Alejandro Cardona is one of those names that keeps popping up even if you're not actively searching for it. An economist, entrepreneur, and Colombian living in the United States, he has gained media visibility through interviews and appearances on Jaime Bayly. And, above all, he's best known for his most popular product: the Creating Wealth Seminar, a two-day intensive course geared towards people who are just starting out in the stock market and investing.
The question many ask themselves (and that almost no one answers calmly) is this: is it worth paying for the seminar?
In this article, I'll tell you about it from an informative and critical perspective, with the good, the bad, what is repeated in attendee opinions, and also with a practical comparison against simple alternatives such as investing with ETFs.
Who is Alejandro Cardona and what exactly does he sell?
Cardona presents himself as a financial educator and promoter of a "change of mindset." He has also published books on financial education, including "Create Your Own Wealth," with a fairly clear message: organize your finances, think like an investor, and take control.
Screenshot taken from the official website of the Creating Wealth Seminar by Alejandro Cardona
The flagship product is the Creating Wealth Seminar:
- Format : 2-day intensive
- Focus: beginners in the stock market, investing, and personal finance
- Ingredients: motivation, mindset, habits, and some basic trading strategies
- Price: around $99
That price, to be honest, is part of the draw. It's not expensive compared to other events. And that's precisely why many people go in without thinking twice. The question is what happens afterward.
What the seminar promises (and what the public usually understands)
The explicit promise is usually "financial education," "wealth creation," and learning how to navigate the markets. The implicit promise, the one the public hears even if it's not stated so directly, is different: results.
That's where the first delicate point arises.
In the markets, talking about results without context is dangerous. Because if someone teaches you for two days and you leave thinking you "know how to invest," you can easily get carried away. And that's precisely one of the things that comes up in participants' accounts: a lot of inspiration at the beginning, but also the risk of impulsive decisions.
A typical example mentioned on social media: attending a cheap seminar and then feeling pressured to advance to the next level. Buying more expensive courses, joining programs, "because now I'm ready."
Believe me, the market doesn't forgive enthusiasm.
What it can offer you (when you are a complete beginner)
I'm going to be fair. There are profiles for whom this might be useful.
If you're starting from absolute zero, if you don't even understand what a stock is, what an ETF is, what risk or volatility means, or why a 10 percent drop isn't "unusual," a seminar like this can give you:
- Mental order to begin
- Basic language so you don't get lost
- A motivational boost, which is sometimes necessary
- General ideas about discipline, habits, and consistency
Cardona's approach is similar to what Robert T. Kiyosaki with Rich Dad, Poor Dad (a book that costs less than $20).
That sparks something in many people. Because not everyone needs complex formulas. Many people need, first, to change their mindset and stop sabotaging themselves.
So far, so good.
The problem is when it is sold (or interpreted) as something that will give you a real advantage in the market.
The most frequent criticism: basic content that is already free
A recurring criticism is that much of the content is available for free online, even on YouTube or by asking AI. And I'm not talking about "similar things." I'm talking about standard concepts and strategies, explained by hundreds of channels, many with more examples, greater depth, and more frequent updates.
One of the strategies Cardona works on is:
- Buy when the price falls to a previously tested level (support, channel floor)
- Sell near the top of the channel or resistance zone
This, put simply, is fundamental. It can be learned for free. And it can be learned well. The real difference isn't "knowing it exists," the difference is implementing it, measuring it, understanding which market it's effective in, with what risk management, with what position size, with what probability, and for how long. In other words, reading the language of price.
If everything were as simple as Cardona makes it out to be, we'd all be millionaires with a simple little robot doing the work for us. Anyone with any experience knows that's not the case.
And that's where several attendees say the seminar falls short. They explain it to you, they illustrate it (a lot), and of course… you get excited.
But the truth is, you never leave with an operational plan. You don't leave the seminar as a trader, an investor, or anything like that.
The most sensitive point: results, tests, and the issue of “auditing”
Another strong criticism is the lack of an audited track record that confirms that the students (or Cardona himself) generate consistent profitability over time.
