Book Description

This popular text, publishing Spring 1999 in its Second Edition, introduces the mathematics underlying the pricing of derivatives. The increase of interest in dynamic pricing models stems from their applicability to practical situations: with the freeing of exchange, interest rates, and capital controls, the market for derivative products has matured and pricing models have become more accurate. Professor Neftci's book answers the need for a resource targeting professionals, Ph.D. students, and advanced MBA students who are specifically interested in these financial products. The Second Edition is designed to make the book the main text in first year masters and Ph.D. programs for certain courses, and will continue to be an important manual for market professionals. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

The best intro book ever!
Students of derivative pricing techniques are often in a dilemma: Coming from their MBA or undergrad course, they have just build a "brealy-myers" type of intuition on options. Moving towards Hull then allows a deeper understanding. But any serious (eg PhD, Wall Street Analyst) student of derivatives needs to undertstand the math behind modern derivatives pricing. Essentially, this research divides into two streams: Solving Partial differential equations and developing equivalent Martingales. Without a rigorous pre-education (Maths, Physics), most students fail to understand (let alone learn to use) these methods. Nefci is the only book that does not assume lots of prior knowledge, as compared to Merton (1992) or Duffie (who is so bold to write "for mathematical preparation little beyong undergraduate analysis...is assumed" -ask PhD Students how easy this book reads! The answer is its tough!!). In Short, Neftci's book is a true blessing for all "normal" people. Can't wait to get the second edition!

Good explanations, with serious hand-waving
I used this book to teach a Financial Mathematics course, and found its explanations to be generally clear and good. However, part of the reason the text seems so clear is that it doesn't explain much of what's really going on. It covers the right material, but not really in such a way that the reader can then go on to apply the knowledge gained.This is evidenced by the complete (and almost unforgiveable) lack of exercises in the book. It is very easy to feel you understand this sort of material, only to be completely lost when you actually have to solve a problem. Neftci will not help in this regard. I understand that it is difficult to create good exercises, but their absence almost makes me wonder if Neftci realized he was not explaining things in enough detail to let the student actually work with the knowledge. Exercises are the only way to really learn this subject.A basic problem with all these texts is that, try as they might, they cannot impart true understanding unless the student can grasp real analysis at, say, an undergraduate level typically reached by students at a good engineering school. This text tries to avoid the problem by failing to mention any of the analysis...that's not likely to work.

Good Book
I've read Hull, Wilmott and Baxter books but definitely like this book better - particularly for entry (but not easy) level derivative math. Can't say much since English is not my first language. But if you want to learn about Derivative Math and don't have strong background in Math (I'm a Porfolio Manager and have pretty good background in Calculus, Differential Equation, Econometrics) this book is certainly worth considering. I give 4 stars due to the lack of practice problems.

Good book for the right audience
It is amazing that people are not willing to take it what it is, an 'introduction' to mathematics of financial derivatives. The 'reader from New York' of 'notation challenged' seemed to have wanted a rigourous treatment of SDE, yet is sorely disappointed not to find it in this book. IMO it gives an extremely clear exposition of the various tools of SDE and having read it has allowed me to progress to books in which mathematical rigor is stressed over intuition. So in a nutshell this book achieved its stated goal of offering an intuitive and heuristic explanation of mathematics of derivatives to the novices taking their first steps in the financial engineering land.

Notation Challenged
As Yogi might have said: "If you understand this book, you don't need this book.".

If you have a good grip on the industry conventions relative to notation, and have seen the material before, you might understand this book. If not, you won't.

Notation is: 1) frequently wrong; 2) used inconsistently; 3) used out of context (i.e., without foundation); 4) glued in as a concluding argument in a logically non-convex way.

The absence, misuse, abuse of time subscripts makes some of the arguments incomprehensible.

Some arguments pursue a change of reasoning in probability space, then make a jump to an S.D.E. with industry standard notation, but so far out of scope, that the connections are not clear. As one example, if you: 1) know the underlying S.D.E., and if you ; 2) understand the connection between risk-neutral probability and risk-free measure , and if you; 3) understand why a state variable is allowed to commute through an expectations operator because it is no longer stochastic (though why that might be so is not explained), then you will have a chance of understanding the author's argument connecting the transformation of synthetic probabilities to a standard S.D.E.

Some words are capitalized to emphasize, rather than being defined. Sort of like going to a foreign country and shouting more loudly as a communication strategy ... Read more

Book Description

This second edition is written readers who crave real world learning. Professor DePamphilis has filled this book with updated cases and grounded models which reflect the theoretical underpinnings of the field. Expanded usage of "key idea" section headings enable the student to understand more easily the key point in each section of each chapter. Chapter 5 provides a detailed listing of questions commonly used to evaluate target firms doing due diligence.A primer on using financial ratios in Chapter 8 has been extended to include a convenient summary of commonly used financial ratios and suggestions as to how they may be used to evaluate target firms.The accompanying CD includes a set of Excel spreadsheets that supplements Chapter 8.

An Instructor's manual, available on the web, contains suggested learning objectives, chapter presentations for creating lectures or providing students with study guides, more than 750 test questions and answers (including true/false, multiple choice, essay questions, and practice problems), and solutions to all chapter business case studies in the book. The manual also contains detailed course syllabi that have been used extensively for both undergraduate and graduate classes and suggested ways for teaching the materials.

Includes 18 new case studies; all 70 cases have been updated

Instructor's Manual available on the web; includes practice problems and solutions

Accompanying CD includes a set of Excel spreadsheets that will supplement Chapter 8 ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Includes great M&A modeling software
This book takes the mystery out of M&A financial modeling and structuring deals. Many books on the subject seem to take a "black box" approach to how to do deal structuring and valuation. The author discusses in plain language how to do valuation, simulation, and deal structuring using financial models and how to use such models to select the best offer price for a target firm. The book includes detailed discussions of tax, accounting, and alternative deal structures.

The CD accompanying the book contains an Excel spread sheet model that can be modified to fit the unique circumstances of any transaction. This alone justifies buying the book, in my opinion.

