Trading today is far more sophisticated. Super computers have replaced 80% of the floor traders.
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MY EXPERIENCES
Well here we are. This section is what many of you have been anxious to read. I will probably be sued for some of the content below. If not, certainly condemned by the very close knit "hush hush" community of platform brokers, trade desks, program managers not to mention certain rich bastards. I rather disclose the facts and the honest truth about what really occurs behind the scenes in banking and trading. I share my personal experiences and opinions whether right or wrong, profitable or disastrous to inform and hopefully educate. Anytime there is money and I mean BIG TIME money (Trillions, yes Trillions with a capital "T") at stake, that ALWAYS attracts the most insidious, low life, grease-ball, vipers you could ever imagine. All of them packed in like sardines waiting to get their felonious paws on investors hard earned cash like ants on a sugar cube while swimming in that cesspool we call Wall Street or any other exchange.
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Private Placements: SCAM or REAL?
They are REAL but like everything else you must do your research to make sure you are not getting yourself into a bad situation. Whether you feel the agent or principle disclosed everything about the company or investment strategy, do your own research in addition to the prospectus that is provided. Doubt everything until it is confirmed! I suggest that you deal with only reputable agents (now that's an oxymoron) or at least companies and syndicates that are visible and very assessable. That's important if you need to go "postal".
I personally only deal with organizations which I get to know the principles. In the mid 90s, I participated in a several private equity offerings with USA Technologies (OTC: USAA). Over the years since that period, management would invite me to participate usually packaging up a treasure trove of warrants and other hard to turn away from goodies. Regulon Global, a pharma focused on really innovative cancer drugs headquartered in Greece is a great opportunity for the long term hold investors. I did a private placement investment to fuel their European clinical trials when they first developed their premier drug. I later tried brokering an acquisition deal with Wyeth Ayerst and GlaxoSmithKline but the Regulon CEO at the time got cold feet. It's hard to get some eggheads to see the bigger and more profitable picture at times.
When I was a venture capitalist, I learned that some people really just don't care about money. I personally don't trust anyone who doesn't care about money. I'm not saying I'd respect you more if you were some greedy little weasel but one shouldn't lose perspective of the benefits that money offers. If their actions and thoughts aren't contingent on making a dollar and they are motivated by something that is senseless or something you really can't identify, then who knows what they will do next.
Trading Platforms: SCAM or REAL?
REAL but watch out because there is an overwhelming amount of scammers out there praying on anyone with a little green looking to double their savings and or retirement. The legitimate and performing trade platforms are very difficult to find out about. Noticed I said LEGITIMATE and PERFORMING. The real deals are closely guarded secrets and participation is usually by invitation or association with the right uber rich financier. Those programs that you may have heard about from a guy who heard something from another guy or an obscure Linkedin posting most likely ARE SCAMS.
At a minimum, it takes a $100 million to enter into a LEGITIMATE trade program. Any amount being marketed that is less than that is hopefully
pooled by the platform's program manager until $100 million is reached. Why such a large amount in order to enter the trade? The tremendous profit spread could never be achieved without such sums being invested SUCCESSFULLY. This is why these "small cap" programs
(anything under $150 million) market such generous profits to investors.
Very few programs exist that allow participation below $10 million. I have found a few platforms that do offer programs with a minimum
investment of $50K to $2 million. The problem with the small cap programs is that they seldom last more than a few months before significantly
raising the minimum investment or disappearing altogether.
If you are fortunate enough to possess the funds to invest in a trading platform, you must do your homework! Just because the broker or marketing materials mention that big name banks are involved someway in the deal means absolutely nothing. So what if the transactions are executed from the Bank of America Trading Desk. Knowing that doesn't make me feel any better about the risk. No matter how many controls may be in place to hedge risk, there is ALWAYS a chance that something may go wrong. There are strategies that you can do to reduce risk but make no mistake that small fraction of a half percent is still an element of risk.
Try to mitigate the risk of your investment vaporizing before your very eyes by first doing your research and getting verification that the people or organization you may do business with are who they say they are and that they possess all the necessary governing legal documents, regulatory filings and licenses to do what it is that they claim they do. All of these trading platforms operate and or are transacted off-shore due to strict US regulations. Just because the deal is off-shore doesn't mean that there aren't regulatory conditions and or mandatory filings in order to transact that type of business or service. If the platform is in China, verify that everything that all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed per that Country's jurisdiction. If there are multiple jurisdictions involved within multiple countries VERIFY everything is of public record; trade licensing, corporate filings, assets under management, offers, etc.
