The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: arebelspy on March 02, 2014, 09:54:56 AM
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Everest Wealth Management, who threatened the blog Long Term Returns with legal action earlier this year, and forced it offline, has now threatened the MMM site for discussing their actions related to LTR.
(Note: this is a threat separate from the legal threats from KISS Trust, discussed here:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/kiss-trust-has-sent-a-legal-threat-to-this-blog/)
The comments made by the author of Long Term Returns about Everest Wealth Management were quoted and discussed in this thread:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/long-term-returns/
Bogleheads has a thread discussing the LTR site being taken down by the Everest Wealth Management group lawsuit threats as well: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=118571
Everest Wealth Management claims the comments LTR made, that we quoted and discussed, are libelous. MMM, who is having a lawyer review the situation, edited the thread to replace the LTR's author's comments with this:
A Note from MMM about Everest Wealth Management:
I decided to remove the quote that was originally in this box. It wasn't very interesting - just some guy's opinion that Everest could not really guarantee a 7% return. But it is still easily available elsewhere on the Internet. I thought the following information would be even more useful for people researching the company.
A guy named Philip Rousseaux, founder and President of Everest Wealth Management started hassling me by email about this forum thread. He claimed it contained "libelious" information that was damaging his firm, and hinted that if I did not take it down he would be "forced to refer this to counsel".
Why? Because this thread had made it to page 2 on Google search results for people searching for the company by name. He didn't like this.
So this is a company that seems to have a policy of policing the Internet and attempting to take down content that they feel is damaging to them. Rather than trying to post a response with their side of the story, the company decided to ask me - with threat of legal action -to delete the whole thing.
I'll leave it up to you if this is the type of company you would like to have managing your wealth.
Looks like the MMM blog & forum is starting to get some serious love from Google in the search rankings, and the companies who may not offer the best products are worried.
These guys must not be familiar with the Streisand Effect:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
It's unfortunate that companies, rather than come defend their products, and/or let whatever is said be said, resort to abusing the legal system.
If that's their position, fine. They can try to force us to remove content, but they can't stop us from discussing it.
Let's hope this eventually becomes front page of Google for Everest Wealth Management, and those potential or current customers of Everest Wealth Management reading this can decide, as MMM said, if that's the type of company you want to be dealing with.
(All of the above is my own opinion, and does not necessarily representative of the opinion of the owner of this blog.)
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psh legal threats are so yesterday. I want a wealth management company who will lead the industry, not some lame-o "fast follower"
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Gee golly, what a large bag of dicks! What's in the water at these companies?
(All of the above is my own opinion, and is not necessarily representative of the opinion of the owner of this blog.)
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Like us -- or else! You have the right to free speech as long as you are speaking freely in a way that pleases us.
You can't improve public opinion by force. That's such a ludicrous strategy
(My opinions are not necessarily representative of the opinions of this blog's owner, but are probably similar)
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Gee golly, what a large bag of dicks! What's in the water at these companies?
(All of the above is my own opinion, and is not necessarily representative of the opinion of the owner of this blog.)
I'd say the bolded part is close to an undisputed fact.
(All of the above is my own opinion, and is not necessarily representative of the opinion of the owner of this blog.)
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You can't improve public opinion by force. That's such a ludicrous strategy
(My opinions are not necessarily representative of the opinions of this blog's owner, but are probably similar)
In Soviet Russia, blog posts you!
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Everest Wealth Management can suck it.
(All of the above is my own opinion, and is not necessarily representative of the opinion of the owner of this blog.)
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Political correctness may be reaching a tippin point. The more people realize it is ultimately taking money from their pockets the more people will truly be free to say what they want - retarded, uneducated, agenda-based or not.
People saying things like "the debate is over..." Help perpetuate the oppressive status quo. She. You personally deal with something like this site is now dealing with you you start to see things from a different perspective.
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It doesnt say much about Everest Wealth Management as arebelspy said if they need to seek legal action as opposed to taking a position. They are doing themselves more bad than good. As a group here we bring things up and discuss are thoughts. I see there case having no merrit.
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If we keep writing Everest Wealth Management in this thread, will it bump the search result on Google?
We should try to make this thread the #2 hit for an "Everest Wealth Management" Google search (I doubt we will ever overtake the actual website, but we can sure try)
Negative publicity can be a real bitch
disclaimer: the intent to raise the publicity of this thread is my own idea, and completely independent of the blog and its owner
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I went to the Everest website. Do they really claim to manage wealth? The reason I ask is that their legal disclaimer says they just provide annuities. I suppose someone selling you an annuity could technically be a form of wealth management. I didn't see any mention of a guaranteed 7% continuing if they should go out of business.
Just wondering as I don't claim to know anything about anything.
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Let's posit for a moment that a company guaranteeds a 7% return.
Then someone comes along and claims they can't guarantee it.
That's a false statement because they already guaranteed it. It's false, it's damaging, and if it's intentionally so (which it is after a warning), it would be libelous.
Now, if someone came along and said, "I don't see how they could possibly fulfill that guarantee." that wouldn't be a false statement unless they could see how it could be done and were lying about that.
If someone were to come along and say, "Gee, every company that I know of that's ever guaranteed super high returns has been a Ponzi scheme." that wouldn't be a false statement either - unless, of course, that person did know of such a company that wasn't a Ponzi scheme.
If someone comes along and says "This company is a Ponzi scheme." the burden of proof is on them, not the company. The company has every right to take legal action to protect its reputation.
I don't know a darn thing about the company in question, but just because they protect their interests doesn't make them automatically evil.
If someone came along and claimed your teenage daughter was having sex with every 4 legged animal in 5 blocks of your home, you would be mad, too. If the claim wasn't true, you would be mad at the person who claimed it. (If it was true, I suspect you would be mad at your daughter. :) )
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Let's posit for a moment that a company guaranteeds a 7% return.
Then someone comes along and claims they can't guarantee it.
That's a false statement because they already guaranteed it. It's false, it's damaging, and if it's intentionally so (which it is after a warning), it would be libelous.
Now, if someone came along and said, "I don't see how they could possibly fulfill that guarantee." that wouldn't be a false statement unless they could see how it could be done and were lying about that.
There are two ways to defeat claims. The first is to prove the accuser false (which generally is less costly) or take legal action. Now, the response in order to prove the accuser false may still lead to some lost costumer, but the legal action might lose existing customers. It shows a lot more good faith to say: "this is why and how we do it" then it does to say: "shut the f up or we'll shut you down". The later tends to have a "we are hiding something" feel to customers. Right or wrong.
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This seems like something for Popehat!
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So their legal argument will be "we can promise it, we just can't deliver it"? I'd like to watch the proceedings.
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Would it be unladylike of me to propose that Everest Wealth Management, their President and their legal team go suck donkey balls?
Funny thing is, prior to this legal action, I would have gone to their website and objectively viewed their offerings. But after seeing the gibberish from their President, I can only logically surmise that he is the King of asshats (surrounded by other ass hats if their fb page is any indicator. And he wields his asshat stick with mighty authority. He obviously has a inferiority complex and is supremely bored if he gives two shits about what this forum is or is not discussing. Christ, you'd think he was a teenage girl who needs to be told she's pretty all the time?
While it is only my opinion that their President is a tool and not the opinion of this blog, my opinion is more likely to be proven fact than their guaranteed 7% return claims.
"For every successful entrepreneur there comes a point in your life when you decide if you want to be remembered for what you did rather than who you were."
— Philip Rousseaux Founder and President
Hey Philip, live by own words. This kind of obsessive childish behavior doesn't become someone like yourself. By the way, I see you like to volunteer at Make a Wish foundation. A good foundation to be sure, mind making my wish come true and go away, go sell your product to people who like unreliable claims of guaranteed returns???
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Would it be unladylike of me to propose that Everest Wealth Management, their President and their legal team go suck donkey balls?
If you want to get that at the top of Google's search results, then you're going to have to put the phrases
"Everest Wealth Management" "donkey balls"
next to each other.
Oops.
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Everest Wealth Management..... because it is there.
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This kind of obsessive childish behavior doesn't become someone like yourself.
To be fair to the guys at Everest Wealth Management, I can understand why they might NOT be upset at accusations of being childish immediately after being told to suck donkey balls.
Does anyone else see the irony in a forum poster saying "live by your own words, don't be childish, suck donkey balls"? So many levels of hypocrisy in one post!
Which isn't to exonerate clearly shady business practices, like promising unrealistic rates of return or threatening people who criticize their shady business with legal action for having a conversation on the internet in which they express honest personal opinions.
