This club could change your life...

Stansberry & Associates Hall of Fame
(Top 10 all-time, highest-returning closed positions across all S&A portfolios)

What to do with your blue-chip dividend-payers in case of a market crash...

Editor's note: The Digest team will return to action on Monday... In the meantime, we're concluding our weeklong series on some of our favorite writings of 2013.

In this essay – originally published in the May 6 Digest – Porter shares an opportunity to spend time with a unique group of extremely successful people...

Today's Digest won't be for everyone. But for some of you, what I (Porter) am about to discuss could literally change your life...

Today, I want to tell you about The Atlas 400 – a private wealth-and-travel club I started four years ago.

I originally launched The Atlas 400 because I wanted to be a part of a social club that I could enjoy...

I'm a member of several exclusive clubs, including the ritzy country club in my hometown. But I never really fit in there.

The members of those clubs suspect I'm a bit crazy... crazy for owning property abroad… crazy for owning gold… and crazy for believing the U.S. economy is on the verge of collapse.

Not that I care. And my views have certainly been vindicated. But... most of those folks still don't get it. They never will.

That's why in 2009, I asked the most impressive people I know – people like Casey Research founder Doug Casey, Agora Publishing president Bill Bonner, and founder of Sprott Global Resources Rick Rule– to become founding members of The Atlas 400 with me. I wanted the core of our club to epitomize the kind of member we were seeking – intelligent, successful, open-minded...

We've fielded hundreds of applications since then and chosen fewer than 100 applicants to be members. They include some of the most intelligent and interesting people I have ever met... the world's leading horse-racing bettor, one of the world's best-selling authors, several hedge-fund managers, and a managing director at one of the world's largest financial institutions. There are people who have made fortunes in real estate and have developed lucrative small businesses.

These people, all at the top of their game, share one major similarity – excellence. They're all outstanding at what they do... They are leaders in their fields. They're exactly the type of people you would want to have as friends, neighbors, and business partners.

To clarify, this group is a completely separate and independent entity from Stansberry & Associates... In fact, the club is a nonprofit organization. We don't operate this group to make money.

We operate The Atlas 400 to surround ourselves with the best and smartest people in the world and share extraordinary experiences with them. The purpose is simple: To bring intelligent, successful, like-minded people together to exchange ideas... enjoy new experiences... and make new friends among equals.

And how do we go about doing this? Four to five times a year, we host amazing adventures around the world…

In the past, we have navigated the sapphire waters of Panama, fishing for monster sailfish and marlin. Members spent 10 days on a luxurious guided safari through Botswana and Mozambique, walking alongside two-story-tall giraffes and enjoying some of the world's most beautiful terrain.

We were also invited by the CEO of Porsche to race cars on his company's private test track in Leipzig, Germany. Executives from BMW offered a similar experience at their top-secret test facility. This is only a sample of the trips we've taken. So what's next for The Atlas 400?

We're hosting an adventure in Scotland from August 25-30. We'll travel from coast to countryside, Loch Ness to the Highlands, castles to sprawling estates… while experiencing the best Scotland has to offer. Activities will include Michelin-starred dining at centuries-old castles, grouse hunting among the rolling Highland hills, professionally guided red-stag stalking, and sampling some of the country's finest whiskies.

The Atlas 400 will also visit Tuscany for a gourmand's experience of a lifetime: a tour of the Italian wine capital. From October 20-26, the editor of Italy's best-selling wine guide will serve as our host and tour leader. While we visit the region's best vineyards, he will educate our group on the rich Sangiovese grapes that make up its largest export.

In addition to tastings at top wineries, we'll enjoy rustic culinary classes with a renowned Tuscan chef, who will highlight regional cuisine and teach cooking methods passed down through generations. We'll end the excursion by racing Ferraris through the cobblestone streets of Siena. I personally requested and helped arrange this event.

We're already planning our adventures for 2014... We've arranged a seven-day excursion through South America's Patagonia region for our first event. We'll work our way from the Argentine grasslands to the glacial lakes of Chile. The world's foremost eco-lodges will serve as base camp throughout our trip. This is just one of the excursions we have planned for next year... We're also thinking of visiting Bordeaux, Tokyo, and Montenegro.

