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.

Nancy Pelosi officially announced her resignation from politics this year. The former House Speaker found fortune in politics, accumulating $130 million from equities during her 38-year tenure. Her returns would make the most seasoned money manager stutter—16,930%.

As a comparison, the Dow Jones “only” yielded 2,300% during the same time period. Her annual return was a grotesque 14.5%, outperforming every major index. Her portfolio raked in 54% last year, doubling the S&P’s 25% return. She managed to outperform every hedge fund globally.

Pelosi amplifies every reason why Congressional term limits are crucial. Nancy Pelosi has accumulated a $240 million fortune through blatant inside trading. Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Nvidia, among others—when the government is making moves, her “husband” just so happens to make lucky trades ahead of the news. Her current salary is $174,000, previously $223,500, and she will earn a $139,000 annual pension upon retirement. Naturally, she will still have those inside sources and continue to grow her wealth.

Progressive members of the Democratic Party have been pushing Pelosi out. The younger generation is more socialistic and less willing to openly generate wealth through backroom deals. Although she has not officially declared retirement, Pelosi is 86 years old and facing numerous health issues. The Democratic Party is separating in a massive way, becoming a national embarrassment. She has nothing to lose by sliding away from the swamp now, especially is Prop 50 passes in California and provides the Democrats more leverage in the elections by redrawing congressional district maps.

California state experiences a payroll contraction during the first eight months of 2025, marking the largest job decline since COVID. The state’s 5% unemployment rate is above the national average and has remained so for the past 19 consecutive months. Over 173,000 jobs disappeared from California from January to November 2025, a 14% annual increase, with the tech sector alone shedding 75,262 jobs.

Fannie Mae is fleeing San Francisco to Birmingham in 2026 as it has become impossible to conduct business in California. Numerous major companies have announced relocations from California in the upcoming year. The Walt Disney Company will relocate around 2,000 jobs in Southern California to Central Florida. GAF Energy, a solar roofing company, plans to shut down its headquarters in San Jose in favor of Georgetown, Texas. John Paul Mitchell Systems, a hair products manufacturer, will relocate HQ to Dallas.

Governor Gavin Newsom believes he can continue spending and rescue the state from the debt through taxation. Fleeing businesses can’t pay taxes, and California forces both businesses and residents to pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. All corporations operating in the state must pay a flat corporate income tax rate of 8.84% on net income. Banks and financial institutions pay a bit more at 10.84%. There is an annual franchise tax of $800 for businesses as well. But wait—corporations are still beholden to the 21% federal corporate income tax, which means businesses are paying roughly 29.84% on corporate income taxes alone.

Payroll taxes in California are higher than the national average, largely due to social programs like State Disability Insurance (SDI) and the Employment Training Tax (ETT), which must be paid in addition to Unemployment Insurance (UI). There is a personal income tax withholding of up to 14.63% that employers must withhold from employees as well.

Companies reducing their tax liability through research and development (R&D) credits or those operating at a net operating loss are the only industries growing in California right now The expansion of the AI sector and venture capitalism is propping up California right now. Newsom would not admit it but the One Big Beautiful Bill provided the state with a major stimulus. AI investment in California has reached $405 billion for the year, nearly doubling the $250 billion estimate.

Capital flees excessive regulation and it’s almost a no-brainer for corporations to move beyond state lines where operating costs are drastically lower.

While the world has focused on Russia/Ukraine, the tensions are rising between the US and China. Let’s face reality. China could move so fast against Taiwan that any hope of U.S. military intervention might arrive way too late to make a difference. China launched a surprise multiday military exercise completely surrounding Taiwan dominating Taiwan’s air space, naval space, and ground forces in an exercise that simulated a total blockade of Taiwan and attacks on its critical infrastructure.

As far as the share market is concerned, 2025 should prove to be the highest annual closing after a 17-year rally. The year 2026 is a Directional Change. We still see January as a Panic Cycle so caution is advisable for a turn back to the downside.

China has adopted what is known as the “All-Dimensional Deterrence outside the island chain.” This is a very clear reference to intercepting any U.S. military forces in the Western Pacific Ocean that might attempt to intervene in Taiwan’s defense against an actual attack.

The State Department has come out and stated for the New Year:

“China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Thursday. He also added: “The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion.”

It was the Neocons who were in charge of the Biden Administration even sent Pelosi to Taiwan to instigate a confrontation with China in 2022 as they did in Ukraine to start the war with Russia.

The One China policy in the context of U.S. diplomacy refers to the United States’ acknowledgment of the position held by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China. The U.S. does not explicitly endorse the PRC’s claim but “acknowledges” it.

The policy was formally adopted during the process of normalizing relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China in the 1970s. The first policy was issued By President Nixon known as the Shanghai Communiqué (February 28, 1972). This was issued during President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China; this is the foundational document. The U.S. side declared:

“The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position.“

Later under President Jimmy Carter, the U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People’s Republic of China. This became known as the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations (January 1, 1979). The U.S. “recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China” and “acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.”

