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Gold has reached record levels, attracting investors seeking protection from inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and financial market volatility. However, every investment thesis deserves a critical examination. Taking a contrarian approach, we present six reasons why investors may want to reconsider buying gold at current prices. The article explores the potential impact of ETF liquidations, technical overbought conditions, restrictive monetary policy, competition from alternative assets such as Bitcoin, slowing central bank demand, and the opportunity cost of holding a non-yielding asset. Investors should weigh these risks alongside the traditional case for owning gold.

The direction of the U.S. dollar remains a central point of debate for investors navigating rising federal debt, persistent budget deficits, and shifting monetary policy. Dollar movements interact with five core areas of a portfolio: the broader money supply, equities, bonds and interest rates, real estate, and cash holdings. The article reviews the historical decoupling between the dollar and the S&P 500 since 2023, the mechanics of bond duration amid rising yields, the effect of borrowing costs on housing demand, and the role of cash as a stabilizing asset. The analysis emphasizes fundamentals over speculation.

The direction of the U.S. dollar remains a central point of debate for investors navigating rising federal debt, persistent budget deficits, and shifting monetary policy. Dollar movements interact with five core areas of a portfolio: the broader money supply, equities, bonds and interest rates, real estate, and cash holdings. The article reviews the historical decoupling between the dollar and the S&P 500 since 2023, the mechanics of bond duration amid rising yields, the effect of borrowing costs on housing demand, and the role of cash as a stabilizing asset. The analysis emphasizes fundamentals over speculation.

The direction of the U.S. dollar remains a central point of debate for investors navigating rising federal debt, persistent budget deficits, and shifting monetary policy. Dollar movements interact with five core areas of a portfolio: the broader money supply, equities, bonds and interest rates, real estate, and cash holdings. The article reviews the historical decoupling between the dollar and the S&P 500 since 2023, the mechanics of bond duration amid rising yields, the effect of borrowing costs on housing demand, and the role of cash as a stabilizing asset. The analysis emphasizes fundamentals over speculation.

Do higher marginal tax rates materially increase federal revenue? Behavioral responses among high-income taxpayers, the impact of enforcement capacity on compliance, and other implications of restoring pre-2017 tax rates all affect the results. The discussion highlights how income adjustments and structural deficits may limit the effectiveness of rate increases. With annual federal deficits exceeding one trillion dollars in recent years, constrained revenue elasticity, combined with elevated spending, could affect investor confidence and long-term demand for US dollars.