The Atlas 400 is a social club, not an investment club.

In general, we believe "business first" is the wrong way to go about life. Focus on your relationships first… opportunities will inevitably spring from them.

The point is, getting into the room with the right people is the hard part. Once you've made friends with someone... exchanged information... traveled together... it's natural to be invited into special deals, to parties, events, etc.

The value of Atlas is its network. The people you share your life with... the people you spend time with... the people you trust influence you in profound ways over time. Almost everything good that's happened in my life happened because of someone I knew... a relationship I built.

That's the idea behind The Atlas 400: To grow this network of friends… to have incredible experiences together… to deepen relationships.

And right now, the people you choose to surround yourself with are more important than ever...

Our government is robbing savers through inflation... and stealing from the next generation (my children) by piling on mountainous debt. Our tax dollars are being squandered on misguided entitlement programs, and our share of the burden grows every day.

President Obama has stated he wants to limit the amount of money we can save in our 401(k) retirement accounts. He's telling us how much money we need to live a comfortable retirement. This is the first step to the outright theft of our retirement savings, and it's just the beginning of what will eventually happen in the U.S.

Our government's fiscal policies can't go on forever. And when the day of reckoning comes, I want to be surrounded with folks who share my concerns and have taken steps to protect themselves and their families.

Atlas is a venue where you can discuss these sensitive issues openly... Our members have properties, lawyers, and advisors all over the world. Some are top lawyers and advisors themselves. They hold multiple passports and citizenships. They know the type of people who can make the same things happen for you. Where else can you turn for such valuable information?

But let me clear about something... This club isn't for people who only want to take. This club is for people who have something to offer.

We're looking for people who come into this group with the right attitude. We want folks whose first question is, "How do I add value to the group?"

Relationships take work... and Atlas is no different. If you're willing to try and add value to this relationship, the club may be a perfect fit for you. That's how our current members view it as well.

In short, we want members who are positive... who see the potential in our club... and who are willing to help us make it one of the world's best and most exclusive groups.

We're not looking for a lot of people to join Atlas... We're looking for the right people.

This club is for successful people. So if you're struggling to make ends meet, Atlas isn't for you. The club is expensive to join, and the price will soon increase by 50%. And you won't get much benefit from the group if you can't afford to join us on our excursions.

We have an application process to ensure you're a good fit for the club, and vice versa. If you'd like to learn more about this opportunity, simply click here...

After reviewing your application, a club representative will contact you with the next steps. I hope you'll consider applying to The Atlas 400 today...

New 52-week highs (as of 11/21/13): Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Becton-Dickinson (BDX), BP (BP), Chubb (CB), CVS Caremark (CVS), EnerSys (ENS), Energy Transfer Equity (ETE), Fluidigm (FLDM), Fidelity Select Medical Equipment & Systems Fund (FSMEX), Gladstone Capital (GLAD), iShares Dow Jones U.S. Insurance Fund (IAK), iShares Nasdaq Biotech Fund (IBB), SPDR International Health Care Fund (IRY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), ProShares Ultra KBW Regional Banking Fund (KRU), 3M (MMM), Navigators (NAVG), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Penn Virginia (PVA), Sturm, Ruger (RGR), RPM International (RPM), ProShares Ultra Health Care Fund (RXL), Constellation Brands (STZ), Targa Resources (TRGP), and Travelers (TRV).

A quiet day in today's mailbag. Send your e-mails – good or bad – to feedback@stansberryresearch.com.

"Porter, I have been a subscriber for many years and have learned a ton. I do my own research using the learned techniques on both my ideas and check to see if I agree on yours or the other author's recommendations. The results have been gratifying and profitable.

"We all learn from our mistakes and I wonder why you never examine why a recommendation goes wrong and allow us to learn from some variable we missed. GE comes to mind as the bankruptcy never occurred. You've been right a lot so examining something we missed or couldn't control should not be considered a serious blemish or fault. Any serious investor knows you can't be right all the time but whatever tilts things in our favor is helpful. I enjoy the continued education." – Paid-up subscriber H.N.

