Devoted to understanding the basics and fundamentals of investing

I received an invitation to a free seminar on Investools yesterday.  I did what I always do when I get these offers in the mail, I did due diligence.  I looked them up on the web and read everything I could about them.  There weren't a lot of people with actual experience with the firm so I can't share my opinion of them at this time.  But, I did see some things that gave me the idea for my post today.

Investools sells their product for what I consider to be a lot of money.  They offer higher levels of personal mentoring for increasingly more money.  Their PhD level runs more than $20,000 but includes LOTS of training and one-on-one mentoring.  If you have a large portfolio or a very long time to invest, it might be worth paying that price if it doubles or triples your average return.  But for most people, you would never be able to make up the cost.

I would like to make the discussion more generic.  There are good computerized trading systems out there.  There are good newsletters.  But, I have a recommendation.
Always take the least expensive option they offer.  If it makes you money, you can use some of your profits to buy the next more expensive option.  If it doesn't make you money, you are out the least amount of money possible.  And with money back guarantees, you may not even lose the cost of the service.

If the system makes you $20,000 richer with promise of a continuing stream of income, then you can use those funds to get a PhD in their system and make even more money. The proof is in the pudding.

So go out and make some money!