Why Should I Join?
Sometimes we have enquiries from people who really want to change their financial circumstances, but for one reason or another don’t end up ever doing anything.
We thought it might be useful to compile a list of the usual excuses people make for this and our responses to them.
At the end of the day, they are all seemingly good reasons, but as you can see here, we debunk every one of them. So, if you really want to change your financial situation for the better - there really isn't a good excuse for not doing something.
If you are seeking to make money - take charge and do something! – don't procrastinate - do it now. It is the only way anything will ever change for your future.
Excuse 1. "I don't have a lot of time"
All we require from you is around half an hour on a Wednesday morning (or whenever suits your schedule best) for you to read the report and up to another half an hour to place a few trades (if there are any that week you want to make). Devoting a maximum of an hour a week to your financial future is not a big ask.
You also just need to keep an eye out for any flash alerts that need attention straight away, though these are used rarely, for extreme circumstances that fall between newsletters only.
As for keeping an eye on your investments, if you do what we ask you to do and place the trade the way we tell you to, then you don’t need to check on anything until the next Wednesday.
Excuse 2. "I only have limited funds - what do I need to get the results you do?"
Many of our subscribers are new to the stock market and start with only small amounts. We do however recommend around $10,000 to ensure you get good diversification. Our broker’s fees are so low that placing a $1,000 in one stock is viable. Some subscribers have started off with under $10,000 and built up their investment from there.
We tell new subscribers not to leap in and buy all the stocks in our portfolio. We ask that they build their portfolio slowly and steadily, only buying stocks that fall into our buying range. Stocks above our buying range are not recommended as buys. We don’t want anybody paying too much for a stock. Buying only stocks under our buy up to prices will ensure you get the best returns possible and closely emulate our own.
Excuse 3. "Your results are very impressive – Are they real?"
We calculate our returns on raw returns over the year based on an evenly weighted portfolio. We don’t annualise anything, it's purely money in – money out. However, because the portfolio changes daily (on trading days) the calculations can be quite complicated at times, however, our calculations are consistent with guidelines set out by the ASIC and other regulatory organisations, so the rest is just maths.
We also don’t do what most newsletters do and enter the “newsletter buy price” as the price the day before the subscribers bought it. Our price is the price our subscribers could have bought it, after we told them about it. We actually tell you where to place your trades to get the same price as we do and when to adjust it if needed. The returns are achievable if you simply do what we tell you to do.
See Investment Performance for our calculations and explanations.
Excuse 4. "I am not sure about the stock market - is this safe?"
For those new to stock market investing, it can seem like a very scary place. However, as we have been doing this for literally decades, we understand the risks and our strategies have proven to ensure risk is kept controlled, as are the potential for losses, if the instructions in the User's Guide are followed.
Excuse 5. "It seems like alot of money"
If you are looking to invest thousands of dollars, shouldn't you be paying for the best research? Also, you want the best results. If we are consistently out-performing the market and our competitors - isn't it worth it?
There is an old saying "you get what you pay for". If you want quality information and results and when you compare it to the money you can make - it does not seem so much. Many subscribers have told us - it pays for itself in a few good trades.
Most comparable newsletters here and overseas are more expensive and none of them offer a full library of financial education books, as well as a proven trading system. What’s more, few of them are weekly or cover as much ground as we do. Then, of course, there are the returns they offer compared to ours, which, if they will even tell you what they are (most won’t), are very poor by comparison.
If we offered our newsletter for a more discounted price, we would probably have many more subscribers, instead we keep the membership small deliberately, thus making it much easier to buy stocks mentioned in the newsletter at the prices quoted.
We’ll be capping new subscriptions to keep it that way, if we find that the numbers of subscribers is a disadvantage to our members. No other newsletter, we know of, does that.
Excuse 6. "I am new to all this and don't have any idea where to begin"
Unlike many newsletters, we don’t just tell you a bunch of stocks to buy and leave you with it. Our User’s Guide, which you receive when you join, takes you through the process step-by-step. We show you how to open a brokerage account (if you don’t already have one) and then in the User’s Guide we explain how the weekly report works and how to buy and sell stocks the best way and when and answer all the questions people have asked in the past.
You can see exactly what we offer and how it is presented in our Free Samples.