We need to separate things here:
- An educator is not required to show personal accounts.
- But if marketing relies on extraordinary results, and an abnormal period (such as the pandemic, with atypical market conditions) is used as a reference, it becomes legitimate to ask for more context.
Alejandro Cardona 's seminar often features performance examples that, well… aren't exactly ethical. And that's not playing fair.
Let's see….
This is important:
Alejandro Cardona uses examples of investment and profitability from the post-pandemic market recovery. And while it's true that many people made money investing during that period, there's a key detail: during 2020 and 2021, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) injected enormous amounts of money into the economy to prevent a larger crisis. This created very special conditions (low interest rates, massive stimulus) that strongly boosted the stock market.
But beware (here's the catch): those conditions are not normal, and the current market is very different. Using what happened in those years as a reference point is unwise. Today's challenges are different, and it's important to learn to read the market as it is now, not as it was at that particular moment.
👉 That's why it's important to critically analyze any course or seminar that uses those atypical years as a basis to promise extraordinary results or returns.
Mixed opinions and something that is mentioned quite often: discourse control
Opinions are mixed on forums and social media (including Reddit-style threads and YouTube comments). Some say it helped them. Others say it's more of an "event" than real training.
Most attendees arrive with high expectations but very little technical preparation.
This, combined with the staging of the event—which, according to multiple testimonies, resembles a motivational show, with moments of strong emotional charge similar to those of certain evangelical churches—creates an environment conducive to Alejandro Cardona generating a considerable impact.
Much of what you will find in the seminar can be summarized in the phrases that are repeated throughout (here are some of them):
- I am an excellent money manager!
- I always pay myself first!!!
- Money works hard for me and makes more and more money!
- Everything I do prospers and abounds!
- I am a multimillionaire, prosperous and rich!!!
- Everything I spend comes back to me multiplied because I am the source of all wealth!
- Every day, from every perspective, I'm getting better and better, and I'm becoming more and more of a multimillionaire!
- Fortune is coming my way, money is growing in my hands like trees in a field!
- I firmly believe that money is important; money is power and freedom. It helps me to be happier and freer. I receive it with love because God is the one who sends it to me!
- I play the money game to win; my goal is to create prosperity, wealth, and abundance!
As I said… lots of talk about 'change your mindset and you'll be rich', but little to no talk of technique.
One recurring theme is heavy moderation and a feeling that the marketing team is trying to control online discourse (censoring criticism). Even students are prevented from interacting with each other.
When an educational product is truly excellent, the community usually speaks for itself. When there's too much friction in the public discourse, people become more skeptical. That's normal.
So, is it worth $99?
It depends on what you want it for.
It might be worthwhile if:
- You're starting from scratch and need a push to get going
- The motivational and habit component is useful to you
- You see it as an "introductory event," not as professional training
- You're clear that you're not going to trade real money based on emotion
It's probably not worth it if:
- You already consume investment content on YouTube and understand the basics
- You expect to come away with a complete and measurable strategy
- Are you looking for in-depth risk management tools, backtesting, and real-world operational psychology?
- You want solid evidence of the method's consistent profitability
And something more direct. If your goal is to build wealth, not emotion, there are simpler alternatives.
For and against Alejandro Cardona according to the community
The truth is that you won't end up being a successful trader (or investor) after the seminar, because although it teaches some basic things about stock market investing, this is not enough to win consistently in the markets.
✅ Points in favor
- Comprehensive approach: The course addresses not only technical aspects of trading, but also elements of personal development and financial management, which are fundamental to long-term success in this field.
- Practical: Concrete strategies are presented and real market tools are used.
- Good for beginners: It covers a variety of topics, from basic concepts to more advanced strategies.
- Emphasis on practice: Constant practice is encouraged, which is essential to solidify knowledge.
❌ Points against
- Lack of depth: The explanation of fundamental concepts such as Japanese candlesticks is superficial.
- Strategy limitation: The strategies focus on a small number of actions (really few) and other options are not explored.
- Poor practice platform: The tool provided for practice is basic and does not allow for in-depth technical analysis.
