The investment services and financial industry has long moved past the point of offering valuable assets for sale and has entered a shadowy netherworld where everyone parrots a stock market recommendation for the sole purpose of preserving their own jobs. Think about it. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds. Why are they so well known when, as an investment class, they’re nowhere near the best choice?

Follow the money.

Wall Street banks, brokerage houses, and fund managers need a constant influx of new cash to keep the whole Ponzi scheme going in their favor. Mutual funds have been “hot” for a while. Why? Advertising! Media talking heads recommend them. So does your friendly neighborhood Edward Jones broker. The only reason they’re concerned with your return on investment is that you fall for the perception you’re doing well enough to not pull your cash from the market and try another asset that might actually work, like gold or real estate.

Money is made in the stock market by brokers churning your account by entering and exiting positions for a commission, and by tacking on administrative fees left and right. News agencies, sales agents, and commentators aren’t going to bite the hand that feeds them and will keep pimping worthless paper investments like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and the accompanying need for “professional” investment services until the day they die.

Do you want to associate yourself with that crew of pirates? We certainly don’t. Stick with us and we’ll show you how to show your clients a better way.

The AIPIS Team

Flickr / John Griffiths