapse (as most put it) is happening as you read this….. all in slow motion. Ask the man on the street and they will quickly point out a lack of good paying jobs. Ask a banker and they will say the problem is a lack of credit. Ask a politician and they will lay blame on the opposing party or a previous administration. The fact is all the above are 100% correct, but this does nothing to help our situation.

Nothing will stop today’s course of correction because too few are willing to acknowledge the destructive nature of overpopulating a currency. This neglect is building into a monetary civil war within the United States. The type of person willing to trade dollars for PM suffers great anxiety by living in a country that is no longer willing to address our economic challenges with rationality. This is why we’re reading about states proposing legislation in hopes of creating an alternative currency (Utah, Arizona, etc).

Our country has far more to lose from conflict than economic collapse. A divided nation is vulnerable from within, vulnerable from afar, and everything between. Why else is it so many folks like you view PM as the get-out-of-Dodge-card? Wealth stored within physical silver or gold provides an option, or luxury, most will never realize. In my opinion we are well beyond asking “if” our economy will collapse.

What now?

Without fail there is one common question asked when I consult with folks about buying and storing precious metal. They all ask if there is anything else they should be buying or doing other than whatever it is they are actively “doing”. These folks fail to recognize that they’re miles ahead of 99% of all other Americans, politicians, financial planners, economic advisers, accountants, etc. This is what a call the “what now” syndrome.

I’m convinced that a person willing to make the effort to buy physical PM has what it takes to answer the what now on an individual basis. Since you’re reading this post I congratulate you and your ability to actively pursue a personal stake of individuality in a day of complacency. Your next what now could be a career change or it could be relocating where your family calls home. Your next what now could be the start of a plan that includes internationalizing your wealth or it could lead to internationalizing where you live.

Four years ago, my what now led me to relocate my family from a high taxation state to a less populated  and more independently minded fly-over state. Over ten years ago my what now led me to trade dollars for physical gold. The what now inside you could lead to gardening, reloading, campaigning, prospecting, serving, fasting, start-up business, downsized business, who knows? Whatever your what now is please remember this. Owning precious metal should be the monetary foundation of a life commitment to self reliance so that compromise is never a word atop of your to do list.

Let everyone else worry about economic collapse while you focus on reality.

QUESTION:  DC, last week we found out some silver American Eagles circulating around the US and Canada is actually counterfeit reproductions made in China. What steps can a small silver investor like me do to safeguard against fake bullion? Thanks for your work at TPS.

TPS Reply:  Thanks for the worthwhile question. The silver counterfeiting you mention has me greatly concerned for many reasons. Far too many folks view silver with skepticism, this news will only compound the level of silver confusion. It’s easy to say the odds of buying fake silver are low but very real for the few who actually find themselves as the unlucky few.

As silver inventories shrink the benefits of counterfeiting will rise. If crooks are willing to counterfeit legal tender this leads me to believe counterfeit (silver) bars and rounds is a bigger problem than anyone would like to believe. I view this as even more reason to buy from reputable sources who will stand behind every single ounce sold.

The fake silver problem will worsen as the secondary silver market grows because the secondary market is much less regulated, not to mention limitless. As of May 2013, I see no reason to buy fake bullion since the majority of silver sold transfers directly from the mint to the end user (you). I will admit such an opportunity is growing short as demand for silver bullion outpaces output.

I encourage each silver buyer to educate themselves on the sounds and feel of real metal. Real silver bullion is impossible to replicate if a buyer takes the time to look beyond appearance. Feel free to contact TPS for a list of reliable silver sources if you have any doubt.

QUESTION:  Are you buying silver rounds too?

TPS Reply:  Thanks for the tiny question. No, I’m not buying rounds at this time but I will as soon as legal tender bullion supplies dwindle to the point of what I feel are reasonably priced. Silver rounds usually cost less than legal tender coins; this is because anyone can legally mint a silver round. Some private mints will accept your larger silver bars and then melt (mint) the large bars into one ounce bullion, very cool. The fee for this service is minimal compared to attempting to sell a huge hunk of silver.

I like to buy recognizable silver when possible. Also, legal tender bullion will not trigger an IRS notification when a buyer sells bullion back to a PM dealer (please use due diligence since tax laws change quickly).

This doesn’t mean I wouldn’t but silver rounds, just not at this time. Thanks again for the question.

DC Carlton is founder of The Prospector Site and author of the Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher and Storing Silver & Gold. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: counterfeit silver, economic collapse, gold, physical silver, precious metal, storing gold, storing silver

Most folks completely misunderstand today’s silver market. Even more are unaware of the disconnect between physical metal and the highly leveraged paper promises, most commonly traded, thanks to large investment banks and bullion dealers. Oh sure, they believe silver’s spot offering (price) is relatively close to the physical silver market…… but they are mistaken (today we will prove just how unfortunate this is playing out to be). The PM crash in April of 2013 disrupted, maybe added is a better description, an alternative buying option, but this new option does come with a hefty price. If you’re one of the many silver hopefuls, and looking for immediate silver possession, please read today’s post closely. With that, welcome to the mysterious world of secondhand silver.

Lake Tahoe is one of the most unique lakes in North America. With 72 miles of shoreline and a depth of over 1600 feet, Lake Tahoe also has one other very unique characteristic. Although invisible to the eye, a state boundary runs through the middle of Lake Tahoe. Both California and Nevada lay claim to the pride of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Today’s silver market reminds this writer of Lake Tahoe because it too has an invisible barrier. The line between online physical silver for sale compared to cash-n-carry physical silver is now obvious. Let me explain it like this. A silver order placed today could take a month or longer to reach a nervous silver buyer; but an in-person silver transaction is immediate. The latter option is one our industry often calls the secondhand PM (precious metal) market.

Over 90% of the world’s investors view the price of silver in a paper dimension, as aforementioned. They see silver’s recent decline and say, “Thank goodness I didn’t invest in silver”, but not realizing paper silver is running a distant third in the great PM race of 2013. To expand this racing analogy, online physical silver (silver available to purchase but weeks or months until deliverable) is running a respectable second position.

Our silver runner in first place is our focus today. This, of course, includes all physical silver available in real time AND held by some entity willing to sell. The list shown below illustrates the mysterious three silver options of ownership priced in one ounce bullion.

1.  Paper silver. $24.00
2.  Online physical silver (back-ordered). $30.00
3.  On-demand secondhand physical silver. $34 – $37

No one knows when but it’s almost a sure bet that someday very soon silver buyers will have no other option than secondhand silver (most costly of all silver offerings) or speculate within the paper PM market. Sure some buyers will win the silver lottery with a limited opportunity to buy rationed online silver (Blanchard, Miles Franklin, Colorado Gold, etc) but this certainly will not be the norm. What will be normal is the realization of paying what the few willing to sell will accept.

It’s impossible to accurately estimate the additional premium for future secondhand silver. If I must, I would guess the secondhand silver market will soon escalate to a 100% premium over spot (or paper value) and then eventually reach a constant somewhere around 500% to 1000%, over silver’s spot offering, just as our economy reaches the epicenter of economic correction. I only base this estimation on the similarity between 2008s silver market to today’s – realizing the world’s fiat currencies then are nowhere close to today’s level of printing.

Please take one more glance at the three options listed above because 99% of the folks contemplating silver, but yet to own any, STILL BELIEVE THEY CAN PURCHASE AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL SILVER FOR $24 PER OUNCE. This miscalculation will become more costly from here forward.

Precious metals are an unsolvable mystery. Today’s economic and political actions affect tomorrow’s silver availability. Then, a limited availability affects, or drives up, the price of physical silver. What affects the price of physical silver the least is paper silver. If you’re relatively new to silver please pay particularly close attention to the next sentence or two. The price of secondhand silver is worth it ESPECIALLY if new to physical silver. After some accumulation it is perfectly okay to purchase online physical metal (back ordered as I write this) while patiently waiting for its arrival.

