Category Archives: Alberta (Commentary)

Constantly challenge that which you assume to be true

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Recently, I started watching Brad Meltzer’s “Decoded” which has at times forced me to question things which I always believed to be true. This show follows a team of investigators who try to determine the meanings behind various symbolism, alleged secret codes and conspiracies that surround us everyday.

In one a recent episode, they investigated the gold in Fort Knox and alleged that there may not be as much if any of that which many believe is stored in the vault. As intriguing as that was, it paled in comparison to what was in my opinion the real eye opening experience!

I had always assumed that the 1933 movie “Wizard of OZ” was made for children. During the shooting, it was discovered that color motion pictures could be made and that is why the land of OZ is in color and the rest is in black and white. That is all I had known about the movie and did not delve any deeper into it.

Upon further inspection, the truth behind the story became readily apparent. The Wizard of OZ is the true story of gold. Dorothy follows it to find the Wizard (who is a manipulative politician) and in the end she finds that he is a fraud. This is comparable to our present day in which paper money (i.e. fiat currencies) have nothing to back them up except the ability of governments to tax their people. Gold and Silver are real currencies and everything else is a fraud.

As for the title of the movie, the abbreviation for ounces is OZ because it sounds a lot better than the “wizard of ounces”.

I had always assumed there was little else to the movie but by being forced to challenge a long held belief, I now have a greater understanding of the hidden meaning contained therein.

Acres of Diamonds

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Often times, I have heard about investors who wish to purchase stocks or real estate in the United States or other places in the world. Whenever I encounter these people, I always recall the story of “Acres of Diamonds” which has been handed down over the generations.

It is a true story about an African farmer who through an acquaintance became enamored about prospecting for diamonds.  Diamonds were already abundant in Africa and this individual was so excited about the idea of making his financial dreams come true, that he sold his farm and went directly to the diamond line. He searched all over Africa but as the years turned into decades, his dreams slowly faded until one day he committed suicide by jumping into a river.

The new owner of his farm took possessions and picked up a large and unusual looking rock about the size of a large egg and put it on his mantle as an ornament.  A friend stopped by and in viewing the rock became hysterical.  He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was one of the largest diamonds that had ever been found.  The new owner of the farm said “Heck, the whole farm is covered with them” and it most certainly was!

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond mine which is the riches the world has ever known. The original farmer did not have to go anywhere to find his wealth.

For these reasons, I am happy to keep on investing in my own back yard for a long time to come!

How to improve your performance without trying

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I have met many successful people over the years in the field of business and real estate and there runs a common theme about some of their activities that sets them apart from ordinary. People often think there is a secret formula to success, but they have all shown me that simplicity is truly the answer in their success.  They keep their business practices simple, their relationships and above all, they have free time! That’s right. They take at least one day a week completely off and do not talk about anything regarding money.  The other 6 days are plenty enough to cover all aspects of their finances. Day 7 is exclusively for family, prayer, private time, or in my case Serie A soccer. As of late, I have been focusing on the Euro 2012 tournament as this is how I balance things out. Without some sort of non financial goals to achieve, there is no point investing.  Having money is not about money itself, it is about lifestyle. The next time you meet someone who works seven days a week, walk away as they would probably not be a good business partner for you as their life is most likely not balanced.

 

After Europe, who will be next to require a bailout?

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You do not have to pay attention to politics and economics to be aware that Europe has been requiring financial assistance for quite some time.  First it was Greece which then has led to others requiring funds.  Although I believe the worst is still to come in this saga, the next generation of Europeans will benefit from all of this fiscal responsibility which is finally being forced upon nations which have relied on credit far too long to fund their lifestyles.

I have always been one to try and find that which is silent as not making waves in order to determine future trends.  In the financial arena, there is one nation which has me greatly concerned and has not really caught the world’s attention. That nation is Japan.

Japan is the world’s third largest economy, has an aging population with a public debt at 200% of GDP. I do not see how this is sustainable long term because one cannot continue to spend more than one makes (even for a nation) indefinitely. The day of reckoning will come for Japan as it is coming for Europe.

Although it will not happen in 2012, I believe the United States will also go down this route and sometime later Canada will have to take responsibility for their financial books. Ontario’s situation is a sneak preview of what is coming for other provinces. Fortunately, in Alberta we have the strongest economy in the country and are much better prepared to weather the coming years.

Christine Lagaard was quite accurate when she saw the world economy as lost for the next 10 years. The only questionAlbertamust ask itself is how to cope and even prosper while the world struggles to find itself.