I keep getting invites to pretty good restaurants for a "free" seminar on retirement planning. Is the hassle worth the meal? I'm pretty thick skinned and can get a good laugh at some of the "hard" sell, but still, is it worth the hassle?
Invitations to retirement planning meals
- Thread starter dtbach
- Start date
I felt they were worthwhile even though we chose to manage our own investments in retirement. Went to 3-4 before I retired. I learned quite a bit from going and then having a couple companies provide a retirement financial plan (requires a followup visit to their office).
Have learned as much or more from this board but we don't get good food here!
Have learned as much or more from this board but we don't get good food here!
Souschef
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Subscribe to the Discuss Cooking site. That is how I found out about this site
Car-Guy
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I went to several (4 or 5) of these before I retired, at restaurants I would have never gone to on my own dime. A free lunch , at some really nice restaurants, during the work day. What could be better. Actually I learned a few things at the first one or two of these but after that it was much the same "pitch" and information. However all the lunches were pretty good. Going to these helped me confirm my decision to "do my own" financial management.
, at some really nice restaurants, during the work day. What could be better. Actually I learned a few things at the first one or two of these but after that it was much the same "pitch" and information. However all the lunches were pretty good. Going to these helped me confirm my decision to "do my own" financial management.
Last edited:
jazz4cash
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I'm very tempted to go, but I would have to go alone since DW is uncomfortable with the hard sell and scare tactics. The last few I've received were good for two couples and we don't know anyone that would care to attend. Heck, I miss the box lunch seminars that Fidelity used to offer.
I went to one. Food was good, not great. We were seated classroom style and they had most of the meals under heat lamps for 45 minutes so they could serve us all at once.
So, marginal food, substandard ambience, and waiting for the food during a long sales pitch made for a long evening. Glad I tried it once, but I won't do it again.
So, marginal food, substandard ambience, and waiting for the food during a long sales pitch made for a long evening. Glad I tried it once, but I won't do it again.
Amethyst
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2008
- Messages
- 12,668
It's the restaurant's fixed-price menu and you are usually crowded into a,small area or room. I've not experienced a hard sell so far and have learned a few things, though nothing earth-shattering. The meals have gotten cheaper, so we've quit going, but it was fun for a while.
Pretty much what the others said......might be worth going to a few just to get your own perspective. You might learn a few things from the speaker and also from your table-mates if you are seated that way (most common, in my experience). The speakers don't want to waste their time either so if you just don't sign up for the office follow up, generally you'll be left alone.
One thing that is a red flag to me..........if they don't allow questions (usually on the pretense that time is short). They might fear that others might learn something from that question . Not that common, but it happens.
One thing that is a red flag to me..........if they don't allow questions (usually on the pretense that time is short). They might fear that others might learn something from that question . Not that common, but it happens.
Brett_Cameron
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I have been retired for 4.5 years. I have been getting invitations to these. The emails and snail mails identify me as a soon-to-retire employee of megacorp. Ha!
Danmar
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Wouldn't be for me but each person puts a different value on a "free meal" and the hassle of them hounding you. Have been several recent threads on this topic which have emphasized the hassle factor. There are much better ways of learning about the financial issues surrounding retirement. Participating here is certainly one of them.
target2019
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Went to ten or so. A few were disappointing food wise. A few were very good.
Intent was education, to become more informed of the sales pitch. Since 2014 the attraction for a free meal has worn off. Chicken or fish? Salmon was usually better. Go with that choice.
Intent was education, to become more informed of the sales pitch. Since 2014 the attraction for a free meal has worn off. Chicken or fish? Salmon was usually better. Go with that choice.
Corporateburnout
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2006
- Messages
- 1,743
I only accept invitations from Fidelity to attend seminars that are of an interest to me. Nice lunches or dinners with an open bar with no sales pitch.
