Join Us at the 2023 World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida!

? Dates: November 17, 18, and 19 ? Location: Orlando, Florida, USA (or tune in from home with our virtual ticket options)

Are you ready to unlock the future of economics and finance? Prepare for an unforgettable World Economic Conference experience in sunny Orlando, Florida! This premier event is your gateway to insights, networking, and valuable resources that will supercharge your understanding of the global economy.

?️ What’s Included for In-Person Attendees:

1. Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
2. Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
3. Video Recording: Can’t make it to a session? No worries! You’ll receive access to video recordings of all conference presentations, so you can catch up at your convenience.
4. WEC Event App: Connect with the conference on a whole new level. Access presentation slides, bonus reports, recordings, and more via the official WEC Event App.
5. Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
6. Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
7. Networking Opportunities: Exclusive access to the Event App Networking Feature allows you to connect with fellow attendees, both in-person and virtual, fostering valuable professional relationships.
8. Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
9. Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
10. Swag Bag: As a token of our appreciation, each in-person attendee will receive a swag bag filled with goodies, including an Armstrong Economics notebook, pen, and an event collector’s mug!

Unable to travel? We also have two different ticket options for those wishing to attend virtually! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of economic and financial minds. Secure your spot at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida, and gain the knowledge, connections, and resources you need to thrive in the world of finance and economics.

Space is limited, so act now and reserve your seat! Visit our Events page to register and join us in sunny Orlando this November.

Now available at all major retailers!

The eBook will be available shortly.

The second edition of “The Plot to Seize Russia – The Untold History” is now available for purchase in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebook will be available shortly.

Book description:

“Take care of Russia,” Boris Yeltsin said as he departed his presidency in August 1999. These words were directed at current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin specifically picked Putin as his predecessor to prevent the takeover of Russia.

So, who was Yeltsin warning against? Newly declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that there was a plot to rig the Russian election of 2000. These never-before-seen documents confirm numerous attempts to implement pro-Western policies using the Russian oligarchy headed by Boris Berezovsky.

On the other side were the communists who desired a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. As one of the largest international hedge fund managers, author Martin Armstrong found himself in the middle of perhaps the greatest espionage, or attempt at a regime change for Russia, in modern history.

The Plot to Seize Russia pulls back the curtain to expose the most extraordinary attempt to seize power in modern history, but with the pen rather than armies. These declassified documents reveal a plot that has altered our thinking about the relations between the United States and Russia. The thirst for power comes seething through every line of these papers that alter our perception of reality, change the course of history, and now threaten us with World War III.

COMMENT: Just like you said Marty, Trump Chief of staff on down blocked info from Trump and crammed thru their own agendas. this guy worked for RFK and just did 2 hours on Joe Rogan calling out Susie Wiles and the whole bunch working for lobbyist and against the country and Trump. ​​

blocked info Trump.MOV

GA

REPLY: I was getting the feeling that something was wrong. If I wrote to the administration, I would always get a response. All of a sudden, my letters were not getting through. I assumed the Neocons were intercepting them. It seems my gut feeling was true.

This is the problem. I have written about this before. Back in 1999, George Bush Jr never picked his cabinet. That was all done by unelected people. General Flynn in his documentary also said when Trump was there the first time, he was naive.The second time, he picked his cabinet, but I did not repeat some of the “rumors” I was hearing.

The Democrats are not going to focus of the economy or the nation, they are going to launch a whirlwind of investigations.

In a disturbing reminder of how sophisticated financial scams have become, a Florida resident has reportedly lost more than $1.5 million after falling victim to a scheme involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officials.

The incident has prompted warnings from the Clearwater police department, highlighting growing concern: criminals are increasingly using fear, intimidation, and the appearance of government authority to manipulate unsuspecting individuals into handing over their money.

Unfortunately, these schemes are not always easy to recognize. Scammers are becoming more convincing, and even individuals who consider themselves financially responsible and cautious can become targets.

This scam relies on one powerful tactic: fear.

Scammers contact individuals while pretending to represent legitimate law enforcement agencies or government authorities. They may claim that the victim is connected to a criminal investigation, has an outstanding warrant, or that their financial accounts or personal assets are at risk.

