This advertisement for the investment firm MF Global was printed in the Monday, October 31 issue of the financial weekly Barron’s (click here to enlarge).  As you may know, MF Global had to declare bankruptcy that same morning, as its big bets on high-risk European debt went south and its clients pulled out their money.  This shows what convictions are worth.

The ad invites investors to “work with the kind of people who aren’t afraid to show a little backbone.”  It’s easy to talk about backbone when you’re playing with other people’s money.

I would bet its clients have been saying “MF” a lot this week.