Also we don’t want you to simply follow us blindly your whole life, we want to educate you to be a good investor, not only through our library of books, but also each week we tell you why we do everything we do. One day you won’t even need us. That is our ultimate goal.
For example, we encourage you to read our book, The Wealth Solution. Whilst it is not essential, it explains our investing philosophy and how we approach the issue of risk, analysing the market, buying and selling strategies, protection of capital strategies and how we analyse whether a company is worthy of investment. This gives you greater knowledge to understand our methods and why we do things a particular way.
Excuse 7. "I think the stock market always seems to go down"
Yes, some days it does seem that way. There’s no doubt the last few years have been rocky for the stock market. However, as history shows us, before every bull market, there was a bear market and right now stocks both here and in the US are priced below their long-term averages.
The chances of the next few years being ideal to be invested are very strong. Buying anything cheap and waiting for the market to turn is key in every financial decision anyone makes whether it be real estate or shares. As Warren Buffett says, “Be greedy when others are fearful, and be fearful when others are greedy”.
Our results were strong all the way through the GFC.
Excuse 8. "I only want to invest in Australian stocks"
We have proven, year in, year out, that having an Australian Stocks only investment policy doesn’t offer the returns of a “global outlook”. By expanding the market in which we seek opportunity we can negotiate around stock market “mini-disasters’ like the “Resources Super Profits Tax”.
As the only other market we trade on is New York, we can expose our subscribers to great companies like Apple, Boeing, IBM and Intel - some of the world’s great companies. Restricting your investment opportunities to just one small market carries greater risk than investing in truly global companies. You get exposure to growth regardless of borders and at the end of the day growth means higher earnings and higher earnings means a higher share price.
Owning shares of a company like Apple is far less risky than say, owning Telstra because of financial strength, market size, consumer popularity, management etc – all factors we analyse when selecting our shares. Also, using our broker (and you don’t have to) you’ll find the brokerage is cheaper than when buying Australian shares. We also show you ways to manage foreign exchange risk quite effectively too.
Excuse 9. "I only want the newsletter not the Education Library - can't I just have that?"
This is a request from people who resist the price point of $799, however, if we reduce the price substantially, we’ll be inundated with price sensitive investors and this would dramatically increase subscriber numbers and reduce the opportunities for our existing subscribers. We also provide the library as part of our desire to make you a better investor. It’s amazing how many subscribers who at first didn’t want the library, later tell us how much they’ve enjoyed reading it and how much it’s helped them with tax, self managed super funds, money management, asset protection and other financial issues.
Excuse 10. "I don't want to use your broker"
You do not have to. This is entirely optional.
We provide a broker deal for you that is cheaper than nearly every other brokerage deal in Australia, as a service to our subscribers but the decision to use them or not is up to you. You can use any broker you wish to.
Rates are $AUD$18.95 for most trades up to $10,000 and US$13.50 for most trades up to US$10,000 on US listed stocks. They also offer a choice of two platforms and being subscribers themselves they know exactly how to apply our strategies and can offer a personalised service if you wish.
We hope that you decide to take action and start your investment journey today towards a better financial future. We are very sure that if you do - you will not regret it!
I have to thank your service for completely transforming our investment habits, and most probably our lifestyle and future. I love this new system, and it never, never would have happened if it had not been for Lance. The $1000 or so I spent on his subscription was the best thing I ever did in terms of investments.
I am also grateful for the CD materials, particularly the lecture on money which reminded me that it is not money which is the root of all evil, but the 'love of money' (Bible). We need to keep God and relationships first, and money is just a useful tool for those higher purposes.
Many thanks again for Trident's services.
I am also grateful for the CD materials, particularly the lecture on money which reminded me that it is not money which is the root of all evil, but the 'love of money' (Bible). We need to keep God and relationships first, and money is just a useful tool for those higher purposes.
Many thanks again for Trident's services.
Greg, 13 December 2010
Dear Lance, Your newsletter is the best financial investment I have made to date. Your advice gives me confidence to get back what I lost in the past. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and great research. Thanks again Regards"
Lee H. – North Balwyn, Victoria – September 2009
“I must say, I have been delighted with this deal, the most interesting ‘bang for buck’ I have read. Having the flexibility of having the library at hand, and being able to read the latest books and have them available immediately is fantastic.”
CT, Australia