Trends & News

Here’s how a few government pension funds are trying to close their $7 trillion funding gap

There may perhaps be no other group of investors that’s more DESPERATE today than pension funds.

Pensions, of course, are the giant funds responsible for paying out retirement benefits to workers.

The idea is that both the employer and the employee typically contribute a set percentage of the employee’s salary throughout his or her career with the promise that, upon retirement, he or she will receive a fixed monthly payment.

Many state[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 16, 2017
  • Santiago, Chile

The new American Dream: rent your home from a hedge fund.

About a month ago I joined the Board of Directors of a publicly-traded company that invests in US real estate.

The position brings a lot of insight into what’s happening in the US housing market. And from what I’m seeing, the transformation that’s taking place today is extraordinary.

Buying and renting out single-family homes has long been the mainstay investment of small, individual investors.

The big banks and hedge funds pretty much[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 15, 2017
  • Santiago, Chile

Social Security requires a bailout that’s 60x greater than the 2008 emergency bank bailout

A few weeks ago the Board of Trustees of Social Security sent a formal letter to the United States Senate and House of Representatives to issue a dire warning: Social Security is running out of money.

Given that tens of millions of Americans depend on this public pension program as their sole source of retirement income, you’d think this would have been front page news...

… and that every newspaper in the country[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 11, 2017
  • Sovereign Valley Farm, Chile

This cryptocurrency website is selling for more money than Facebook’s

What’s money worth if interest rates are negative?

Interest rates, after all, are the “price” of money.

When we borrow money from a bank and pay interest on the loan, it means that the money we’re borrowing has value. That –capital- has value.

Negative interest rates, on the other hand, suggest that capital is totally worthless.

This isn’t a philosophical exercise. These are the times we’re living in.[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 9, 2017
  • Santiago, Chile

Still one of the best real estate deals in the world

After roughly two months away in Europe and Asia, it’s great to be back here at my favorite place on earth.

I’m not talking about Chile-- although I do enjoy the country. I'm talking specifically about this farm. It’s the perfect place for me.

The views are sensational. I’m surrounded by nature. And there’s an imposing backdrop of snow-capped Andean peaks to frame the vista.

And the stars at night are[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 8, 2017
  • Sovereign Valley Farm, Chile

Here’s what happened when they raised taxes 2,000+ years ago

In 353 BC, as violent class warfare broke out across ancient Greece, one wealthy Athenian lamented in his journal,
When I was a boy, wealth was regarded as a thing so...admirable that almost everyone affected to own more property than he actually possessed. Now a man has to be ready to defend himself against being rich as if it were the worst of crimes.
Ancient Greece had become deeply divided at that point.

The[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 7, 2017
  • Sovereign Valley Farm, Chile

One easy reason why aspiring entrepreneurs should look abroad

Yesterday a good friend of mine came over for lunch to talk about his new business.

He has a very simple and compelling concept that easily helps restaurants make more money and creates a win/win for everyone-- restaurant owners, diners, and the business itself.

This is exactly the type of model that I like to invest in.

Best of all, though, the business he’s creating isn’t new. There’s a company based[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 3, 2017
  • Santiago, Chile

My friend emailed billionaire Howard Marks about Bitcoin. Here’s his response–

Today is one of those days when I feel blessed to have such wonderful and interesting people in my life.

A few months ago I introduced you to Ben Yu, a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur who’s easily one of the most unique people I know.

I first met Ben when he came to our summer entrepreneurship camp a few years ago.

I knew instantly that he was bright… and different.

[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 2, 2017
  • Santiago, Chile

A super safe stock fell 19% last Friday… And you should be worried

If you invested $1 in this stock back in 1968 it would be worth around $7,000 today – returning over 20% a year for nearly 50 years.

No, this isn’t another story about buying Warren Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, back in the day and getting rich.

This is about buying cigarettes… In particular, cigarette giant Altria (MO).

The tobacco industry has long been one of the steadiest and[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • August 1, 2017
  • Santiago, Chile

It’s better to turn cautious too soon…

One of the greatest investors in the world is getting worried…

Howard Marks is the billionaire founder of Oaktree Capital, one of the largest and most successful investment firms in the world.

A few times each year Marks write up his thoughts about financial markets-- he calls them ‘investment memos’.

And he just released his latest one with a very clear message: it’s time to be cautious.

From[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 31, 2017
  • En route to Chile

The three best tips for saving a fortune on travel from Simon Black

I’ve probably consumed more airline food than anyone I’ve ever met.

It’s not great for my health. But it comes with the territory.

Over the past decade, I’ve hit nearly every country on the planet, sometimes traveling 250+ days per year.

I travel for business: Sovereign Man’s entire premise, when I started it a decade ago, was to offer you boots-on-the-ground insights into global businesses, world economies, and international[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 28, 2017
  • Rome, Italy

Almost all bankrupt governments eventually realize this. And it’s great for us.

Eighteen centuries ago in the year 212 AD, the Roman Empire was in dire financial straits.

Emperor Caracalla had nearly bankrupted the treasury spending lavishly on his personal proclivities, waging pointless wars, and executing some of Rome’s most productive citizens.

