I can't believe it; it happened to me. I wish I could find out who sold my name to one of the big brokerage houses in Florida. I got a cold call. AT WORK! The smooth talker on the other end launched right into his pitch after introducing himself. He asked if I had any interest whatsoever in the stock market. Right then I knew that I was dealing with Cold-Call Pete's brother.

I wish I could say that I calmly led him through a list of reasons why his Wisdom wasn't welcome here. That I explained to him that he was welcome to manage my money if he would guarantee that I could get at least as good results as the S&P 500. I wish that I was suave and got him to agree that I would pay for performance, not churn, and that if he didn't beat the S&P 500, he would pay me.

I wish I could say all that, but I can't. I didn't. However, I am not one to pass up completely the opportunity to deliver a scathing comment when a simple "no thank you" will suffice. I said, "Wait a minute, before you go any further, there is a web site you should check out -- www.fool.com".

What happened next is open to your interpretation. The phone got quiet, then Pete's brother said, "www.fool.com, huh? Well thank you and have a nice day Glen." Maybe he knows that once a Fool finds Foolishness, the Wise are only to be made fun of. Maybe he thinks I was calling him a fool -- not knowing that to be a Fool is high praise indeed. Or maybe he will actually take my advice, check out the Motley Fool and learn the error of his ways.

I hope the next time I get a call from the Clan of Cold-Call, I think before I speak -- leading them down the logical path to Foolishness, then leaving them swinging, hanging by their frigid phone cord.

Thank you Motley Fool, for showing me where to find the knowledge that I need to be Foolish!

Glen Smith