The book also provides keen insights into how M&A can be used to implement business plans, how to identify potential target firms, strategies for contacting potential targets, and how to draw up initial documents such as confidentiality agreements and letters of intent. The book is highly comprehensive covering virtually all topics necessary to understanding the M&A process.

For the money, it is the best book on the subject, up-to-date, complete, and highly readable. If you have a serious interest in the subject, this is an important book to add to your library.

Outstanding treatment of technical/non-tech.aspects of M&A
Unlike many other treatments of this subject, this text discusses M&A in the context of a process or framework. The author takes great pains to show how all M&A related activities interact. The text discusses both technical (e.g., valuation, accounting, and tax issues) and non-technical (e.g., strategy development, identifying potential targets, initial contact, negotiation, and integration) issues. The book does an excellent job of talking about alternatives to M&A for executing strategies, including alliances, joint ventures, partnerships, etc.

Numerous recent case studies illustrate various concepts and situations. The coverage of laws affecting different types of business combinations, of accounting standards applicable to M&A, and of relevant tax considerations is both current and excellent. The book also contains useful checklists to facilitate implementing transactions. The book is also chock full of helpful insights and hints of what to look for and how to avoid the traps that often accompany different types of transactions.

The book also contains an excellent discussion of other ways to enhance shareholder value. These include spin-offs, divestitures, carve-outs, bust-ups, and bankruptcy.

The book is highly practical and well-documented and could be viewed as a handbook on how to use M&A (or alternatives to M&A) to execute business stratgies. I think the book is an indispensable reference for accountants, lawyers, investment bankers, CFOs, and others involved in making transactions happen.

Thoughtful, Stimulating, and Enjoyable
This book is very well written...packed full of helpful information on M&A. The author's use of short cases to illustrate key points was most helpful. I found the down to earth discussion of how to put deals together very clear. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the scope of the book included an extensive discussion of alternative strategies such as JVs to mergers and acquisitions. The author also managed to include an exceedingly large number of case studies in the book, many of which were international transactions. Good book, good read. I highly recommend it.

Great M&A, Valuation, and Modeling Book
While this book covers all aspects of how to do a deal, the chapters on valuation, deal structuring, and financial modeling are by far the most lucid I have seen. The Excell spread sheet model on the CDROM accompanying the book provides incredibly helpful insight into how purchase price strategies are developed. The reader can review all of the underlying formulas enabling them to modify the model or to develop their own. Moreover, the model provides the reader with unusal insight in how all valuation, tax, accounting, and synergy considerations converge and interact to affect price. Overall, the book is very well written, clear, and supported.

Winning book, winning software
I loved this book. It managed to treat a highly complex subject in an understandable fashion. The author makes use of detailed examples (alright, sometimes too detailed) and explanations to ensure the reader is able to understand important points. The book is sprinkled with short business cases to illustrate key points and concepts. The author removes successfully the shroud of mystery that seems to envelope some books on this subject, namely with many authors it is unclear how they arrived at a particular conclusion. This book also does a great job of documenting observations and conclusions. The reader is given the opportunity to review additional resources if he (she) is interested in drilling down in more detail on a single subject.

The author also gives the reader incredible insight into M&A model building, providing detailed excel spreadsheets containing the underlying formulae needed to value transactions and determine financing feasiblity. I was able to alter many of the model's formulas to meet my own requirements. This model saved me many hours of painstaking work that I would have had to undertake in its absence.

While book contains cases desribing virtually all major transactions during the last decade, it is a little light in its discussion of international transactions. The major ones are covered such as Vodafone and Mannesmann, but I would have like to see a broader cross section of international transactions covering more industries. However, this would add substantially to the book's length. Given the author's writing and organizational skills, I would like to see a book focused totally on interantional transactions by him.

All in all, the book is well worth the price. In fact the software alone on the CD ROm may be worth the price. ... Read more

Book Description

This fast-paced book by Yale professors Michael Graetz and Ian Shapiro unravels the following mystery: How is it that the estate tax, which has been on the books continuously since 1916 and is paid by only the wealthiest two percent of Americans, was repealed in 2001 with broad bipartisan support? The mystery is all the more striking because the repeal was not done in the dead of night, like a congressional pay raise. It came at the end of a multiyear populist campaign launched by a few individuals, and was heralded by its supporters as a signal achievement for Americans who are committed to the work ethic and the American Dream.

Graetz and Shapiro conducted wide-ranging interviews with the relevant players: members of congress, senators, staffers from the key committees and the Bush White House, civil servants, think tank and interest group representatives, and many others. The result is a unique portrait of American politics as viewed through the lens of the death tax repeal saga. Graetz and Shapiro brilliantly illuminate the repeal campaign's many fascinating and unexpected turns--particularly the odd end result whereby the repeal is slated to self-destruct a decade after its passage. They show that the stakes in this fight are exceedingly high; the very survival of the long standing American consensus on progressive taxation is being threatened.

Graetz and Shapiro's rich narrative reads more like a political drama than a conventional work of scholarship. Yet every page is suffused by their intimate knowledge of the history of the tax code, the transformation of American conservatism over the past three decades, and the wider political implications of battles over tax policy.