- Simplistic explanations: The content is presented in a very basic way, which may be insufficient for those with prior knowledge or who are looking for more advanced training.
- Lack of clarity in some strategies: The instructor's personalized strategies are not explained in sufficient detail.
Opinions on the 'Creating Wealth' Seminar
Unfortunately, I must say that it is not easy to find 'real positive opinions' about this seminar (generally I have a good nose for detecting comments made by people from schools or by agencies).
As I've already mentioned, communication between students is not allowed, and censorship abounds, something we should consider a red flag (several stock exchange schools do this, you can imagine the reasons).
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Is the 'Creating Wealth' Seminar a scam?
Some people believe that the Creating Wealth Seminar is a scam because they think they don't get the value they expected from it.
They often mention that the information shared is basic and that they could find it on the internet for free (those who say this are not wrong).
Furthermore, some feel that the price, although reduced, is still high for what is offered.
On the other hand, there are those who defend the seminar, arguing that:
- The educational experience is valuable and designed for beginners.
- Participants learn to manage their investments more effectively.
- Many have managed to improve their finances after attending.
However, those of us with some experience can smell the stench…
Alejandro Cardona 's marketing team seems to exert tight control over what is said (and not said) about the seminar (especially in forums and networks).
Alejandro being a recurring guest on Jaime Bayly is no guarantee of anything. If you pay Jaime, you'll almost certainly become a regular guest too.
Believe me.
But it doesn't end there. What's truly embarrassing is that all of Alejandro's promotional videos always talk about extraordinary profits. Those of us who have been in this business for almost a decade know that's not the case.
It seems Alejandro is opting for the easy route: personal growth and a message that appeals to emotions.
The following video is a clear example of this. Are they talking about trading strategies here?
The boring alternative that works for most: ETFs and the long term
If I had to say what most sensible professionals do for the long term (not for adrenaline), I'd say this: ETFs. Diversification, low fees, liquidity, and a repeatable plan.
An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a fund that is bought and sold like a stock. It's essentially a basket of assets (stocks, bonds, commodities, etc.). It may distribute dividends or reinvest them, depending on the specific ETF. And it allows you to diversify without having to choose 20 stocks one by one.
For beginners, this is usually superior to getting into trading with "support and resistance (channel floor and ceiling)" without a serious methodology.
And here's some information to help set expectations:
- The S&P 500 had a return of around 25 percent in 2024.
- In the last five years, gold has outperformed the S&P 500.
Do you see where I'm going with this? Sometimes, the simplest thing is the most effective. A daily cash conversion plan (DCA), a broad ETF portfolio, time, and that's it. It doesn't sell like hotcakes. But it works.
Practical summary
Therefore, I sincerely believe that ETFs are a much better investment option than the one offered by Alejandro Cardona for those who are starting out and don't want to be looking at charts.
The truth is that trading (what is trading?) is not the same as long-term investing. Trading requires training and practice, but the story is very different if you want to invest long-term.
The long term is always the easiest… it’s slow, you won’t become a millionaire, but it’s the easiest.
Trading the way Cardona proposes is something else entirely. Trading demands real education (not a seminar or a weekend course).
In short: Want to invest without complications? Buy an ETF. Prefer to trade stocks by looking at charts? Get trained… but get proper training, with people who actually trade (recommended trading courses).
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- 🌐 Online help
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Regulated brokers like Vantage offer:
- Protection of funds up to certain limits
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You can see my ranking of recommended brokers here.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Alejandro Cardona's Creating Wealth Seminar has its pros and cons. Many say it's a great opportunity to learn about investing, while others feel they don't get what they expected.
The truth is, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of seminars. They're usually just for networking, having a good time, and not much else. You won't become a trader, or even an investor, after attending one of these seminars.
As with many stock market courses, the aim of these seminars is to share some basic concepts of stock market investing, embellish them with some risk management and personal growth or psychotrading, and then sell you another, much more expensive course or seminar.
Investing in the stock market is not difficult, you just need to find the style that best suits your investor profile.
