Synopses & Reviews
The world has endured an economic crisis of epic proportions—the biggest since the Great Depression. Trillions of dollars in accumulated wealth lost, gone forever. That crisis reminded us once again how quickly economic crises can strike and how bad they can be.
You're a wealth builder. You work hard, and you want to have something to show for it some day. You want to send your kids to college, to plan a comfortable retirement, to sleep comfortably at night, and to achieve financial peace of mind. You want to use debt prudently, if at all, and have the ability to do what you want—financially—come hell or high water.
What should you do to ensure that the next financial calamity stays clear of your backyard? That's where Axel Merk's Sustainable Wealth comes in.
Over the course of his successful financial career, author and fund manager Axel¿Merk has led the way in identifying major economic trends before they occur. Most importantly, he has been a guiding light for investors and individual wealth builders to navigate economic crises like the recent global recession. Now, with this timely new book, Merk puts your financial decisions in a global context, showing you how "big picture" factors can influence your financial well-being.
Part I of Sustainable Wealth helps you understand the dynamics that drive this world and how they may affect your finances. Here, Merk skillfully discusses the world we live in, by highlighting the temptations of our society: the temptations of credit, consumption, policy change, and complacency. Rather than be left scratching your head about the meaning of the last Fed decision, you'll learn how the world really works and what it really means for you and your wealth.
In Part II, you'll discover how to apply these lessons to your personal finances. Merk highlights that everyone should be challenging the conventional wisdom. He then illustrates how to save, spend, and invest in a volatile world, providing clear, straightforward advice should you and/or the economy be faced with a crisis.
Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Sustainable Wealth:
Reveals why "staying the course" when governments or markets change the rules may be hazardous to your wealth
Coaches you on how to recognize major economic trends before they happen
Offers a plan to spend, save, and invest wisely in the face of an uncertain world, build a financial legacy, and achieve peace of mind
As you read Sustainable Wealth, you'll quickly be able to understand—and adapt to—today's erratic and rapidly changing markets. Financial peace of mind. That's what this book is all about.
Synopsis
A personal finance guide for today's turbulent world
Sustainable Wealth empowers you to achieve your financial goals by unleashing the shackles of debt, no matter how uncertain the future may be. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, this reliable resource illustrates how you can predict economic booms and busts before they happen, adapt to changing markets and plan for lasting financial stability.
Over the course of his career, Axel Merk has been at the forefront of identifying major trends, a leader in the public policy debate on how to fix the economy, and guide for investors looking to navigate the global credit crisis. With this new book, Merk puts your financial decisions in a global context and shows how factors ranging from the Federal Reserve and Congress to trends in Asia and Europe influence your financial well-being.
- Coaches you how to recognize major economic trends before they happen
- Puts forth a plan to help you cope with expenses and save for retirement, while building a legacy of wealth, not a mountain of debt
- Reveals why "staying the course" when governments or markets change the rules may be hazardous to your wealth
As investors struggle to adapt to the new financial landscape, Sustainable Wealth provides straightforward answers to the tough financial questions we face-and the tools to achieve a financially sustainable lifestyle.
Synopsis
Praise For Sustainable Wealth
"Finally an easy-to-read but very comprehensive study on investments in a world where sadly common sense is no longer so common—and short-term profit 'temptations' overwhelm the discipline of building sustainable wealth."—Marc Faber, Editor, Gloom, Boom & Doom Report
"Maybe had Congress gotten this book before this financial crisis, we wouldn't be in this crisis. But alas, we are, and alas, there's hope. Axel Merk not only shows Washington the way out, but more importantly, the rest of us too. Not with a lecture, but a plan, and a damn good plan, without the bull and without the jargon. It's why I love this guy. He really means it when he says he's looking out for the rest of us guys. In Sustainable Wealth, he proves it."—Neil Cavuto, Sr. Vice President and Anchor, Fox News Channeland Fox Business Network
"The right financial decisions are always essential, but become particularly important in today's turbulent times. Preparation and knowledge are required to protect you and your family, and this book provides everything you need to develop a sound plan for the future."—James Turk, founder and Chairman, GoldMoney.com
"It's hard to accumulate wealth without making many costly mistakes along the way. That has never been more true given the enormous financial risks we see today. This book may help you avoid them."—Bill Fleckenstein, Fleckenstein Capital
"Axel Merk's Sustainable Wealth is a storehouse of historical and current investment information—clearly written and packed with valuable information. I recommend this book without reservation."—Richard Russell, Publisher, Dow Theory Letters
About the Author
Axel Merk is the President and Chief Investment Officer of Merk Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment advisory firm that manages mutual funds specializing in currencies. He has published articles describing complex economic phenomena in understandable terms and is a frequent expert presenter and moderator at conferences. Merk is a sought-after voice in financial news, known for his understandable advice and uncanny ability to predict market movements. He is a regular guest on CNBC and Fox News, and is frequently quoted in Barron's, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, USA Today, and the Financial Times.