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Would it be unladylike of me to propose that Everest Wealth Management, their President and their legal team go suck donkey balls?
If you want to get that at the top of Google's search results, then you're going to have to put the phrases
"Everest Wealth Management" "donkey balls"
next to each other.
Oops.
Ahhhh - That makes sense. You are wise! ;)
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This kind of obsessive childish behavior doesn't become someone like yourself.
To be fair to the guys at Everest Wealth Management, I can understand why they might NOT be upset at accusations of being childish immediately after being told to suck donkey balls.
Does anyone else see the irony in a forum poster saying "live by your own words, don't be childish, suck donkey balls"? So many levels of hypocrisy in one post!
Which isn't to exonerate clearly shady business practices, like promising unrealistic rates of return or threatening people who criticize their shady business with legal action for having a conversation on the internet in which they express honest personal opinions.
Sorry, I must have forgotten to hit the joke button...see it was a joke...it was supposed to be funny (albeit immature). But it wasn't hypocrisy necessarily, I was telling him to live by his own words, not saying I want too. I don't ever plan on spouting off vague quotable drivel like that. I'd much rather die with my sense of humor intact :D
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Let's posit for a moment that a company guaranteeds a 7% return.
Then someone comes along and claims they can't guarantee it.
That's a false statement because they already guaranteed it. It's false, it's damaging, and if it's intentionally so (which it is after a warning), it would be libelous.
Now, if someone came along and said, "I don't see how they could possibly fulfill that guarantee." that wouldn't be a false statement unless they could see how it could be done and were lying about that.
There are two ways to defeat claims. The first is to prove the accuser false (which generally is less costly) or take legal action. Now, the response in order to prove the accuser false may still lead to some lost costumer, but the legal action might lose existing customers. It shows a lot more good faith to say: "this is why and how we do it" then it does to say: "shut the f up or we'll shut you down". The later tends to have a "we are hiding something" feel to customers. Right or wrong.
I agree, it seems threatening, and not at all a good strategy to deal with internet ramblings.
IMPORTANT: This email is intended for the use of the individual
addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is
confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive
persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humour or irrational
religious beliefs. If you are not the intended recipient, any
dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is not
authorised (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an
irritating social faux pas. Unless the word absquatulation has
been used in its correct context somewhere other than in this
warning, it does not have any legal or grammatical use and may be
ignored.
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I find it extremely unlikely that Everest Wealth Management sucks donkey balls, in fact I can state with a high degree of confidence that it is impossible for Everest Wealth Management to suck donkey balls, although I doubt this statement will help reduce the possibility of a search engine making the association.
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This kind of obsessive childish behavior doesn't become someone like yourself.
To be fair to the guys at Everest Wealth Management, I can understand why they might NOT be upset at accusations of being childish immediately after being told to suck donkey balls.
Does anyone else see the irony in a forum poster saying "live by your own words, don't be childish, suck donkey balls"? So many levels of hypocrisy in one post!
Which isn't to exonerate clearly shady business practices, like promising unrealistic rates of return or threatening people who criticize their shady business with legal action for having a conversation on the internet in which they express honest personal opinions.
Sorry, I must have forgotten to hit the joke button...see it was a joke...it was supposed to be funny (albeit immature). But it wasn't hypocrisy necessarily, I was telling him to live by his own words, not saying I want too. I don't ever plan on spouting off vague quotable drivel like that. I'd much rather die with my sense of humor intact :D
I thought it was hilarious. Until you had to explain it. That killed it for me. ;-)
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Self-employed-swami, I have no idea what absquatulating is but it sounds like either a clusterfuck of fun or something extraordinarily painful, or both.
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Self-employed-swami, I have no idea what absquatulating is but it sounds like either a clusterfuck of fun or something extraordinarily painful, or both.
It just means 'to leave', in the most letters possible!
;)
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I mentioned this on another thread.
I think we should support Everest Wealth Management. If everyone on MMM googled something that relates to Everest Wealth Management, then clicks on their link they will be hit with adclick costs, we will be educated, and they would blow their marketing budget and maybe their legal budget on educating MMM users vs. the sheep that they want.
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I mentioned this on another thread.
I think we should support Everest Wealth Management. If everyone on MMM googled something that relates to Everest Wealth Management, then clicks on their link they will be hit with adclick costs, we will be educated, and they would blow their marketing budget and maybe their legal budget on educating MMM users vs. the sheep that they want.
I think you are seriously underestimating how big a budget firms like this have allocated for advertising and legal expenses...
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I just searched for a certain wealth management provider and "donkey balls" and got nothing :(
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curious and playing devil's advocate here. Has anyone here actually heard this so called ad where they said they supposedly guaranteed anything? Didn't see anything like that on their site. Maybe thats what the issue is. Maybe whoever started this on LTR heard it wrong?
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Deleted by me.
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curious and playing devil's advocate here. Has anyone here actually heard this so called ad where they said they supposedly guaranteed anything? Didn't see anything like that on their site. Maybe thats what the issue is. Maybe whoever started this on LTR heard it wrong?
No, I'm guessing they took it down after being ridiculed on the Internet
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maybe, just seems like if they advertised something like an outrageous claim you would see complaints on BBB or FINRA. none. I just know in my business people hear what they want to hear. If it looks like a duck... lol, I just don't believe much that I read online without verifying it myself. Just seems odd and that would make a lot of sense too as to why they want it gone
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curious and playing devil's advocate here. Has anyone here actually heard this so called ad where they said they supposedly guaranteed anything? Didn't see anything like that on their site. Maybe thats what the issue is. Maybe whoever started this on LTR heard it wrong?
No, I'm guessing they took it down after being ridiculed on the Internet
It's still there on youtube. Scroll down to the bottom of this thread and you'll see the screen capture and the link.
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=118571
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hmmm, says for income and the disclaimer seems to show it just fine. Yup just as I expected the original LTR poster heard what he wanted. All this fuss because one guy didn't know a thing about annuities
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hmmm, says for income and the disclaimer seems to show it just fine. Yup just as I expected the original LTR poster heard what he wanted. All this fuss because one guy didn't know a thing about annuities
Eh, saying "some plans offer GUARANTEED GROWTH up to 7%*" "*does not represent current rates or any specific product" is pretty bullshit in my book.
I also read the portion of the complaint that MMM removed. Basically, LTR said Everest can't guarantee 7%. Well, they don't claim to, so what's the problem? It also says they convey the impression of giving 7%. That's for the jury to decide I guess but you probably know where I stand.
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If they actually wanted to stick by the 7% claim, then they wouldn't have harassed LTR off the internet or sent legal threats to MMM.
If they just wanted their side of the story (that they have disclaimers, or whatever), they could politely share on said websites, come on and genuinely interact, while identifying themselves and defending themselves.
Instead they choose to abuse the legal system. Someone with nothing to hide doesn't do that.
Also, as an aside, your first 3 posts ever on a forum and you decide to randomly defend a company that acts like complete dickheads? $10 says you work for them. How much does being a shill pay nowadays?
(Curious how you know what the original LTR poster said - I doubt you read it.) And the LTR guy knew plenty about annuities. Why would you think he didn't? Or is attacking him part of your job as well?
Picture being added to this post for posterity.
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sure i get what you are saying, but an ad is one thing. But if they actually mislead clients then there would be complaints filed somewhere you would think. BBB, FINRA, State Securities board, insurance board. I mean Ford gives a lease for $225 but when you go it's not like they don't tell you you have to put money down, it's for the base model, etc. But didn't this all result from one guy saying he heard a claim, that in fact wasn't the actual claim, and everyone jumped and posted that they are frauds basically? I can see where they are coming from. I wonder if they asked any of the boards to just remove their name first? Mod want to chime in?
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actually i've been registered for a long time. I just never really posted. I tend to just read, but this company is local that's why it caught my eye. I've actually heard their ads but annuities aren't really my thing at my age
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ohh i didn't know it was the LTR guy that said it, really? I thought it was just someone in his forum. Interesting
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sure i get what you are saying, but an ad is one thing. But if they actually mislead clients then there would be complaints filed somewhere you would think. BBB, FINRA, State Securities board, insurance board. I mean Ford gives a lease for $225 but when you go it's not like they don't tell you you have to put money down, it's for the base model, etc. But didn't this all result from one guy saying he heard a claim, that in fact wasn't the actual claim, and everyone jumped and posted that they are frauds basically? I can see where they are coming from. I wonder if they asked any of the boards to just remove their name first? Mod want to chime in?
Yes, they asked MMM to remove the name. AFAIK he hasn't actually been sued. Just threatened.