While you are doing your homework, ask the agent or principle to provide proof that the program is performing. Copy of a SWIFTs is not proof of anything. Trading desk receipts are proof, paymaster escrow accounts verified are proof, etc. If the program doesn't offer it ask for non-depletion accounts that only YOU control and verify it with documentation. Also ask for an insurance wrap on the funds. The wrap should also cover third-party allocations of funds. If they don't offer the insurance get a policy yourself. I can't stress it enough, verify EVERYTHING, especially what they claim and what is written in their contract. Make sure the contract addresses every possible situation including what happens if the program fails to perform. If so, aside from them hopefully and voluntarily returning your principle, try to negotiate some concessions for lost opportunities, interest, penalties, etc.
I know I most likely precluded you from investing in a trading platform, but at least you know the intense steps you must take to secure your money in the hands of potential criminals. Obviously, I have been around and have had both good and negative experiences with the program managers, agents, brokers, paymasters, etc. You have to stay on these S.O.B.s.
There are all types of trading platform structures; leveraged instruments, bank guarantees (BGs), escrow funding, leveraged loan financing, bullets, buy/sell, etc. Unless you can afford to potentially lose millions, I strongly suggest you invest in a "Buy/Sell" program for two reasons:
The risks are virtually non-existant if mitigated by some of the earlier suggestions; and they tend to be small cap programs requiring less capital to participate. The downside is that they typically don't pay the kinds of ridiculous returns as the others. Most small caps I have encountered pay a return between 8% to 10% monthly. Yes, monthly. Not bad if you are able to find a consistent performer. Generally, trading platform contracts are for one year and do not auto-renew.
My first trading platform investment was a small cap gold buy/sell program where my funds were placed in a non-depletion escrow account and used as a proof of funds for buyers who wanted raw bullion directly from the mine. The agent representing the buyer would use the proof of funds to verify that the buyer is real and possesses the necessary cash deposit in order for the order to be filled. Once the order is filled, the bullion is delivered to the buyer COD. I received 10% monthly from that platform. After receiving returns like that for just providing the front money, I was hooked. I took my profits and jumped into a more sophisticated small cap program that paid out a 1000% in six months.
Unfortunately, not all the programs I invested in were as straight forward or successful. The good news is I actually made a nice return and to date have never lost my principle. The bad news is that two of the programs did not perform as marketed. The bottom-line is you must do your research and ask all the questions you can think of even the dumb ones.
The following names below are characters and organizations you never ever want to deal with. They are fraudulent, liars, criminals and stooges. By no means ever consort with or believe anything any of these individuals say. Certainly don't believe anything positive anyone else says about them. These guys and their corrupt organizations are predators out for your cash.
Berea Inc.
They may have changed their name since every trading platform broker has them listed as non-performing. They are really a wrap around for a HYPE. They claim to be a buy/sell gold program but are really two hill billies below with expensive suits and their shirts buttoned wrong. They are the ultimate liars to where they even start to believe themselves. They are SCAM ARTISTS EXTRAORDINAIRE.
Richard Hall, CEO
Gregory Botolino, Program Manager
Rudius Trust KB
This organization is global with actual office space. These guys actually have money to put up a hell of a front and a ton of corporate entities and shells. Their regulatory paperwork was lacking.
Zurich Management, Grp.
Strategic Capital Partners, S.A.
Strategic Capital Services
Mark Boswell
This guy has been around. He has gotten a lot of bad press on many trading forums and Ripp Off Report. I can't say he has actually committed a felony but he is somehow always at the center of controversy at different trading platforms. He has gone by various aliases within the industry. Rudius hired him to develop their trading desk which he failed at miserably. He is undoubtedly a filthy liar and a coward when confronted.
I personally only deal with organizations which I get to know the principles. In the mid 90s, I participated in a several private equity offerings with USA Technologies (OTC: USAA). Over the years since that period, management would invite me to participate usually packaging up a treasure trove of warrants and other hard to turn away from goodies. Regulon Global, a pharma focused on really innovative cancer drugs headquartered in Greece is a great opportunity for the long term hold investors. I did a private placement investment to fuel their European clinical trials when they first developed their premier drug. I later tried brokering an acquisition deal with Wyeth Ayerst and GlaxoSmithKline but the Regulon CEO at the time got cold feet. It's hard to get some eggheads to see the bigger and more profitable picture at times.
When I was a venture capitalist, I learned that some people really just don't care about money. I personally don't trust anyone who doesn't care about money. I'm not saying I'd respect you more if you were some greedy little weasel but one shouldn't lose perspective of the benefits that money offers. If their actions and thoughts aren't contingent on making a dollar and they are motivated by something that is senseless or something you really can't identify, then who knows what they will do next.
Trading Platforms: SCAM or REAL?
