Special Bulletin: July 8, 2024

The Debt Clock

Remember back when we used to hear a lot about the “Debt Ceiling?” At certain times in history, it was all over the news and you couldn’t get away from it. Truth is many Americans believed there was such a thing and that it mattered. They even hoped Congress would respect it and stay under it. Now before you laugh too hard and lose conscientiousness at how naïve that sounded, we really did believe, but they really abused it.

This is not what our Founding Father’s had envisioned or set into motion. No, this is our own generation’s doing, and the one that came before us.

Nowadays the talk shifts from the “Debt Ceiling” to the “Debt Clock,” or more appropriately known as the “U.S. National Debt Clock: Real Time.” (Click on the link below.)

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

$34,888,580,770,123 ($34 trillion+ ) as of this past second. But by the time you read this part, it has already added nearly $1 million.

Did you click on the link and go to the debt clock website, yet? Please do. It is amazing and sickening all at the same time. Plus, among other things, pension debt, municipal debt, and a lot of fascinating ratios and trivia are shared for your… _____ (well, you fill in the blank).

At Triumphant, we believe this is an intentional and direct assault on the strength and future of our U.S. Constitution and our Republic! Each one of us should individually allocate important time to understanding this major issue (we do not have the time or space in this short post to “go there”) and then begin to put coordinated pressure upon our elected officials on both sides of the isle to reverse this trend and tackle this looming catastrophe.

DEBT remains a 4-lettered word.

While the debt train rolls on and escalates parabolically, the sentiment of investors remains near extremely high levels. These two forces will eventually have to decouple, and when they do, it will likely resemble a train wreck – a massive derailment.

The stock market has continued to chug along and has been setting new highs in the process. Much like a real freight train, which even in an emergency can take over a mile or two to stop, the momentum of the large cap indices has sent the major indexes “further on down the tracks.” Even so, our Current Market Outlook remains “Uptrend Under Pressure” with a yellow light based on our Core Four which still has 2 green and 2 red lights. An important point for new readers to our posts, our yellow condition is still seen as a bullish bias but with cautionary caveats applied. So, we fully recognize that a meaningful uptrend is in process but also acknowledge that the risks have increased for a sharp pullback (or even an eventual full reversal to a downtrend). That is what yellow means.

The Q2 earnings releases begin later this week starting with the major banks. Powell speaks before Congress twice and there is more US Government inflation data coming by Friday. Buckle up!

“The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” Psalm 37:21

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Proverbs 22:7 NASB 1995

Game plan: Get your personal financial house in order – address your debts, if any. Investors’ sentiment is near historically high levels. Define your risk tolerance and employ/raise stops. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-7). May they prosper who love her.

Note: You can learn more about The Triumphant Core Four risk management system by clicking here.

Have a Triumphant day! ®