Front running men

Before embarking on this journey of knowledge, my memory chips already have some previous entries on how and when to buy stocks. These have been programmed by a vast array of other 'experts'. Always buy low then sell high. Really simple right? Well what all these experts failed to mention is how to spot these low priced stocks. Or you would just be given a vague explanation on how everything works. So you would still be dependent on their advise or be at their mercy.

My stock scanner was still in it's alpha or initial version and was not that utilized. Most of what I buy was based from the movement of the ticker or through intercepted 'insider' messages or tips from blogs, forums or FB groups. The veracity or validity of these 'insider' tips would fluctuate wildly. More of a hit or miss actually. My cyborg unit was also able to infiltrate several chats and would filter trades there. Over time, my mainframe has made some connections that some of these groups or forums seem to have a herding mentality. A select few would be the 'frontrunners' or buy at a much lower price and then a designated announcer would then tell the flock that the specific stock is ripe or ready to go. Of course, since the 'frontrunners' have a lower average price they would then be able to sell off their shares at the expense of the flock. Boom. Instant IPIT. 

Now how to get unstuck.

There have been several iterations of these 'frontrunners' in the stock market. It is not as uncommon as you think. One has been nicknamed after an earth root vegetable. This was because of his propensity of 'french frying' his followers when he sells at the top. My cyborg unit has attended his seminar before. He touched on the basics of swing trading but nothing more. Just blindly follow the stock recommendations given through email. These recommendations come from juicy insiders and sources then paraphrased in a way that any one will really be foaming at the mouth to buy. 

Another iteration took on the form of someone posting on forums. There are more than one of these experts who hide behind anonymity and will always give just hints and clues on which one is the next hot stock. Again, this is after they have bought their own large volume of shares just waiting for the right time to exit.

The most recent iteration bring with them solid 'credentials' and has even won over an award for advocating 'financial literacy' to the masses. Yes, being able to spew out brilliant phrases like 'it is in the sitting not the thinking where I made the most money' is sure to raise the financial IQ and the accounts of the masses. Hooray and more power to these two muppets. May your power and reach bring you to the depths of hell. 

One common thread with all of them is most of the time they will post an exorbitantly high target price on a stock. Then you as the follower will wait for it to reach it without any hesitation. But what these people will never tell you is there should never be target prices since it is the market that will eventually determine the real price of the stock. These people also seldom or even never tell you to sell. So you will never know that they have already sold or cut their positions. How do you even know if they are holding a certain stock before it went up? Before they told you of their recommendation? Where is the proof? 

There is none. Just follow blindly and be called an idiot for not trusting them.