From the personal desk of
Porter Stansberry



Why I started my own private club



January 2011

Dear Friend,

I happen to be joining a local country club in Baltimore.

My wife wants a place where our son can meet the right kids, learn the right manners. We also want a place to play golf and tennis.

But I must tell you... some of the members look at me like I have three heads when I tell them I'm building a beach house in Nicaragua...

Or that I think the current U.S. financial system will completely collapse within the next five years.

Unfortunately, that's the way it's been my whole life. I suppose some of my ideas are just too "out there"... and as a result, I've never really fit in.

For example, I was invited into a popular fraternity in college.

But I couldn't stand the way the older brothers would haze and abuse the pledges. Eventually, I got thrown out... because I couldn't get along with the two biggest bullies.

Early in my career, it was the same thing. I got fired from a very prestigious financial publication because I wouldn't write what my boss told me to... because I didn't believe it.

I guess the truth is that I've never really fit in with the 'mainstream' crowd.

I'm not good at small talk. I hate discussing politics and television. And I don't really follow sports anymore.

My point is, I've been a part of many of these "elite" clubs and groups... and I've never really fit into any of them.

So about a year ago, I had an idea.

If I wanted to be part a social club that I really enjoy, I'd have to start it myself.

I also realized that, over the years, the people I genuinely respect, and enjoy spending time with, are the interesting folks I've met through my work.

After all...

Over the past decade, we've built what is now one of the biggest financial publishing businesses in the world.

And I've had the pleasure of becoming friends with some incredibly interesting people as a result.

Like the former head of trading at Bank of America... Argentina's biggest landowner... the world's leading mining financier... Florida's most important real estate developer... the world's #1 gold coin and collectible's expert... a leading offshore asset protection attorney... the founder of America's best on-line bank... the list goes on and on.

So I thought... why not start my own private club... with people like these?

A private club with members who are passionate about the same things I am.

New ideas... new friendships and connections... discussions about business and great books... and incredible new travel experiences.

And so, that's exactly what I have done...

A new private non-profit "social" Club

This group has been around, informally, for the last 15 years...

So I decided to make it official.

And I'm writing you today to invite you to join our special group – called The Atlas 400, a new private social club.

The Atlas 400 is a completely separate & independent entity from Stansberry & Associates Investment Research.

It is completely owned by its members, as a not-for-profit organization.

The purpose of The Atlas 400 is simple:

To bring intelligent, successful, like-minded people together to exchange ideas... enjoy new experiences... and make new friends among equals.

There are two goals of my new group.

The first is to travel the world several times a year to have experiences that are completely "off-limits" to the average person.

Take our first official trip last year.

We took a group of about a dozen of our founding members to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

Sure, you could go to Munich on your own...

But we reserved VIP tables at the best tents at Oktoberfest... and had a dinner reservation at Tantris, one of the most famous restaurants in the world.

Best of all, one of our members is a good friend of the CEO of Porsche. He invited us to spend a morning racing the brand-new Porsche Panamera Turbo at the company's private Formula 1 track in Leipzig, Germany.

We flew over from Munich on a private jet. Porsche hosted us for dinner... and then gave us eight of their fastest cars and free reign on the track.

We also spent a day racing BMWs in Munich. And another day playing golf at the most exclusive course in Germany – the club where they host the BMW Open.

It was the best trip most of us had experienced...

But here's my point:
These kinds of adventures create an environment where it's easy to meet new people. And easy to form new friendships.
Our next big adventure will be even better. (More details in a moment.)

The second goal of our Club?

The real secret of success

Outside of your own health and abilities, nothing is more important to success than the people you surround yourself with.

I learned this lesson shortly after I turned 14 years old.

One afternoon, I found myself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong kids.

I ended up taking the rap for damaging a bunch of windows. It didn't matter that I hadn't done it – I was there. My parents weren't the kind of people who would let me escape the consequences of my actions.

So even though I was legally too young to work, a family friend got me a job at Arnie Sager's warehouse, on the wrong side of the tracks near Orlando, Florida, to pay back the damages.

Arnie was a tough, old Jewish merchant – from the 'old school.' He paid me in cash at the end of each day's work. After two months of working after school and on weekends, I'd made enough money to pay for the damage.

When Arnie showed up after work in his car, I thanked him for the opportunity he'd given me. I told him it was my last day.

