The average investor patience for sparkling returns is about three years. If things go awry, and it’s the investor’s adviser doing the picking, the relationship is on the rocks after three years. If, however, the adviser in turn picks not investments, but a picker, each picker gets a separate three years, and investor patience with the adviser doesn’t run out until nearer nine. Not only do investments basically never do badly for that long, but investors are paying both adviser and picker handsomely along the way, regardless of performance. So everybody wins! Sort of.