"Excellent article in today's [Digest]. I still am struggling with the gap in my brain/emotions between the mindset of running a business and the mindset of being an investor (so far, more like a lazy speculator). It is a really interesting and worthwhile struggle. It is great that you write about it.

"I really appreciate how your organization continually seems to strive to provide more and more value. I am very glad that I became an Alliance Member a while back. One note though... while I find Porter's sense of humour hilarious on the Radio show – almost enough to want me to sign up as an Alliance Member again – the subject material (religion, fat lesbians) is not new or revealing. Thank you Stansberry for providing such great and diverse knowledge!" – Paid-up subscriber John de Wolf

Regards,

Porter Stansberry and Sean Goldsmith
Singapore
November 22, 2013

What do you do if you're holding a portfolio of world-class, dividend-paying companies, like Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and ExxonMobil... and stocks fall in half?

Do you sell on the way down? Or do you continue to hold, collect your dividends, and buy more shares at a lower price?

For me (Porter), it's a simple matter of following my trailing stops, regardless of the quality of the asset I hold. If you follow your trailing stops, you'll have plenty of cash at the bottom of the market... whenever it arrives.

It doesn't do you any good at all, in my opinion, to try to anticipate these movements. You cannot know when the weighing machine will overwhelm the voting machine. You cannot know the future.

You have to buy stocks that give you the opportunity (at least, in theory) to survive a crisis. A great case in point... I recommended chocolate-maker Hershey in December 2007. I recommended buying shares at probably the worst time you could have bought any stock anywhere in the world at any time in the last 50 years... and it didn't matter.

We didn't stop out because we bought a great business at a good price. And Hershey has continued to grow its business and increase its dividend. That's one reason I've predicted that "Hershey would end up becoming the best recommendation I've ever made in my career."

If you buy high-quality stocks at reasonable prices where you have the opportunity to see them continue to increase their earnings and dividends, you will be fine no matter what happens to the world's economy.

There's no other alternative. Knowing when these things will happen is impossible, so all you can do is continue to be a good investor and watch your trailing stops.

The easiest way to keep track of your stops is through TradeStops. Dr. Richard Smith, a longtime S&A subscriber, spent millions of dollars and 10 years developing the software. You simply enter your stocks into TradeStops, noting what trailing stop you want to place on the position. The software does the rest... notifying you when it's time to sell.

We've always felt that TradeStops was a valuable tool for investors... so much that we recently invested in his company. You can learn more about TradeStops here.

– Porter Stansberry with Sean Goldsmith

What to do with your blue-chip dividend-payers in case of a market crash...

It's one of the most common questions we receive: If you're holding a portfolio of the world's best companies, what do you do when the market turns down?

In today's Digest Premium, Porter explains his strategy...

To continue reading, scroll down or click here.

Stansberry & Associates Top 10 Open Recommendations
(Top 10 highest-returning open positions across all S&A portfolios)

As of 11/21/2013

Please note: Securities appearing in the Top 10 are not necessarily recommended buys at current prices. The list reflects the best-performing positions currently in the model portfolio of any S&A publication. The buy date reflects when the editor recommended the investment in the listed publication, and the return shows its performance since that date. To learn if a security is still a recommended buy today, you must be a subscriber to that publication and refer to the most recent portfolio.

What to do with your blue-chip dividend-payers in case of a market crash...

It's one of the most common questions we receive: If you're holding a portfolio of the world's best companies, what do you do when the market turns down?

In today's Digest Premium, Porter explains his strategy...

To subscribe to Digest Premium and receive a free hardback copy of Jim Rogers' latest book, click here.

This club could change your life... One thing the most impressive people I know have in common... A once-in-a-lifetime trip through Tuscany... Why the people around you are more important than ever...

Editor's note: The Digest team will return to action on Monday... In the meantime, we're concluding our weeklong series on some of our favorite writings of 2013.

In this essay – originally published in the May 6 Digest – Porter shares an opportunity to spend time with a unique group of extremely successful people...

Today's Digest won't be for everyone. But for some of you, what I (Porter) am about to discuss could literally change your life...

Today, I want to tell you about The Atlas 400 – a private wealth-and-travel club I started four years ago.