We’re talking about a guy who murdered his brother (Geta) in order to become Emperor, and then had Geta’s name stricken from every official record.

Caracalla made it a capital crime for[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 27, 2017
  • Spoleto, Italy

How my friend took the simplest path to foreign residency

I could get used to this.

As I told you yesterday, I spend part of the summer each year at a centuries-old villa in a storied pocket of Italy. And I invite some of the most brilliant and productive people on the planet, most of whom I’ve met traveling the world over the last decade.

Italy has a way of making people expansive – past the handmade pasta we eat every[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 26, 2017
  • Spoleto, Italy

What a Mad Scientist brought me in Italy

For about two weeks each year this little-known corner of Italy becomes one of the most interesting places in the world.

Dozens of productive people from across the planet and all walks of life gather at this estate every summer to break bread, build relationships, and exchange ideas. (check out the photo)

Over the years we’ve had scientists, politicians, vagabonds, artists, and musicians, as well as enormously successful investors and entrepreneurs in attendance.[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 25, 2017
  • Spoleto, Italy

Please do this before you get hacked

What I’m about to tell you is a bit scary. But as you’ll see, it could easily happen to anyone. So please read this in full… and then go change your passwords.

We have a friend whose email was hacked some time ago. It happened because, as many people tend to do, she used a very simple password for her email and logged in over an unsecure network, allowing hackers to easily grab it.
[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 21, 2017
  • Spoleto, Italy

How one woman’s failure to act is costing her more than just money

Every summer around this time I rent a palatial wine and olive estate here in central Italy for a few weeks of relaxation with friends, business colleagues, and Sovereign Man: Total Access members.

We’ve been coming to the same place for six years in a row, and it’s gorgeous.

At the center of the estate is an 18-bedroom mansion that has been in the same family since it was built four centuries ago.[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 19, 2017
  • Spoleto, Italy

One of the world’s most popular tech companies just lost another $2 billion…

Last night Netflix executives announced that a record 104 million people worldwide now subscribe to its service.

This number handily beat what analysts were expecting, and the stock SURGED nearly 9% to an all-time high. Netflix is now trading at more than 200 times earnings.

Look, I like Netflix. House of Cards is entertaining.

But you shouldn’t invest in a business based on its number of customers and quality[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 18, 2017
  • Spoleto, Italy

Create more freedom now with these three steps

I’m in Rome today, on my way to spend time with my Total Access extended family at our villa outside the city.

It’s one of my favorite events of the year… I spend two weeks in central Italy surrounded by dozens of friends and colleagues. There’s no agenda. We just relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Total Access is the most exclusive membership Sovereign Man offers. As a Total Access member, you get[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 14, 2017
  • Rome, Italy

“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.”

In 1999 my colleague Tim Price had front row seats to the first Internet bubble.

He tells a great story about being a private client portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch in London at the time, and describes how clients were clamoring to buy technology stocks.

‘Giddy’ doesn’t really do the mania justice. ‘Insane’ comes closer to describing the popular mood.

James Glassman and Kevin Hassett had just published a book, Dow 36,000[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 13, 2017
  • Vienna, Austria

How to fix the biggest investment mistake you don’t realize you’re making

Chances are, you’ve invested way too much money in your home country.

And you’re not alone.

Studies show that U.S. investors hold around 70% of their equity assets in U.S companies.

But the U.S. only makes up around 55% of the world’s stock market value (U.S. stocks’ recent outperformance has massively boosted its global share). So, by that measure, a 70% allocation to U.S. stocks is “overweight,” if you want to be[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 12, 2017
  • Budapest, Hungary

How to protect yourself from frivolous lawsuits

Yesterday I told you about the baseless lawsuit brought against my friend Michael.

Even though Michael was completely innocent, he still had to pay around $50,000 – and waste months of valuable time – to make the case disappear.

But there are a few steps Michael could have taken to avoid this headache. And, today, I’m going to share one of the best ways to protect yourself from greedy lawyers and claimants.[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 11, 2017
  • Vienna, Austria

The story of an insane lawsuit… and how you can avoid being a victim

My friend Michael is one of the most successful entrepreneurs I know.

Several years ago Michael started an automated domain business that used software to buy domains, find the most likely buyer, and then sell them.

For example, Michael’s custom software would buy, say, XYZ.com.

Then it would scan online domain records to determine the most likely buyer of that domain… perhaps the owner of XYZ.net.

His software would then send[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 10, 2017
  • Vilnius, Lithuania

How a gunshot changed everything

The bullet went through his jaw...

If it was 2cm lower, I wouldn't be here today.

I'm here in Lithuania for the 8th annual Blacksmith Liberty Camp.

We have over 60 students from around the world. They came from Australia, Sri Lanka, Russia and the U.S.

But these aren't your normal "students." These are entrepreneurs.

And entrepreneurs are value creators. We have actors, charity workers, teachers, employees. They're free thinkers.[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 7, 2017
  • Vilnius, Lithuania

Customizing your Plan B [Video]

Over the past few days you’ve learned A LOT including...

• How to generate exceptional investment returns, while taking minimal risk, with lucrative investment strategies outside the mainstream

• How to protect your assets and become invincible to financial crises and frivolous lawsuits

• How to save tens of thousands of dollars by legally reducing your taxes

• How to obtain a second passport (potentially for free) that will provide you[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 5, 2017
  • Vilnius, Lithuania

How to build an exceptional offense

Yesterday I talked about how to build the first part of your personal Plan B-- an impenetrable defense.

Today I’m going to show you how to build a strong offense.

Once you have a strong defense that protects everything you have, a good offense positions you for gain.

It helps you move the ball down the field, grow your wealth and achieve exceptional investment returns… all while taking minimal risk.

Step[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 4, 2017
  • Vilnius, Lithuania

How to build an impenetrable defense

Over the past few days, I’ve been telling you about the importance of building a personal Plan B that ensures you are in a position of strength... no matter what happens next.

The first step is building a strong defense that safeguards what you already have.

This includes risk prevention and increasing your freedom.

It ensures that everything you’ve worked for - and will achieve - over your lifetime is safe, no[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • July 3, 2017
  • Vilnius, Lithuania

The two critical requirements of a Perfect Plan B

[Editor’s Note: You’ll find a video showing you a real life example of a Perfect Plan B at the bottom of this article.]

Yesterday we talked about how most of Western civilization, including the United States and much of Europe, have long ago departed from the original ideals that made them great.

The values of liberty, economic freedom, self-reliance and independence have been replaced by debt, consumption and over-regulation.

Decades of bungling[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 29, 2017
  • Milan, Italy

Why you should consider building a Plan B

It’s really easy to love Italy. The food. The scenery. The weather. The art and architectural splendor. The welcoming culture.

Then there’s the history, which is one of my favorite aspects of this country.

In the 5,000-year record of our civilization, Italy was the world’s dominant superpower not once, but twice.

The first time was in ancient Rome, an empire that grew from humble beginnings to rank among the greatest ever known.
[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 28, 2017
  • Milan, Italy

Italy’s newest bank bailout cost as much as its annual defense budget

Two more Italian banks failed over the weekend-- Banco Popolare di Vicenza and Veneto Banca.

(In other news, the sky is blue.)

The Italian Prime Minister himself stated that depositors’ funds were at risk, so the government stepped in with a bailout and guarantee package that could cost taxpayers as much as 17 billion euros.

That’s a lot of money in Italy-- around 1% of GDP. In fact it’s basically as much[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 26, 2017
  • Lake Como, Italy

This asset has outperformed the Tulip Bubble, Mississippi Bubble, and dot-com Bubble

This morning I had the pleasure of spending an hour of my life tracking down a missing wire transfer that had been sent to a large, multinational bank more than two weeks ago.

I’m sure you’ve been there, being passed around various departments like the village bicycle, each time having to re-explain the entire situation to someone brand new.

Finally someone found the missing funds, and the person told me me they would[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 23, 2017
  • Lugano, Switzerland

It’s now a “human right” to NOT be offended. Unless you’re the one who’s offended.

In the latest episode of the completely psychotic breakdown of Western values, Canada’s government has just passed a law that champions sexual identity over science.

It’s called C-16, “An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code”.

Both of these codes prohibit discrimination against individuals based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.

And this new law includes gender identity in that list.

Great. Nothing wrong with[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 21, 2017
  • Lugano, Switzerland

Argentina issues 100-year bond. What could possibly go wrong?

Apparently while I was in the air yesterday flying between Asia and Europe, the financial system proved once again that it believes in magic beans.

The latest absurdity is that the government of Argentina sold $2.75 billion worth of bonds yesterday afternoon.

It’s not strange or unusual for a government to sell bonds; it happens multiple times across the world nearly every single day of the year.

What’s totally insane about yesterday’s[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 20, 2017
  • Zurich, Switzerland

Take advantage of this free insurance policy for your savings

This is the very first article I’m writing to you on the brand new Macbook Pro that I just purchased here in Hong Kong.

It’s the fully loaded version with 16GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD hard drive, and 3.5 GHz i7 processor.

Given that I actually run Linux on may laptop and barely do anything outside of word processing a bit of programming, the purchase was probably overkill. But I got[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 19, 2017
  • Hong Kong

The foreign business incentives in this country can help double your income.

Yesterday I spent all afternoon meeting with government officials here in the Philippines, and I’m still in shock. I’ll explain--

About a year and a half ago I purchased a fairly large manufacturing business that is oddly enough based in Australia.

It’s been a fantastic investment so far, primarily because it generates so much cashflow relative to the price I paid.

With big public companies listed on a major stock market, it’s[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 16, 2017
  • Manila, Philippines

You won’t believe this stupid new law against Cash and Bitcoin

This one is almost too ridiculous to believe.

Recently a new bill was introduced on the floor of the US Senate entitled, pleasantly,

“Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Counterfeiting Act of 2017.”

You can probably already guess its contents.

Cash is evil.

Bitcoin is evil.

Now they’ve gone so far to include prepaid mobile phones, retail gift vouchers, or even electronic coupons. Evil, evil, and evil.

[...] Click here to continue reading
  • Simon Black
  • June 14, 2017
  • Manila, Philippines