I'm telling you, if you want to invest simply, go for ETFs.
The truth is that your money will be much better invested in an ETF than in a seminar that teaches investment strategies that will rarely yield more than you can earn by indexing to the S&P 500.
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🛡️ Legal notice
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects personal opinions, user experiences shared on social media, and critical analysis of an educational product offered to the public. It is not intended to defame, spread misinformation, or damage the reputation of any person or company mentioned.
The images used in this article are illustrative, either public screenshots or images taken for critical analysis from freely accessible websites. Their use falls within the legitimate interest of informing and providing context.
We recommend that our readers research and compare various sources before making decisions related to financial products or services.
My name is Norberto. I've been investing and trading for over a decade. I'm also the author of the trading course Experiencia Topstep. If you want to learn how to invest and have any questions, feel free to contact me.
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I'm still preparing, excellent course! My trades are starting to come through; at the beginning, they weren't working for me on Uchardt! It looks easy, but it's not! It's discipline, it's technique. It's not for everyone, but it's helping me a lot!
I am completely new to this, I want to focus and learn, no matter the time. I did see the AC course, but I didn't continue to the second one because it coincided with a trip, but I do plan to continue if they allow it or if that option exists, while I continue practicing what little I have learned.
I'm on my first day.
I don't understand much.
Hello, good afternoon:
I'm someone who had absolutely no knowledge of the stock market. I took the two seminars and I'm in the process of learning. I take live classes with Alejandro Cardona, and thank God, at least for me, it has worked very, very well. God knows I'm speaking the truth; I've been able to make significant profits and haven't had the slightest problem transferring from dollars to Mexican pesos. Nothing is absolutely easy; I'm studying and practicing. Interactive Brokers requires a minimum account balance of $500 USD, which I've increased to $2,400 USD. I withdraw my profits and then return the account to the minimum balance required by the broker
Hello, good afternoon
. Could you please share:
How much did you start investing with?
How long have you been investing?
How much have you earned from your investments?
Friend, thank you for the information. What Alejandro Cardona says sounds really good, and some of his students' comments are helpful, but I've had my doubts, and seeing the comments makes me not want to join the seminar anymore.
I've actually been looking for a course and trying to find out what strategies have worked best for others.
I need help, please. I need to improve my finances and pay off my debts.
Hi Francklyn,
Investing in the stock market is an excellent way to increase your wealth, but it's never a good idea to use it to pay off debts. My recommendation is to keep things simple and invest in ETFs with regular contributions. You can see how in this guide: https://experienciatopstep.com/vida-de-trader/guia-definitiva-para-empezar-a-invertir/
Greetings
I think we should all take what we find useful from here and there, whether it's experiences or books; that's what he and many others have done. And as he himself says: the book that helped him the most was Rich Dad Poor Dad...
In short: I haven't paid for the course yet, but after reading these comments, I'm not keen on the idea of paying $99 upfront and then being asked or forced to pay more for books, etc. Thanks for your comments, and best of luck to everyone!
I took Cardona's seminar. The first month I only earned 10 to 40% per trade. Then I lost everything. And that's how I burned through five other accounts. Up to this point, I'd agree that Cardona is a fraud. But my teenage son took the same course with me. I gave him $140 and he turned it into $10,000. He was making trades with 100 to 600% profit. What do I tell him? That it's impossible? A scam? He spent $4,000 at the mall. Well, I just wanted to let you know that there is hope for those who still have faith. Hugs.
Hi Adrian,
What you're describing seems more like a stroke of luck than a truly effective pattern or strategy. The logical thing to do would have been to reinvest those $10,000 and see in the long run if the strategy actually worked consistently.
Greetings
If you knew anything about investing and trading, you would know perfectly well that you don't invest all your money in a single trade. Regards
Hi Miguel,
Nobody is saying what you're assuming. In fact, the article talks about investment plans and making recurring contributions (the exact opposite of what you're saying). You're being overly literal... I suggest you don't let your ignorance define you. There are plenty of articles online where you can educate yourself for free and avoid making a fool of yourself. If you put in the effort, you can do it.
