Special Note: When Times Are Tough...

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Created on Monday, 26 September 2011 05:00

Published on Monday, 26 September 2011 05:00

Written by Andrew Snyder, Editorial Director, Inside Investing Daily

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We are in the midst of a raging financial storm. But it's nothing we can't overcome.

The scariest moment of my life came in August of 2007. I was 55 miles from the nearest road, sharing a boat with a star player from New Zealand's rugby team.

It was a freak Alaskan storm.

As the foam of a wind-crazed sea blew by us, I took our 19-foot boat up a truck-sized wave only to reach the peak and see a wall of water piled up on the other side. It was a beast of a wave -- the freakish kin of hurricane-force winds and a raging tide.

As we slid into the canyon of a trough, all I could do is jam the throttle forward. But it didn't matter. By the time the outboard jolted us forward, we had three feet of green water raging past our heads.

By definition... we were sunk. Every square inch of the boat was covered in water.

Yet somehow, by the grace of God and the inherent buoyancy of fiberglass... we made it home.

As an investor, many of those same feelings came rushing back last week.

... fear.

... panic.

... and the need for clean britches.

Even the chart reveals a mad sea:

But in an odd way, it is refreshing. After all, we knew this was coming. It's been in the forecast since 2007 -- maybe even earlier.

We want the winds to blow and the seas to churn. We need the government to step out of the way and let the natural forces of economics take hold. We need the media to tell the truth about what's happening.

It will hurt, sure. But it must happen. If not now, it will be much worse later.

Behind the Scenes

You may wonder why my byline appears at the top today. As the editorial director, my role is mostly behind the scenes -- not actually driving the ship, just plotting the course.

But if you've ever been on a ship in a storm, you know who grabs the helm when the seas begin to churn... the captain.

It's one of the first things we were taught as young MBAs. When the pressure is on, it hits the folks at the top the hardest.

That's where we are today. On Wall Street... the pressure is on. It is time for leaders to lead.

Will we get through this? Absolutely. If you have ever seen the fiery red sky of a post-storm sunrise, you know what's in store.

Think about it this way... Washington is toast. It's the best news Wall Street could ask for.

The regime is on its knees.

There is a Solyndra scandal brewing. Economic growth has gone the way of the dial-up modem. And the dopes on Capitol Hill can't even agree on the basics of their job.

And that's OK. It means change is coming -- the good kind of change.

I have personally worked to ensure Insiders Strategy Group has the talent we need to get through the next year and a half as best we possibly can. Even our name change emphasizes the effort.

Before the storm hit, we searched high and low for the best brains in the business. And we found them. We've got a hedge fund trader. A top market maker in the options market. We even cherry-picked a veteran of the mutual fund industry.

After more than 20 years on the inside, you need to hear some of Steven's stories. If all goes to plan... later this week you will. There could not be a better time for him to lift the veil and reveal the ugly truth behind "traditional" investment strategies.

Here's the bottom line... this is one hell of a scary time for investors. On any day, we could wake up to the headline we all fear. We got our sneak peek last week.

But there is nothing we can do about it... but be prepared.

To get through the storm, it will take multiple points of view. There is no magic bullet. And there certainly is no government solution.

Am I worried? Absolutely.

Is there a lot of weight on my shoulders? Youbetcha.

Will we get through it? Yes.

When things get tough, we adapt. We take on new strategies. We step up and take charge.

We will get through this storm. And if we have done our job, you will see the sunny days of tomorrow with more cash in your pocket and, just as important, with the security of knowing you have the strategies you need to succeed.