With Friends like these…

Did you ever notice that just about every insurance salesman or stock broker seems like a “pretty nice guy”?  They are always smiling, paying superficial compliments about your new hair-do or providing canned laughter to your own inane comments. Don’t let those suspenders or ill-fitting suits fool you. They are trained to be predators and to pounce on any vulnerability you might display — personal or financial. They will come up with all kinds of connections to show how much they have in common with you — real or imaginary (mostly the latter). They will connect any interest you have in investing to ludicrous “opportunities” , like today’s new fad of investing in revenue streams of pro-athletes. (No, you can’t really make this stuff up!) They will have a product to fit your needs no matter how damaging it is to your financial future. If you are terrified, irrationally exuberant, drunk or stoned, they will have a something to sell you to fill your insatiable need to self destruct. Don’t forget though they are “nice guys” and oh,  by the way, don’t forget to refer them to your friends.