That's a two-edged question. There are certainly investors I like. But in picking an investment vehicle I know better than to follow any investor in its management circle.
I'd never endorse I-con's lead, knowing what I do about him based only on actions I've witnessed myself.
Most years I somehow manage to scrape together gains even I don't easily grasp until well after the start of the following year. My wife's IRA is ahead about 27% and climbing quickly. I have no idea where it will stand at the end of December. But I'm fairly certain it will be in better condition than most stock newsletters would have invited.
There's no investor I follow with any religiosity. Typically their gains aren't enough to lure me into their camp. Worse, though, is that I trust none of them as I see them promoting those high annual fees. Add in that I usually gain more by scrambling on my own two feet and my line tends to be:
"Dance with whut brung you to the dance."
I brung me and trust my picking and investing ability like no other.
I-con's has followers as we all do. The difference is that he makes a big deal of it wheras I'm just proud that I'm trusted. He gets paid in cash for his leadership. I enjoy being part of "the team and ask for nothing more."
He could buy and sell me a million times over without blinking an eye but I've never seen him helping others learn how to steer their own ships.
I was legally blind for five years dependent upon Houston's Metrolift, a public transportation service for the blind and otherwise handicapped. This enabled me to buy food at supermarkets and get around as necessary.
Through those years I came to know what it is to help others forage as I had to be helped. Before that can happen, they need to be taught. And that calls for teaching. Four surgeries brought my vision vack but life taught me well.
These boards fulfill that function. It is clearly my own mission.
So then, instead of looking for someone to steer your ship or mine, we can try to help and enable others to captain their own ships.