I agree that such disclaimers are common. But if I say "Ford is selling empty promises because they can't lease a car for $255 without money down," they aren't going to sue MMM. Right?
edit: ohh i didn't know it was the LTR guy that said it, really? I thought it was just someone in his forum. Interesting
Yes apparently the offending bit on this site was merely a QUOTE from another guy, not presented as fact. Which (not legal advice) I predict MMM's lawyer will find without merit. Of course, just because something is without merit doesn't mean you don't try to avoid unnecessary conflict.
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Also, as an aside, your first 3 posts ever on a forum and you decide to randomly defend a company that acts like complete dickheads? $10 says you work for them. How much does being a shill pay nowadays?
[EDIT: MMM removed mention of this person's name because revealing it may be a violation of this site's privacy policy. Suffice it to say that the poster is not who he says he/she was]
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actually i've been registered for a long time. I just never really posted. I tend to just read, but this company is local that's why it caught my eye. I've actually heard their ads but annuities aren't really my thing at my age
Really? You're going to deny it?
Shall I post evidence, [name removed], or are you going to continue to be ridiculous?
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Shit, I hope you don't know who I am, but you probably at least know where I work. I'm the good looking one.
To be honest, using those sort of mod powers makes me uncomfortable, and IIRC this is only the second time I've done so (the first was to check if a troll was signing up for multiple accounts).
In an instance like this though, I'm willing to dig a little.
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Bahahaha, here's a good laugh.
His LinkedIn profile lists him as "Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, Director of Operations and Marketing."
(Emphasis added.)
Where did you learn the marketing strategy of going to a site you've harassed with legal threads and posting anonymously trying to defend the company?
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hmmm, says for income and the disclaimer seems to show it just fine. Yup just as I expected the original LTR poster heard what he wanted. All this fuss because one guy didn't know a thing about annuities
Well, now that we appear to have an Everest employee here, maybe you can enlighten us. Have you issued one of these fabled 7% income plans?
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Who's paying me my $10?
Slow down there rebel, if you're getting paid then I'm getting paid.
I know it was technically in the thread about the OTHER random company sending legal threats to the blog (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/kiss-trust-has-sent-a-legal-threat-to-this-blog/msg233364/#msg233364), but it wasn't three days ago I predicted the following...
But my expectation, based on their previous posting here and similar goings-on in the Everest Wealth Management thread (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/everest-wealth-management-threatens-mmm-blog-with-legal-action/), is that we'll instead see anonymous vitriolic rantings posted from a newly created account with less than five posts. These litigious companies aren't usually interested in actually engaging the online community, they just want to whitewash negative reviews.
I'm guess Mr. Anthony didn't bother to read that thread, and so wasn't scared off of his quasi-anonymous whitewashing attempt the way the KISS Trust guys seem to have been. Being called out for bad behavior while you're gearing up for some bad behavior is probably embarassing. Just a guess.
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actually i've been registered for a long time. I just never really posted. I tend to just read, but this company is local that's why it caught my eye. I've actually heard their ads but annuities aren't really my thing at my age
Really? You're going to deny it?
Shall I post evidence, Mr. Anthony, or are you going to continue to be ridiculous?
Technically, he never said he didn't work for the company. And he may be a legitimate "Mustachian"; he did state the company's local, so we know his commute can't be too bad. Maybe he bikes?
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Who's paying me my $10?
Slow down there rebel, if you're getting paid then I'm getting paid.
Good call on that one. Oh well, no paychecks for calling the obvious, I guess.
And he may be a legitimate "Mustachian"; he did state the company's local, so we know his commute can't be too bad. Maybe he bikes?
lol. Nice.
When he says:
I've actually heard their ads but annuities aren't really my thing at my age
But his #1 LinkedIn recommended skill is "Fixed Annuities" ...
Well shoot, someone better tell his clients that annuities "aren't really his thing"...
Unfortunately it looks like I scared him off from posting, though he's still reading this.
Mr. A, we'd love it if you would post why your company is harassing sites like LTR and MMM, and perhaps a defense of that 7% claim. Open and honest discourse is by far the most effective way to shut up critics. Not lawsuits, not posting anonymously claiming you don't work for them, etc.
I'll admit we have been quite silly and immature in large parts of this thread, above, because of the ridiculous nature of your companies legal threats, but we're more than willing to engage you in a frank discussion of your company's offerings.
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It's funny, there are some forums where marketing people are very active in their target market. It actually works in their favor because it shows that they are responsive to their customer's needs. As long as they aren't spamming their products, and are genuinely answering questions, they end up ruling their online identity.
edit: and when I say active, I also mean open and upfront with their identity.
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I love when sneaky dickheads get what they deserve.
Story of my life.
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This thread is amazing. I love when sneaky dickheads get what they deserve.
OMG initially I read this as
I love when a sneaky dick gets he...oh dear bad marty dirty mind...
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Based on the bios of the Everest team, it seems that the financial services industry hasn't changed much since I worked in it. Leveraging the energy of young people and the networks of "second career" types to sell complex financial products. What could go wrong?
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Ha, thread takes a classic turn.
BTW, mr. everest wealth management marketing guy, there are plenty of forums where a company representative interacts with the members and ends up converting them to customers. You might want to bring this up as a new strategy during your next office meeting.
This thread is up to #18 in my google "Everest Wealth Management Review" search. Just a few more places and it will get to page 1!
Surprisingly, it hasn't hit page 1 for a search of : Everest Wealth Management +"donkey balls". Apparently there are a number of websites that are already using that phrase frequently.
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Ha, thread takes a classic turn.
Seriously. How many times have you seen on the internet someone anonymously shilling for whatever, then get exposed for who they actually are? You'd think people would learn...
BTW, mr. everest wealth management marketing guy, there are plenty of forums where a company representative interacts with the members and ends up converting them to customers. You might want to bring this up as a new strategy during your next office meeting.
This. I have been exchanging private messages with Mr. Anthony, and suggested he come defend his company.
A snippet from my latest (sent) PM:
I can see why you wouldn't want to have a conversation in that thread (which already includes information about how much your company sucks various things), but I'd be happy to start a new thread where you can answer questions, and I guarantee we'll delete anything attacking your company or you. In fact, we can lock the thread so only you and I can post in it.
But your company name will need to be a part of it, yes, you'll need to stand behind your products. If you believe in them enough to claim libel over the opinions that LTR shared that weren't that egregious, you should believe in them enough to discuss them.
Please, Mr. Anthony, or someone else at Everest Wealth Management, come discuss your products, and why you feel the need to so vigorously defend them with legal threats. Open offer to have your own private locked thread, where I will post questions/responses from people, and you can take your time to reply. Then you don't have to worry about the thread going off track, trolls, etc. - that won't happen.
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Mr. Anthony,
I may have previously compared your company and its employees to a bag of dicks, but I'd be highly interested in actually seeing your company engage rather than bully. It would go a long way to demonstrate that you truly believe your products and that your company doesn't always resort to unsavory tactics.
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I just searched for a certain wealth management provider and "donkey balls" and got nothing :(
Well at least I don't have to do that now lol... ;) The MMM thread is still on page 2 for google ... 3rd from the top lol...
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Now he's threatening ME with legal action because I revealed his... NAME! Oh my god. :P
These people just don't learn.
I mean, I'd say they should hire smarter people, but when the company founder is Philip Rousseaux, you probably don't have much chance to begin with.
/eyeroll
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Now he's threatening ME with legal action because I revealed his... NAME! Oh my god. :P
But, but... anonymous internet trolling is clearly protected in the constitution!! *bangs head on desk repeatedly*
Edited to include: Everest Wealth Management, donkey balls, bag of dicks.
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So just for fun I had to google Everest Wealth Management "Complaints" ... the first two pages were FULL of their own sites ... at the bottom the second page there was this message from Google that I thought was HILLARIOUS ...
"In response to a legal request submitted to Google, we have removed 1 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read more about the request at ChillingEffects.org. "
WOW ... If that doesn't tell you to RUN SCREAMING THE OPPOSITE WAY from this company I don't know what would lol... this is my opionion of course and not that of the forum owner
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This I imagine is their thought process.
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Now he's threatening ME with legal action because I revealed his... NAME! Oh my god. :P
These people just don't learn.
I mean, I'd say they should hire smarter people, but when the company founder is Philip Rousseaux, you probably don't have much chance to begin with.
/eyeroll
Now it may be your turn to paste the forum disclaimer back to him...
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The fact that "Everest Wealth Management + donkey balls" isn't showing up as the first search result in google....well I consider it to be my biggest failure in life to date, right up there with that time I tried fat free half n half and used a coupon to get my hair cut.
