Strategic Intelligence is an investing newsletter from Jim Rickards.
He believes there's a crash coming that you can prepare for if you buy his service.
Is this true or all one big scam?
We'll get to the bottom of this question in this review.
Additionally, we'll look at the stock picking performance of Jim, look at any red flags I could find and more.
You'll know if Strategic Intelligence is worth it by the time you're done reading.
Let's get started!
Strategic Intelligence Summary
Creator: Jim Rickards
Price to join: $49
Do I recommend? No
Overall rating: 2/5
Strategic Intelligence is your typical investing newsletter which isn't a good thing.
It's run by a horrible company and the stock picks I looked at haven't performed well.
The price isn't bad but once you sign up you'll be bombarded with promotions for much more expensive newsletters.
I'd avoid.
Better opportunity: I've reviewed all the top places to get high return stock ideas. To see my favorite (which is extremely affordable), click below:
Massive Red Flag About Strategic Intelligence
Here's a little secret about the stock newsletter world..
Most are owned by a few big conglomerates.
While many newsletters seem to be independent and operated by independent stock picking experts, that's not the case.
Strategic Intelligence is published by Paradigm Press which is owned by Agora.
Agora is the biggest distributor of investing newsletters and they're also the most predatory.
This company is known for stepping over the line of ethical behavior all the time.
For example, just last year they were fined millions of dollars for defrauding senior citizens with health and financial scams:
You might think a fine this big would change the way Agora operates.. or maybe the shame of scamming elderly people would make them rethink things.
But that hasn't been the case.
Agora makes HUNDREDS of millions per year so a two million dollar fine is nothing to them.
They'll gladly pay that fine if they can continue to market in the same way.
As Truth In Advertising has proven they're still up to their old ways:
All Agora owned publishers run in the exact same manner.
They put out fear mongering stock presentations to scare people into buying a cheap newsletter.
That's Strategic Intelligence.
However, once you sign up you'll be bombarded with promotions to get you to buy the more expensive services that costs thousands per year.
Agora doesn't make hundreds of millions by selling $79 newsletters.
They'll use every trick to get you to spend thousands which includes trying to scare you, manipulate you, confuse you and more.
This is why I rarely recommend an Agora newsletter unless it's really good.
Strategic Intelligence isn't really good.
Recommended: The Best Place To Get Winning Stock Picks
Jim Rickards Stock Picking Performance
There's only one thing that matters when it comes to being a stock picker.. and that's whether you can pick a good stock or not.
So what Jim says about himself doesn't matter unless he can pick winning stocks.
Here's a look at some of his biggest stock picks from the past years and how they've performed:
Gold In October 2019
In October 2019 Jim ran a really whacky stock presentation with the headline "Trump to finish what Reagan started?"
Further he claimed "Trump could reboot the US dollar in a new Mar-a-Lago Monetary Accord."
At the end of the day Jim was just recommending you buy up gold.
He claimed that some sort of agreement Trump made "mathematically requires a $10,000 gold price."
That hasn't come to fruition but gold is up a good amount since this presentation went live.
It was around $1400 per ounce in 2019 and now is over $1800.
Pershing Gold And Midas Gold In November 2016
Much of Jim's audience is older, conservative types - that's really the audience for much of Agora.
There's not too many people that older conservatives love more than Ronald Reagan and jim appealed to Regan back in 2016 to pitch Pershing Gold and Midas Gold.
He claimed these investments were Reagan Gold plays.
The first company teased is Pershing Gold.
Pershing Gold's stock performed very poorly after being recommended:
Pershing was bought in 2019 by Americas Silver and the stock has sunk even lower since then to $0.60.
So overall this was a poor recommendation.
Next up we have Midas Gold:
Midas Gold was eventually bought by Perpetua Resources which is why it's labelled as Perpetua Resources.
This stock could have paid off if you were really patient - it went from $7.03 to $12 briefly.
But that was 4 years later and that stock struggled for a number of years.
Sandstorm Gold In September 2016
Sandstorm Gold is a popular pick you see from a lot of stock pickers.
This company can be volatile but stock pickers believe it has a lot of potential.
Back in 2016 Jim Rickards teased a "gold based alternative currency" to tease this company.
Here's how the stock has performed:
Overall Sandstorm has been up and down.
The good news is this company pays royalties so a breakeven stock price isn't the worst thing on earth.
