The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times [Hardcover]

Martin D. Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2009

An insightful look at how to protect, save, and grow wealth in difficult economic times

Having an effective financial and personal plan for the future is now more crucial than ever. And with the bestselling The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide now in paperback, you'll quickly learn how to create such a plan. This comprehensive guide was especially designed to help people map out a practical financial plan in this unpredictable economic environment, so that they can stop worrying about their money and just enjoy life.

Step by step, Martin Weiss-America's Consumer Advocate for Financial Safety-introduces, explains, and helps solve many of the new challenges and risks that face millions of Americans. Throughout the book, Weiss provides you with sound strategies for coping with the credit crunch, housing bust, and decline of the U.S. dollar.

• Discusses different ways to adapt to the realities of continuous market volatility
• Contains solutions to dealing with sinking real estate or falling stocks
• Examines the opportunities you'll have to buy choice assets at bargain prices during a depressed economy

The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide also examines important topics that today's investor must be familiar with-including global investing, foreign currencies, and commodities-if they intend to make it through the decade ahead.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

With no end to the global debt crisis in sight and the American economy sinking into depression, traditional advice on money could lead millions of innocent victims down the road of deepening losses. But with this timely book, Martin Weiss will guide you to the truly safe havens and show you how to turn this crisis into a unique wealth-building opportunity.

As Editor of the Safe Money Report and author of Crash Profits, Martin Weiss specifically warned of this crisis well before it began. He helped thousands of investors avoid losses by forecasting the financial difficulties of Washington Mutual, Wachovia Bank, Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers, General Motors, and Citigroup—plus nearly every major troubled firm—well in advance. Indeed, the accuracy of his analysis is why the U.S. Government Accountability Office has praised his work; the New York Times wrote that he was "the first to warn of the dangers and say so unambiguously"; and the Wall Street Journal reported that his company's research outperformed that of all Wall Street firms they covered.

Martin Weiss's father, one of the only economists in the modern era who not only advised investors during the 1930s Great Depression, but also predicted it, performed a similar service for investors. And now, with The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide, Weiss combines the past analysis of his father with his own contemporary insights to help you protect your money, improve your income, and build wealth in the worst of times.

Step by step, Weiss outlines effective strategies that will help you to sidestep the continuing dangers in stocks, cut your losses in real estate, escape a banking crisis, build a substantial cash nest egg, and put that cash away in the safest possible place. If you feel you're stuck with sinking real estate or falling stocks, he offers you a solution that will help you sleep at night despite continuing market declines. Plus, he shows you how to recognize the ultimate bottom in real estate and stocks, giving you the opportunity to buy choice assets at bargain prices.

For the duration of this crisis—and beyond—you can also benefit from regular follow-up e-mails directly from the author. Visit www.moneyandmarkets.com/guide to sign up for free financial updates such as critical warnings on upcoming dangers and new opportunities as they arise.

To survive the crisis on Wall Street and Main Street, you don't need extensive investing experience or the ability to forecast the future. All you need is the courage to get out of its way. So throw out your preconceived notions, start with a clean slate, and follow the commonsense guidance found in this reliable resource to survive—and thrive—during the turbulent times ahead.

From the Back Cover

"Absolutely provocative! Martin Weiss's prediction of the current economic crisis is uncanny. A must-read for the investor who wants to know what happens next!"
—CHRISTOPHER RUDDY, Editor, Newsmax.com

Martin Weiss was "the first to warn of the dangers and say so unambiguously."
—THE NEW YORK TIMES

"Depressions don't happen very often. Psychologically and practically, people are never prepared for them. Martin Weiss has done an excellent job of helping readers understand what they must do to adapt to the grim realities of a depressed economy."
—BILL BONNER, President and CEO of Agora Financial; bestselling author of Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets and Empire of Debt

Weiss is "the leader in identifying vulnerable companies."
—BARRON'S

"The author's father, Irving Weiss, was a historian of deflation. It's a shame he is not around to see the result of the unrestrained credit expansion that he so consistently warned against. Fortunately, his son carried on the legacy of his father with intelligence and aplomb."
—ROBERT R. PRECHTER Jr., author of Conquer the Crash

"In a lively and informative read, veteran investment analyst Martin Weiss provides meaningful insight into the financial dangers confronting us and serves up a course of action to avoid further wealth destruction."
—DAN DORFMAN, financial columnist and commentator

"Dr. Weiss shares with us his unequaled advice for investors during these frightening times. The valuable insight in this book is vital information for all investors looking for safe harbor in a very choppy ocean."
—KEVIN KERR, Editor, Global Commodities Alert

"This is Weiss's best book ever and so appropriate for the tough times! He tells all the steps we need to take now to protect ourselves and our families from financial disasters."
—STEVE CROWLEY, Host, American Scene Radio and WallStreetCast Television

"Martin's work is always clear, direct, and actionable. Read this book and you'll have a plan for growing your wealth rather than losing it in the difficult period ahead."
—Addison Wiggin, Executive Publisher, Agora Financial LLC; author, I.O.U.S.A.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons; 1st edition (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470393777
• ISBN-13: 978-0470393772
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Martin D. Weiss is one of the nation's leading providers of a wide range of investment information. He is chairman of The Weiss Group, Inc. which consists of four separate corporations, including Weiss Research, Inc., the publisher of the Safe Money Report. The Weiss companies have helped thousands of individuals make informed investment decisions and objectively discriminate between strong and weak stocks, insurance companies, HMOs, banks and S&Ls.