Then in 1979, Congress passed by the following normalization known as the Taiwan Relations Act (April 10, 1979). This act provides a legal framework for continuing unofficial relations with Taiwan and commits the U.S. to providing Taiwan with defensive arms. It creates a persistent tension with the commitments in the Joint Communiqués.

Then the U.S. stated it “does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan” and intended to reduce arms sales gradually. This was the August 17 Communiqué (1982).

Consequently, the U.S. One China policy was articulated in the 1972 Shanghai Communiqué and cemented in the 1979 Normalization Communiqué. It is based on the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiqués and is fundamentally different from the PRC’s One China Principle, which insists Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The U.S. policy is a deliberate, strategic ambiguity that acknowledges the Chinese position without endorsing it, while maintaining substantive unofficial ties with Taiwan.

QUESTION: You first publicly forecasted that gold would reach $5,000 per ounce in late 2009, specifically on November 7, 2009. You said the earliest would be $5,000 by 2016 if there was international war. But you said that the $5,000 target would be more likely by 2027 to 2032. I believe you said your extreme target was $12,000 but that was not highly likely. You correctly said that 2015 was the low on a 3-year correction and gold was just $1100 when you made that forecast. Has anything changed in nearly 10 years?

Pete

ANSWER: The main reason why I have tried to open Socrates to the world is in hopes that after 2032, we may enter an initial Dark Age meaning that society will fragment as countries break apart and we will be given the opportunity to recreate government from scratch. My interpretation is not always correct. I have stated many times when I have tried to defeat my own computer, I am always wrong. No human is ever 100% infallible. We would not be human otherwise.

That said, nothing has changed. I understand that people think if you cannot forecast where gold will close tomorrow, how can you forecast 10 years in advance? The answer is contrary to what people understand. There is a lot of noise in the system. Whether gold closes $10 higher or $20 lower tomorrow does NOT change the long-term trend. I was a hedger. I needed to create a model for the major movies – not for day trading.

This year 2025 was a MAJOR target for a turning point. The next one in 2027. That is where the computer still picks up significantly rising volatility from there into 2032. I still see that the idea of peace in Europe will be negative for prices. But I do not see a 19-year decline as the computer projected in 1980, which was why I began to retire.

Buckle in—2026 marks a key phase in the Economic Confidence Model, when markets, governments, and institutions will be tested. By following the model rather than the headlines, we can navigate what’s coming together.

Sources in Ukraine state that Zelensky is trying to assassinate the top Russian generals in hopes of turning the army against Putin and to bring down Russia. I do not see any possible lasting peace arrangement and the refusal of Zelensky to let the Donbas separate is only supported by the hatred of Russians within the EU further guaranteeing that with the best intentions of Trump, this will never result in a long-standing peace accord. Europe will fall and unless the people purge the Neocons running NATO, their future will never be secure.

Banking has existed since the earliest times and has taken many forms, from safe deposit boxes and money changers to merchants capable of moving money internationally and moneylenders. Some people wrongly assume that they can eliminate the business cycle by eliminating fractional banking. They believe that it will be possible to match lenders and borrowers to maturity contracts. They do not comprehend that this is the line of thinking that always leads to authoritarianism, all the way to communism.

The problem that will emerge from this matching of lenders and borrowers to a maturity contract is that the boom-bust cycle will still exist. There will always be the perpetual rise and fall in asset values caused by other factors (including human nature), not least of which will be changes in technology, no less civil unrest and war that can alter capital flows. History offers a catalogue of solutions. All we need to test such an idea is to open the books.

People assume the cause of the business cycle is the fractional banking issue, as if that were eliminated, then you would flat-line the business cycle, creating utopia. Be very careful. This was Karl Marx’s goal as well. The starting point is a fundamental question. Has fractional banking always existed? NO! Since the answer is no, did the boom-and-bust cycle in banking exist even without fractional banking? The stark answer – YES.

In ancient times, financial panics occurred without fractional banking. In Athens in 354 BC, people borrowed money from the Temple, unbeknownst to others. They were speculating in real estate. The real estate market collapsed without fractional banking, and then it was exposed that the money was borrowed behind the curtain, so to speak, from the temple. Corrupt priests had all this money donated to Athena. She obviously was very frugal since she never seemed to go on a spending spree to buy shoes, owls, or spears. She wore a helmet, so she didn’t need a hairdresser. The priests could not keep their hands out of the treasury and were caught lending it out to their buddies for spare change. There was no fractional banking involved. They had the money and lent it to their buddies. The assets collapse because, as always, the mood of people changes with the seasons.

Fast forward to the 17th century, and we find the very same scheme played out by politicians. There was the collapse of Wisselbank in Amsterdam, where people had deposited their money and assumed the bank was strictly a safekeeping facility. They offered no loans and paid no interest. Little did they know that the government was using their deposits to fund its own trading.