REAL but watch out because there is an overwhelming amount of scammers out there praying on anyone with a little green looking to double their savings and or retirement. The legitimate and performing trade platforms are very difficult to find out about. Noticed I said LEGITIMATE and PERFORMING. The real deals are closely guarded secrets and participation is usually by invitation or association with the right uber rich financier. Those programs that you may have heard about from a guy who heard something from another guy or an obscure Linkedin posting most likely ARE SCAMS.
At a minimum, it takes a $100 million to enter into a LEGITIMATE trade program. Any amount being marketed that is less than that is hopefully
pooled by the platform's program manager until $100 million is reached. Why such a large amount in order to enter the trade? The tremendous profit spread could never be achieved without such sums being invested SUCCESSFULLY. This is why these "small cap" programs
(anything under $150 million) market such generous profits to investors.
Very few programs exist that allow participation below $10 million. I have found a few platforms that do offer programs with a minimum
investment of $50K to $2 million. The problem with the small cap programs is that they seldom last more than a few months before significantly
raising the minimum investment or disappearing altogether.
If you are fortunate enough to possess the funds to invest in a trading platform, you must do your homework! Just because the broker or marketing materials mention that big name banks are involved someway in the deal means absolutely nothing. So what if the transactions are executed from the Bank of America Trading Desk. Knowing that doesn't make me feel any better about the risk. No matter how many controls may be in place to hedge risk, there is ALWAYS a chance that something may go wrong. There are strategies that you can do to reduce risk but make no mistake that small fraction of a half percent is still an element of risk.
Try to mitigate the risk of your investment vaporizing before your very eyes by first doing your research and getting verification that the people or organization you may do business with are who they say they are and that they possess all the necessary governing legal documents, regulatory filings and licenses to do what it is that they claim they do. All of these trading platforms operate and or are transacted off-shore due to strict US regulations. Just because the deal is off-shore doesn't mean that there aren't regulatory conditions and or mandatory filings in order to transact that type of business or service. If the platform is in China, verify that everything that all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed per that Country's jurisdiction. If there are multiple jurisdictions involved within multiple countries VERIFY everything is of public record; trade licensing, corporate filings, assets under management, offers, etc.
While you are doing your homework, ask the agent or principle to provide proof that the program is performing. Copy of a SWIFTs is not proof of anything. Trading desk receipts are proof, paymaster escrow accounts verified are proof, etc. If the program doesn't offer it ask for non-depletion accounts that only YOU control and verify it with documentation. Also ask for an insurance wrap on the funds. The wrap should also cover third-party allocations of funds. If they don't offer the insurance get a policy yourself. I can't stress it enough, verify EVERYTHING, especially what they claim and what is written in their contract. Make sure the contract addresses every possible situation including what happens if the program fails to perform. If so, aside from them hopefully and voluntarily returning your principle, try to negotiate some concessions for lost opportunities, interest, penalties, etc.
I know I most likely precluded you from investing in a trading platform, but at least you know the intense steps you must take to secure your money in the hands of potential criminals. Obviously, I have been around and have had both good and negative experiences with the program managers, agents, brokers, paymasters, etc. You have to stay on these S.O.B.s.
There are all types of trading platform structures; leveraged instruments, bank guarantees (BGs), escrow funding, leveraged loan financing, bullets, buy/sell, etc. Unless you can afford to potentially lose millions, I strongly suggest you invest in a "Buy/Sell" program for two reasons:
The risks are virtually non-existant if mitigated by some of the earlier suggestions; and they tend to be small cap programs requiring less capital to participate. The downside is that they typically don't pay the kinds of ridiculous returns as the others. Most small caps I have encountered pay a return between 8% to 10% monthly. Yes, monthly. Not bad if you are able to find a consistent performer. Generally, trading platform contracts are for one year and do not auto-renew.
My first trading platform investment was a small cap gold buy/sell program where my funds were placed in a non-depletion escrow account and used as a proof of funds for buyers who wanted raw bullion directly from the mine. The agent representing the buyer would use the proof of funds to verify that the buyer is real and possesses the necessary cash deposit in order for the order to be filled. Once the order is filled, the bullion is delivered to the buyer COD. I received 10% monthly from that platform. After receiving returns like that for just providing the front money, I was hooked. I took my profits and jumped into a more sophisticated small cap program that paid out a 1000% in six months.
Unfortunately, not all the programs I invested in were as straight forward or successful. The good news is I actually made a nice return and to date have never lost my principle. The bad news is that two of the programs did not perform as marketed. The bottom-line is you must do your research and ask all the questions you can think of even the dumb ones.
The following names below are characters and organizations you never ever want to deal with. They are fraudulent, liars, criminals and stooges. By no means ever consort with or believe anything any of these individuals say. Certainly don't believe anything positive anyone else says about them. These guys and their corrupt organizations are predators out for your cash.
