Show Notes: Gold,

In this week’s episode, Elliott Locke, ACSI explores the tricky math behind real estate down payments—particularly for remote workers navigating currency risk. We also dive into the dramatic market corrections that sent gold, silver, and Bitcoin sliding, challenging the long-held "digital gold" hypothesis.

What’s inside this week’s bulletin:

• The Down Payment Dilemma: Why putting more money down can be a powerful hedge against exchange rate volatility when you earn in one currency but pay a mortgage in another.
• Precious Metals "Melt Down": A look at silver’s staggering 38.85% drop and gold’s 14% slide as the recent rally hit a brick wall.
• Bitcoin’s Rude Awakening: Why the "digital gold" narrative is being questioned after Bitcoin's 49% drop from its October highs.
• Industry Season 04, Episode 04 Recap: We break down the high-stakes world of CoCo bonds, tied agent arrangements, and why "gross leverage" is a glass jaw for your balance sheet.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Real Estate Opportunity Cost Calculator: Run your own numbers to see if a bigger down payment or market investment makes sense for your situation. Get Access Here
• Watch the Industry Recap: See the full breakdown on our YouTube Channel or catch the quick snippets on our Instagram Reels.

Help Us Decide!

We’re split between two topics for our next workshop and want your input. Should we cover how to organize finances spread around the world or multi-currency budgeting? 👉 Vote in the quick poll here

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Episode Summary

In this week's audio recap, we dive into the recent volatility of the US Dollar and why gold and silver took a sudden hit. We also tackle a common concern in the European fintech space: can budgeting apps actually sell your personal data? Plus, we break down the latest "plumbing" of the digital economy through the lens of Industry Season 4, Episode 3.

In This Episode:

• Data Privacy & PSD2: Why GDPR doesn't cover financial data sharing in the EU, and how the "Second Payment Services Directive" actually keeps you secure through Open Banking.
• The Dollar Plunge: Breaking down the impact of Trump’s tariff threats, the potential unwinding of the Yen carry trade, and the Federal Reserve's latest stance on interest rates.
• The Greenback's Recovery: Why the market calmed down after the nomination of Kevin Warsh and how commodities profit-taking supported the dollar.
• Industry Recap: Analyzing "Jurisdictional Washing," the high-stakes "Brexit Gap" in banking licenses, and the personal risks of "First Loss Arrangements."
• Diversification Tips: Practical advice on managing currency exposure and adopting a rational, long-term perspective.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Live Newsletter Replay: Watch Elliott Locke and Niels McEvoy's deep dive into the 2026 economy on YouTube.
• Upcoming Workshop Poll: Help us decide our next topic! Vote in the poll here.
• Stay Updated: Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for tomorrow's financial terms recap.

Connect with Abroaden:

• Website: abroaden.co

Note: We use AI to assist us with creating this podcast by helping generate our voice for certain segments. The content is 100% human created.