Once they establish a sense of urgency, they begin pressuring the victim to take immediate action. This may include: transferring money into accounts supposedly designated for protection, withdrawing large amounts of cash, purchasing cryptocurrency or other forms of payment, providing personal banking information, or giving up assets. The objective is to prevent victims from questioning the situation or seeking outside assistance.

According to federal reporting, government and law enforcement impersonation scams resulted in more than $1.6 billion in reported losses between January 2025 and July 2026.

What makes these scams particularly dangerous is the psychological manipulation behind them. Most people are conditioned to respect law enforcement and respond when an authority figure contacts them. Scammers are exploiting that instinct.

They may use official-sounding language, fabricated credentials, real officers’ names, and even manipulated caller ID information to make their communications appear legitimate. In some situations, victims are instructed not to discuss the investigation with family members, financial institutions, or anyone else.

That isolation is intentional.

By creating panic and discouraging victims from seeking a second opinion, scammers increase the likelihood that someone will comply with their demands. Recent warnings from South Florida law enforcement agencies have highlighted how convincing these impersonations can be.

Be cautious and recognize the warning signs. Anyone who claims to be a police officer or government representative and is demanding immediate payment, threatening arrest, requesting transfers, or anything of that nature- hang up and contact local authorities.

Americans are falling behind on their car payments at levels not seen in nearly a decade, and the situation is becoming increasingly alarming. According to new research from LoanTape, 17.68% of subprime auto loan balances in the securitized pools it examined were at least 30 days delinquent in September 2026, the highest September reading in its dataset dating back to 2017. Another 7% were at least 60 days overdue, compared with 3.43% in September 2019. That means serious delinquencies in this segment have more than doubled from their pre-pandemic level.

The automobile has become another casualty of pandemic-era inflation. The average transaction price of a new vehicle surpassed $50,000 in September 2025, according to Kelley Blue Book. Americans are financing cars over six, seven, and even eight years simply to make the monthly payment appear affordable. That does nothing to reduce the actual cost. It merely stretches the debt over a longer period while the borrower continues paying interest on a depreciating asset. We have reached the absurd point where an ordinary family vehicle can cost more than some Americans earn in an entire year. Add insurance, maintenance, registration, fuel, and financing charges, and transportation has become an enormous financial burden.

The Federal Reserve has already identified the underlying problem. Its own research found that average required monthly auto payments increased from approximately $470 in January 2020 to $600 by January 2023. That was an increase of nearly 28% in just three years. The Fed concluded that larger loan amounts, driven by rising vehicle prices, were a major contributor to the increase in delinquencies. Yet the political establishment continues to obsess over whether inflation is rising by 2% or 3% annually, ignoring the fact that consumers are paying those additional increases on top of the enormous price increases already accumulated since 2020. Prices do not magically return to their former levels simply because the annual rate of inflation declines.

The latest figures reveal that financial distress is spreading across lenders rather than remaining confined to one poorly managed institution. Delinquency rates increased at 10 of the 12 major subprime issuers examined by LoanTape. The headline increase is partly explained by the aging of the loans in the sample, but even after adjusting for differences in lenders and loan age, the delinquency rate deteriorated. These figures apply specifically to the securitized subprime loans examined, not to every automobile borrower in America. Nevertheless, the broader Federal Reserve data also show serious financial strain. The Philadelphia Fed reported that subprime borrowers represented only 17% of active auto loan accounts but accounted for nearly two-thirds of delinquent loans in its analysis.

The poorest half of American households by wealth held approximately 51.6% of consumer credit in the second quarter of 2026, according to Federal Reserve distribution data cited in the report. These are the households least capable of absorbing another financial shock. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 48.1, reflecting the growing pessimism among Americans who see their purchasing power deteriorating. The unemployment rate reached 4.2% in September. Even a modest deterioration in employment can push a household already struggling with a $600 or $800 car payment into default.

Auto loans are secured by assets that depreciate, often rapidly. When a borrower defaults, the lender repossesses the vehicle and attempts to recover the outstanding balance through resale. If repossessions increase, additional used vehicles enter the market, potentially depressing prices and reducing the amount lenders can recover. A borrower who financed an overpriced vehicle with little money down may owe substantially more than the car is worth. The lender suffers a loss, the borrower’s credit is damaged, and the individual may lose the transportation necessary to maintain employment.