For the first time ever, he spoke to me directly.
"Kid, we both know you didn't break those windows. I think what you did – not ratting on your friends – showed a lot of character. But you gotta look around, kid. Those friends of yours are trouble. They sold you down the river without thinking twice. And they're heading for places you don't want to go – trust me. Listen... You gotta do a much better job picking your friends...because, like it or not, you will become them."
Arnie was exactly right.

The people you share your life with... the people you spend time with... the people you trust – they influence you in profound ways over time.

Today, with the exception of my family...

Nothing has been more important to me in my life than the incredible opportunities I've gained from my friendships and associations with other accomplished individuals.

Here's one example...

It's who you know

Five years ago, I went to Argentina to investigate real estate opportunities.

There, I met Eduardo Elzstain. His holding companies are the largest private landowners in Argentina, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Over the years, Eduardo and I became good friends...

For example, Eduardo invited me to invest in his latest private property fund. It recently did its first big deal. When the deal closed, Eduardo invited me to ring the opening bell with him at the New York Stock Exchange...

Through Eduardo, I've discovered several lucrative investment ideas...

I now have a good friend in Argentina – a friend who has traveled with me to Hong Kong and New York... I have access to a whole new group of professional contacts... and I did something I'd always dreamed of doing – ringing the bell at the NYSE.

That's how one single friendship can affect your life in so many important ways.

But the best example of all is my friendship with Steve Sjuggerud.

None of this would have happened for me if I hadn't met Steve years earlier.

At 14, I had no idea Steve would end up hiring me out of college nine years later and give me my first job in financial research...

But I did know Steve would lead me somewhere interesting.

He was the smartest, most athletically gifted, and most charismatic person I'd ever met. I knew hanging around him couldn't hurt me.

Today – 25 years later – I'm still inspired by Steve. He is a truly exceptional person. He still pushes me to improve – to be a better businessman, a better analyst, a better husband, a better friend. I'm deeply flattered we've been friends and business partners for such a long time.

Together, we've built our publishing company into one of the world's best. But... if it hadn't been for our friendship...if it hadn't been for the first opportunity that Steve gave me... none of this would have happened for me.

Which brings me to the second goal of this new club:
To make new friends and connections with other like-minded people... friendships that can add value to your life, in ways you never imagined.
With this letter, I would like to invite you to apply to join our special club.

I'm very excited about this private group of friends we've put together. I think you will be, too.

In the pages that follow, I'll give you the specifics of how it works... who's involved... what you can expect as a member... and more.

Before I go any further, however...

A word of warning

This Club is for people who have something to offer.

What I mean is, it is a collection of already successful individuals.

If you don't have two nickels to rub together, and you're looking to join so you can make a fast buck, forget it.

You're not the kind of person we're looking for.

That's why we have an application process – to weed out folks who won't be a good fit.

Something else you should know about the Club. It is quite expensive to join.

We've set the price high for a reason. We want everything about this group to be first-class (one of our rules when traveling, for example, is "No Buses").

You see, our Club is owned by the members and well... frankly, I don't want to own anything cheap.

So what exactly will you get out of becoming part of our Club?

Well, as I said, there are two main benefits...

5-Star Luxury Adventures... from
Antarctica to Southern Africa 

The first is to travel the world several times a year...

For once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are completely "off limits" to the average person.

For example, the new Atlas members heard so many great stories about Porsche's test track and Oktoberfest on our inaugural Germany trip last year-- we're going back again this fall.

The club also has most of its events booked for 2011.

In early spring, for example, we're taking a luxury icebreaker ship from Argentina to Antarctica.

It's an event straight out of National Geographic...

(Plus, we'll get to drink our scotch with million-year-old ice chipped from the glaciers.)

Then, following our annual meeting in New York, held every June, we're heading back to Argentina...

Where the world's foremost expert on bird hunting has offered to host our group on a luxury bird hunt. We're beginning the trip at a luxury duck-hunting lodge, owned by a Paris-trained chef. We'll also take advantage of the banks in Uruguay for interested members.

Our final trip in 2011 will be a luxury safari in southern Africa. The details are still in the works -- but it will be an incredible, unique experience. We're arranging luxury camps built from scratch in the middle of wildlife migrations... and a finale in paradise on an African beach.

So even if these adventures aren't your cup of tea...

There's something else you'll definitely get out of going on one, or all, of these trips...

You see, the real benefit of trips like these is building relationships... with some of the most successful people you'll ever meet.
In the room

Since I began my career 15 years ago, I've met more people – and developed my closest relationships – from traveling than any other way.

