Empire at a Turning Point, and How to Prepare Your Finances

Life’s only unbreakable rule Jim Amrhein Reckoning today from Vancouver, BC... Live From The 13th Annual Agora Financial Investment Symposium Dear Daily Reckoning Reader, “I won’t really enjoy it. It’s something I have to do, so I can do my job this week.” That’s what I told myself before walking — if shuffling along in spastic, Quasimodo half-steps could be called that — into the Absolute Spa on the lower level of Vancouver’s Fairmont Hotel. After 11½ hours in cars, shuttles, security lines, planes, terminals, customs stations, and cabs between Baltimore, MD, and Vancouver, British Columbia... I was as crooked as a Chicago politician. I needed help. So, for the first time in my 43 years on this planet, I decided to strip down to my birthday suit (sorry for the visual, those of you who know me)... And pay a total stranger to give me an hour-long, deep-tissue massage. I’ll admit it, I was nervous. In the city with the highest density of thin, beautiful, young, and well-groomed people of anyplace on Earth... I looked like Curly from The Three Stooges — with a 70s porn goatee and a permanent fur sweater. But I persevered. It had to be done. So off came the clothes, and under the covers I went. And after a minute or so, in walked a perky girl in her mid-twenties (thank God it was a woman — I had forgotten to specify)... Of five-foot nothing, and about 90 pounds! Great, I thought. I need an Amazon Queen to pound my twisted, wound-up bulk into pudding — and I get a prom queen who doesn’t look like she could lift my jockstrap. But hoo-boy, was I ever wrong. That girl worked my flesh like a guy named Guido works a chunk of cold pizza dough with a rolling pin and a wood mallet. Now I know where the phrase “hurts so good” came from... But it felt great, pain and all. And it did the trick. Between the massage and the steam room, I came out of there feeling as limp as a piece of cooked pasta. And as much as my girlfriend back home would’ve appreciated me spending some more time at the spa for some strategic waxing — or a pedicure... I had to get to work. Besides, I don’t think they had the tools to contend with what I’ve got going on under my socks. They’d have needed a commercial grade pneumatic die grinder... And a hazardous materials license. A tough job — but somebody’s gotta do it I swear, the things I do for you people. The international travel to scenic, exotic locales. The piles of gourmet food in all those swank restaurants (especially prime rib — torture!). The late nights of partying. The never-ending stream of local attractions... That’s not to mention the massages! And all this sacrifice just to put you smack in the middle of the biggest and best money and investing summit in the Western hemisphere... The Agora Financial Investment Symposium — held for 13 years running now at the posh Fairmont Hotel in breathtaking Vancouver, British Columbia. Greetings, cowboys and cowgirls. It’s Jim Amrhein, your faithful “roving reporter” for this prestigious event. And I’m here — tanned, rested, and now very loose — to bring this year’s Symposium to vivid life for you in this forum. But as usual, that’s an impossible task. There’s simply too much incredible material spilling over the transom at this event for one man to cover, even working virtually around the clock... This year, however, I’ve got some big-time help. That’s because, for the first time in the baker’s-dozen-year history of this event, Agora Financial is filming it in high-definition digital video! As you may know, recordings of this event have historically only been available in audio form — on CDs or digital MP3s. And don’t get me wrong, these are great. They’re a gold mine of wealth-building information you can’t get anywhere else, at a fraction of the cost of attending. But audio-only has some drawbacks. Instead of seeing it in all its splendor, you have to close your eyes and imagine the scene in the majestic British Columbia Ballroom, packed with 900 attendees chomping at the bit. You also have to try to figure out what everybody’s laughing at when something funny comes up on the main screen in someone’s presentation. And there are always a lot of laughs at this event... That’s not to mention not being able to see any of the charts, graphs, photos, and graphics — which is where a lot of the best information and illustration occurs... And last but not least, with video recordings, you can easily freeze-frame and copy down information that’s displayed on the screen. Incredibly valuable things like stock ticker symbols, company profiles, facts and statistics, and a lot more. As you can probably tell, I’m very excited that they’re offering video coverage of the Symposium this year. [Note: Until the first speaker hits the stage – 4 P.M. EDT today, you can claim the absolute lowest price possible, right here.] It really takes a lot of the pressure off me to pick and choose — from so many great moments — the few I have space to “paint a picture” of in these pages... Because now all you have to do is get the event videos, and you can see it all for yourself! The most surreal part, though, is how Agora Financial decided to add high-def digital video to this year’s coverage. But I’ll let Bruce Robertson, Agora Financial’s Conference Director, tell you about that — and about this year’s incredibly timely and relevant Symposium theme. And here’s to you, Mr. Robertson After I hit the ground in Vancouver — and got my chakras straightened out by miss “velvet hammer” in the spa... I grabbed my tape recorder and tracked down Bruce Robertson, affectionately called “Deuce” by those who know him. He was at a slick waterfront eatery called Cardero’s, in the Coal Harbor section of town. There’s probably a place like Cardero’s in every wealthy seaside town. In fact, it reminded me a lot of some of the places I’ve been in Annapolis, Maryland, not too far from where I live. Super-high ceilings with rough-hewn beams, an acoustic act in the corner of a spacious bar, lots of brass and nautical paraphernalia... And of