Invitations to retirement planning meals

[MasterBlaster]

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Originally Posted by niven Life's too short and I eat too much good food already. I don't know what would make me desperate enough to go to one of these seminars.

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I'd rather pay for my own food and eat in peace.

I agree. There is no free lunch ! Who wants to sit with Guido (The Closer) for a "free" meal. I'd rather eat something modest at home.

Ditto for timeshare deals

[mickeyd]

I have attended a couple of dozen of these dog & pony shows and have usually gotten to eat a pretty decent free noon meal. They usually pitched equity index annuity and I found it entertaining to see how the presenter danced around what the product actually was (a way for him to make a lot of $) by showing a series of slides with vague facts and figures. I never made an appointment with the guy (that's the sole reason that I was invited) but many of the folks in attendance took the bait.

I found this a good activity (hobby?) to take advantage of prior to DW retiring and me having a lot of free time on my hands. Since DW retired, I seldom attend.

[Walt34]

I guess our zip code isn't ritzy enough for FAs buying us a meal, but we did get one for some scheme to allegedly lower our utilities by 40%. We have been to the restaurant (once, and never again!) so we didn't go.

They're gonna have to spend more than that to get me to listen to ignore their spiels.

[niven]

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Originally Posted by target2019 Question is, to no one in particular, do you want your spouse to attend, but after you're gone? Or do you go now, eat and listen, and discuss how the pitch may sound good, but here is what you're giving away when signing an agreement. Here's our instructions, and how to move forward when the time comes...

My wife is just as unlikely to turn money over to someone to manage as I am. She knows no one has a crystal ball and would charge far too much for any possible value they could add. At most, she would move everything to something more conservative than we have now and just make do (if needed).

[jkern]

I have only attended one dinner. The FA gave a financial presentation that was ok (I knew almost everything he said). No hard sale, just mark on a form "Not Interested" and no further discussions. The restaurant was very nice, the room in the restaurant was very nice and the dinner was great. I would do this again if the restaurant is top notch.

[athena53]

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Originally Posted by target2019 Question is, to no one in particular, do you want your spouse to attend, but after you're gone? Or do you go now, eat and listen, and discuss how the pitch may sound good, but here is what you're giving away when signing an agreement. Here's our instructions, and how to move forward when the time comes...

DH is not in the lest interested in investing although he knows what we have and roughly how it's invested. He's more skeptical and cynical than I am and I can't picture him attending on his own. Should he outlive me (unlikely since I'm 15 years younger), he'll be taken care of a by a trust managed by my brother the CPA, and we're all OK with that.

[dtbach]

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Originally Posted by youbet If you feel like you can control yourself and NOT POST A "RANT" after attending, go. It's not a big commitment of time and, with the right mindset, you can learn by paying attention to what's between the lines of the sales pitch. But, if you feel like you might be unable to control yourself from coming back from the "seminar" and posting yet another "RANT" on this site, please, please don't go. Others have been pretty active starting those threads and they're getting old.

I didn't realize I was ranting. . .

[dtbach]

Well this is interesting. I just got a call from my Fidelity Rep and invited to a really decent restaurant for a lunch on their Select funds of which I own a couple. Doesn't really count though, as Fidelity is very low sales pressure and I do usually learn some good stuff from them.

And I promise I won't RANT after going. .

[youbet]

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Originally Posted by dtbach I didn't realize I was ranting. . .

You weren't........ Didn't say that. It was just my plea that you don't start a rant thread AFTER you go. FA and/or dinner-seminar rant threads have become very prolific.

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And I promise I won't RANT after going. .

Sweet!

Enjoy the Fidelity presentation. I go to some Schwab dinner/lunch presentations. Like the Fidelity presentations you mentioned, they're very low sales pressure and more just perks for high NW account folks, even DIY folks using low cost index funds.

They've had a few all day "Frequent Trader" education days at a downtown Chicago hotel including a fancy lunch and speakers from the MSNBC TV show which were great. Not something I'd want to do everyday, but once or twice a year it's good to spend a day hanging around with other investors, many FIRE'd, with skin in the game and listen to some speakers and trade ideas.

[Lucantes]

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Originally Posted by dtbach I didn't realize I was ranting. . .

Feel free to "rant" away, if you like.
One person's rant is another's free entertainment or information!
It is still an open forum right?

[Amethyst]

If your presumptive rant is well-written, as it likely will be, I'd be pleased to read it.

I always learn from thoughtful, well-organized rants whose authors manage to resist using CAPITAL LETTERS, and don't punctuate everything with ellipses.

Amethyst

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtbach Well this is interesting. I just got a call from my Fidelity Rep and invited to a really decent restaurant for a lunch on their Select funds of which I own a couple. Doesn't really count though, as Fidelity is very low sales pressure and I do usually learn some good stuff from them. And I promise I won't RANT after going. .

[athena53]

I've got almost $400k with Fidelity and live in a suburb of a major city but have never gotten invited to an in-person seminar. Am I too poor for them, maybe?

[Corporateburnout]

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Originally Posted by athena53 I've got almost $400k with Fidelity and live in a suburb of a major city but have never gotten invited to an in-person seminar. Am I too poor for them, maybe?

In most cases a private client relationship is needed for the Fidelity seminars that includes lunches or dinners. That's usually assets over 1 Mil.

[target2019]

Also check Schwab for local seminars. I don't think they require relationship for group seminars.

[MRG]

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Originally Posted by athena53 I've got almost $400k with Fidelity and live in a suburb of a major city but have never gotten invited to an in-person seminar. Am I too poor for them, maybe?

Yes the dinners you need to be a private client but..... If you're around an investment center check out the training and presentations that come around. IIRC they're open to all but in my experience Fidelity doesn't do a great job of promoting them. Been to a couple that were pretty decent.

[athena53]

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Originally Posted by MRG Yes the dinners you need to be a private client but..... If you're around an investment center check out the training and presentations that come around. IIRC they're open to all but in my experience Fidelity doesn't do a great job of promoting them. Been to a couple that were pretty decent.

That would explain it. I have family members who have Private Client accounts and that may get me the same status; will have to look into it.

[jazz4cash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRG Yes the dinners you need to be a private client but..... If you're around an investment center check out the training and presentations that come around. IIRC they're open to all but in my experience Fidelity doesn't do a great job of promoting them. Been to a couple that were pretty decent.

They've cut way back on the live presentations in this area and offer webinars instead.


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[audreyh1]

Most restaurant meals aren't good enough to endure sitting through a presentation.

Besides - I can easily afford to pay for my own meals, and I usually save it for the exceptional places.

[haha]

I've gone to a couple of these. The food is so-so, the presentations predictable and overall it would amaze me if they could possibly be helpful. After all even a medium quality meal is a fairly expensive way to prospect.

I have found the other diners to be pleasant.

Ha

[kcowan]

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Originally Posted by audreyh1 Most restaurant meals aren't good enough to endure sitting through a presentation..

Catch up on your emails during the presentation? The food is a bonus.