Reviews (4)

One of the best books on how Washington D.C. works today
Right off, let me say that this is one of the best books written about how politicians in Washington D.C. respond to certain constituents when promoting or opposing changes in the tax law.Before your eyes glaze over and you think that this book is for tax experts, I assure that it is not.The authors are wonderful writers and focus on the people behind the drive to repeal the inheritance tax.Thus, it is more about personalities, personal stories, and ideology and how these are used to enact changes in the tax code, than about taxes on inherited wealth per se.Graetz and Shapiro attempt to solve several "mysteries" in this book.First, how did a tax on inherited wealth, which existed for over 60 years and was seen as appropriate, come to be viewed by many Americans as unjust and immoral? Second, how did the diverse coalition attempting to abolish the inheritance tax maintain their cohesiveness when compromise counteroffers should have weakened it?Third, why were groups who favored maintaining the inheritance tax so ineffectual when responding to the abolitionists?Finally, what does the fight over the estate tax tell us about the future of progressive taxation, the idea that those with greater resources should pay higher tax rates?The story Graetz and Shapiro tell should give great comfort to those who want government at all levels to be as small and powerless as possible, and cause great concern to progressive, like myself, who wish to see government programs in service to the majority of working people, rather than in service to the wealthy and powerful.No matter which side of the ideological debate you are on, this book is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

Graetz and Shapiro's book is a must-read.
Graetz and Shapiro's book DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS is a must-read for anyone interested in national tax policy.Graetz and Shapiro write well and the story is fascinating and timely.

Required Reading for all Registered Voters
A friend gave me a copy of this book; and, therefore, I felt duty-bound to give it a try despite the fact that I never read books pertaining to politics.After struggling through the first few pages, I becaame facinated.It is not a book about estate taxes.Rather, it is a book about how our government works (or does not work).Every registered voter should be required to read it.

Excellent of the Conservative Playbook
This is an immensely readable, highly educational book.It details how conservatives went after one of the most progressive taxes in our system and successfully got it eliminated.It also details the power of the conservative ideas machinery and how it works in Washington to get what it wants.For those who care about how badly the system is broken -- how the concerns of the few trump the concerns of the many on daily basis in Washington -- this is an excellent book.And most importantly, it exposes how the conservatives are moving the tax system away from wealth to work -- away from the rich to the middle class.That should be a concern to most Americans.I highly recommend the book; most people will be surprised how enjoyable it is as a read. ... Read more

Book Description

Fully revised and updated
Here is the only comprehensive source that explains the various instruments in the market, their economic value, how to document trades, and more. This new edition includes enhanced treatment of U.S. and worldwide regulatory issues, and new product structures.
"If you want to know more about credit derivatives--and these days an increasing number of people do--then you should read this book."
--Merton H. Miller, winner, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1990
"Tavakoli brings extraordinary insight and clarity to this fascinating financial evolution . . ."--Carl V. Schuman, Manager, Credit Derivatives, West LB New York
Janet M. Tavakoli (Chicago, IL) is Vice President of the Chicago branch of Bank of America, where she directs the company's overall marketing of global derivatives and manages its CreditMetrics initiative. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

High Level View of Credit Derivatives
This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of credit derivatives. Tavakoli provides an excellent resource for credit risk managers who specialize in one area of credit risk management, professionals who are new to the field, or for experienced professionals who need the definitive reference of credit derivatives products.
This book is not about is the mathematical and statistical details in credit risk/portfolio modeling, but Tavakoli does a good job of highlighting various aspects of modeling (such as data availability, limitations of different approaches, etc.). For example, Tavakoli's explanation of first-to-default baskets provides a quantitative explanation of boundary conditions and a qualitative explanation of the products.

The clear, qualitative, conceptual explanations are supported by explanations that show a deep understanding of the underlying mathematics. Numerically minded readers will grasp this, but even those who are a bit numbers shy will find the quantitative examples easy to follow. Tavakoli's book enabled me to discuss the assessment and deployment of quantitative models on an even footing with professional risk managers and the rocket scientists developing these models.

I also recommend Phillip Schonbucher's book on credit derivatives for people who need to model credit derivatives. Unfortunately, the resource doesn't exist that can solve the tough problem of estimating correlation between defaults.

State of the Art
Tavakoli has beautifully written a cutting-edge book on how to think about credit derivatives in the context of the global markets. One doesn't need a Ph.D. in math to understand the concepts presented here, because they are competently explained. Tavakoli evidences a deep understanding of the topic in her ability to make complicated mathematical concepts clear, and explaining how to apply credit derivatives in practice.

I noticed the reader below couldn't be bothered to actually read this book, but seems to have views on what is and isn't appropriate in a finance book. I happen to be Jewish, and thought the review smacked of anti-Semitism. Tavakoli's remarkable explanation of the development of international banking was particularly appropriate in the explanation of sovereign risk and why it occurs (mismatch of cultures and ethics among other reasons). I believe most professionals will agree there is more to credit risk than equations especially in light of recent developments in the international markets.

Tavakoli's ability to integrate multiple business and finance disciplines is one of the reasons I find this book the best product book on the market for credit derivatives.

Derivatives Sales view:
POSITIVE POINTS: Best indepth book on Credit Derivatives. Very readable. Explains very nicely why this derivatives are so important for banks. Non technical.

NEGATIVE POINTS: Focus on banks with only a little chapter on Credit Derivatives as investment products. No explanation how those derivatives are priced (but hey, there are loads of technical books)

Credit Derivatives for the Capital Markets
Tavakoli gives a very clear description of terminology used in the international derivatives marketplace. Jargon doesn't often travel well across borders, so this is especially valuable. It is difficult enough dealing with ISDA language and foreign languages. The peculiarities of high finance add another complicating spin that Tavakoli does an excellent job of clearing up.

The coverage of leverage and total return swaps is especially valuable to asset managers and hedge funds. The use of off-balance sheet financing and upfront collateral is especially useful to those new to total return swap trading. Although Tavakoli gives examples of hubris and humor, this is a serious finance book, and although Schonbucher gives more details on the mathematics in his book "Credit Derivatives pricing, this book is not easy.

Tavakoli demonstrates a strong command of the topic and great skill in explaining a complex topic without glossing over theory. This is an excellent reference book. Credit default swaps and all of the terminology, both standard and non-standard are thoroughly explained.

The graphics are very clear, and there are lots of practical examples with straightforward explanations based on depth of experience and straightforward math. If you are new to finance, this book is not the place to start. If you have a background in bonds or other areas of the capital markets, you can tackle this book. Tavakoli assumes the reader has some experience and draws on this to make credit derivatives a part of the tool kit. You will be able to understand both the theory and real world applications of credit derivatives.

