Well, we are off and running. 5i Research officially launched this week. Most customers are happy. We intend to improve as much as we can, and provide an alternative viewpoint for investors.

Our goal is to help investors. Either help them pick stocks, or help them avoid making mistakes.

One new customer asked us, 'why are we bothering to do this', after leaving as Chairman of Sprott Asset Management, why not just retire?'

Here is what we said: Basically, after 25 years in the investment industry, we came to the conclusion that the investment industry is a very good place-----in which to work.

But it is not that good of a place for investors. Like you. Think about it. Everything, and we mean everything, in the investment world usually has a fee attached to it.

Almost everyone has at least some form of conflict. People in the business make a ridiculous amount of money. The fees are there, whether the markets go up or down. The fees are there, whether you buy bonds or stocks. ETFs are fighting back against high-fee mutual funds, but they still have costs associated with them.

In my career, the best stocks we ever owned were ones we didn't trade. Good companies are good companies, period. It doesn't matter if the economy is weak if you own a good company. Sure, that company's profits might decline, but do you sell a good company because, say Greece is in debt trouble? Is it no longer a good company because of Greece?

Individual investors, however, often get tricked into doing the wrong thing. They are told they should 'reduce risk' or 'diversify' by the industry. We don't advocate extra risk, but we want to make sure you know WHY you might be making an investment change. Why would you sell a good (or great) company to buy something else? 

Over the years, we have seen a lot of animosity towards the investment industry. Investors ask, "How could smart Investment Bankers, earning more than brain surgeons, almost cause a Depression?"  No one made any money in 2008---oh wait--some bankers and brokers still did.

We just want to help out--truly. We could go golfing. But, ultimately, we want people to like investing again. It is fascinating and can be rewarding, even for individual investors. Just be careful and don't make silly mistakes, and don't pay too much in fees.

While it sounds easy to do, it is not. And that's why we are here to help.