Midas Gold Group

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Welcome to The Gold Standard radio show. Join hostess Jennifer Horn and Ken Russo, Senior VP of the Midas Gold Group as they delve into the pressing issues jeopardizing your wealth and the value of the US dollar. Together they explore the problems associated with fiat paper currency. Are you concerned that all the hard-earned money you’ve accumulated may not be there when you need it? Typical news outlets often fail to provide the whole truth about the state of the economy and the future of your buying power. The Gold Standard is for those who want to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions about protecting and growing your financial assets. In the first video version of The Gold Standard, Jennifer Horn and Ken Russo discuss the potential implications of de-dollarization, the process by which countries and individuals reduce their reliance on the US dollar as the global reserve currency. If de-dollarization occurs, it could have significant consequences for US citizens, particularly those depending on their wealth for retirement or leaving a legacy. Concerns arise with the US national debt reaching a staggering 31 trillion dollars, making up 125 percent of the US GDP. The Federal Reserve’s commitment to monetizing the debt by printing millions of dollars raises questions about the long-term stability of the US dollar. Moreover, major economies like China, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil are already moving away from the US dollar, further signaling a potential shift in the global financial landscape. Being “off the gold standard” refers to a monetary system in which a country’s currency is not directly convertible into a fixed amount of gold. Historically, the gold standard was a monetary system where the value of a country’s currency was tied to a specified quantity of gold. Under this system, individuals could exchange their currency for gold at a fixed rate. When a country goes off the gold standard, its currency is no longer backed by or redeemable in gold. Instead, the currency’s value is determined by various factors such as supply and demand, monetary policies, and market forces. In such a system, the government can control and manage the currency’s value and adjust it as needed to support economic goals. Moving off the gold standard allows greater flexibility in monetary policy and the ability to use tools like interest rates and money supply to stimulate or stabilize the economy. It also means the currency’s value becomes more susceptible to inflation, fluctuations in international exchange rates, and market confidence. Most countries today operate on fiat currency systems, where the value of money is based on trust and the authority of the issuing government rather than any ties to a physical commodity like gold. In this episode of The Gold Standard they shed light on a critical topic: Raising the Debt Ceiling. They present a captivating video featuring Alan Greenspan from the 1990s. He asserts that the United States can always pay its debts because it can print money, irrespective of its credit rating. However, Mr. Greenspan’s belief in unlimited money printing raises concerns. Excessive money printing leads to inflation, eroding the value of people’s savings and purchasing power. It also risks the financial system’s stability and undermines confidence in the currency. For those who already own gold or are considering it, the American Gold Eagle bullion coin holds immense significance. Introduced in 1986 by the United States Mint, it quickly gained global recognition as one of the most popular and recognizable bullion coins. The American Gold Eagle is legal tender and is known for its high purity. While it carries a face value, its actual worth is far more significant due to its 91.67% pure gold composition. The coin’s wide acceptance, liquidity, and reputation as a safe-haven asset make it an ideal choice for portfolio diversification and wealth preservation. The design of the American Gold Eagle is a captivating representation of American heritage and patriotism. It features a timeless depiction of Lady Liberty, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens on the obverse. She stands tall, holding a torch and an olive branch, with the sun’s rays emanating behind her. The original reverse (1986 to 2021) showcases a powerful portrayal of a family of eagles designed by Miley Busiek. The male eagle soars above the nest, while the female and their hatchlings are depicted within it. The intricate details and symbolism in the design of the American Gold Eagle add to its aesthetic appeal and cultural significance, making it a cherished piece for collectors and investors alike. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ This episode of The Gold Standard podcast delves into the current banking system crisis in the United States and abroad. Recent reports indicate that banking regulators may seize First Republic Bank (FRC) as early as this weekend, with JPMorgan (JPM) and PNC Financial (PNC) being the primary bidders to purchase the bank out of possible receivership. The Federal Reserve’s latest data also shows that stresses remain in the banking system, which adds to a loss of confidence in the banking system. The FDIC’s collapse and seizure of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVBQ) and, more recently, First Republic are prime examples. The Federal Reserve’s latest data also shows that stresses remain in the banking system, which adds to a loss of confidence in the banking system. The FDIC’s sudden collapse and seizure of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVBQ) and, more recently, First Republic are prime examples. Series host Dave Deno and Ken Russo, Senior Vice President of the Midas Gold Group, help us understand the challenges of analyzing bank safety and how a severe loss of confidence can cause an otherwise functioning financial institution to come under duress. Ken points out how the financial system depends on other countries buying US bonds. The Federal Bank has been buying fifty percent of the bonds from the US because no other government wants to buy our bonds. The global financial systems are interdependent, and one country’s economic decisions can have ripple effects worldwide. As Ken Russo highlights, the US financial system is not an exception to this interdependency. The financial system of the US relies on other countries purchasing US bonds to finance its debt. However, the Federal Reserve has been buying nearly half of the US bonds, as other countries are not interested in them. This interdependency creates a precarious situation, as a shift in one country’s economic policies can have unintended consequences for the rest of the world. The global financial systems’ interdependence requires countries to coordinate their policies to avoid unintended negative impacts on other countries. Diversifying your investment portfolio with precious metals, such as gold and silver, is vital because they protect your wealth against inflation and economic uncertainty. Unlike paper currency, the value of precious metals is not affected by government policies or economic downturns, making them a reliable store of value. Precious metals have a low correlation with other asset classes, which can help reduce overall portfolio risk. Gold’s historical track record of retaining value makes it one of the most reliable ways to protect your wealth. This episode’s feature bullion product is the American Gold Eagle, a personal favorite with the team at Midas Gold Group. The origins of the American Gold Eagle date back to the Reagan administration in 1986 as part of the American Eagle program to offer gold and silver to investors. The American Gold Eagle is a popular choice among investors looking to protect their wealth from market uncertainties. Since then, the American Gold Eagle has become one of the world’s most widely traded gold coins. It is widely recognized for many qualities, not the least of which is its artistic beauty. The obverse of the American Gold Eagle features Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s iconic sculpture of Lady Liberty holding a torch and an olive branch on one side. The United States Mint used Saint-Gaudens’s design on the twenty-dollar gold piece between 1907 and 1933. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful ever created for an American coin. Saint-Gaudens’s sculpture continues to serve as inspiration for many subsequent coin designs. The reverse design was created by artist Miley Busiek Frost and sculpted by Sheri J. Winter. The original (from 1986 to 2021) reverse design shows a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and her eaglet. Frost says that her eagle design of the family of eagles is “a symbolic tribute to the American family, senior citizens, and young people.” From 2021 onward, the reverse features an up-close portrait of the American Bald Eagle by artist Jennie Norris and sculpted by Renata Gordon. All of us are living through times of significant changes. Join us as we explore what many are calling the most historic credit crisis in history, the current state of the banking system, its impact on the economy, and what it means for your financial future. There has never been a more critical time to stay informed and be proactive. Be prepared, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay updated with The Gold Standard. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ For many, the recession question isn’t a matter of if but when. Credible financial resources warn of a recession. Many variables make the situation complex: • Hiking interest rates • Extreme weather events • The escalating war in Ukraine • A global energy crisis It certainly feels as though we’re in a global economic slowdown. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts global output to decline 2.7 percent this year and warns us that we haven’t seen the worst. Join us as we explore the unique benefits of investing in precious metals and how they can help protect your portfolio from the unpredictable forces of the global economy. Many Wall Street professionals express concern that a recession may be on the horizon due to the inverted US yield curve and the aggressive rate hikes. The housing market can also trigger a recession, but there hasn’t been a collapse in activity. GDP data is a crucial but lagging indicator, suggesting that Q1 2023 GDP will grow at around 2.5%. If Q2 is similarly robust, then a 2023 recession becomes less likely. However, growth in the first half of 2022 was negative, setting up an easier year-on-year comparison. Therefore, any 2023 recession would be more likely in the year’s second half. Ken uses the metaphor of the Titanic to describe the precarious state of traditional investment assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and currency. Ken explains that these assets are like the Titanic — massive, impressive, and seemingly invincible but ultimately vulnerable to sudden and catastrophic loss. In the case of the stock market, this vulnerability comes from corporate bankruptcies, market crashes, and global economic downturns. Similarly, inflation, deflation, interest rate changes, and international trade fluctuations all impact our currency. The banking crisis will grow because there has been too much reliance on short-term sources of funds and a growing loss of customer confidence. Recent polls show that most Americans are concerned about their bank’s stability. They no longer have peace of mind that their money will be available in a pinch. The 2008 financial recession is a fresh memory for many people, and they fear it is happening again. Modern banking policies and processes are built on quicksand. About a hundred years ago, deposits were either savings or checking. Savings and checking had different business functions. Today, checking and savings have been melted together. Central banks have profited tremendously from printing money. Currency printing allows banking institutions to lend out several times the amount deposited with them. This fraudulent practice will eventually collapse as it did in 1929, with deflation or through hyperinflation, as in the Weimar Republic in 1920s Germany. Gold and silver are like a lifeboat — small, unassuming, and easily overlooked, but ultimately providing a haven in times of crisis. Just as a lifeboat provides a way to escape a sinking ship; gold and silver can provide a way to protect wealth from the potential failure of traditional investment assets like stocks and currency. While stocks and currency can be vulnerable to sudden and catastrophic loss, gold and silver have historically held their value and even appreciated during times of economic turmoil and crisis. The Mexican 50 Gold Pesos, also known as the Centenario, is one of the world’s most significant gold bullion products. It was first minted in 1921 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain, and it has since become an iconic symbol of Mexican culture and history. The Mexican 50 Gold Pesos is significant because of its impressive gold content. Each coin contains 1.2057 troy ounces of pure gold, making it one of the world’s largest and heaviest gold coins. This high gold content, historical significance, and beautiful design make the Centenario a highly sought-after and valuable gold bullion product. The coin features Emilio del Moral’s iconic design of Winged Victory, also known as the Angel of Independence, standing atop a Mexican Independence Victory Column. Her right hand held up high, holding the laurel crown representing victory. The carving is highly detailed and intricate, with Angel’s outstretched wings and flowing robes adding a sense of grandeur and drama to the image. The coin represents Mexico’s struggle for independence and its emergence as a proud and independent nation. For many collectors and investors, owning a Centenario is not just a way to invest in gold but also a way to connect with Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and history. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Welcome to another episode of The Gold Standard, where we dive deep into finance and economics. In this episode, we tackle the growing threat of international digital currency to the value of the US dollar. Ken Russo, Vice President of the Midas Gold Group, joins us to discuss the rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the danger it represents to disrupting our traditional monetary system. We’ll explore the possible implications of CBDCs on the value of the US dollar and the global economy and how owning physical gold and silver can protect our financial privacy in the age of digital currencies. The real danger in CBDCs is that there is no limit to the level of control the government could exert over people if money is purely electronic and provided directly by the government. A CBDC would give federal officials complete control over the money going into and out of every person’s account. Officials could easily and instantly freeze all or part of your money. The government could even exert a frightening amount of control over how and where you spend your money. Any way you look at it, another fiat money experiment is grinding to an inevitable conclusion. The Universal Monetary Unit by the IMF will only continue more of the same problems. Only this time, banks will be able to do things faster and monitor everyone. We discuss the possible implications of CBDCs on the value of the US dollar and the global economy. We point out that if other countries adopt a digital currency, they may start to diversify away from the US dollar, which could lead to a decline in the value of the dollar. The devaluation of the dollar, in turn, could have severe consequences for the US economy, which relies heavily on the strength of its currency. The official reason CBDCs are gaining momentum is that they would offer greater control and oversight over the financial system. They could significantly reduce counterfeiting and track financial flows. The more valid reason is that the present monetary system has hit a wall. The banks are in trouble, and they’re all scrambling to find a solution. The can has been kicked down the road as far as it will go. The capacity to make stuff is true wealth. Actual capital formation isn’t money. It’s the means of production and depends on how many physical products you can build. The Industrial Revolution shifted from the United Kingdom to America because we had the resources and the willingness to take full advantage of those resources to manufacture goods and bring them to market. Ultimately, the US became an industrial juggernaut for decades. Now, China has more of an industrial capacity. China continues to add to its gold reserves. Central bank purchases of gold hit a record in the third quarter of last year. Precious metals, like gold and silver, protect our money’s value and financial privacy. Ken explains how gold and silver have been used as a store of value for centuries and have traditionally been considered a safe-haven during economic uncertainty. Ken Russo highlights how owning physical gold and silver can protect individuals from government surveillance and maintain their financial privacy. Valcambi gold and silver CombiBars are unique investment products that offer investors a convenient way to invest in gold and silver. Valcambi Suisse produces these bars to precise specifications to ensure each meets the company’s high standards. Their divisible and detachable design sets these bars apart from traditional gold and silver bullion. Each CombiBar consists of several smaller sections of gold and silver connected but made to separate effortlessly. For example, a 50-gram CombiBar has fifty smaller 1-gram gold and silver bar-like sections. The sectional design of the CombiBar allows investors to customize their investments and quickly sell or trade smaller increments of gold and silver. In addition to their convenient design, Valcambi gold and silver CombiBars are highly liquid and recognized by global precious metals dealers and traders. Each CombiBar is made from high-quality, .9999 fine gold and silver and is stamped with the Valcambi Suisse log, weight, and purity information. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ In this episode of The Gold Standard, we have a thought-provoking conversation with special guest Ken Russo, as we delve into the topic of the downfall of the US dollar and its potential impact on your financial future. With Ken’s expertise in precious metals and wealth preservation strategies, this episode offers valuable insights and perspectives on the current state of the US dollar and how it may affect your financial planning. Join us as we explore the significance of gold as a timeless store of value and discuss the potential implications of the changing economic landscape on your financial well-being. As you listen to the conversation, consider the role of gold in safeguarding your financial future. Get ready for an engaging discussion on The Gold Standard. As Americans, we often believe that certain things couldn’t happen here. However, recent events have shown us that anything is possible. While the failure of our national currency is unlikely, it’s still important to consider the consequences should the unlikely happen. Currency represents an IOU for an equal amount of gold or silver. There is nothing of real value behind the currency. We use it because there is sufficient trust in the government and confidence in the value represented in the US. But now, precious metals don’t back the system. The US dollar is uniquely positioned as the global reserve currency in the financial system due to its perceived stability and safety. Many countries hold US dollars in reserve and use them as their official currency. The strength of the US economy, with the largest GDP in the world, has helped maintain this status. While 11 foreign countries officially use the US dollar as their currency, the likelihood of the US dollar collapsing is low, as it would require a significant event such as a global conflict. Despite uncertainties, the US remains one of the most stable countries, and if a collapse were to occur, there would likely be more significant problems to worry about than investments. Potential challengers to the dominance of the US dollar in the global financial system are what is known as the BRICS nations, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These emerging economies with large populations and rapidly growing markets have been seeking to reduce their dependency on the US dollar and increase their use of their currencies in international trade. Through bilateral agreements and initiatives such as the BRICS New Development Bank, which aims to provide an alternative to the World Bank and IMF, the BRICS nations have been working towards creating a new financial order that is less reliant on the US dollar. If successful, this alliance could severely undermine the US dollar’s position as the global reserve currency and contribute to its downfall. China and Russia have agreed to conduct business with their currencies, effectively ditching the US dollar. This move could have significant implications for the global financial system and the future of the US dollar as the dominant reserve currency. Years ago, cryptocurrencies caught the attention of central banks worldwide as a more efficient way for money to flow. While that may be true, it also means the end of your financial privacy. Dave gives us an update on government-backed digital dollars, or what is commonly called Central Bank Digital Currency. The one-ounce Gold Britannia bullion coin is significant for investors and collectors. The Gold Britannia carries a rich history and symbolizes the strength and endurance of the British nation. The coin is crafted by the prestigious Royal Mint, which has a history of over 1,100 years and is the world’s tenth-oldest company, established in AD 886. The reverse side of the Gold Britannia coin showcases the iconic figure of Britannia, a symbol of Great Britain stands tall with a trident and shield. Her majestic presence represents the nation’s maritime history, prowess, and resilience. The coin’s intricate details and stunning craftsmanship make it a true work of art, appreciated for its intrinsic value and aesthetic appeal. In addition to its exquisite design, the one-ounce Gold Britannia coin is highly valued for its investment potential. Minted with 99.99% pure gold, the coin’s weight, purity, and globally recognized status provide security and stability, making it a trusted choice for those looking to diversify their investment portfolio and safeguard against inflation and economic uncertainties. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Welcome to another episode of The Gold Standard, where we explore the world of gold and its place in the global economy. In today’s episode, we discuss a topic on the minds of many investors and financial experts – the death of money, specifically, the US dollar. Ken Russo is a Senior Vice President of the Midas Gold Group, a precious metals investment firm. Ken has over 30 years of experience in the precious metals industry and is a recognized expert. More importantly, he has built a reputation for high integrity and maintaining close touch with his clients. We’ll be delving into some of the factors that contribute to the demise of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. These factors include rising debt levels, inflation, and mounting geopolitical instability. We’ll also discuss what investors can do to protect their wealth in the face of these potential threats, including diversifying their portfolios with gold and other precious metals. So, whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting, this episode of The Gold Standard is not to be missed. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of gold and its role in the ever-changing global economy. Every day that passes brings us close to hyperinflation and the death of the US dollar. As banks struggle to find stability, it seems the Fed is working closely with the administration to pick winners and losers in the banking system. Remember how Lehman Brothers became the sacrificial lamb of the 2008 financial crisis? There are disquieting similarities between today’s economic landscape to that of 2008 when the mortgage loan crisis erupted. Here are a few of them: high levels of debt, growing asset bubble, the interconnections of global economies, despite mounting global tensions, and troublesome central bank policies which have created high inflation and high interest rates. The critical difference between then and now is that now we have much more pressure built up. Consequently, the impact of economic disruptions is going to be more intense. The current monetary system based on fiat money is incredibly fragile and vulnerable to financial warfare. Our country’s collective attitude and policies about money have enabled us to live well beyond our means for decades. The cost is an unstable financial system constantly needing to be propped up. The global economy was based on the gold standard until 1971 when President Nixon officially abandoned the gold standard to, he said, curb inflation and prevent foreign nations from overburdening the system by redeeming their dollars for gold. Since then, the US dollar has had no connection to go. The currency became devoid of material value. Financial warfare can be offensive or defensive. Our leaders have leveraged the US dollar to support our nation’s friends and attack our enemies. Our financial system contains the seeds of a future crisis, such as China’s poorly planned economic growth. China is the world’s second-largest economy and has been strategically reducing its dependence on the US dollar and promoting the use of its own currency. China has also been increasing its holdings of gold. Individuals should protect their life savings from becoming worth less than a loaf of bread. The featured bullion product for this episode is a highly coveted gold bullion coin prized by investors and collectors alike. The Gold Buffalo is a modern classic that pays homage to the iconic Indian Head nickel design of the early 20th century by Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s protege James Earl Francis. Since 2006, the United States Mint has crafted the Gold Buffalo coin with pure 24-karat gold and attention to detail. The Gold Buffalo coin is struck from 99.99% pure gold and has a face value of $50. It is a legal tender coin backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, making it a highly secure investment option. The coin is also eligible for inclusion in Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), making it a popular choice for retirement savings. One of the reasons that the Gold Buffalo has become so popular among collectors and investors is its stunning beauty. The coin’s design is a tribute to the iconic Indian Head nickel, which was produced from 1913 to 1938. The buffalo depicted on the coin symbolizes American strength and resilience. In contrast, the Native American profile represents the country’s rich cultural heritage. Another factor that makes the Gold Buffalo a desirable investment option is its rarity. Although the coin is relatively young, it has already become a highly sought-after collector’s item. The United States Mint produces the Gold Buffalo in limited quantities each year, which helps to maintain its value and appeal. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ In this episode of The Gold Standard, we talk about how to survive the banking meltdown. We discuss the possibility of a banking meltdown and how listeners can protect themselves from the potential fallout. With a focus on practical steps that individuals can take to safeguard their finances, Deno and Russo explore the current state of the banking industry, the risks associated with the current economic climate, and what strategies you can use to navigate this uncertain landscape. Since the beginning of The Gold Standard series, the message has been to protect your wealth through diversification with precious metals. Look at the warning signs that are popping up all around you. Asset prices across multiple markets, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and cryptocurrencies, have been inflated to unsustainable levels. As prices rise, more investors jump into the market, further driving up prices and creating a self-reinforcing cycle. A massive correction in the financial markets is long overdue. The low interest pumped the real estate market into an even more giant bubble than possible. Pandemic-related economic downturns, supply chain issues, high levels of debt, rising inflation, and constant interest rate hikes continue to feed the storm. The longer the pressure builds, the worse it will be when the correction happens. Investors should prepare now by diversifying with gold and silver. The recent banking meltdowns have left us with more questions than answers. A recent bank survey of 212 managers overseeing $548 billion in assets revealed that investor perception of market risk cratered more than 20% between February to March, surpassing managers’ risk level amid the depths of the Great Recession. Is this the beginning of a global banking crisis? How worried should you be? According to Ken, very worried. The financial world was shocked by Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) failure. It seemed to come out of the left field. When, in fact, the Fed repeatedly cautioned the bank about its risky investment practices more than a year before their collapse. The underlying principle driving financial markets is greed. The roll-back of the Dodd-Frank Act, which called for stricter regulations on giant banks, to prevent excessive risk-taking, opened the doors for banks to grow as much as possible and take as many risks as they could stomach. Silicon Valley Bank quickly goes from just under the $50 billion limit set by the Dodd-Frank Act to more than quadrupling its size within a couple of years. Signature Bank, with Barney Frank on its board, doubles in size. The failure of SVB heralded the growing anxiety people have about leaving their cash in the banking system. People are also growing increasingly nervous when banks have much exposure to cryptocurrencies. Signature Bank ran a payment system called Signet, with crypto companies constantly transferring money in and out of crypto. The Failures of Signature Bank and Credit Suisse in Europe sparked contagion concerns, with many regional banks experiencing silent withdrawal runs. However, the Swiss National Bank invested a $54 billion loan to help Credit Suisse. JP Morgan and other large money center banks have contributed $30 billion to support the First Republic Bank’s survival. The failure of SVB has led to discussions of bank solvency, particularly as 94% of its $175 billion deposits were uninsured. The bank’s bond portfolio is scrutinized, with the longer-duration bonds suffering as interest rates have risen rapidly. Unlike banks, precious metals are tangible assets that can be held and stored securely, making them a reliable component of a diversified investment portfolio. As recent events have shown, even the biggest and seemingly most stable banks can experience failures, leaving many investors worried about the safety of their assets. The Gold American Eagle makes its return to the spotlight. The Gold American Eagle, a 91.67% pure or 22-karat bullion coin guaranteed by the US Mint, is a recognized and widely traded coin backed by the US Government. Its liquidity allows for easy buying and selling, while its historical significance and artistic beauty make it sought by collectors. It features a design from the iconic Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, which, combined with the coin’s purity and government backing, has made it popular among investors seeking to diversify portfolios and protect against inflation and market volatility. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ In the latest episode of THE GOLD STANDARD, we discuss the banking crisis and its impact on your money. With years of experience in the precious metals industry, Ken provides valuable insights into how the financial system works, the dangers of fiat currency, and the role gold can play in protecting your wealth. Dave and Ken explore the current state of the economy, the risks of inflation, and the importance of diversifying your portfolio with precious metals. People want cash when they get nervous about the economy and financial markets. When everybody wants cash at the same time, it becomes a problem. Not since the Washington Mutual collapse of 2008 have we seen such big banks fail, and it all happened so quickly. As painful as the impact of these closures may be, they are just symptoms of a deeper problem. And although their collapse happened quickly, the wheels were set in motion years before. These bank failures highlight the banking sector’s fragility and our financial system’s instability. Reckless spending and easy money have conditioned us to pretend there’s something extraordinary happening in the real economy when it’s just Wall Street artificially pushing up prices. But there are no inventions. Nothing has changed. Nothing new is driving the market or adding to the GDP. Years of costs have increased because of stock buybacks and investors gambling with easy money in the markets. Like a meteor slamming the planet, Silicon Valley Bank, which had $212 billion in assets, reported significant losses. The news spread like wildfire and ignited a run on the bank. At about the same time, Silvergate Bank in La Jolla, California, closed its doors after fear and panic fueled a bank run. Signature Bank became the third-biggest failure in US history a few days later. More recently, First Republic was propped up by other major banks as depositors and investors rushed to withdraw their money. The central bank of Switzerland came to rescue Credit Suisse to the tune of a $54 billion loan. One of the big blunders of the Federal Reserve was distorting the market by suppressing interest rates for years after the Mortgage Loan Crisis of 2008. People were never able to borrow money at such low-interest rates. And it’ll probably never get that low again. Almost everyone hopped on the bandwagon to borrow money. And why not? Numerous companies took on much more debt than they would have otherwise. Since the banks are not regulated, they’re free to take risks with their customer’s money. The banks make bets with depositors’ money without paying much attention to the level of risks. If you’re hearing a bit more urgency in Ken’s voice when he talks about being more hands-on and diversifying into gold, you know why. These recent bank collapses are only the beginning. The Fed focuses on fighting inflation and using trillions of dollars to buy assets to boost financial markets (artificially). They don’t care who gets hurt in the process. Bank failures highlight the importance of diversification. Gold and silver are often considered safe-haven assets that can protect cash and investments during economic uncertainty and financial turmoil. Their intrinsic value, limited supply, and tangibility make them less vulnerable to the risks of counterparty default and inflationary pressures. Gold and silver can also provide diversification benefits and help reduce overall portfolio risk and volatility. However, their value can be volatile, and holding physical gold and silver can incur additional costs. It’s essential to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The South African Mint began its “Big 5” series of bullion coins in 2019. Back then, the Big 5 were the five most dangerous animals to hunt on land. Today, the “Big 5” refers to five endangered animals in Africa: the lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros. The first of the series is the African elephant. Ken tells us about the one-ounce Gold Big Five Elephant bullion in this episode. The one-ounce Gold Big Five Elephant bullion coin is a limited-edition coin, with only a certain number of coins minted yearly. This rarity adds to its value and makes it a sought-after item among collectors and investors. The artist who drew the African Savanna Elephant captures the animal’s depth and strength. The elephant is a majestic creature known for its long memory, natural empathy, and tendency to make personal sacrifices for the well-being of others. The Savanna Elephant is an icon of Africa. Even its ears are in the shape of the African continent. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ In this episode, we discuss the current state of the US economy and the looming financial crisis. With a wealth of experience and expertise, Ken provides valuable insights and predictions for the future of the US financial landscape, including what individuals can do to protect their assets in the face of incredible uncertainty. The global economy faces several warning signs suggesting a period of economic challenges may occur before it fully recovers. These include slow economic growth, rising inflation, unprecedented debt levels, geopolitical tensions, and a leadership deficit. The US financial system has increasingly relied on debt to sustain economic growth and consumption. This addiction to debt has led to concerns about the long-term sustainability of the system and the potential risks associated with high levels of indebtedness. Dave cites Warren Buffet’s clear warnings about the economy. He criticizes money managers’ “disgusting” behavior and their penchant for fudging the numbers. Buffet said in his annual letter to shareholders, “It requires no talent to manipulate numbers, only the desire to deceive.” People should diversify into precious metals, like gold and silver, because they are safe-haven assets during economic and political uncertainty. Gold and silver have a long history of being recognized as valuable and reliable stores of wealth. During times of uncertainty, investors may become more cautious and look for ways to protect their wealth. People want assets they can depend on to hold value even if the economy tanks or financial markets crumble. Gold and silver are two assets you can count on to fulfill this role. There are a few reasons why gold and silver are considered safe havens during uncertain times. They include their limited availability, portability, and reliability. No other asset class has proven its worth for thousands of years the way gold and silver have. These precious metals have survived numerous economic and political crises throughout history and have retained their value over the long term. Overall, gold and silver are seen as safe havens because they offer investors a way to protect their wealth during times of uncertainty. While they may not provide the same returns as other types of investments during times of stability, they can be an essential part of a diversified portfolio during economic and political turmoil. The spot price of gold is an indicator of the value of the US dollar. Gold is priced in US dollars on international markets, and the price of gold tends to move in the opposite direction of the US dollar. When the US dollar weakens, the price of gold typically rises. When the US dollar strengthens, the price of gold typically falls. This inverse relationship between gold and the US dollar is because gold is a hedge against inflation and a store of value. In contrast, the US dollar is a fiat currency subject to inflation and the whims of the government. For example, suppose the US Federal Reserve announces a large-scale monetary stimulus program or a lower interest rate policy. In that case, this leads to a decrease in the value of the US dollar. As the value of the US dollar falls, investors may turn to gold as a haven asset, causing the price of gold to rise. Conversely, suppose the US economy is strong, and the US dollar is considered safe and attractive. In that case, investors may move away from gold and into US dollars, causing the price of gold to fall. Overall, the spot price of gold is closely linked to the value of the US dollar, with a weaker US dollar typically leading to a higher price of gold and a stronger US dollar typically leading to a lower price of gold. Investors often use this inverse relationship to monitor the health of the US economy and the strength of the US dollar. The Gold Vienna Philharmonic is the return of an elegant classic bullion coin. The one-ounce Gold Vienna Philharmonic is a popular and significant gold bullion coin produced by the Austrian Mint. The finely appointed design, recognizable the world over, features the famous pipe organ in the Vienna Musikverein’s Golden Hall. The reverse depicts a range of musical instruments associated with the orchestra. Overall, the one-ounce Gold Vienna Philharmonic is significant as a symbol of quality, purity, and accessibility in gold bullion investing. Its iconic design, global appeal, and high level of quality have made it a trusted and popular option for gold investors worldwide. Because of the one-ounce Gold Philharmonic’s 99.99% pure 24-karat gold content, it is eligible for a Gold IRA. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ We continue our discussion about government plans to move all of us to a Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC, and the tremendous threat it poses to our financial privacy. CBDC is a digital currency issued and backed by a country’s central bank. Many central banks around the world are developing it as a way to modernize the financial system and provide greater financial inclusion. However, CBDC spells the end to our financial privacy. Unlike traditional cash transactions, which are anonymous, CBDC transactions would be recorded on a centralized ledger, giving central banks unprecedented insight into people’s financial lives. Once everyone is in the system, governments will have complete control over how you spend your money and what you spend it on. We’ll be trapped. We can cite several examples that are straight out of a terrible science-fiction novel, where the government’s lust for power and ultimate control continues unchecked. We discuss the challenges and dangers of this new technology and the ethical considerations of balancing financial innovation with individual privacy rights. Ultimately, getting all of us into a CBDC system is about control. Once the Fed gets everyone into the CBDC system, they can control every aspect of your life since this type of currency would be programmable by them. They could prevent you from buying something or force you to use the currency within a specific geographic area. If they want to keep you from traveling, they can program the currency so that it won’t purchase gasoline, or buy an airplane ticket. “World Reserve Currency” is a reference currency for international trade and financial transactions, and it is often considered a safe-haven asset in times of economic uncertainty. That used to be the US dollar, but many countries have begun to seek other safe-haven assets. The US dollar remaining the world’s reserve currency is unlikely. The emergence of digital currencies could well be the final nail in the coffin. The timeline for the nationwide implementation of CBDCs varies from country to country. It largely depends on the individual country’s level of technological infrastructure, regulatory framework, and political will. Some countries, such as China and Sweden, are already testing or implementing their own CBDCs, while others are still in the exploration phase. It’s worth noting that implementing a CBDC is a complex process involving not just technological considerations but also economic, legal, and social factors. Central banks must carefully weigh the benefits and risks of CBDCs, including their potential impact on financial stability, monetary policy, and privacy. In the United States, for example, the Federal Reserve has been exploring the possibility of a CBDC and has conducted research on the topic but has not yet made a firm commitment to implementation. In February 2021, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated that the Fed was “far from making a decision” on whether to issue a CBDC and that it was “more important to get it right than to be first.” Overall, it’s difficult to predict when a nationwide implementation of CBDCs will occur, as it will depend on various factors unique to each country. However, as central banks continue to explore the potential benefits and risks of CBDCs, we will likely see more widespread implementation of these digital currencies in the coming years. Valcambi is one of the world’s most well-known and reputable gold refineries. The 1-oz Valcambi Gold Bar is among today’s most popular and sought-after gold products. Ken and Dave discuss some qualities that make Valcambi’s one-ounce gold bars unique and attractive to people looking to diversify their investment portfolio with precious metals. The 1-oz Valcambi gold bar is an iconic and highly sought-after gold product with a reputation for quality, purity, and investment value. Whether you are a seasoned investor or a newcomer to the world of gold, a 1-oz Valcambi gold bar is an excellent addition to any investment portfolio. Valcambi was founded in 1961 as Valori & Cambi by Swiss entrepreneurs who wanted to establish a world-class gold refinery. The company quickly became known for its commitment to quality and innovation. In 1968 it became one of the first refiners to produce 999.9 fine gold products, a standard recognized as the benchmark for purity in the industry. Valcambi remains faithful to its founding principles of quality and innovation, and is one of the most respected and trusted names in the precious metals industry. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ In this episode of The Gold Standard, we discuss buying gold to protect your wealth. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just starting to explore the world of gold investment, this podcast will provide valuable information to help you make informed decisions about protecting your wealth through gold and silver. There is a fixed amount of goods and services in society for sale at any time. We find it challenging to buy things we need because they require more currency to purchase. Suppose you double the currency supply but don’t double the number of goods and services. In that case, you’re diluting the buying power of the currency. The US dollar is the world’s primary reserve currency in many international transactions. Therefore, its value affects the global economy. When inflation is high in the US, the value of the dollar decreases, and foreign investors may be less likely to hold dollars or invest in the US economy, leading to a decrease in demand for the currency. To combat inflation, the US Federal Reserve may raise interest rates, making the US dollar more attractive to foreign investors and increasing its value. However, high-interest rates can also slow economic growth. Hence, the Federal Reserve struggles to balance inflation and promote economic growth. Central banks worldwide are hoarding gold. They want the prices down. They are also interested in keeping the spot price of gold and silver from rising too quickly or too high because rising prices would signal increased economic instability. Loss of confidence in the system would be a problem for financial institutions. Because gold and silver are safe-haven assets that investors flock to during economic uncertainty, such as a recession or inflation; therefore, a rise in gold and silver prices could also lead to deeper inflation concerns, leading to higher prices for goods and services. Rolling over into a Gold IRA involves moving funds from an existing retirement account, such as a 401(k) or traditional IRA, into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with physical gold or other precious metals. By doing so, the investor can diversify their retirement portfolio and add a tangible asset that may provide a hedge against inflation and other economic uncertainties. Rolling over into a Gold IRA is a tax-free transaction. If the process is done correctly, it can be done without penalties or fees. Investors interested in rolling over into a Gold IRA should work with a reputable precious metals dealer, like the Midas Gold Group, and consult a financial advisor to ensure they make an informed decision that aligns with their investment goals and retirement plans. Few companies have the track record of providing excellent service, transparency, and client education achieved by the Midas Gold Group. We have been in business for over a decade, with a track record of providing high-quality service to our customers. Our company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received positive customer reviews. Midas Gold Group only sells precious metals that have been independently verified for authenticity and purity. The company works with trusted mints and refiners to ensure that all gold and silver products meet the highest quality standards. Midas Gold Group is a reliable precious metals dealer because of our commitment to quality, transparency, and customer service. The company has a track record of providing excellent service, high-quality products, and secure storage options. The one-ounce Gold Buffalo is a significant and highly sought-after investment asset for collectors and investors. The United States Mint introduced it in 2006 as the first .9999 pure 24-karat gold coin produced by the US Government. The coin’s design is based on the famous Buffalo nickel, produced from 1913 to 1938. The Gold Buffalo resurrects the sculptures of James Earle Fraser. The obverse is a Native American Chief. The flip side shows an American buffalo, just like Fraser’s original design for the Buffalo nickel. The coin’s design pays homage to America’s native culture and heritage. Investors and collectors alike are drawn to the 1-ounce Gold Buffalo bullion coin for its potential to increase in value over time, as gold is a safe-haven asset and a hedge against inflation. Overall, the 1-ounce Gold Buffalo bullion coin is valuable to any investment portfolio or collection, offering financial and historical significance. The Gold Buffalo was the first US-backed 24-karat gold coin. Another reason for the coin’s popularity is its high gold purity level. Because of its high level of gold purity, the Gold Buffalo is IRA-eligible. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ We open the discussion with Biden’s second State of the Union address. In this episode, Ken talks about President Biden’s economic policies and their corrosive impact on consumers and investors. While the economic landscape remains uncertain, with challenges such as inflation, rising interest rates, and an affordable housing crisis, Biden highlighted job growth as a positive development. What job growth? We keep hearing of layoffs and will likely continue to hear about them. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021 with a mission to revamp the American economy and promote financial security for its citizens. His speech was tailored for the low and lower-middle class. Never before in the history of politics has a presidential address been so interactive. Jeers rang out in the chamber as Biden had to listen to heckles throughout his speech. Many Republicans see that Biden has no solutions. He’s just adding to the problem with one bad policy after another. Whichever side of the fence you’re on, it’s difficult to feel comfortable with the way things are and where they seem to be going. There’s a tremendous lack of confidence in the leadership ability of the current administration. Struggling to contain rocketing prices, the Federal Reserve launched a long, ongoing series of interest rate hikes last year. Many economic experts worry that the continuing money-tightening policy will sink the economy into a deeper and deeper recession. One of the most significant proposals is to increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. This proposal is part of Biden’s plan to pay for his infrastructure proposal, which would invest $2 trillion in improving the country’s infrastructure. One of Biden’s pet projects is levying a billionaire tax. The new tax would require billionaires to pay “their fair share of taxes.” The translation: Twenty percent of their income, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and tangible assets, would be handed over to the government, partly to pay for his deficit reduction plan. Biden declares that he will protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts and, over a decade, reduce the national debt by $2 trillion. He accuses the Republicans of hypocrisy because they favor tax policies that could push the accumulated $31.4 trillion national debt higher. Even as the House Speaker declares, “no more blank checks for runaway government spending,” Biden and he must reach a compromise if they’re to raise the debt ceiling; otherwise, the government will lack the funds to pay its bills and default. It has taken less than one hundred years for the US dollar to lose 92 percent of its domestic purchasing power. In this period of the Federal Reserve’s distorted reality, the US economy continues to weaken. Wage increases are nonexistent. Employee layoffs are just beginning. Precious metals like gold and silver are in a great position to pick up momentum as the value of the US dollar declines. The Gold Mexican Libertad is a highly sought-after coin among collectors and investors. This coin was first minted in 1981 by the Mexican government and is considered one of the most beautiful bullion coins in the world. The obverse design of the Gold Mexican Libertad features the familiar symbol of resistance for the people of Mexico during the revolution of 1820, a Winged Victory. The reverse side is the Mexican coat of arms. The coin is made of 99.9% pure gold and is available in several denominations, including 1/20, 1/10, ¼, ½, and 1-ounce sizes. One of the reasons why the Gold Mexican Libertad is significant is its historical and cultural importance. The Winged Victory statue represents Mexico’s independence, and the coin has become a symbol of Mexican pride and heritage. Additionally, the coin’s design has remained consistent over the years, making it a timeless piece of art and a highly collectible item. Another reason why the Gold Mexican Libertad is significant is its investment value. The coin is highly sought after by investors due to its purity, rarity, and limited mintage. The limited mintage of the Gold Mexican Libertad makes it a highly collectible item that is likely to appreciate over time. The Gold Mexican Libertad is valuable to any investment portfolio as a safe-haven asset during economic uncertainty. The Gold Mexican Libertad is a significant coin in terms of its historical and cultural importance and investment value. Whether you are a collector or an investor, the Gold Mexican Libertad is a beautiful and valuable addition to any collection or portfolio. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ We discuss silver which is probably the most undervalued asset in the world. The World Bank warns that the global economy is “perilously close” to a recession. It is one of the weakest paces of growth on record. Fears of a deepening recession provoke several large US companies to lay off thousands of employees. People often overlook silver as the valuable investment and treasure it is. Despite its long history as a currency and store of wealth, it has not received the same attention and recognition as gold. However, silver has unique properties and advantages that make it a compelling investment opportunity. Silver is more abundant than gold. Silver is about nineteen times more abundant than gold in the Earth’s crust; however, modern silver mine output is down to about eight times greater than gold’s output. At the same time, the demand for the industrial use of silver continues to climb. Industrial uses of silver will continue in ever-increasing amounts. Silver has many industrial uses, including electrical conductivity, thermally conductive heat exchange, and anti-bacterial properties. The manufacturing and technology industries, coupled with investor and collector demand, continue to drive demand for silver. The need for silver will likely increase as technology advances, making it a potentially profitable investment. The spot price of silver is more explosive than gold because of the gold-silver ratio, which tells us how many ounces of silver it would take to purchase one ounce of gold. To get the gold-silver ratio number, divide the current spot price of gold by the current spot price of silver. Today, the ratio is about eighty-five to one. Many believe that the gold-silver ratio will return to what it was before, somewhere in the ballpark of 16 to 1. As the United States began forming its financial base, the Mint & Coinage Act of 1792 set the silver-gold ratio at fifteen to one. According to the law, one US dollar was defined as 1.64 grams of pure gold. The accessibility and affordability of silver make it an attractive option for those who are just starting to invest in precious metals or want to begin diversifying their portfolios. As more investors become aware of the potential of silver, prices will likely continue to increase, providing a potentially lucrative opportunity for those who invest now. Bullion silver is an overlooked treasure that offers unique properties and advantages as an investment. With its accessibility, industrial demand, and potential for price appreciation, silver is a valuable and potentially profitable addition to any investment portfolio. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just starting, silver is worth considering as a way to diversify your wealth and protect against economic uncertainty. Silver has a legacy of storing value that goes back centuries. Even during economic uncertainty and high inflation, silver has proven reliable in preserving wealth. The precious metal has a low correlation with other assets, such as stocks and bonds, making it a valuable diversifier for investment portfolios. When other investments perform poorly, the price of silver holds up or has even been known to increase in value. The Silver American Eagle bullion coin is a highly sought-after investment and collectible coin produced by the United States Mint. It was first minted in 1986 and has become one of the world’s most popular silver bullion coins. The coin is made of .999 fine silver and weighs one troy ounce. The coin’s obverse features the iconic “Walking Liberty” design by Adolph A. Weinman. In contrast, the reverse, up until recently, had featured John Mercanti’s stately depiction of a heraldic eagle and a shield, symbolizing the strength and patriotism of the United States. The new design, as of 2021, used on the coin’s reverse is by Emily Damstra and shows an American Bald Eagle landing on a branch, its majestic wings outstretched. The coin is guaranteed by the United States government to contain the stated amount of silver and is widely recognized and traded around the world. In addition to its investment value, the Silver American Eagle bullion coin has become a popular collectible for its beautiful design and historical significance. The coin is widely available from bullion dealers and coin shops and is an easy way for investors to own physical silver and add it to their precious metals portfolio. Whether you want to protect your wealth against inflation or add to your coin collection, the Silver American Eagle Bullion coin is a great choice. ______________________________________________________________________________ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ We examine how recessions rob us of our spending power and wealth. What is a recession? A recession is a term that refers to a period of economic decline characterized by a decrease in the gross domestic product (GDP), rising unemployment, and reduced spending power. During a recession, people’s wealth is often negatively impacted, leading to decreased purchasing power and an overall decline in the standard of living. The recession robs individuals of their spending power as their income and savings are reduced, and their investments and assets’ value declines. Losing spending power can have far-reaching consequences. People are forced to cut back on spending and may struggle to pay for essential expenses such as housing, food, and healthcare. Individuals, families, and communities can feel the effects of a recession for years after it has ended. Are We in a Recession? The textbook definition of a recession includes several critical indicators used to determine if an economy is in a recession. How many of them strike a familiar chord? Gross Domestic Product A decrease in the GDP over two consecutive quarters is a sign of a recession. Unemployment An increase in the unemployment rate and a decrease in the number of new jobs created are often considered indicators of a recession. Since the start of the year, the tech sector has laid off 76,000 employees, about 2,500 workers per day. Those layoffs have expanded now to include media, retail, and financial companies. Industrial Production A decrease in industrial production, such as goods, services, and construction, indicates economic weakness and can mean a recession. Retail Sales A decline in retail sales can indicate a decrease in consumer spending and a sign of a potential recession. Stock Market Performance A sustained decline in the stock market can indicate investor fear and uncertainty about the economy, which may signify a recession. Remember that a recession is not officially declared until well after economic decline has started. It takes time to determine a recession because data becomes available slowly and is often revised. The Printing of Trillions of Dollars The phenomenon of printing money and its impact on the currency’s value has been a concern for economists and governments for many years. The US dollar, as a reserve currency, is used worldwide, and the Federal Reserve is responsible for printing the currency. However, the excessive printing of money can lead to inflation, eroding the dollar’s value. The Government Rips Us Off Through Inflation Inflation can significantly impact an individual’s purchasing power as prices for goods and services rise over time. Each year, the same amount of money buys less and less. Devaluing Our Dollar The supply and demand for US currency in the global market determines its value. When the supply of fiat paper money exceeds the demand, its value tends to decrease. Devaluation has happened with the US dollar over time, as the Federal Reserve insists on printing money. As a result, the dollar’s value has declined relative to other currencies and assets, such as gold and silver, which hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. Taxes Income taxes are a significant source of revenue for governments, and their collection has become increasingly important over the years. In the past, income taxes were not widespread, but today, they are a significant component of government revenue. However, collecting income taxes also means that individuals lose a portion of their hard-earned money to the government. Economic turmoil, like a recession, negatively impacts people’s wealth and leads to decreased purchasing power and erosion of savings and investments. To protect their wealth, many diversify their portfolios by investing in tangible assets such as gold and silver. These precious metals have historically held their value over time. The Gold Vienna Philharmonic is one of the most successful investment bullion coins on the European and Japanese markets. The Austrian Gold Philharmonic is a bullion coin that was first minted in 1989 by the Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich). The coin is made of .9999 fine gold and is available in various. The obverse shows the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s famous concert hall, the Musikverein. Various musical instruments, including a cello, harp, and Vienna horn are on the reverse. One of the reasons for the popularity of the Gold Philharmonic is its 24-karat gold content. Additionally, the coin’s design is intricate and detailed, which makes it a popular choice among those who appreciate the beauty of precious metals bullion coins. The Austrian Mint is known for its strict quality control standards, which add to the coin’s excellent reputation. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Series host Dave Deno kicks off this episode by asking Ken Russo, “Why would a person want to establish a collection of gold to set their economic standard for the future.” But first, a quick orientation on the current economic landscape is given, along with a discussion of the most critical financial questions of 2023. Retiring during a bear market is scary enough. Still, retirement savings and investing in 2023 face many other significant threats. Even without the pandemic, the attack on the Capitol, and Putin’s war on Ukraine, there are many signs of turbulence and uncertainty. The dollar will never be able to afford what it would purchase a year ago. Although inflation will moderate at around four percent, the problems that contributed to the supply-demand imbalance will not disappear. The Fed is determined to keep inflation from rising. Interest rate hikes are sure to continue throughout the year. Every day seems to bring news of another massive layoff. The most recent announcement came from 3M. The manufacturing giant just gave 2,500 workers the pink slip. More than 120 US enterprise companies, including tech, banks, and online platforms, have fired sizeable portions of their workforce. It has been a rocky first quarter for Wall Street, and things will only worsen. If you’re anywhere near the stock market, you know how painful things are now. Billions of dollars are gone in an instant. Even Goldman and Morgan Stanley warn that the S&P could fall by twenty percent or more in the months ahead. Dan Yergin, the S&P Global Vice-Chairman, said, “oil prices will hit $100 again this year.” The average US price for gasoline will hit $5 again easily. US Strategic Petroleum Reserves are already depleted. 2023 promises to be a wild ride, especially in the energy field. The year is going to a roller-coaster. Buckle up and hold on. The usual suspects aside, the real problem is the philosophy of soft money. Soft money, or currency, is corruptible and causes problems because it is designed to be manipulated. Economic bureaucrats constantly work currency to suit a purpose. They play around with interest rates and other things so they can reach an outcome that makes them look good and makes them and their partners richer. If currency and all the wheeling and dealings of bureaucrats are “soft money,” “hard money” is reliable and has intrinsic value. Governments operate on the principle that citizens will follow government financial policy because there is faith and trust in the system. Building a personal Gold Standard for yourself means taking responsibility for your economic well-being. Self-reliance is a common theme in this series. The powers that be have shown time and time again to be negligent and reckless with spending money, creating the currency, and questionable monetary policies. A Gold Standard system is a standard of value. Gold is stable enough to serve as a reliable standard of value and is relatively immune to the various distortions that happen as money changes value, always in a downward trajectory. Gold has been called God’s money because it comes from the Earth. Gold is also God’s money because its nature is incorruptible. God’s money is not subject to human influences. No political ramifications distort how gold functions. All countries recognize gold’s worth and use it as a shared store of wealth. Centuries upon centuries have shown us how effective gold can be in building strong economies and kingdoms. “Hard money,” God’s money, is unchanging and stable in value; and, most importantly, free of human meddling. Gold bars are the featured bullion product. They offer a convenient and versatile way to start holding physical gold. Owning gold bars has several advantages over owning bullion coins. One of the main advantages is that gold bars are typically more cost-effective. Because some bars are larger and heavier than coins, they have a lower premium per ounce of gold. Lower premiums mean investors can purchase more gold for their money when buying bars instead of bullion coins. The lower cost makes gold bars more affordable for those investing in more significant amounts of gold. Another advantage of owning gold bars is that they are more easily stored and transported. Gold bars are smaller and more compact than coins, which makes them easier to keep in a safe or safety deposit box. Gold bars take up less space, which makes them easier to transport. Additionally, some gold bars are produced by LBMA-certified refineries, considered the most reputable refineries in the world. Since gold bars come in a wide variety of sizes, they are more liquid than coins. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Wall Street experts predict a tough economy and a bear market shortly. Increases in interest rates, trade tensions, geopolitical risks, a global economic slowdown, and more have all contributed to the storms that are now converging. The experts are warning that investors should brace for a significant market downturn and suggest that now may be a good time to review and adjust their investment portfolios to weather the storm. We discuss the factors contributing to what Wall Street would call a “bearish outlook.” Ken provides insights on how investors can protect their portfolios in the weeks and months ahead. The S&P closed out 2022, its worst calendar year performance since 2008, on a low note. The benchmark index fell more than 5% in December, finishing 2022 down almost 20%. The Federal Reserve’s battle with rising prices is still far from over, and a recession will continue to cut deeper as things progress. Investor concerns about rising interest rates, slowing economic growth, and persistently high inflation triggered sustained bouts of selling throughout 2022. As the first quarter of 2023 continues, inflation and interest rates will remain Wall Street’s major worry. The first few months of 2023 will likely be a critical economic period. While inflation appears to be trending downward, analysts and economists are concerned it may prove stickier than the market is anticipating. Although the labor market has proven resilient up to this point, it’ll probably be one of the first casualties of a deepening recession. Mad happy money printing, coupled with the overvaluation of everything, has pushed asset bubbles as far they’re going to go, and they’re starting to pop. Sooner or later, the chickens come home to roost. The bill comes due, and there is a reckoning. As the economy continues to struggle, investors must take the necessary steps to protect their portfolios. The experts suggest reviewing and adjusting investment portfolios to weather the storm. Ken talks about the many clients who come to him wanting to stop the bleeding as their investments continue to hemorrhage money. They desperately want to hold onto whatever wealth remains. The answer is to diversify by owning physical gold and silver. Ken puts it most eloquently when he says, “Gold will reflect in value what the dollar loses by showing a higher price.” Gold and silver are a good way for people to diversify their investments for a few reasons: 1. Hedge against inflation: Gold and silver have historically been a hedge against inflation. The value of these metals increases as the cost of living increases. 2. Store of value: Gold and silver have a long history of maintaining their value over time, which makes them a reliable option for long-term investments. 3. Low correlation with other assets: Gold and silver tend to have a low correlation with other assets such as stocks and bonds. Low correlation means that their prices tend to move independently of other investments, which helps to diversify a portfolio. 4. Liquidity: gold and silver are highly liquid assets. They can be easily bought and sold in the marketplace. 