Credit Derivatives
Very clear explanation of credit derivatives and their diverse applications. Tavakoli explains how credit derivatives can actually be oversold on a given reference obligation creatig potential physical delivery problems in the event of default. She also explains the pros and cons of the various types of delivery, specifying various credit events, other triggers.

The explanation of the various terms of the documentation and the reasons for each is very extensive.

The section on total return swaps is particularly good. ... Read more

Book Description

Financial experts agree: Asset allocation is the key strategies for maintaining a consistent yet superior rate of investment return. Now, Roger Gibson's Asset Allocation - the bestselling reference book on this popular subject for a decade has been updated to keep pace with the latest developments and findings. This Third Edition provides step-by-step strategies for implementing asset allocation in a high return/low risk portfolio, educating financial planning clients on the solid logic behind asset allocation, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

What your investment advisor should be doing.
There are many things to like about this book. The emphasis is on providing investment advisors with the information on asset allocation they need to connect successfully with clients. The only real flaw I see in the book is the watering down of material so that clients can understand it. I understand the necessity of doing this but it does leave open the door for dishonesty of the car salesman variety. Every investor even comtemplating using an investment advisor or even a broker should read this book from cover to cover. If he/she hears anything from the selected advisor that deviates much at all from what is here he/she should run not walk out the door. Perhaps the most important contribution of the book is the emphasis on the interaction of portfolio components to produce higher returns than undiversified or underdiversified portfolios. Gibson uses the Commodities Index as one of the portfolio components along with the EAFE, S&P 500, and REITs to show this. This index component is available in practical form as the Oppenheimer Real Assets fund. If you have net investment assets that allow private money management this is not a problem as the money management firm can buy more than 1 million dollars worth and distribute it among the clients. If you do not qualify for a typical money management firm the mutual fund charges a 5.75% load thereby making rebalancing something of a problem. Perhaps infrequent rebalancing would work. Therein lies the problem with the book. Even though Gibson is as honest as the day is long, the information presented is designed to handle the clients expectations and fears. All kinds of techniques and information are presented most of it assuming very little brains from the people who made all that money ( all of whom we would normally be assured are brilliant not just at making money but in all aspects of their lives ). A,B,C,D are all presented but when portfolio design time comes E is recommended and not just due to tailoring to the individuals needs or risk tolerance. Gibson tells the reader that it is necessary to manage the clients expectations and to make the portfolio more like that of the clients friends or more in keeping with clients prior expectations and thereby more acceptable. This may be true. But Berstein does the same thing in The Intelligent Asset Allocator. His reasoning is a little different:many of the models primarily rely on data mining or make certain assumptions and he believes in the use of index funds almost exclusively. So Bersteins portfolios also rely a great deal on judgement. Both believe that tracking error from the S&P 500 may be an issue. When all is said and done this is very much an art form. It is also very much a sales technique albeit an important one. Nevertheless, both this book and The Intelligent Asset Allocator are required reading for any serious investor. Gibson's book also has the best discussion of client risk assessment I have seen.

Good jumping off point.
I found this books very useful. I've been trying to find an intelligent investing style. Read things like "The Intelligent Investor" by Graham and "A Random Walk Down Wall St." by Malkiel and found them dry and somewhat inaccessible. I much prefered Evans and Malkiel's "Earn More (Sleep Better) : The Index Fund Solution" (cheesy title) and Bernstein's "The Intelligent Asset Allocator". Both small and intelligible books. The only problem is they seemed to state the solution to a problem I didn't know. That's where Gibson's "Asset Allocation" I think fits in. It describes what the problem is when trying to invest well. He makes very good arguments on what you can expect and what you'll have to understand. Things that Berstein and Malkiel go into more depth but Gibson gives you the big picture. I started looking for the solution to a problem and found that the last piece I need was to know what the problem was. Gibson's book reads fast and it is interesting. It's well illustrated and is a great jump off point to all sort of other books.

5 Stars
If you read just one book on investing, this is the book.

Gibson explains the principals of modern portfolio theory in a clear logical fashion.

Excellent.

Definitely recommended reading
If I had read this book in the mid-90s as I was groping through the stock market, and feeling thrilled at my success.. I would have probably preserved that thrill a little longer. I could have avoided getting burnt for sure.

A mandatory reading for people who are looking at long-term investing. Chapters 6, 7 & 8 deal with portolio diversification and are relvant and insightful. I found it to be a very useful education and not-too-difficult to follow (but then I have taken finance and accounting classes in school).

The other title along similar lines is "The Intelligent Asset Allocator" and this one has a good correlation tables across all major asset classes on a quarterly and annual basis. very useful and practical piece of information that is missing here.

But there are enough other useful and helpful pieces of information. Overall, definitely a thumbs up.

Buy this if you like making money
I don't think you'll find better advice.

If you would have followed this books "ABCD" allocation, you would have made almost all the gain of the 90's and even been slightly up thru the disaster of the 00's. Better than down 48% for the SP500 eh?

Your broker will hate you if you buy this book, but then maybe that's the best thing that could happen. Stop pretending you can predict the future and start managing your risk. ... Read more

Book Description

The Definitive 4-in-1 Reference Guide to Alternative Assets

Many books cover individual alternative asset classes, but none offers a comprehensive examination of the four major classes as presented in the Handbook of Alternative Assets. This complete handbook merges data and strategies scattered in numerous volumes into one handy guide for the serious investor. The four major classes discussed are:

• Hedge funds
• Commodity and managed futures
• Private equity
• Credit derivatives

Organized by sections–one for each alternative asset class–the Handbook of Alternative Assets demonstrates the benefits and risks of each alternative asset and reveals how these asset classes can be incorporated into a diversified portfolio.