Last edited:
Car-Guy
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I thought about this a bit more. While I did attend 4 or 5, I now recall I selected those based on (1) "who" (what company) was presenting and (2) when and where it was being held. There were usually 30 to 50 people at each of these and I never felt any pressure to buy now. I may have received a followup call or some mail from a few but it wasn't much. Again for me, it was good information that helped me confirm my decision to self manage.
Markola
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
A FIRED family friend, and maybe the biggest tightwad I know, has had 4-5 free lunches from a single real estate development for retired persons. They send him a postcard, he signs up, eats lunch and leaves just before the program. One might call it tacky, or one might call it cohones but he figures, "Hey, if they keep inviting me to a free lunch, that's their problem!"
W2R
Moderator Emeritus
Every day I get junk mail in my mailbox, advertising spam e-mails, ads on television, junk phone calls, and more. Almost the only times when we are not being pressured by advertising is when we eat and sleep.
Why would I voluntarily subject myself to a sales pitch while I eat? Saving money is important, but I prefer to use some discretion in how I save money, and my goodness, I am not THAT broke.
I have never gone to one of these "retirement seminars" and I never will. I'll stand in line at a soup kitchen instead if I am ever that broke and hungry.
Why would I voluntarily subject myself to a sales pitch while I eat? Saving money is important, but I prefer to use some discretion in how I save money, and my goodness, I am not THAT broke.
I have never gone to one of these "retirement seminars" and I never will. I'll stand in line at a soup kitchen instead if I am ever that broke and hungry.
Amethyst
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2008
- Messages
- 12,668
That's rude, although I agree that it's really the setup's fault that he can do that.
Where we've attended, the dinners are always set up so that the speaker talks while you eat. You're free to eat and run, but you must listen to the full spiel if you want dessert.
Early on, before the presenters starting turning cheapskate, a couple of these events were seriously fun. In one case, the dinner was a nice buffet on a covered patio in summertime; just a lovely venue. In another case, the presenters actually sprang for drinks. We did not drink a lot, but some people did, and the questions got pretty uninhibited!
Where we've attended, the dinners are always set up so that the speaker talks while you eat. You're free to eat and run, but you must listen to the full spiel if you want dessert.
Early on, before the presenters starting turning cheapskate, a couple of these events were seriously fun. In one case, the dinner was a nice buffet on a covered patio in summertime; just a lovely venue. In another case, the presenters actually sprang for drinks. We did not drink a lot, but some people did, and the questions got pretty uninhibited!
A FIRED family friend, and maybe the biggest tightwad I know, has had 4-5 free lunches from a single real estate development for retired persons. They send him a postcard, he signs up, eats lunch and leaves just before the program. One might call it tacky, or one might call it cohones but he figures, "Hey, if they keep inviting me to a free lunch, that's their problem!"
Al in Ohio
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
A FIRED family friend, and maybe the biggest tightwad I know, has had 4-5 free lunches from a single real estate development for retired persons. They send him a postcard, he signs up, eats lunch and leaves just before the program. One might call it tacky, or one might call it cohones but he figures, "Hey, if they keep inviting me to a free lunch, that's their problem!"
While yes that is a bit rude, part of me admires the guy. That does take balls. If they invite him again, why not keep it up!
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
A FIRED family friend, and maybe the biggest tightwad I know, has had 4-5 free lunches from a single real estate development for retired persons. They send him a postcard, he signs up, eats lunch and leaves just before the program. One might call it tacky, or one might call it cohones but he figures, "Hey, if they keep inviting me to a free lunch, that's their problem!"
Has he sat through any of them? If he has then I would say he is totally justified. He could even argue he's doing them a favor by highlighting a bug in their tracking systems.
Ooh, this imagery makes me laugh: he goes in, eats, then tells the host on the way out that he's already enjoyed their presentation, so he's on his way out. "But thanks for another lunch, I'll likely see you next month."
Now that would be moxy.
target2019
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Mailing lists are purchased, according to the criteria you set. Specify your message, and the printing outfit does the rest.
Maybe $1,000 - $15000 outlay total for 25-36 people.