course, incredible food. But before we got to wolfing down any of it, I cornered Bruce for a quick Q&A about this year’s Symposium. Here’s a snippet of our taped conversation: JA) “So Deuce, what possessed you guys to add video coverage this year?” BR) “It was two things, Jimbo. One of them was actually a mistake — you probably remember it...” JA) “Uhh... Why? Did I make it?” BR) [Laughs] “No, no. Remember last year, when one of our editors accidentally said we were offering ‘DVDs’ of the event, instead of CDs and MP3s?” JA) “I do remember that, now that you mention it. It was in a lead-in note to one of my roving reporter dispatches. Caused a bit of a hubbub...” BR) “Yes, it did. Our order lines blew up with requests for non-existent DVDs — and our customer service center got flooded with complaints from people who couldn’t find the DVD option when they clicked to order electronically.” JA) “Yeah, that’s right. So that got you thinking, didn’t it?” BR) “Well, it’s not like we haven’t thought about video coverage before. It’s just that we didn’t have the technological ability to shoot, edit, and produce good-quality video in a timely manner. This stuff has to get to people fast.” JA) “That must be the second reason — technology. You said there were two reasons...” BR) “That’s the second thing, yes. And then once we saw that there really was a pent-up demand for this kind of coverage...” JA) “It’s a video age — a voyeuristic age. Look at YouTube, reality TV...” BR) “Right, right. And now that our capabilities have caught up with people’s expectations, we can finally give them what they want.” JA) “That’s so cool... OK, now what about this year’s theme? Tell me a bit about that.” BR) “The theme is ‘Innovate or Die: Empire at a Turning Point.’” JA) “Yes, I know that much, but why do you think that’s a theme for right now?” BR) “Well, innovation is the key to success — whether you’re talking empires, at a very large level, or whether you’re talking businesses or start-ups...” JA) “Mmm-hmm. Go on.” BR) “Innovation is what enables both new businesses to succeed, and mature businesses to flourish.” JA) “And by ‘turning point,’ I take it you mean that America has to decide whether it wants to re-focus on once again being innovators...” BR) “Or join the scrap-pile of history. Empires historically become too bloated and bureaucratic to be able to innovate, and so they collapse under their own weight.” JA) “That’s right. That’s exactly right. Do you think that’s where we are now? I kinda do — with all the debt and regulation and everything...” BR) “Well, that’s what we’re here to figure about.” Damn right, Deuce... And the “figuring out” begins on the main stage in the British Columbia Ballroom at 1PM today — not long after you’re reading this. You won’t want to miss a minute of it, either in this year’s new high-definition video, or in the traditional CD or MP3 audio-only coverage... [Remember, the price goes up when the first speaker hits the stage. Claim the lowest price right here.] I’m bumping up against a midnight deadline on this, so I’ve got to I sign off. But before I do, let me hit with another interpretation of this year’s “innovate or Die” theme — one that just occurred to me. The only Cardinal Rule of life on Earth I’m writing this late Monday night, several hours after Bruce and I talked. And I’ve had a chance to really ponder the theme, and let what he said about it sink in. Of course, everything he said is exactly right — about innovation being the key to success in businesses large and small, and in empires (or governments)... But really, when you think about it, the whole thing has a much bigger aspect to it. According to Darwin’s evolutionary model — and I remember this from reading The Origin of Species in college... Organisms of all kinds manifest a significant variety of mutations in their offspring, which generally are greater in number than can easily survive. Why more offspring than can live? So that those with the traits most favorable to survival will flourish, and those without will not... Think about it: What is that, if not innovation in the flesh? The same goes for species. Only a tiny fraction of the number of species that have ever existed still exist today. The rest tried and failed — or were forced into oblivion by stronger, better-adapted organisms in direct competition with them. What is that but capitalism in its purest form, with innovation as its cornerstone? Food for thought, yes? And we’ll delve into it all right here, at the Agora Financial Investment Symposium... Which starts today, at the glorious Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. As for me, it’s 11:51 — so I’m outta here. But before I go, let me quickly give you the specifics on how to get coverage of this year’s event for yourself. Listen up, because this isn’t the same as years’ past. It’s actually a lot simpler. Here are the details... For the next few days, digital MP3 audio recordings of this year’s Symposium will set you back only $99. $149 gets you both CD and MP3 event recordings. But for just $199, you get it all: MP3s, CDs — plus our NEW high-definition video coverage of Innovate or Die: Empire at a Crossroads. Best of all, act before the first speaker hits the stage (4 P.M. EDT today) and you’ll claim an even deeper discount. Early birds get the lowest rate we’ll ever offer. Simply click here to see your discount and make your choice from these three options now. Gotta run — hardcore event reporting starts tomorrow. Stay tuned! Yours Truly, Jim Amrhein Roving Reporter P.S. There’s a catch I forgot to mention: The prices I just showed you are only good while the 2012 Agora Financial Investment Symposium is in session. When my daily reporting from this event ends... So does your chance to save as much as 33-50% on this state-of-the-art new event coverage. Click anywhere in blue to lock in your savings now. The Daily Reckoning provides over half a million subscribers with literary economic perspective, global market analysis, and contrarian investment ideas. 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