This Casey Research Review will examine if the investment advisory company lives up to Doug Casey's reputation.
There is usually a dilemma for the services offered by larger-than-life characters like Casey. As a well-known financial figure, the expectations are always high.
He has already established himself as an investment pioneer since the 1980s. Many still consider his breakthrough book as the bible for investing during economic turmoil.
Recently, he has also released fiction books that got good reviews from Amazon.
So there will always be that expectation that everything he touches will turn to gold. This is especially the case with his research company.
Since he is a "legendary investor," subscribers will tend to believe him and his recommendations. With a career of over three decades, we can safely assume that he has already seen it all.
Therefore, we can all benefit from his wisdom, successes, and even failures.
But do his services live up to his newsletters' promises in their pitches? When we interview his subscribers, will they recommend it to others and say Casey Research is legit and the real deal?
Or will they advise people to run away because their experience made them realize the firm is a scam?
Read our review to find out all you need to know about Casey Research.
Overview
- Name: Casey Research
- Founder: Doug Casey
- Website: www.caseyresearch.com
- Service: Investment research advisory
Doug Casey's investment research company provides insights on how subscribers can make more money. When you subscribe to any of their services, you can expect innovative research from the team.
Aside from Casey, three other editors help him in Casey Research. In fact, the website does not credit Casey himself as a primary editor of any newsletter. But being the figurehead and founder, he has a say in the advisories' direction.
In particular, the firm looks at market dislocations to know where to get superior returns. Most of their recommendations are small-cap companies because they offer the highest gains.
You may choose from five of the available services, which include a free newsletter. We will discuss details in the following sections of the review.
What is Casey Research?
According to its website, the firm has been a source of speculative information and research for over 25 years.
While many editors and associates have come and gone, Doug Casey remained. This is his company and legacy, after all.
Process
They go about their research and recommendations via Casey's lens as an investor.
Its services concentrate on investment industries with a lot of room for growth. The firm believes you will never become wealthy by investing in common "mutual funds or low-yielding money market funds."
However, investing in sectors with high upside potential can. Unfortunately, with a lot of opportunities also come a lot of danger.
We think this disclaimer is a refreshing note. That it is front and center on the website is also commendable. Since its newsletter pitches often promise sky-high returns, subscribers do need to see this.
But is it enough to temper readers' expectations? We will discuss this point later.
Principles
Going back to Casey Research, the firm also believes in free markets. It recognizes that the more government institutions intervene in a marketplace, the more likely there will be repercussions.
This is disastrous for the unobservant but possibly highly favorable for the vigilant. Moreover, it also keeps an eye on every industry, seeking for investment prospects.
Governments frequently cause market dislocations. In attempting to "fix" or "manage" a problem, their actions have unexpected effects that intelligent investors can leverage profitably.
To mitigate risks, Casey uses a variety of proprietary research approaches.
When you subscribe, the firm claims that you can get in at the lowest price so you can enjoy the upside. This is because the company can detect a trend ahead of the crowd.
It's critical to arrive early, but knowing when to go is also vital. Casey Research says its advisory services all provide explicit buy, sell, and take-profit recommendations.
It's possible that who you know is just as essential as what information you know. Doug Casey and the Casey Research team say they maintain regular communication with the industry's decision-makers.
If there is breaking news or an opportunity that is swiftly emerging, they claim their subscribers are frequently among the first to know.
The average investor is easily swayed by a good tale or the next hot tip. The firm is different.
Instead, it digs beneath the hype to assess management, the company's financial soundness and structure, and much more on your behalf.
Also, Casey Research claims to have a well-earned reputation for honesty and reliability.
Casey and the team say they have no one else save their subscribers to whom they are dedicated. They have not done an excellent job if you do not do well in your investments.
The company clarifies that it is not a group of traders. Its investors don't do much buying and selling. Trying to estimate the top and bottom of the market is a risky game they say they don't want to play.
They prefer investments where they can increase our chances of success.
Editors hunt for quality bets in companies and industries where trends are on your side, then hold on until they meet expectations or a better chance presents itself.
Except for large caps in their entry-level publications, most of the stocks they recommend are undervalued small-cap companies.
While they have a lot of potential, they may also be highly volatile.
According to the website, Casey Research focuses on discovering innovative methods to invest. They urge you to take advantage of "market dislocations," as they describe them.