I originally launched The Atlas 400 because I wanted to be a part of a social club that I could enjoy...

I'm a member of several exclusive clubs, including the ritzy country club in my hometown. But I never really fit in there.

The members of those clubs suspect I'm a bit crazy... crazy for owning property abroad… crazy for owning gold… and crazy for believing the U.S. economy is on the verge of collapse.

Not that I care. And my views have certainly been vindicated. But... most of those folks still don't get it. They never will.

That's why in 2009, I asked the most impressive people I know – people like Casey Research founder Doug Casey, Agora Publishing president Bill Bonner, and founder of Sprott Global Resources Rick Rule – to become founding members of The Atlas 400 with me. I wanted the core of our club to epitomize the kind of member we were seeking – intelligent, successful, open-minded...

We've fielded hundreds of applications since then and chosen fewer than 100 applicants to be members. They include some of the most intelligent and interesting people I have ever met... the world's leading horse-racing bettor, one of the world's best-selling authors, several hedge-fund managers, and a managing director at one of the world's largest financial institutions. There are people who have made fortunes in real estate and have developed lucrative small businesses.

These people, all at the top of their game, share one major similarity – excellence. They're all outstanding at what they do... They are leaders in their fields. They're exactly the type of people you would want to have as friends, neighbors, and business partners.

To clarify, this group is a completely separate and independent entity from Stansberry & Associates... In fact, the club is a nonprofit organization. We don't operate this group to make money.

We operate The Atlas 400 to surround ourselves with the best and smartest people in the world and share extraordinary experiences with them. The purpose is simple: To bring intelligent, successful, like-minded people together to exchange ideas... enjoy new experiences... and make new friends among equals.

And how do we go about doing this? Four to five times a year, we host amazing adventures around the world…

In the past, we have navigated the sapphire waters of Panama, fishing for monster sailfish and marlin. Members spent 10 days on a luxurious guided safari through Botswana and Mozambique, walking alongside two-story-tall giraffes and enjoying some of the world's most beautiful terrain.

We were also invited by the CEO of Porsche to race cars on his company's private test track in Leipzig, Germany. Executives from BMW offered a similar experience at their top-secret test facility. This is only a sample of the trips we've taken. So what's next for The Atlas 400?

We're hosting an adventure in Scotland from August 25-30. We'll travel from coast to countryside, Loch Ness to the Highlands, castles to sprawling estates… while experiencing the best Scotland has to offer. Activities will include Michelin-starred dining at centuries-old castles, grouse hunting among the rolling Highland hills, professionally guided red-stag stalking, and sampling some of the country's finest whiskies.

The Atlas 400 will also visit Tuscany for a gourmand's experience of a lifetime: a tour of the Italian wine capital. From October 20-26, the editor of Italy's best-selling wine guide will serve as our host and tour leader. While we visit the region's best vineyards, he will educate our group on the rich Sangiovese grapes that make up its largest export.

In addition to tastings at top wineries, we'll enjoy rustic culinary classes with a renowned Tuscan chef, who will highlight regional cuisine and teach cooking methods passed down through generations. We'll end the excursion by racing Ferraris through the cobblestone streets of Siena. I personally requested and helped arrange this event.

We're already planning our adventures for 2014... We've arranged a seven-day excursion through South America's Patagonia region for our first event. We'll work our way from the Argentine grasslands to the glacial lakes of Chile. The world's foremost eco-lodges will serve as base camp throughout our trip. This is just one of the excursions we have planned for next year... We're also thinking of visiting Bordeaux, Tokyo, and Montenegro.

The Atlas 400 is a social club, not an investment club.

In general, we believe "business first" is the wrong way to go about life. Focus on your relationships first… opportunities will inevitably spring from them.

The point is, getting into the room with the right people is the hard part. Once you've made friends with someone... exchanged information... traveled together... it's natural to be invited into special deals, to parties, events, etc.

The value of Atlas is its network. The people you share your life with... the people you spend time with... the people you trust influence you in profound ways over time. Almost everything good that's happened in my life happened because of someone I knew... a relationship I built.

That's the idea behind The Atlas 400: To grow this network of friends… to have incredible experiences together… to deepen relationships.

And right now, the people you choose to surround yourself with are more important than ever...

Our government is robbing savers through inflation... and stealing from the next generation (my children) by piling on mountainous debt. Our tax dollars are being squandered on misguided entitlement programs, and our share of the burden grows every day.

President Obama has stated he wants to limit the amount of money we can save in our 401(k) retirement accounts. He's telling us how much money we need to live a comfortable retirement. This is the first step to the outright theft of our retirement savings, and it's just the beginning of what will eventually happen in the U.S.

Our government's fiscal policies can't go on forever. And when the day of reckoning comes, I want to be surrounded with folks who share my concerns and have taken steps to protect themselves and their families.

Atlas is a venue where you can discuss these sensitive issues openly... Our members have properties, lawyers, and advisors all over the world. Some are top lawyers and advisors themselves. They hold multiple passports and citizenships. They know the type of people who can make the same things happen for you. Where else can you turn for such valuable information?

But let me clear about something... This club isn't for people who only want to take. This club is for people who have something to offer.

We're looking for people who come into this group with the right attitude. We want folks whose first question is, "How do I add value to the group?"

Relationships take work... and Atlas is no different. If you're willing to try and add value to this relationship, the club may be a perfect fit for you. That's how our current members view it as well.

In short, we want members who are positive... who see the potential in our club... and who are willing to help us make it one of the world's best and most exclusive groups.

We're not looking for a lot of people to join Atlas... We're looking for the right people.

This club is for successful people. So if you're struggling to make ends meet, Atlas isn't for you. The club is expensive to join, and the price will soon increase by 50%. And you won't get much benefit from the group if you can't afford to join us on our excursions.

We have an application process to ensure you're a good fit for the club, and vice versa. If you'd like to learn more about this opportunity, simply click here...

After reviewing your application, a club representative will contact you with the next steps. I hope you'll consider applying to The Atlas 400 today...

New 52-week highs (as of 11/21/13): Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Becton-Dickinson (BDX), BP (BP), Chubb (CB), CVS Caremark (CVS), EnerSys (ENS), Energy Transfer Equity (ETE), Fluidigm (FLDM), Fidelity Select Medical Equipment & Systems Fund (FSMEX), Gladstone Capital (GLAD), iShares Dow Jones U.S. Insurance Fund (IAK), iShares Nasdaq Biotech Fund (IBB), SPDR International Health Care Fund (IRY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), ProShares Ultra KBW Regional Banking Fund (KRU), 3M (MMM), Navigators (NAVG), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Penn Virginia (PVA), Sturm, Ruger (RGR), RPM International (RPM), ProShares Ultra Health Care Fund (RXL), Constellation Brands (STZ), Targa Resources (TRGP), and Travelers (TRV).

A quiet day in today's mailbag. Send your e-mails – good or bad – to feedback@stansberryresearch.com.

"Porter, I have been a subscriber for many years and have learned a ton. I do my own research using the learned techniques on both my ideas and check to see if I agree on yours or the other author's recommendations. The results have been gratifying and profitable.

"We all learn from our mistakes and I wonder why you never examine why a recommendation goes wrong and allow us to learn from some variable we missed. GE comes to mind as the bankruptcy never occurred. You've been right a lot so examining something we missed or couldn't control should not be considered a serious blemish or fault. Any serious investor knows you can't be right all the time but whatever tilts things in our favor is helpful. I enjoy the continued education." – Paid-up subscriber H.N.

"Excellent article in today's [Digest]. I still am struggling with the gap in my brain/emotions between the mindset of running a business and the mindset of being an investor (so far, more like a lazy speculator). It is a really interesting and worthwhile struggle. It is great that you write about it.

"I really appreciate how your organization continually seems to strive to provide more and more value. I am very glad that I became an Alliance Member a while back. One note though... while I find Porter's sense of humour hilarious on the Radio show – almost enough to want me to sign up as an Alliance Member again – the subject material (religion, fat lesbians) is not new or revealing. Thank you Stansberry for providing such great and diverse knowledge!" – Paid-up subscriber John de Wolf

Regards,

Porter Stansberry and Sean Goldsmith
Singapore
November 22, 2013