They’re everywhere, and they sound like the financial Holy Grail: "Using our secret system, you can generate returns of 5% to 15%... each month!"This is a Stupid Investment Trick so easy to debunk, it’s almost unfair. If you are enticed by a pitch for an investment system that promises to supercharge your returns, you need to ask yourself one cynical question:If someone has truly found the secret formula for beating the market, why are they trying to sell it to you for $59.95, or the low, low cost of just pennies a day?The Fatal Flaw in the PitchThey wouldn’t be spending money on advertising; they would be taking your $59.95, putting it into their system, and retiring a millionaire within the year.You can reliably save yourself a monthly subscription fee by avoiding these systems altogether. In fact, you might also save yourself a lot of trouble in the form of fraud. While some systems are merely ineffective, many are a hotbed of outright financial scams. If you hear the word "system" in any sales pitch, that should be your cue to change the channel.If you stay tuned in, here are the three red flags you should look out for:Red Flag 1: Lots of Profit, Zero RiskRisk is ubiquitous in finance. It’s a universally accepted principle that the more risk you take, the higher the returns you are likely to earn. If a financial guru tells you there is little risk, be on guard. If they tell you there is no risk, run for the hills. The best example: Shares of tech darling Nvidia delivered a return of 1,500% over the last five years, but it was nearly halved between September and December of 2018, and then more than halved again from November 2021 to October 2022. The highest returns come with the highest volatility.Red Flag 2: Data LightTestimonials are a deceptive sales tactic. We naturally connect with people who are in circumstances similar to our own, but that emotional connection can obscure the complete absence of hard, verifiable data validating any given system. If they can’t show you audited, long-term returns for their system, the only thing they’re selling is hope.Red Flag 3: High Degree of DifficultyJust because something is complex doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. When you start hearing about complex options strategies, currency trading, risk arbitrage, or esoteric insurance products, it increases the likelihood that your foray into "systems" is going to end in tears. Complexity almost always benefits the seller, not the buyer.The Secret is... There Is No SecretEvery form of investing is a system of sorts. The simple systems are not sold to you because they are proven and accessible to everyone: buy and hold forever, don’t time the market, diversify your holdings, and stay invested.These are the systems embraced by experts and novices alike. They don’t cost $59.95 a month; they simply cost patience.