What baffles me is that someone with such a thriving business has all this time to harass people that don't like him. Personally if I'm going to have someone other than me manage my wealth I'd prefer for them to not be that insecure....or have that much time on their hands!
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It's funny, there are some forums where marketing people are very active in their target market. It actually works in their favor because it shows that they are responsive to their customer's needs. As long as they aren't spamming their products, and are genuinely answering questions, they end up ruling their online identity.
edit: and when I say active, I also mean open and upfront with their identity.
Very true. There's a car restoring/racing site that I frequent where this is quite obvious- a lot of the companies who advertise on the site have reps who are active, identified, and add a lot to the conversations and reinforce their commitment to standing behind and supporting their products. Quite a different shade from popping in to defend the company since 'it's local' and then disappearing and threatening legal action once being exposed as working for them.
On one hand you have company's reps engaging customers- both current and potential- in a way that is likely to win them more customers or at least put the company in a favorable light. On the other it makes it look like you're ashamed to be identified as working for the company, that you can't stand behind what was said, and further reinforce the already negative image that the company has gotten.
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The fact that "Everest Wealth Management + donkey balls" isn't showing up as the first search result in google....well I consider it to be my biggest failure in life to date, right up there with that time I tried fat free half n half and used a coupon to get my hair cut.
LOL.
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The 2nd page of Google? I didn't know such a place existed...
http://xkcd.com/1334/ (http://xkcd.com/1334/)
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This thread is awesome on many different levels.
It's a shame that the Everest Wealth Management employee didn't actually try to create a dialogue with members of the forum to thoroughly explain their position. It would have been a nicer gesture to do so before the threats began. Many here still may not have found much use for their services, but at least that way they would be spreading information in a positive way.
I tend to avoid doing business with companies that try to snuff out competition or negativity via legal threats. So no matter how good their services might have been I am completely uninterested in doing anything that could possibly benefit the company.
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Wow... just... wow...
Got a good chuckle out of the whole affair, bet this guy won't keep his marketing title for long if his boss sees this.
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Wow... just... wow...
Got a good chuckle out of the whole affair, bet this guy won't keep his marketing title for long if his boss sees this.
Maybe his boss will threaten him with legal action. Maybe he will threaten his boss with legal action. Maybe they will grant another Make-a-wish (strictly for PR purposes). Maybe Everest Wealth Management will arrange a gigantic donkey ball suck. Maybe the donkey will threaten Everest Wealth Management with legal action. So many possibilities!
The above is pure conjecture and is not intended to reflect reality in any way, shape or form. The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious and any resemblance to the names, character, or history of any person or legal entity is coincidental and unintentional.
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It's so easy to speculate on this. Perhaps the crew of Everest Wealth Management will opt to suck a big floppy donkey dong. Perhaps they will make a huge reveal such as, speculatively speaking only of course, that they like to eat kittens in front of crying children. Of course such idle speculation has no bearing on the reality of what they do or don't do with donkeys, speculatively speaking.
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Now he's threatening ME with legal action because I revealed his... NAME! Oh my god. :P
These people just don't learn.
I mean, I'd say they should hire smarter people, but when the company founder is Philip Rousseaux, you probably don't have much chance to begin with.
/eyeroll
What possible basis could he have used for this?
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It's so easy to speculate on this. Perhaps the crew of Everest Wealth Management will opt to suck a big floppy donkey dong. Perhaps they will make a huge reveal such as, speculatively speaking only of course, that they like to eat kittens in front of crying children. Of course such idle speculation has no bearing on the reality of what they do or don't do with donkeys, speculatively speaking.
Maybe you could get a guaranteed 7% return on your speculation?
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Y'all do realize that the Koch Brothers are behind all of this nefariousnous? Right? We will never beat the Billionaires and their endless purchase-nous of silly nonsense-nous. They could purchase enough carbon to wipe out the planet, eh?
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Haha! This thread is ridiculous!
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It has been a long time since I've laughed this long and hard at something on the MMM forums.
Thanks to all the players and characters :D
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I feel like the people who try to enter a forum and pretend they are not affiliated with the product or company that they are talking about and think they will get away with it have probably tried the old cartoon trick of a kid sitting on his friends shoulders and wearing a trench coat at some point in their life.
both probably ended the exact same way.
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Now he's threatening ME with legal action because I revealed his... NAME! Oh my god. :P
These people just don't learn.
I mean, I'd say they should hire smarter people, but when the company founder is Philip Rousseaux, you probably don't have much chance to begin with.
/eyeroll
What possible basis could he have used for this?
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer
My guess for how arebelspy figured out this guy's real name was by running a quick search on the email address our friend registered with and it led to his LinkedIn profile. If this person did not choose to display his email publicly, which it appears as though he did not, he may have had some reasonable expectation of privacy.
I don't know if you could actually sue over that.
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I don't know if you could actually sue over that.
You can sue over pretty much anything. Your username with a lack of vowels is a lawsuit just waiting to happen. ;)
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I don't know if you could actually sue over that.
You can sue over pretty much anything. Your username with a lack of vowels is a lawsuit just waiting to happen. ;)
... and sometimes y.
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This thread is funny and fascinating.
I definitely hope the bullies don't win this time.
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You guys are so mean to that poor innocent company! I'm going to go buy some fixed annuities from Everest Wealth Management just to make their day a little better!
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Everest Wealth Management's Donkeyballs 2050 product might be the one for you, then.
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And you get 10 free Donkey Ball lollipops when you invest now! Hurry before it's too late!
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Now he's threatening ME with legal action because I revealed his... NAME! Oh my god. :P
These people just don't learn.
I mean, I'd say they should hire smarter people, but when the company founder is Philip Rousseaux, you probably don't have much chance to begin with.
/eyeroll
What possible basis could he have used for this?
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer
My guess for how arebelspy figured out this guy's real name was by running a quick search on the email address our friend registered with and it led to his LinkedIn profile. If this person did not choose to display his email publicly, which it appears as though he did not, he may have had some reasonable expectation of privacy.
I don't know if you could actually sue over that.
The SMF moderator utilities may include the IP address as well, which can be helpful for a whois. But hopefully the Everest guy was too smart to be registering for an MMM account while logged into the company's website/e-mail account.
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*BUMP*
We shan't let this thread die!
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You know what the problem with a name like Everest is?
Once you hit the 'peak' of your wealth there is the world's biggest, most gigantic fall on the other side.
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To be fair to "Everest Wealth Management", guarantees in advertising generally don't mean anything at all; there is no penalty if the guarantee is broken. So a guaranteed 7% return is the same as hot air, or donkey balls if you want.
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To be fair to "Everest Wealth Management", guarantees in advertising generally don't mean anything at all; there is no penalty if the guarantee is broken. So a guaranteed 7% return is the same as hot air, or donkey balls if you want.
Exactly. I sometimes guarantee that Everest Wealth Management sucks up to 10 donkey balls*.
* does not represent current donkey ball suckage rate or any specific wealth management company.
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Man, has the saga died, or does it continue? Does anyone else want more updates? I for one am hopeful!
Donkey Balls Everest Wealth Management
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Man, has the saga died, or does it continue? Does anyone else want more updates? I for one am hopeful!
Donkey Balls Everest Wealth Management
Now that he has been "outed", I would bet we never see another post from him. Which is disappointing. Right when the thread was starting to get good!
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Yeah, he told me he's not authorized to speak for the company. I asked him to try and find someone who is, so they can engage with the community in a positive manner. Looks like they've declined the offer.
This thread will eventually hit pg. 1 for Everest Wealth Management, I bet. Especially if it gets linked from other places. Maybe at that point they'll be willing to discuss things without resorting to legal threats. :)
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The Bogleheads thread is on the first page, so it's possible we could stick a link to this thread in there. I don't know if they would object to that (they only want on-topic discussion, so maybe they'd allow a link to our totally OT discussion)
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Bahahaha, here's a good laugh.
His LinkedIn profile lists him as "Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, Director of Operations and Marketing."
(Emphasis added.)
Where did you learn the marketing strategy of going to a site you've harassed with legal threads and posting anonymously trying to defend the company?
$10 for you, arebelspy! Can it be a virtual $10 though? I'm saving for retirement. ;-)
I met an intern who told me she was paid to go into forums to persuade people certain movies were worth going to see...that is actually a job somewhere. **shakes head**
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I met an intern who told me she was paid to go into forums to persuade people certain movies were worth going to see...that is actually a job somewhere. **shakes head**
Yeah, it's called astroturfing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing). Companies often get in trouble for it.