Government action and politics produce market dislocations. Doug Casey invests money in them as a speculator to profit from such situations. But it's not as simple as it appears.
For the guru, it is illogical for a person to put 100 percent of their wealth into safe investments that may only provide a measly ten percent return.
Instead, according to him, investors should commit 10 percent of their money and portfolio to speculations that might deliver rewards of more than 100 percent.
Casey claims that 1,000 percent gains are possible with the type of service they provide.
It is difficult to make such market estimates. He adds that this is not the same as high-risk investing. It also does not resemble gambling in any way.
They conduct extensive research and exercise discipline in their speculation. It necessitates a thorough evaluation of numerous issues.
To determine the finest investment prospects, the firm employs what Casey refers to as "The Eight Ps of Resource Stock Evaluation."
These are people, property, "phinancing," paper, promotion, politics, push, and price.
Who is Doug Casey?
Doug Casey, a "legendary investor" as per the company's website, is the founder of Casey Research.
Legend
The man has more than 30 years of financial experience. Moreover, many consider him to be the leading expert on "rational speculation" due to his long career.
His bio also touts that the libertarian philosopher is also a world-renowned speculator and a best-selling author.
As a speculator, he specializes in investments based on his market predictions. While others would consider this high-risk, he has a different view.
It is true that his speculative pursuits aim to outperform traditional, long-term investments. But he emphasizes that he is the rational type: careful, diligent, analytical.
Due to his methods, he does not consider himself a high-risk investor. When he allocates resources from market distortions, they are always from good intelligence sources and research.
According to him, he does not believe in relying on luck because he is dealing with money. Casey asserts that he always has a feel of the bigger picture because of the quality of his analytical tools.
He has developed a reputation as a financial contrarian over the course of his 30 years of experience in the field.
Simply put, he does the polar opposite of the majority of investors. The contrarian notices something that the majority does not.
Breakthrough
His breakout book, Crisis Investing, has cemented his name as a financial expert. In it, he explains how to create enormous profits even in the face of adversity.
In 1980, the book was number one on the New York Times best-seller list. Young and old students of the trade still regard his book as a primary resource for investment during times of crisis.
When it was first launched, though, it sparked controversy. Doug Casey and his peers were criticized in this 1981 New York Times story.
The title from writer Adam Smith would already give you an idea of what the sentiment was.
ECONOMIC PROPHETS: GET OUT OF TOWN
The article critiques the works and styles of authors Jerome F. Smith, Howard J. Ruff, Harry Browne, and Doug Casey. According to the write-up, they are the "financial version of born-again preaching."
In what sense? Well, in their newsletters and books, they offer "damnation" and then provide "redemption." The writer adds:
What they also share is an apocalyptic vision: a breakdown of the world we live in, riots, civil disorders, runaway inflation, terrible depression.
What's wrong with such a worldview or a selling strategy?
According to Smith, he is not saying that what the writers are saying is all wrong. There really are economic hardships that people must take seriously. Their warnings can indeed be helpful for many.
The article has an issue with the solutions the authors present. It even cited a statement from Casey: ''Sauve qui peut.'' In English, this means "Let him who can, save himself."
For the writer, this seems like a selfish and myopic view of things. The world's financial affairs are not all about mechanical movements.
The solution is not always to save oneself and move to a better place like the Bahamas or Tristan da Cunha, as Casey suggested. This action is akin to giving up.
For the writer, the better approach is to add compassion and make institutions work for society's good. We do not just need people who earn money for their sake. People, as a resource, must work together.
We agree with the writer on this point. The article is making a case that society is not all about money and financial considerations. For it to function, people must play their roles.
There are indeed values that are far above markets and economics. Unity, perseverance, and love are also critical ingredients for people and nations to overcome difficulties.
We admit it does sound cheesy, but this is also true. We need to strike a balance between self-interest and sacrifice, between preserving yourself and helping others in times of hardships.
Such opposition is not alien to Casey, we assume. As a contrarian, he does find himself with views that are different from most investors. So hearing opposing views is part of the terrain.
Fiction
Aside from Crisis Investing, he has written other books. These include:
- The International Man: The Complete Guidebook to the World's Last Frontiers. For Freedom Seekers, Investors, Adventurers, Speculators, and Expatriates (1979)
- Strategic Investing (1982)
- Crisis Investing for the Rest of the '90s (1993)
- Totally Incorrect: Conversations With Doug Casey (2013)
- Right on the Money: Doug Casey on Economics, Investing, and the Ways of the Real World (2013)
- Speculator (High Ground) 2016
- Drug Lord (High Ground) 2017
- Assassin (High Ground) 20120
What's interesting about his body of work is that the last three are novels. They are about Charles Knight, and they tackle finance, economics, politics, and yes, romance.
