Scammers

In this era of financial instability, many con men and con women will arise and try to take advantage of your finances. I would first and foremost advise being your own financial advisor. The scammers in these terrible economic times, such as Bernie Madoff have shown that the people who were seen as educated, qualified, wealthy and trustworthy were actually not. So who do you know how to trust? You don't, so you have to trust yourself. Do your own research, and make safe investments.

In the book: The Richest Man in Babylon, the 5th law of gold is "Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings, or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers, or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment". So, if you are promised consistent outsize returns for your money, it needs massive investigation on your part before investment, as it is probably a scam.

I once went to a financial stock market seminar where the guru promised the audience returns of 30% yearly on their investment! Madoff couldn't return 10% without fraud, so never lose your mind (and your money) by believing in people who claim to have amazing financial investment powers.

Your money is your business, so never give away that financial responsibility to anybody else. Watch your own finances carefully and never trust people who are offering amazingly high returns, unless you are prepared to risk losing all of your money.