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The fact that "Everest Wealth Management + donkey balls" isn't showing up as the first search result in google....well I consider it to be my biggest failure in life to date, right up there with that time I tried fat free half n half and used a coupon to get my hair cut.
It's now first when I search for it. However when I search for Everest Wealth Management + bag of dicks I get absolutely nothing. I'm kinda new to searching the Interwebs, should I be replacing the + with an = ?
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http://www.bing.com/search?q=%22everest+wealth+management%22+%22donkey+balls%22
Bing: #1 in Donkey Balls
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The fact that "Everest Wealth Management + donkey balls" isn't showing up as the first search result in google....well I consider it to be my biggest failure in life to date, right up there with that time I tried fat free half n half and used a coupon to get my hair cut.
It's now first when I search for it. However when I search for Everest Wealth Management + bag of dicks I get absolutely nothing. I'm kinda new to searching the Interwebs, should I be replacing the + with an = ?
Baha - Because it was a slow day in this household I asked my phone this morning what it thought of "Everest Wealth Management and Donkey Balls" and sure enough this thread was immediately returned. I didn't post initially because I was so disproportionately excited about it, I started to question my level of maturity...but now, now I shall just celebrate! I got so excited I almost goggled in my pants...or you know whatever the kids these days say.
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I met an intern who told me she was paid to go into forums to persuade people certain movies were worth going to see...that is actually a job somewhere. **shakes head**
Yeah, it's called astroturfing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing). Companies often get in trouble for it.
I'm just highly disturbed by the term astroturphing....it just sounds like prison slang...the not cool kind
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I met an intern who told me she was paid to go into forums to persuade people certain movies were worth going to see...that is actually a job somewhere. **shakes head**
Yeah, it's called astroturfing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing). Companies often get in trouble for it.
I'm just highly disturbed by the term astroturphing....it just sounds like prison slang...the not cool kind
Huh. I wonder what makes you think that. I'd have never put those together.
From Wikipedia:
The term astroturfing is a derivation of AstroTurf, a brand of synthetic carpeting designed to look like natural grass, a play on the word "grassroots".
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Soooooo. Sign me up for this 7% plan. if it is guaranteed I'll FIRE tomorrow.
I smell some BS. Everest Wealth Management.
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Wow. Just Wow.
I just have to say the moderators of this forum are absolute HERO'S! See this is a huge part of why I'm proud to be an American. Living with freedom of speech and the right to use said speech to hold people/organizations/various entities accountable. I don't know anything about Everest Wealth Management or the people that work there. Many of which (and I often give the benefit of the doubt) are probably decent hard working people that contribute in many facets of society. What I DO know is that the use of deception to cloud truth is a plague that has caused more damage in history than can be measured. Read your history books. This fact is exactly why freedom of speech is the 1st freakin amendment in our constitution! It was obvious over 200 years ago and it's still obvious today. And yet deception lives on.
Another thing I'm a firm believer in.... Quality products don't need selling or defending or polishing of any kind. Well perhaps motorcycles need polishing but I digress. Quality products sell themselves. I would be veeeery content if all the money spent in marketing was diverted to research and development in our country. I agree 100% that Everest Wealth Management should let their products do the talking. If their products are indeed deserving of expletive commentary then it's time their products are improved. I'm describing basic economic principles here. If their products are then improved then our society benefits and the world gets a little better. If their products are indeed quality and what they say they are then this discussion isn't deserving of their concern.
Lastly a word to the moderators and perhaps the rest of the people out there in this forum. Continue speaking the truth with diligence. Avoid being coaxed by economic gain or perhaps legal pressure. And lastly never cave to fear. Fear is one of the tools that "less desirable individuals" us to control people. Again check your history books on that one. FDR has a good quote in reference to that subject.
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Wow. Just Wow.
I just have to say the moderators of this forum are absolute HERO'S! See this is a huge part of why I'm proud to be an American. Living with freedom of speech and the right to use said speech to hold people/organizations/various entities accountable. I don't know anything about Everest Wealth Management or the people that work there. Many of which (and I often give the benefit of the doubt) are probably decent hard working people that contribute in many facets of society. What I DO know is that the use of deception to cloud truth is a plague that has caused more damage in history than can be measured. Read your history books. This fact is exactly why freedom of speech is the 1st freakin amendment in our constitution! It was obvious over 200 years ago and it's still obvious today. And yet deception lives on.
Another thing I'm a firm believer in.... Quality products don't need selling or defending or polishing of any kind. Well perhaps motorcycles need polishing but I digress. Quality products sell themselves. I would be veeeery content if all the money spent in marketing was diverted to research and development in our country. I agree 100% that Everest Wealth Management should let their products do the talking. If their products are indeed deserving of expletive commentary then it's time their products are improved. I'm describing basic economic principles here. If their products are then improved then our society benefits and the world gets a little better. If their products are indeed quality and what they say they are then this discussion isn't deserving of their concern.
Lastly a word to the moderators and perhaps the rest of the people out there in this forum. Continue speaking the truth with diligence. Avoid being coaxed by economic gain or perhaps legal pressure. And lastly never cave to fear. Fear is one of the tools that "less desirable individuals" us to control people. Again check your history books on that one. FDR has a good quote in reference to that subject.
As much as I've joked on this thread, I echo these sentiments. I'm glad people stand up to bullies, can speak the truth with diligence and not be intimidated. Score one for the little guys!
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I'm sure the folks at Everest Wealth Management (http://www.everestwm.com/our-team.html) are still sweating about this thread. (Hi guys and gals! Welcome!)
While this has been an entertaining diversion for most of us, for them this is life threatening. These people (http://www.everestwm.com/our-team.html) cover their mortgages and alimony payments by ripping people off, and if word gets out that their product or business practices are shady, that threatens their revenue stream. Negative reviews of Everest Wealth Management on the internet will potentially cost them real money.
So I can virtually guarantee that some non-zero number of the page views in this thread about Everest Wealth Management are in fact Everest Wealth Management staff, all together on a conference call scrolling through these posts, trying to decide how to respond. Shareholder value must be protected! Corporate image must not be besmirched! Our usual legal threat doesn't seem to be working, what are we going to do!?
I envision a lawyer making $400/hour listening patiently to the conference call as his clients fret about our silliness. I imagine Phil Rousseax with a vein throbbing above his glistening, sweaty, bright red face.
And I feel pity. Not for Phil and the rest of the management team, those guys can suck donkey balls. But they must have a secretary and a janitor and an intern, and I'm sure some of those staff people are just trying to make a living. They work for a paycheck like most of us, and have never considered the philosophical implications of working for a rip off artist. They too are in danger of losing their Christmas bonuses because the truth about Everest Wealth Management is being openly discussed in one obscure little corner of internet.
Since astroturfing the thread sort of backfired on them (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/everest-wealth-management-threatens-mmm-blog-with-legal-action/msg236277/#msg236277), I'm guessing they're just desperately hoping it dies down and fades away. Maybe potential customers of Everest Wealth Management won't research the company by searching for their name and then finding this thread on the first page of results, if the thread goes inactive. That's about the best they can hope for now, since legal threats don't seem to have accomplished the desired censorship effect.
*** all views expressed in this post are the personal musings of some guy on the internet, not a reflection of this blog, it's owners, or any other entity that can be sued. Sorry Phil. ***
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Looks like they are escalating things...at least I'm assuming that is who MMM is talking about in this latest post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/11/mmm-receives-legal-threats-great-lawyer-wanted/).
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Looks like they are escalating things...at least I'm assuming that is who MMM is talking about in this latest post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/11/mmm-receives-legal-threats-great-lawyer-wanted/).
I'm pretty sure that's the OTHER firm currently threatening the blog. The two threads have been sort of proceeding in tandem for a while now, though I think this one is more entertaining by virtue of the prevalence of donkey balls.
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I do think MMM handled the matter a little poorly. I would have suggested contacting a lawyer, and even publicly asking for a lawyer to help, before making any changes or mentioning the company by name. Once he had an official answer from someone specializing in this area, which I assume might have cost some serious money which would be well spent just for the education if nothing else, then he would be in a position to speak from strength and make his actions as loud and strong as possible while avoiding complicating matters for himself. Asking for help from a lawyer after already taking some steps seems a bit backward given the official communication he was receiving.
Having said that, I doubt they have any real standing to cause trouble for him, and he has solid support and the financial means to defend himself. I don't see this going anywhere good for the company, and I highly bet they wish they had just added their astroturf replies to that original thread to try and confuse the matter and then hope it goes away. Once MMM gets the legal advice he needs, I'm hoping he can hit these bastards hard in just the right way to make his case and show their stupidity, while not causing himself any further difficulties.
