Lightning strikes.

You count.

One Mississippi… two Mississippi… three…

Boom!

The thunder lands.

Every kid knows this game. We’ve all played it. Theoretically, the Mississippi’s tell you how far away the approaching storm is.

No idea if those Mississippi’s are accurate. Not that I really care. It’s just a game.

But in terms of today’s letter, the lightning has struck. Many times.

Now, we’re just counting down until the Boom! arrives.

Except… this isn’t a game.

Let me share with you some of these lightning strikes:

• 655 large US companies have gone bankrupt so far this year 2025 —the largest number since 2010 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The point: American businesses are flailing from the previous administration’s unchecked inflation and reckless spending. The debts are coming due, and we’re holding the bag!
• Hardship withdrawals from 401(k) retirement accounts are at their highest level on record, according to Bank of America. The point: American consumers are flailing.
• Consumer Price Index inflation data is largely fabricated now. As of September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics relied on estimated price changes for 40% of the items the CPI tracks. Typically, that number is in the 10% range. This has been going on for the last seven months. The point: Inflation in America is a guessing game. And it’s likely worse than reported. This shouldn’t be a shock, considering the current administration’s willingness to fire people when the numbers highlight economic discrepancies from modern policies.
• More than 12% of US credit card balances are now more than 90 days overdue, the highest level of delinquency since 2011. The Point: Americans—the middle class and below, or half the country—are surviving on debt, and they’re increasingly drowning in said debt, to the point that they can’t pay what they owe.
• The global money supply has gone mental. For every $1 in economic productivity, the world (think: The West, primarily) has issued $1.21 worth of currency. This is the first time in history that the stock of dollars exceeds the value of everything that all the countries of the world build and sell. The point: Too many currency units in the world’s financial plumbing. And what happens when a pipe bursts? Flooding… or in this case, inflation, as a flood of dollars causes prices to rise.

There are so many more similar statistics. So. Many. More.

And all lead to the same destination: The global economy, led primarily by the US, is in a fragile state, and red flags abound.

Global governmental (all countries) debt now exceeds $111 trillion, or more than the size of the entire global economy.

America is the great offender there and, as such, represents the greatest risk to global stability. If America stumbles, the world collapses. Simple as that… well, at least until the world weans itself off the US dollar, which unfortunately has been happening with haste.

But probably not hastily enough.

The US owns $38 trillion worth of the $111 trillion in global debt, or nearly 35% of all the money that governments around the world owe. The point: Any stumble in America and the global economy falls on its face. Potential Armageddon.

Matters that might cause an American stumble are numerous. I have written about them often.

1. Too much debt.

Debt repayments are now consuming more money than any other budget item outside of Social Security and Medicare. Repayment costs are mounting, and debt will hit $40 trillion by next year.

2. A Federal Reserve that could easily misstep.

Consider that Fed Pooh-Bah J. Powell said recently that “The appropriate response for monetary policy is not at all clear at this time.” He was referencing the fact that the Fed can cut rates to battle a jobs market in full-blown collapse… or the Fed can raise rates to address persistently high inflation that continues to nudge higher because of the current political administration’s policies.

Cut rates, and inflation heats up.

Raise rates, and the economy contracts, leaving even more Americans jobless and struggling with credit card debt, rental inflation, car-loan delinquencies, and unable to afford their groceries. Uncle Sam is also pinched hard because of the impacts higher rates will have on his debt payments.

America is in a soft civil war.

There’s no uniting Red and Blue voters, aside from a couple of American-specific holidays and turkey at Thanksgiving. The 2026 mid-term elections and the 2028 presidential election could easily redefine the geography of America.

I know that no one wants to read any of this.

But this is the unfortunate reality.

We can try to push it aside and hope it all just works itself out.

Or we can look at our reality and say, “Hmmm… these are the kinds of risks that can destroy wealth and lifestyles. Maybe I should protect myself, my family, and my wealth somehow. Just in case.

That “somehow” should lean heavily on “fixed” insurance financial products with guarantees and perhaps a mix of gold.

I cannot stress enough how important these products are right now.

The likeliest upshot is a financial reset that fundamentally changes the game we’re all playing. And by “game” I mean our belief in the sanctity and surety of fiat currencies and the general stock markets in whole.

Fiat is the very reason we’re in this pickle.

Fiat gave politicians freedom to spend without repercussions. Who cares about today’s debt when I can kick the can two generations down the road to hell.

Fundamental changes at this scale, however, will necessarily cause a world of pain. That’s always been the case. Look no further back than the US housing collapse that launched the Great Recession/Global Financial Crisis.

Nearly eight million family homes were lost to foreclosure.

Lives interrupted.

“The NEW reset”, alas, will be worse.

Which is why guaranteed “fixed” insurance products and or gold is such a necessity at this point in life.

Every time, across the span of human history, governments have destroyed currencies by way of debt and inflation, insurance companies and gold had to step in as a savior.

Let’s also add to the “STORM” the unchecked medical expenses everyone either is facing or will face.

I’ve said it before: when you need money, especially for survival or medical reasons, what assets will you have left, and which ones will you sell to survive?

Buy and read my book, ZERO IS YOUR HERO! Why you need a ZERO in your retirement plan. It will give you the “road map” to weather the storm!

Merry Christmas and hopefully a Happy New Year to us all in 2026!