QUESTION:  A large standup style safe will not work under my PM storage situation. Do you recommend using a bank box or passive method of storage in such a case? Thanks.

TPS Reply:  Not exactly but thanks for the question. My view of a secure PM storage plan includes using up to three storage options. I believe in taking a proactive approach to PM storage by thinking like a thief who is willing to part you from your metal. Most individuals storing silver and gold think in one dimension and this greatly concerns me. The right PM storage plan really does come down to each individual’s situation.

I recommend storing at least 1/3 of your PM within arm’s reach. This 1/3 can be stored many ways and a standup safe is one of but several options I recommend in Storing Silver & Gold. For less than $200 a security minded individual can purchase, and install, a compact safe perfect for securing what you’ve worked hard to amass (please check out Costco.com).

Bank boxes serve a limited purpose and I only recommend this storage option during extended travel or for the elderly uncomfortable with personally securing something like PMs within the home. BTW, don’t forget to insure all of your PM regardless how or where it’s stored. Thanks for the question and reading TPS.

COMMENT: Continuing to read and enjoy the straightforward approach at TPS.  I’m recommending TPS to anyone waking up to reality and wondering what is going on economically and how to protect themselves.

TPS Reply: Great, thanks for the recommendation. You mentioned something that caught my eye regarding protection. This really is about protection in an age when preservation is so important. So many complain about today’s fiscal insanity and all the economic and social volatility that accompanies such an age but few actually make a personal attempt to insulate themselves when possible.

I see the option to protect by way of PM as a closing window; even silver will soon become either too expensive for most or flat out unavailable. This is why I’m beating the PM drum ever so loudly while we still have choices to transfer our personal wealth beyond traditional avenues exposed to heavy taxation and capital controls.

Looking back……. I made a few PM mistakes by not knowing the best metal to buy and from whom. But each miscue led me to a new monetary understanding that now allows me to think for myself. My hope is each reader spending precious time with TPS develops this same understanding as well. Thanks for the comment.

BERNANKE WATCH:

The world’s most powerful man continues to tease our media with hints of slowing the printing pace, but those trusting PM know this is only lip service.  Unfortunately, our press repeats such nonsense without verification (see the quote below). Central bankers now realize economies worldwide depend on currency counterfeiting just to sustain today’s level of a failed economy AND support the millions who depend on some form of government assistance to live. There is zero chance quantitative easing will end anytime soon.

“A bigger-than-expected rise in tax receipts to Washington has improved the U.S. fiscal outlook, and the Treasury and private analysts have been taken by surprise by how quickly the deficit is shrinking. Belt tightening in the wake of the series of mandatory budget cuts worth $85 billion – known as the “sequester” – could further reduce federal borrowing needs if it doesn’t inflict lasting damage to the economy”.  Reuters May 2, 2013.

A bigger-than-expected rise in tax receipts is only beneficial under fiscal restraint. The latest housing boom, and then bust, provided both record levels of tax receipts and a continuance of record deficit borrowing. This means in good times or bad, the size of government grows regardless. Does anyone really believe a reduction in government spending will happen voluntarily or redirect government to live within their means?

Everything from funding pensions to printing food stamps now depends on the next level of debt creation to sustain itself. The thought of reducing debt, or a reduction in currency printing, is no longer an option. This fact alone will continue to create adverse economic conditions and cause PM prices to rise beyond what even the PM faithful can imagine.

DC Carlton is founder of The Prospector Site and author of the Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher and Storing Silver & Gold. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: invest in silver, paper silver, physical silver, precious metal, secondhand silver, silver, spot, storing silver and gold

Protecting your family’s wealth by trading dollars for physical silver/gold is one of the wisest decisions you’ll make. We can debate silver vs. gold but at day’s end both metals are shaping themselves into the last safe-haven currency while all other currencies race toward debasement. This not only means the value of your physical metal will rise but so will the temptation for others to take what you’ve worked diligently to own.

Below are few paragraphs promoting my newest book Storing Silver & Gold. Each chapter is an extended answer to the many storing questions readers like you are asking. Questions like how to insure the PM you have stored at home, what is the best way to discretely buy silver or gold,  or the only time you should store SOME metal within a bank box, and when it’s time to consider storing metal abroad (internationally). I hope you enjoy this tiny taste of my newest book release.

 Storing Silver & Gold: How to Safeguard your Precious Metal.  I believe at least fifty percent of those practicing home storage do so with sub-par safes improperly mounted to the structure’s sub floor or foundation.

Wow, this means half of you should be reading very closely. Now, I’ll be the first to admit I am not a safe or vault expert. (We’ll hear from those who are in the next chapter.)

My goal is to not discourage home storage, but encourage proper protection for the assets you’ve worked so hard for. Storage must be part of our overall PM plan, but you’d be surprised how often it isn’t. If you’re not ninety-nine percent comfortable with your form of home storage, I encourage you to take the money and time to correct this before buying more silver or gold!

Again, in-home theft will most likely never be an issue, but why not provide one last level of security, just in case I’m wrong? Would you be surprised to hear that the number one source of your PM’s security is the one least considered—you!

Let me explain. The best way to defend against bad guys is to beat them at their own game. This starts with a refusal to let anyone take what’s yours. Most robbers try to take something of value from someone unsuspecting and weaker. Their plan is to enter a home full of valuables, and quickly transfer ownership from you to them, unnoticed and un-caught.

Think of it like an offense-defense conflict. The criminal is on the offense and you’re on the defense, trying to keep what’s yours. This usually works out okay, but I propose we change ends of the field.

What if we are the proactive ones? What if we turn this storage plan into an offense success story, leaving bad guys scratching their heads while looking for easier prey? We are about to throw out several proactive ideas; then it’s up to you to determine the best fit for your needs.

I have readers who are so supportive of our Second Amendment rights, they’ll slap NRA stickers on everything in their front yard. I also have isolationist readers who believe the world will soon turn into anarchy. They trust hardly anyone. I also have readers that know nothing about guns, NRA, or personal defense, but see PM as a necessity (and some live under strict gun control laws). Each must find the most appropriate means to store PM, within their beliefs.

I’m hesitant to include the real life story below, because it’s so shocking some readers might elect not to own PM. I want to make this perfectly clear: This is the worst-case scenario and, in all likelihood, will never happen to you or someone you know. It is quite disturbing, I warn you now.  Read more here.

QUESTION:  DC, I read your blog religiously and have been buying silver from Colorado Gold as you recommended. I plan to work another 7 or 8 years and I own my house and land, vehicles, etc. outright. My husband died last year, so I have only my income but I do have a 401k and stocks. Should I plan to get out of the stock market and buy PM? Would you draw the money out of the 401k? I think I’d feel safer putting that money into PM and I could live comfortably on my income. I have a farm and grow a lot of what I eat. Thank you for what you do…you have opened my eyes.

TPS Reply:  Thanks for the email and nice words. It sounds like you’re making wise choices since losing your husband…… I can only imagine how difficult this last year has been. What impresses me most is how you’re utilizing PMs as a foundation for an independent lifestyle, very cool.

As you may know, I’m not a fan of retirement accounts or the stock market. I’m not saying that all stocks are risky or all retirement accounts are in jeopardy but we have certainly entered an age when politicians salivate over exposed pools of cash. My bet is most pensions and retirement accounts will fall under some form of capital controls.

Let me ask you; does this risk, of a bureaucracy controlling your capital, fit into a life built around self reliance? Your situation is unique in that you have personal wealth stored in both PM and “typical” investments too. I would favor PMs over traditional investments (given the times we live) and here is why.

I don’t have a crystal ball but here is how I see things playing out. Wall Street, the Federal Reserve, US Treasury, and this Administration are too wise to outright steal the wealth from those invested in stocks or bank deposits. Oh, don’t get me wrong, they will take some of it somehow but not as directly as what we’re seeing in Europe.

