We're Headed for a Wild Ride… Here's What to Do Now

Everything seems to go right for this guy.

Toward the end of 2008, he borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars against his house and invested it all in the stock market.

In 2010, he plowed his money into dirt-cheap real estate.

Both of those moves made him a bundle.

He's got plenty of other success stories. He correctly recommended real estate in 2001... China in 2006... U.S. stocks in 2009... health care stocks in 2011... and more...

In 2015, he started talking about his latest big bet... the "Melt Up"...

I'm talking about my good friend and colleague, Dr. Steve Sjuggerud.

Steve is one of the best analysts I've ever known...

He's been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and the Washington Post. He's also the co-author of Safe Strategies for Financial Freedom, a best-selling book on investment strategies.

He also has "boots on the ground" investing experience as a former stockbroker and vice president of a $50 million international und. He holds a doctorate in finance (his dissertation covered emerging-market currencies) and has spoken at dozens of investment conferences around the country.

Like hundreds of thousands of readers, I've been following Steve's Melt Up... And I've heard from lots of folks asking, "Is the Melt Up ever going to arrive?"

When everything seemed to be going right for Steve's Melt Up theory, just three weeks after the S&P 500 Index hit its all-time high, the COVID-19 crisis killed the longest bull market in history. And the Melt Up we were waiting for came to a grinding halt.

But now, Steve says something big is brewing in the financial markets. And it's not the same Melt Up he could have predicted back in 2015.

Instead, new political, economic, and social forces have combined to create a "perfect storm" in the stock market. The decisions you make now about how to handle this wild ride could affect your wealth for the next decade.

That's why, next Wednesday, October 21, during his State of the Melt Up event, Steve will walk you through every detail of his new prediction. This includes the strange forces at work that are making this possible – and the concrete steps you must take to prepare, including exactly what to do with your money before 2020 comes to an end.

Click here to confirm your spot, and instantly receive Steve's brand-new report that answers the question, "Is the Melt Up back?"

Q: In a recent Health & Wealth Bulletin, Dr. Param Dedhia mentioned using a Neti pot that one might carry around with them. The problem is the water that might be used. Ordinary tap water has the potential to introduce bacteria into the sinuses. I'm sure I remember Doc mentioning that in one of his e-mails. – B.O.

A: We've reminded readers of the risk of Neti pots for years. While a Neti pot is a great way to clean out your sinuses, you need to follow the instructions. If you don't use sterilized or distilled water, brain-eating organisms found in tap water can enter the brain through your sinuses. In late 2011, two deaths in Louisiana were blamed on the improper use of a Neti pot.

Q: When should someone get a flu shot? – J.R.

A: According to Dr. Param Dedhia, the sooner the better, as he explained in our recent interview...

Traditionally, we've told people to get their flu shot during October. This year, I've told people, "Don't worry. Just go get it done now with everything going on." It's going to be really tough to tell flu symptoms from COVID symptoms. To me, COVID is the here and now, and the numbers are still high in terms of transmission. So there's no need to wait... Go ahead and get the flu shot now.

There are going to be some discussions on whether people should get a booster or not, but that aside, the sooner the better. We do not want to have to debate whether a patient has COVID or the flu. It's going to happen anyways. But the sooner you can get the flu shot, do it.

If you missed our interview series with Dr. Dedhia, you can catch up on part one here and part two here.

Q: Where can I find the information that was published concerning wills? – D.L.D.

A: If you're looking for information on having a lawyer help create your will, you can find that here. If you'd rather create your will on your own, you can read about that process here.

Q: Can you send or repeat Doc's position/recommendations relative to taking statins for high cholesterol levels? – J.P.

A: It's a controversial topic – and we'll likely get a lot of e-mails about this – but we're happy to remind folks what we think...

We've pounded the table on the dangers of statins for years. And we'll continue to do so until research shows us they're safe.

But we realize that sometimes, you can do all the right things like exercising regularly, eating right, and getting plenty of sleep... and still battle high cholesterol. If you haven't been able to beat back blood pressure with behavioral changes, tell your doctor that you're uncomfortable with statins and ask if a non-statin drug would work for you. For example, there's promising (although still new and scant) research on a non-statin called ezetimibe.

Sometimes, high cholesterol is due to unmanaged stress. There's some evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients lower their blood pressure.

You can read more about how to decide if statins are right for you here.

Muscle pain and loss of strength is the primary reason folks quit taking statins. In fact, doctors know that if you're over 65 and taking a statin without having a heart attack, you're likely to quit. About 75% of folks in this group quit on their own within two years because of the side effects.

We recommend trying lifestyle interventions first, including a diet low in trans fats and processed foods, regular movement, and stress management. But more than that, you need to understand that the main cause of heart disease isn't cholesterol.

That's why over the summer, my team and I released a special report called "Doc Eifrig's Health Primer: Cholesterol." Once you know the true cause of heart disease, you can empower yourself to live a healthier, longer life. Retirement Millionaire subscribers can click here to access the report today. And if you're not already a subscriber, you can get started right here.

Keep sending your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. We read every e-mail.

What We're Reading...

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
October 16, 2020