Subscribing to a financial information and analytics service on the Internet is a giant leap for any investor. But there are a few qualities that we think make Valuentum’s service one the most valuable ones out there. Let’s walk through 3 unique qualities of members, and why they value us.
I. They Understand That It Is Not Our Job to Agree With Them
“There are two requirements for success in Wall Street. One you have to think correctly; and secondly you have to think independently.” – Benjamin Graham
People tend to be attracted to others that think in many of the same ways as they do, and this is only a natural phenomenon. People like to form groups to serve collective interests, and this makes sense, too.
However, when it comes to choosing an investment research provider, the most valuable ones will not be pumping (and dumping?) the stocks you own solely because they want you to like them, but instead, they will be providing an independent, unbiased perspective that is based on hard facts, hard data, and lots of experience — regardless of external influences.
An investment provider is neither right nor wrong because it agrees or disagrees with you. Frankly, it is not our job to agree with you. It is our job to provide informative analysis and offer unbiased judgment unparalleled in an age of investment research tainted with conflicts of interest.
What is the biggest conflict of interest? If a writer owns a stock, do you really think they will put equal focus on the negatives? Not likely.
II. Members Understand Value and the Cost of Generating High-Quality Research and Analytics
“We are convinced that the average investor cannot deal successfully with price movements by endeavouring to forecast them.” – Benjamin Graham
The time and monetary investment in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation is a huge one, and members know that they are getting access to Brian Nelson for pennies an hour. Whether it is for a second opinion on a company, or to ask a question via email, this is one of the biggest benefits we offer to members.
Other research firms may have a number of analysts that hold the CFA designation, but we’re the only one that makes one available to answer your questions. We don’t think many newscasters on TV have this analytical designation, even ones that have their own shows during prime time. You have unlimited access to Brian Nelson at brian@valuentum.com, so take advantage of it.
A membership to Valuentum for a year is what other professional services firms may charge per hour. It’s always difficult for our staff to be reminded of this, but that’s just the nature of the business.
III. Members Understand That It Is Not About the Bells & Whistles
“The hard part is to adopt it and to stick to it.” – Benjamin Graham
The investment research services industry is a bit different than other industries. We’re not entertainers; this is not gambling. We’re not analyzing lotto tickets or calculating the odds of winning at the roulette table.
Other stock research firms have spent considerable sums of money developing logos, making their research look “pretty,” adding bells and whistles to their website to “differentiate” their service from peers. This is all good stuff, but at the end of the day, when it comes to research and analysis, a good research piece is not one that looks good.
Good research and analytics helps you make the best investment decision possible, leading to efficacious outcomes more often than not. How the research looks matters none. Can you imagine cancelling a service over a typo or a data error only to find that the conclusion was correct and fully supported by the research and analysis?
Historical data matters little, and non-GAAP adjustments will be many. Valuentum members want to succeed in the markets.