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Is Motley Fool a Scam?

Discover the truth about Motley Fool. 

Summary;

  • Motley Fool is an established investment research company known for its Stock Advisor service, offering stock picks, in-depth analysis, and recommendations through a subscription-based monthly newsletter.
  • Motley Fool’s reputation, history, physical presence in multiple countries, and transparent practices contribute to its credibility—reinforcing that Motley Fool is a legitimate service.
  • I have been a paid subscriber since 2016 and I share my results below.

Many investors, both beginners and experienced, rely on research to inform and enhance their investment decisions.

One of the most popular and well-known research sites is the Motley Fool. They are best know for the Stock Advisor newsletter that provides 2 stock picks a month for a fee of $199 per year. I have been a paid subscriber to this since 2016 and I will share my results with their stock picks.

I know for a fact that they are not a scam! My results with their picks prove it.

When I read all of the negative press out there about the Motley Fool, I just laugh and think–those people must be subscribing to different service, or not following the Fool’s own rules.

Number 1, the Motley Fool says you should plan on holding their stocks for at least 5 years and have at least 25 stocks in your portfolio. Is is absolutely true that ALL of their picks are not profitable. Some do go down. But from my experience for the last 8 years is that they tend to pick a few stocks each year that double or triple. So I have learned to buy about $1,000 of each and every one of their picks (that’s $2,000 a month I am adding to my portfolio) and I sell all of their stocks when they say to.

To prove it, here is a look at their best stock for me in the last few years that is up 868% as of December 31, 2023 since it was picked in January of 2020.

Number 2, for those of the naysayers out their on the web that say they bombard you with emails, i have one word for you: UNSUBSCRIBE! Of course they will try to upsell you to their other services, but just unsubscribe.

Number 3, they were the best performing low-priced newsletter of 2023:

See Best Stock Newsletters of 2023 to get our full review and analysis of the performance of all of these

Their lighthearted designs, loud marketing, and clever sales tactics can sometimes beg the question, “Is the Motley Fool a scam?”

When it comes to investing your hard-earned money…

…performing due diligence on your investment research is paramount.

So, let’s take a deep-dive into who the Motley Fool is, and what makes them a reputable source of investment information.

What is the Motley Fool?

Quite simply, the Motley Fool is an investment research and analysis company that offers free and paid information for investors.

They are most well-known for their Stock Advisor service, which is a subscription-based monthly newsletter.

The newsletter offers stock picks, in-depth company analysis, recommendations to buy stocks, and much more.

Every month, the two founders each submit a stock pick that they and their teams have spent the prior month researching.

This includes fundamental and technical analysis.

The picks also include market research for the sector that the company is in, and they provide a strong case for why they believe that stock is better than its competitors.

For more information on Motley Fool, take a look at our deep dive into the entire platform with the Motley Fool Review.

How to Recognize a Scam

Technology is a blessing and a curse.

The internet allows investors to access more data and research than any other time in history.

Unfortunately, the internet also opens the door to scams and false salespeople.

Thankfully, the government-sponsored, investor.gov, offers a few red-flags for investors to watch out for fraudulent investments.

Here are three of the top red flags, and how the Motley Fool is differentiated from them.

1. “Risk-free” investment opportunities

When anyone promises “risk-free” investments…

…you should run the other way!

All investment has the potential for loss, and The Motley Fool does not say otherwise.

On the contrary, the company is well aware of the risk, which is why they spend so much time and resources on conducting a thorough analysis of the stocks they recommend.

2. Payment with Cards, Gift Cards, or Overseas Transfers!

This is the classic foreign prince asking for help scam.

The way this works is someone will email you asking for financial help.

They may promise to pay you if you can transfer their money to a foreign account.

They have convincing stories, and once you send money somewhere, you never hear from them again.

The Motley Fool sells a service.

They will never ask you to send money to a third-party personal bank account.

3. Promises of great wealth and guaranteed returns

The Fool is very proud of their work, and they share their top-performing stock picks to validate their services.

However, they do not promise that you will achieve great wealth and guaranteed returns.

Some critics of The Fool who have not conducted any research think sharing a stock pick that returned 233% is guaranteeing those results for every investor.

This is not the case!

These are some of the biggest indicators that you are involved in a potential scam.

None of these apply to the Motley Fool’s business plan or the way that they market their service.

