The U.S. Retirement Market is in BIG TROUBLE as annual benefits paid out are now larger than total contributions. The number of net withdrawals was the highest in history. When payouts become larger than contributions… then we have the making of the typical PONZI SCHEME.
Greatest Ponzi Scheme in History
Americans who have invested their hard-earned money into a 401K, had no idea that it was the Greatest Ponzi Scheme in history. Unfortunately, when the markets crack, so will the value of the U.S. Retirement market. On the other hand, Americans who were wise enough to purchase physical precious metals will protect their wealth as the U.S. Paper Retirement Market collapses.
According to the most recent data by the ICI – Investment Company Institute, the U.S. Retirement Market ballooned to a new record high of $25.3 trillion at the end of 2016:
(chart from ICI- Investment Company Institute Retirement Statistics)
As we can see, the U.S. Retirement Market has nearly doubled since the collapse of the Housing & Banking sectors in 2008. The total value of the U.S. Retirement Market increased from a low of $13.9 trillion in 2008 to $25.3 trillion at the end of 2016. It’s not quite double... but close enough.
Furthermore, the surge in U.S. Retirement assets from $19.7 trillion in 2012 to $22.6 trillion in 2013 was due to the Federal Reserve QE 3 policy (Quantitative Easing #3). This was the year that the monetary stimulus was funneled into the Stock, Bond, and Real Estate Market and away from the precious metals. Thus, the precious metals suffered huge price declines in 2013.
As Americans continue to contribute to their “supposed” retirement plans, few realize that more funds are now heading out than going in. This is not a good sign at all. If we look at the most recent data from the Investment Company Institute, Americans contributed a total of $373.6 billion to their Private Sector DC Plans in 2014 versus total benefits paid out of $402.3 billion. This means, net contributions were a negative $28.7 billion... the highest on record:
The grey bars represent total contributions while the red line shows the total benefits paid. The net result is shown in the GREEN & RED bars at the lower part of the chart. Green bars are positive net contributions, while red bars are net withdrawals. Unfortunately, the Investment Company Institute does not provide data for 2015 or 2016 yet. It will be interesting to see if these net withdrawals continue to increase. My gut tells me that they most likely have.
NOTE: The majority of the Private-Sector DC Plans were 401k’s, which accounted for roughly 98% of total contributions and 91% of total benefits paid.
So, why is the U.S. Retirement Market in BIG TROUBLE? Well, if we look at the next chart, we find our answer:
The chart shows that the U.S. Retirement Market has increased right along with a surge in total U.S. public debt. Thus, the U.S. Retirement Market’s value is being propped up by debt. As the U.S. debt exploded from $875 billion in 1980 to $20 trillion currently, the U.S. Retirement Market surged from $822 billion to $25.3 trillion during the same period. We must remember the following:
DEBT IS NOT AN ASSET. Also, the true value is subtracting total debt from total assets.
Thus, if we just applied simple math here, the U.S. Retirement market’s net value is approximately $5 trillion… 80% less than what it is currently. And that $5 trillion figure is likely inflated. I do realize I am making a very general calculation here, but DEBTS are not ASSETS.
The reason the U.S. Retirement Market is a huge Ponzi Scheme is that it has stored “Digital IOUs” rather than real physical wealth. A typical stock price is based on “Net Present Value.” They take the future value of the company’s earnings and give it a price today. Unfortunately, the company's earnings are based on burning energy in the future. There lies the rub.
Back during the 1930s, most stock prices were based on the BOOK VALUE. Basically, the value of the company's worth if all its assets were sold. Today, a stock price is based on EARNINGS. Earnings can and will implode when the markets crack due to massive debt and falling oil production.
However, the few Americans who were wise enough to purchase physical precious metals rather than put their money into the Greatest Ponzi Scheme in history will protect wealth while most paper assets disintegrate.
$100,000 Physical Gold Investment vs $100,000 Invested in 401K
r If an American had $100,000 in their 401K, they would have to pay a 10% penalty for early withdrawal. While a 401K withdrawal is taxed as regular income compared to physical gold taxed at a maximum of 28% capital gains, at least can hold onto nearly three-quarters of your wealth.
That being said, once the market crash occurs, the value of most Americans’ retirement assets is going to implode. I would not be surprised to see at least a 50-75% collapse (or more) in the typical U.S. Retirement Account. Thus, the $100,000 invested in a 401K could fall to a low of $25,000, while $100,000 invested in physical gold, could easily double to $200,000.
This is the likely outcome. Mark my words. A typical American who has invested $100,000 into a typical 401K will find that his or her retirement account will fall to one-tenth its value versus someone who purchased physical gold instead. The coming collapse of the U.S. and Global Oil Industries, due to lower oil prices, will be the factor that destroys the U.S. Retirement Ponzi Scheme. It is not a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN.
About the Author:
Independent researcher Steve St. Angelo started to invest in precious metals in 2002. In 2008, he began researching areas of the gold and silver market that the majority of the precious metal analyst community has left unexplored. These areas include how energy and the falling EROI – Energy Returned On Invested – stand to impact the mining industry, precious metals, paper assets, and the overall economy.
