Outside The Dollar

U.S. Debt: 100% of GDP and the Case for Gold & Silver

High U.S. debt levels near 100% of GDP are reshaping inflation, interest costs, and how investors think about gold and silver as portfolio hedges. Elena talks with John Ohanesian about why the current debt and deficit path in June 2026 looks different from the post–World War II period, and how structural spending, rising rates, and de-dollarization pressures can affect everyday Americans. They explore what mounting federal obligations may mean for taxes, government spending choices, dollar confidence, and long-term purchasing power, and why more investors and family offices are allocating to precious metals as diversification tools. The conversation also covers the dual monetary and industrial role of silver, supply deficits, and how critical mineral designations and geopolitical tension are influencing demand. The episode references a UBS survey of wealthy families on dollar exposure, World Gold Council commentary, and price projections from Deutsche Bank and Bank of America.

Gold Tops Treasuries: What Debt and Inflation Mean for Your Savings

For the first time in thirty years, gold has surpassed U.S. Treasuries as the world's largest reserve asset — a shift that carries real implications for individual investors in June 2026. Elena Reyes examines what is driving central bank gold accumulation, how eroding real incomes are squeezing household purchasing power, and why the structural trajectory of U.S. federal debt matters to anyone holding or considering precious metals. She explains the difference between short-term geopolitical noise and deeper systemic forces, and addresses what physical gold and silver actually offer a portfolio — including the honest caveat that gold dropped in 2022 even as inflation peaked. The episode draws on data from Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Federal Reserve PCE reporting to ground each argument in specific evidence rather than speculation. To learn more, visit learcapital.com or call 800-576-9355 to speak with a specialist.

Gold at $8,000? What Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs See Coming

Central banks are buying gold at a pace of roughly 60 tons per month through 2026, a structural shift that carries implications for individual investors thinking about long-term purchasing power. Elena examines why institutional players, from BRICS central banks to Goldman Sachs analysts, are focused on gold and silver simultaneously in May 2026, tracing the dollar's declining share of global reserves from 72 percent in 2001 to 58 percent in 2024. The episode breaks down Deutsche Bank's $8,000 per ounce scenario for 2031, explains what reserve diversification means in plain terms, and addresses silver's recent pullback alongside the mechanics and tax pitfalls of a Gold IRA rollover. The core question running through every segment is whether the same structural logic driving central bank precious metals demand applies to individual savers protecting long-term purchasing power. Data and context draw from Lear Capital research, Goldman Sachs demand forecasts, and a NY Post guide to Gold IRA rollovers. For Lear Capital's latest research on gold and silver, visit learcapital.com or call 800-576-9355 to speak with a specialist.

Gold, Silver, and 25 Years of Performance Data

Gold outperformed both the Dow and real estate over the past 25 years, turning a $100,000 investment made in 2000 into $744,730 by comparison. This episode examines why billionaire Eric Sprott holds 98% of his wealth in precious metals, why Bond King Jeff Gundlach is recommending a 20% allocation to cash and hard assets in May 2026, and what both positions reveal about portfolio construction during periods of elevated equity valuations. Silver's near-7% surge to $86 an ounce amid stalled U.S.-Iran talks illustrates the real-time volatility that makes precious metals relevant beyond long-term holding strategies. The discussion also addresses President Trump's renewed interest in verifying Fort Knox's gold reserve, connecting sovereign-level gold logic to individual investor decisions. Data referenced includes DoubleLine Capital's current market outlook and a 25-year asset comparison anchored to the year 2000.

Recession Signals: Gold, Silver, and What 2026 May Bring

Veteran forecaster Gary Shilling is warning of a 2026 recession driven by a frozen housing market, weakening consumers, and stretched stock valuations. In this week's episode, Elena Reyes examines five converging economic signals — from Shilling's recession call to a 50-percent oil surge near the Strait of Hormuz — and explains what the pattern may mean for investors holding or considering precious metals. She walks through softening Treasury demand, Ray Dalio's systemic risk warnings, and why gold and silver are drawing renewed attention as tangible assets during a period of fiscal stress. Silver's role across AI, robotics, and clean energy supply chains receives particular focus, anchored by Morgan Stanley's $5 trillion humanoid robot market projection. The analysis draws on reporting from Fox Business and CNBC published in May 2026, alongside current spot price data and institutional research from Lear Capital.