Review for yourself whether Motley Fool offers anything that may be too suspicious for your investing game. Our deep dive into the entire platform with the Motley Fool Review.

Is Motley Fool a Scam?

The Motley Fool has a vital distinction from trendy investment newsletters as well as other established publications.

What is it that makes Motley Fool’s services so unique with in the finance landscape?

It’s reputation.

To the novice, investing is a daunting endeavor.

And it should be…because YOUR money is literally at stake.

So, what do most people do when they embark on a new venture where capital is at risk?

Smart people seek counsel.

The Motley Fool has a strong reputation for providing vetted research, detailed analysis, and consistent performance to both its paid and free members.

They care about their customers as well.

Paid members have access to a wide array of customer service specialists to assist them with any questions or clarification on stock picks and analysis.

Personally, I’m a big fan of Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor, since it has consistently helped my portfolio by beating the S&P500, year over year.

If you need more information on how Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor has equipped me with a winning portfolio, read our review on it’s entire offering with our Stock Advisor review.

The Motley Fool History

Founded in 1994 by David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool has grown into an international company, committed to aiding retail investors with top-tier stock market research. With a mission to empower “Main Street” with tools akin to Wall Street, they’ve expanded globally, offering numerous services and newsletters.

Their longevity counters typical scam traits of brief existence and “non-existent” operations. The Fool boasts physical offices worldwide, staffed with real analysts, all while enhancing their credibility with two front facing founders. Unlike fraudulent entities using PO boxes and vague contacts, their substantial presence and Glassdoor awards for workplace excellence further affirm their legitimacy.

Why Motley Fool is NOT a Gimmick

Motley Fool adopts a long-term, diligent approach to investment decisions. They make sure to steer clear of common financial scams promising instant results from “easy” stock trading.

Contrary to schemes that offer unrealistic gains, The Fool values transparency and a proven track record, which can even be shown by the founders on their website:

We believe in treating every dollar as an investment in the future you want to create.

We believe that investing in great businesses, for the long term, is the most effective path to wealth.

We believe in the power of a community to learn and grow together.

We believe in keeping score and being transparent in our investment performance.

We strive to fulfill our purpose by truly serving every Fool, from our employees to our members to our community.

David and Tom Gardner

This ethos is a far cry from any get-rich-quick gimmick. Even though Motley Fool is not an investment manager, they are a top provider of stock picks and recommendations, offering a subscription service that focuses on long term value over any false promises of instant riches.


*** UPDATE -- Wednesday, March 27, 2024 -- MOTLEY FOOL STOCK ADVISOR AVERAGE RETURN OF ALL 500+ STOCK PICKS IS 556% VS THE S&P500'S 141% ****

The Fool investing philosophy is hold stocks for at least 5 years, invest regularly, and ride out the dips. Here is just a sample of some recent picks:

  • CRWD picked again October, 2023 and already it is up 55%
  • TSLA picked again May, 2023 and it is up 54%
  • CRWD picksed March, 2023 and it is up 107%
  • NOW picked January, 2023 and it is up 93%

Also, the Motley Fool just launched a special promotion: $120 off (see the link below).

Here is their release schedule of their upcoming stock picks:

  • March 7, 2024 - List of 5 Best Stocks to Buy Now List
  • March 14, 2024 - New Stock Recommendation
  • March 21, 2024 - List of 5 Best Stocks to Buy Now
  • March 28, 2024 - New Stock Recommendation

So, if you have a few hundred dollars to invest each month and plan on staying invested for at least 5 years, we haven't found any better source of stock picks.

New Pricing: Motley Fool has slashed it price $120 for its top stock picking service.


DON'T MISS OUT! The Fool's next pick comes out Thursday, March 15th.
CLICK HERE Stock Advisor Now 60% Off – Use Code SALE60

Motley Fool Guarantee

Thanks to the Motley Fool’s longevity and transparent practices, they have made a name for themselves where it counts; their wallet.

They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee with their paid Stock Advisor service.

You can try it out, invest in their recommendations, learn how they analyze the market, and see how they operate.

At the end of the day, you can cancel with no risk if the service is not the right fit for you.

This guarantee is one of the most important and tangible reasons why the Motley Fool is not a scam.

You may love their services, or you may not, but their history and practices are those of a real business.

In conclusion…Motley Fool is NOT a scam!