Dr. Weiss began his career in 1971 when he founded Weiss Research, dedicated to evaluating the safety of financial institutions and investments for consulting clients. After spending two years in Japan as a Fulbright Scholar studying management techniques at Japanese financial institutions, Dr. Weiss returned to the United States in 1980 to begin issuing formal safety ratings on banks and savings institutions. His firm issued the first independent insurance ratings in 1989, the first ratings of brokerage firms in 1992, and the first HMO ratings in 1994.

Acclaimed for his accurate, objective evaluations, Dr. Weiss has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC, and network news programs, including The Today Show. He has been quoted in hundreds of newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, Esquire Magazine, Money, Business Week, Fortune, and The Institutional Investor. Plus, books by Weiss have been published in Japanese and serialized in major Japanese business magazines and newspapers such as Economisto and the Japan Economic Journal. Articles have also appeared in the London Spectator and other European economic journals.

His Weiss Ratings, based largely on the Weiss proprietary computer model, has won acclaim by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) for having beaten the competition by three to one in accuracy.

Dr. Weiss has testified before Congress and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators regarding insurance company stability, where he has proposed legislation requiring full financial disclosure to the consumer. He testified before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations when it considered the financial difficulties befalling Blue Cross/Blue Shield member companies. He is also a frequent guest speaker and lecturer at major investment seminars in the U.S. and abroad. Most recently, Dr. Weiss presented to the National Press Club his solution for eliminating the conflicts of interest rampant in the brokerage industry.

Dr. Weiss is the editor of the financial newsletter, Safe Money Report, known for its track record in picking major turns in interest rates. Dr. Weiss also serves as editor or co-editor for a number of Premium Services. He is also the author of The Ultimate Safe Money Guide: How Everyone 50 and Over Can Protect, Save and Grow Their Money and Crash Profits: How to Make Money When Stocks Sink AND Soar.

Martin Weiss holds a bachelor's degree from New York University and a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

128 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Be Very Careful of the Investment Recommendations, May 16, 2009

By 

Paul E. Puckett Jr. "Paul" (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times (Hardcover)

I have a great deal of respect for the author's intellect and courage in predicting various economic events. However, the investment advice given in this book is not fully presented by the author and may actually be harmful to some investors.

In Chapter 7, he recommends creating your own hedge positions using ETFs. An experienced and knowledgeable investor will easily understand this section and know, even though it isn't included, of the trade-offs created by the use of inverse index ETFs. But, for most readers, the concept of inverse index funds is probably new to them and, although there are a few warnings in later chapters, they should be provided with the hypothetical investment returns if the market were to rise.

Basically, inverse funds move in the opposite direction of the index that they track, so if the inverse ETF tracks the S&P500 and the S&P500 drops 10%, the inverse fund would theoretically go up 10%. The problem with the illustrations, on pages 108-109, is that the potential returns are only shown for how the portfolios would perform if Mr. Weiss is correct and the market continues to fall. He does not show what happens when the market goes up 10%. I would highly recommend that anyone attempting to implement any of the recommended portfolios perform their own analysis or find a competent fee-only financial planner or fee-only investment advisor to help them. I'm not against hedging, but if you don't know what you're doing and you don't monitor this type of portfolio, you might get a rude awakening after any market surge. As described in the book, when the index rises 10%, the single leveraged, or 1X, inverse fund will drop 10%. The 2X drops 20% and the 3X would fall 30%. If we have a year like 2003 and the index does almost 30%, the leveraged 3X fund would drop almost 90%. In essence, the author is recommending that the investor give up some of the gain in good markets to hedge against those times when the market falls. This is commonly used by institutional investors, but they typically use professional advisors to handle the day-to-day details of a hedged portfolio. These funds are intended for daily trading, not long-term holding. The funds are designed to move inversely to the index on a daily basis. For longer periods, volatility drag causes the returns of these funds to vary, sometimes dramatically, from the index. See the comments below this review.
(Since writing this review last month, FINRA, the regulatory agency for the brokerage industry and its' products released a Regulatory Notice #09-31 regarding Leveraged ETF's. You can view this release by going to the FINRA website, selecting Investment Professionals, Regulation (upper left) click the word "notices" and download the pdf. I would strongly suggest any investor review the FINRA notice and fully review the leveraged ETF products prior to considering any implementation of the investment plan described in The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide.)