Table of Contents
Foreword.
Preface.
Introduction.
Achieving Excellence as a Financial Pilot.
What Is Sustainable Wealth?
A Volatile World of Debt, Consumption, and Temptation.
Unintended Consequences.
The Flight You’re About to Embark On . . .
Part I A World of Temptations.
Chapter 1 The Temptation of Credit.
The Relationship Between Credit and Debt.
Credit as Money.
The Power (and Un-Power) of Central Banks.
Sizing the Debt Problem.
A Crisis in Confidence.
Credit Crisis Consequences.
A Bond Market Bubble?
Credit as a Threat to Sustainable Wealth.
Credit as Fuel for Other Temptations.
Using Credit Wisely.
Chapter 2 The Temptation of Consumption.
The Consumption Paradigm.
The Cost of a Consumption Economy.
Long-Term Consequences.
Unwinding the Consumption Bubble.
What This All Means for You.
Chapter 3 The Temptation of Policy Change.
The Boom/Bust Cycle: Can You Fool Mother Nature?
Goldilocks Intended.
Above and Beyond: The Fed Ventures Into Fiscal Policy.
More Bad Medicine for Boom/Bust Cycles.
Regulation and Taxes: Consistency is the Best Policy.
Long-Term Policy Consequences.
Policy, Complacency, and Sustainable Wealth.
Chapter 4 The Temptation of Complacency.
Big Hat, No Cattle.
Complacency’s Counterparty—Risk.
The Complacency of Business Legacy.
Trust Must Be Earned Every Day.
Live Free or Die.
Part II Achieving Sustainable Wealth.
Chapter 5 Challenging Conventional Wisdom.
Recognize Your Responsibility.
Should You Use an Adviser?
The Proactivity of Sustainable Wealth.
Low-Probability, High-Risk Events.
Adaptive Investing, Rather Than Staying the Course.
The Sustainable Wealth Lifestyle.
Chapter 6 Saving and Spending in a Volatile World.
The Sustainable Wealth Grid.
Become a Scenario Planner.
Sustainable Wealth: A Store of Value.
The Individual Wealth Cycle Model.
The Importance of Pay As You Go.
Getting a Handle on Expenses.
How to Spend Less Than You Earn.
Make the Important Standard-of-Living Decisions.
Sustainable Wealth in a Volatile World.
Chapter 7 Crisis Investing.
Signs of Crisis.
Hope Is Not a Strategy.
About Insurance.
There’s No Such Thing as a Safe Asset.
Finding a Place to Hide: Depression Investing.
How to Invest in a Bust.
Toward Sustainable Wealth.
Chapter 8 Profiting in a Volatile World.
Diversification.
Scenario-Based Investing.
Investing in the Future.
Stock Investing: Investing for Value.
Diversification with Real Estate and Land.
Diversification into Alternative Investments.
Profit Opportunities in an Uncertain World.
When to Sell.
How to Invest in a Boom.
Toward a Sustainable Wealth Investing Model.
Chapter 9 Sustainable Investing.
The Power of Compounding.
Doing Investing Right.
A Golden College Savings Plan.
Taking Risks Without Jeopardizing Sustainable Wealth.
Purpose-Driven Investing.
Sustainable Investing and the Sustainable Wealth Lifestyle.
Chapter 10 The Pursuit of Sustainable Wealth and Happiness.
The Rewards of Living Within Your Means.
Sustainable Work-Life Balance.
Leaving a Legacy: Sustainable Giving.
Sustaining Wealth Spans Generations.
Surgeon General’s Warning: Sustainable Wealth May Be Addictive.
Final Thoughts.
Resources.
About the Author.
Index.