Through expert advice, the Handbook of Alternative Assets details each of four major alternative asset classes and breaks down their quantitative statistical value as well. With this comprehensive handbook on your desk, you’ll begin to use alternative asset classes to both hedge and expand any portfolio. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Handbook of Alternative Assets
The Definitive 4-in-1 Reference Guide to Alternative Assets Many books cover individual alternative asset classes, but none offers a comprehensive examination of the four major classes as presented in the Handbook of Alternative Assets. This complete handbook merges data and strategies scattered in numerous volumes into one handy guide for the serious investor. The four major classes discussed are: Hedge funds Commodity and managed futures Private equity Credit derivatives Organized by sections-one for each alternative asset class-the Handbook of Alternative Assets demonstrates the benefits and risks of each alternative asset and reveals how these asset classes can be incorporated into a diversified portfolio. Through expert advice, the Handbook of Alternative Assets details each of four major alternative asset classes and breaks down their quantitative statistical value as well. With this comprehensive handbook on your desk, you'll begin to use alternative asset classes to both hedge and expand any portfolio.
The Handbook of Alternative Assets discusses and describes four types of alternative assets: hedge funds, private equity, credit derivatives and commodity futures.

Truely a Handbook
.
I used this book for my preparations towards CAIA Level 1 exam. And I am impressed. Mr. Anson is an authority and this is truely a great book for Alternative Investment aspirants.

If you want to have a very solid grasp of any of the following alternative investment approaches then this is the book you should turn to -

Hedge funds
Commodity and managed futures
Private equity (5 catagories)
....Venture Capital
....LBOs
....Mezzannine Financing
....Distressed Debt

....CrossOver/Interval/PIPE and PEPE funds
Credit derivatives
Corporate Governance

Mr. Anson helps you build strong fundamentals. Actually he clearly explains what constitutes Alternative Assets(Aha !!!) as against fundamental and/or capital assets and what is meant by alternative investment strategies.

This is followed by a rigorous analysis of the topics listed above in that order.

I particularly enjoyed his coverage of Hedge Funds. He explains each of the 10 Hedge Fund strategies in a systematic fashion. From a variety of angles including Market(S&P500), Risk, Regulatory, Due Diligence/Operational/Administrative perspective.

The coverage of Commodity Derivatives is also superb. Although confined to 4 chapters this coverage is sufficient to gain an intermediate level insight into the Commodities.

The coverage for Private Equity is less comprehensive(but good) compared to it's actual scope in real world. I particularly expected a more rigorous coverage for LBOs.

Although I did not touch credit derivatives and CorpGov I could tell you for sure that these topics must have been covered well.
As I read 19 out of 22 chapters.

To put it in a nutshell - This is a very good book for Hedge fund aspirants and prospective Alternative investment professionals.

For more info about CAIA please visit www.caia.org. ... Read more

Book Description

Completely revised for the new computerized CPA exam—all the information you need to master!

• The most effective system available to prepare for the CPA exam—proven for over thirty years
• Timely—up-to-the-minute coverage for the computerized exam. Contains all current AICPA content requirements in business environment and concepts
• Unique modular format—helps you zero in on areas that need work, organize your study program, and concentrate your efforts
• Comprehensive questions—over 3,700 multiple-choice questions and their solu-tions in the four volumes. Covers the new simulation-style problems. Includes over 90 simulations—almost three times more examples than any other competitor
• Complete sample exam in business environment and concepts
• Guidelines, pointers, and tips—show you how to build knowledge in a logical and reinforcing way

Wiley CPA Examination Review 2005 arms test-takers with detailed outlines, study guidelines, and skill-building problems to help candidates identify, focus on, and master the specific topics that need the most work.

Other titles in the WILEY CPA EXAMINATION REVIEW 2005 FOUR-VOLUME SET:

• Auditing and Attestation
• Business Environment and Concepts
• Regulation

See inside for the entire array of Wiley CPA Examination Review Products!

The computer-based CPA exam is here! Are you ready?

The Wiley CPA Examination Review 2005 books are revised and updated for the new computerized exam, containing AICPA sample test questions released as recently as March 2004. To help candidates prepare for the new exam format, this edition includes a substantial number of the new simulation-type questions. Passing the CPA exam upon your first attempt is possible! We'd like to help. ... Read more

Book Description

Cost Management not only provides readers with an in-depth understanding of cost accounting procedures, it also empowers them to use cost accounting information for decision-making. Unifying the cost accounting content are three underlying themes that are emphasized throughout the book: 1) uncertainty and bias, 2) decision-making, and 3) ethics. The authors also present a problem-solving model, Steps for Better Thinking (SBT), which can be used to analyze and tackle various ethical scenarios. This model will help readers quickly progress through accounting problems in increasing levels of complexity. ... Read more

Book Description

Don't manage with anything less ? than the new edition of this managerial text from the authors of ACCOUNTING, 21st Edition, the most successful college educational product of all time.MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING, 8th Edition combines basic concepts with a heavy dose of the real world to build the skills for effective management. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Clear and detailed book
Design:
Well-designed with appropriate section headings. There are also short notes by the side of the pages, emphasizing the important points. Colored boxes were used to show illustrations and applications of real issues.

Content:
This book is based on the U.S. accounting standards. It is very factual, detailed and clear in explanations. There are also well-illustrated examples to enhance students' understanding of the concepts. Issues covered include classifications of items in the financial statements and measuring the items accurately. Ethical concerns are also addressed in the classification and measurement.

For who:
Definitely a good book for students seeking understanding of the concepts behind U.S. accounting standards. As the title suggests, students should have prior knowledge of accounting like basic bookkeeping and double-entry rules. However, given the changing business environment and recent accounting scandals, students should also visit the SEC websites and read the news for better understanding and keeping up-to-date with accounting standards. ... Read more

Book Description

Techniques to uncover and avoid accounting frauds and scamsInflated profits . . . Suspicious write-offs . . . Shifted expenses . . . These and other dubious financial maneuvers have taken on a contemporary twist as companies pull out the stops in seeking to satisfy Wall Street. Financial Shenanigans pulls back the curtain on the current climate of accounting fraud. It presents tools that anyone who is potentially affected by misleading business valuations­­from investors and lenders to managers and auditors­­can use to research and read financial reports, and to identify early warning signs of a company's problems. A bestseller in its first edition, Financial Shenanigans has been thoroughly updated for today's marketplace. New chapters, data, and research reveal contemporary "shenanigans" that have been known to fool even veteran researchers. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Great measures for making better company evaluations
The management teams of publicly traded corporations have many obligations to the owners (who are the shareholders) of the company. Two of those obligations involve financial statements. First is to report an accurate picture of the financial state of the firm - which argues for conservative accounting. Second is to maximize the share price - which argues for more aggressive accounting because higher reported earnings tend to produce higher share prices. These contrary pressures create differnt outcomes in different firms and investors need to be aware at what is happening at their firm.