A more likely scenario is one that presents itself as a “takeover” that protects your wealth compared to flat-out stealing it. Those who understand currency debasement and capital controls realize confiscating wealth (like the retirement account you mentioned) allows a government to pay it back over time and with debased dollars. This also empowers a growing government as millions more rely on trusted politicians for groceries, shelter, healthcare, you name it.

Millions of other folks are asking themselves the same “do I or don’t I” type monetary questions. I wish I could offer more but…… honestly, no one knows how far an overreaching government will go in such a time.

Regardless, you’re miles ahead of most Americans….. good job!! Oh, be sure to read the next question because I’ve purposely combined it with yours. Thanks again.

QUESTION:  Why is it that my financial planner has nothing favorable to say when I bring up relocating some wealth into physical metal? It’s getting a little old.

TPS Reply:  I hear you loud and clear…… and couldn’t agree more. You can’t believe how often I hear this question from readers who are, like you, growing uneasy with the same nonsense. It’s not only monetarily foolish to not consider physical PM; it’s also playing out to be financially catastrophic in some cases.

Equities have benefited from the creation of a currency that can no longer sustain itself. The U.S. can continue to solely print US dollars (causing worldwide tension) but we can’t print jobs. Nor can we fool ourselves into using printed currency to create temporary jobs while simultaneously believing this is our path to a true long-lasting recovery. IT IS NOT.

Financial advisers have little to gain when your cash leaves the status quo and then reinvests into physical silver or gold. Why would an adviser recommend an asset that profits them nothing? The answer is pure and simple, at least from my viewpoint.

QUESTION:  A relative sent over a site that sells junk silver for as low as $24 per ounce. Why should I pay the premium for American Eagles?

TPS Reply: Thanks for the question. Why would anyone sell physical metal when today’s premiums are around 30 to 40% over silver’s spot price? I would be very skeptical since it’s way too good to be true. If true, please send over the info because TPS has several thousand readers who will buy a boatload ASAP. Thanks again.

BERNANKE WATCH:

FED chief Ben Bernanke will be the first chairman to miss Jackson Hole in 25 years. This event is the Super Bowl for central bankers and I’m not buying the conflict in schedule excuse (this would be like Tom Brady too busy for America’s biggest NFL game). It leads me to ask if Bernanke is on his way out as the most abusive banker in world history. Trust me, we will keep a close eye on Bernanke’s exit and whoever fills the position of the next most powerful person on earth.

DC Carlton is founder of The Prospector Site and author of the Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher and Storing Silver & Gold. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: physical metal, precious metal, safe haven, safeguard, storing gold, storing silver

Several readers have asked about buying more physical silver or gold since the April decline. My answer today will surprise many and this is why I’ve stepped up my blog posts since the great metal meltdown. It is important for each person to create a level of comfort within PM, regardless the price at any particular spot in time. With that said, let’s dive into the $64,000 question.

QUESTION:  I know what you will recommend but asking anyway. I suppose it is recommended that I buy silver and gold with both hands, correct?

TPS Reply: Thanks for the question; I will answer it with one word. “NO”, this is 100% not what I recommend. In your case, like several others I’ve talked with lately, I’m not an advocate of adding more physical metal until you fully understand what is happening and why.

A lower than yesterday price is not reason alone to run out and join the buying frenzy. Personally, I’ve purchased metal since the meltdown but no more than I had planned to buy anyway. Your decision to buy more must find justification from knowledge over recommendation.

Let’s step back a moment and process the PM (precious metal) carnage. Silver, gold, oil, copper, and other commodities rapidly and unsuspectingly declined last week/ first of this week. Not one “expert” warned of such a commodity reversal, not one. This means 99.99% of us singing PM praises missed the boat.

Creditability is at play here, not just mine but everyone else willing to make a stand for PM (each person has their own motivation; some have good intentions and some by profiting from selling PM). In my case, I have an Amazon #1 bestseller (inflation category) that proclaims silver and gold will go higher. It is in my best interest, monetarily, for metal prices to rise, obviously, and I 100% truly believe they will.

But this is not to say the same volatility soon to influence prices higher over the long term won’t push them drastically lower over the short term.

Here is my take on the recent metal meltdown, for what’s worth. I believe someone yelled fire. This was probably a conspired effort to short the paper PM market and the result was a quick price drop that led to panic paper PM selling. It is no secret than most PM investors invest in metal by way of paper; they often trade within the futures market. Once prices dipped to a level most are not comfortable, automatic “stops” triggered even more selling; the rest is history, sort of.

My belief is that metal prices would have dropped lower if not for the bombing in Boston.

Like it or not, the paper market still affects those of us who own physical silver and gold. Until you understand that today’s price offering means nothing, then don’t add to your anxiety by buying more.

We are living in an age of great geopolitical and economic volatility. Politicians and world leaders try to downplay this fact but it is now undeniable. This volatility will lead to historical declines far beyond what we’re living with today, and I’m not just talking about PM. Wait till the DJIA does the same thing. Can you imagine the chaos if today’s DOW suddenly dropped to 7000?

This type of volatility should be expected because this is what happens when a currency based on fiat reaches a breaking point. We cannot print our way into a prosperous economy. We can’t print jobs, we can’t print industry, and we can’t print physical precious metal. Until we accept these economic truths great volatility will become the new normal.

Now, let’s go back to silver and gold as we wrap this up. Soon (nobody truthfully knows when), the same fear that punished PM will reward them. This fear will drive remaining wealth and liquidity into safe havens because, honestly, many folks will have nowhere else to turn. At such time, and not a moment before, metal prices will rapidly rise. Until then I recommend pulling the big boy pants high and tight while understanding we’re in for a wild ride.

If you can wrap your mind around the belief of ounces over the dollar value assigned to metal, then buy more. If not, then please wait. Thank you for following TPS.

QUESTION: How low will metal prices drop before rebounding?

TPS Reply:  Thanks for the question. Silver and gold are limitless. They can rise and fall without limits. This means the same metal that could reach $75,000 per ounce could decline to $.75 per ounce. This is why I store most of my wealth in precious metal and not fiat currency.

Fiat currency has no chance of long-term gain; it always becomes the victim of abuse (over creation) and therefor always declines in value. This decline is hard for most to see because the dollar NUMBER PRINTED ON paper dollars remains the same, regardless a loss of buying power.

I don’t worry about a declining PM market like most do. I’m into PMs for the long term and my goal for 2013 is to acquire more silver while I educate the world on why. I won’t change my plans if precious metal rises or falls. This is why it’s called a long-term financial plan.

Hope this helps and feel free to email over any other questions that come up.

DC Carlton is founder of The Prospector Site and author of the Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: buy gold, buy silver, investors, paper gold, physical silver, precious metals, safe haven

Today’s title could sound odd considering gold just had its worst day in 30 years. As I write, and probably as you’re reading, economic prognosticators still relish in repeated “I told you so.”  We will keep this short today because I have what I want to say and nothing more. The last few days were draining for not only those willing to own PM but for the few willing to justify PMs in a published sense. For us, a PM shakedown is twofold when you add credibility into the equation. Nonetheless, let’s dive into why silver & gold are priceless.

Good day to all and thanks for joining TPS. If you’re new to PM (precious metal) then you picked a great day to join us, congratulations by the way. It appears the smoke is starting to clear from the PM arena and it’s looking like both silver and gold took a real beating, at least at first glance.

Every situation is a learning experience, do you agree? Personally, I have but one question left to answer. It’s not why PM prices fell so suddenly or quickly.  Nor is my primary question one that asks who is behind such PM brutality and volatility. The above questions will twist and turn themselves into history and certainly don’t need my help.

My only question is “Why?” Why did so many paper PM holders sell because of fear while the majority holding physical PM line up to buy more? The answer to this question is the very foundation of precious metal. A truer understanding to this question is the cornerstone.

