I recall the presentation vividly.
It was November 2007 and I was standing in front of a packed room at a really swank resort along the Mexican Riviera. Money Map Press was in its infancy, and I was making my first public appearance as its chief investment strategist.
The markets were rocketing higher, the money was easy, and investors were greedy.
Until I got on stage.
I dropped a financial bomb of epic proportions by telling my audience two things: 1) the rally they were counting on was about to come screeching to a halt; and, 2) they'd best shift their attention to harvesting profits.
You could have heard a pin drop.
I made my case as simply as I knew how… a "compressed range since 2005 shows [the] market ready to snap just like [it did] in early 2000."
Then, I threw the following chart up on the projector, knowing full well that a picture is worth a thousand words… or at least a few million dollars in the hands of savvy folks.
Pay particular attention to the yellow circle.
My analysis suggested that the S&P 500 would fall to 1,329.26 by March 1, 2008, before making a brief stand and collapsing further.
It was tough stuff made doubly so because conventional Wall Street analysts would have sugarcoated the news… that is, if they had even seen it coming in the first place. Most, as you know, did not… which is why the financial carnage that followed was so very painful for many.
In my capacity as chief investment strategist, though, I had no choice but to tell investors three things, even if they were unexpected and uncomfortable: 1) exactly what my analysis showed, 2) why it was happening, and most importantly, 3) how to profit from a market collapse that I believed was going to catch millions of unsuspecting investors by surprise.
You see, my success is derived directly from your success, not Wall Street's special interests or corporate sponsors. That's why I take the trust you place in me and in my team very, very seriously and why, today, we are the No. 1 independent financial research firm in the world.
But, getting back to the point, you know how the story ends just as well as I do.
The S&P 500 actually closed at 1330.45 on Feb. 29, 2008… before falling off a cliff as the Global Financial Crisis hit. Ultimately, the S&P 500 would tumble 56.4% from the peak it set on Oct. 9, 2007, and shave a staggering $15 trillion from global markets.
Investors who went to the sidelines – as I advocated – made "bank" by harvesting profits. More aggressive readers did even better by purchasing inverse funds like the Rydex Inverse S&P 500 Strategy – Investor Class (RYURX) and put options.
Critically, they also began redeploying those gains into rock-solid companies almost immediately. Choices I recommended like SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE Arca: GLD), Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON), and ABB Ltd. (NYSE: ABB) would go on to triple-digit returns before subscribers were done with 'em.
Those who didn't and who struggled to "buy the dips" may as well have been rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic because their portfolios still got decimated.
You Must Act Now: America is headed for an economic disaster bigger than anything since the Great Depression. If you lost out when the markets crashed in 2008, then you are going to want to see this special presentation…
Could I have been wrong?
Absolutely.
I am NOT telling you this today to make myself look smart, nor to create the opinion that I am the greatest financial analyst since sliced bread. I am not – I put my shoes on one foot at a time, every day, just like you do.
The advantage I have is one drawn from 35 years of experience in global markets as a consultant, analyst, and trader and tens of thousands of hours studying the worldwide financial markets.
I could care less about being "right" (which is how most amateurs approach the markets). What I do care deeply about, though, is helping you find the world's best investment opportunities and showing you how to profit handsomely in all kinds of market conditions (which is how legendary investors like Warren Buffett and Jim Rogers do things).
I'm telling you all this for a reason.
I recently updated that same chart I showed my audience more than a decade ago and, once again, I see a potentially very nasty turn of events ahead.
The compression that was present back in 2007 has reared its ugly head again. Technically speaking, prices have fallen off since January and are now trading just above a critical line of "last resort," which I've highlighted in yellow.
At the same time, emotions are running high, which confirms a change in sentiment I noted during an appearance on "Varney & Co." this past Monday morning, where I made the same point in response to anchor Stuart Varney's question about the possibility of a correction.
The next stop is 2,476.79 in May if the markets cannot hold at the lows set Feb. 9, 2018. Or, sooner.
From there, chances are good it'll be another white-knuckle ride… a "Great Reckoning," if you will.
The vast majority of folks don't see this coming, and those few who do are not preparing properly… nor profitably.
If you're like me, you've felt a sense of market turmoil ahead. This chart should be all the proof you need to take action. The last time it looked like this it was just months before the epic 2008 crash that pushed our financial system to the brink.
Ask yourself, right now, in light of what I've just laid out: Are you where you want to be financially?
If the answer is yes, that's great.
If the answer is no, then you are NOT alone, and you need to click here.
So, Now What?
As always, a little perspective is in order.
Millions of investors fear information like that which I've just shared with you because they have no idea what to make of it nor how to handle the fact that what I'm telling you is just around the proverbial bend.
Thankfully, you're not in that crowd.
As a member of the Total Wealth family, you've got a number of significant advantages – not the least of which is a very different perspective from traditional investors who risk having their 401(k)s turned into 201(k)s for the third time in less than 20 years.
As we have discussed many times, the right perspective is also the most profitable perspective. Here's what that means…
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About the Author
Keith Fitz-Gerald has been the Chief Investment Strategist for the Money Morning team since 2007. He's a seasoned market analyst with decades of experience, and a highly accurate track record. Keith regularly travels the world in search of investment opportunities others don't yet see or understand. In addition to heading The Money Map Report, Keith runs High Velocity Profits, which aims to get in, target gains, and get out clean. In his weekly Total Wealth, Keith has broken down his 30-plus years of success into three parts: Trends, Risk Assessment, and Tactics – meaning the exact techniques for making money. Sign up is free at totalwealthresearch.com.
Do you think Marijuana stocks will follow the decline?
I'm living in Ireland where my investment-sensitive training business has fallen off a cliff this year. The last time this happened was 2008 when I was running a very independent small architects practice.
This time the fall is even worse. It's scary.