QUESTION: Hello Sir,
I am French and have been reading you for many years (I already read you while you published papers while you were very unfairly imprisoned).
I signed up for Socrates on 6th January and must thank you warmly for opening my eyes to the real state of the global economy and its cycles.
Unfortunately, I live in France and taxes weigh heavily on us. Unemployment is preponderant.
I do not think our President E.Macron knows exactly what he is doing by reforming our economy in his own way…
My question please:
You explained that the next crisis would be a debt crisis and that banks and the economy would be severely heckled.
So, I really think about quickly withdrawing my assets (about 50,000 euros) from the bank and I wonder if converting them into foreign currency and keeping them in a safe in my house would not be a good idea …
If the euro is devalued or disappears as I fear, would not it be smart to convert them as soon as possible into Swiss francs? Indeed, their economy seems stable and it is really a country apart, bordering on France. (Of course, I also thought about owning dollars and yen (although the yen inspires me less confidence)
Thanking you for everything you do for us,
Sincerely,
F.C
ANSWER: Dollars are probably the best because the USA does not cancel currency as they do in Europe. Dollars from 1860s are still legal tender today. You might want to open an account in the USA, which ironically is not part of the tax reporting schemes. Therefore, you can have an account in the USA with no problem for probably the next 3 years. Governments are becoming like a black hole. They are sucking up all the money to sustain their existence.
Keeping cash at home in a safe is good. Keep in mind that you will never be able to travel with even $10,000. That is why I say opening an account may be best. The cash problem is still unfolding as the governments try to eliminate paper money. I doubt Trump would allow that to happen in the States. But once Trump is gone, it really does not matter if the next president is a career politician from either party. They will look at eliminating cash to increase taxation. That is when it will be keen to have tangible assets (equity mostly). Precious metals may have the same problem as cash insofar as if you attempt to travel with it. That is the whole problem going forward. They are closing in on the movability of money.