There’s an unsettling feeling millions share—a gnawing sense that, despite hard work and responsible saving, something is always working against us… making it hard to protect your savings.
Those plugged into mainstream sources never put their finger on it, but we’ve all felt its effects. The target is constantly moving, making it difficult to ever get ahead.
The unseen challenges we face are insidious, but only because Retirement Incorporated (Retirement Inc.) preaches a model that exposes everyone fully to the effects of these challenges. They are:
1. Economic Volatility
A single market crash can erase a decade of growth. What happened in 2008 and then again in 2022 demonstrated this. Those were years when “balanced” portfolios trapped inside of qualified retirement accounts tumbled, wiping out years’ worth of savings.
What most didn’t realize was that the “rules” suddenly changed in each of those years, and millions found that they were far more exposed than Retirement Inc. led them to believe.
2. Inflation’s Relentless Creep
Inflation is the silent killer. Each year, our dollar’s purchasing power quietly erodes, even as official numbers sugarcoat reality. Houses, rent, cars, groceries, and basic wellness costs leap ahead each year that goes by. Meanwhile, average wages have largely stagnated since 1971.
For example, the national average for rent has jumped more than 20% in just three years. And as we discussed yesterday, grocery prices have roughly doubled since 2020 if we look at past receipts rather than government data. Yet mainstream statistics still project a meager 2-3% inflation as if we’re living in 1992.
3. Complexity & Confusion
Conflicting advice. Jargon-laden offerings. Hundreds of funds… new-fangled insurance products… “expert” stock-picking systems—each one touted as the answer, but none of them provide a comprehensive solution.
At best, they leave gaps that are expensive to fill. At worst, they divert productive savings away from assets that could make your money bulletproof and provide you with extra streams of income.
How Much Are “Piecemeal” Investment Costing You?
I learned a long time ago that “piecemeal” investments are the ticket to mediocrity. They aren’t likely to protect your savings.
Some of them may work fairly well for a time, but then the rules change and the carrot moves. This results in:
- Lost compounding power as asset sales create tax bills.
- Hundreds of thousands drained by hidden fees (the average American loses six figures to “the skim” over a 30-year career).
- The subtle erosion of confidence that comes with low-level stress over money.
Looking Behind the Curtain
The system is designed to keep everyone distracted, fragmented, and unsure. I know from first-hand experience because I was once in that boat.
It all stems from the Wall Street hamster wheel mindset – the obsession with “buying low” and “selling high”. As if maximizing the number of dollars in our bank account will combat the core challenges we face.
The reality is that you can only protect your savings if you convert your dollars into world-class assets. That’s the lesson from the classic board game Monopoly.
And if you do this systematically, you can build a bulletproof asset portfolio that will be impervious to the forces of inflation and economic volatility. You just have to understand that the name of the game isn’t to amass dollars—it’s to preserve and grow our purchasing power over time while minimizing the friction of fees and taxes.
These destructive hidden forces steal enough from us each day. Let’s resolve to take back what we have worked so hard to earn.
To that end, we’re hosting the Bulletproof Money 3-Day Challenge next week. We’re going to set aside one hour next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to lay-out a tried-and-true approach to help you protect your savings and create extra income streamsin a manner that will insulate you from economic volatility, taxes, and inflation.
Each session will be immersive and interactive, and we’ll open it up to unlimited Q&A discussion at the end. And I promise – we’ll take the time to address every question and concern openly and honestly. We don’t cherry pick or dramatize anything.
What’s more, this program is geared to provide actionable takeaways that anyone can start to implement right away. We don’t withhold information behind a pay-wall – we’ll lay it all out on the table for you.
So if you’re interested, I’d be honored to have you join us for this live online event next week, starting on August 20th. You can register for it at: https://phoenician-league.lpages.co/3-day-challenge-registration/
-Joe Withrow