An investment in fast growing tropical trees can return between 30% to 40% per cent non-compounded per year over a 10 year period. Can you say the same thing for your portfolio? The problem with many investors is that they think short term is one week and long term is two weeks. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that is an unlikely formula for success. What investors with that mindset are really doing is gambling with their money in hopes of some sort of a quick return. Let's call it the Vegas syndrome.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the people who buy government savings bonds and treasury bills, earning between 2% to 4.5% per year, a return on investment which rarely exceeds the inflation rate. Let's call it the Clueless syndrome. In the middle are the people who buy stocks, shares and mutual funds and then get defrauded by Wall Street, Bay Street and Fleet Street, while company CEO's get multi-million dollar compensation cheques for putting their company into the red. Let's call this the Mainstream syndrome.

With all the raped and pillaged IRA's, RRSP's and Pensions out there, one would think that people would be flocking to low risk high return opportunities like tropical trees. I used to be a victim of the Mainstream syndrome. I would deposit $200 a month to my RRSP and get a monthly statement from my mutual fund showing plus $200 for the deposit and minus $300 thanks to their investment savvy. Sound familiar? I first started investing in tropical trees in 1995, and I haven't looked back since then.