This wonderfully informative book shows us how to understand financial reporting so we can determine if a given company is using conservative, aggressive, or even fraudulent accounting. I found it fun to read about the cases of shenanigans and how they were perpetrated and exposed. I also found it informative to learn about the gradations of shenanigans from aggressive reporting to outright fraud.

It seems to me that most people who want to put their hard earned savings into equity investments would do well to educate themselves at least a little to the potential pitfalls that occur when a management team is willing to break their trust with investors. It has been pointed out by others that many folks put more time and analysis into buying a refrigerator or a lawnmower than in their retirement investments. When you think about it that way, the misplaced priorities of some investors become clear.

Dr. Schilit has a lively writing style that keeps things from bogging down. This book isn't a hard read and can help the average investor understand more about what companies can and have done to basically phony up what they report to investors. Much of it is NOT illegal, but aggressive corporate behavior and reporting has too often led to disaster for investors. If you can clearly see which companies use aggressive accounting and which are conservative, you can better decide if you want to take on the risk associated with the aggressive accounting and the management style it represents. Maybe it is worth it, maybe it isn't, but at least you can decide for yourself rather than being in the dark.

The author takes us through seven shenanigans that show up over and over again and more than two-dozen techniques that have been used to accomplish them. Many of the examples included are from well-known companies you may be doing business with today. He also has some helpful information on how to do vertical and horizontal analysis of financial statements in order to find the early warning signs that something might be amiss. The book culminates in an extended analysis of the financials of a famous case of Shenanigans: Miniscribe - the late maker of hard drives.

And if you don't know anything about reading financial statements, there is a very helpful appendix giving you the basics of reading them and what they can and cannot help you see.

Dr. Schilit also provides a list of online resources (only one of which is his own) that can help you do research on potential investments. He also provides key phrases (indicating danger) to search for in annual reports.

No, this book will not make you a forensic accountant. But, yes, you will be more informed after having read it and that will help you make more informed decisions. Of course you can still make bad investment decisions, but they will likely have somewhat more reasoning behind them and maybe you can make fewer of them.

I personally agree with the author that being aware of aggressive accounting practices is a kind of early warning system for the more serious problems that follow on all too often and always at shareholder expense. This book is worth the investment of your dollars and time in order to avoid the kinds of losses associated with companies that choose to misrepresent their actual financial condition to their shareholders. Note the headlines recently about Royal Dutch Shell Oil and its accounting reserves and earnings.

The book does have a couple of minor typos, but they don't change the story much. They are usually easy to see and to adjust for in your reading of the example at hand. Yes, it would have been nice to not have them and I hope they catch them in a future printing. There is also a very useful index.

Overall, a valuable book and a very fine job!

It seems as if the positive reviews on this book are being given negative votes out of disagreement with liking the book rather than the review itself. I would be happy to receive emails from those of you who dislike the book so I can understand why.

Useful framework for analysis
This book was updated on the heels of the WCOM and ENE scandals. There are many interesting techniques available for the researcher here. It requires a meticulous person to properly apply these techniques. However, the average person with a limited number of holdings might do very well with applying these techniques to their portfolio. See the table of contents for a listing of the 7 "financial shenanigans".

Some of the items on Schilit's governance wish list are dealt with by the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation. This will do away with much of management's self-dealing and sleight of hand when presenting pro forma earnings. Some of the "shenanigans" have been dealt with FASB promulgations so there are less of an issue.

Schilit is too harsh on the FASB over the failure to expense stock based compensation the first time it was considered. The forces that oppose the FASB n that issue generated a considerable political threat to FASB's existence in Washington. FASB backed down was preserved and we are all the better for it. FASB is addressing this issue in an exposure draft and it appears likely that it will move forward this time despite the same forces trotting out the same vacuous arguments a second time. Schilit should have given better context with his critique of the FASB.

I remember seeing a piece in Grant's interest rate observer (a newsletter) about a presentation by Trevor Harris (an accounting expert employed by a bulge bracket firm). The article stated that hedge fund managers treated Harris like a rock star, because they needed to learn how to analyze the names in their portfolios better. Harris was simply presenting topics much like are found in this book.

In this book you will learn about many of the manipulations that have been used in the past by companies. Schilit uses the "case" method of teaching. The examples almost all have a real life demonstration of how the trick manifested itself.

At times, the book reads like an advertisement for Schilit's CFRA subscription service. There are 13 such references in the index. I guess this is to be expected, but is still a distraction in an otherwise fine book.

An easy to read accounting book? Ye gods, it's true!
This accounting book covers everything we wished we learned in our introductory accounting class, namely "How do we know if the managers are lying to us?"

In a very easy to read format, the book groups accounting tricks into seven major accounting shennanigans and then cross-references them to a variety of accounting scandals. In the end, you're left with a deeper understanding of the major ways people can manipulate financial statements for their own game.

A surprising interesting book given how dull most accounting texts are. It practically reads itself.

