Dear Subscriber,

The Internet has provided a wonderful opportunity for communication, giving millions of individuals a public forum to express their views, while enhancing my ability to get valuable feedback from you.

I am delighted to see that, almost invariably, that feedback has been very constructive, and I thank you warmly for your compliments AND any complaints. Both are extremely valuable, and both help me and my team continue to improve the quality of our service.

At the same time, however, the Internet has also provided a vehicle for some individuals and competitors to post commentary about our organization that is neither factual nor relevant.

This is what has prompted me to write to you today, and I welcome the opportunity: It gives me a good reason to tell you more about my company’s mission, values, quality controls, standards of practice, and long history of public service.

We have had most of these in place ever since I founded my company nearly four decades ago; and our website has covered each, with substantial documentation, since 2006. But in case you haven’t had a chance to visit these pages, let me review, very briefly, the aspects that are most important to me and, I should hope, to you as well.

Our mission is to help you protect and grow your money in good times and bad. And needless to say, we cannot do a good job if we are not successful as a business. Therefore, growing our company soundly and profitably is a key component of our mission, and I believe that anyone who questions our profit motive underestimates the costs and risks of doing business, especially in today’s volatile financial environment.

Equally important is our independence. Unfortunately, among our critics are Wall Street companies that have compromised their independence by accepting direct or indirect compensation from the companies they research, rate or recommend. We accept none. We permit no conflicts of interest and no business practices that might compromise the objectivity of our analysis, recommendations or services.

U.S. Global Funds has written that “Martin Weiss maintains a rigorous culture of independence and high ethical standards in his company; you can't even buy him or his staff a cup of coffee." Forbes magazine has referred to me as “Mr. Independence.” Esquire magazine wrote that our firm is “free of any possible conflict of interest.” And many others have attested to our quality controls, standards of practice and ethical standards.

We have also sought to establish similar standards for our industry; and to better further that goal, in 2006, we founded the Financial Publishers Association (FIPA), where I serve on the Board of Directors. Our FIPA Seal of Approval is based on four fundamental standards of practice, including a clear distinction between investment publishers and advisers, rules for personal security transactions, standards for estimating performance results, and adherence to privacy rules.

Through FIPA, we are also Board members of the Alliance for Investor Education, sponsored by members such as the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII), the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA), the Securities Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Through this alliance, we provide special assistance for older investors, warnings about scams and education about investment basics. We are also members of the Safe Internet Alliance, committed to promoting a safe Internet experience for all online users.

For more than two decades, Weiss Research and its affiliates have been strong and consistent public service advocates for consumers and investors in the insurance, banking and brokerage industries. We have dedicated substantial resources to Congressional testimony, to constructive proposals for reforms in the securities industry and to standards of practice for newsletter publishers. At the same time, our Sound Dollar Committee, originally founded by my father in 1959 to help President Eisenhower balance the federal budget, advocates fiscal and monetary responsibility.

Going beyond the financial realm, Weiss Research is proud to be a full participant in Weiss Group's charitable activities and contributions. Among these, in 2009, we donated all royalties derived from my best-selling book to the Campaign to End Child Homelessness; and in 2010, we converted the Weiss School, a school for gifted children, from a fully owned for-profit subsidiary to a not-for-profit institution, donating it to the community.

If you’d like more information about our company, I recommend that you explore this website. It tells you more about our business, some of which you may already know, as well as many aspects you may find new and interesting, including pages dedicated to Weiss Research’s Quality Controls and Standards of Practice, our Mission and Values, Company History, and Public Service.

I believe it will answer any additional questions you may have. If not, please call us at 800-291-8545 Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Plus, I’d love to hear from you via email. My email address is martinw@weissinc.com.
I am very grateful to you for your loyalty through good times and bad; and I take great pride in the consummate professionals who comprise this company. I remain, as always, resolute in our commitment to provide you the highest level of excellence and customer service.

Best wishes,

Martin