Robert Kiyosaki, the renowned author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, is facing intense criticism for his contradictory stance on silver investments. The financial commentator who recently declared his love for silver at current elevated prices had advised his followers to sell the precious metal for Bitcoin just eleven months earlier, causing them to miss a substantial rally.

The Controversial Flip

In January 2025, Kiyosaki posted what he called an "Emergency Update" video, watched by approximately 280,000 people. His message was direct: he was selling his silver to buy Bitcoin. At that time, silver was trading near $29.00 per ounce while Bitcoin was surging toward what would become a local peak.

The timing of this advice has proven particularly costly for followers. Silver has since surged to around $82.00 per ounce, representing a nearly threefold increase and an approximately 180% rally that those who followed his January guidance completely missed.

Current Silver Enthusiasm

In stark contrast to his January position, Kiyosaki recently declared "I love silver," warned against FOMO-driven excess, urged patience, and projected price targets of $100.00 to $200.00 per ounce. This dramatic reversal has reignited criticism about the consistency of his investment guidance.

Critics argue this represents a familiar pattern where Kiyosaki's recommendations appear to follow market momentum rather than consistent long-term conviction. When Bitcoin was surging, it became his preferred message. Now that silver is rallying, it has suddenly become his long-term conviction trade.

Pattern of Contradictions

Analysts point to a broader pattern that complicates Kiyosaki's defense as merely a provocateur rather than an investment advisor. His company, Rich Global LLC, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012 amid a $23.70 million judgment tied to Learning Annex. Past seminars have faced scrutiny, including a CBC investigation, for allegedly pressuring attendees to accumulate large credit-card debt to purchase expensive courses.

More recently, analysts have noted that while preaching "diamond hands," Kiyosaki reportedly sold over $2.00 million worth of Bitcoin, further highlighting the disconnect between his public messaging and personal actions.

Market Fundamentals vs. Social Media Cycles

The silver market has experienced a structural deficit since 2021, with hundreds of millions of ounces consumed by solar panels, electric vehicles, and new industrial applications. Physical inventories on major exchanges have fallen sharply, while spot premiums in Asia signal tightness that paper prices may not fully reflect.

This fundamental backdrop suggests a legitimate bullish case for silver exists independent of social media cycles and celebrity endorsements. The episode resonates precisely because it highlights how timing and consistency matter in investment guidance, regardless of whether the underlying thesis eventually proves correct.

Brand Built on Contradiction

Kiyosaki has built a substantial brand around the principle "Your profit is made when you buy, not when you sell." However, critics argue that his January advice directly contradicted this philosophy by encouraging followers to sell an asset with millennia of monetary history near a cyclical low while chasing momentum in a digital asset near its peak.

The criticism intensifies because if silver does reach his projected $200.00 target, Kiyosaki will likely claim victory despite having advised his audience to exit the position at the worst possible time. This dynamic underscores the challenge investors face when following celebrity financial advice that appears to shift with market trends rather than maintaining consistent long-term principles.

China's only pure-play silver fund experienced a dramatic reversal on Thursday, declining by its maximum daily limit of 10% and ending a frenzied bull run that had prompted unprecedented warnings from its manager. The UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF's sharp decline followed weeks of gains that the fund manager had flagged as "unsustainable," driven by rising global interest in precious metals.

The fund's dramatic performance has been fueled by a spectacular rally in global silver prices. Spot silver reached a record high of $72.70 per ounce on Wednesday and is currently on track for its best annual performance since 1979. This surge has been part of a broader precious metals rally that included gold, platinum, and palladium, with the momentum gaining further strength from a historic short squeeze in October.

Fund Performance and Premium Concerns

The silver fund's performance has significantly outpaced its underlying assets, creating concerning valuation gaps:

This substantial premium over the value of underlying assets—silver contracts on the Shanghai Futures Exchange—has been a primary concern for fund managers, who have repeatedly warned investors about the danger of steep losses should silver futures reverse.

Regulatory Response and Restrictions

After the fund hit its upward limit of 10% for three consecutive days this week, UBS SDIC Fund Management Co implemented stricter controls on Wednesday evening. The company announced significant restrictions on new subscriptions to Class C shares, which are typically the preferred vehicle for short-term investments.

UBS SDIC also repeated multiple earlier warnings about the fund's high premium over its underlying assets, emphasizing the potential for significant losses if market conditions reverse.

Broader Market Impact

The silver fund's situation reflects broader trends in Chinese precious metals investments. Other Chinese funds linked to gold, platinum, and palladium have also experienced substantial gains and prompted similar warnings to investors. The intense investor interest in precious metals has created a challenging environment for fund managers trying to balance investor enthusiasm with prudent risk management.

The fund's decline on Thursday was expected to help reduce the dangerous premium levels, as the fund's value decreased while futures continued to extend gains. However, UBS SDIC declined to provide additional comments on the situation, leaving investors to monitor how the premium adjusts in coming trading sessions.

The UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund has gained an impressive 220% amid a global precious metals rally. However, the fund manager's decision to tighten subscription rules and warn of unsustainable gains has led to the fund hitting its daily limit decline of 10%. This sudden reversal highlights the volatility and risks associated with such specialized investment vehicles, particularly when they trade at significant premiums to their underlying assets.