Packed With Knowledge!
Author Howard Schilit writes in surprisingly plain English, and provides the reader with a toolkit to determine what's so rotten in Denmark - or on Wall Street. You don't have to be an experienced reader of financial reports to learn a lot from this book. Schilit offers more than theory; he provides specific examples and case studies. Learn about the manager who reduced future expenses by purchasing $12 million worth of advance postage metering at the end of the year. Find out how "Chainsaw Al" Dunlop drove up the price of Sunbeam stock by creating a $35 million reserve, all while laying off 11,000 employees. Learn the inside story of how Enron became the poster child for corporate wrongdoing. We highly recommends this book to independent investors, and anyone else who needs to understand how unethical execs cook the books. It may not save you from losing a bundle, but at least you won't feel like you're in a battle of wits and devoid of weaponry.

Packed with Knowledge!
Author Howard Schilit writes in surprisingly plain English, and provides the reader with a toolkit to determine what's so rotten in Denmark - or on Wall Street. You don't have to be an experienced reader of financial reports to learn a lot from this book. Schilit offers more than theory; he provides specific examples and case studies. Learn about the manager who reduced future expenses by purchasing $12 million worth of advance postage metering at the end of the year. Find out how "Chainsaw Al" Dunlop drove up the price of Sunbeam stock by creating a $35 million reserve, all while laying off 11,000 employees. Learn the inside story of how Enron became the poster child for corporate wrongdoing. We highly recommends this book to independent investors, and anyone else who needs to understand how unethical execs cook the books. It may not save you from losing a bundle, but at least you won't feel like you're in a battle of wits and devoid of weaponry. ... Read more

Book Description

Finally, a resourceful and unique primer on financial statements that uses a creative and different approach to explain every kind of financial report a small business owner or manager needs to succeed. Through an unique visual approach, this book leads users to a clear understanding of how business scores are kept and how to interpret the results.From balance sheets, cash flow statements and income statements, learn how to understand the basic elements that will pave the way to achieving financial success. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Financial Statements for Dummies!
I've been buying from Amazon.com for at least 5 years but this is my first review. I am 3/4 of the way through Ittelson's book and I want to write this review while my enthusiasm is still burning white hot.

Ittelson has a gift that few experts have. He anticipates all my newbie/beginner stupid questions. Here I am on page 169 wondering why paying payroll taxes doesn't show up on the Income Statement. Sure enough, right after I've wondered to myself why there is no transaction on the Income Statement, I see his note explaining that these payroll tax expenses were put on the Income Statement when the goods were shipped, "not when the actual payment is made."

As soon as the little voice in my head asks, "But why did they do it *this* way?" Ittelson gives me the answer.

I give Ittelson a lot of credit for this. After you've studied something for years, as he clearly has, it's often almost impossible to see the subject with the eyes of a beginner. Believe me, I'm a teacher, I know how difficult it can be.

The first part of the book examines the three basic statements line-by-line: Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet.

The largest part of the book sounds incredibly dry and dull. Each even-numbered page displays all three financial statements: Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet. The odd-numbered page explains a business transation: paying payroll taxes, for example. The transaction's impact on the three financial statements is displayed on the even-numbered page.

Believe it or not, Ittelson makes it interesting to read about these business transactions. He creates a narrative about starting a business and running it. Along the way, he offers a few humorous pearls of business wisdom. This is dry, technical stuff but he makes it entertaining without ever sacrificing explanatory precision.

This is a great book for anyone who feels they need to sharpen their skills with financial statements. I've read short descriptions of financial statements before but it never sank in. What's great about Ittelson's book is that first he gives very clear definitions of key terms and then he takes you step-by-step through each business transaction and how it is reflected on the financial statements.

I wish I had read this book more than 10 years ago when I first started in the business world. I assume that you learn this stuff if you have an MBA. But I didn't. This gives one a solid grounding in the brass tacks of the business world.

This book has been of enormous value to me. It is an essential reference for anyone who needs to understand what business finances are about.

An excellent book for those who wish to start finance
After having read many financial textbooks, I think this book is amazing. The author did an excellent and remarkable work. To begin with, he took in very serious consideration his audience, which is people with poor knowledge in finance. Thus, his book is very easy-to-read and its content very explicit. Every single financial term is clarified with a layman's language. Moreover, for every single term, there is a very understandable example. Likewise, in every page there is a sheet explaining all the transactions. I strongly believe that this book is a masterpiece for non financial managers.

Perfect for budding entrepreneurs!
I would like to thank the author for writing such an insightful and intuitive book on accounting. I highly recommend it to budding entrepreneurs who want to quickly understand financial statements.

GREAT TO UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS OF BALANCE SHEET & INCOME STM
This was a great book which I could finsih in one day. I am a person with a non finance background and now I can explain to any person what a balance sheet and Income stmt mean.

To the author,
I have found one error in the book. While explaining the stockholder equity in page 41. It should be Q + R = S. Whereas in the book it is Q - R = S

Otherwise the book is faboulous for any reader.

The Best Book on Financial Statements, Period!
Wow, what a great book! I am a technical professional enrolled in a graduate business degree program, and until now the plethora of financial and accounting terminology and rules has been bewildering for me. That is no longer true after buying this book. I have primarily used it as a reference book, and without fail any explanation I have needed has been easy to find, clear and concise.

I am no longer in the financially confused majority, largely thanks to this book. The author's education is in biochemistry (as is my undergraduate education), and because he originally came from the hard sciences where clarity and accuracy are valued above all else he was better able to be clear and easy to understand in comparison to many business school authors who seem to thrive on jargon and platitudes.

This is a great book to have on the reference shelf. If you are involved with business finance or investment analysis it is simply the best book available on the subject and should be considered indispensable! ... Read more

Book Description

Emphasis is on the broader international business environment and the context in which accounting is practiced worldwide.
* Explains how the development of equity markets around the world has strongly influenced a convergence of key accounting practices.
* Focused on the business strategies of MNEs and how accounting applies to these strategies. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is a decent book...
I agree with the previous reviewer who mentioned the text was very disorganized. Much of the information provided is very redundant, hence the book could have been much shorter (and less expensive).

Synopsis: National cultures and laws affect accounting standards used by different countries. The book discusses the major differences of accounting in great detail. There is a push by the International Accounting Standards Board to harmonize accounting standards so that international financial statements will be more comparable. Will they succeed? Read this book and then decide for yourself.

