Avoid the Red Tape of Manageries

A simple tip for investors

As promised, here’s A New Word, An Idea, and A Question.

A New Word

This is where I share a word that really should exist, one that should be in the dictionary.

Managerie

: A group of managers in large corporate houses whose only visible role is shifting work between people. Largely known for not producing anything of value, they are present in all medium and large companies.

: Also called the dreaded “middle management.”

// The managerie is also responsible for slowing down the rotation of the earth’s axis. One might even say they put a reverse spin on it. :)

// The evidence is visible in the slowing down of all productive processes in corporations as soon as they are touched by the jaundiced hand of a member of the managerie.

An Idea

I always like to invest in things I understand.

Most investment managers try to make their investments sound important by using large words. Their pitch is always way too complicated.

I have a secret weapon.

In college, I learned how to read the Income Tax Act. That’s a challenging task. In Canada, the Act is over 3,000 pages in almost 300 sections.

There are paragraphs in the Act that span several pages, with subparagraphs and sub-subparagraphs detailing complex rules and exceptions.

Yes, it was boring, and yes, it was complicated. But I learned how to sort through needlessly wordy bureaucratic legalize and accountant-speak.

So when some financial advisor sends me a long, convoluted email full of large words that mean nothing, I’m like, really? Do you think I will fall for this and pay you to manage my money?

No thanks. I’d rather understand what I’m investing in.

A Question

When have you successfully avoided a managerie and made a simple decision instead?