The American reality TV series Doomsday Preppers profiles survivalists, or "preppers", who are preparing to survive the end of civilization – from economic meltdown, societal collapse, terrorism, pandemics, and electromagnetic pulses. The show receives mixed reviews, with a 60% male audience and average age of 44. Ironically, Doomsday Preppers is the National Geographic’s most-watched series and the highest-rated show in the history of the network.
Now the ultra-rich at Davos have confirmed that many of them are prepping for the coming financial doomsday. What do they know?
Davos Preppers and What You Should Know
I’ve watched Doomsday Preppers on several occasions to see what it’s about. Admittedly, words like amused, silly, enlightened, smart, and unreal, come to mind. Some prepping makes good sense, but some is downright over the edge. In all cases, the preppers are committed in their methodology of survival.
But when the captains of capitalism and global leaders at Davos admit that they too have been taking decisive steps prepping for the coming financial Armageddon, it’s time to sit up and take notice.
During private sessions and behind closed door meetings, many Davos attendees shared how they are quietly preparing to "bug out" when the time comes. They are buying remote survival properties in offshore locations, building underground bunkers, and protecting their assets.
One prominent insider at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, admitted that "very powerful people are telling us they're scared". He shocked his audience when he revealed that he knows hedge fund managers all over the world who are buying airstrips and farms in safe havens from New Zealand and across the world.
So what do the uber-rich and powerful know that you don’t? And why are so many of the super wealthy suddenly preparing remote bug out locations?
Over the past three decades our office has worked with helping individuals with respectful levels of wealth protect their assets. During the past decade many individuals have shared with me their personal concerns during planning sessions as we assisted with international planning to protect families and assets from concerns against government threats, frivolous litigation, and much more, by planning ahead for safety.
Since the GFC of 2008 – and in particular during the past two years - the level of concern has elevated to a flashing red light, even as the US economy shows improvement.
What our clients have in common is that they are well-informed and forward thinking individuals. Most are smart, well-educated, individuals. The majority are self-made professionals and successful business people in their own right. What they all share deep down in private is a grave concern about the future.
When the elite leaders and best informed of the world start preparing for doomsday, you have to admit that is a very troubling sign. And right now the elite and brightest appear to be quietly preparing for a disaster like never before.
The Davos insider that shared the above story is Robert Johnson, president of the Institute of New Economic Thinking. What he shared with a packed audience in Davos is making headlines all over the planet. His statements were backed up by Stewart Wallis, executive director of the New Economics Foundation.
Here’s a portion of the TV interview, if you care to watch it.
Mere mortals who can’t afford to take extra-ordinary measures on their own private island or in a space station might settle for an underground decommissioned missile silo in Kansas that’s been transformed into luxury survival condos. They can be had here for $1.5 to $3 million each.
Many individuals are turning their existing homes into high tech security fortresses as home security goes ultra-high tech. There’s a growing demand for build-in private bunkers and hidden passageways, panic rooms and personal optical recognition software.
So why are so many of these individuals so alarmed?
They see how many millions of people are falling out of the middle class. They see how society, civil order and morals are breaking down in a thousand different ways. They detect the anger and frustration rising at unprecedented levels. And they can see that things are likely to boil over once the next financial crisis strikes.
They see the current economy as fairly stable, but more than a bit wobbly going forward. And they see the obvious signs of increasing economic suffering, with rising homelessness evident, as the imbalances across the world worsen.
They understand that China is gaining muscle as an economic power (from which military power grows), and their currency has now become the 5th largest traded currency in the world.
Meanwhile, America is losing economic power. The new Cold War with Russia could turn too hot to handle. Western cultures have lost their moral compass, the real cause of long term systemic economic and political failure, particularly in America. Extremists in the name of Islam are shocking the world with unheard of outrageous violence.
Governments no longer protect the rights of the people they serve. Bill of Rights long enshrined in Constitutions and common law principals have become unimportant. Long established rules of law protecting your privacy and your home as your castle are being eroded. Principles of law founded long ago no longer apply.
At home – in your castle – you now need to take seriously your electronics communicating what you say and your images to third parties. Such is the case of the new Samsung smart TV voice recognition software that can transmit your private conversations to third parties. And even when turned off it still collects personal data from your activities. And beware of your computer, as it too may be watching and listening to you too, as many have already been shocked to discover. Go here for tips to fix.)
These creepy invasions of personal privacy bear similarities to George Orwell’s dystopian fiction 1984 and the Thought Police. Orwell wrote: "Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by the screen, and so long as he remained within the field of vision he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork."
Beyond home, freedom of people and money moving across borders are now hurdles to overcome. Many will be caught out with the doors locked when it’s too late. The exits get crowded when everyone rushes to the exits at the same time.
The list goes on.
Meanwhile, we live at a unique time in history when the top 1 percent own 50 percent of the global wealth. Each year wealth becomes even more concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.
The elite at Davos know that we are reaching a breaking point. The smart ones don’t want to be caught short when she hits the fan. And neither should you.
Start now before it’s too late.
There are still important financial steps you can take to protect a lifetime of hard work. The doors to the free movement of money and family are still open to those who plan now.
Foreign currencies, offshore living and investing, international trusts, planning your estate for retirement and for heirs, are all part of good planning steps.
Protecting your assets against frivolous lawsuits, government actions, and worse, are all part of the planning themes we have helped individuals like you accomplish over the past three decades.
Now more than ever before, is the time to take steps to protect your assets.
How to Get Started
There are numerous complimentary past newsletters and articles on our website at DavidTanzer.com, which is a good place to begin learning about asset protection and offshore investing and living. International tips are located here.
Becoming a sovereign individual has an appeal to many. Go here for the A, B, Cs of International Trusts.
To learn more about the legitimate use of international trusts for integrated planning, start with How to Legally Protect Your Assets, 2nd edition. Or to learn more about the correct way to go offshore, read Offshore Living & Investing, 2nd edition.
And if you wish to start now and learn how to proceed with a confidential consultation to review your personal situation to accomplish your objectives, then contact me here.
Until next time……
David