This book tells you how to be smart with your money
932116
I particularly respect Nayman's advice to invest only in financial products you fully understand, rather than sophisticated, complicated financial products offered by advisors
4292314
Learn to play this game if you want to learn how to become financially intelligent.
4855953
I have only read a part of "The Intelligent Investor" and I don't know if this book is really a guide to the three books of its title. What I know is that this is a great book about investing, the Buffett's way of investing.

The story about Billy at the beginning really clarifies some concepts like the P/E ratio and market prices vs. intrinsic value. Then, it gives you tools and rules to evaluate investments and treat these like a business, not a gamble.

In summary, it shows you how to have patience, knowledge, and discipline like intelligent investors with great examples and simple explanations.
1428318
I started following Nancy Lloyd's one-of-a-kind money advice when she was reporting for CBS News.  Her book, like her television reports, doesn't just give the standard money recommendations.  Instead Nancy uses her wealth of financial knowledge to produce a wealth-building book.  She combined her well-reasoned financial insights with warnings about online bill paying services, debit cards, trusts and many other financial offerings that other "money experts" only praised.  And her incredible investing insights have made me a lot of money over the years.  I even cut back on my tech stock holdings after I heard her explain why she believed that was a good idea.  Her advice and timing saved me over $32,000 when the stocks tanked a few days after I sold them.  She's also lovely to watch!  Her beauty notwithstanding, this is an excellent book and one that I know I will be turning to for years to come when I need to check out an investment or other financial issue.
557462
I have never been able to save money in my 20's, so I started to realize I needed guidance of some sort. So in the past year I have finally started to take my finances and savings more seriously. This book has helped guide me through places where I might otherwise be blind. Before this, I didn't even realize what I was doing wrong, nor did I have the tools to fix it.

The book outlines the fundamental basics of managing money by creating a personal budget, living within your means and managing debt. Once you get all this down you will be ready for bigger finances like investing, buying a home and planning for retirement. There is great advice for making smarter every day purchases as well as bigger ones. Now that I have a financial plan, I feel happier and more motivated because I know where my goals are and how to get there!  I would recommend this book to anyone seeking out financial guidance on their own.
4882043
In this trusty little guide book, Jen explains how she managed to get into debt, ending lifestyle debt, common day society, modern day culture, revising your spending, flipping your finances around and tons of tips and tricks. Many people can relate to this, and I loved how she implemented the huge cultural factor into the mix, and even explained much of the history and the issue with the system, but essentially how to protect yourself from falling into the trap. A real view of modern day money problems from the real people.
3581705
I should send Suze a check (in addition to the funds she'll receive from ordering a copy of her book) because in the first 10 minutes of looking through it, I saw the wisdom in her advice to open up a home savings account, change my 401k contribution (down, not up, as you might suppose), check credit ratings from all 3 bureaus and find out that I have the power (!) to call all of my credit card issuers and ask--no, change that to, demand--that they reduce the interest rates on every card, immediately (well, I'll say it nicer than that). Suze offers solid financial advice and she's not kidding: if you're not in the market to find out how to make your money work better for you, then you may find yourself old, not so fabulous, and broke 20 years from now. Listen to Suze, she's smart.
2374838
I was sent a review copy of Jeff Rose's book Soldier of Finance in advance of my interview with him as my guest on my radio show. Because I host a radio talk show about money, I get a lot of personal finance books to review. Some are better than others and this one happens to be one of my favorites. I would easily put it in the top 5 of the books about money that I have read this year.

Jeff blends his personal story of lessons learned on the battlefront with practical advice for becoming smart and savvy about money. It's not at all a dry or preachy personal finance book; his stories keep it real and make it a great read. He's got a very level-headed approach that I think will speak to many readers who don't really like reading about personal finance, as well as those who do.

This is the kind of book you'll want to read yourself then pass along to someone who needs it. I'd love to see it in the hands of every person who joins the military - and college students as well.