Surprisingly, these have also received high ratings on Amazon. As of this writing, Speculator has 4.6/5 stars from 457 global ratings. Drug Lord has 4.8 stars from 254 ratings, while Assassin has 4.7 from 371.
Services
Casey Research currently has four services available to its subscribers.
The first is a free newsletter from editor Kris Sayce and managing editor Rachel Bodden.
The Casey Daily Dispatch assists readers in understanding developments in the economy and markets. The team teaches subscribers about the best money-making options and risks to their wealth.
Its writers pay no attention to what the legacy media has to say.
They also take satisfaction in tackling divisive and contentious topics to inform readers about what's actually going on behind the scenes.
Strategic Investor is from editor Dave Forest, which you can get for $199 per year. When you subscribe, you are supposed to get advanced information on which companies will explode in profits.
Forest even claims that you can be ahead of others for up to one and a half years due to his intel. This means that you will get substantial returns.
We already wrote about this service on our website. Check out our article: Dave Forest’s Strategic Investor Newsletter Review.
Meanwhile, the firm also has something for you if you are into "the most undervalued explorers and mining stocks around the world."
You may avail yourself of Forest's monthly International Speculator for $3,500 annually.
Strategic Trader, available for $4,000 per year, is for those who want to invest like pros. It promises to expose insider secrets, so you can get returns that only elite investors experience.
The company also offers a comprehensive subscription if you want to go further. You can access all of its services through Casey Platinum. The lifetime membership is available for $7,500.
Track Record and Reviews
As you know, the company and its founder have quite a reputation. Many consider Doug Casey as a trailblazer and pioneer. In addition, Casey Research has lofty promises of high returns for its services.
So we need to know if you will indeed receive great benefits when you subscribe. Even if you go for the cheaper services, we still consider that a substantial investment.
After all, giving your email address and personal information is such a huge deal nowadays.
The firm has 2.5/5 stars from around 30 reviews on the Casey Research Trustpilot page. As of this writing, 26% rated it as Excellent while 68% rated it as Bad. Average and Poor both got 3%.
Most of those who highly regard the service talk about the quality of its research. They seem to appreciate the recommendations, with some saying they made a profit from them.
However, there are also those who regard the service as a scam.
The majority of the comments were about unauthorized credit card charges. Some also complained about fees higher than what they signed up for.
In addition, there were people who could not reach the company when they needed assistance. We know how frustrating that could be. Another issue was the number of promotional emails they sent.
To give you a clearer picture, we also researched on available reviews for the company's services.
The Casey Report
In the past, we have already written about The Casey Report.
This is a newsletter with Nick Giambruno as its editor. As of this writing, the advisory is no longer on the website. The company even removed Giambruno from its roster of experts.
We are not sure what happened with him or his newsletter.
But we think you still need to hear feedback about the service. Whatever comments the advisory received is still a reflection of the company as a whole.
You can still get insights through commendations and complaints since Casey has always been the man in charge.
When Casey Research was still offering it, the firm trumpeted how excellent the service and its editor were.
In fact, marketing materials presented Giambruno as Casey's protege. The former even seems to follow the globe-trotting ways of the latter.
We mentioned in our Casey Report review then that this is not an insignificant fact. As speculators, profiting from market dislocations is central to their philosophy.
Therefore, they need to see firsthand how local situations affect the markets in various countries. When they are intimately aware of economic activities abroad, it will give them an advantage.
So, what was our impression of the service then? We did acknowledge the credibility of the "legendary investor." However, we also noted that there were valid complaints.
Also, the editors prefaced their advisory with promises of sky-high gains.
Our position about it is that subscribers should still examine for themselves if they can indeed get such returns. After all, speculative investing can be risky.
Travis Johnson of Stock Gumshoe reviewed a past teaser of The Casey Report. In his article, he complained about how Casey Research employs scare tactics in their pitch for the newsletter.
Johnson even lists some of Giambruno's doomsday statements. We want to show you some of them so you can see them for yourself.
You could lose everything you’ve worked your whole life for...
