Core Viewpoint - Renowned fund manager Li Bei announced the launch of a series of investment courses titled "Learn Investment from Scratch," claiming that four classes can teach ordinary people to achieve over 10% annualized returns in the long term [1][3]. Course Details - The course consists of four sessions priced at 12,888 yuan, significantly higher than typical knowledge payment products, quickly gaining attention in the financial community [3]. - The course will take place over two days in January, featuring two hours of thematic sharing and one hour of interactive Q&A per session, addressing topics such as identifying potential fraudsters and evaluating long-term investment options like gold and real estate [6][8]. - The course is limited to 200 participants, with an estimated revenue of approximately 2.58 million yuan if fully booked [8]. Fund Performance - Li Bei's firm, Banxia Investment, specializes in macro-hedging strategies and previously managed over 10 billion yuan in assets, making her the first female manager of a billion-yuan private equity fund in the industry [12]. - One of her funds, "Banxia Stable," achieved a remarkable 258% return in 2020, ranking first among similar funds [12]. - However, recent performance has been mixed, with two products underperforming the CSI 300 index over the past three years, with returns of 3.28% compared to the index's 19.33% [12][14]. Industry Reaction - The announcement of the course sparked widespread discussion on social media, with some suggesting that selling courses may be more profitable than actual investment [15]. - Critics within the industry have raised concerns about the balance between providing quality service to investors and engaging in knowledge monetization, emphasizing the primary responsibility of fund managers to generate returns for their clients [16].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent move by renowned fund manager Li Bei to launch a paid investment course, highlighting the growing trend of knowledge monetization in the financial industry and the mixed reactions it has generated among investors and the media [3][4][8]. Group 1: Course Details - Li Bei announced a two-day offline course titled "Li Bei Closed-Door Sharing Session," priced at 12,888 yuan, aimed at teaching ordinary people how to achieve over 10% annualized returns [3][4]. - The course consists of four sessions, each lasting 2 hours for thematic sharing and 1 hour for interactive Q&A, with the option to purchase sessions individually at 3,888 yuan each [4]. - The course is limited to 200 participants, with potential revenue of approximately 2.58 million yuan if fully booked [7]. Group 2: Li Bei's Background and Performance - Li Bei is the founder of Banxia Investment, a private equity firm that focuses on macro-hedging strategies, and she became the first female manager of a fund exceeding 10 billion yuan [8]. - The performance of her fund "Banxia Stable" saw a remarkable return of 258% in 2020, ranking first among similar funds, but has faced significant challenges in recent years, with a return of -20.49% in 2023 [9][10]. - Li Bei's investment predictions have been criticized, particularly her bullish stance on the A-share market and real estate stocks, which did not materialize as expected [10]. Group 3: Industry Reactions and Trends - The announcement of Li Bei's course sparked discussions about the profitability of selling courses compared to investment performance, with some suggesting that it indicates a shift in focus for fund managers [7][12]. - Other financial professionals, including former chief economists and analysts, have also entered the knowledge monetization space, indicating a broader trend within the industry [12][13]. - Concerns have been raised regarding the sustainability of this trend, as the market is saturated with free high-quality financial content, and the potential legal risks associated with using proprietary research for commercial courses [18].