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I'm pretty sure that's the OTHER firm currently threatening the blog. The two threads have been sort of proceeding in tandem for a while now, though I think this one is more entertaining by virtue of the prevalence of donkey balls.
I must have missed the other one. Damn, and I just went into "war mode". :-)
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Looks like they are escalating things...at least I'm assuming that is who MMM is talking about in this latest post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/11/mmm-receives-legal-threats-great-lawyer-wanted/).
I'm pretty sure that's the OTHER firm currently threatening the blog. The two threads have been sort of proceeding in tandem for a while now, though I think this one is more entertaining by virtue of the prevalence of donkey balls.
"War mode" redirected. And it turns out it's your fault Sol. :-) I wonder if this post would show up if I linked to the other thread (http://"War mode" redirected. And it turns out it's your fault Sol. :-))...
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Looks like they are escalating things...at least I'm assuming that is who MMM is talking about in this latest post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/11/mmm-receives-legal-threats-great-lawyer-wanted/).
I'm pretty sure that's the OTHER firm currently threatening the blog. The two threads have been sort of proceeding in tandem for a while now, though I think this one is more entertaining by virtue of the prevalence of donkey balls.
Just as a FYI to either of them: I had watched both threads and in my mind they were the same people. I hadn't even really established the names in my mind (though "donkey balls" has taken a firm grab.) The point is: if you don't make a big stinky mess, folks will generally forget in a pretty short time. The bigger a stink you make, the more memorable you are.... and not in a good way.
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Looks like they are escalating things...at least I'm assuming that is who MMM is talking about in this latest post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/11/mmm-receives-legal-threats-great-lawyer-wanted/).
I'm pretty sure that's the OTHER firm currently threatening the blog. The two threads have been sort of proceeding in tandem for a while now, though I think this one is more entertaining by virtue of the prevalence of donkey balls.
Jesus, they are both based in MD. Maybe they are the SAME COMPANY (dum dum dum!)
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It may or may not be a good idea to export some donkey balls to the other thread.
*This opinion is my own and not that of the owner of this blog, blah blah blah.*
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blah blah blah
Sir, my mother was a blah, and I find this offensive. Please remove your defamatory statement immediately.
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blah blah blah
Sir, my mother was a blah, and I find this offensive. Please remove your defamatory statement immediately.
Nice try, but you aren't asking firmly enough. Make sure you have your lawyer do it instead.
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blah blah blah
Sir, my mother was a blah, and I find this offensive. Please remove your defamatory statement immediately.
Nice try, but you aren't asking firmly enough. Make sure you have your lawyer do it instead.
I am my lawyer (and you know what they say about people who are their own lawyers)
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Blah sucks donkey balls.
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Everest and Phil Rousseaux are at ripoffreport.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Philippe-Alain-Rousseaux-of-Everest-Wealth-Management/internet/Philippe-Alain-Rousseaux-of-Everest-Wealth-Management-American-businessman-stockbroker-915945
He's a party guy, according to the ripoffreport:
"Philippe Alain Rousseaux who is CEO of Everest Wealth Management does not look like a guy I would trust with my money. Philippe Alain Rousseaux is seen at LIV in Miami weekly spending thousands of dollars, and dating strippers and gambling in the World Series of Poker. "
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Everest and Phil Rousseaux are at ripoffreport.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Philippe-Alain-Rousseaux-of-Everest-Wealth-Management/internet/Philippe-Alain-Rousseaux-of-Everest-Wealth-Management-American-businessman-stockbroker-915945
He's a party guy, according to the ripoffreport:
"Philippe Alain Rousseaux who is CEO of Everest Wealth Management does not look like a guy I would trust with my money. Philippe Alain Rousseaux is seen at LIV in Miami weekly spending thousands of dollars, and dating strippers and gambling in the World Series of Poker. "
Indeed. And to be clear, we aren't claiming that quote is a fact, but it is a fact that it's alleged on RipoffReport by someone. ;)
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Blah sucks donkey balls.
+1
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blah blah blah
Sir, my mother was a blah, and I find this offensive. Please remove your defamatory statement immediately.
Nice try, but you aren't asking firmly enough. Make sure you have your lawyer do it instead.
I am my lawyer (and you know what they say about people who are their own lawyers)
This absolutely made my night
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This will be interesting, what with the mainstream media coverage this site already gets.
Like... sword-to-a-gunfight-interesting.
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blah blah blah
Sir, my mother was a blah, and I find this offensive. Please remove your defamatory statement immediately.
Nice try, but you aren't asking firmly enough. Make sure you have your lawyer do it instead.
I am my lawyer (and you know what they say about people who are their own lawyers)
This absolutely made my night
+1. Although on reflection ARS is right, and we should keep references to donkey anatomy off the other thread. I was annoyed last night and not thinking clearly, leading to this exchange with my wife:
Me: Are you following what's going on with MMM these days? [Explains situation in detail.]
Mrs. Bank: Why are you yelling at me? I'm not even a lawyer.
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To be the Devil's Advocate in the matter:
I can garantee a 7% return on any money you give to me, just by setting up a mutual fund right. The right stock mix, you'll make WAAAY more than that, even in a BAD year (like 2007-2011). And, that's just ONE way I could. I could make triple that doing options plays, or setting up complex dirv.
But, a lot of it depends on people staying the course. I realize these firms are required to maintain a certain division bewteen their clients' interests (risky investments vs. conservative), but they're usually dumping the money together to achive their results. Why invest 10k into a moneymaker, when you can invest 100mil, and make more? It may seem stupid, but if you have a client wanting to pull, say, 10mil out of your firm, unwinding becomes scary. If you hold 100 shares, can sell them at market pretty quick and easy; try sell 150,000 at the EXACT same price, without the markets blinking. Someone dumps 150,000 shares of GOOG, it'll be absorbed; someone dumps 150,000 of some mid-cap company only a few know of, the markets may think the bottom is falling out of the company. If enough clients cash out at the same time, it's like a run on the banks in the 1910s; everyone loses.
The stock markets work because people tend to hold stuff for a while, waiting for it to go up. Liquidating millions (or billions) of dollars in positions requires someone to BUY those shares, in order for YOU to get the money. And, if an institutional investor sees you start dumping shares (in signifiant quantities), they'll short you (I would!), pick up those shares DIRT cheap, and basically earn the money you were expecting to. So, you get slapped coming and going:
1) You lose the customer,
2) You lose their money or, at least, lose most of what you earned with it cashing them out, leaving you shorter margins on the clients you have,
3) You lose the position that might have made you more money than you're losing,
4) You damage your rep, if you don't find a way to make good on your promise.
I doubt this method of information suppression (a lawsuit) will work; if conventional news outlets hear about this, then it will be over (assuming they will, or they care). And all of their worst nightmares will be sweet dreams, compared to the reality that could ensue. They must feel they have more to gain, than they'll likely lose, by trying this. Time will bear out what the outcome will be.
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Also, as an aside, your first 3 posts ever on a forum and you decide to randomly defend a company that acts like complete dickheads? $10 says you work for them. How much does being a shill pay nowadays?
Whoah, nailed it.
Sometimes being a mod with access to stuff is fun.
Mr. John Anthony, RICP® is the Branch Manager at Everest Wealth Management, Inc. (http://www.everestwm.com/our-team.html) has decided to grace us with his presence.
It'd be nice if you identified yourself and stuck up for your company, rather than just shilling anonymously.
Who's paying me my $10?
EDIT: I see in other places Mr. Anthony is referred to as "Director of Operations" - hope I didn't get your title wrong, John.
OOOHHHHH Snap...just made my day. I will gladly send you 10$, as there is very little else in my entertainment budget that gives me that much bang for my buck.
Possibly this site needs a donation center....as a way for us users to pool resources to fight injustices in the world, protect the little guy, educate the financial illiterate, or give mustachian gifts to the needy (bikes to kids, solar panels to schools, etc.) I'll pledge another 10$ to that!
Oh yeah... Everest Wealth Management, Ratings, Astroturfing, prision sex, donkey balls.
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To be the Devil's Advocate in the matter:
I can garantee a 7% return on any money you give to me
Intentional misspelling? Anyways, no you can't. please don't sue me
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OOOHHHHH Snap...just made my day. I will gladly send you 10$, as there is very little else in my entertainment budget that gives me that much bang for my buck.
