Stijn Schmitz welcomes Brett Rentmeester to the show. Brett is the Founder of WindRock Wealth Management. Their conversation centers on the current economic landscape, highlighting critical challenges facing the global financial system, particularly the United States. Rentmeester argues that the economy has fundamentally changed since the mid-1970s, when the dollar decoupled from gold. Since then, the economic system has relied increasingly on debt and money printing, creating an unsustainable financial structure. He points to several systemic issues, including declining real wages, skyrocketing costs in healthcare and education, and massive government debt that is increasingly difficult to service.

Stijn explores potential scenarios for economic transformation, presenting two primary paths: proactive systemic change or a potential catastrophic reset. Brett suggests we are in a “fourth turning” moment—a generational shift where existing institutions are losing public trust and facing potential fundamental restructuring. A key theme is the potential return to “sound money,” potentially through tokenized gold, cryptocurrency, or a new monetary system backed by hard assets. Brett believes there’s a significant likelihood of monetary reimagination within the next five to ten years, driven by increasing public dissatisfaction with current economic structures.

For individual investors, he recommends a diversified approach: maintaining investments in traditional assets while also acquiring hard assets like gold, silver, and real estate. The strategy involves having “one foot in the existing system and one foot out,” preparing for potential significant economic disruption. Regarding potential global conflict, Rentmeester hopes for a collaborative reset rather than a destructive war cycle, emphasizing the importance of proactive monetary reform. His overall message is one of cautious preparation, understanding that while the current system faces significant challenges, there are potential pathways to a more stable economic future.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:03 – Times of Great Change
00:02:33 – Debt Saturation Discussion
00:04:33 – Cracks in Society
00:08:11 – Demographic Challenges
00:11:16 – Fiat Money Creation
00:12:31 – Gold Standard History
00:14:00 – Central Banks Gold Buying
00:15:38 – Crony Capitalism Critique
00:16:44 – US Debt Mathematics
00:20:50 – Why Now Inflection
00:24:56 – Future Paths Outlined
00:28:42 – Global Power Shifts
00:42:03 – Portfolio Construction Strategies

Guest Links:
Website: https://windrockwealth.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettrentmeester/

Brett Rentmeester founded WindRock Wealth Management to bring tailored investment solutions to investors seeking an edge in an increasingly uncertain world. Mr. Rentmeester is a veteran and entrepreneur in the investment business. Through his career, including as a co-founder of Altair Advisers and manager at Arthur Andersen, he was a trusted confidant for business owners, entrepreneurs and family offices.

His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create and build a number of successful companies in the financial services industry through partnership with the Jaggi Family Office, where he serves as the Chief Investment Officer. Throughout his career, he has focused on the importance of strong relationships, strategic thinking, and an expertise in alternative investments.

Mr. Rentmeester’s media appearances include appearances on the PBS Nightly Business Report program, the Chicago Tribune, and the World Presidents’ Organization. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona with a degree in Finance and earned his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He has been a multiple-year recipient of the Chicago Magazine Five Star Wealth Award, is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder (CFA®) and has the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation (CAIA®).

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Ross Beaty to the show. Ross Beaty is a Renowned Geologist, Serial Mine Builder & Conservation Advocate. Beaty provides a comprehensive overview of the current gold market and mining industry landscape. He suggests that while gold is currently at record highs around $4,300, the market still has potential for growth, driven by strong macro and supply-demand fundamentals. Beaty anticipates a wave of new gold mine production in 2025-2027 that might eventually dampen prices, but remains optimistic about the sector’s near-term prospects.

Drawing from his extensive experience building successful mining companies like Pan American Silver and Equinox Gold, Beaty emphasizes the importance of understanding specific commodity dynamics and investing in projects with significant scale and potential. He highlights the critical factors for successful mining investments, including geological potential, project location, commodity demand-supply fundamentals, and management quality.

Beaty candidly discusses the mining industry’s inherent risks, noting that even well-planned projects can face unexpected challenges from geological complexities, political instability, community tensions, and volatile metal prices. He advocates for diversification and strategic portfolio management, as demonstrated by Equinox Gold’s recent divestment of Brazilian assets to focus on tier-one projects and manage debt. Beyond his mining endeavors, Beaty is deeply committed to environmental conservation through his philanthropic work.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:58 – Gold Bull Market Phase
00:03:04 – Exploration Under-Investment
00:05:09 – Lessons from Past Cycles
00:06:40 – Investment vs Mining Differences
00:09:49 – Ross’s Company Categories
00:11:40 – Spotting Special Projects
00:13:20 – Project Evaluation Criteria
00:16:28 – Commodity Fundamentals Analysis
00:21:30 – Common Mining Pitfalls
00:23:00 – Growth and Debt Risks
00:24:05 – Industry Dilution Problems
00:26:30 – Equinox Brazil Divestments
00:29:10 – Future Plans Philanthropy
00:30:23 – Concluding Thoughts

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.equinoxgold.com
Foundation: https://sitkafoundation.org

Ross Beaty is a renowned Canadian geologist, mining entrepreneur, and philanthropist with over 50 years of experience in the international minerals and renewable energy sectors. Born in Vancouver in 1951 to a forestry entrepreneur father and a teacher mother, Beaty earned degrees in geology and law from the University of British Columbia, followed by an MSc in geology from Imperial College London. His career began in the 1970s, blending scientific expertise with business acumen to build a legacy of resource innovation.

Beaty founded Pan American Silver Corp in 1994, where he serves as Chair Emeritus, growing it into a global leader in silver production. He is currently Chair of Equinox Gold Corp’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since its inception in 2017. Over four decades, he has founded and divested more than a dozen public companies, including Equinox Resources (sold in the 1990s) and Alterra Power Corp, a clean energy firm, generating an estimated $6 billion in shareholder value. A former President of the Silver Institute in Washington, DC, Beaty is a Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada, Society of Economic Geologists, and Canadian Institute of Mining.

Beyond business, Beaty is a passionate environmental advocate. He co-founded and presides over the Sitka Foundation, focusing on biodiversity conservation in British Columbia through strategic grants and impact investing. He chairs the BC Parks Foundation, serves as a director for Panthera and the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and is Patron of the Beaty Biodiversity Centre at UBC. His accolades include induction into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame (2018), the Order of Canada (2017), and an honorary Doctor of Laws from UBC (2018).

An optimist at heart, Beaty champions a shift from consumerism to conservation. Married to physician Trisha Beaty, he enjoys beekeeping, cider production, and sea kayaking in Howe Sound. His journey from mining magnate to green evangelist exemplifies resilient entrepreneurship.