In this series of posts, our goal is to explain economic concepts so you can better understand the risks to your assets, whether you hold them in cash, stocks, mutual funds, real estate, or gold.

In a previous post, we discussed how the trillions of dollars in new money being injected into the U.S. economy by the Federal Reserve have sparked fears of an inflationary disaster. But while inflation could become a problem in the not-so-distant future, economic history suggests there is a more pressing—and perhaps more dangerous—concern: Deflation.

In simple terms, deflation is a drop in the prices—as opposed to inflation, where prices rise. The economic phenomenon can be caused by an increase in goods and services, a decrease in the supply of money and credit, or—as is the case during this pandemic—a decrease in demand.  

If falling prices sound like an attractive scenario, think again. While a moderate drop in prices can promote consumption...

In a scramble to keep the economy from plummeting into a depression during the COVID-19 crisis, the US Government signed off an unprecedented $2.3 trillion in relief to support households, employers, financial markets, and state and local governments. And discussions continue on providing a second stimulus package worth an additional $1 trillion.

For the most part, this money is coming essentially out of thin air.

But conventional wisdom has held that governments cannot simply create money on such a massive scale and continue propping up the markets without triggering inflation.

Should investors be worried? To understand whether inflation is likely to become a risk in the near term, let’s take a closer look at what inflation is, what causes it, and how you can protect yourself. 

Inflation: An Overview

In 1990, the average cost of a new home in the U.S. was $79,100, and the average income was $17,710. Only 29 years later, the median price for a new home is $329,750,...

This past week, we published Part 1 of our Covid-19 Investor Update, focusing on our Pineapple Farm in Panama.  In Part 2, we looked at multiple Agricultural investments in Colombia. Our Part 3 today is focused on a few of our Multifamily investments in the United States.

Multifamily (also known as Apartment Buildings of 5 or more units for newbies) investments are the foundation of our wealth from a Real Estate investment perspective.  We believe value-add multifamily investments are the best asset class for medium-term cash flow AND long-term growth of our overall net worth. For those of you unfamiliar with this investment strategy....quick education:

What is a Value-Add Multifamily Syndication Investment and why you should invest in them

Let’s break it down. A real estate syndication investment is a way for investors like us to pool our financial capital to invest in properties and projects much bigger than we could afford or manage on our own. I add my...