Donald Trump!  He’s soaking up all of the headlines in the Presidential race, but nobody really knows much about what he believes.  Is there a right way to see Trump from the perspective of a wise, responsible self-directed investor?  There sure is.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll help you see that perspective RIGHT NOW in Episode #130.------Hello, SDI Nation!  It is SO GOOD to be back in the saddle.  For the last two weeks, I’ve struggled with a combination of pneumonia and bronchitis… and it’s been MISERABLE!  I’m not at 100% yet – probably still only about 85% - but I’ll give every bit that I have to making this an unforgettable experience as you listen to this, the podcast of record for savvy, self-directed investors like you!Thank you for the rather overwhelming response to the last episode, #129 – available at SDIRadio.com/129 – where I encouraged you to view “bankruptcy” not as a financial escape hatch, but as a standard of financial preparedness.  My theory is this:  Bankruptcy is the one situation in which a person must absolutely come clean and disclose absolutely everything about their financial situation.  Privacy doesn’t matter.  Everything is on the line and known by all parties.  So if, in that situation, your financial affairs can be arranged in advance in a way that’s BOTH totally in compliance with the law, AND capable of making sure that your assets aren’t lost even if you went through bankruptcy, then in my humble but undeniably accurate opinion, THAT is the gold standard of asset protection.  So talk with your own attorney about getting that kind of protection established, because it’s important that you do this long BEFORE you’re facing legal or creditor difficulty.  By the time you’re already in the middle of the fire, it could be too late.  If you don’t have an attorney that you trust on these issues, go back and listen to SDIRadio.com/129 for a referral.So what about Donald Trump?!Let’s get the partisan issue out of the way first.  Donald Trump may be running as a republican, but let me tell you without question:  Trump is not a republican.  Trump is not a democrat.  Trump is the founding and sole member of the Trump party, and he’s doubtlessly running for President to advance his own interests.So for those of you who are tempted to tune out just because I’m talking about a guy who is running under the Republican label… let’s leave the small mindedness at the door, shall we?  Polling already clearly indicates that Trump has substantial interest across party and ethnic lines, and since the guy has a commanding lead, it makes sense for you and me to know a thing or two about him, since he’s clearly a serious candidate who COULD become the next President of the United States.Spoiler alert:  I’m not going to tell you whether I support Trump or not.  I don’t know yet.  But what we can analyze are his ideals and determine whether his approach is compatible with our needs as self-directed investors.A moment ago I commented to you that Trump isn’t Republican or Democrat but is pursuing his own interests.  How’d that rub you?  My suspicion is that for many people, that may feel like a negative comment, but for the more enlightened among us, it may actually be a positive point of differentiation.Here’s my analysis of Donald Trump:First, I respect what he’s done in business.  He doesn’t have a perfect record, by any means, but overall, he’s been wildly successful… to the point that his name is plastered onto opulent resorts all over the world, and to the point that you and I are discussing him as a serious Presidential contender.  Some people are critical of him because of some history with bankruptcy, but that’s not entirely reasonable.  Some of his companies have gone through bankruptcy, but he’s personally never done so.  And for those of you who view with suspicion the ability to go through bankruptcy and still come out the other side as a billionaire… just think back to a few minutes ago on this very show when you w