The Deceptive Allure of Investing Like the 1% (How We Get Conned) SB1726

The Stacking Benjamins Show

Joe Saul-Sehy and Josh ‘OG’ Bannerman, CFP

Personal Finance, Financial Planning, Education, Retirement, Investing, Cfp, Business, Money

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ever think, “If I just followed the playbook of the ultra-wealthy, I’d be set for life”? Turns out, that’s exactly the kind of thinking that can lead you straight into the arms of a scammer. In this episode, Joe Saul-Sehy and OG break down the traps hidden inside the “invest like the 1%” mantra (and other similar phrases), complete with real-life cautionary tales, including a small-town Ponzi scheme that could’ve been ripped from a Netflix docuseries, and the spectacular belly flop of some YieldStreet real estate bets.

But it’s not all doom and gloom in the basement. You’ll also get the scoop on a controversial proposal to let private equity sneak into your 401(k), practical tips for spotting shady pitches before they drain your wallet, and the reminder that a boring-but-solid financial plan beats a flashy scam every time. Plus, the guys field a listener question on long-term care insurance and unpack the often-overlooked basics of HSAs.

Between headlines, trivia detours, and a dash of movie talk, this episode arms you with the street smarts to dodge the next “too good to be true” investment opportunity. It’s a masterclass in protecting your money—without having to hide it under your mattress.

The psychological tricks scammers use to lure in even savvy investors
Why “invest like the 1%” can backfire for everyday Stackers
How to evaluate alternative investments (and when to walk away)
The risks and realities of adding private equity to retirement accounts
Key questions to ask before buying long-term care insurance
Why a strong, clear financial plan is your best defense against cons

Questions to Ponder During Today's Show:

Have you ever been tempted by an investment pitch that felt “exclusive”?
Would you want private equity options inside your 401(k)? Why or why not?
How do you decide whether an alternative investment is worth the risk?
What’s your personal “red flag” that makes you walk away from a deal?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-avoid-common-rip-offs-1726

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Transcript

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0:00.0	It's Monday at mom's basement.
0:01.6	You know what that means, guys. Coffee is hot. So excited. So excited. Whoa. So what's happening right now. So excited for my. Look at us. We're twinsies. Ducks and I have the same mug. Mine's just plain black. Thank God it's only a coffee mug and not our faces. Oh. Why? You don't think us being twins would be great? I don't think the world could handle two of you walking around. Maybe it's two of me. I didn't even think of that. Maybe it's two of me and the world would be like, finally. We must be twins because I was thinking the same thing. I was like, we're going to handle two of you, not two of me.
0:38.8	On behalf of the men and women making podcast of mom's basement and the men and women at Navy
0:44.0	Federal Credit Union, here's to our troops.
0:46.9	People kept us safe all weekend.
0:48.4	Thank you so much.
0:49.8	Let's go stack some Benjamins together now, shall we?
0:52.4	Thanks, everybody.
0:54.3	From the cozy confines of Joe's mom's basement, where the coffee's percolating, the ideas are flying, and the hot water heater hums a merry tune, it's time once again for America's favorite money hour, the stacking Benjamin's Show.
1:23.3	I'm Joe's mom's neighbor, Doug, yes, the fellow with the front row seat to all the basement shenanigans.
1:30.6	And today we're taking aim at those pesky old ripoffs that have been buzzing about like mosquitoes on a summer night.
1:35.2	We'll help you suit up, strap in, and roll out the big guns to send them packing.
1:37.9	But that's not all no, siri.
1:42.2	I've got a TikTok minute that'll take you on a rip-roar and trip through history.
1:45.9	Plus a call from our pal, stacker Lynn, who's curious about the Queen V of costly coverage, long-term care insurance.
1:50.2	And don't you fret before the curtain falls, I'll spin a bit of trivia that'll knock
1:55.3	your Argyle socks, clean off!
1:58.1	And now, two fellas who never follow the herd,
2:01.5	unless that herd's stampeding towards financial independence,
2:05.1	your basement bread guides to the Greenback Galaxy.
2:08.8	I knew they were bread in basements.
2:10.6	It's Joe and O.
	...

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