America's Financial Apocalypse: How to Profit from the Next Great Depression (Condensed Edition) [Paperback]

Stathis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0975577670 | ISBN-13: 978-0975577677

For more than two decades, numerous experts have predicted a major depression in America. Many of these forecasts were written in the early 90s as an aftershock of the 87 Crash. While most ignored these warnings, cautious investors withdrew from the capital markets. But the expected turmoil never appeared, at least not for over a decade. In the mid-90s, the Internet was released. Soon, hundreds of companies sought to harness this new technology. By 1999, the Internet stock bubble had swollen beyond belief, and everyone wanted a piece of the action. And we all remember what happened at the start of the new millennium. While this correction revealed the most recent illusions embedded within the economy, it s only a prelude of what to expect in the coming years. Today, economics control the investment cycle rather than hype generated by Wall Street. Accordingly, Washington can only hide the realities of America s decline for so long before the truth is revealed. Currently, we are in the middle stages of a secular bear market that began in 2001. Upon examination of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since 1900, it is clear that the stock market must correct downward in order to compensate for the spectacular appreciation of the 90s; a period fueled by excess consumption. Today we see that competitive forces from abroad are much more influential than in the past. In the mid-1990s, President Clinton signed off on NAFTA and the World Trade Organization, promising free trade would deliver better jobs and higher wages for all. But for the majority of Americans, the opposite has occurred. America entered the free trade paradigm as a losing participant from the start since all other nations place the burden of healthcare and pension costs with the government. While it still remains as the centerpiece for the global economy, America now relies on record debt to maintain its status as the world s strongest consumer marketplace. This has created the illusion of impressive productivity, while serving to mask declining living standards for the majority. As corporate America continues to achieve record profitability, these gains have come at the expense of its core citizens; the middle class. As a result of these trends, the United States is now more dependent upon foreign nations than anytime in its history. Declining oil reserves and a foreign-funded credit bubble have positioned its fate in the hands of the world. And its vulnerable role in the New Economy threatens to erode its empire status. Already, the effects of America s decline have registered. Declining competitiveness and reliance on foreign debt can be seen by noting the weakness of the dollar. As foreign nations lose interest in financing Washington s deficits, interest rates will soar. Soon, America will face the economic burden of 76 million aging boomers. Beginning in 2011, expenditures for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will start to grow rapidly. During this same period it is likely that peak oil will have been reached; this alone promises to cause worldwide devastation. In summary, I have presented what I feel to be a strong case for America s declining economic position and weakened competitive landscape by addressing the major issues at hand the trade imbalance and federal debt, free trade, healthcare, Social Security, pensions, the real estate bubble, the war in Iraq, tensions in the Middle East, the global oil shortage, and the effect baby boomers will have as they enter what they expect to be their Golden Years. See why Stathis has been censored by the media. They don t want you to know the truth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In 2006, after reading a draft of America s Financial Apocalypse, a prominent fund manager told Mr. Stathis (under the condition of anonymity) YOU WILL BE A STAR AND IN HIGH DEMAND ! This senior executive promptly ordered several dozen copies for other fund managers at this large investment house. Despite the fact that Stathis contacted hundreds of TV shows over a 2-year period, they all refused to interview him. He contacted every show on CNBC (Cramer, Kudlow, Fast Money, etc.). He contacted Cavuto on FOX, the news shows on CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, PBS and BET with no response. They all have his book Cramer, Kudlow, Cavuto, Lou Dobbs, journalists at 60 Minutes and virtually everyone else you can imagine. He personally handed Pete Najarian from Fast Money his book. Ask yourself why they are keeping this critical material from you. They have all failed you. How can you ever trust them again? You see who they have selected to interview liars, fools, crooks and marketing gurus all with miserable track records; all looking to take your money in some way. America s largest media networks are politically motivated, so they continue to air lies and misinformation that has caused everyone to loss trillions of dollars. But they are also financially motivated so they don t want to upset the companies who pay for advertisements - Wall Street firms and the mutual fund industry. Stathis could have saved people from much of these losses. But the media refused to let him speak. Censorship is alive and well in America but you will never know it if you rely on the mainstream media because you won t know what they aren t telling you. They shut the truth out to protect their agendas. Stathis even offered to give a presentation to a Schwab Active Trader event during the Bear Stearns crisis when no one had a clue how bad things were. Schwab was interested - until they read his book. This fund manager did not realize that Stathis prognosis for America would be counterproductive for network ad revenues. The financial industry would be devastated by his analysis. At the same time, they realized no one who could successfully counter his arguments so they refused to air his insights because America s media industry is not interested in airing the truth until it is too late. The media serves their sponsors corporate America (including the financial industry) because they pay the bills. Stathis is no perma-bear and he has no financial agendas. Unlike others he is not trying to get you to buy gold from him or invest with him. Thus, his analysis is pure. His only agenda is to help you protect yourself from Wall Street crooks and Washington irresponsibility. Despite the controversial nature of his book, much has already come true. But there is much more to come as the book describes. Apparently, many investors didn t learn their lesson from the dotcom collapse. But Stathis did. And when he saw an even bigger collapse on the horizon, he spent 2 years of his life writing America s Financial Apocalypse to help investors. As the only expert who wrote a comprehensive analysis of America s problems prior to the collapse, it is clear that Stathis stands as the person who best understands what the future will hold and what the solutions are. This book proves he is the world s leading expert on this crisis hands down. After reading it, you will understand America far better than anyone in Washington and anyone on TV, including the so-called experts. That is a guarantee. If you haven t figured it out by now, you are on your own when it comes to your investments. And if you keep listening to the mainstream media, the same scams will continue to devastate you. You would be best to listen carefully at what Stathis has to say. Because he is the ONLY real expert who is on your side. --Confidential

