Grandich's Blog

First and foremost, I want to tell you that this blog has been a God send. Never in 25 years in and around the financial industry have I enjoyed my work as much as I do now. I must thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ first. George Tsiolis, President of Agoracom, a brilliant man who I became instant friends with, also deserves a big thank you. And finally you, my readers, for believing what I say can be worthy of your time.

It would take writing a book to tell you how I got to this moment and that’s what I’m halfway done with. Let me just say for now that through trials, jubilations, and everything that comes in between, I’ve been prophetically shown what I’m here for and what I must do. Some will not like this. In fact, some will detest it. Others will accept it while some will embrace it. But all can know this: I speak from my heart and not my wallet. I know my calling may mean not having the fame, glory and financial rewards I once strived for, but I have no doubt that all I’ve done and especially what I’ve failed to do, was in order for me to be at this point and take this one road no matter how bumpy or scary it may be.

When I started as a stockbroker 25 years ago, I was told if I wanted to be successful, I shouldn’t talk about three things:

• Politics
• Religion
• And other men’s wives.

I know I did the first two a lot and must have done the third a few times. It took a while, but I began to understand why the first two were said to me. The financial services industry is mostly about sales. Speaking about politics or religion can only cost you sales, so why mention them (even if they do impact people’s investments)? While this never really stopped me, I’ve discovered I did so but not for all the right reasons.

The last 12 months have been the best and worst of times for me. I have never been as low or as high (drug free). My faith was tested to the core and I almost failed. My business and personal life became intertwine by being so right about the  markets but so wrong on the direction of the one industry some would call me an expert in. After entering 2008 on cruise control, I literally was in a battle for my life. Only through the Grace of God am I here today and that’s why I must now do what I have to do.

While I would never exchange the lack of education for the on-the-job experience I gained about finances, I often wondered why I am where I am. Have you ever done this? I was not a typical Wall Street success story. I didn’t hang out with the Wall Street crowd. But I did enjoy the things that came with it. So why, then, did I have two very serious life trials and feel lost despite having so many blessings?

When you get in a pool do you first put your toes in and then maybe ease in slowly? Or do you just dive in? Despite believing I was truly a Christian and doing what God wanted me to, I discovered in 2008 I was not even close. In the last six months I’ve learned more about love of God, family and people than in my entire life. I needed to because God had a much bigger purpose for me then just being a so-called financial expert – only I couldn’t do it until I truly surrendered my will, pride and ego to him (a feat which is a battle every waking moment).

The second most talked about subjects in the Holy Bible are money and possessions. About half the parables are about them. Whether you think the Bible is the word of God, a story about a great “human” being, or just made up, you can’t deny one thing: it has influenced more people than all the books ever written combined. Such a book is worthy of reading no matter what. So, if the author thought money matters would be so important to mankind, and I for whatever reason have been given some amount of understanding about these matters, shouldn’t I look for financial guidance in this book and to make it the guideline in my work?

If you answered no, there’s no reason to read any further.

Okay, I assume you answered yes or you have to see what I say no matter what.

Without question, America and the world are facing the worst economic crisis in decades or even centuries. In addition, America appears to be in crisis on several other fronts and at a crossroad. As crazy as this is going to sound (it sounded crazy to me when it was first placed on my mind), I believe all of what has happened to me did so that I could be one of many others who God wishes to help others through these times. No, I’m not going to be a television evangelist nor am I going to sell any Christian prosperity stuff. But from this day on, I will never be afraid to say anything I feel the Holy Spirit has placed on my heart no matter how much it can cost me in any manner. Trust me; I already know how some clients, business associates, friends and even family will take this. I have already experienced how some readers do.

Before you think this blog is now “a voice from the heavens,” little if anything will change. I will still cover the markets and even on rare occasions actually be funny. But from this point on, I won’t hold anything back because it’s not politically correct. I will continue to welcome opposing views providing they’re in good taste.

With this in mind, let me speak about some subjects that have grown heavy on my heart.

As many of you know, back in October, 2007, I turned extremely bearish on the U.S. Stock Market. I spoke about a terrible economic tsunami that was going to hit us. I pleaded and begged people to watch this video and understand America was a very sick patient despite the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” crowd saying otherwise.

