FINANCIAL ADVISERS AFRAID OF A DEMOCRAT. THEY ARE REALLY STUPID-- AND WE TRUST THEM WITH OUR MONEY?

My financial advisor and I rarely see eye to eye about politics (or music; he likes Rush and Genesis, Yes) although his wife helps counterbalance all the crap that gets drilled into his head at his office. He says he's "an independent." He's a senior vp at one of the biggest investment firms in the world and most of the people around him are greed obsessed Republicans. That perspective was apparent in a report today from Investment News, Financial Advisors' No. 1 Worry: A Democrat in the White House. They must have short memories; really short. All that coke they snort!

The fourth-quarter edition of the Brinker Barometer, which polled 236 advisers in December, found that 22% indicated that a "Democrat in the White House" worried them more than all other economic or geopolitical concerns.

Rounding out the list of concerns was "global unrest" (15%), "U.S. economic growth" (15%), "a terrorist attack" (13%) and "a recession" (13%).

When asked what their greatest tax concern would be under a Democratic administration, 81% of advisers cited a potential increase in the capital gains tax, an income tax increase and heavier taxes on dividends.

Their fave is Giuliani. Not much to worry about there. And they hate Hillary. Maybe she's better than we've all been thinking. And her husband; remember how bad he was for the economy and for investors? No, me neither. Anyway, I called my guy and asked him what he thought of the article. After he tried persuading me to lease a Lexus Hybrid GS, he said he didn't share the worries of his fellow advisers. "Most of these advisers just puke out what they hear." He hates Bush and doesn't like Hillary either. He says he isn't worried who gets elected because "it will be too hard for any one person to make sweeping changes that will effect the economy... It will be hard to raise the capital gain tax without losing tax revenues as a result of less selling. We need spending cuts first, not more taxes to pay for wars. And what this country needs is a president and Congress to work on training programs so people get better jobs. We need higher paying jobs, not people working at fast food restaurants."

Then he got on a role. "We have more people using out infrastructure, which Bush has just let go to seed, and without personal responsibility it will be strained even further. The economy will be fine; we need to restore some sense of pride in this country-- and a good leader who inspires people by practicing responsibility, not like that idiot in the White House now."

He likes Edwards, Obama and... Bloomberg. Like I said, he's an independent. I was happy-- and surprised-- he's into Edwards. "He understands money," he explained. I have a feeling my advisor doesn't understand how well Edwards understands it. But he foresees a Democrat winning and an end to Bush's aggressive wars "And that," he said, "means immediate savings to taxpayers. Believe it or not [not] the economy is ok and the deficit is in check. This country needs an infrastructure overhaul-- and that means jobs and better technology and training. There are too many people working at fast food joints."