If you do a lot of traveling yourself, you know exactly what I'm talking about...

You can build a better relationship with someone when you're doing something that's incredibly fun... and when there aren't any other distractions.

And on trips like these, if you're in the room, then you're in the deal. That's just how it works...

Take our Germany trip, for example.

Traveling with us was the former head of securities trading for Bank of America... and the world's leading offshore asset protection attorney.

I learned something valuable from each of them.

Over lunch at Porsche's executive dining room, for example, I learned a new way to participate in PIPE (private investment in public equity) financing that could return 13% per month, every month...

And in the back of a Mercedes S500, on the way to our hotel in Munich, I also learned some strategies for protecting assets offshore, including Swiss banks (even after the UBS fallout last year).

That's another thing...

Offshore asset protection is the kind of topic you can only really discuss in person. You might feel uncomfortable asking an advisor you didn't know the kind of questions I asked this friend of mine.

You see, while there's nothing illegal about it, nobody talks about these things openly. You have to get to know people... the right people.

You have to be in the room.

I could tell you literally hundreds of stories like that.

Not just connections I've made that have helped me in some way...

But helping my friends, too... who sometimes go on to have very lucrative relationships.

A shopping mall magnate who partnered with an oil producer I know, for example. Or a technology expert I introduced to a private financial advisor.

In fact, I have met thousands of extraordinary folks over the last decade on private trips, all over the world...

And I've never failed to be deeply impressed – humbled really – by the accomplishments, first-hand knowledge, and deep integrity of these people.

Many of them are now my personal friends.

Take Jeff Clark, editor of our most successful premium service, S&A Short Report.

Jeff was originally an Alliance member whom I met at a conference. I was so impressed with Jeff, what he had accomplished in his career, and his outstanding ideas about trading, that I offered him a job almost on the spot.

More recently, a longtime employee of Agora, S&A's parent company, came to me with some concerns about his career. I gave him some advice... which he used shortly after to double his yearly salary.

My point is, over the past decade, I'm sure I've helped create a dozen or so millionaires – thanks to the advice, work, and connections I've given to friends and associates.
Again: It's all about who you know.

Because of my role as a global financial publisher, I have a uniquely wide-reaching network of interesting and powerful friends like these...

Who can introduce you to ideas the average person simply never hears about.

For example, my good friend Doug Casey, a founding Atlas 400 member.

More than six months ago, Doug introduced me to a good friend of his – one of the world's best energy analysts. This analyst later invited me into his private fund, which makes high-yield loans to energy companies, in exchange for equity warrants.

Our expected return on this fund is more than 50% annually. So far, it's been more than 100% annually.

Can I guarantee you'll be invited into situations like this?

Of course not.

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

But the point is, getting into the room with people like this is the hard part.

Once you've made friends with someone... exchanged information... traveled together... then getting invited into things like this is natural.

That's how it is with all the great private clubs...

A favor for a friend

Take the "Wednesday 10", a private social club recently profiled in the Wall Street Journal.

Founded in 1957, the group has included top executives from ABC and CBS... a senior director at Goldman Sachs... a famous New York restaurateur... and a pioneer in lymphoma research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center...

The Wednesday 10 meet once a month to discuss the day's issues over dinner... and reconnect with old friends.

As the Journal noted: "On occasion, they shared their influence with one another...."

Or maybe you've heard of Bohemian Grove.

Every July since 1872, this group meets at their private camp – a 2,700 acre luxury ground, deep in the woods of Monte Rio, California.

Every Republican President since 1923, including Ronald Reagan and both Bushes, has been a member of the Grove. One member, the former C.E.O. of a major defense contractor, said
"Being at the Grove is a business advantage for me. I don't come to the Grove first off for business, but the guys you meet definitely give you an advantage..."
I could literally give you hundreds of examples of how social connections like that can create opportunities you would never have otherwise...

Take Atlas 400 founding member Doug Casey.

In 1981, Doug started the Eris Society – an informal group of friends including Gary North, Stuart Brand (founder of the Whole Earth Catalog empire), and Rick Rule (another founding Atlas 400 member) – who got together for dinner and discussion at Doug's house in Aspen, Colorado.

Through the group, Doug later met a fellow named Jose Esteban... and they became good friends.

The friendship paid off for Doug years later...