Soon, the elites could issue their new world reserve currency and take down the U.S. dollar.
Americans who worked all their lives could wake up and realize that their 401(k) and savings are slashed.
You could be stripped of the right to own property or pay higher property and income tax… and a new ‘World Tax’….
Alarming statements, right? Unfortunately, it is an effective tactic to get people to subscribe. Johnson, however, says that such a strategy is not healthy for readers.
He says that believing in conspiracy theories prevents customers from making rational decisions. We agree with him on this point.
Looking at the target market of advisories, research companies should educate regular investors, especially the elderly. The goal must be to inform them of reality and not sow seeds of fear.
After all, we must not be emotional when we make investment decisions. Advisory firms must lead them to a place where they can objectively look at where their money can grow.
So what is Casey Research's solution? Well, it is pushing for bitcoin and gold. Of course, you need to subscribe to its newsletter to know which ones to invest in.
So the plan is to scare you, then provide solutions for the inevitable problems. However, the only way for you to address those problems is to get the inside information they possess.
There was also a lively discussion on the comments section of the article.
Some agreed with Johnson's commentary on the scare tactics of Casey Research. "Blind Guide" said the strategy is irritating because it is damaging to those who are keen on bitcoin and gold.
They said that it is disingenuous and preys on the vulnerable just to get profits. Moreover, the reader asserted that it "puts in a very bad light" those who do wish to protect themselves from such transitions.
Meanwhile, a commenter with the username "Lei" seems to disagree with Johnson.
By the same token, the notion that it can’t happen is a scare tactic or an attempt to trivialize something that is an unknown. Older people don’t like their fears being trivialized.
They are much less likely to go get a job at age 75 or 80 – or 68. And having or possibly getting a job is not an option most of the time. Why wouldn’t they be afraid?
For this person, it would be unfair to invalidate the valid concerns of people. With the chaotic global political and economic issues, anything is possible. For them, Casey Research is coming from a legit position.
Johnson, however, explained his side.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you side with Casey Research on this? Engage with us through your comments.
We also would like to point out the comment below.
Consistent with our review, the commenter says that it's a hit-or-miss with Casey. So you see, this is why we believe reviews about a now-defunct service still matter.
As of publishing, The Casey Report has a 1.9/5 rating on its Stock Gumshoe page. This rating is from around 300 subscribers.
The comments on this section are also very telling on Casey Research as a whole. The oldest comment is from February 2009, and the latest as of publishing, February 2021.
Being a relatively old advisory, the comments have also evolved through the years. Some appreciated the writing, while others hated its style. These are from different time frames of the newsletter's existence.
Some also commented that Casey was full of self-promotion, which turned off subscribers. Users also have a varied assessment of the quality of the investment recommendations.
Some say they earned from the advisory's positions, while some didn't. One even said that the service had "rotten accuracy." Others did not mince words and used the word "scam" in some instances.
International Speculator
Dave Forest's advisory has a higher rating from Stock Gumshoe. The International Speculator review page shows a 3.1/5 rating. Around 100 subscribers gave their take on the newsletter.
As expected, there are various reactions to the service. It seems to come with the territory since Casey's speculative approach is risky. Like the one below, some comments have very harsh words for the company.
For the commenter above, the company is not a legit firm.
In addition, "Rog Blake" gave this assessment in February 2009:
His opinions and trip reports can make for interesting and enjoyable reading, but after a while, he sounds like a broken record.
I dug up his books from the '70s and found that the message was still the same, only the company names have changed (the dollar is doomed!
Buy bullion! Juniors are the next stock craze! The Greater Depression is upon us!). Despite claiming to be an optimist, this is doom and gloom material.
As a subscriber for five years already at that time, Blake says he has valid criticisms of Casey as an editor. Casey's picks were down 60-70% when he wrote this comment.
However, when he checked the company's assessment, they painted a much rosier picture. Since he experienced losses, he knew then that what they presented to the public was not accurate.
He observed that you can make money if you "buy shortly after they recommend selling." Their calls to buy or sell are also often too late. He figured that this might actually be how they pitch their pricier services.
The harshest review comes from "golddigger."
I have to say after subscribing to Casey research’s international speculator for multiple quarters that not only is the newsletter useless, it is actually destructive if you follow their advice.
The bottom line is that this newsletter is an abject failure. Most of their current recommendations are down 70% or more.