It is possible this information is available to subscribers to his newsletter or on his website, but you should know the anticipated outcome of these portfolio's if he's wrong about a continuing depression. The rest of the book offers some good advice on what he believes will happen and how to handle it. Often, the investment recommendations are dependent on the reader subscribing to a newsletter or email so that they can be notified when the time is "right" to make changes in their 401k, investment accounts, etc.

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Treat the Book as Light Entertainment. As Advice It Could Leave You Broke!, March 4, 2010

By 

Richard A. Lawhern (Fort Mill, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times (Hardcover)

I have subscribed for several months to Martin Weiss's free Internet newsletter "Money and Markets". Thus I have read many of the ideas brought together in this book. I am amazed so few people bother to research the backgrounds of guys like Martin before plunging headlong into investments that can make them poor.

This is not to say that Mr. Weiss is deliberately defrauding anyone. It is conceivable that, like prominent authors such as Howard J. Ruff and Gary North in 1979-1982, Weiss believes what he writes. Nor am I suggesting that the US economy is in great shape and won't plunge us into another major equities market crash soon. One may accept both premises and still believe Mr. Weiss's advice to be unsound.

Ultimately, the "proof of the pudding" is in the eating. Many of Howard Ruff's followers discovered to their personal woe that the economic world of 1980 wasn't coming to an end in quite the manner that their prophet predicted. Gold did not appreciate to $2,000 per ounce and gold stocks did not provide leverage on this predicted explosion in hard asset values. Silver crashed 90%+ after the Hunt Brothers' effort to corner the silver market failed. Quite a number of Ruff's investors crashed along with their money and investors who follow Weiss could follow a similar trajectory.

Weiss' advice might be assessed from the investment results he has already produced for people who have paid thousands of dollars for his advice. In this context, I suggest that readers investigate the following:

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING File No. 3-12341 Securities and Exchange Commission, June22, 2006. This proceeding details findings supporting administrative penalties of over $2 million dollars assessed against Mr. Weiss and his associate Larry Edelson. A finding of the Cease and Desist order was "...during the relevant time period, many subscribers who followed each Weiss Research trading recommendation - as Weiss Research encouraged its subscribers to do - experienced overall returns that were substantially lower than Weiss Research's profit examples and most actually lost money." Also pertinent was the finding that Weiss and Edelson acted as Investment Advisers under SEC definitions, at a time when not licensed to do so. You're going to trust these guys to guide your financial future? What are you thinking?

Another source appears to have been written by former investors of Martin Weiss, in the UK. The site features a long-term trading history for investments recommended by Mr. Weiss to his paying clients. This source confirms that Weiss investors have persistently lost money. Search Google for the term "trading and legal history" plus "Martin Weiss".

Recent issues of Weiss Research "Money and Markets" make claims of "guaranteed profits" by applying a type of technical analysis called "cycle theory". This theory is supposedly validated by data analysis of the Foundation for the Study of Cycles, now directed by Richard Mogey. However, multiple online references reveal that the methods of the Foundation have been discredited by legitimate economists since it was chartered under Herbert Hoover. As but one example, the Foundation claims to be able to predict major economic shifts from the study of over 200 years of economic history. Such a claim is foolish to the extreme. The structures and processes of our economy changed radically between any two 50 year periods of that time. Thus there is no underlying cause-and-effect mechanism from which to derive an "economic cycle" that applies to the full period. One might as well be dredging up investment advice from a seance.

Thus to the reader: treat the book as light entertainment. If you act on its advice, you could find yourself poor within a few years.

104 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive survival guide for the depression, April 13, 2009

By 

Sandy Winnich "Certified Financial Planner" (Arlington, TEXAS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times (Hardcover)

Weiss' "The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide" is a smart, well-written book full of sound financial principles, all of which make it worth buying. Using historical examples, recent trends, and advice from dad, Weiss brings a well-rounded understanding of the current economic crisis to the reader in a simple, easy-to-understand fashion.

His advice is summed up in a couple quotes: the depression was inevitable because of the housing bust, the mortgage meltdown, and the biggest debt crisis in history. The housing bust was cased by Fannie and Freddie Mac (as Weiss explains, "some of the largest speculative bubbles of all time were born out of government-sponsored monopolies"). And we can "kick the can down the road" (meaning we can bailout broken firms and "stimulate" the economy, but that will just delay the inevitable major crash.

But we can't do anything about our governments' reckless behavior until the next election, so Weis offers immediate advice to readers that they can do somehting about: save, reduce debt and sell stocks (the latter one might not be such a hot idea since it appears the markets have at least started a major rebound). He gives very good advaice about looking for the bottom of the economic retraction: look for the government to capitulate (give up trying to save the world!). He recommends investing in etfs (or reverse etfs) and treasury-only MM Funds.

This is a great read and highly recommended, though Weiss neglects a major contributor to the problem: the Federal Reserve. If you're looking for a bit more unconventional but very beneficial techniques for thriving in this economy check out Surviving the Second Great Depression: How to Take Advantage of the Government That Is Trying to Take Advantage of You. For a better summary of what got us here check out Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse.