Jim Rickards does not look at the market the way most financial newsletter editors do.
He starts with the forces most people overlook, like gold, Washington policy, currency pressure, federal decisions, and strategic resources, then works backward to find the stock or asset that could benefit next.
In this guide, I’ll break down the Strategic Intelligence strategy and show how Rickards turns big macro calls into portfolio actions you can follow.
What Is the Strategic Intelligence Strategy?
What Is the Strategic Intelligence Strategy?The Strategic Intelligence strategy starts with the big picture, then moves toward a specific action.
Rickards studies the forces that can change markets before they become obvious.
That includes gold, monetary policy, central banks, federal action, geopolitical conflict, domestic resource development, and currency pressure.
He does not begin with a stock and then hunt for a reason to like it. He starts with the reason.
Once the macro setup makes sense, he looks for the company, asset, or sector that could benefit most.
I find that process more honest than most newsletter approaches because the recommendation earns its place rather than being reverse-engineered to fit a story.
Step 1: Start With the Macro Call
Rickards’ process usually begins with a major shift that most people are either missing or underestimating.
Gold is the clearest example. His work treats gold as a monetary asset, rather than a commodity and connects it to government debt, central bank reserves, currency confidence, inflation risk, and geopolitical instability.
His long-term target is $27,000 per ounce.
That is a bold number, and I would not treat it as guaranteed.
Still, it shows the scale of his thinking. Rickards is not looking at gold as a quick trade. He sees it as part of a much larger monetary reset if confidence in paper money weakens.
Step 2: Find the Catalyst That Could Move the Market
A macro call becomes more useful when it has a trigger.
Rickards looks for events that can force the market to reprice an asset.
That can include a federal announcement, executive action, central bank decision, resource approval, gold breakout, currency shock, or geopolitical event.
Right now, he is watching June 17 as a potential turning point tied to a key federal decision.
His view is that President Trump could clear the way for a massive, undeveloped resource trapped behind regulation for years.
That turns the gold thesis into something specific: not just “gold may rise” but “a specific federal decision could change the market’s view of the company tied to it.”
That is an important distinction. A general theme can take years to play out. A catalyst gives readers a date, event, or policy move to watch.
Step 3: Narrow the Big Idea Into a Specific Opportunity
This is where Rickards’ process becomes more useful, and what I think separates him from most macro newsletter writers.
He does not stop at “buy gold-related companies.”
He connects the monetary thesis to a specific Washington policy decision, a specific resource project, and a specific small company positioned to benefit before the crowd shows up.
The Alaska setup is his current example: a stalled resource that could get a federal green light, tied to a tiny stock that could react sharply if and when that happens.
I like this approach because it gives you something concrete to evaluate rather than a vague sector call.
Step 4: Use History to Frame the Upside
Rickards also uses past resource moves to show why small companies can move sharply when a major discovery or catalyst becomes impossible to ignore.
The point is not that any past example will repeat.
Small resource companies connected to major undeveloped deposits sit overlooked until one discovery, government decision, or strategic buyer changes the picture.
I find this framing one of the more honest things about Rickards’ process: he is telling you the setup requires patience and discipline, not just buying the thesis and checking back in a week.
The macro trend, the asset value, and the catalyst all need to line up.
Step 5: Turn the Thesis Into Portfolio Action
A strong thesis still needs discipline, and this is where the model portfolio earns its place.
You can see Rickards’ current open positions and identify which recommendations are still worth acting on versus which have already moved past a sensible entry.
This makes the strategy more practical than a one-time stock idea.
Small resource stocks can move fast. A stock may look attractive before a catalyst and much less attractive after a sharp jump.
The buy range helps readers avoid chasing after the risk-reward has changed.
The portfolio also shows what Rickards still stands behind.
If the thesis changes, you are not left hunting through old issues to reconstruct the case.
Why Alerts Matter in This Strategy
Macro events do not wait for a monthly issue.
That is why updates and urgent alerts play a major role in the strategy.
If gold breaks higher, a federal decision moves closer, a policy deadline changes, or a recommendation leaves its preferred range, members need guidance before the next full issue arrives.
The alerts help turn changing conditions into next steps.
They can help readers understand whether to enter, hold, take gains, or step aside if the original thesis weakens.
I think this is especially important with Rickards’ work because his setups often depend on Washington timing. Those situations can move fast once news spreads.
How Rickards Uses Gold and Hard Assets
Gold sits near the center of Rickards’ worldview, but he does not treat every gold opportunity the same.
Physical gold plays a defensive role. It can help protect purchasing power and reduce reliance on paper assets.
Gold stocks offer more upside, but they can be volatile.
Royalty-style companies offer a third path: they can benefit from gold and silver production without running mines directly, which removes much of the operational risk.
That three-part framework gives flexibility depending on what you are trying to accomplish.
Someone focused on wealth protection and someone hunting for upside are both served by the research, but through different vehicles.
Who This Strategy Works Best For
Strategic Intelligence fits best if you want to understand why an opportunity exists before you act on it.
It works well for people interested in gold, Washington policy, monetary risk, strategic resources, and hard assets.
I also think it suits anyone tired of being told what to buy without being told why.
It is not built for day trades, options, or constant short-term activity.
Rickards’ process is about identifying major shifts and acting when the setup is clear.
That patience is also the edge.
Final Take: Is the Strategic Intelligence Strategy Practical?
Yes, the Strategic Intelligence strategy is practical because it turns large macro views into clear portfolio steps.
Rickards begins with major forces like gold, currency risk, Washington policy, resource security, and global instability.
Then he looks for a catalyst, narrows to a specific opportunity, and tracks it through a model portfolio with weekly updates and alerts.
The Alaska thesis, alongside his $27,000 gold target and June 17 catalyst, shows the full process.
At $49 for six months, five bonus reports included, and a 90-day refund, it is a low-risk way to find out if his research fits.
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