Seek Professional Help - AI Analysis Prompt
Analyze any company through Benjamin Graham's principle of "Seek Professional Help." This AI prompt applies this specific investment wisdom to evaluate companies systematically.
Full Prompt
You are an investment analyst trained in Benjamin Graham's principle of "Seek Professional Help." Your core philosophy: margin of safety, Mr. Market, defensive investing. Your task is to analyze {Company Name} through the specific lens of this principle.
## Context
Benjamin Graham teaches: "The defensive investor needs to seek professional advice."
## Analysis Framework
### 1. Principle Application Assessment
- How does this principle specifically apply to {Company Name}?
- What aspects of the company are most relevant to "Seek Professional Help"?
- Rate the company's alignment with this principle: Strong / Moderate / Weak
- What would Benjamin Graham focus on first when evaluating this company?
### 2. Quantitative Evidence
- Identify 3-5 key financial metrics most relevant to this principle
- Analyze these metrics over the past 5-10 years for {Company Name}
- Compare with industry peers and historical benchmarks
- Are the numbers improving, stable, or deteriorating?
- What story do the numbers tell through the lens of "Seek Professional Help"?
### 3. Qualitative Deep Dive
- Evaluate the non-quantifiable factors Benjamin Graham would examine
- Management quality and alignment with this principle
- Industry dynamics and competitive position
- Business model sustainability viewed through this specific lens
- What would Benjamin Graham want to know that isn't in the financial statements?
### 4. Risk Assessment Through This Lens
- What risks does this principle specifically highlight for {Company Name}?
- What could go wrong that this principle is designed to protect against?
- Are there warning signs that Benjamin Graham would flag?
- Stress-test: How would this company perform under adverse conditions?
- What is the worst-case scenario from this principle's perspective?
### 5. Opportunity Identification
- What opportunities does analyzing through this lens reveal?
- Are there hidden strengths the market may be undervaluing?
- How does this company compare to Benjamin Graham's ideal investment?
- What catalysts could unlock value related to this principle?
### 6. Graham Verdict
- Summarize: Does {Company Name} pass the "Seek Professional Help" test?
- Rate the investment opportunity: 1-10 from this principle's perspective
- Clear recommendation: Buy / Hold / Avoid (based on this principle alone)
- What conditions would change your assessment?
- One-paragraph summary capturing Benjamin Graham's likely assessment
## Output Format
Present your analysis with specific data points in each section. Use Benjamin Graham's analytical style: quantitative value analysis with strict margin of safety requirements. End with a decisive verdict.Basic Questions
What type of person should seek professional investment help rather than DIY?
Graham was highly pragmatic — he knew most people lack the prerequisites for value investing:
1. Time cost: Deep analysis of one company takes dozens of hours
2. Knowledge barrier: Requires reading financial statements, understanding business models
3. Psychological fitness: Requires staying calm during market panics
4. Discipline: Requires strict adherence to buying/selling rules
If you're clearly deficient in any of the above, professional help may be warranted. But Graham also warned: learn to distinguish true professionals from 'commissioned salespeople.'
1. Time cost: Deep analysis of one company takes dozens of hours
2. Knowledge barrier: Requires reading financial statements, understanding business models
3. Psychological fitness: Requires staying calm during market panics
4. Discipline: Requires strict adherence to buying/selling rules
If you're clearly deficient in any of the above, professional help may be warranted. But Graham also warned: learn to distinguish true professionals from 'commissioned salespeople.'
Usage Tips
Is the AI's 1-10 rating reliable?
⚠️ AI's "professional service assessment" helps judge if you need professional help and evaluate existing advisors, but AI itself can't replace professionals.
How to interpret:
- **8-10 (strong self-sufficiency)**: Your investment knowledge and discipline are solid, AI analysis is mostly sufficient
- **5-7 (can benefit from professional help)**: Some areas (tax, asset allocation) need expert guidance, AI helps you ask better questions
- **1-4 (strongly recommend getting help)**: Complexity exceeds your capabilities — find a fiduciary independent advisor
Graham distinguished two investor types: active and defensive. For defensive investors, seeking professional help isn't weakness — it's one of the smartest investment decisions.
How to interpret:
- **8-10 (strong self-sufficiency)**: Your investment knowledge and discipline are solid, AI analysis is mostly sufficient
- **5-7 (can benefit from professional help)**: Some areas (tax, asset allocation) need expert guidance, AI helps you ask better questions
- **1-4 (strongly recommend getting help)**: Complexity exceeds your capabilities — find a fiduciary independent advisor
Graham distinguished two investor types: active and defensive. For defensive investors, seeking professional help isn't weakness — it's one of the smartest investment decisions.
More Rule Prompts
Explore other investment principles from this master.
Long-term Perspective
The investor should be guided by long-term considerations and not by short-term market fluctuations.
→Rebalancing
The investor should periodically rebalance his portfolio to maintain the desired asset allocation.
→Avoid Speculation
The defensive investor will avoid the temptation to stray into the unknown in search of higher returns.
→Index Funds
An index fund is the best choice for the investor who cannot or does not want to devote time to security selection.
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