I challenge anyone who reads it not to leave with some action step they can take to improve their financial futures. (Not sure? You can listen to me interview him about the book in my podcasts, which are posted online and also in iTunes.)
2433374
Personal Finance: Unleash the Power of Personal Finance, Smart Investing, and Financial Planning (Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Investing for Beginners by Prescott Marshall is good beginning book for those of us who want to take control of our financial future. This book covered all the bases of personal finance like what is your Relationship with Money and how that plays a role in financial well-being. The book shows adeptly how your money mindset is the best way to correct a money problems. The book also takes you step by step on how save money and make your money work for you. The book I feel also does a good job at looking at something that many times is overlooked; how do you invest your money once you have paid down your debt. The book also shows you the process of how to plan for your Retirement. I very much enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others.

Thank you for reading my review.
2193012
I believe that investors are their own worst enemies because they are not equipped with an understanding of how to think about financial decisions. In this book, the author proves that investing generates powerful emotions that lead us to take certain actions that may not be in our best interest. He says that there is nothing in our lives that makes smart people feel as stupid as investing does. Being knowledgeable about this topic can help us make better investment decisions that will lead to more wealth. I don't believe that we can maximize our wealth until we learn how to control our minds.

What I like about this book is that the research provides the biological explanation of what goes on in our brains when we make financial decisions. It was interesting to learn that the brain of a person who thinks is about to make money is almost identical to that of a cocaine addict. This book really helped me understand myself, clients, and other investors better, and why we make decisions that we make. It was simply a fascinating read.

- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market
3731735
I never heard of Dave Ramsey before but the title sounded intriguing so I sent for this book. It is directed primarily towards people who already have a sizable debt that is causing financial problems, but I think this is a useful book to read for anyone who isn't already financially self-sufficient because it's full of good, plain common sense.

Mr. Ramsey says himself that his book contains nothing that is really new or no startling revelations; it's the stuff your grandma would have told you.  It's mainly commons sense combined with a call to discipline because what he tells you to do isn't easy. In a society in which we are conditioned to spend, spend, spend and seek immediate gratification by going into debt to get what we want, it requires extreme perseverance plus a definite plan to not let your finances fly away from you.

This book provides that plan. He shows you how to take "baby steps" to get from one step to another, and constructs a plan that also provides for those who follow it to have successes along the way so that they don't become discouraged. One big element of this Total Money Makeover is having a budget. There are certain things in the book he emphasizes and says MUST be done if you are to succeed.  I feel that the plan he sets out is reasonable and can be followed by the average person if they are willing to do the work. It is no different from trying to lose weight - to do so you have to exercise and eat properly, but how many people really stay on a diet? The book only shows you how to get to a state of being financially fit but it can't force you to do what it says.

That said, there is something that he says in the book that I don't necessarily agree with. He advises you to invest your money in select mutual funds and says you should expect about a 12% annualized return in the long run. He is basing this on historical results.  Now I am not saying that a hundred years from now that return won't remain at 12%, but the reader needs to use caution instead of relying on this blindly. Your return depends on when you invest. If you invest when the market is near a peak, then that is quite different from investing when the market is at or near a bottom. It also depends on how many years you have before you plan on retiring. Since 12% is an average over a very long period of time, you can't necessarily expect that sort of return if you only have a few years to go. That said, his advice to invest for the long term in stable funds is sound; it is certainly much better than others who may propose timing the market or riskier investments, etc.

Other than that, I would say this book is very solid. Yes, what he proposes isn't easy and the farther in debt you are, the harder it will be. He includes testimonials from those who have gone through the Makeover with success. I believe it can be done.  I do need to say that I am not one of those people troubled by debt but I do see the merit and wisdom in what he is telling the reader to do. I highly recommend this book.
883821
Have you ever wondered why it always seems like the government has an infinite amount of money, but for some reason the dollars you earn and invest seem to purchase less and less each year? Have you ever felt like investment gurus and financial advisors only care about people who already have money? Do you want to save for your future, your kid's college, and have financial freedom during retirement? And finally, have you ever wished there was a great long-term investment you could make that would grow continually, but be free of penalties if you need to withdraw a portion of the investment to pay for life events?