This also affects the automobile industry itself. As defaults rise, lenders become more selective, demand larger down payments, and charge higher rates to compensate for risk. Fewer consumers qualify for financing, which reduces demand for new and used vehicles. Dealers begin struggling with inventory, manufacturers face weaker sales, and suppliers experience declining orders. The automobile industry has historically been an important indicator of economic conditions because it depends upon consumer confidence, available credit, and expectations of future income. When households are unwilling or unable to assume additional debt, the weakness eventually reaches the broader economy.

The most troubling aspect is that this deterioration has occurred without a severe nationwide recession. Subprime borrowers are already experiencing delinquency levels comparable to, or worse than, those seen during previous periods of significant economic stress. What happens if unemployment rises further? What happens when consumers who have exhausted their credit cards can no longer refinance or extend their obligations? The weakness in the automobile market is revealing how little financial flexibility remains among lower-income households.

America has built an economy increasingly dependent upon consumer borrowing to maintain living standards that wages alone can no longer support. The automobile market is exposing the consequences. People are financing depreciating assets for nearly a decade, paying inflated prices, and sacrificing an ever-larger portion of their income simply to remain employed. When even the car payment becomes impossible to maintain, we are witnessing something far more serious than an isolated problem in subprime lending. We are watching the erosion of the American consumer’s financial foundation, and no amount of political rhetoric can conceal what is happening to household finances.

Russia is beginning to show signs of financial strain from its prolonged war in Ukraine. St. Petersburg has slashed its military recruitment bonus from 3.5 million rubles ($43,000) to just 400,000 rubles ($4,900), a reduction of nearly 89%. The city had already lowered the payment to 1 million rubles in October before announcing another reduction in November. New recruits can still receive an additional 400,000 rubles from the federal government, bringing the combined guaranteed signing bonus to approximately $9,800.

The cuts are spreading beyond St. Petersburg. Mari El reduced its regional recruitment bonus from approximately $28,300 to $4,900, while Mordovia lowered payments from $36,900 to $9,800. Irkutsk and Novosibirsk have also reduced incentives. These bonuses became an important part of Russia’s recruitment strategy because Moscow has attempted to maintain its military manpower through paid contracts rather than another politically disruptive mass mobilization. The government offered enormous financial incentives, particularly in poorer regions where a military contract could provide several years of ordinary wages. Now some of those payments are disappearing, even as the war continues consuming manpower.

The Conflict Intelligence Team suggested that St. Petersburg may have already fulfilled its annual recruitment target, allowing authorities to reduce payments toward the end of the year. Regional governments have incentives to recruit soldiers at the lowest possible cost, and bonuses could increase again when new recruitment targets are established in 2027. A government reducing payments because it has sufficient recruits faces a very different situation from one reducing payments because it can no longer afford them.

Nevertheless, the financial pressure on Russia’s regional governments is becoming increasingly apparent. St. Petersburg is attempting to contain a budget deficit estimated at approximately $1.34 billion. Officials have reportedly cut planned spending on social programs and urban improvements by $860 million and are considering eliminating about 15% of government and public-sector positions. Other regions are confronting similar problems. Russian regional governments had accumulated combined budget deficits exceeding $1.65 billion by September. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has also reported that 65 Russian regions are preparing spending reductions between 2027 and 2029, although those projections should be treated as assessments from a party to the conflict rather than established outcomes.

Russia’s federal budget deficit reached approximately 2.8% of GDP by July, nearly twice the annual target at that point. Liquid fiscal reserves had fallen to around 1.6% of GDP, while domestic borrowing costs remained elevated. Higher oil revenues have provided some relief, particularly following disruptions to global energy markets, but Russia remains exposed to changes in commodity prices and export revenues. The government must finance its military operations while supporting civilian spending, servicing debt, and managing inflationary pressures. The longer the conflict continues, the more difficult those competing obligations become.

The manpower issue is equally important. Russia has relied heavily upon financial incentives to attract volunteers without repeating the widespread disruption associated with its 2022 mobilization. That strategy has political advantages because it reduces the immediate pressure placed upon households outside the recruitment system. But it also creates a substantial financial obligation. If the government must continually increase payments to attract sufficient soldiers, recruitment becomes progressively more expensive. If it reduces those payments too aggressively, fewer people may consider enlistment worthwhile. The government must balance military requirements against the economic and political consequences of obtaining additional manpower.