Stellar Lumens In January 2018
A lot of stock pickers made the mistake of getting involved in crypto.
There was a lot of money being made and some foolishly thought they could just jump into crypto and profit.
Crypto is very volatile and if you started investing in the last couple of years you've likely lost money.
Jim predicted Stellar Lumens could "make you a fortune in 2018."
However, the crypto has crashed:
Jim recommended this crypto at $0.70 and now it sits at $0.12.
That's a major loss and there's no real signs of recovery happening.
EP Global Communications And Aerojet Rocketdyne In October 2017
In 2017 Jim recommended two stocks for the "biggest defense boom in American history."
The two companies were EP Global Communications and Aerojet Rocketdyne.
At the time EP Global Communications was just a penny stock and didn't have SEC filings or any sort of audited financials.
They were being recommended for their contact lens technology patents.
It's extremely risky to invest in a company when you can't see their financials.
The company seems to no longer exist so this was a completely failed recommendation.
Aerojet Rocketdyne is more well known and they're a defense contractor that makes missile defense vehicles.
Here's how the stock has done:
The stock has done decently well.
It peaked at just over $50 and is now currently at $40.
Recommended: The Best Place To Get Winning Stock Picks
What Is Strategic Intelligence Offering?
Strategic Intelligence is a standard investing newsletter offer and similar to other Agora newsletters.
Here's what you get:
Monthly Issue Of Strategic Intelligence
This is the main part of the offer and what you're paying for.
Every month you'll get a new newsletter from Jim that covers the market and the Biden Presidency - he calls this Biden Bucks.
You'll get new investment ideas in these newsletters as well.
Group Calls
Once a month you'll get access to a call with other members of this newsletter.
On these calls Jim will be covering the markets and giving you updates on stock picks he made.
Model Portfolio
This is the other main part of the offer.
Once you sign up you'll get all the open positions in the Strategic Intelligence portfolio.
This comes with additional information like what price to buy.
Various Daily Letters
Along with everything else you get a bunch of daily newsletters as well.
This includes:
- The Daily Reckoning
- The Daily Proof
- Daily Crypto Hunter
- The Rude Awakening
- 5 Minute Forecast
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I've reviewed the best programs that do this.. to see my top pick, click below:
Strategic Intelligence FAQ's
Still have some questions about this newsletter?
Here's answers to any questions you might have:
1) How Much Does Strategic Intelligence Cost?
There's four different prices you can buy this newsletter for if you find a promotional offer.
The first is $49 per year and this gives you everything I mentioned up top.
The second option is for $79 per year and this gives you some extra bonus reports.
The last option is for $129 per year and this comes with digital and print issues of the newsletter.
If you try to buy Strategic Intelligence through Paradigm Press and not a promotional offer, it'll cost you $299 per year.
This is standard for an introductory investing newsletter.
Remember the main goal is to get you to upgrade to a more expensive newsletter, though.
2) Is There A Refund Policy?
Yes, there's a good refund policy and you get 180 days to get your money back.
There's a catch, though.
Paradigm Press doesn't offer money back refunds on their more expensive services.
So if you fall for one of the promotions here there won't be a 180 day money back guarantee.
The best you'll get is a credit refund that you can use to buy one of Jim's other products.
3) Who Is Jim Rickards?
Jim Rickards is pretty well known and attended Ivy League University Of Pennsylvania Law School and NYU Law.
He's worked with the Pentagon and testified before the House.
So in this regard he's pretty impressive.
However, we're in the stock game.
And the stocks we looked at were decent in some cases and really bad in others.
His best picks are ones that many other stock pickers make like Sandstorm Gold.
I've seen that recommended a bunch of times before.
4) What Does Strategic Intelligence Recommend?
Most of the stock and assets Strategic Intelligence recommends seem to revolve around gold and natural resources.
He does have other newsletters where he focuses on things like crypto and defense stocks.
But for the most part you'll get different gold play recommendations, mining stocks and things like that.
5) Are There Any Similar Newsletters?
There's no shortage of Agora newsletters and newsletters that focus on natural resources.
Here's some I've reviewed in the past:
- Strategic Investor
- Forecasts And Strategies
- Jeff Clark Trader
- Utility Forecaster
- True Wealth
- Katusa Research
- Money Map Report
There's plenty more too.