Hi Adrian! Congratulations on your son's very positive investment results. I'm interested in Alejandro C.'s course. In your experience, is it necessary to take the second course to start investing? I have no knowledge or experience in the stock market. Thank you for your response.
The wealth-building seminar is proof that God exists and loves me. I am grateful to have learned these wonderful strategies
I've studied various strategies in some depth, mostly out of enjoyment and curiosity. For example, Smart Money, the Wyckoff Method, Elliott Waves, and, of course, strategies using technical indicators. There's no foolproof method, and you also need to understand that there are different ways to trade, such as scalping, intraday trading, swing trading, and long-term trading, each with its own specific requirements. Alejandro Cardona's strategies, like any other, should be applied exactly as he describes them. It's true they can fail, but it's also true that sometimes (due to impatience to win) one can make mistakes, and people don't acknowledge that. It's easier to blame others than to admit it. When I reviewed and re-reviewed AC's strategies, I found details that one overlooks, and sometimes that's why you fail. Ultimately, after looking at several trading strategies, you realize, if you're honest with yourself, that you must thoroughly study your chosen strategy, be patient, and focus on the path you've selected.
The "Creating Wealth" seminar by economist Alejandro Cardona is the answer I've been searching for my whole life to many questions. It's a miracle from God in my life. Anyone who hasn't had success with it should take a closer look at themselves, because they likely have serious issues. Have a wonderful afternoon!
Alejandro Cardona's seminar is a complete scam; I don't recommend it at all. No one has ever seen Alejandro Cardona invest in real time. I lost $2,000 applying his strategies, in addition to the $1,000 I paid him
This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. I will no longer invest the $799
The course you recommend by Ferrant, he doesn't know what he's doing, that's a waste of money. I haven't taken Alejandro's course, so I can't give an opinion.
Hi Andrea,
Do you really think that someone who wins the Wilmott Quantitative Trading competition in Chicago, has over 20 years of experience trading the markets, and has twice won the award for best training academy from Rankia doesn't know what they're doing? You have my WhatsApp number on the website; if this message is real (which I doubt), you can message me and I'll help you. But most likely, you're one of the Sensei's ghostwriters, or worse, one of the clowns who work for MDC Trading Academy, and this message is just hate. Seeing where you're writing from, it wouldn't be surprising (and no, I don't plan on taking down my review of MDC Trading Academy no matter how much they insist or threaten; they'd better stop with the hype and offer a good product).
Greetings
I want to learn how to trade, but I don't know where to start. I was thinking of taking Alejandro's seminar, but I have some doubts
Don't take it, bro. From what I've researched and aside from the supposed success stories, it all seems like a circus.
I just took the seminar and it's one of the best. The key is to keep learning, practice simulations, and invest with limited capital after a period of training. It's like a sport: hard, consistent training. It's logical that you won't become an expert with just one seminar.
My name is Carlos Mario Berrio. I previously studied crypto trading and attended several seminars. I attended the "Creating Wealth" seminar, and it was truly one of the best I've ever been to. Of course, first, we have to make changes in our mental, emotional, and spiritual selves. Then, we apply the strategies taught by economist Alejandro Cardona. Something vital, and something I've experienced firsthand, is following Alejandro's recommendations to the letter.
It's true, as some comments say, that if I only attend the first seminar, I'm 100% sure I'll lose my money. And if I attend both seminars and don't follow his recommendations, I'll also lose money.
Ultimately, I'm very happy to have found this opportunity, and I recommend it to everyone. The key is to learn, simulate without any money, and then start investing, but with very little capital. I assure you that those who have had bad experiences didn't follow the recommendations.
I'm scared 😨😔
The course is just a gimmick; they really only take advantage of people who are easily impressed. It's not that they don't teach anything; they teach the obvious. And if they were to actually teach you anything about trading, finance, economics, etc., it would be the most basic stuff, the introduction, so to speak. They teach it over several months so they can charge you every week, something that could be taught in a few days. In conclusion, it's not worth it.
Just what I was looking for. Thank you so much.