Thanks to Jose, Doug's Cafayate project – an exclusive international community in Argentina, with an on-site vineyard, an 18-hole golf course, and a polo field – got off the ground:
"Cafayate wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Jose," said Doug. "He introduced me to Salta province, and the town, and my partners, and the people who sold us 250,000 acres of land at local prices."
That's the #1 reason why I decided to start a private social club...
Because almost everything good that's happened to me in my life happened because of someone I knew... a relationship I'd made.
Since I began my career 15 years ago, I've met more people... and developed more relationships from traveling, than any other way.

So that's the idea behind The Atlas 400...

To grow this network of friends. To have these incredible experiences together. And to deepen these relationships.

If you're the kind of member we're looking for, let me tell you about some of the other "perks" of the club...

Benefits of membership

As I mentioned, we have structured The Atlas 400 as a non-profit organization.

The Club is completely separate from Stansberry & Associates Investment Research.

Each member will have an equal stake in the group – the members will own the club.

In this way, The Atlas 400 will only exist to serve the interests of its members.

Here is what we have put together...
  • A unique group of founding members, including Bill Bonner (president of Agora Inc. and New York Times best-selling author), Doug Casey (legendary speculator, international real estate expert), Rick Rule (leading resource financier), and several others who, for privacy reasons, have asked me not to publish their names.


  • The world's top global concierge service. Normally, you must apply for membership with this group. The annual fee can be upwards of $150,000. But we're providing our members with exclusive, 24/7 service wherever you may be in the world.


  • This group has 700 employees and offices in 45 countries around the world. It specializes in providing you with what no other concierge can get you:

    Super Bowl tickets... the best tables at ultra-exclusive restaurants... front row tickets to sold-out shows... just about anything you want or need.

    If it's legal, our concierge can get it for you, anywhere in the world.

  • Access to Atlas 400's private secure network. To help you stay in touch with friends you've made on our adventures, we have created a private online network where you can communicate safely and securely with other members.


  • The annual meeting and gala. Once a year, in June, we'll gather in New York (most likely at The Plaza) to vote on club matters. We'll also meet guest speakers from various areas of interest – finance, health, and travel. The annual meeting is free to all members. All of the founding members will attend.


  • Frequent exclusive events around the world, where friendships between club members can be established and deepened.

    As I mentioned, we'll meet on a luxury icebreaker to Antarctica... at a 5-star lodge in Argentina... and on a luxury safari in southern Africa.
But if these adventures aren't up your alley, don't worry.

As an Atlas 400 member, you can suggest any trip you like.

Our staff will organize it, and invite other members to join you. We plan to do a half dozen of these events each year.

In short, I'm very excited about the prospects of our new private social club...

I'm certain there is not another club like this, anywhere in the world.

I believe membership in The Atlas 400 has the potential to vastly improve nearly every aspect of your life, from your wealth to your health to your happiness.

As a member, you will be provided with incredible new experiences...

A way to meet and keep in touch with successful people from all around the world...

And a place for you to make the kind of connections that inevitably lead to more real wealth... and not just material wealth.

So if you're interested in applying to become a member of our special little group, here are the details.

Membership criteria

Before I get to the particulars...

Let me explain who should apply for membership... the kind of members we're looking for.

First, we're looking for "like-minded" folks from around the world.

I want people who are open to making new friends, traveling to new places, and pursuing new ideas.

For example, on the trips I arranged to Argentina, I met dozens of great contacts...

We were all self-made men and women. We all appreciated the value of a good idea. We were all well-read... well traveled... and easy to get along with.

And while we had many of the typical political and religious differences – as you would expect with any group – we all agreed on the basic idea of personal responsibility and personal liberty.

This is the type of person I want to welcome as a member.

Most important of all...

I 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.

Before we go any further, I want you to know upfront that there are only a few things I won't tolerate the Club getting involved with.

First and foremost, this Club won't ever turn into any kind of business front.

The Atlas 400 is not – nor will it ever be – one of the many "business clubs" that turn out to be marketing for a financial advisory... insurance... or lead generators for accountants and law firms.

That's why we've set up the Club as a non-profit... completely separate from Stansberry & Associates Investment Research.

I want to make absolutely certain that the Club exists for one reason only – to serve the interests of its members.

And, as I mentioned at the start of this letter...

Something to offer

The Atlas 400 is for those who have something to offer... who have a passion in at least one or two areas of interest.

For example, on your membership application (more on that in a moment), I would explain that my areas of expertise are in finance and publishing. My hobbies include golf and surfing. I'm a near-expert in several different destinations around the world: Nicaragua, the Florida Keys, Argentina.