History demonstrates that armies do not necessarily collapse because a government runs short of money. The more dangerous situation develops when financial strain coincides with declining confidence in military leadership, uncertain objectives, and deteriorating expectations among the population. Soldiers need to believe that their sacrifices will accomplish something. Families need confidence that the government will honor its obligations to those serving. A government that promises enormous financial rewards and subsequently reduces incentives may create questions about its long-term capacity to support the military, even when existing contracts remain legally unchanged.

The reduction in recruitment bonuses is therefore worth watching, but it should not be mistaken for proof that Russia is approaching military defeat. More important indicators will be whether recruitment continues to decline, whether regional governments can meet their personnel targets, and whether Moscow is forced to consider additional mobilization. Reports of delayed compensation, reduced benefits, or growing difficulties financing military obligations would provide further evidence of strain. Conversely, if enlistment remains sufficient despite lower payments, the reductions may simply represent an attempt to control costs.

Confidence ultimately determines how long a government can sustain extraordinary sacrifices. Soldiers must trust their leadership, families must believe that their sacrifices have meaning, and the population must accept the economic burden. Money can attract recruits, but it cannot replace those foundations. Russia’s shrinking recruitment bonuses do not establish that its military is losing confidence, but they raise questions about the financial and political sustainability of maintaining a prolonged war through paid enlistment. Those questions will become increasingly important as Moscow enters another year of military commitments.

I have studied such events and revolutions during economic hard times. The violence routinely comes from the LEFT, not the RIGHT, for the simple reason that the LEFT portrays themselves as the victims of the rich and the RIGHT. It does hand-in-hand with that philosophy that they are not to blame, it is always someone with more money that prevents them from rising up the ladder of material wealth.

I have been to Krakow. That main square is beautiful and it is a tourist spot. In Poland, it has just been discovered that the Kraków attacker, Michał Oksiński, was a radical left-wing activist, an antifascist and an anarcho-communist who mocked Christianity. Tusk’s government and the media tried to link him to right-wing groups, but it is now known that this is not the case. Everything could be leaked from Oksinski’s accounts, which have now been deleted. The question is, who deleted the attacker’s two Facebook accounts if his parents and his sister were found dead in their home?

Where does capital go when it leaves one market for another? That question brings people from around the world to the 2026 World Economic Conference. This December 4–6, we invite you to join us from wherever you are to explore how money moves across borders and through market cycles, and to see what Socrates projects next.

The Virtual ticket lets you watch all three days live and includes the presentation slides and video recording. Follow along as the conference unfolds, then return to a chart or replay a discussion you want to study more closely. If a particular WEC special report interests you, you can purchase it at the discounted attendee rate when it is released. Bonus reports are not included in the standard Virtual ticket.

For the full set of digital conference materials, the Virtual Plus ticket includes the livestream, slides, and recording, plus any bonus reports or videos Martin Armstrong makes available for this year’s event. Virtual Plus also opens the networking feature in the WEC Event App and website during the live event, so you can exchange contact information with other attendees. The choice comes down to whether you prefer to select reports individually or have the available materials included and connect with fellow attendees over the weekend.

If your schedule permits, we highly recommend joining us in person. One of the best reasons to attend the WEC is the chance to meet Martin Armstrong and talk with people who follow the same markets from very different parts of the world. The Friday evening cocktail reception gives you time to get to know fellow attendees before the first full day. Over breakfast or lunch, you can pick up a conversation from the day before, compare notes on what you’re seeing in your own country, and build relationships that last beyond the weekend. If a presentation raises a question you’d like Mike and Marty to address, only in-person attendees can submit it for their end-of-day recap. The In-Person ticket includes conference seating, the reception, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, presentation slides, the recording, and any additional digital materials made available for the event. We’d love to welcome you into a community that comes together each year for this tradition.

The livestream begins Friday, December 4, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EST. Saturday’s session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday’s from 10:00 a.m. to noon, all Eastern Standard Time. Times are subject to change.

We hope to see you there!

View ticket options and register for the 2026 World Economic Conference.