A Gem for putting money to values
340628
The great thing about Ben's book is that it is so intensely personal. You get to watch the development of his vision unfold as the book progresses, until you are rooting for him and his approach. Investing and money are not abstract; they are tools that we all have at our disposal, at any net worth level, to make the world a better place. Few authors in the space have the depth of personal experience that Ben brings; few have had his success in bringing new tools and vehicles to market. If you are interested in impact investing and are thinking about how to turn your own portfolio into an engine that can promote your values around a more sustainable and just world, pick up this gem of a book! - Cathy Clark, co-author of The Impact Investor: Lessons in Leadership and Strategy for Collaborative Capitalism.
3338790
Ben Graham may have done for investing what Euclid did for geometry, but the Graham student must take a long and winding road to collect and organize Grahamian "theorems."  Greenwald modernizes and thoughtfully organizes the value framework originally expounded by Graham, and shows how investors might take -and in the final section of the book, how several master investors DO take- Graham's notion of buying dollar bills for fifty cents and apply this central idea in creative ways to some of the less frequented areas of the market.
Greenwald et.al. show a terrific aptitude for remaining informal and conversational while maintaining brevity and orderliness.  Neophytes are unlikely to encounter a clearer, more concise explanation of `discounting future cash flows', and most students of value investing will be well-served by Greenwald's order of equity valuation: (1) Asset Value, (2) Earnings Power, (3) Growth, all of which are clearly explained.  Additionally, Greenwald discusses a useful addition to common metrics such as `net asset value' and `liquidation value' with the concept of `replacement cost'.  Greenwald also acknowledges and thoughtfully attempts to quantify the value investor's less traditionally acknowledged principle of `franchise value', which he judiciously attributes to Warren Buffett as the latter's singular contribution to investment analysis.
The book's admirable brevity is also its primary shortcoming.  Whereas Graham included senior debt and convertible debt vehicles both in Security Analysis and in his investment practices, this text is for all practical purposes only an examination of equities.  If the authors of "Value Investing" ever opt to write about a value approach to bonds and other instruments, I'll bet they'd have a captive audience.
4772205
Dwayne Burnell's second book on the Infinite Banking Concepts, does an excellent job of expanding upon the use of dividend paying whole life insurance as a cornerstone to an effective financial plan.

The cases studies provided show how the Infinite Banking Concepts is an exception tool that have wide applications for use in a variety of financial situations including debt reduction, paying for children's educations, vehicle financing and retirement planning.

I believe this book has value for everyone, regardless of age or situation.
3709628
This book did a great job of providing a simple asset allocation model that could be used by almost anyone who wishes to manage their own investments with little expense. The book also successfully incorporated the ultimate life principle of time value into the equation, thereby designing an investment strategy that would require very little time, allowing more time for enjoying life. Furthermore, it did the best job I have seen in comparing index fund vs ETF investing.

There were 2 areas I would like to have seen addressed with the hindsight of the past year, which was not available to Mr. Green when he wrote the book. There were several investments included in the asset allocation model that typically are not included. Such a departure is certainly welcome. Gold and REIT's were included in the asset allocation model as assets that are noncorrelated with the stock market. As we have seen, there are times when real estate and gold are correlated with the stock market, as all 3 have been down over the past year. In most markets, however, these assets should provide some degree of hedging against the stock market.

Second, I don't think that timing can be completely disregarded for any investment. An initial investment using this asset allocation model now vs. a year ago would produce an enormous difference in results that would take many years to iron out. Incorporating some simple historical measurement tools into the equation could improve results without adding a lot more work for the investor. The author stresses that rebalancing provides buying while assets are low, and selling while high, but this often initiates selling near the beginning of long term uptrends.

There is also some helpful information for retirement planning, such as calculation of the amount needed during retirement to fund your current lifestyle. Lifestyle choices are also addressed as part of this equation. Overall, the book is an excellent read for anyone seeking portfolio management through a simple, yet promising asset allocation model using low cost ETF's or index mutual funds.
4222815
As a person who doesn't critique many books, I am glad that I came across this book. Not only does this book tackle a serious issue that not many people care about, but it teaches us that money is something that we should treasure and value rather than treat as garbage in both a serious and a comical way.

For those who are struggling to save money, or are new to saving money, this book is perfect since it helps expose you to where and how you can improve your money management in all aspects of life and keep those dollars where they belong and not where they should be.
1246763
Dave repeatedly tells us throughout the book that his advise is based on common sense and it's nothing you wouldn't hear from God or your grandmother. But he presents it well and that makes all the difference. We've used his advise to put our finances in order and will have saved thousands in the first year alone by eliminating crushing dept that was being carried under outrageous interest rates.