How much does membership cost?

The charter initiation fee is $25,000. Annual dues to remain active in the club will be $5,000 per year.

If that kind of figure makes you nervous, then membership in our club is not for you.

You see, it's important to have a large upfront fee when joining a club like this one.

The main reason for this is, of course, exclusivity.

It guarantees the club a certain caliber of member... and discourages people who really shouldn't be in this group.

You see, we're not looking for a lot of people to join The Atlas 400...

We're looking for the right people.

After all, there are many different kinds of social clubs out there. Ours is for people of a certain level of accomplishment.

Your membership fee covers all of the club's services, including the global concierge service... access to the club's private network... the club's newsletter (which will feature members-only news and opportunities generated from our network)... and access to the annual gala meeting.

And just to be completely clear: S&A has done all of the organizing of the Atlas 400 non-profit company (for example, applying for non-profit status, cutting excellent deals with the world's top concierge's service, setting up bank accounts, hiring professionals to do the proper filings, and producing this invitation to launch the Club).
S&A will take 2/3rd of the initial fee for performing these services. However, it will be up to all the club members to decide whether to continue to invite new members or not, and for how much. As I said before, I want to make absolutely certain that the Club exists only to serve the interests of its members.

Club-sponsored events, like the upcoming trip to Antartica, are extra. However, the club will organize all of its travel-related events on a not-for-profit basis.

And of course, wherever we travel, it will always be first class.

Once you step off the plane to our destination event, you won't have to worry about a thing.

Our support staff will make sure everything is taken care of for us... so you can relax and enjoy the company.

So... after everything I've told you, if you are interested in joining the Atlas 400, here's what to do next.

So we can get to know you

At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to The Atlas 400 membership application.

The application process is free.

It has four basic questions we'd like you to answer... so we can get to know you a little better:
1. What do you hope to get out of joining The Atlas 400?

2. What interests/expertise do you have that may be useful to other club members?

3. Tell us about yourself (Background, occupation, etc...)

4. What are your travel preferences (i.e., Will you travel anywhere? Do you only travel 1st class? Do you like traveling to inexpensive countries?) Also, what types of trips would you like to take as a member of The Atlas 400?
Please fill out this application completely.

Then, submit your application at the link below. Or, you can print it and mail it to:

Sean Goldsmith
President, Atlas 400 Inc.
1217 St. Paul St.
Baltimore, MD 21202


If your application is approved, we will contact you to schedule a phone interview between you and Sean Goldsmith, our club President.

If you are approved, you become an official Nominee member.
At that time, we ask that your membership initiation fee of $25,000 be paid within 3 business days.

Once you are accepted as a Nominee member...

You will have immediate access to our global concierge service and our secure online network (we'll send you all the details, along with your welcome package).

After that, we ask that, as a new Nominee member, you attend an event within the first six months of your membership...

Because only at an event, with the support of all attending Members, can a Nominee member become an official member of The Atlas 400.

After all...

Making new friends... and traveling with interesting people... is why I've started a new private social club.

One last thing.

For most potential Atlas 400 Club members, the expense of joining the group is not a primary consideration.

But you should be fully informed about our policies regarding an increase in the membership fee, after the charter period expires.

As with real estate, clubs become more valuable as more and more people want to participate. We currently have 39 active members... and a select number of charter memberships still available.

You're being invited to join at the charter membership price.

When our charter membership slots are filled, this invitation will be withdrawn, and the price of membership will increase.

We can't accurately predict how high the price of membership will go – it simply depends on demand for the club's remaining charter spots.

But I anticipate that memberships after the charter period will be significantly higher.

So if you are interested in Atlas 400 membership, I would urge you to consider applying as soon as possible.

Let me close by thanking you for reading this letter, and for considering joining our group.

This club is a dream of mine... a dream I hope you'll share with me.

Looking forward to meeting you,



Porter Stansberry

For the Atlas 400 application, click here.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This work is based on SEC filings, current events, interviews, corporate press releases, and what we've learned as financial journalists. It may contain errors and you shouldn't make any investment decision based solely on what you read here. It's your money and your responsibility. Stansberry & Associates Investment Research expressly forbids its writers from having a financial interest in any security they recommend to our subscribers. And all Stansberry & Associates Investment Research (and affiliated companies), employees, and agents must wait 24 hours after an initial trade recommendation is published on the Internet, or 72 hours after a direct mail publication is sent, before acting on that recommendation.

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