The Investing Rip-Off How can you tell whether an advisor is conflicted or looking out for your best interests? What questions should you ask when making important investment decisions? How can you select investments that avoid needless expenses and risk? As investors, many of us have put our faith in the financial services industry when it comes to the stewardship of our wealth. Unfortunately, the industry has consistently failed us on this front. The financial services industry including banks, brokerages, and insurance companies is unique among all others. Through effective advertising and marketing, it's been able to evade being painted with the brush other underperforming industries have, and in most cases, their well-designed sales pitch has allowed them to effectively prey on the emotional desires of investors. Based on author David Loeper's nearly twenty-five years of experience with this industry's inner workings, Stop the Investing Rip-off reveals the real costs of the investments we make, details the false and misleading information sold to us, and discusses the devastating effects they can have on personal wealth. With this book as your guide, you'll gain invaluable insights into the major segments of the financial services industry, how they spin their offerings, and the questions you need to ask before committing any money to a financial product or service you may be interested in. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Stop the Investing Rip-off sheds much-needed light on the often-unseen aspects of the financial services industry exposing what only insiders know and shows you how to avoid the conflicts of interest that could compromise your financial well-being.

The Investing Rip-OffHow can you tell whether an advisor is conflicted or looking outfor your best interests?What questions should you ask when making important investmentdecisions?How can you select investments that avoid needless expenses andrisk?As investors, many of us have put our faith in the financialservices industry when it comes to the stewardship of our wealth.Unfortunately, the industry has consistently failed us on thisfront.The financial services industry--including banksbrokerages, and insurance companies--is unique among allothers. Through effective advertising and marketing, it's been ableto evade being painted with the brush other underperformingindustries have, and in most cases, their well-designed sales pitchhas allowed them to effectively prey on the emotional desires ofinvestors.Based on author David Loeper's nearly twenty-five years ofexperience with this industry's inner workings, Stop the InvestingRip-off reveals the real costs of the investments we make, detailsthe false and misleading information sold to us, and discusses thedevastating effects they can have on personal wealth. With thisbook as your guide, you'll gain invaluable insights into the majorsegments of the financial services industry, how they spin theirofferings, and the questions you need to ask before committing anymoney to a financial product or service you may be interestedin.Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Stop theInvesting Rip-off sheds much-needed light on the often-unseenaspects of the financial services industry--exposingwhat¿only insiders know--and shows you how to avoid theconflicts of interest that could compromise your financialwell-being.

Preface.Acknowledgements.Chapter 1 Major Brokerages Firms.Chapter 2 Investment Advisers.Chapter 3 Hybrids- Advisory Services Provided ThroughBrokerages.Chapter 4 Discount Brokers.Chapter 5 Financial Planners, Wealth Managers.Chapter 6 The Financial Press.Chapter 7 The Broadcast Media.Chapter 8 Authors, Self Help Books, and FinancialCelebrities.Chapter 9 Mutual Funds and ETFs.Chapter 10 Insurance Agents (and Insurance Companies).Chapter 11 Your Company-Endorsed Retirement Plan Advisor.Chapter 12 Banks and Trust Companies.Chapter 13 Software, Web Sites, and Financial Educators.Chapter 14 Pitches They All Use to Sacrifice Your Life.Chapter 15 Resources to Protect Yourself.Conclusion.Appendix A The Other Millionaire You Make with 2.5 PercentExcess Fees.Appendix B: The Other Millionaire You Make with 1.5 PercentExcess Fees.About the Author.Index.