[quote=Lady Of Truth]

Hey.. If you are having trouble clicking on the link provided in last posting, please copy and paste the link into your web browser and it should take you directly to the link I was referring to... Thanks

Sorry Everyone, seems that the previous link was having troubles so,  I have set up a link that should work now... Again, Obviously someone knows about "Guaranteed Rates of Return",  maybe we just need more education...

I’ll bite…educate me on how to get a guaranteed 12% rate of return.  You lay out the facts and we’ll see just how much there is to that claim.  Incidentally, the scenario I laid out at the beginning of this thread was not at all similar to using life insurance as an investment.

I especially like the professional website as well as the nice little invitation.  How awesome - please make sure I get to go to this and become educated. 

It’s amazing to me how many people kept their money with Madoff even after they suspected it was a Ponzi scheme, because they were making so much money.  And it sounds like her brother parked a million with these clowns without doing the due diligence FIRST, in hiring an attorney to find out exactly where his money was going.

I have a question, though:  we are licensed financial advisors.  Isn’t it OUR obligation to notify the FBI when these suspicions arise?  We don’t need to have an account there to pick up the phone, do we?  Were I you, I would take what I know and call the SEC, right now.  I don’t know what your liability is if you say nothing, but I wouldn’t want to take the change.  And I would tell the client, from what you’ve said and from doing private research, I’ve notified the state and federal authorities that I suspect these investments are fraudulent.  What she does after that is up to her.

According to one of the earlier posts, it appears that the SEC is already investigating these clowns, and I did everything but call the FBI for this lady.  I gave her phone numbers for both local field offices and urged her to call them.  I haven’t heard back from her (I’m guessing she’s either too embarrassed or still in denial), but I documented my efforts, even though I feel like I owe her very little at this point, since she’s a former client.  At some point, if I hear no more from her, I’ll probably call her just to see what’s going on…what a sad mess.

is she hot?

[quote=Bodysurf]I have a question, though:  we are licensed financial advisors.  Isn’t it OUR obligation to notify the FBI when these suspicions arise?  We don’t need to have an account there to pick up the phone, do we? [/quote]

I lost a $2 million account to Stanford. The point here is that when the client decided to make the change, the client wouldn’t/couldn’t explain the investment process that he was being offered by them. All he kept saying was that he was offered a “CD” that yielded about the same as the historical returns of the market without the volatility of the market. I was as much in the dark about Stanford as the client. How was I expected to support an accusation of wrong-doing? If I had more insight into what they were doing, well then I would blown the whistle.

Moreover, even when Markopolous (?) had more substantive accusations against Madoff, the authorities did nothing about it for 8 years.

is she hot?

Why don’t you just get an appointment with Mr. Mcqueen? I did. We sat down & went through a tough Q & A. His answers were good with me. My Father-in-law created a self directed IRA through Smart Retirement Concepts, & is invested with Diversified Global Finance. He now enjoys a check every month for 1% of his account balance, (like clockwork). This may come as a shock to some, but the “ultra rich” of America don’t buy mutual funds at all! So what do they do? They pursue private investment opportunities out there. They play a different game than the “average Joe”. Their game works, & the “av. Joe’s” game doesn’t. (The rich get richer) You’re free to invest with this co. if you want to. You’ll get 12% like my Father-in-law. Or you can keep on doing what you’ve always done, & go down with the ship! Do some real homework before you make snap judgements just because you’re angry about losing a client. Or angry about not being able to compete. Look, I was at a meeting in Michigan late last yr., where the company had all of their clients come in for one of 3 meeting times. There were around 30, or so at the one I attended. I was able to take some time to talk to several in attendance. These people were some of the most savey investors I’ve ever had the opportunity to talk to. The caliber of these people were top notch. (Business owners, CEOs, Doctors, ect.) That only made me feel better about the entire situation. So, it is what it is. My Father-in-law is comfortable with it, & so am I. I’m betting that lady who left you is too, & that’s why she hasn’t called you back. Not being rude, just keeping it real.

^^^ You guys are so dumb that you don’t even realize that you’re digging your grave even deeper by posting on these forums!

No need for name calling. I’m just saying how the experience has been in our family. Simple as that.

right. 

Has anyone passed on information about these guys(and their apparent postings) to the proper authorities?

No need for name calling. I’m just saying how the experience has been in our family. Simple as that.

At first, I couldn’t find anything on google, or any other search engine about them. My father-in-law called me this morning to tell me about this site. That’s what got my curiosity peaked. So I logged on to throw my “2 cents” out there. He does searches every now & then, & finally saw something to click on. I don’t even think their web site comes up on search. Just wanted to post our experience. If you don’t believe me, then get your contact info to me, & I’ll be glad to get you a meeting with my father-in-law, & you can see what he has. (paperwork, statements, ect.) I don’t think he’d have a problem with it. I’m not on here as a “financial advisor”. Just wanted to give some fact from our consumer point of view. Hope that helps. Again,… not trying to be rude. Just telling our story.

I’m not here to get into some kind of argument with anyone, & I’m not going to be calling you names. Just drop it. If you don’t want to like my input, then don’t. 

The problem, golfnut, is that almost every investment product sold to U.S. consumers has to be regulated by some authority.  DGF and their “investments” do not seem to be regulated by FINRA, the SEC, the NYSE, or any other governing authority.

What is scarier, investing in the stock market, or investing in just about “anything” out there? I’m no professional adviser, but I pulled my stuff out of the market when it was at 12000. My 401(k) is still at it’s value at the time I went safe, while most of my co-workers are down 50%, or more! Seriously speaking,… why did their guy tell them to “Just hold tight, it’ll come back. It always does”. I don’t understand that at all. I thought we were supposed to “sell high” & “buy low”. It’s all really frustrating to me. I don’t understand it, but I followed my gut, & was right in doing so. As for my Father-in-law, he followed his gut too. I understand that following one’s gut can sometimes turn out to be a really bad idea, but we all make choices, & have to live with them,… good, or bad.  Look, I’m just a working man who can’t debate you on this stuff. I know nothing about who regulates what, & all that. I’ll try to learn more, because it really is interesting to me, but being that this is a forum for professional advisers, I’ll make this my last post because I don’t think I’m wanted here due to a previous comment. I Didn’t mean to cause any trouble with you all, & if I did,… I apologize. I’ve said my peace. I work midnights, so it’s time for me to go to work. I wish you all the best, & really hope you’ll be a positive light in these tough times. God Bless.

[quote=iceco1d]By the way, since we already had a “Madoff II” perhaps we should rename this thread “Madoff III” just for good measure?