The Wisselbank was founded in 1609. Upon first opening an account, a depositor paid a fee of ten guilders, three guilders, and three stuivers for each additional account. Two stuivers were paid for each transaction, excepting those of less than three hundred guilders, for which six stuivers were paid, in order to discourage the multiplicity of small transactions. A person who neglected to balance his account twice in the year forfeited 25 guilders. A person who ordered a transfer for more than what was upon his account was obliged to pay three per cent for the sum overdrawn. The bank made further profit by selling foreign coin and bullion, which fell to it by the expiration of receipts, and by selling bank money at five percent and buying it at four percent. These sources of revenue were more than enough to pay for the wages of bank officers, and defraying the expense of management. (Adam Smith)

In 1602, the United East India Company (VOC) was formed from six trading companies in the Netherlands and granted a trade monopoly over the Indies. The bank was administered by a committee of city government officials concerned to keep its affairs secret. It initially operated on a deposit-only basis, but by 1657, it was allowing depositors to overdraw their accounts and lending large sums to the Municipality of Amsterdam and the United East Indies Company (Dutch East India Company). Initially, this was kept confidential, but it had become public knowledge by 1790. The City of Amsterdam took over direct control in 1791 as a bailout, before finally closing it in 1819.

There is ample history of banking prior to fractional banking. Sorry, but that did not stop banking panics, nor did it stop the business cycle with the boom and bust events. The Tulip Bubble was not leveraged with fractional banking. Regardless, the boom-and-bust cycle is driven by human nature. We tend to change our minds about everything from fashion to money.

The idea that we can match lenders and borrowers sounds nice. However, that will not eliminate the cycle. I can find no instance of such a flat line except during a Dark Age, where there was no banking, private ownership, or any real economy. Coinage during the period is rare and is typically confined to the region where it was struck, demonstrating the lack of an economy or circulation due to trade.

People are losing confidence in institutions precisely because these actions show how quickly access to one’s own assets can be restricted without due process. This story resonated because it stripped away the rhetoric and exposed reality. Governments everywhere are preparing for a future where financial access is conditional. Data will be weaponized as the sovereign defaults near and governments attempt to control the masses to remain in control. The stories emerging throughout the world are a warning shot for everyone—governments have waged war on their citizens.

Readers shared the article below thousands of times in the past calendar year. We will continue to monitor stories from around the world and listen to our readers’ concerns. The cycle may be inevitable but ignorance is not.

Vietnam has erased and/or frozen 86 million unverified bank accounts as the nation surrenders to the globalist Great Reset. Anyone wishing to function in society must surrender their biometric data to maintain a bank account. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) claims that the measure was a system cleanup aimed at preventing fraud. In actuality, the measure is one step closer toward a national ID system that enables the government to control its citizens’ every move.

“This is a data-cleansing revolution,” said Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Payment Department. “While the total number of bank accounts remains 200 million, by September 2025, once the legal framework is complete, all accounts without biometric data will be closed to prevent scams and fraud. After seven years of promoting non-cash payments, we are moving toward real efficiency.”

Vietnam recently implemented a nationwide digital ID (e-ID) system called VNeID that requires both citizens and foreign residents to surrender to the matrix and permit the government to store their personal information in a centralized database. Fingerprints, facial biometric data, photographs, passports, nationality, criminal records, and even medical records will be stored in the government database. Participation is not optional.

Project 06 launched in January 2022, hailed as a technological revolution to digitize the country. Project 06’s full name is the “Project on Developing Data Applications on Population, Identification, and Electronic Authentication to Serve National Digital Transformation in the 2022-2025 Period (Vision 2030),” which aligns entirely with the World Economic Forum’s plans for the Great Reset. The concept has been sold to the people as a convenience measure, but in truth, the aim is centralized, unrestrained control over the entire population.

Everything from banking to renting an apartment is linked to the digital ID. One wrong move and the government can completely erase someone from the system. One glitch in the power grid and the nation will come to a standstill. The Vietnamese government has the power to halt a person’s life instantaneously.

High-level Vietnamese officials met in Davos in January 2025, and shortly after, began voicing concern for bank accounts that were unverified through biometric data. Vietnam has been actively seeking OECD membership and signed a Memorandum of Understanding, citing that Project 06 will enable the nation to meet the OECD’s guidelines for regulatory reforms. Vietnam was one of the last nations disconnected from the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) that requires members to share banking information under the pretense of preventing tax evasion.

Vietnam signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAAC) with the OECD in March 2023, enabling automatic exchange of tax and financial information with over 146 jurisdictions. In early 2025, shortly after Davos, Vietnam joined the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) for Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR), broadening its commitment to AEOI and international tax transparency. In February 2025, Vietnam activated CbCR exchange relationships with 29 jurisdictions including the entire European Union.

Globalist entities defy democracy and demand the complete surrender of national sovereignty under the belief that the world population must be controlled by one centralized force. The majority of world leaders have willingly surrendered, unaware of the full extent of power a small unelected few will yield if the Great Reset succeeds.