In every face-to-face information-gathering situation, we have the opportunity to manipulate others’ thoughts, beliefs and judgements to suit our ends - as does the person or people we are meeting! Many funds management professionals are typically quite skilled at manipulation, so those researching their investment funds need to protect themselves against manipulation as they conduct their due diligence. In the manipulation stakes, the old adage ‘forewarned is forearmed’ is hopelessly inadequate. Manipulation operates through system #1, the passive, involuntary, automatic part of the brain, i.e., at a subconscious level. Because we cannot turn system #1 off, it is always accessible to manipulators. It is like an open ‘portal’ to our neural network, through which hackers can enter to infect our thoughts and beliefs with their intentions. However, knowing the behavioural science behind some of the investment world’s most common manipulation technique s, you can use them on yourself to prevent others from using them on you. - Herman Brodie, Prospecta. Earn 1.00 CE/CPD hrs on Portfolio Construction Forum