A friend of mine attended the recent Learning Annex Real Estate Wealth Expo in San Francisco, and find it is more or less a venue for the speakers to hawk their courses, seminars and books. He went because the radio and TV commercials made it sounded like the big speakers would be sharing their secrets on how to make money. There are big hitters there such as Robert Kiyosaki, Tony Robbins, and Donald Trump. There were over 60,000 people attending the Expo, each paying an average of $200 to attend. The products some of the speakers sell could cost thousands of $$$. In reality, did anyone attend this type of money-making seminars and find them useful (make money) or find them a waste of time and money?

I think it would be fun just to go to one to listen to Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, other then that what can they tell you that would be new?

Those are mostly for people just starting out, or that are thinking about it.

I missed that last one in NY, probably will go to the next.

If Robert K and Trump are involved it ain't a scam.

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You can call it what you like, but if you had a fool-proof scheme to make money, would you be sharing it with others?

Second question: If you had a reputation for making money, and you could get people to pay you to learn just a little bit about it, would you do it?

I rest my case. I've gotta go get the flyers printed for my next financial seminar.

Some people find themselves motivated after a presentation like that. If it works for you, great.

My thoughts are this: There are a tremendous amount of resources available to us all in terms of learning the basics on financial success. Don't place your trust (and $$$) into the hands of Trump or the others hoping some great fortune will rub off on you. You'll be pissing money out the window.

Your public library has a multitude of reputable sources to learn many of the basics. Mix that with your common sense and avoid being ripped off. Work hard and smart and the money will follow you; don't put the money first as greed will likely cause you to make some bad decisions.

Next step is to sign up for some evening courses at your local college or university...you'll get some great information without the expense and added hype of someone trying to sell you books, tapes or DVDs on top of what you're attempting to achieve, learning wise.

Best of luck in all your endeavours.

Someone had extra tickets so I was there. Didn't stay for Trump. It was billed as 'how to generate wealth' but was in reality 'you have to buy our courses to generate wealth.' Basically it was an infomercial for $3000 seminars on a variety of topics. The underlying point is that in a room of 60,000, less than 1% can make it without seminars. It's not clear to me how many more would make it with seminars. It was good entertainment if you didn't have to pay for it. If there were any secrets shared they went over my head.

Kiyosaki was a bust. Half his stage time was spent pushing his wife's new book. You'd think he could bankroll a better face lift for her. He'd invite someone to say a few words then cut off the poor fellow with some contradictory summary. WTF? Poor showing in the roll of excellent speakers.

One speaker quoted a study that said that if all the wealth in the world were distributed evenly acorss the population, within 5 years the money would find its way back to where it started. I'm still mulling over that one.

Sixto

I would be surprised if it took 5 years, - a fool and his money are soon parted, and by definition half of the world is below average in their ability to handle money, let alone earn it.

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Jason Priest
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"One speaker quoted a study that said that if all the wealth in the world were distributed evenly acorss the population, within 5 years the money would find its way back to where it started. I'm still mulling over that one."

I agree you have to think differently to build and keep wealth. These seminars are good for beginners that lack this mentality. However simply reading Robert K's books (which are cheap) will give you all the needed info.

None of these guys go into the meat of buying investment property or running a business for example. But thats not what they do, they offer beginner fluff.

Shame RK's speach wasn't better, he is a very smart guy. I did learn a lot from him.

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1969 280SE
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