Where are the Customers' Yachts

Posted: 27 Feb 2018

Date Written: January 15, 1979

Abstract

In 1940, Fred Schwed, Jr. wrote a book about investing called "Where Are the Customers' Yachts?" The book begins with the following lines:

"Once in the dear dead days beyond recall, an out-of-town visitor was being shown the wonders of the New York financial district. When the party arrived at the Battery, one of his guides indicated some handsome ships riding at anchor. He said,

'Look, those are the bankers' and brokers' yachts.'

'Where are the customers' yachts?' asked the naive visitor."

The theory presented here explains why the customers' yachts were not more conspicuous when Fred Schwed wrote his famous book, and why they probably won't be in the future. It also shows why bankers, brokers or anyone else perceived as having valuable information will just naturally attract money.

Keywords: Investment Management Fees, Investment Performance, Investment Management

JEL Classification: G00, G10, G11, G14

Suggested Citation

Ferguson, Robert, Where are the Customers' Yachts (January 15, 1979). Financial Analysts Journal, March/April 1979, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3117933

Robert Ferguson (Contact Author)

AnswersToGo ( email )

6815 Edgewater Drve
Apt 208
Coral Gables, FL FL 33133
United States
7868974573 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
387
PlumX Metrics