Paper PM investors proved over the last few days their inability to think for themselves. If precious metals have taught me anything over the last decade it is the ability to tap into my own mind to make prudent monetary decisions for my family. We are nearing a point when this is the most valuable asset (ability to think for yourself) a person can claim.

TPS doesn’t sell PM, but we keep a close eye on those who do. All PM sources are reporting record sells of both gold and silver all while the paper PM market experiences the biggest paper liquidation in history, why?

How can two sides sharing the same asset be so far apart? How is one side, paper PM, so disconnected from the true benefit of PM while the other end stills view PM as the last asset to go?

This next statement will sound odd but I’m going to roll it out anyway. For me at least, PM has served its purpose and if both metals dropped to zero tomorrow they still provided this owner with a lifetime of knowldege. If I’ve learned anything from physical PM it is the ability to question what so many take as factual.

Precious metals have taught me the difference between money and currency, the difference between real wealth and the illusion of wealth, between fiscal restraint and a politically motivated smoke screen, and, most importantly……. the difference between building a life of independence over a compromise of freedom and liberty.

A person willing to make the effort to buy physical PM is the same person equipped with the ability to think on their own feet without input from an overreaching bureaucracy. If silver or gold dropped to worthlessness tomorrow this gift will sustain us forever. There is nothing more valuable than the combination of knowledge and effort.

SILVER & GOLD’S FUTURE:

Many of you are silently asking, “What’s next for PM?” First, I’m 100% convinced silver and gold will skyrocket beyond the belief of even the most skeptical. I’m also convinced that the last few days of volatility are nothing but a taste of the future, here is why.

Think how nerve racking it was to watch silver drop from $30ish to $20ish, like April 2013. Can you imagine the confusion when silver, valued in dollars, dips from $180ish to $150ish? What about a dip in gold from $3200ish to $2400ish? My point is each person breathing air should expect economic volatility from here forward as “normal”. Yes this includes, especially includes, precious metals.

I believe the paper PM market will separate from the physical market. In fact, we’re seeing this already but this doesn’t mean we should expect a steady incline. Our fiat currency age will not transform itself to real money without huge spikes, dips, valleys, and everything in between.

No one can accurately tell you when to buy more precious metal no more than when to sell it. Personally, I believe we’ll reach an age when it just makes sense (according to our ability to think for ourselves) to trade silver or gold for something else. I’m not so sure today’s dollar value perception will play part of such a day.

DC Carlton is founder of The Prospector Site and author of the Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: gold, gold's future, precious metal, priceless, silver

In all likelihood your home or apartment has an inconspicuous looking device attached to the ceiling, probably more than one. This device has saved untold lives and is a priceless addition to your family; by law each new home or new renovation must include this device. By now you realize the item I’m describing today is a smoke detector.  The primary goal of a smoke detector is not to detect smoke; it is to sound alarm of eminent danger. Unfortunately, few can hear the harmonic sound of an economy in correction, even less realize where there’s smoke there’s usually fire.

Not a day passes without a reader emailing, or calling, TPS to ask what PM I’m buying. The answer is “silver” and the reason is nothing more than the primal desire to survive and preserve. Why so few Americans fail to react to this internal beacon is beyond me. I’m so very glad you’re excluded from this clueless trend sweeping our nation but what if I said physical silver alone is not enough?

Bells and whistles are blaring all around us even as your read these words. Few hear the ringing because most folks view danger based on the reaction of others. It is a proven fact that if enough folks take flight others will follow without knowing why. Unfortunately, the opposite is true too. On a 1-10 scale, I would gauge the flight to precious metals slightly above 1, as of April 2013.

This lack of urgency spawns inaction by business owners, college students, wage earners and retirees. All the above are on the cusps of no longer controlling their monetary future because they fail to recognize how quickly technology can separate our wealth from our control; the video below is but one real-time example.

Economists often compare the Great Depression with today even though this is impossible. The Great Depression was a slow burn that consumed untold wealth over several years. The US economy was primarily “local” in nature unlike today’s global age we’re living. At such time, silver, gold, and the US dollar were all real money.

A monetary life in 2013 is much different. Almost instantly our financial world can be contained by a banking lockout, this usually happens on a Friday afternoon. The video above accurately describes the challenges of every individual who still trusts, therefor stores, personal wealth within a banking system. The powers in control realize the best way to control your wealth…..not to mention preserve their power, is to quickly lock the exits before you can transfer personal capital (savings).

NOTE:  Cyprus bank depositors are allowed to withdraw no more than a few hundred euros per day; this came after an eight day bank holiday.

The political machine realizes the best way to keep the village distracted is to pipe in the soothing sounds of recovery, stability, and economic opportunity. It matters little if true, it only matters that you believe it because if you don’t the powers in control will enforce control. Reminds this writer of an abusive spouse who punishes but only because the victim deserves it.

I’ll say it loud and clear, I’m not a good victim. Since you’re reading today I’m guessing neither are you. The thought of an overreaching bureaucracy divvying out my wealth byway of an ATM ration doesn’t resonate well. I refuse to allow a bank to control how much I spend, where I spend, and on what I spend. This reason alone is why I recommend storing cash as well as physical PM.

Precious metals are in my opinion the best long-term store of wealth. The problem is the only way PM can convert to cash is by selling. We don’t want to sell our silver, or gold; this is why it’s important to understand a world accustom to trading in dollars, a.k.a. cash, will confuse real money with physical dollars, especially in times of banking volatility or unsuspected bank holidays. A Cyprus glimpse proves my point better than I can.

This is why cold hard cash is king, short-term speaking, as shown at the 3:00 minute segment in the above video. A loss of faith within the banking industry will lead to a run on cash.

The play of the day is twofold. I strongly encourage each reader to consider physical silver, while still available, along with a couple thousand dollars in cash and, as always, 1/3 STORED WITHIN ARM’S REACH. If you’re finding this confusing please email or call TPS for assistance in formulating a personal plan that best fits your need.

QUESTION:  I made my first gold purchase a few months ago and ever since it has done nothing but decline. I realize this is all part of the risk but it is a little discouraging. Any words of encouragement?

TPS Reply:  Thanks for reading TPS and taking the time to send over your question. It is always somewhat disheartening when metal prices decline like they have over the last few weeks. For what it’s worth……I too bought physical gold only to watch it decline 23%. The only difference is this was back in 2008 when I paid somewhere around $980 per gold ounce. I recall feeling a little foolish with my “investment” but today my only regret is that I didn’t buy more at the time.

The key word just mentioned is time. We can’t ignore the great economic or monetary challenges of our day. A rising, and soon to bubble over, DJIA is not a sign of an improving economy, neither is a low interest rate infused housing market. Both the DOW and housing are responding to the benefits of currency creation, the cash must go somewhere, right?

Since you’re taking the time to read unbiased PM sources then you must also realize precious metal is a long-term play. Don’t confuse month to month PM movements with validation. Safe havens and real assets are still the best options for realistically minded individuals; regardless how they measure up in dollars (by the way, gold is rising in other currencies. This is why it’s impossible to validate PM gauged in just one currency OR over one moment in time).

I’m not a good gambler; this is why I continue to invest my dollars into PM while watching other investment foolishness from the sidelines. Your decision to buy gold cannot be validated by a rise no more than vilified by a decline soon after (purchasing). My advice is to keep an eye on the long-term goal of wealth preservation realizing what is “real” is real and what is “not” isn’t.

If the price of gold drops to $1300 an ounce tomorrow, so be it. If it jumps to $2200 next week, so be it too. The dollar (number) next to gold means nothing since all markets are affected, either positively or negatively, by forces well beyond our control. Historically speaking, such market interventions rarely last longer than a season. This is why I view my PM as a long-term safe haven.

COMMENT:  Couldn’t agree more with your book’s chapter on real estate. Thanks for keeping it real in an age of confusion.

