By Scott Ronalds

My wife dragged me to a spinning class last weekend. It was a humbling event for my quads, hamstrings and calves. They’re still cursing me.

Nevertheless, it was an inspiring experience. The lights were low and the music high. Everyone in the room was focused intensely on the instructor’s cues and was content to turn the tension dial to self-inflict a higher level of pain (and gain). I quickly learned their ways. A wave of the hand brought more water. A grunt of pain brought more satisfaction. A swipe of the towel brought more sweat. It was an impressive bunch. This was a small group of people hugely dedicated and passionate about an idea (punishing a stationary bike). It was a tribe.

Tribes are everywhere, and they’re growing rapidly. Think about the yoga movement, Apple users (iEverything), and as hard as it is to believe from a Vancouverite’s perspective, Leafs Nation (the devoted fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs). Author and entrepreneur Seth Godin has written a book on the explosion of tribes (aptly titled Tribes), in which he suggests that the internet has removed many barriers (geography, cost, time) to like-minded people getting together to share ideas and experiences, make a difference, or support a cause.

There are even investing tribes. Warren Buffett draws tens of thousands of value investors to Omaha, Nebraska every year to hear him speak at his company’s annual meeting. ETF investors (exchange traded funds) are a fast growing group who are passionate about indexing. And Vanguard, the largest U.S. fund company, has a dedicated client base who love the idea that the company is owned by its investors.

And then there’s the Steadyhand tribe – a zealous lot of individuals committed to a unique investing experience. They own no more than five funds. They want a portfolio that looks different than the market. They wear T-shirts that say things like “concentrate dammit!” They know to the penny how much they’re paying in fees. They adore simplicity. They like the fact they’re not dealing with a bank or gigantic fund company. And they have the reporting tools and advice to keep their portfolio in good shape – no stationary bike required.