5. Safety of physical assets: Buying physical gold or silver is tangible and can be stored safely. Precious metals are a way to protect assets in case of a financial crisis. The British Gold Britannia is a gold bullion coin minted by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom. It is Great Britain’s version of our Gold American Eagle. England’s bullion coin debuted in 1987 and has become one of the world’s most recognizable and well-established coin designs. As a legal tender with a face value of £100, the Gold Britannia contains 22-karat gold and weighs 31.21 grams. The obverse shows Lady Britannia, the warrior queen, an iconic symbol of Britain. Queen Elizabeth is on the reverse. The coin is popular among investors and collectors for its gold content, scarcity, and historical significance. The image of Britannia on the British Gold Britannia coin gets its inspiration from the ancient Roman figure of the same name. She wears a helmet, which alludes to the Roman god of war, and carries a shield and Trident, a symbol of her power over the seas. The Romans first began using the image of Britannia as a symbol of their province of Britannia, which included present-day England and Wales, during the 1st century AD. The figure of Britannia was often depicted on Roman coins and other forms of currency, as well as on military equipment and monuments. Roman occupation of Britain ended in the 5th century AD. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ 2023 is already off to a rocky start. The $1.7 trillion, 4,000-plus pages, spending bill provides funding for many things. Some of the programs are highly controversial. There are things like increased affordable housing for families, a new park, Michelle Obama Park, and a new LGBTQ+ museum in New York. Passing the bill means Washington can keep the lights on. That is until September of next year. At that time, they’ll have to raise the debt ceiling again. The budget to run the government was on the verge of running out, so congress had to do something. The bill keeps getting bigger and bigger with no end in sight. It’s a ritual that gets repeated every year. Series host Dave Deno talks with guest Ken Russo, VP of the Midas Gold Group, about the more controversial aspects of the bill, such as the many “shameful” projects that are included. That warning applies to us and the rest of the world. The global economy is staring down the abyss of a deepening recession. We could see some of the weakest paces of growth ever. There is no sense of financial security or safety for the year ahead. There are so many threats to everyone’s financial safety that it’s challenging to pick the biggest one. Still, the biggest problem facing America is big government. It’s a machine of gigantic proportions that needs constant feeding. One of the terrible side-effects of the coming storm will be government coming to the rescue. All of us are standing witness to the catastrophe of modern government. We are living through the grinding wheels of the legislature as politicians work to rearrange the economy, help special interests, and bury generations of its citizens under mounting debt. Social Security, Medicare, and other unfunded liabilities continue to add weight to the national debt. These promises from the government to the people have no financial foundation. The government made these promises without knowing how to pay for them. The unfunded liability behemoth is growing much faster than the US economy. Aside from the public debt, the government’s unfunded commitments have increased by $2.9 trillion since 2013. More money printing is necessary to pay the interest on our national debt. That interest is the fastest-growing portion of the federal budget. Together with mandatory spending on entitlements, this accounts for over half of the budget. We are all familiar with the taxes we pay when we buy something or the taxes we pay when we earn an income, but what about the hidden taxes that we don’t consider? Inflation is that kind of tax. Our government constantly engages in deficit spending. Spending more than you have and printing money to compensate for it will always come back to haunt us in the form of an inflation tax. The Federal Reserve is committed to stopping inflation even if they have to strangle the economy, and the markets, in the process. When borrowing money costs more, people avoid using credit or loans. Demand goes down quickly and compels businesses to lower prices or stop raising them. Although there’s not a unified vision of 2023 is going to play out. Recent market surveys suggest a 70% chance of recession this year. We’ve already begun to see layoffs from large companies and a slowing down of hiring practices. Keep this in mind as things progress and the news of a weakening dollar and shrinking economy continue to pile in. Gold, silver, and other precious metals are constant and reliable. As Ken reminds us in this and other episodes, “Take some of your paper assets and move them into precious metals.” The Gold American Eagle is the most popular bullion coin in the world and Ken’s favorite gold bullion coin. You can tell how much he appreciates its design by the way he describes the coin in vivid detail. The classic obverse is taken directly from Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s Double Eagle debut from 1907. Authorized under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 and signed into law by President Reagan, the American Gold Eagle program was groundbreaking. The American Gold Eagle immediately captured the imagination and attention of the world. The 22-karat gold alloy is an English standard of .900 fine gold. The American Gold Eagle has a gold content of .9167. The Gold American Eagle represents a watershed event in precious metals because it got the US into the national and global coin market. The US Mint produces 22-karat gold bullion coins in different sizes and denominations. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Building your gold portfolio begins with learning about the precious metals market. Many investors don’t realize the importance of physically owning precious metals. Some think they can better leverage their position by buying mining stocks. Others consider futures contracts or ETFs as good as owning physical gold. That’s what the Gold Standard series is all about. In this, our first episode of the year, we talk about how to build your gold portfolio. We begin the conversation by reviewing some of the more glaring warning signs that prompted many to move their cash reserves and paper investments to the security of gold and silver. The perfect financial storm often discussed in this program has been building for decades. We are teetering on the edge of economic disaster, and we’ve been perched there for a few years now. The constant spending, money printing unfunded liabilities, and poor planning of our leaders continue to push the whole country in unsustainable and reckless ways. It feels like we’re in the eye of the hurricane. How much more money printing and deficit increases can we endure before something gives? We’re already walking a dangerous tightrope between the strangling effects of hyperinflation and rate hikes. Gold remains the most highly regarded hedge against many kinds of disruption. It preserves your purchasing power and protects against inflation, economic upheaval, and war. Over the long haul, there is nothing like gold for reliability and resilience. A historic $1.7 trillion spending bill passes just in time to avoid another government shutdown. Ken describes just a few pieces of a sprawling piece of legislation. The 2023 spending bill includes so many things that it is called the “omnibus bill.” It’s time to start warming up the money-printing machines. Investors accustomed to trading stocks and bonds online can feel out of their element purchasing physical gold. Deal with a reputable precious metal dealer you can trust. Ideally, one who takes the time to listen to your situation, understand your goals, and ensure you’re equipped with the right information. We discuss how the Midas Gold Group clients move their paper assets into tangible investments like gold and silver. The gold market is unusual. People who hold gold can quickly sell it with minimal market impact. The gold market is thin. The volume of gold trading relative to the total volume of gold is small. Thin markets are not usually liquid. Gold is not a deep market in volume, but people are always willing to buy or sell precious metal. People who hold gold do not usually want to make quick trades like so many stock and currency investors. A good thing to remember is that easy liquidity can vanish instantly during a buying panic. If millions suddenly jump to buy gold, long-term holders could refuse to sell even at high prices. “Higher” spot prices of gold could represent a lack of confidence in the US dollar. In such a scenario, no amount of paper currency would pry gold out of those who want to keep it. Today, we already have the prime ingredients that could lead to panic buying. The tendency is for people to jump on the bandwagon but don’t try to time a buying panic situation. It’ll be too late when a buying panic is visible. Most people will not be able to get physical gold, not because of price but because of no availability. The Gold Australian Swan is highly sought after by collectors. The Swan is the icon of Western Australia and the namesake of the Perth Mint’s latest series of world-class bullion coins. The Perth Mint debuted the Swan series in 2017, and they only make about 5,000 a year. The reverse displays various swan designs, much like the Mint’s earlier Kangaroo series. The 2017 original design shows an elegant mother swan skimming across calm waters. The detail is exquisite: the water’s ripple texture reaches well above the coin’s border. The new version of the Gold Australian Swan showcases the classic profile of Queen Elizabeth by Sir Ian-Rank Broadley on the obverse of the coin. The Swan is an iconic species synonymous with the Perth Mint itself, even appearing in the Mint’s logo. Founded in 1829 on the shores of the Swan River, the original colony in the territory was called Swan River Colony, the location of which is now Perth. The Perth Mint’s operations are in the heart of Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. The Australian Gold Swan coin is IRA-eligible. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ As this year comes to a close, we are all bracing ourselves for a tough 2023. Economists predict that the new year will be a time of economic upheaval. For many investors, the question of where to put your money, especially under current circumstances, does not have an easy answer. New Year’s Eve is a good time for reflection. Take inventory of what you’ve learned and use that knowledge to prepare for the future. We discuss having a secure start to the New Year. Although they begin their discussion by examining the financial problems we’re carrying into 2023, their message has a silver lining. In this case, it is more of a gold lining. Retiring during a bear market has its challenges but retiring in 2023 has a multitude of other significant threats. Unpredictable environments unnerve retirement planners because you’ll likely run out of money over the long haul. The financial problems facing us are not simple or easy to fix. The US has a global trade imbalance, budget deficits, excessive currency creation, vast debt piles, and unfunded liabilities. “There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.” —John Adams The national debt is the amount of money the federal government has borrowed to cover the outstanding balance of expenses incurred over time. Our government has run deficits for 77 of the past 90 years. As of November 2022, the national debt is $31 trillion, 96.19 percent of our GDP. Foreigners own 33 percent of the national debt, which means our country has the largest external debt worldwide. The size of our national debt is incomprehensible and impacts American citizens. There are only two ways for the government to increase revenue. Raise taxes or reduce spending on infrastructure, social safety nets, first responders, and education. We’ve seen debt accumulate in so many areas that we sometimes forget about the growth of the government’s unfunded liabilities. Unfunded liabilities are promises made to us by the government but not yet funded. These include programs like Social Security and Medicare. The US has over $250 trillion in unfunded liabilities. Every day that goes by adds another $9 billion. Unfunded liabilities grow six times faster than the US economy. The Federal Reserve has printed $4.82 trillion since 2019. It is no wonder prices keep climbing despite aggressive rate hikes to clamp down on inflation. We saw the year-over-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) reach a 40-year high of 9.1% last June. Inflation spun out of control in 2022 because of rampant money printing. The Fed continues its precarious balancing act of raising interest rates to reduce inflation without pushing the US economy over the edge. Higher interest rates make it more challenging to borrow money because borrowing costs become much higher. While the tide against inflation seems to be turning, there’s a long road ahead before the Fed eases up on rate hikes. After the spot price of gold hit highs well above $2,000, the price began trending downward but held its value as it always does. There is no better store of value than gold. When you measure the precious metal in terms of dollars, the volatility comes from the value of the dollar, not the gold. Gold has always done well in inflation and deflation because it is an actual store of value. Gold is money. You could buy an ounce of gold in 2016 for around $1,200. Now gold costs about $1,800 for an ounce. You don’t have to connect gold to another benchmark. Gold is constant and resilient unto itself. It’s important not to get distracted by the day-to-day ups and downs of the dollar price of gold. As Ken reminds us throughout this series, “Gold will be there when you need it.” And that brings peace of mind. Another advantage of owning physical gold is that it gives you options that other forms of money can’t offer. Ken shares another one of his favorite gold bullion coins, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf. Since 1979, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf has been a mainstay in the global bullion coin market. It dominated the coin bullion industry until 1986 when the American Gold Eagle hit the market. Today, the Canadian Maple Leaf gold bullion coins are the second best-sellers in the world (second only to the American Gold Eagles). At a gold purity level of 99.99%, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins are the purest gold coins in the world and have a distinctive finish. Starting in 2013, the Royal Canadian Mint added multiple high-tech security features into the design, such as micro-engraved marks. Two years later, unique radial lines were added to the background of the design. The light-diffracting patterns from the lines have become a hallmark of the Gold and Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins. The Canadian Gold Maple Leafs are IRA-eligible. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ The Gold Standard continues its tradition of honoring Christmas by sharing stories taken from the Bible. In this episode, we talk about gold in the Bible and its use during biblical times. But first, we discuss our modern economy. The overall US economy is slowing. The Global GDP will increase by 1.7 percent, the slowest pace of growth in 40 years. Although the Fed closed out the year with its seventh consecutive rate hike, it will likely slow interest rate increases next year. Various pressures might force them to stop hiking rates altogether. The recent collapse of FTX, a crypto exchange valued at $32 billion, reminds the world that cryptocurrencies have no shape or substance. Cryptocurrency is akin to fairy dust that has no regulation over it. You can bet there is plenty of government scrutiny now. Like many aspects of today’s economic landscape, cryptocurrency is a house of cards, and it’s beginning to fall. Investors and government officials are still scratching their heads trying to figure out how a new company with a peak valuation of $32 billion in July of 2021 could file for bankruptcy by November of the following year. Six other crypto companies declared bankruptcy soon after. The crypto space is highly speculative, and loss of confidence will impact the industry for years. Many retail investors have seen their hard-earned money evaporate and disappear in a short amount of time. As Ken points out, “there must be some foundational principles when it comes to saving and investing, especially during such a reckless banking system.” Upon the birth of the Jesus of Nazareth, the magi offered three gifts. They were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold was the most eminent of precious metals, frankincense as an incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. These three items were considered valuable and ceremoniously presented as gifts to honor a king or deity. The Bible frequently mentions how kings and queens are offered gold and silver. Gold and silver represented wealth in the Old and New Testaments. Gold also suggests acquiring non-tangible forms of wealth such as knowledge, wisdom, and faith. Since the dawning of civilization, gold has been seen as the protector of wealth. Delivered to us by gold, gold has withstood the test of time. Bible stories cover an expanse of thousands of years, and there are many biblical examples of gold’s resiliency. Perhaps gold’s resiliency gives it such a strong association with the enduring power of faith. The King James Version (KJV) mentions gold 417 times. From the first mention of gold in Genesis (2:12 KJV) to the tabernacle in Exodus 25:8.11, gold represents wealth, power, and prestige; but, far more valuable than that, gold becomes a metaphor for many things: abundance, the acquisition of knowledge, wisdom, and faith. On the other hand, humanity’s paper currency represents a lack of virtue. It promotes a careless life of excess and hedonism. Paper currency is corruptible. Since it is created at the whims of those who rule with no discipline. We see many examples of the corruptible nature of paper currency and the policies behind it at every corner of modern life. The basic monetary unit of ancient Rome was the nummu aureus. The aureus was equal to 25 silver denarii. The manufacturer of coins in Rome dates back to the 4th Century BC. Roman minting practices greatly influenced coin minting in Europe. A persistent aspect of Roman coinage was inflationary debasement. Replacement of coins made from material of lesser value became a common practice over the centuries, ultimately contributing to Rome’s demise. The featured bullion product for this special Christmas episode comes from Turkey. The Istanbul Gold Refinery offers one of the market’s most prized one-ounce bullion bars. Ken spotlights the most popular choice for investors, the one-ounce gold bar. As the official gold refinery of Turkey, IGR is one of the world’s best sources of gold ingots and cast bars. The Istanbul Gold Refinery has become a world leader in producing 1-ounce 99.99 percent fine bullion bars. Unusual to the bullion bar category, IGR bullion bars are backed by the Turkish government. The origins go back to 1995 when Halac Jewelry started a gold refinery near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The Istanbul Gold Refinery was relatively small until 2004, when it opened its large refinery in the goldsmiths’ city, including over two thousand workshops, factories, wholesalers, and retail shops. IGR became famous for being the first refinery in Turkey to produce gold products with a high purity of .9999, 24-karat gold. Because of the bar’s purity level, IGR bullion is IRA-eligible. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ As 2022 winds down, many companies are bracing for market downturns and economic problems in 2023. Global GDP will increase by just 1.7%, the slowest pace of growth in forty years. The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions, Putin’s invasions of Ukraine, and lingering ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic all contribute to the financial disaster we know as 2022. The possibility of any soft landing is highly remote. However financially harmful you imagine things can get, it will be worse. In this episode, we discuss how rising interest rates, inflation, bonds, real estate, and the constant printing of money all contribute to building a perfect storm capable of breaking the entire economy. The US economy is more fragile than it has ever been. Any perception that the nation’s economy is flourishing is using magical thinking. Federal debt continues to rise as politicians increase spending faster than tax revenues can support. Debt weakens our personal and national financial immune systems, and we’ve been in this condition for decades. Politicians have become increasingly irresponsible. The national budget hasn’t been balanced since 2001, and they have only balanced it 13% of the years since 1930. Both sides of the house are to blame for the mountain of accumulated federal debt, which is about ten times larger than the total state and local government debt. We are about to reap what we have been sowing for decades upon decades of abuse and corruption. Under more typical economic conditions, the conventional wisdom is to have about 10% of your portfolio in precious metals. Today, the allocation should be more like 20–30%. Gold demonstrates its resilience in adverse and unpredictable environments consistently. There is still time to buy physical gold and silver. Hold precious metals for a while. Keep them in a safe place. No matter what happens, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your wealth is intact. The paper currency we use today is called Federal Reserve Notes. The official story is that financial assets back these notes that the Federal Reserve Banks pledge as collateral, mainly Treasury securities and mortgage agency securities. One thing is certain. Federal Reserve notes are not based on gold or silver. Before the Federal Reserve opened its doors in 1914, paper currency was silver and gold certificates. These certificates were a kind of promissory note tied to gold and silver holdings in bank vaults. Banks were obliged to surrender the amount of precious metal specified on the certificate when presented by a holder. Many corporations are bracing for the coming perfect storm. Major layoffs began last Spring. Carvana, the used car seller, let go of 2,500 employees a week after implementing a hiring freeze. More recently, Goldman Sachs announced plans to lay off more than 400 retail banking positions. The layoffs result from multiple factors, including economic conditions and budget planning for next year. Everyone expects it to make landfall in 2023. Tech companies report losses in earnings as companies begin to plan for the inevitable. The forecast is dire. These organizations are looking for ways to tighten their belts; cutting workforce reduces overhead quickly. Of course, each laid-off worker will spend less, weakening the economy further. Major layoffs from big companies are only the tip of the iceberg. 1967 saw the introduction of the Gold Krugerrand upon the global market as a way for everyone to own gold. The Krugerrand program was immensely successful. Gold mining snowballed in South Africa, and so did the Rand Refinery. Today, the Rand Refinery is the world’s largest single-site precious metals refinery. By 1980 the Krugerrand accounted for 90% of the world gold market. Krugerrands gets its name from the former President of the South African Republic and features Otto Schultz’s portrait of South Africa’s four-term President Paul Kruger on the obverse. The reverse shows Court Stenberg’s famous design of the national animal of South Africa, the Springbok. Gold Krugerrands were the first government bullion coins to reach the global market and are among the most frequently traded gold bullion coins. Another interesting fact about the Krugerrand is that they’re the first coin not to have a denomination inscribed on either side. Perhaps because of their cheaper costs and high liquidity. The Gold Krugerrand uses a copper-gold alloy for more durability. Because Gold Krugerrands have 22-karat gold at a fineness of .9167%, they are not eligible for Gold IRA programs. ______________________________________________________________________________ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ In this episode of The Gold Standard, we talk about our government’s plan for digital currency and the loss of our privacy. Corporations are becoming more digital. The digital era connects everything, and electronic payments are the most popular transaction method. Central banks recognize the benefits to them of getting into the act. Governments globally are struggling with how to regulate cryptocurrencies. They’re also trying to come to terms with declining cash usage. China has shown the way. The Chinese central bank launched its Central Bank Digital Coin, or CBCD program in 2021 and has already tallied over $5 Billion in consumer transactions. The Chinese Government likes that it can keep even closer tabs on all its citizens. Unlike the US, Chinese citizens can’t complain about their loss of privacy. All of us have been losing our sense of privacy for decades. We have a young generation accustomed to growing up with little or no privacy. Most of us are uncomfortable with the idea that our government could use our transactional data to conduct surveillance and control whenever they feel like it. Even if the government publicly establishes operating guidelines to protect consumer privacy, who will ensure they follow them? A Central Bank Digital Coin program makes it easy for the government to censor activities by designing surveillance to decline certain transactions. The possible scenarios are straight out of a dystopian society from a cautionary science-fiction story. The government will likely use digital currency for surveillance without us ever knowing about it. The government could be completely non-transparent, and we would never be the wiser. Undoubtedly, some American economies would shift to independent digital coins or go underground. And what would become of the US dollar as the reserve currency? A completely digital currency system would make the whole system vulnerable to cyber-attacks. For the global financial system, the complexity of a CBCD seems staggering. For over a year, the US Federal Reserve and Treasury leadership have been talking about the new Central Bank Digital Currency and how it will help address everything from financial inclusion to climate change and social inequality. But none of that is true. A CBDC is only going to make things worse. Since the beginning of The Gold Standard series, we’ve been warning of the coming perfect storm. Add to that forecast the latent instability of the global monetary system. We are getting close to the collapse of the international monetary system in our lifetime. Investors and savers will lose money if the banks close. That in itself is an excellent reason to own some physical gold. Keeping some cash on hand as working capital; otherwise, avoid being tied up in the banking system or paper assets. Any pressure on the central banks to move to digital currency is nothing less than an assault on our right to use cash freely. Owning physical gold and silver ensures your right to privacy and protection in times of economic uncertainty. Just think about how this country has moved from gold and silver coins to gold-backed paper currency to fiat paper money and, ultimately, digital currency. The process has taken a hundred years. Each time a shift occurs, it becomes easier and more accessible for the government to confiscate your wealth. The solution is simplicity. Gold is simple. It can be manipulated in a short time, but sooner than later, gold reconciles itself and does what it has been designed by nature to do. Between 1933 and 1975, gold ownership was illegal. Now gold ownership is legal. It was a matter of pride that President Regan started the government-backed Gold Bullion program in 1986. Today, the US Mint produces a variety of gold bullion coins. Companies worldwide are working to future-proof their operations against digital disruption. We look to gold’s resiliency in a time of Central Bank Digital Currencies, turmoil, and monetary instability. The American Gold Buffalo is a classic favorite line of gold bullion products. The American Gold Buffalo is one ounce of 24-karat pure gold and was first offered by the US Mint in 2006. The rustic design of the American Gold Buffalo revitalizes the classic Buffalo nickel design by James Earle Fraser. He was a student and apprentice to the legendary Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The coin’s namesake, the American Bison, is on the reverse, just as in Fraser’s original nickel circulated between 1913 and 1938. The obverse depicts a proud and majestic Native American. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ A tipping point happens when a small change causes a chain reaction leading to a significant effect. Has persistent inflation and interest rate hikes brought our economy to its tipping point? If you’re still wondering if we’re in a recession yet, listen to this episode of the Gold Standard. The economy is bound to get more unstable as we move into 2023, as the risks of another financial crisis continue to grow. All traditional financial safety nets are weak and growing weaker. Asset values are decreasing. Social stresses are magnified by political polarization after the 2022 midterm elections. Government policies struggle to find the right balance between stopping inflation and falling off the edge. The tipping point feels uncomfortably close. Alarming signals indicate that the US is quickly approaching a point of no return. We’re talking about a financial crisis that engulfs our currency, equity, and bond markets and a deeply polarized society. How many of us are ready for it? The financial crisis of 2008 left lasting scars on our country and millions of its citizens. Shock waves spread all around the world and caused a global recession. It all came to a head in March of 2008 as the weight of overextended consumer credit, risky mortgages, and magical thinking became too heavy for the financial system to support. Investment bank Bear Stearns was the first of dozens of major American institutions to fail. Other financial institutions like AIG, Lehman Brothers, and GM quickly followed. The Fed bailed out the lucky ones. There’s a sense that something has changed in the US economy. We’ve turned a corner somewhere, and now there’s a lingering anxiety about how the future will impact our savings and investments. Diversification is a way to be defensive about preserving your wealth. Most of us have not lived through a catastrophic event like the Great Depression of 1929. It may be difficult to imagine how bad things can get with a faltering economy that can’t get back on its feet. Let’s consider the shakey ground we’re walking on now. In 1980, our national debt was $908 billion. On Monday, October 3, 2022, the US Treasury Department announced that the national debt was over $31 trillion. That figure keeps climbing up. The ratio of the US debt to gross domestic product, or GDP, is 120.75%. The debt-to-GDP percentage will go beyond 130 percent by 2026. This kind of proportion in other countries has foreshadowed significant downturns, even collapses, in financial systems. Owning gold has tremendous advantages for many reasons. Gold has impressive resiliency in the face of turmoil. Gold is resilient against any form of disruption imaginable. Between 2013 and 2016, the spot price of gold went down to the $1,150 range. It bounced back every time. The precious metal has proven itself to be resilient despite highly adverse environments. Take a look at gold’s track record. The steadfast reliability of gold’s intrinsic value continues to withstand market manipulations and economic trends. Gold has proven strong and resilient, two characteristics that help insulate wealth preservation from man-made calamities and unpredictable disruptions. Liquidity means you can buy and sell gold quickly. Transactions will not impact the market. It’s easy to find a buyer or a seller. The precious metals market is unusual compared to other stocks, bonds, or commodities markets. The gold market is thin, which means the volume of gold trading relative to the total volume of gold is relatively tiny. People who hold gold tend to keep it for a long time. They’re not looking to make a quick trade like many stock and currency investors. Gold is different because although it’s not deep by volume, parties are always willing to transact. Gold’s liquidity can become a buying panic during a financial crisis. This episode of The Gold Standard features the Credit Suisse Gold one-ounce bar bullion product. As a favorite of Dave and Ken’s, the Credit Suisse Gold exemplifies craftsmanship and attention to detail. Ken describes the Credit Suisse Gold bar in vivid detail. He also explains why the Credit Suisse Gold Bar is a valuable and sound investment. Even within gold holdings, having an assortment of bullion coins and bars is a good idea. Credit Suisse Gold Bars are available in various weights, but all are .9999 pure gold or 24-karat gold. The Credit Suisse Gold Bars set the standard quality and craftsmanship and are IRA eligible. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ We continue our discussion about the recent election results and how, if any, it will affect the collapsing economy and, in particular, your portfolio. Politics and financial markets have always been a focus of discussion regarding the health and safety of portfolios. While developments along these lines impact all investor’s long-term financial situations, history tells us that any impact is short-lived, marginal, and unpredictable. The real question is where fiscal and economic policies will go from here when the new members of Congress move into session. Meanwhile, market moves like pumping an additional $600 billion into the economy through US Treasury bond purchases will keep investors guessing what wave will happen next and how big it will be. More Treasury bonds are great for stimulating market growth, but it also lowers their yields. Lower yields make borrowing more attractive. That’s great, but it could also lead to higher prices and a weakening dollar. Almost all of us still feel the pinch of high costs and going out of our way to spend less. But there are other economic challenges of inflation. The next Congress will deal with the probable rise in unemployment, and many experts fear it will be the worst bear market of our lifetime. Politicians will have to figure out what to do with the debt ceiling and a possible government shutdown. 2023 is sure to be a roller-coaster of a year as the recession looms closer. You can bet there will be more quantitative easing. The Federal Reserve will continue to print money until we run out of trees. Precious metals protect against inflation because they have intrinsic value. Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and other precious metals carry no credit risk, and there’s no possibility of inflation. As much as they’d like to be alchemists, governments cannot make or print more of them. Precious metals also offer insurance against financial, political, and military upheavals. Investing in precious metals protects your wealth when you need it most. Gold is money and has been for thousands of years. Financial advisors and wealth managers shy away from talking about gold or any other precious metal because they don’t make commissions off the sale of gold. The financial system would like the public to believe it is a well-oiled machine that runs fine. Stocks help to feed the machinery of the international monetary system. There have been three collapses of the system in the twentieth century. The years were 1914, 1939, and 1973. We came close to a financial collapse in 1998 and 2008. The US dollar is the world’s reserve currency. A lack of confidence in the dollar can ignite a new collapse. Losing confidence in the dollar as a store of value will also trigger a collapse. History has shown that failures of this kind happen about every thirty years. By that reckoning, we’re about due for another one. When the subsequent collapse happens, like before, there will be a meeting of financial system leaders, like those held in Geneva in 1922 and Bretton Woods in 1944, to figure out what to do next. Anybody in the investment racket today is looking ahead and wondering what the new rules will be. How will they protect their net worth and the wealth of their clients? It would help if you asked yourself the same question. If you’ve been listening to the Gold Standard, you already know the answer. To commemorate the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second we discuss a bullion product that carries tremendous historical significance, the Gold British Sovereign. The Gold British Sovereign is the premier coin of the United Kingdom and dates back to 1604. The Sovereign is known for featuring the current leader of the British Empire. The long history of British Gold coins makes them an excellent investment. Sought after across the world by investors and collectors, Gold British Sovereigns have a reputation for being appreciated over the years. Struck in 1817, the Gold British Sovereign became a circulating coin accepted in Britain and its worldwide trading partners. The Royal Mint began issuing the Gold Sovereign for the global bullion market in 1979. Following the death of Elizabeth the Second last September, the Royal Mint began announcing plans to issue sovereigns depicting Charles the Third on the obverse, with the Royal arms design on the reverse in honor of the late Queen Elizabeth the Second. The Gold British Sovereign is a small bullion coin with .2354 troy ounces of gold content. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/

https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ The days and weeks around the midterm elections are historically positive for stocks. But not so this time around. Election results will probably produce the gridlock that markets tend to like because less gets done. Investors like predictability in whatever form they can get it. But investors have concerns beyond politics. The Big Lie Despite the rhetoric about lower inflation, the average citizen still feels the pinch whenever we go to the store or buy stuff online. While Jerome Powell fights for the Fed’s credibility to beat back inflation from its highest level in 40 years, institutional distrust, in general, is the highest it’s ever been. A few years ago, Powell said, “We’re human, and we’ll make mistakes, but we won’t make mistakes of integrity.” He’s already blown that statement out of the water when he kept stating that high inflation is only “temporary.” Later, he spent a great deal of energy back peddling. We’re in an age now where statesmen and our institutional stewards won’t tell us how things are, but rather how they wish things were. The US Dollar is Not Money Our paper currency isn’t backed by anything except confidence in the government and trust that it will continue. Even now, our dollar is a digital currency. When we go to the store or go online to buy something, we use a debit card. The amount of cash we use is minuscule by comparison. The cashless, digital society is already here. Gold is Not Part of the Banking System Since Nixon closed the gold window in August of 1971, we’ve had a few generations of students conditioned by policymakers to believe that gold has no role in the international monetary system. The truth is, gold has never gone away and never will. The power elites no longer talk about it. They publicly ignore it, yet they simultaneously hold onto it. The modern principle is don’t listen to what they say. See what they do. Why would the US have more than ten thousand tons of gold if gold were so worthless? Why do Germany and the IMF keep over three thousand tons each? Why is holding gold such a priority if it has no role in the system? The reason is simple. Central banks want you to think money is unconnected to gold because they need to print money whenever they want. Along with the power to control the money supply comes the ability to control behavior and politics. Still, gold is the foundation, the building block of the international monetary system. Precious metals are reliable because they have intrinsic value, apart from the rise and fall of any government. Take some of your paper assets and convert them into a solid, tangible investment like gold and silver. If you had put $100,000 of your paper currency into gold twenty years ago, you’d have over $400,000 today. The US dollar has lost 40% of its value since 2002. The Featured Precious Metal Product https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/ Ken Russo, VP of the Midas Gold Group, brings back one of his all-time favorite bullion coins, the Gold American Eagle. The American Gold Eagle was created so Americans would have an American gold bullion product. Nationalism and patriotism played a considerable role in its creation. The coins are 22-karat gold (mixed with harder alloys), the established standard for circulated coinage over 350 years ago. By law, American Gold Eagle bullion coins can only use gold mined within the United States. Immediately, the American Gold Eagle found a loyal following among collectors. Investors consider the American Gold Eagle one of the best ways to invest in gold. Although the spot price of gold fluctuates, demand for the American Gold Eagle is always there because of its secure nature, high quality, and American orientation. American Gold Eagles are especially popular in self-directed IRAs. Many people open Gold IRAs to enhance their retirement investment strategy by diversifying. Since the series’ inauguration in 1986, the American Gold Eagle has been available in four sizes: one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce. Ken focuses on the most popular issue, the one ounce, which carries a $50 face value. The Federal Gold Bullion Coin program was the perfect opportunity to resurrect Augustus Saint-Gaudens classic Lady Liberty design used on the US $20 gold piece from 1907 until 1933. Saint-Gaudens’ celebrated double eagle ($20) is considered by many to be America’s most beautiful coin ever produced. The reverse displays a new design showing a family of eagles. The American Gold Eagle is IRA-eligible. ______________________________________________________________________________ Listen to The Gold Standard: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-standard-radio-show/ Gold IRA: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/gold-ira/ Invest in Gold: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/buy-gold/ Guide to Owning Bullion & Coins: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/bullion-guide/ Read the latest precious metals news: https://www.midasgoldgroup.com/news/