TPS Reply:  Thank you for taking the time to self-educate. It really comes down to knowledge, doesn’t it? Too many are rushing back to real estate with an improper mindset. Housing is a place to raise families and extinguish birthday candles. It’s always great when it appreciates but the primary goal of home ownership is not an avenue of saving or wealth building.

Here is the question each potential home buyer must ask PRIOR to inking an offer. How much of the home’s value derives from nothing more than the ability to borrow currency at a low rate of interest. This portion, or percentage, of the home’s value is susceptible to market volatility beyond the realm of short-term fluctuations.

It is only because of those who benefit from lending, building, or selling real estate that so many have a false belief in real estate as a good investment. The cheap money used to buy today’s real estate is nothing more than a byproduct of a government in perpetual money creation mode. Cheap interest rates only punish the savers of the world and blur true housing values.

My opinion is we’ll see a day when 20 ounces of gold will buy more homes than not.

QUESTION:  What is causing gold and silver to drop so suddenly today?

TPS Reply:  Great question. The only words I can think of to describe such PM brutality are manipulation, intervention, greed, fear, and corruption. It is impossible to believe a free unrestricted market is the cause of our recent PM correction.  The games happening within the PM market are nothing short of criminal and here’s why.

Gold or silver are nowhere near bubble territory, the charts below clearly show how quickly an asset, like housing, will climb just before correcting or bursting. It is understood that when a particular asset raises too quickly that eventually it will become prone to correct.

Now, let’s look at the bigger picture here since it’s becoming extremely obvious that PMs are under full assault. With the threat of war (both militarily and monetarily), economic uncertainty, and perpetual currency printing, precious metals priced in dollars should be steadily climbing. But this is not the case.

What is not declining is the demand for physical metal. This demand is quickly depleting metal inventories as buyers like you, I hope, take advantage of cheap silver or gold. Such a demand will continue to disconnect physical metal prices from paper price manipulation. At such a time no one selling physical PM will give an ounce of attention to the paper PM market.

Speaking of a gold bubble, it could help to show what a true asset bubble bursting looks like. Below is a chart showing how quickly housing values rose just before the housing bubble burst back in 2005-06. Then compare the next chart showing the Dot-com build and bust back in 2000-01.

And now, does the last six months in gold look anything close to a bubble?

Below is one last chart I want to add just before posting. It shows the virtual currency Bitcoin just days before it recently corrected. If gold were as vertical as this last chart then “yes” I would have to say PMs have reached a dangerous level in need of correction, but not the case.

BERNANKE WATCH:

FED chief Bernanke is the most powerful man on earth. Unfortunately, his ability to accurately gauge how money printing and market manipulations lead to asset bubble’s bursting should be of great concern. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts offered a commonsense approach to why precious metals are under FED assault.

“The exchange value of the dollar is threatened, and if that collapses the FED loses control over interest rates. Then the bond market blows up, the stock market blows up, and the banks that are too big to fail, fail. So it’s an act of desperation because they’ve got to establish in people’s minds that the dollar is the only safe place, it is the only safe haven, not gold, not silver, and not other currencies.” -Dr. Paul Craig Roberts.

DC Carlton is the founder of The Prospector Site and author of Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: bank holiday, gold bubble, gold ounce, Great Depression, precious metals, safe haven, silver

Actually, who doesn’t want to be a millionaire?  As founder of The Prospector Site I have the opportunity to work/consult with many hardworking millionaires. I’m guessing many of you reading today are on the millionaire list……. congratulations. If your name isn’t on the list, yet, then please read today’s post closely because many preconceived wealth notions are false. In fact, by post’s end you may rethink your wealth goal well beyond joining the elite list of millionaires. Welcome aboard and thanks for joining our precious metal discussion.

This could come as a surprise but I can say with 100% certainty that millionaires worry about money just like those living check to check, it’s true. Could this be why the same millionaire who worries while building wealth then worries how to keep it? Just as surprisingly, I’ve heard a few actually compare wealth to a ball and chain as they cautiously maneuver wealth away from taxation and into safe havens (some have actually said they enjoyed life best when worth less!).

Nearly all millionaires still live on a budget. I’m estimating over 50% are self employed and somewhere around 20% have a master’s degree. You would be shocked how many have nothing more than a high school diploma. Over 80% are self-made and fewer than 20% inherited the wealth that adds their name to the millionaire’s list.

The question must be asked, “Are today’s millionaires nothing but a bunch of whiners?” I personally have my doubts. My opinion is that today’s millionaires are scared, tired, and frustrated by the economic challenges of the day. Their (millionaires) despair only validates my belief in faith, self-fulfillment and independence (freedom) as the truest source of happiness.

What nearly all millionaires have in common, at least up to the point of trading dollars for PM (precious metal), is the mistake of building personal wealth in dollars or dollar related assets. Actually, it all comes down to a loss of confidence in the US dollar and the realization that those with exposed wealth will pay for their entrepreneurial sins.

Taxation, fees, penalties, and capital controls are words the wealthy will become all too familiar with, at least those not protected by PMs.

The problem actually goes beyond the aforementioned as millionaires realize, in their own time I should add, that dollar wealth is much different from “money” wealth. Wealth stored in dollars may appear to offer stability but recent asset bubbles, then bursts (i.e. Dot-com, real estate, DOW, and soon bond, dollar, ?), remind those invested in dollars how quickly this wealth can disappear.

It is at this time we must compare a dollar millionaire to a PM (precious metal) millionaire. I seriously doubt few traditional millionaires give the difference a second thought. This is most evident by how few actually own physical silver or gold even as currencies worldwide constantly spew warnings of a great fiat demise.

The few who do “own” PM only own a few ounces of gold or, worse yet, own paper precious metal; paper silver or gold may appear protective but realistically are nothing more than speculative. Even our country’s millionaires suffer from monetary normalcy bias as their wealth falls under attack or, at least, subject to historic debasement.

I like to compare dollar to gold wealth with today’s spirited world of innovation. Innovation has forever touched our lives by making information the new industrial revolution. Anyone living within 200 miles of California’s Silicon Valley will attest our age of technology has only reached the tip of the iceberg. If not for the decline of the US dollar, I would have to compare today’s age of technological innovation to the implementation of fire, penicillin, telephone, or the combustion engine.

The problem isn’t innovation; the problem is our means of monetary exchange. The US dollar is the only component that will stifle our growing age of innovation. The reason I believe this is because all new innovations are built around capital and the availability to invest dollars in R & D. Today’s disruption of capital (dollars) will eventually devastate, or at least disrupt, the wealth of those investing in tomorrow’s innovation.

Now, please give the next sentence or two your full attention. The same folks at the tip of innovation are also the same folks invested in an outdated source of wealth storage and saving! Saving in dollars is no different than attempting to forward an email through a manual typewriter. Even our wealthy fail to compare old innovations to a dying currency; ironic isn’t it?

One reader recently asked why I’m so convinced the dollar is on its deathbed. My opinion; why else is it we have to inject perpetual transfusions of blood, QE1, QE2, QE3, QE?, if not for a terminally ill currency? This is not about economic recovery; this is nothing more than not letting the dying die. This, my friends, is why each person walking God’s green earth must understand the difference between dollar wealth and PM wealth.

QUESTION:  Precious metal prices have fallen far below the expectations of nearly all PM experts. Have we reached a bottom in your opinion? I’ll never hear the end of it from my family if I buy now and the PM market dumps lower!

TPS Reply: Thank you for asking such a timely question and congrats for at least considering PM. Let me put your mind at rest by mentioning the one fact all PM owners must grasp. Precious metals will rise/ fall and not one person, expert or otherwise, has a clue when either will happen next.

Most “experts” get paid when you spend your cash on their offering of precious metal. I’m not insinuating that today’s PM experts don’t know what they’re talking about, I’m only exposing fact. Truthfully, it really doesn’t matter how PMs perform over the short term since it’s only short-term minded PM investors who worry over volatility.

