Even though we are all above average, intelligent, smart and financially savvy, we still need to read this. You got it, right? We all cannot be above average. A few of us have to be below average. This post is for all of us.

1. Everybody in this big bad world is trying to sell you something.
2. Some of us who do not directly make money from you, are also selling you something. I am not clear what.
3. I may not make money blogging, but my ego lets me enjoy Pattu calling my blog a good blog. Why should it matter?
4. For all the legislation in the world, only person who can protect you and your money is you, yourself, YOU.
5. If 100 of us sit and make a “200 ways to protect your money” by the time you finish reading, 201st way would be found.
6. The ratio of money spent on Genuine financial education: Financial sales is 1:50 billion. You know who will win.
7. As ‘SIP’ gets popular many ULIPs are sold as ULIPs. BFSI is far, far, far more nimble than the legislator.
8. Do not deal with people you do not trust.
9. It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to know why a person is recommending a product without understanding adviser remuneration.
10. There is no thumb rule, but in the long run a better performing fund pays better commissions to the adviser too.
11. If something is available at a huge discount, you may not need the product, in the first place.
12. 99% of the free offers are too damn expensive in the long run.
13. Even those who have your best interest at heart, are making a living out of selling to you.
14. You will pay a very high price for saying “I am too busy to understand investing”. More importantly, are you F…. lying?
15. Forget the fine print, read the bold print and have the humility to accept that you do not understand that.
16. A big investment adviser may be better at marketing, ppt presentations, etc. that is no proof of your portfolio performance.
17. The biggest impediment to learning is EGO.
18. Bureaucrats can do NOTHING to save your money. Absolutely nothing.
19. All financial products are equally expensive. Learn to live with that.
20. If you do not understand financial adviser incentives, chances are you will erode your wealth for sure.