Heh, I was just kidding about that. Virtue is its own reward. :)
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To be the Devil's Advocate in the matter:
I can garantee a 7% return on any money you give to me, just by setting up a mutual fund right. The right stock mix, you'll make WAAAY more than that, even in a BAD year (like 2007-2011). And, that's just ONE way I could. I could make triple that doing options plays, or setting up complex dirv.
No you can't. To be a "guarantee" it has to be risk free. None of those are risk free alternatives. Unless, of course, you're willing to make up any shortfall with your own money. But that is something else entirely, and shifts the focus of my risk assessment from the performance of the underlying investments to your creditworthiness. And unless you're the US government magically come to life and posting on this blog, I'm going to assess your guarantee as less than 100% surety.
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Looks like they are escalating things...at least I'm assuming that is who MMM is talking about in this latest post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/11/mmm-receives-legal-threats-great-lawyer-wanted/).
I'm pretty sure that's the OTHER firm currently threatening the blog. The two threads have been sort of proceeding in tandem for a while now, though I think this one is more entertaining by virtue of the prevalence of donkey balls.
HA HA HA ... I just realized ... I was under the impression that since the bully tactics were the same that it was the same company ... donkey ball suckers the lot of em' I say ...
The opinion above is my own and does not represent the the opinion of the forum host or web host.
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Can any moderators fill us in on why the forums went dark (in Virginia at least, our little knot of Richmond Mustachians noticed it) for several hours today?
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Can any moderators fill us in on why the forums went dark (in Virginia at least, our little knot of Richmond Mustachians noticed it) for several hours today?
I'm not a moderator, but I'm guessing the number of connections to the database brought it down. Probably caused by MMMs post.
MMM basically caused a denial of service attack on his own forums ;-)
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It was a database error. It wasn't due to traffic. The forums are on the same server as the main page.
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Yes, lawyer up.
But don't forget to media up! 60 Minutes, Nightline, and many others would love to cover something like this:
There's a reason it was and still is the FIRST amendment! The ACLU may be a resource too.
Americans eat this up = ratings.
This is David and Goliath: Mom-and-pop versus EVEREST WEALTH MANAGEMENT (Everest is no mole hill so even their name is perfect).
Americans eat this up = ratings.
These are core values of our country....run with it!
Hopefully MMM already has this ball rolling.
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It was a database error. It wasn't due to traffic. The forums are on the same server as the main page.
Database errors don't need to bring down the whole server. Depends on how the site is configured. It was just a hunch based on the timing. I started seeing some issues last night and really saw it today.
Hopefully it is straightened out. Do you know what caused the DB Error?
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Dear MMM,
Here are a couple of things to consider:
1) If the comment regards a matter of public interest, any suit filed may be a SLAPP suit. Depending on your state laws, you may be able to have the suit dismissed out of hand and your attorneys fees billed to the plantiff.
2) I dont know what kind of business insurance you have associated with the website, but you may want to consider blog liability insurance from the authors guild.
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I just wanted to say Everest Wealth Management donkey balls santorum frothy fecal lube mixture.
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Dear MMM,
Here are a couple of things to consider:
1) If the comment regards a matter of public interest, any suit filed may be a SLAPP suit. Depending on your state laws, you may be able to have the suit dismissed out of hand and your attorneys fees billed to the plantiff.
2) I dont know what kind of business insurance you have associated with the website, but you may want to consider blog liability insurance from the authors guild.
I don't think CO has anti-SLAPP laws unfortunately.
My personal opinion is that the Everest thing is completely ridiculous and the Kiss thing is only mostly ridiculous. Because for Everest, the comment was just quoting Everest's own complaint (which is public record). On the other hand, the Kiss thing was a comment calling it a "scam," which AFAIK it is not in the traditional sense (e.g. Madoff or Nigerian princes).
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Calling something a scam is clearly a protected statement of opinion. I think it may be more ridiculous than the EWM complaint.
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Calling something a scam is clearly a protected statement of opinion. I think it may be more ridiculous than the EWM complaint.
Nah, the Everest Wealth Management one is more ridiculous.
The Long Term Returns guy said (paraphrasing) "Neither they, nor anyone legally operating in the US can guarantee a 7% return"*
They have all these disclaimers and their own employee said in this thread about the ad: "hmmm, says for income and the disclaimer seems to show it just fine."
If their opinion is that they have a disclaimer so that they aren't guaranteeing 7%, then LTR guy isn't wrong - no one can guarantee that, and they aren't professing to guarantee it, that's why they have the disclaimer that none of their current products even offer that. So how could his statement that no one could offer that be defamatory if they aren't offering that?
You're right though, kiss trust one is ridiculous.. so is this.
It is a tough call to decide which of the companies is the most foolish.
*Note: this is not a statement of fact from me, but it is a fact that he said this, and it was his opinion at the time.
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I've heard a rumor that Everest Wealth Management was responsible for the taking down of Longtermreturns.com. LTR was a very informative blog by an small investor advocate and he made a comment in a response to a reader question that the promised guaranteed 7% returns were too good to be true and in fact likely to be a bait and switch kind of thing.
You can google "Longterm returns blog" and you'll see the bogleheads thread about the incident.
Of course this is only a rumor and some disreputable imposter may have used the good name of Everest Wealth Management.
Maybe someone better at internet sleuthing can find some more information regarding the scandalous takedown of LTR or clear the name of Everest Wealth Management from this rumor which I hear is being propagated on all kinds of senior oriented forums. It is certainly time to shine some light in that direction.
In any case, the demise of LTR and the promised 7% Guaranteed Returns are both rather regrettable for our little community.
Peter
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I've heard a rumor that Everest Wealth Management was responsible for the taking down of Longtermreturns.com. LTR was a very informative blog by an small investor advocate and he made a comment in a response to a reader question that the promised guaranteed 7% returns were too good to be true and in fact likely to be a bait and switch kind of thing.
You can google "Longterm returns blog" and you'll see the bogleheads thread about the incident.
Of course this is only a rumor and some disreputable imposter may have used the good name of Everest Wealth Management.
Maybe someone better at internet sleuthing can find some more information regarding the scandalous takedown of LTR or clear the name of Everest Wealth Management from this rumor which I hear is being propagated on all kinds of senior oriented forums. It is certainly time to shine some light in that direction.
In any case, the demise of LTR and the promised 7% Guaranteed Returns are both rather regrettable for our little community.
Peter
I'm guessing that LTR came down, not directly because of the lawsuit, but indirectly because the lawsuit exposed his identity.
Edit: it looks like www.virginiadefamationlawyer.com took down the PDF of the original complaint against LTR. For posterity, the case is Maryland District Court, Case No. 1:13-cv-01714 and some info can be found at http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/index.html?id=2462896
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I'm guessing that LTR came down, not directly because of the lawsuit, but indirectly because the lawsuit exposed his identity.
Edit: it looks like www.virginiadefamationlawyer.com took down the PDF of the original complaint against LTR. For posterity, the case is Maryland District Court, Case No. 1:13-cv-01714 and some info can be found at http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/index.html?id=2462896
That's my impression as well. LTR wanted to be anonymous and that's why the bullying worked.
But that doesn't mean that Everest Wealth Management is off the hook...
Peter
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I lurked on MMM for some time. but today I finally registered, for no other reason than to stand with all the fine people* here and against idiot companies who bully people.
*It is solely my opinion that you people are fine. This is in no way a statement of fact. :)
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That's my impression as well. LTR wanted to be anonymous and that's why the bullying worked.
Yeah. They then got the impression everyone would cave in the same way, I guess.
But that doesn't mean that Everest Wealth Management is off the hook...
Certainly not. LTR was a great resource, and if they had just contacted him reasonably instead of using lawsuits we might still have his blog today. Quite a disappointment.
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Calling something a scam is clearly a protected statement of opinion. I think it may be more ridiculous than the EWM complaint.
Nah, the Everest Wealth Management one is more ridiculous.
The Long Term Returns guy said (paraphrasing) "Neither they, nor anyone legally operating in the US can guarantee a 7% return"*
They have all these disclaimers and their own employee said in this thread about the ad: "hmmm, says for income and the disclaimer seems to show it just fine."
If their opinion is that they have a disclaimer so that they aren't guaranteeing 7%, then LTR guy isn't wrong - no one can guarantee that, and they aren't professing to guarantee it, that's why they have the disclaimer that none of their current products even offer that. So how could his statement that no one could offer that be defamatory if they aren't offering that?
You're right though, kiss trust one is ridiculous.. so is this.
It is a tough call to decide which of the companies is the most foolish.
*Note: this is not a statement of fact from me, but it is a fact that he said this, and it was his opinion at the time.