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then David's book is for you. What David has done in this easy-to-read primer to personal banking, is combine over a hundred years of economic thought and investment banking into a handbook for achieving financial freedom through a little-known investment that the rich have used for years to protect their wealth.

Want to save for your kid's college while also setting them up for retirement? This book shows you how. Want to learn how to invest in a way that gives you freedom and control over your investment, in a way that is much safer than gambling in the stock market? This book shows you how.

In the first chapters, David shows you how the banking business and government work together almost in collusion to make many investments a losing battle...or a big risk at the very least. He then works to show you how investments that are truly good take advantage of the magic of compound interest. Then once you have a firm understanding of what makes a good investment, he introduces you to an investment tool that allows you to reap compound interest, while STILL USING YOUR MONEY.

In the tradition of great economists like Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, and Henry Hazlitt -as well as banking and investment innovators like R. Nelson Nash -- David Lukas understands the forces that affect your money and your investments. And he provides you with a very practical, almost libertarian, way to achieve control of your financial future.

I have been a client of David's for over a year, and the advice he put in this book is the same advice he gave me on Day 1 working with him. And it's the best decision I ever made. Read this book, understand the concepts, and gain control of your future today.
1649708
I agree with the author who says that very little written in this book is something that someone else has not written or said. But even though this information has been said hundreds of times, we still have financial problems such as too much debt, too little savings, and no sense of control over our lives. The motto of this book is IF YOU WILL LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, LATER YOU CAN LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE. This is what I like about this book. Other books tell people that they do not have to sacrifice anything and only need to change the way they think. I am sorry, but the reality is that unless your expenses are less than what you make, there is nothing left at the end of the day. It doesn't matter if you make $30,000 per year or $100,000 per year when you spend it all. You have to sacrifice and spend less than you make.

The author argues that people should never use credit cards, which some might disagree with, but remember the motto: live like no one else. I really like how the author is so direct because sometimes we have to get real and hear the truth. I enjoyed reading it, but unless you are willing to take a hard look in the mirror, it may not be the best book for you.

- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market
2122143
The key is about how you spend your money rather than investment schemes, as outlined in the first pages of the book. I feel that my father could have written this book because as a man who lived through the 1930s, he used many of the same methods used in this book to live comfortably. He and my mom retired after long careers at a large manufacturing company (so-so wages and small pensions) in their new dream home and traveled all the time. They drove new cars with no car payments. They made wise choices at every level. They taught by living the example. My father was not a savvy investor in the stock market. He directed that money into his own wise choices that worked for him and my mom. They were frugal - but they lived exactly how they wanted to live.
As our society gets dictation from "experts" and investment counselors, what you don't hear or read about is using common sense. Don't spend money you don't have. Live below your means. Stay away from using credit. Choose your mate wisely.
A good, easy read. Lots of common sense advice, especially for those of us looking for other information your investment adviser
probably won't tell you.
4849366
The ideas that the book covers are practical areas that one can overspend on without even realising.
The book is pitched at the right level to assist even non-financial people.
It is a must have in the family.  Anyone who applies the tips from this book, stand a chance of being smart with finances and becoming rich if that is the goal.
1701163
This book starts out with common sense ways to save money. Saving money is an important first step to coming up with money to invest.  The author helps debunk so much of those "experts" out there who want to charge various fees to "manage" portfolios which amounts to asset allocation rebalancing 4 times a year. Is it really worth 1% or more of your assets to have some expert try to "beat the market" on your behalf?  Ask yourself this.  If he is so good, how come he is still working for a brokerage seeking to manage accounts the size of yours?  This book stands to save me a pile of money going forward. Good job, Andrew Tobias!
4091199
Mindy's book is not your normal personal finance book. This short read is focused on your money mindset, not what specific actions you need to take to save $2 million by the time you retire. It really helps you step back and evaluate the reasons behind why you may not be where you want to be with money. The book lays out different ways to think about your struggles and suggestions to get you on the right path. It is an easy read that you can knock out in one weekend. I recommend it!