We have the benefit of bringing some very high-level thought leaders—political, economic people who are in the mix.

Nobody has a crystal ball, but my point today to you is that we are all in the crosshairs of a number of elements over which we have no control. And while we can't control the outside elements, we can control how we proceed with our own futures and owning our own freedom.

Those elements outside of our control certainly have to do with the economy. We're still dealing with the repercussions of COVID; a new variant is now expanding across the globe, causing economic conditions a little bit like 2020 – although hopefully not to the same degree. 

We also have the onset of inflation (which you can read about in my four-part inflation series). For many causes it is on the rise, which is a big detriment to the planning of those who want to transition at some point – i.e. leave full-time income earning and enjoy life.

The retirement planning of yesteryear will not work in the years to come. The last several decades have had relatively low inflation since the early eighties, when the inflation of the seventies was brought to a halt by Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker (I say relatively low inflation because the government's CPI index is always manipulated).

I think we are in a stage now where we're in a new 40 year cycle. We're at the low point on interest rates, which means we're at the high point in bubble assets – the stock market, real estate, and businesses in general – and there's a feeling of complacency that overrides a lot of people today.

Yes, COVID was a wake-up call. Changes were made, and people had to pivot to get through that gap. Of course, I think the recovery is artificial because the Federal Reserve pumped so much more money into the economy, expanding credit like never before – which is part of the reason we’re having inflation. But now that we're kind of through the gap, many people are complacent. They’re not really taking the action, going further than they should, and there's going to be a lot of volatility in the decade ahead. 

That’s really one of the key takeaways that came out at our event, not just from one person but from multiple viewpoints. Again, nobody has the crystal ball on exactly what's going to change or when it will change, but just understand that there are always going to be moving targets.

So the question is, how do you put yourself in a position where you are able to pivot – be nimble and adaptable – and have the margin on your balance sheet and on your cash flow projections to weather these economic trends? And where are you investing your outside capital? 

The old model of a 60/40 stock and bond portfolio? You better put that one aside. If that's what you're still doing you better look for a different plan, because you're going to need to be more plugged in and take more control over your financial future than the generations of the last several decades.

So it's going to be up to you: Plug in somewhere, and get the help you need. Don't put your head in the sand and pretend it's all good. Remember, you're in the crosshairs –