The percentage of respondents is not large, given there are 25-36 people on average at the dinners I've been to. But of course, there only needs to be one or two fish caught to justify the dinner. Once you're hooked it will take a few years, if ever, before you jump the hook. That adds up to thousands each year in fees.
In some cases the cost of the mailing or the dinner is partially or entirely funded by ad dollars coming from the partners or other companies mentioned.
The FAs know that some will leave without a thank you or goodbye. It's part of the sell. If the room is full, it puts people at ease, don't you think?
I've met a few couples who met each other at dinners and other give-aways. It's one way they stay in touch. This makes perfect sense. LOL.
The people I've seen at these events are far from broke. People from medical and legal professions, etc.
The FAs are very outgoing, and I've thought the majority were vain, and feed off a crowd.
I'm sure my experience is tilted towards favorable since the area I live in is wealthy. Restaurants are above average. Two of 10 went out of business. Successful restaurants seem to have a regular business with FAs, and can fill rooms on slow nights.
Maybe $1,000 - $15000 outlay total for 25-36 people.
The percentage of respondents is not large, given there are 25-36 people on average at the dinners I've been to. But of course, there only needs to be one or two fish caught to justify the dinner. Once you're hooked it will take a few years, if ever, before you jump the hook. That adds up to thousands each year in fees.
In some cases the cost of the mailing or the dinner is partially or entirely funded by ad dollars coming from the partners or other companies mentioned.
The FAs know that some will leave without a thank you or goodbye. It's part of the sell. If the room is full, it puts people at ease, don't you think?
I've met a few couples who met each other at dinners and other give-aways. It's one way they stay in touch. This makes perfect sense. LOL.
The people I've seen at these events are far from broke. People from medical and legal professions, etc.
The FAs are very outgoing, and I've thought the majority were vain, and feed off a crowd.
I'm sure my experience is tilted towards favorable since the area I live in is wealthy. Restaurants are above average. Two of 10 went out of business. Successful restaurants seem to have a regular business with FAs, and can fill rooms on slow nights.
and this is just the beginning..........
in a few yrs, you'll get invites for learning about hearing loss, and later
neuropathy. Free dinner, free testing, sometimes even gift cards for Costco.
Lots of anglers around . Just don't forget who the fish are..........
in a few yrs, you'll get invites for learning about hearing loss, and later
neuropathy. Free dinner, free testing, sometimes even gift cards for Costco.
Lots of anglers around . Just don't forget who the fish are..........
Ready
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I attended one dinner and I posted my experience in depth some number of months ago. I found the food to be very good, and I enjoyed meeting the other attendees. I found the presentation to be pretty much what I expected. I elected to have the sales guy follow up with me and visit my house, but once I figured out he wanted to sell me a bunch of crappy annuity products I ended the conversations. But overall, I enjoyed the experience and was glad that I attended.
I've been invited to others, but DH hates going to these kinds of things and I don't really want to attend alone, so I haven't signed up for any others.
I've been invited to others, but DH hates going to these kinds of things and I don't really want to attend alone, so I haven't signed up for any others.
I go to these when I get invited as long as I get the full meal and not some cheese and crackers scam. My favourite one was the fall of 2007 with guy telling the audience that they couldn't go wrong taking a big HELOC and putting it all in the market. Hopefully everyone else was just there for the food that day too. Occasionally a good idea issues forth but mostly it is for entertainment value only. Then of course there is the one that I pay to go to... Bogleheads.
ohyes
Full time employment: Posting here.
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2010
- Messages
- 805
and this is just the beginning..........
in a few yrs, you'll get invites for learning about hearing loss, and later
neuropathy. Free dinner, free testing, sometimes even gift cards for Costco.
Lots of anglers around . Just don't forget who the fish are..........
DH and I have never attended one of these, although receiving many mailers. We may get brave enough one day.
Our latest offers a meal at one of our favorite fish places.....and it is about:
Dignity Memorial. Life Well Celebrated. Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home.
Retrieving that invite from the mailbox was not a giggly moment.