This book is easy to read and is filled with good advise from cover to cover. I believe this book can be a useful money tool even to those who are already financially savvy. If the reader were to use only one small bit of Dave's advise, this book would pay for itself ten fold. How many purchases can make that claim?

I do recommend this book to anyone who will listen.
599005
The Intelligent Investor has helped me focus on the long term, to really internalize what sort of returns I should expect from my stock and bond investments and to temper my enthusiasm when the market gets exciting.  Graham writes clearly, uses examples that are easily understood, and makes his points in an understated style.  Though a bit dated -- Ben Graham met his greater reward more than thirty years ago and Jason Zweig focuses his commentary on the internet bubble and its aftermath -- the lessons set forth remain critical to value investing today.  Just buy and read (and re-read) this book!
1185663
Having a realistic idea of the book going into it will greatly influence, enhance, and expand the value you get from it.  This book is designed for the 'poker as entertainment' types that play in home games, local bars/restaraunts, or online and helps them prepare for a solid approach to live cash games where the play is quite different than tournaments and requires a specific approach.
Realizing that poker is a game of skill and while there are so many variables to consider in both your play and a million other outside influences this book does a great job of preparing you to make simple math adjustments in live situations, understand the reasoning behind a lot of card selection, and extract the most possible in the hands you do get involved in.

Remember this, the book doesnt 'teach' you how to make a million dollars or win the WSOP because that would be impossible.  It does however prepare the new/average/or transition player to put THEIR cash money on the table and walk away with a profit.  If you enjoy the entertainment of live poker and want to see a lot of action and don't care about the money then this book is not for you.  It preaches one of the most difficult virtues in all of poker, patience.  While the author may not be seen on tv or a recognized poker pro the value you get from the books various chapters (broken down very well to re-read and study based on individual weaknesses) is undeniable and universal.  Look at it this way, if it works you're going to get your $20 investment back probably the first time you play, and if it doesn't then at least you'll be better prepared to limit your losses and understand what you need to work on creating value and getting your money's worth either way.
4075352
I absolutely love the motivation behind this book.  There is perhaps no greater legacy we can leave to our descendants than the opportunity to impart life lessons and learn from others' mistakes.  The author really nails this part and, in a tone reminiscent of a Grandfather speaking to his grandchildren, conveys solid financial and life advice.  Having said that, there are areas where the author is very conservative in his thinking and others where he is prone to take more risk.  He does share specific investment advice - in some cases too much detail and in others not quite enough.  He appropriately points out how things can change and how taking a long-term approach to wealth-building is best.  The advice is usable and practical for all ages, but there is no doubt that younger folks can benefit more if they apply the lessons sooner.  I recommend that a parent or grandparent read this first and then plan to share with their children and grandchildren.  Some of us might argue with the "how to", but few of us will argue about the "why".
2692063
I have read a lot of finance books through the years.  One thing I notice is - generally, at some point in most or all of these books, I become confused.  Sometimes the language is confusing, the recommendations too complex to follow, or the concepts don't make sense to me.  I always try to take notes, create graphs, google all the concepts - and usually toss the book into a corner in frustration.  My portfolio remains the same and I turn back to Amazon and my on-line library to search again.  I also get the sense that the author either is trying to sell me something or is intent on proving him or herself as a wall street "wizard."

Then, a few weeks ago, I picked up Allan Roth's book.  Mr. Roth has a engaging writing style - this book tells the story of his son, who received some money from a relative, and how he used this gift to teach him lessons about building a solid portfolio.

In How a Second Grader Beats Wall Street, Mr. Roth walks us through those same lessons: finding solid but reliable returns through no load mutual funds, keeping an eye on taxes while investing and staying the course by not jumping in and out of investments.  Keep it simple, he says.

And so, for the first time, I discovered a book that made sense to me.  I finished this small guide and was able to develop a very simple outline of what I could do with my savings and retirement funds.  I feel comfortable with my decisions and now know the steps I needed to take to get my funds in the right places.  I will be putting that plan into place this upcoming week and look forward to "staying the course."

If you are someone who is tired of trying to interpret thousands of financial "experts" recommendations into a simple and effective plan for your money, whether you have $1000 to spare or $10,000, buy this book. I think you won't regret it.
1571676
Jim Rogers is one of few individuals on the planet whose investment advice is worth listening to. And that's an understatement. Jim co-founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros, later retired at age 37, and has traveled around the world twice, each time collecting even more investment wisdom from each of the hundreds of countries that he's visited.

In Hot Commodities Jim Rogers parlays his travel and investment experience into investment advice for now and the coming next ten years. As he says on page 10, "Most investors could use some mental deprogramming. At certain points in history, stocks (and bonds) are not the best investments to make." Of course, he's talking about investing in commodities. Jim goes on to soundly counter all the false beliefs most of us have about commodities investing. He provides a short history of commodities trading and then gives an excellent tutorial on commodities trading and termonology. Why not just buy stock in commodity-related companies? A recent and thorough Yale study found that returns from commodities were triple those of companies producing those commodities.

Besides sugar and corn, you'll also find the book filled with Jim's thoughts on gold, oil, and markets like Brazil and China. Here's one of my favorite Roger's quotes: "Spain was the greatest economic power in the world in the sixteenth century; the rich and the powerful of the eighteenth-century world spoke French; the nineteenth century belonged to Britain; and the twentieth was the American century. The twenty-first will belong to China. History has not been kind to empires."

If you're interested in turning current world events into money, you'll love this book.
2401831
For back to principles, especially for value investors, this book is one of the best.  I'm a value investor and will probably read this book repeatedly over the years, especially when going through a rough patch economically or personally.

This isn't for specific financial analyses or specific stocks, if you're looking for that; it's about principles!
1871100
You know you are dealing with a book that's overstating its value just a tad when you see this in the introduction:  "... we'll show you how the indicators we've chosen can help you see the turns in the economy before they happen.  With that prescience you can make changes to your investments ahead of time and avoid the suffering you probably felt during the past couple of years."  Now anyone who could actually predict the "turns in the economy" using these indicators -- or any others -- would be reclining on his yacht moored off the south of France, and would be unlikely to divulge his secrets in a mass market paperback.  That said, this book is an entertaining read and can serve as a useful reference to anyone who follows the markets or the broader economy.

Simon Constable writes for the Wall Street Journal and hosts their afternoon "NewsHub" recap of the markets.  Anyone who follows the NewHub will be familiar with his witty -- actually, kind of snarky -- commentary.  He's sort of the Simon Cowell of the Wall Street crowd.  His distinctive voice is evident in this book.  His co-author, Robert Wright, has written extensively on business history and used to be associated with the Stern School at NYU and the Museum of Financial History in Manhattan's financial district, although he apparently now teaches at a college in South Dakota.

The book consists of 50 short chapters devoted to the indicators.  Each chapter has a brief description of the indicator -- usually accompanied by a  quote from an investment analysts on the indicator's importance -- a time series graph of the indicator, and a discussion of possible investment opportunities that might occur when the indicator is unusually high or low.  Each chapter ends with an "Executive Summary" box that explains when data on the indicator are released, where to go to find the data, what to watch for, and so on.  To anyone who follows the financial news even casually, many of the indicators will be familiar, such as automobile sales, durable goods orders, or M2.  To most people, though, other indicators are likely to be less familiar, such as book-to-bill ratio, the Baltic dry index, and the Tankan survey.  I'm a little skeptical about how useful some of the more obscure indicators will be to the average investor, but they make for interesting reading.  The final (tongue-in-cheek) indicator, the "Vixen index," measures how attractive the waitresses are in your local restaurant.  The more attractive the waitresses, the worse the labor market, because in a strong labor market these attractive women would be working at better jobs elsewhere.

All-in-all, leaving aside the somewhat overstated claims the authors make for investment strategies based on these indicators, this is a valuable little reference tool and should be, at the very least, a fun read for most personal investors.
2507679
Changewave Investing is one of those concepts that makes so much sense that you're tempted to think, "Jeez, I could have thought of that."  Speaking for myself though, it's not.  It's a brilliant, but  completely sensible, approach to making tremendous profits in the new  economy.  I can only say that it's worked wonderfully well for me, and  provided a real structure and strategy for placing money wisely in a  supercharged sector.  And besides all that, it's a fun read.
355910
Wall Street is not a bad place but it should not be the only place to help you reach your financial objectives. Clearly high cash value strategies work.
752402
Over the years I have read and accumulated a bookshelf of books on the topic of investment, there are however only a few books that I find particular valuable and would highly recommend to own, this book is one of those. If you are looking for an investment strategy that is simple, with consistent & attractive long term returns, low risk and low maintenance, this book is a must read. Don't overlook a GEM like this one.
3779481
The best strategy is usually the more simple one. This is easy to understand and easy to apply with a little effort.  And the price is only pennies of what it's worth is.