Please keep your eye on the larger picture by not over thinking physical silver or gold. Here is what I do for what it’s worth. I buy silver or gold each month, store them over three locations and sources, and then look forward to my next monetary chess move. Why would I worry about something I did yesterday when yesterday is already in the books?

Oh, by the way, you’ll never live up to all family expectations…… so quit trying.

QUESTION: Okay DC, you know my situation and you know I store my gold in a local bank. Cyprus has me worried sick and I’m not sure what the heck to do. What if a bank holiday traps my PM and I can’t get them when I need them? Sorry to be a weekly burden but I’m worried. As always, thanks for being patient.

TPS Reply: Man, no softballs today. I understand your situation and, honestly, there is no easy answer. Living in a large city complicates in-home PM storage. The risk of being burglarized must be compared to the risk of storing PM in a bank box. The question is not what the safest way to store PM is; the question is what the best way is considering your situation.

As you know, I’m not against using bank boxes for short-term storage that includes traveling or winter escape. I’m far more hesitant to recommend such storage options as part of a permanent storage plan. Regardless, you must diversify your storage in such a manner that includes keeping at least 1/3 within arm’s reach (this could be in home or with someone trusted).

I hate to say this but it must be mentioned. There is not, to my knowledge, a 100% safe way to store/own physical silver or gold. In fact, there is nothing in this world 100% secure or safe. This is a challenge we must accept and then move forward with the best plan possible.

With the risk of sounding commercial like; Storing Silver & Gold will hit Amazon.com the week of April 8th, in digital format. The book does offer a source, affordable source to boot, who will insure all PM stored at home OR in a bank box. I highly recommend taking the extra effort to insure all PM, especially in your situation.

COMMENT:  A friend recommended your book and I want pass along how much I enjoyed reading it. The simple manner in which you explain silver and gold to our current economic plight was just the motivation I needed to make a monetary change. Record levels of debt will not fix our economy and it angers me that more educated individuals can’t see the overall picture. Anyway, we started our plan by committing to buy silver bullion at the first of each month. Thank you for what you do.

TPS Reply: You made my day, thank you.

BERNANKE WATCH:

FED chair Ben Bernanke is the most powerful man on earth but other central bankers are quickly becoming powerful in their own right. The Bank of Japan just doubled down on its latest version of QE by devaluing the yen and, unfortunately, punishing currency savers. Once again, the banks win, exclusively, as Japan outpaces Mr. Bernanke with a fresh commitment to print currency.

The world is awash in printed currency and today’s video only proves the level of desperation among today’s central bankers. This fact cannot be overstressed when we compare a rising supply of currency to precious metal. Please add worldwide quantitative easing to the growing list of reasons to own real money like silver or gold.

DC Carlton is the founder of The Prospector Site and author of Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: bank holiday, dollars, gold, money, physical silver, precious metal, real money, storage plan, storing gold, storing silver, wealth storage

On an otherwise uneventful February day in 2009, Criss Angel walked on water…kind of. Millions watched this event dumbfounded even though Criss explained it was all an illusion. My youngest son bribed me into viewing this televised miracle with hot buttered popcorn but I must admit this illusion looked as real as the nose on your face. But even walking on water fails to compare to the monetary illusions soon to shift untold wealth into precious metal. Today I’ll do everything in my power to expose the greatest wealth transference on earth. Thanks for joining TPS (The Prospector Site).

A run to gold or silver is NOT a natural occurrence. It is a reactionary result derived from a separation between you and your wealth. Nothing will cause monetary panic faster than a separation of wealth. Below is a must read paragraph that truly describes my point better than I can depict.

Some walk around in a financially comfortable delusion about our current system (banking) even though we all realize that we will never payback our $16 trillion in national debt.  You also have a banking system backing $7.4 trillion in insured deposits with $32 billion (that is, 0.43 percent).  Yet in our current system the Fed is digitally inflating away our currency and limiting available banking options.  Are we simply ignoring the too big to fail? Source: Budget 360.

Let me put the above information in proper light since this financial writer is spot on. If all depositors simultaneously demand physical proof of individual wealth the banking intuitions of America don’t have it. What banks do have is less than 1% of real tangible money deposits on hand. This means a $100,000 depositor is entitled to a whopping $430 withdrawal (thanks to today’s fractional reserve banking system).

We often describe an age of capital controls but few actually connect the dots back to themselves. The banking system in parts of Europe is under stifling capital controls. They cannot, and will not, allow depositors to withdrawal tangible currency because the money doesn’t exist. The banking world has replaced real currency with digits (now two degrees separated from gold for those still counting).

Now we both know that here in the U.S. Bernanke can print the 99.57% necessary to make up the difference between a bank’s cash on hand and digits; and is more than willing to do so. But this Criss Angel like magic comes with a price at least if you’re one of the millions storing wealth in today’s banking system.

Controlling the capital (wealth, cash, money, currency, asset, etc.) is an overgrown government’s dream. Capital control corrals the wealth of a society and then allows the money divvied out in only small portions according to the controlling party’s timing. At such a time, technically your wealth still exists; you just no longer have any control over it.

We only have to look at Cyprus as a perfect example of how the world’s depositors should expect to be treated in the very near future. Capital controls use captured wealth as a tool of taxation and sustainability. They don’t call it theft because the word theft sounds too much like stealing; hence the modern-day term haircut.

Picture your bank account as a car in a parking structure with the entrance and exit blocked by capital controls. Your car is still safely stored but you no longer have control over it. This means the controlling party can decide all red cars are needed to say physically block city hall; then removed no longer within owner’s control. All trucks are to be crushed and then used to stabilize nearby creek banks; then removed…..and then crushed, no longer within owner’s control.

Capitally controlling your wealth allows the powers to be to tumble and recycle your financial future through the taxation machine over and over again. It is now reported that Cyprus bank depositors will lose upwards of 40% from this haircut round. Who knows what the next recycling round will take from depositors as they irritatingly watch wealth dissipate without another option.

Physical silver or gold is the only world currency NOT SUBJECT TO TODAY’S RISK OF CAPITAL CONTROLS. I’ve mentioned before that we are beyond arguing the “should we or shouldn’t we” of physical precious metal. If you’re looking for a safe way to store wealth beyond the reach of capital controls I strongly advise each reader to look beyond the doubt; while this option still exists.

 QUESTION:  Today I read that Arizona is considering accepting silver and gold coins as legal tender. However the article stated that only coins minted by the government would qualify. Further, that since they would be considered legal tender, they couldn’t be taxed as property. So now I wonder about my silver rounds which I bought as a result of this site. Will I be able to sell them in the future and avoid taxes on any gain in their value? Also, is your book available yet in paper format? Thank you.

TPS Reply:  Thank you for the comment and questions. I agree, it is exciting to see a handful of states pushing back by implementing a competing currency. Will Arizona follow Utah’s precious metal footsteps; it’s too soon to tell? Here is how I see this playing out for what’s worth.

A few readers have emailed with the same sort of legal tender questions so I would like to clear the air. Individual states could view silver and gold as legal tender and possibly exempt from state capital gains, but I have my doubts the IRS will view silver or gold with the same tax exempt status. I’m not a CPA but I would use due diligence, and the help of a good accountant, before assuming a tax avoidance.

Like I mentioned by direct email; I have no plans to sell my rounds in order to buy more government minted silver bullion.  But then again I have no plans to sell or spend silver regardless. Rumors spread quickly and this only proves the volatility of today’s monetary world. Thanks again for the questions and good job keeping your ear to the ground.

As for the book, I’m seriously considering combining two digital books into one paper formatted book. This will give readers twice the bang for their buck. I’ll keep you posted.