Recommended: The Best Place To Get Winning Stock Picks
Strategic Intelligence Conclusion
Strategic Intelligence is just another Agora newsletter.. that's the best way I could describe it.
Agora has hundreds of these newsletters out there and they're really just bait.
They want you in their sales funnel because they've perfected marketing.
They know how to get people to buy more expensive newsletters once they take the bait.
At the end of the day that's all that's going on here.
Strategic Intelligence has below average customer reviews and the picks we looked at earlier weren't that impressive.
There's plenty of alternatives that recommend better stock picks and aren't owned by Agora.
Here's A Better Opportunity
I'd pass on Strategic Intelligence.
The stock picks aren't anything special and I personally don't like recommending Agora products.
The good news is there's still a lot of good places to get stock picks.
I've reviewed all the best places to get good stock ideas.
To see my favorite (which is very affordable), click below:
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You may be correct that Jim’s stock picks are mediocre, but that isn’t what he is selling in his latest presentation. He is selling the 4 or 5 reports he claims will help you survive the fascist Biden move to replace cash dollars with digital Biden bucks, so the fascist Dems have complete control over Americans. Plus, you get his newsletter. Are the 4 or 5 reports worth $49? Thanks!
I personally don’t think so
He talk quite a lot and repeats himself too many times, he also heeps on asking for more and more money.
Thanks for the feedback ..but too late. I too was sucked in around Mid term elections to purchase SI paid like $300. Constant bombardment of up selling fear mongering. As a professional I could see this was all hype to put $ in their pocket not Yours. Cancelled and they gave me $5 haha. It is hard to believe these guys are legit in any way. Over the Hill con game is my take. What is funny is you can’t find hardly any reviews on them when you search Google. I finally saw yours but too late. I guess they someway control bad posts as can’t believe there is no portal to call this what it is! THX
Yeah for some reason this review doesn’t show up in Google until like page three.. I have no clue why
I agree with what you have wrote, It is so bad, I am trying to change my email address prior to unsubscribing. ITs not just fear mongering, its shaming tactics that they use too. I had respect for Jim from seeing quite a number of actual interviews on youtube, not just boring coma inducing propaganda adverts
Yeah that’s the game all these stock pickers play. Fear, shame and overhyping stock picks.
PS, you were on Googles first search page… right down the bottom, but on the first page… and the only one not being a shill
Thanks!
Yes! That makes sense ie Agora. I have been completely ripped off in tune of $7K usd dollars. $4k wittingly and the rest as they take out money throughout the year without consent. The barrage of emails is completely suspect and their products are more often than not losers. I have no doubt that their is insider trading going on but paradigm press and agora are fine examples of white collar criminals. If they stole your car that’s grand theft auto, or 7k of merchandise grand theft larceny. They fit into a pocket where they weave in between meticulously so they can wash their hands of their strategic behaviour. It’s a world where the moral compass is twisted and these people are the ghosts at the helm directing people towards a collision.
Jim Rickards is a desperate has-been. Maybe he was good once upon a time, but I got sucked into the ‘we won’t give you the info until you buy our program’ after dragging my leery heels for six months of watching his videos, hoping for an actual carrot instead of just getting the dangle. My gut said ‘NO’, but my not-elderly brain said, ‘oh, I’d like someone to give me expert advice because I have too many other things I could be doing, and I’m not good at this (yet)’. When has anyone made money by taking the easiest route possible? No one. Never. I’ve got good common sense with stocks, but wanted expert help on options, so spent $599 for three months of his ‘Situation Report’ in late August 2023 via Paradigm Press. Granted, we were going into global financial suck and the whole world new it, but Rickards promised astounding returns (percentages into the thousands) playing options off of currency ETFs via his famed ‘currency wars’. Of course there are the disclaimers so he’s totally off the hook, just like the medical system when they profitably accidentally kill you. After 3 months membership, my total portfolio is down 10% because of his failed and failing options recommendations. 