Berea Inc.
They may have changed their name since every trading platform broker has them listed as non-performing. They are really a wrap around for a HYPE. They claim to be a buy/sell gold program but are really two hill billies below with expensive suits and their shirts buttoned wrong. They are the ultimate liars to where they even start to believe themselves. They are SCAM ARTISTS EXTRAORDINAIRE.
Richard Hall, CEO
Gregory Botolino, Program Manager
Rudius Trust KB
This organization is global with actual office space. These guys actually have money to put up a hell of a front and a ton of corporate entities and shells. Their regulatory paperwork was lacking.
Zurich Management, Grp.
Strategic Capital Partners, S.A.
Strategic Capital Services
Mark Boswell
This guy has been around. He has gotten a lot of bad press on many trading forums and Ripp Off Report. I can't say he has actually committed a felony but he is somehow always at the center of controversy at different trading platforms. He has gone by various aliases within the industry. Rudius hired him to develop their trading desk which he failed at miserably. He is undoubtedly a filthy liar and a coward when confronted.
***UPDATE*********************************************************UPDATE***********************************************************UPDATE***********
Since this page was published, I was able to get out of the Berea program with an actual profit... but barely by the skin of my teeth. Thanks to a series of emails that I copied and forwarded to third parties. Richard Hall and his side kick Greg Botolino have been indicted. I guess it is true...there is no honor among thieves because Greg turned State's evidence against Richard Hall, Mr. Toussaint, a host of other characters not to mention the mysterious Asian woman who has been around Richard Hall and Greg Botolino for over a decade or should I say since the initial law-suit against one of their earlier scams.
Rudius finally showed their hand and as expected, it was all a bluff. Their constant stall and blame it on the foreign banking system excuses finally ran out with me. I called their bluff and that jackass Mark Boswell turns out to be the "wizard" behind the curtain. You can read all about our exchanges on the Rip Off Report. Boswell had the nerve to respond with the weakest defense ever despite the fact that he is a lawyer. Of course he challenged my response and I blew him out the water.
Afterward, Boswell wrote an in depth report as to why the program was not performing. I included that report for your reading pleasure as an exhibit on the Rip Off Report posting. In the report, he instructed investors not to listen to my rhetoric and suggested that I remove the postings from the Rip Off Report and any other forum otherwise, I will forfeit the assets in my account. Since he refused to release the assets in my account anyway, I refused his request. Within three days my account was closed and the alleged assets in the account were seized.
Mark was unaware that I was in contact with other investors which read the postings on the Rip Off Report. They too asked to close out their positions and return their capital. They like myself received the same story that due to some banking regulation no one in banking has ever heard of, they could not return the funds at this time but will try to accommodate the request as soon as possible. Some investors found that to be highly unacceptable and when they pushed their accounts were "frozen".
At this point, we all know how this will end. All communications were temporarily suspended by Rudius as well as account activity.
Since this page was published, I was able to get out of the Berea program with an actual profit... but barely by the skin of my teeth. Thanks to a series of emails that I copied and forwarded to third parties. Richard Hall and his side kick Greg Botolino have been indicted. I guess it is true...there is no honor among thieves because Greg turned State's evidence against Richard Hall, Mr. Toussaint, a host of other characters not to mention the mysterious Asian woman who has been around Richard Hall and Greg Botolino for over a decade or should I say since the initial law-suit against one of their earlier scams.
Rudius finally showed their hand and as expected, it was all a bluff. Their constant stall and blame it on the foreign banking system excuses finally ran out with me. I called their bluff and that jackass Mark Boswell turns out to be the "wizard" behind the curtain. You can read all about our exchanges on the Rip Off Report. Boswell had the nerve to respond with the weakest defense ever despite the fact that he is a lawyer. Of course he challenged my response and I blew him out the water.
Afterward, Boswell wrote an in depth report as to why the program was not performing. I included that report for your reading pleasure as an exhibit on the Rip Off Report posting. In the report, he instructed investors not to listen to my rhetoric and suggested that I remove the postings from the Rip Off Report and any other forum otherwise, I will forfeit the assets in my account. Since he refused to release the assets in my account anyway, I refused his request. Within three days my account was closed and the alleged assets in the account were seized.
Mark was unaware that I was in contact with other investors which read the postings on the Rip Off Report. They too asked to close out their positions and return their capital. They like myself received the same story that due to some banking regulation no one in banking has ever heard of, they could not return the funds at this time but will try to accommodate the request as soon as possible. Some investors found that to be highly unacceptable and when they pushed their accounts were "frozen".
At this point, we all know how this will end. All communications were temporarily suspended by Rudius as well as account activity.