Man, I didn't even realize that you brought up LTR before I posted - how rumors spread...
I think it is really important to realize the actual damage done to investors and retirees if a legal challenge to financial blogs like LTR goes unchallenged. In order to preserve their little racket, some shady outfit could theoretically block access to immensely helpful information about the practice of self directed investment strategies to literally millions of retirees.
This is not just about free speech, it is about truly evil behavior.
Peter
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MMM,
I would gladly pitch in for a legal defence fund for the blog and the website if it comes down to that.
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*It is solely my opinion that you people are fine. This is in no way a statement of fact. :)
Cute, I will take that as a compliment. For the record I see myself as Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli. I'm really more humdrum, think Richie Cunningham.
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Pardon the revival of an old thread...
In case anyone is curious, it looks like a certain company has been in the news lately! Lets all cheer on our *favorite* wealth management company!
Attached is a screenshot of what shows up on Google at the moment when "Everest Wealth Management" is used as the search term. :)
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This one is also amusing.
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Good. Screw those dishonest hacks. I've never been more pleased to see a small business fail.
Let this be a lesson to any of you who have an entrepreneurial spirit and may start businesses some day. Don't be a dick.
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Thanks for the heads up, With This Herring.
I'm glad they can't take advantage of people any longer.
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Threatening legal action because a message board says unfriendly things about you? What kind of leadership is that?!
Hope Everest "Wealth Management" goes down in not-so-glorious fashion.
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FYI; this thread is the first listed on google when searching "Everest Wealth Management donkey balls"
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Probably because we keep saying donkey balls. But with the correct emphasis on the donkey in donkey balls. But honestly, is that because they are donkey balls, or is it because we keep on saying donkey balls? I don't know...
Donkey balls
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I just re-read every post in this thread about Everest Wealth Management, their shady and dishonest business practices, their illegitimate legal threats trying to squash honest review of their company, their unsanctioned and poorly executed astroturfing of internet forums, and their alleged association with donkey balls.
That was 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back, and I don't even want them. Totally worth every second spent reliving the entire experience.
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I mentioned this on another thread.
I think we should support Everest Wealth Management. If everyone on MMM googled something that relates to Everest Wealth Management, then clicks on their link they will be hit with adclick costs, we will be educated, and they would blow their marketing budget and maybe their legal budget on educating MMM users vs. the sheep that they want.
I think you are seriously underestimating how big a budget firms like this have allocated for advertising and legal expenses...
Is it possible they have a big budget for advertising and legal expenses, because their fees are excessively high?
Did the author of Long Term Returns stop his blog because of the threat, I don't find them
on a Google search.
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Just searched "Everest Wealth Management" in Google. 90% of the results on page 1 have to do with legal actions involving the company.
L0l
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Long Term Returns possibly stopped due to this. There was also conjecture that his employer learned of his blogging and pressured a stop. Man that feels like such a long time ago.
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Everest Wealth Management
So this is a company that seems to have a policy of policing the Internet and attempting to take down content that they feel is damaging to them. Rather than trying to post a response with their side of the story, the company decided to ask me - with threat of legal action -to delete the whole thing.
I'll leave it up to you if this is the type of company you would like to have managing your wealth.
Well said MMM.
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MMM isn't the second result anymore... this is:
"The Maryland Attorney General's office ruled this week that Philip Rousseaux and and his company Everest Investment Advisors should be barred from doing business in Maryland for alleged fraud and widespread securities violations."
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2017/03/30/money-guys-vow-to-fight-md-attorney-generals.html (http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2017/03/30/money-guys-vow-to-fight-md-attorney-generals.html)
How about that guarantee now?
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karma is a bitch
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Probably because we keep saying donkey balls. But with the correct emphasis on the donkey in donkey balls. But honestly, is that because they are donkey balls, or is it because we keep on saying donkey balls? I don't know...
I was actually quite amused by the person who managed to mix "donkey balls" and "bang for your buck" into this thread. I stand in awe of their verbal foul play!
Donkey balls
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I was searching the internet for donkey balls, and this thread popped up about Everest Wealth Management.
Do they have donkey balls over there?
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I was searching the internet for donkey balls [...]
Huh.
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Don't judge me man.
So, back to Everest Wealth Management. Can they help me get wealthy and rich by investing in donkey balls? I hear that donkey balls are a growth investment with high dividend yield. Not interested in value stocks or bonds, or spiders, or ETFs, just donkey balls.
Do search engine crawlers really pick up on all these terms? Guess Everest Wealth Management will find out.
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Don't judge me man.
So, back to Everest Wealth Management. Can they help me get wealthy and rich by investing in donkey balls? I hear that donkey balls are a growth investment with high dividend yield. Not interested in value stocks or bonds, or spiders, or ETFs, just donkey balls.
Do search engine crawlers really pick up on all these terms? Guess Everest Wealth Management will find out.
Hey, I wasn't judging (out loud)!! Everest Wealth Management already found out if it works. :)
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Hello, I am the owner of Donkey Balls Wealth Management. I ask that you immediately cease referring to my company in the same context as less reputable companies like Everest.
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Hello, I am the owner of Donkey Balls Wealth Management. I ask that you immediately cease referring to my company in the same context as less reputable companies like Everest.
You should make that happen!!
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Don't judge me man.
So, back to Everest Wealth Management. Can they help me get wealthy and rich by investing in donkey balls? I hear that donkey balls are a growth investment with high dividend yield. Not interested in value stocks or bonds, or spiders, or ETFs, just donkey balls.
Do search engine crawlers really pick up on all these terms? Guess Everest Wealth Management will find out.
No worries, MMM is a completely judgment-free zone!
Except for that guy over there named "Clean Shaven" who spends his spare time looking up donkey testicles.
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Hello, I am the owner of Donkey Balls Wealth Management. I ask that you immediately cease referring to my company in the same context as less reputable companies like Everest.
Do you guarantee my Donkey Balls will grow 7% per year?
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Hello, I am the owner of Donkey Balls Wealth Management. I ask that you immediately cease referring to my company in the same context as less reputable companies like Everest.
Do you guarantee my Donkey Balls will grow 7% per year?
We don't make grandiose promises like some other companies. All donkey balls are unique, and we really need to inspect yours in person to come up with a management strategy tailored to your individual needs. That being said, many of our clients are on the Forbes list of 500 largest equine testicles.
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I have an existing portfolio of more diversified gonads and would like to get into the rising donkey testes market - does Donkey Balls Wealth Management have a managed product to meet my needs?
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I have two donkey balls in my Everest Wealth Management account, the weighting is 60/40.
Is this normal?
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I was surprised to see this topic again. Thanks for the update!
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Will Everest Wealth Management let me invest in an index of donkey balls? I don't want to just invest in two donkey balls, that's way too much risk.
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Or.. Maybe I misunderstood. Is there a fixed donkey ball annuity offered by Everest Wealth Management?
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Does Everest Wealth Management offer an indexed donkey ball fund?
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Or.. Maybe I misunderstood. Is there a fixed donkey ball annuity offered by Everest Wealth Management?
Isn’t fixed and balls contradictory when discussing donkeys? Once we fixed our dog, he no longer had balls. (Of course, there are neuticles for non-mustachian pet owners).
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Or.. Maybe I misunderstood. Is there a fixed donkey ball annuity offered by Everest Wealth Management?
Isn’t fixed and balls contradictory when discussing donkeys? Once we fixed our dog, he no longer had balls. (Of course, there are neuticles for non-mustachian pet owners).
Hmm, good point. Unless the Everest Wealth Management's fixed donkey balls annuity pays out the fixed.... umm I think I'll stop there.
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I think this company is done after the April Maryland district court judge upheld the states ban on operations. Maybe we should let the thread die.
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I was searching the internet for donkey balls, and this thread popped up about Everest Wealth Management.
Do they have donkey balls over there?
Is it odd that this post/poster made me think "clean shaven donkey balls"?
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I was searching the internet for donkey balls, and this thread popped up about Everest Wealth Management.
Do they have donkey balls over there?
Is it odd that this post/poster made me think "clean shaven donkey balls"?
Not judging you here either....
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The website http://everestwm.com/ is still up. I note the "news" section stops in 2015.
The top banner shows an add for "TrustPilot Reviews". Not a pilot I'd trust.
The "Women of Everest" banner includes one woman more physically suited for a T-shirt or other similar add.
Eye candy works, sad to say. Reminds me of safety posters in a plant in another country, where each had a postage stamp size pic of a pretty, young woman with an arm strategically placed and nothing else on. I still remember those posters 17 years later.