QUESTION:  It just seems unpatriotic to abandon the dollar for silver and gold. My family fought wars and spilled blood for this great country.  I would like to believe the US dollar is strong enough to lead us out of this recession and into a thriving economy. Maybe I’m just old fashion?

TPS Reply:  Thanks for the comment. Boy, where do I start. It is no coincidence most paper currencies appear patriotic, regardless the country issuing the fiat money. This purposely instills  pride, patriotism, and generational confidence while central banks spur inflation taxation among her people. Inflation is the one tax virtually unavoidable for most.

Your family did not spill blood for the US dollar; most likely they fought for freedom. A country who willingly debases her currency is not promoting freedom, not by a long shot. I truly admire your patriotic passion but please don’t misinterpret a fiat dollar as this country’s foundation of freedom.

I realize it can be frightening to let go of something we’ve worked hard to amass. Frankly, this anxiety is what keeps most from the protectiveness of PMs. They just can’t get past the dollar’s vulnerability in our fiat implosive age. Please look past this misconception while an alternate currency is still available. Thanks again for the comment.

BERNANKE WATCH:

FED chief Ben Bernanke is the most powerful man on earth. For this reason alone we must pay close attention to the FED’s actions as they relate to your financial independence. Below is an intriguing short video of Bernanke responding to the likelihood of bank runs here in the United States.

In other words, as long as you ignore today’s banking volatility and don’t “lose confidence” or allow fear to become “contagious” the most powerful man on earth will not have to implement capital controls. I find it interesting how Bernanke rolls out the FDIC as a source of protection for depositors. The FDIC’s primary goal in not to insure your bank deposits, its primary goal is to protect banks from Cyprus type bank runs.

DC Carlton is the founder of The Prospector Site and author of Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: bank run, capital controls, currency, gold, gold coins, inflation, legal tender, money, precious metal, silver rounds

A few events are forever etched in our minds, literally. John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist, claims the reason some memories “stick” and some don’t is simple. Even the brain finds a few events so worthy of record that the mind actually strikes a deeper line in the brain.

Mr. Medina is also quick to point out another fascinating mind nugget. If not for the ability to instantly forget most information….. we will die, within days in fact. Honestly, I can’t deny or verify what this professor of bioengineering claims as factual. What I can say without doubt; I will always and forever recall the moment I decided to buy gold over a decade ago.

Before we dive in today, the Q & A section is all about dealing with PM (precious metal) crooks, be sure to catch it.

Every once in a while someone emails or calls TPS (The Prospector Site) looking to argue precious metal. They usually hangup thinking, “Gosh, this guy doesn’t know much about physical silver/gold for a bestselling precious metal author?” So be it. My goal is not to argue the worthiness of PM for those not ready to own silver or gold.

If I have to convince someone to buy they’ll like me less the first time silver or gold turns south. Before a person is ready to own PM they must first reach a point of realization. Maybe realization is the wrong word, maybe acceptance is better. Regardless, the old way of saving, investing and entrusting your wealth to someone else is over, period.

Until then silver and gold appear just as “risky” as a credit default swap or a Bernanke promise.

Politicians, corporate executives, and media pundits can drum recovery and economic stability but only the most hopeful continue to believe what PM faithful have know for some time. Each new day is another one closer to the demise of a fiat reserve currency. Your decision to own physical metal is a de facto admission of the dollar’s eminent demise; welcome aboard.

This liberation goes beyond silver and gold. My acceptance of monetary truth changed my perception in more ways than space. I found satisfaction beyond things driven by debt or greed. I found myself questioning everything, even to the point of questioning my faith. After all, it’s only after questioning what others blindly accept we learn, and then grow wiser.

Trading dollars for PM goes far beyond investing in the typical sense. Trading dollars for sound money offers savers the ability to grow wealth beyond the risk of confiscation that fills today’s evening news. Pension funds, retirement accounts, bonds, stocks, and real estate can’t offer the same peace of mind. Not that the aforementioned are bad investments, just not protected in this cannibalistic age of taxation and confiscation.

My Prospector Site email blew up Sunday as rumors of Cyprus bank runs filled my smartphone. Someday all bank accounts will face similar capital control challenges from central banks and/or government.  At such a time, you too will remember when and why you decided to buy physical silver/ gold.

QUESTION:  For your information, XWZ Corp (edited) is a con artist willing to sell old folks like me overpriced gold coins. Its been over two years and the coins are worth half of what we paid. A local coin dealer appraised the coins so I know what they’re worth……HALF, OR LESS. Something must stop the con artists in the bullion business!!!!!! (EDITED, A LOT)

TPS Reply:  First let me say how sorry I am.  You’re right, it sounds like you paid far over market for the nine rare coins we discussed during our phone consultation.  This deceptive practice is unconscionable – but I hear stories like yours far too often.  If I were in your position, I’d safely store the coins away knowing someday soon the PM market will, in all likelihood, surpass this over-market premium you paid. I realize this doesn’t help much but it’s not a loss unless you decide to sell short.

NOTE:  I spent at least an hour with this client and, honestly, the situation is not fixable; but due diligence could have saved a lot of hardship.  People are afraid like never in my lifetime. They hear about bank holidays (Cyprus), they see inflation stealing more from a fixed income, and then they hear some advertiser promoting gold as the answer to everything economically wrong. This, my friends, is when the trouble begins.

Now, let’s focus on how this never happens to you or anyone you know. Since I don’t sell PM let me first say the metal this author recommends exposes a PM crook in less than 30 seconds. Precious metal sellers can only take advantage of those lacking PM knowledge, this excludes you.  The majority of PM victims do not know what they’re buying; they just know it’s made from silver/gold. Buying any silver or gold is not good enough; we must put the “right” metal in your safekeeping….soon.

If you truly feel the need to trade dollars for PM but are not 100% confident in the process, then call or email me. I represent you the buyer, never the PM dealer, broker or seller. I don’t charge a percentage; regardless if you buy all the gold stored in Fort Knox or one silver ounce, it makes no monetary difference to me. I charge according to how much time it takes me to find and secure the right metal FOR YOU, I receive zero compensation from the seller.

Locating the right metal for a customer sometimes takes less than an hour, in many cases, or it could take a little longer. Regardless, you’re only charged for the time it takes according to your situation, no surprises. It is not unusual for my fee to total a $100 – $200 (is $100 too much for the peace of mind knowing you’re PM protected with the right metal AND at the best price possible?). It’s time we bring integrity back into the PM market and this is exactly what I intend to do. Contact me here for more information.

QUESTION: I just don’t understand, gold doesn’t pay a dividend or interest, correct? It rests in a vault, in a secret location, all while protected by the best security possible. Wouldn’t you agree that the only thing physical PMs can offer is the chance of appreciation?

TPS Reply: Thanks for the comment and questions. You are correct in regard to gold’s inability to pay interest, it typically does not. Respectfully, I 100% disagree that the only thing physical PM can offer is the chance of appreciation. Gold and silver equal money, everything else we typically call money is currency. Please stop thinking like an investor, think like an innovator (innovators are willing to change).

It’s time the PM skeptical face a few facts. Investors (savers) are long for the slaughter and Cyprus is proof. Eventually the entitled of the world will far outnumber the savers (depositors, pension holders; all investors with exposed wealth). At such a time, the entitled (impoverished) will not only condone new taxation and wealth confiscation – THEY WILL DEMAND IT.

The world’s stockholders fail to compare their risk to a Cyprus depositor (by the way, depositors in Cyprus are under capital controls by way of a bank holiday). A typically safe storage of wealth can no longer keep pace with inflation (certificates of deposit, money markets, savings accounts), they no longer pay a reasonable rate of return.

Even ultra-conservative investors now turn to stocks in order to preserve wealth; this is why the DJIA is at a new high. Someday soon the entitled of the world (impoverished) will far outnumber those holding wealth in stocks. At such a time, ones depending on entitlement will not only support new taxation – they will demand it. Remember, giants rarely die suddenly; they starve slowly but only after total consumption.

