Brett Arends, who writes a column for WSJ.com and Marketwatch.com, questions Wednesday why readers take financial advice from writers.
Arends writes, “Here’s the thing. Six years ago, just before I returned to the United States, an investment manager in London asked if I wanted to join his team as an analyst. He is a brilliant investor and runs an incredible firm. I’d have made good money, maybe great money, doing fascinating, intellectually stimulating work. I said no.
“Foolish? Definitely. But — here’s the weird part — I don’t regret it. I genuinely don’t. I absolutely love writing about finance and markets and money. Like so many people in this business, I’m just going to keep going as long as I can.
“Journalism isn’t really a job or a career. It’s more of a personality disorder, like obsessive-compulsive behavior, alcoholism or kleptomania. Instead of graduate schools, we need treatment centers.
“So should you really take financial advice from anyone silly enough to write for a living? Well, of course, it depends on the advice. But here’s a partial defense of writers: The thing to understand about us is that we’re not stupid. We’re just a bit crazy.”
OLD Media Moves
Taking financial advice from a writer
January 6, 2010
Brett Arends, who writes a column for WSJ.com and Marketwatch.com, questions Wednesday why readers take financial advice from writers.
Arends writes, “Here’s the thing. Six years ago, just before I returned to the United States, an investment manager in London asked if I wanted to join his team as an analyst. He is a brilliant investor and runs an incredible firm. I’d have made good money, maybe great money, doing fascinating, intellectually stimulating work. I said no.
“Foolish? Definitely. But — here’s the weird part — I don’t regret it. I genuinely don’t. I absolutely love writing about finance and markets and money. Like so many people in this business, I’m just going to keep going as long as I can.
“Journalism isn’t really a job or a career. It’s more of a personality disorder, like obsessive-compulsive behavior, alcoholism or kleptomania. Instead of graduate schools, we need treatment centers.
“So should you really take financial advice from anyone silly enough to write for a living? Well, of course, it depends on the advice. But here’s a partial defense of writers: The thing to understand about us is that we’re not stupid. We’re just a bit crazy.”
Read more here.
Media News
WSJ’s Tucker: Gershkovich shows importance of free press
March 28, 2024
Media News
Read-a-thon recognizes one year in jail for WSJ’s Gershkovich
March 28, 2024
Media News
Rosen departs Business Insider for a new opportunity
March 28, 2024
Media News
Why Evan Gershkovich’s case is so important
March 28, 2024
Media News
Taylor joins Bloomberg’s municipal finance team
March 28, 2024
Subscribe to TBN
Receive updates about new stories in the industry daily or weekly.