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CaptTom · 12-03-2018, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huston55

I see on Halaby’s website (Total Financial Solutions) that they are members of the “National Ethics Association.” Evidently, a ‘cease & refrain order’ is not a disqualifying event.

The NEA is owned by an insurance company.

Yes, the guy whose financial seminar I attended had an array of certifications and accolades from phony "associations." Apparently you can buy them pretty cheaply.

A phony doctor I know (actually, a real PhD of chiropractic who swindles people by making all sorts of phony medical claims) uses the same techniques.

He and other phony doctors get together and write books ("Hey, I'm an expert on this; I wrote the book on it, with the famous Doc So-and-so!") They form associations which promote their phony healing "treatments" and publish phony articles and magazines to leave laying around their waiting rooms.

scrabbler1 · 01-08-2019, 10:38 PM

I got one of these invitations for the first time in my life. It's from a local guy who works for a financial services company I never heard of. I looked up the guy and he is young, about 25, and local, and has held some seminars in local libraries. His company, however, has a lot of complaints, many involving life insurance.

This letter with a free dinner offer at a local eatery is to promote "savvy social security planning" and the man running the meeting "is dedicated to helping New York area residents plan properly for their retirement with the help of Social Security."

The free meal is tempting, and I surely won't be investing any money with them. From what I have read here about these events, I'd be subject to some pressure to meet with this guy and turn my money over to him to manage. Yeah, right. I could go there and be some gadfly, also tempting.

Or, more simply, I just shred the letter and forget the whole thing.

flintnational · 01-09-2019, 04:06 AM

^^^ A 25 year old selling high fee life insurance and complicated annuities to a group of savvy steak dinner seniors, what could possibly go wrong? I am not sure which party is taking advantage of the other.

Badger · 01-09-2019, 07:40 AM

I will buy my own steak instead and cook it on the grill. Probably cost more in gas and time to attend one of these. My time is worth a lot these days.

Cheers!

Chuckanut · 01-09-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger

I will buy my own steak instead and cook it on the grill. Probably cost more in gas and time to attend one of these. My time is worth a lot these days.

Cheers!

+1

scrabbler1 · 01-10-2019, 11:58 AM

I had one more thing to consider. I asked my ladyfriend if she wanted to go and she said she did. The two advertised dates were already full so they added a third one in early February we will attend.

She has no money to invest so there is no way she can be pressured to do anything moneywise.

I will surely post here or in a new thread about the event after it ends.

JoeWras · 01-10-2019, 12:01 PM

DW and I have shredded 10s of thousands of dollars of meals and free vacations.

Sunset · 01-10-2019, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrabbler1

I had one more thing to consider. I asked my ladyfriend if she wanted to go and she said she did. The two advertised dates were already full so they added a third one in early February we will attend.

She has no money to invest so there is no way she can be pressured to do anything moneywise.

I will surely post here or in a new thread about the event after it ends.

Unless they have really good loan rates

splitwdw · 01-10-2019, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger

I will buy my own steak instead and cook it on the grill. Probably cost more in gas and time to attend one of these. My time is worth a lot these days.

Cheers!

+2

capjak · 01-10-2019, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrabbler1

I had one more thing to consider. I asked my ladyfriend if she wanted to go and she said she did. The two advertised dates were already full so they added a third one in early February we will attend.

She has no money to invest so there is no way she can be pressured to do anything moneywise.

I will surely post here or in a new thread about the event after it ends.

I would go if the dinner/venue is a good one otherwise I pass. I can still buy a steak and eat it at home also if I want. So I will miss Wheel of Fortune....so what I know most of the puzzles by now anyway

iloveyoga · 01-10-2019, 06:00 PM

I throw them all away. I would rather buy my own meal.

cooch96 · 01-10-2019, 07:45 PM

I could see going again if it were an intimate group: 2-4 couples. The one time I went, they seated us with the tables organized like a classroom and brought all the meals out at once. Thus, most meals had been sitting under heating lamps far too long.
I don’t care if it is free; I’m not eating a warmed over dinner in a cafeteria or bright classroom. Those years are behind me. I want ambience.

target2019 · 01-11-2019, 04:07 AM

I believe the price is good, and worthy of trial. We went to 12 or so over a period of a few years. After dinner, You just say no politely, and exit stage left. It provided opportunities for us to learn about various sales pitches. Also helps local restaurants fill the banquet room for an evening.

haha · 01-11-2019, 07:31 AM

At my old zipcode I got a lot of invitations to these things. Now I am more in an urban college neighborhood and I get far fewer. I am not a gadfly, and I entertained myself by giving the host set-ups, and he knew what my game was and he appreciated it. Sales is a hard game without me trying to make it harder. I met a lot of single Asian women, which I enjoyed.

Now I don't get the invites. Many were at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, which I found to be better than my daily meals but not anything special.

I am glad I had the experiences.

Ha

razztazz · 01-11-2019, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by target2019

It provided opportunities for us to learn about various sales pitches..

And that's what you really want to know anyway

gayl · 01-11-2019, 10:30 AM

I went to 1. The guy asked questions of us at the end. When asked 'how many stocks in the S&P500' I stated 502. He proceeded to berate my answer with everyone chiming is 'it's in the name.' I calmly informed him of the 2 companies that were now 4

Added: a few years ago