There are some people, though, who seem to understand where the advisory is coming from. Commenter "crrussell" points out that investing is still all up to you.
Casey provides ideas based on his worldview and research, but you still need to assess on your own.
Do you agree with this sentiment? Let us know your thoughts.
Moreover, a "C.R. Schmink" also makes an interesting defense of Casey. He says that subscribers must learn to read through the fine print. The company makes it clear that the service is for long-term investing.
If you avail the service, you must be willing to ride out even severe downturns. If you are a discerning and disciplined investor, you will do well in the long run.
For him, the complaints seem to stem from an incorrect understanding of the company's philosophy. You should only invest money you will not need in the short term.
In his comment, the reader also mentioned that he has experienced heartaches with some stocks. However, he is not worried because he understands the trade. In fact, he would still recommend it to his friends.
Strategic Investor
A comment on the Stock Gumshoe review page is succinct but clear in its message:
Strategic Investor has 3.1/5 stars by the time we publish this article. Around 60 readers gave their opinion on the advisory.
Travis Johnson also gave his take on the teaser promoting this newsletter. In his review, he said he was baffled by the company's marketing strategy.
The video showing Dave Forest downloading a movie used the exact same script of its previous editor. E. B. Tucker apparently left the firm already.
But the ad seemed to be working well, so Casey Research redid everything.
We suppose that's regular practice. But for a serious investment research company, it's pretty odd. A lot rests on the shoulders of the editor.
So if he cannot create a new take on things, are you inclined to entrust your investments to that person? We get it. Copywriters exist, and they run the backend of promotions.
But we expected more from a new editor. Since the company trumpets him as an expert, how come he cannot come up with an original recommendation? Or at least push for a new spin?
In our own review of the advisory, we also detailed many issues around the service. In the end, we lamented the lack of details that would make potential subscribers pay for the newsletter.
For us, more transparency is better. Casey Research can better serve its customers if they clearly show the process for its recommendations. This way, it will contribute to financial education.
However, we did highlight the track records of Casey and Forest.
Green Bull Research has also examined the previous teasers for the service. E. B. Tucker, in his 5G Master Key teaser, hints at more than 16,000 percent gains.
Is that possible? Well, we mentioned that it is well-positioned, but the promise is outrageous. In fact, we also called out an aspect of his presentation then.
We said that "his logic doesn't really make sense." Why? According to him, the 5G Master Key will fix the system's flaws. But even if it can help the issue, it will not solve the problems.
We practically said the same thing when Dave Forest took over. In our teaser expose, we noted that the 9,000 gains he promised is a "far-fetched prediction."
As you can see, the responses to the firm are varied. Know that these are valid because people experienced these stories. However, we also want to point out that it may not be the same for you.
An excellent way to proceed here is to assess for yourself if you could relate to any of them, including the points they raised. Determine your comfort level with the service given the positive and negative ratings.
Conclusion - Is it Legit or a Scam?
With all the investment research companies around, we need to be extra vigilant on whom to trust. Every single one claims that it has the expertise on investments.
However, we have also seen that many have encountered scams. Such is unfortunate because not all subscription fees are affordable.
Even if some newsletters are free, there are still risks because you give them your personal information. Our personal details are like currency in our digital world today.
This is why we need to be sure that we only subscribe to legit newsletters.
Casey Research says that many trust the company for its reputation for over 25 years. Doug Casey does not even actively edit any service at the moment.
But since he is a famed investor, he remains to be the main selling point of the research firm. How can one discount his vast experience? He is a legend and is relevant up to this day.
Many turn to him as a rational speculator for guidance since he has already developed a formula. For him, speculative contrarian investing is not just about luck or going against conventional wisdom.
One has to have sound research methods. This is why Casey says he remains to be effective. He never stops learning and still travels extensively to where the action is.
The founder is well aware of global affairs, so he knows how events affect the markets. He claims you can trust him to spot companies that will make it big in the future with such knowledge.
Of course, we looked at how subscribers rated his services. The reviews have been mixed. Some appreciate his point of view, while others consider his newsletters as garbage.
This is to be expected in all newsletters. Sometimes, the services are a matter of taste.
But we did observe that many were complaining about unauthorized or false credit card charges. Others also said the firm tends to overpromise when it pitches for newsletters.
We are sure you can see how comprehensive and objective our Casey Research review is. We strive to do this so you can decide on your own if you want to subscribe to its services or not.