90% of his individual options recommendations are down 35-86% in three months, so i’m dumping them and going back to self-study to pick winners. And in doing so, I gained back 4% on my portfolio in one week by shedding 2 of 7 Rickards’ positions and reinvesting into what my gut gave a ‘yes’ on. His actual Situation Report portfolio is a fail. Once you become a member, you will have a chance to look at it, but you can’t see the portfolio until you join, which is also a red flag. They already have your money by that point. And the more Rickard’s fails, the more desperate he and his team get with some new money making scheme to get you to pay HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS for information that either isn’t quite there or totally outdated. They send you November 2023 recommendations with tiring novellas that claim ‘by the end of 2021, experts predict that earnings per share will be…” WHAT? 2021??? It’s THE END OF 2023! At least employ AI to help you fake it, Jimmy. Or maybe you are using Chat GPT and no one is proof reading your scam. Again, you won’t find out it’s a joke until you actually join. No one in their right mind would ever waste their money upfront on this amateur bullshit. His prized Jim-discovered-this-secret-trading-formula-‘stock bubbles’ of 2021 morphed into his exclusive ‘Kissinger Cross’ of 2022 – which as it turns out is just a copy of all the other crosses from all the other “experts” – The golden cross, the money cross, the profit cross, the unicorn cross, the blue spike…blah blah blah. Keep in mind – the only ones who are actually making real money off this garbage are the elites who actually create the crosses, not the ones who might or might not find them through unicorn formulas. Jim’s crosses have basically been been blurred blobs for the last three months. MSNBC, CNN, & NBC all reported a valid cross (where the 50-day moving average crosses (dips) below the 200-day moving average- the ‘death cross’) on the S&P two weeks ago and it took Rickards 4 days to pick up the news and launch another financial doom porn novel that the S&P was going to crash so you better buy into his GoldBack program now. (Pro Tip; don’t waste your money, just go buy bullion from your local dealer). And what a surprise, the S&P is doing just fine and had good gains after Rickard’s email threats. At the time of the death cross, the mainstream media (who i also loathe) also reported that after all previous death crosses, the S&P actually had good gains. And surprise surprise, it did on this again. Rickards has had a lot of complaints by members (but you also won’t find that out until you join), and so his team defends him by saying ‘Jim’s not wrong, he’s just early’. That doesn’t do you much good if he recommends a 3-month call option, it expires worthless and then might go up 4 months later. Rickards will claim, ‘SEE IT WENT UP JUST LIKE I SAID IT WOULD!!!”, but you’re still left with a worthless expired contract because it just didn’t go up in the time he told you to hold a contract. I called his customer service to stop my subscription, detailed what you just read here, and finished with, ‘It’s really pathetic when a nobody girl from nowhere Wisconsin can do a little stock research herself and do A LOT better than your self-acclaimed world renowned insider.” They replied, ‘we’re sorry you feel that way and will pass this info on to our team’. Yawn. Your first red flag is his 1970’s-pimp-greasy-skullet hair- he absolutely looks scammy, holding nothing back. Your second red flag that with every single video presentation Rickard’s launches, he gives his resume for half of it and then for the next half blabs the same stock ‘successes’ he claims to have predicted with his exclusive secret formula, and you still don’t get the carrot. His formula is far from secret or even right. Truly successful people don’t have to talk about how they are so successful for the entire video. Honest people never have to claim how honest they are, they just are. Smart people never have to talk about how smart they are, they just are. These people don’t have to open every other sentence with ‘Look, …’ They don’t need verbal gimmicks to get your attention, they just have it naturally because they are authentic. But you’d never know if any of it was true or false unless you spend hundreds, maybe thousands of hours to study out Jim Rickards to see if his timing, success, and history is as claimed. No points for being early on options when you’re playing with other people’s money and the contract expired $0.00. And he knows you don’t have time to deeply research him out, I certainly didn’t. But I do have time for simple stock and options self-study and so do you if you have the time to waste on his ego-maniacal videos. Pro-tip: listen to your gut, do the homework yourself, and just use common sense- you will do great! If you’re elderly and can’t do the above, go to a reputable financial institution or advisor to help you. And thank you to Dylan for having this independ-ish post. Most of the Rickards reviews out there are bought and paid. Good luck and God bless anyone who read this whole thing.
Hello Dylan! This review abou strategic intelligence is awesome. I was a customer of it, and can testify that it was a truly big mistake. The way especially Jim portrays himself and the situation he is talking about made things look so legit and trustworthy. Unfortunatley i bought a subscription were he recommended some stocks that he believed would completely outperferform the market. It turned to be a dissapointment. I lost badly, and now from my own research i am now starting to regain the losses by investing in other stocks.
I will never ever in my life take advice from this team again. Waste of time and money.