How can you or any other stock investor honestly believe your wealth glowing on Wall Street will not fall under confiscation, capital controls or painful levels of new taxation?

This is what happens when currencies die and governments lose power; this is what divides nations, states, communities, churches, and families, too. Thinking like an investor in an age of wealth confiscation is nothing short of dangerous. My advice is to transfer some wealth, if not most, into something less vulnerable to taxation and confiscation. Physical silver and gold are part of the few safe havens outside the banking/ investment system.

We’re past the point of arguing if silver or gold are worthy investments. The only questions left: how quickly can you turn dollars to PM, what to buy, from whom, and at least three safeguards for PM storage. Time will validate the aforementioned.

 QUESTION:  Just paid slightly over $33 per coin from an online PM broker. I’m seriously considering buying more silver but questioning if the price is fair? Thank you.

TPS Reply: Congrats to you for practicing such prudence; I just paid close to the same per ounce price. Now, I have a question or two for you. Do your coins contain one ounce of silver, many do not? Do you know the difference? Please contact me immediately if you don’t.

My suggestion is to view silver like a typical bank savings account. Most Americans no longer save; they spend every dime that comes in – plus some.

Using PM as a savings offers two huge benefits. One, it’s far more difficult to impulsively spend a savings in PM. Two, a savings in PM will rise beyond the imagination of even the most optimistic PM holder (my opinion, use due diligence). We’re living what history will someday describe as the largest monetary shakeup of mankind. The fiat currency experiment has reached the boiling point. Thanks for the question.

BERNANKE WATCH:

The most powerful man in the world is not a politician, not significantly wealthy….. yet rather mysterious to most folks obliviously wondering through life. His name is Ben Bernanke and it is certainly in your best interest to understand how his influence will directly affect your future. He is the most powerful man on earth and starting today we will feature a “Bernanke Watch” in each TPS post.

There is no doubt FED Chief Bernanke is a very smart man. His words are purposely patterned to instill monetary confidence and, unfortunately, monetary confusion. The trouble within our global economy is not Mr. Bernanke’s fault. Bernanke is nothing more than a very significant snapshot in time now controlling the most powerful, yet most secretive, monetary entity on earth.

In the above video Bernanke defends the FEDS actions with six powerful words. He said, “…..never lost a penny doing it“. It is imperative to understand that it’s impossible for the FED to lose dollars. They are the only entity in the world that can create unlimited amounts of dollars from thin air. Today’s era of no restraint allows the FED to create dollars, secretly, and obviously accountable to no one (according to the above video).

Don’t miss our next Bernanke Watch when we discuss exactly how the FED not only influences the DJIA but controls it too.

DC Carlton is the founder of The Prospector Site and author of Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: bank holiday, bullion business, buying more silver, coin dealer, confiscation, currency, fiat currency, physical silver, precious metal, precious metal crooks, precious metal storage, sell silver, silver ounce

Buying physical silver or gold is easy these days. Unfortunately, finding more PM (precious metal) in the future will become increasingly difficult, but possible. I don’t have a crystal ball, what I do have is an ability to understand what motivates folks to seek monetary protection….. and what doesn’t. Silver, especially silver, is the metal to watch as more folks realize a rising DJIA and housing market is nothing more than a temporary spike spurred from piles of fiat currency. Use ounces of gold to determine true value and it’s obvious neither the DOW nor real estate should be viewed with optimism. 

The coming age of second hand silver, or gold for big spenders, is smoke on the horizon. Record setting silver sales over the last couple months prove our world thirsts for tangibility in an age of digital promises. Please prepare to say goodbye to “on demand” physical silver or gold.

Today, the price for an ounce of physical silver adds a 10 -12% premiums (minimum) over spot or paper metal. A hunk of real tangible silver, aka money, sells for $32.50 an ounce as I click away this beautiful March 2013 morning. Even though greatly discounted compared to previous offerings, a silver buyer today can find a boatload of options . Buying second hand silver is not necessary, not yet.

Caliber 223 ammunition may offer a not so distant glimpse into silver’s future; just months ago, rounds of 223 ammo filled shelves all while reasonably priced – not cheap, but reasonable. Today sporting shelves collect dust where 223 rounds once rested. Oh, don’t get me wrong; 223 ammo is available but predominantly sells on the secondary market. Did I mention 223 ammo costs have tripled in 2013 alone?

This run on ammo is not by duress. I know of no city street’s burning, no riots, and no other out of the ordinary civil unrest here in the United States. The run on 223 ammo is on red alert because our liberties are under full assault. Caliber 223 ammo is nothing more than a 17th century pitchfork revolution.

This article’s primary focus is second hand silver, I don’t want to lose focus here. We can safely compare silver’s future demand on a monetary loss of liberty….that’s fair. But the point I truly want to make is how such an era of increasing silver demand will influence who and how we buy physical PM.

Some of today’s precious metal experts are misled, respectively. Silver sales will not cease when demand greatly outpaces output; there will always be someone holding silver who’s afraid it has peaked and therefor willing to take profit. Simultaneously, there will be buyers who believe silver will continue to climb…..no matter how many hundreds or thousands of dollars per ounce. The only difference in tomorrow’s silver world compared to todays is a SECOND HAND premium…..just like 223 ammo in a Obama second-term world.

Ammo prices in popular calibers have steadied. This means demand, price, and availability have found an equilibrium. But this lull provides a far greater indicator. It means ammo is to the point unaffordable for many, maybe most. Future physical silver wannabes will face the same fiscal fate.

We are reaching a point when everyone will “want” hard assets and sound money. But just like the 1000 rounds of 223 ammo for sale on gunbroker.com, only a few can justify or afford the second hand market.

QUESTION: Can you compare a currency like Bitcoins to silver or gold? Are they as good investment as precious metals?

TPS Reply:  Thanks for sending over a couple of great questions. BTC is a virtual currency completely independent from a banking system or government. I’ve watched Bitcoins since March of 2011 with great interest. It amazes me how BTCs have appreciated when you consider this currency is nonexistent and attached to no commodity.

The creation of a currency….. like BTC, is only possible because of technology. The advancement of a currency like BTC is only possible when citizens revolt against the merger of government and banking to create a means of wealth preservation. No government can control a virtual currency, bitcoins have no physical corporate location.

What governments can do is tax profit and income. This is when and where competing currencies, like BTC, will conflict with an overreaching gov’t hellbent on more taxation. It is very possible a currency like BTC could be the precious metal of the virtual world, time will tell.

Now, to your questions; are BTCs a good investment? Below is a chart that goes beyond the need for explanation. Will such BTC appreciation continue? I have no idea but I do recommend using due diligence; no appreciating asset is reason alone to invest. If I were to buy BTC, here are the questions I’d ask beforehand.

1.  What or who controls BTC output (creation)?

2.  Is my BTC investment protected by way of discretion?

Below is a chart comparing Bitcoins to gold, not dollars – thanks to our friends over at www.pricedingold.

COMMENTS: TPS (The Prospector Site) received several comments regarding our last post, The MONEY CURE. First, thank you for commenting. Secondly, thanks for forwarding TPS over to friends, enemies, and everyone in between. Keep sending over your comments and questions since many are not only finding their way to this site but also mentioned in an upcoming book (never a name attached to a comment or question).

DC Carlton is the founder of The Prospector Site and author of Why Silver and Gold Will Go Higher. If you’re looking for trustworthy PM assistance feel free to contact DC regarding his personalized consulting service. TPS doesn’t sell silver or gold; we represent you, the buyer, looking for affordable precious metal from honest trustworthy sources. Feel free to register here for his free online newsletter that provides precious metal insight rarely mentioned from mainstream media sources.

Tags: Bitcoions, buying physical gold, currency, fiat currency, physical silver, precious metal, second hand silver, sell silver, silver, silver buyer, silver sales