About the Author

Mr. Stathis applies his as a consultant to early-stage companies, venture capital and private equity firms. He also provides public market consultation to hedge funds needing assistance with valuation, risk management and market timing. Mr. Stathis previously worked at two of Wall Street s largest firms, focusing on asset management and merchant banking. Prior to his career in finance, he was involved in several research projects in energy and the life sciences. The accuracy, depth and timing of this book have positioned him as one of America's leading investment authorities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: AVA Publishing (January 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975577670
• ISBN-13: 978-0975577677
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Really Delivers, February 4, 2008

By 

BMP - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's Financial Apocalypse: How to Profit from the Next Great Depression (Condensed Edition) (Paperback)

Unlike other books that talk about a problem for America in the coming years, this one does not focus on one or two problems but presents all of the major problems America is facing from economic, social and global political issues, to all of the financial issues.

Rather than focusing on America's national debt as a primary issue, the author realizes that no one problem is strong enough to take down the greatest nation on earth. Instead, he discusses the two biggest problems in America--the healthcare crisis and free trade, which have accelerated America's declining competitiveness. He also explains the misconceptions of the state of Social Security, the global oil shortage, continued presence in Iraq and growing tensions in the middle east, the real estate bubble, the pension problems and many more topics; all of this in addition to the growing record national debt and trade deficits. And he relates all of this together to the Baby Boomers.

He also makes very reasonable but adverse predictions for the dollar, long-term interest rates, and explains why America has a major economic correction that is inevitable. He points out well that we never recovered from the recession thought to have ended in 2001-2002, and Americans have been using credit to fuel the economy. The author goes at lengths to prove this and he even illustrates how the most critical economic numbers such as GDP and inflation have been manipulated by the government.

Even if this book did nothing more than to point out these issues, it would be a great achievement. But the author goes further to predict a major depression and he pays out very rational low-risk recommendations for investments. This is easily the most comprehensive book on America's problems as they relate to economics and investments (other than the much larger unabridged edition).

I could see this book being useful for everyone--working Americans, activists, politicians, economists, and citizens concerned about America's future, as well as investors at all levels. It is truly a critical read.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Relevant and Timely Investment Book in a Decade, February 22, 2008

By 

G.S. (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's Financial Apocalypse: How to Profit from the Next Great Depression (Condensed Edition) (Paperback)

Like the previos reviewer, I too have read hundreds of investment books. But this one stands out for many reasons. Here's why. Most of these books are written to make you feel good while short-changing you on substance. This book tells it like it is and offers valuable investment guidance.

Other similar books that have received much more publicity, but this book is far superior because is has been written with much more insight and data. In addition, unlike any other book dealing with the current economic conditions, this one makes credible predictions over a 20-year period. Lastly, the author does an excellent job discussing the problems with America's core programs and industries (healthcare, oil, Social Security, pension and retirement issues, free trade, political leadership). It does a great job explaining these topics. For these reasons, this book stands alone as a one-of-a-kind, with no real comparable.

While the authorative writing style is at times a bit dry, the information and insight easily overshadows this. The author does not merely tell you to buy gold and oil, TIPS, etc. He provides detailed rational for each strategy. Anyone who has not been in these asset classes has missed tremendous gains.

I especially like the fact that the author no longer works on Wall Street so he can be trusted since he has no biases. This is in contrast to other authors who write about gold and try to steer you to their company that sells gold coins, or authors who write books to advertise their funds or brokerage companies.

I end up giving away most investment books I buy after a first read, but I will keep this one for many years. I have no doubt this book will be as valuable to me in ten years as it has been now. For whatever it's worth, I work on Wall Street.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Wake Up Call, March 14, 2008

By 

Claus Fosgen - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's Financial Apocalypse: How to Profit from the Next Great Depression (Condensed Edition) (Paperback)

The author makes an indisputable case for America's decline, some of which has already occurred with remarkable accuracy. The larger, more detailed, original edition was written in 2006, well before there were any apparent problems with real estate. Yet, he predicted a fall out in not only housing, but also expected the banking system to suffer huge losses.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this book is that the author explains the real estate correction is only the first of many stages that will push America further into decline. To conclude, I have seen no book like this. It is comprehensive, well-researched and written and provides excellent guidance for both the novice and the professional investor.

I especially like the fact that, unlike other books, the author has since left Wall Street and no longer manages money, so he doesn't have any vested interests or biases. He doesn't sell gold coins or have a brokerage shop. That means doesn't stand to gain from the conclusions he presents other than positioning himself as America's leading investment expert. And he has, in my opinion achieved this.

With everyone on Wall Street, the Fed, the media and the so-called experts missing everything, I find it unfortunate that the author has not been the media's go-to guy to alert investors of the apocalypse. Maybe they fear the truth.