According to the 4 percent rule, retirees who withdraw 4% of their initial retirement portfolio balance, and then adjust that dollar amount for inflation each year thereafter, can create a paycheck that lasts for 30 years. The concept has recently been criticized given the fact that the current crop of retirees are entering retirement during a period of historically low interest rates so the question of how much a retiree can safely spend each year is now more important than ever. This article reviews the original concept and puts forth a number of variations to help you answer the question put forth in the title: How much can I spend in retirement without running out of money?

"Told you so!" I'm sure that is what the analysts who have projected such a dramatic decline are saying with the recent major correction in the prices of gold and silver. Read why they have come to their conclusions in this catch-all article.

Much is written these days about the trials and tribulations of the economic miracle of China - but most is totally ignored. Take a moment to read these introductions to a number of such articles. You might find some of them well worth the time to read and reflect upon.

In the financial world at this very moment, we have 8 different "weather systems" that are all developing in real time. If several of the more powerful components were to converge – and reinforce each other – then we could very rapidly reach the point of greatest financial instability that the world has seen since 2008.

The attempt to solve what was essentially a global debt crisis with mountains of more debt means we will have another global financial crisis – the question is when rather than if - and this will have an impact on our economic recovery and on asset prices and hence the importance of diversification in terms of geography and where and how they are owned.

The Federal Reserve lifts interest rates to slow economic growth and quell inflationary pressures. Currently, though, there's little evidence of inflationary pressures outside of financial asset prices, and economic growth is weak to say the least, so should we fear a Fed rate hike at this point? This article has the answer. Invest accordingly.

In absolute size of net foreign liabilities the U.S. leads the way but, as a share of GDP, its position is much less than that of Spain & Poland who exceed the acceptable level of 60%. Where does your country rank?

Does increasing divergence between GDX Gold Miners & Gold indicate investors are betting that gold is at the end of a cyclical bear market and on the verge of launching into a new uptrend?

Why in the world has JP Morgan accumulated more than 50 million troy ounces of physical silver since early 2012, adding more than 8 million troy ounces during the past couple of weeks alone? Why are they doing this? What do they know that the rest of us do not? Could it possibly be that they are anticipating another great economic crisis? We are definitely due for one! Here's what I think is going on behind the scenes.

I believe those with patience will get the chance to buy gold a lot cheaper than current prices. Gold could be heading toward the $1,000 per troy ounce level - or lower - and that price may come in a fast and furious sell-off.