We are at the end of 2016, and I have to admit that it comes with a big sigh of relief.
It’s not just the seemingly countless number of actors, athletes, writers, musicians and statesmen who have died during the past year that weighs so heavily on the mind. We’ve survived a tumultuous presidential election cycle, too many shootings around the country, more terrorist attacks across the globe, another Fed interest-rate hike, a strengthening dollar, growing debt, a questionable market rally, a weakening manufacturing sector and, well … questionable jobs numbers.
As we prepare for our calendars to tick over to 2017, I think it’s important that we all take steps to break out of our comfort zones and try new things, expand our knowledge base and take intelligent, calculated risks.
The world is shifting and changing around us.
And the best way to tackle those changes and even take advantage of them is to have a solid plan in place.
Some great ways to achieve that plan of attack for 2017 include:
- Read a Book — I’ll admit that I’m an avid reader, knocking out well over a hundred books throughout a year when I can clear off my schedule. I love discovering new places and watching the world unfold and develop in interesting, new ways. That’s why I’d like to recommend Jeff Opdyke’s new book, Replay: The Second Chance to Invest in the American Dream. Through Jeff’s “boots on the ground” travels, he’s uncovered four countries that are on the verge of the kind of growth that America experienced after the close of World War II. This is a unique opportunity to invest in companies that will soon see a mammoth wave of growth as a new middle class rises.
- Conquer Privacy — I’ll admit that I’ve put this one off. I’m the first person to cry, “My computer hates me!” when something goes wrong with it. I don’t understand how or why certain technology works the way it does. I just appreciate when it works. But I also know that every place I go on the Internet, someone somewhere is picking up the crumbs to track me. My personal email is vulnerable, and I fear what else could be as well. While I’ve not done anything illegal, I don’t want hackers, corporations or the government looking over my shoulder. That’s why 2017 is going to be about cleaning up my tech habits and improving my privacy protection. This weekend, I’ve taken home Ted Bauman’s special Privacy Code report, and I’m working through the steps to protect my privacy while online. Ted’s clear and easy-to-understand explanations have helped to take the fear out of tackling technology.
- Get on a Plane — Travel and new experiences expand the mind and give you new information with which to make better decisions. When I travel, I learn about new people, cultures and opportunities that I might have so easily overlooked when just searching the Internet. And one excellent opportunity is the Offshore Investment Summit in Uruguay at the end of March. This unique conference always sells out as we bring together an exclusive group of top advisers on wealth strategies, offshore investing and even gaining a second residence or passport.
- Catch the Next Trend — As we head into 2017, there is a unique opportunity within the stock market. Paul has uncovered a secret force that will drive stocks to amazing new heights. He believes that we are poised to start a new bull market that could result in stocks seeing gains of 1,000% or more over the next few years. While we face a Fed planning to raise interest rates further and a strong dollar, there are unique opportunities to be found within the market. It’s important to not only protect your assets but to take calculated risks as well so that you can snatch up gains that others are overlooking. If you would like to learn more about Paul’s market outlook, click here.
I know that it’s quite a list for 2017, but continuously chipping away at it every day allows you to grab more control of your life. And should the chaos grow in 2017 instead of diminish, these steps create a wall of protection that will help you weather the storm.
I would love to hear where your focus will be for 2017. What are you most worried about? What is your No. 1 priority when it comes to attaining a more sovereign life? You can email me at TotalWealthInsider@sovereignsociety.com.
Wishing you a great and prosperous 2017!
Jocelynn Smith
Sr. Managing Editor, Sovereign Investor Daily