It has come to pass and now all Americans have some degree of understanding how bad it is. But as bad as it is, many are committing the worst investment strategy bar none- they’re “hoping” things will change for the better. Hope is a great spiritual attribute but the worst investment strategy. After living decades beyond our means, the thought of not only having to go through hardships for years to come but to lose all or many of the toys and lifestyle we grew accustomed to, is still, to many,  unfathomable.

It’s this very reason why so many Americans have placed their “hopes” on someone who looks the part but IMHO will end up crushing their hope and making their hardship much, much worse than it had to be. In my heart of hearts, I believe the problems we had back in October 2007, will end up looking like a gift before too long.

I believe the threshold of the abyss David Walker and others have spoken about and I’ve written about has now been violated and America has fallen in. As bad as it seems now, the worst is still to come. Unless a miracle occurs (and that’s quite possible according to prophetic people in whom I believe), our future, and more importantly, our children’s and grandchildren’s future, is no place any of us would want to be let alone see people we love so much have to try to endure.

Many people who felt “hope” since last November are not going to just give up that hope. I don’t blame them knowing what’s coming. But there’s no scientific law that one needs a certain amount of time before they could come to the conclusion I have. In fact, I believe it’s a gift that I can’t use just for myself or my love ones. Believe me that would be far easier as I will be challenged, and even attacked both secularly and demonically.

America has been slipping and sliding for years now socially, politically, economically and most importantly, spiritually. The last one will trouble many and it has become increasingly more difficult for people to speak up about this. Amazingly, 86% of Americans say they believe in God yet only small minorities who don’t are the voices heard and their choices are imposed on the vast majority. But I don’t blame them.  It is people like me who had the chance to speak up but picked and chose when, where and to whom versus being the same day and night, 365 days a year.

I have no doubt that all our problems, socially, economically and politically, are all rooted in what we became, or more importantly, what we stopped being, as a nation spiritually. How can I say this?

I love to golf.. okay hack. I would do just about anything to improve my game (so would most golfers). Imagine, if you will, that you discover a book, video or whatever, that shows you not only the inventors of the game, but what they did to make themselves so great at the game. Would you not at least try what they did, especially since just about everyone who was part of the beginning was recognized as being great at what they did? Of course you would.

Well guess what? America was once great. There’s no doubt about that. People from all over the world once dreamed of coming to only one place: America. And when they did they became part of the fabric that made it great. And they did everything they could, no matter how hard they had to work, in order to live in the once land of the free and the home of the brave.

And whether you like it or not, the fabric that held America together and made it once great, was our founding fathers’ belief in Almighty God to build the foundation that lasted for these 200 or so  years. There’s little argument that these men managed to put together a system that withstood the test of time for a couple of centuries. They were far from perfect, but where they failed to do things right, they built a foundation of laws and rights that allowed justice to prevail even in the worst of circumstances.

I wholeheartedly believe that this country has gotten to where it is today because it has been moving away from what our forefathers built. I believe the system they devised worked wonderfully because of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 52 were orthodox, deeply committed Christians. The other three all believed in the Bible as the Divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention.

It may come as a surprise, but I don’t think a Democrat or Republican can save us. I also don’t think you need to be a Christian to be saved from what is taking place. What I do think is unless we all return to the principles that worked for our forefathers, we will endure pain and suffering unlike anything America has faced. We won’t be saved by a stimulus bill or a “give hope a chance” movement. Our only long term chance is to place our faith back in what made us once great and not only recognize what has brought us to the abyss but be willing to die in the abyss for the Creator of everything good in the universe.

So while I will certainly speak about economic news and how it may affect the markets, know that the foundation to all my work (even if it ends up meaning no work) will now and until my last breath be in the name of the Creator who our forefathers entrusted without the luxury of knowing what it would lead to.

Calvin Coolidge saw what would happen to us when he said,

“The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.”

It’s no coincidence that our difficulties have grown as God has been removed more and more from our everyday lives.

While America and the world relies more on themselves and less on the Creator, I for one, hereby declare that the God who created us all, will rule my life. I pray He will continue to give me the Grace to take His gifts and apply them to my work and for my sinful nature to resist the many temptations such work and its worldly rewards offer.

Here’s the ultimate adviser It’s okay if you turn the sound up, get on your knees and have tears of joy. I do!

Peace Be With You