Mystery Terminology
Mystery Terminology refers to one of the more common techniques used to market investment newsletters. It involves inventing a new term for a known asset class or investment technique, then writing a teaser letter suggesting that the term refers to a potentially lucrative secret known only to the newsletter author. Typically, lots of tantalizing charts, figures, and anecdotal stories will be included, all lending weight to the notion that this secret is the key to amassing untold riches. Naturally, in order to learn what the secret is, you’ll have to pay to subscribe to author’s service.
The truth is often disappointing, however, as the new subscriber learns that this “secret” is in fact a matter of common knowledge. For example, “the Royal Currency” sounds much more exciting than “stamp collecting,” which is what the term in fact refers to. Similarly, “the Secret Currency” sounds much more tantalizing than plain old “Gold Coins.”
Mystery terminology letters can be fun, though, because they tend to be full of true, albeit vague and misleading, statements. These statements can often be used to ferret out the true identities of the secrets being touted, with a little reasoning and investigation.
Articles in this category are devoted to exposing the truth behind these mystery terms.
The “Secret Currency”
Our first look at mystery terminology comes from an investment newsletter teaser that’s been passed around for a number of years, now. It refers to a so-called “Secret Currency” used by the world’s richest families to amass great fortunes during times of financial turmoil. It’s used to sell “True Wealth,” an investment newsletter [...]
