I’m using the following modified disclosure that I copied from Tim Ferris. (Thanks Tim!)
First, the obvious: I’m a real estate investor and blogger in Memphis, TN. I started this blog in 2008 to build a community and share the practical knowledge and experiences of mine and some of my friends and colleagues I hold in high esteem. I’ve been blessed to have an interest in writing, and in making some great friendships in this industry that have completely changed my life. I’d like for you to benefit from all this as well.
This blog is most definitely a labor of love, and an outlet for my personal, heartfelt mission to help out my fellow real estate investor. My goal is to be always informative, educational, thought provoking and even entertaining in what’s served up for you here.
Second, the less obvious: I’m a “capitalist with integrity” through and through, and this blog is an unapologetically for-profit endeavor. Meaning I aim to monetize whatever I do here whenever practical and reasonable, so long as I do so with honesty and integrity.
Beginning December 1, 2009, the FTC requires bloggers to provide disclosures whenever there could be hidden interests or unspoken biases related to recommendations. Per these FTC rules, if I interview someone and they grab the bill for lunch, I would need to specify this. Ditto if I use an Amazon link that gets me 8 cents instead of an Amazon link that gets me 0 cents or do an honest product review, then receive any kind of compensation for the value-added after you read that review. If someone gives me a comfy t-shirt with a logo and I wear it in a photo, same deal. Disclaimers all over the place.
This would be tedious for me and a continual eye sore for readers. But rules is rules.
To cover my butt and preserve your reading experience, please assume that, for every recommendation, link, and product I use, if you end up buying as a result, I’ll get paid money and I will almost certainly squander it on shiny things (or candy, or something equally stupid).
Also you should assume the following all hold true at any given time:
(Illustrations courtesy of Louis Gray and Jeannine Schafer)