"Insurance agent helped himself to my money."

Recently, I met up with a friend whom I have not been in touch with for a few years and, inevitably, we also talked about money matters.

Mania over Chinese art. Huh? I blur.
Friend:
So, how is your investment in Japanese apartments now?

Me:
Oh, you mean Saizen REIT?

Friend:
Ya, you asked me to invest in this that time because it pays good dividends.

Me:
Gone already.

Friend:
Gone?

Me:
Ya, they sold all their assets to an institutional investor.

Friend:
Sounds like you made money!

Me:
OK lah.

Friend:
So lucky. That time I should have listened to you. Shouldn't have listened to my brother's insurance agent and bought the investment from him.

Me:
That was many years ago. How is it?

Friend:
I got fed up with it and sold it at a big loss.

Me: 
But you said that guy is very smart and can help you with your money, right?

Friend:
My brother say one, not me. Ya, very smart but not to help me with my money. Smart to help himself to my money. He left his job liao.

Me:
..................

Friend:
Now, you got any other money making lobang?

Me:
I have some investment in Japanese shopping malls.

Friend:
This time, I am going to invest.

Me:
But it is being sold to another institutional investor too. Not confirmed but it could happen in the next few months and the share price has shot up quite a bit by now.

Friend:
...................


The mood was gradually getting a little bit too heavy for my liking. So, I changed the topic.

My friend regrets investing in something and not investing in something else but is he really an investor? I wonder.

Related posts:
1. How many $29,000 do we have?
"Every year put in money. 20 years..."
2. Bought ILP from a friend.
'...if I cancel the plan now, I (lose) the money...'
3. Saizen REIT.
The investment was a good fit for my motivation.
4. Croesus Retail Trust.
Of course, being paid while waiting is not a bad deal.