The "it's impossible to lose strategy"?

[crgarcia]

Some professional money managers use the impossible to lose strategy to attract new customers:

96% or so of the money is placed in Bonds or CDs (let's hope not mortgage related), so that by year end it becomes 100%.

The other 4% is invested in high yield, high leverage (and relatively high risk) strategies.

Even if they COMPLETELY blowup all that money (the 4%), there are no net losses.


Of course this is a very conservative strategy, but its the first step into attracting customers who were dubious at first:

Money manager: "Our futures portion got an incredible 35% return, ranking among the top in this industry and blah blah blah".

Customer: "Really? then I can risk 20% the next year!".

 

[dozu888]

brilliant idea, except there are already loads of products like this on the market.

 

[Equalizer]

Quote from crgarcia:

Some professional money managers use the impossible to lose strategy to attract new customers:

96% or so of the money is placed in Bonds or CDs (let's hope not mortgage related), so that by year end it becomes 100%.

The other 4% is invested in high yield, high leverage (and relatively high risk) strategies.

Even if they COMPLETELY blowup all that money (the 4%), there are no net losses.


Of course this is a very conservative strategy, but its the first step into attracting customers who were dubious at first:

Money manager: "Our futures portion got an incredible 35% return, ranking among the top in this industry and blah blah blah".

Customer: "Really? then I can risk 20% the next year!".

Capital guarantee - that old chestnut.

If you start with $1mm and end with $1mm after one year, adjusting for inflation or interest at the risk free rate, then you have made a loss.

 

[dwitherell]

Quote from Equalizer:

Capital guarantee - that old chestnut.

If you start with $1mm and end with $1mm after one year, adjusting for inflation or interest at the risk free rate, then you have made a loss.

That's right! I love the banks telling people all the FDIC garbage to get their $$$ in so they don't have to borrow at the fed funds rate.

These folks typically think, "hey I'll make 4.3% this year with NO loss." NOT!!!!!!!!!

At that rate and taxes, they are losing money.