Best in giving full information and food for thought
I have used the book while working on my Final Thesis. I found it very informative and at the same time it is not overwhelmed with extensive discussions not relating to the main topic. It is clear and logical.

Needs extensive editing and reorganization.
This text suffers from its haphazard organization and lack of clarity in presentation. Textual material could be simplified if presented in tabular form. Text also suffers from lack of precision in references to accompanying tables. Material and citations tend to be a hodgepodge of older and, in some cases, obsolete studies done by other academicians. ... Read more

Book Description

This successful textbook is highly regarded, especially in programs that want a solid, comprehensive text for students who sit for the CPA exam.The book is loosely organized into five sections which allow for flexibility in sequencing the topics. Many of the topics are illustrated by examples using a continuous case involving a fictitious company called Peerless Products Corporation and its subsidiary, Special Foods, Inc. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Could Have Been Better
I liked this textbook because it is nice and clean and uncluttered inside, however I think that the content could have been better. I had trouble with the first chapter having to do with business combinations in that every time a journal entry was recorded, I had no idea whether the author was referring to the common stock of the purchasing company or the common stock of the selling company. After a while, I finally figured it out, but I thought the problem could have been avoided by being more clear. There are many more examples that I have like this one. I may be being picky about the book seeing as how I took this course via independent study, so I did not have the ability to ask an instructor specific questions. I just think that the authors could have done a better job being more clear on many things. In the end, I did end up getting a A in the course!

Good value for the money
I have used this book in conjunction with Gleim's CPA review books in preparation for FARE section of the CPA exam. Excellent supplement especially if you look for technical aspects of purchase/pooling accounting. The chapters on consolidation are truly outstanding. Very thorough and comprehensive. The only drawback as with many other textbooks is the lack of answer keys at the end of the chapter. Overall, I would definitely recommend getting it. ... Read more

Book Description

Building on the flexible and balanced approach that has made this text a market leader, the new edition of Financial Accounting provides a strong real-world emphasis, integrates performance measurement, and emphasizes technology. New features motivate critical thinking, analysis, and decision-making.

Financial Accounting remains the most accurate text on the market, with accuracy reviewers checking every line and working through every exercise, problem, and case in the text and supplements.

• New! "Stop and Think" questions for each learning objective motivate students to read actively. These critical-thinking questions—each of which is accompanied by a short answer—can also be used as a review device or as the basis for class discussions.
• New! The Supplement at the end of Chapter 1 now includes Walgreens company financial statements immediately following the most recent Toys 'R' Us Annual Report.
• New! Chapter-ending "Comparison Cases" require students to use the Walgreens and Toys 'R' Us financial statements to review information as a professional analyst would. Students must calculate various ratios and do a comparative analysis of the two companies based on their results.
• New! The popular "Focus on Business" boxes, which relate accounting to the real world of business, have been updated and redesigned, and more than 35 of the features are new to this edition.
• New! Each learning objective includes a list of end-of-chapter "Related Text Assignments" so students can identify the questions, exercises, problems, and cases that are associated with particular learning objectives.
• New! The new edition features three new video cases, bringing the total number of video cases to six. The videos are available on both the Student CD-ROM and the HM ClassPrep CD-ROM for instructors.
• New! The instructors' web site now features a collection of 16 new essays—one for each chapter—that discuss current events and issues. Essay topics include the Enron crisis, the nature and importance of goodwill, and the controversy surrounding accounting for stock options. These essays can be used as exam questions or extra credit assignments. Each essay comes with two sets of questions—one set that students can answer by reading the essay, and a second set that requires students to do additional research. Suggested answers are provided for both sets of questions.
• New! Bridge Tutorial CD-ROM for students emphasizes accounting transactions, provides a review of the debit/credit mechanism, and provides a foundation for the preparation of financial statements. The CD-ROM features 50 pre- and post-test activities on accounting concepts, designed to test students' basic understanding of the accounting cycle. Key concept tutorials provide reinforcement and practice for students. Interactive "Review and Reinforce" questions with rejoinders provide feedback on right and wrong answers. The tutorial also includes demonstration problems with voice-over narrations and a built-in glossary with on-screen pop-up definitions.
• New! Premium Blackboard and WebCT CD-ROMs include course material and information, course documents, chapter overviews, learning objectives, chapter and lecture outline, key points, key terms with definitions, PowerPoint files, Excel and Word documents, chapter summaries, assignments, and Web links. The CD-ROMs also contain self-test questions from the student Study Guide, ACE self-quizzes, interactive exercises, web exercises, discussion questions, real-world examples, cross-disciplinary features, visuals, and more.

Reviews (6)

Fin accounting for dummies
This is an excellent introductory textbook.

Good Introduction to Accounting
I started out with practically no knowledge of accounting - this book did a very impressive job of introducing me to the various concepts. I can now read and understand the financial statements put out by the companies. Our professor used this book very extensively - he would talk about a topic and then point out the page numbers where the authors had written about that topic.
This is a pretty good reference too - I have refered to the book many times when I see certain accounting terms used in the press. The authors have kept the explanation very concise and have inserted examples that capture the essence of the explanation.
I found the book to be very expensive though.

Pretty darn good, but a bit overwhelming for the beginner.
I used this book for my Financial Accounting I course I took this past Spring working towards my Bachelors degree. This was in the first accounting course and I really didn't know too much about accounting beforehand. While the book overall is a good text and full of helpful information and examples, the first chapter or two were totally useless because they approached accounting pragmatically and tried to cover too many fundamentals too soon. Accounting is not an easy subject and theres no easy way to get started with it. However, my professor (who had used the book before) skipped over the first couple chapters and taught us the fundamentals using her own method which did work very well and then the rest of the book made more sense. At times it seems the book might cover a topic or circumstance in only one or two sentences and then will have a problem or two that deal more extensively with that short concept. The only reason I could think they did this was to stimulate creativity and learning and force the student to figure out how to mold the various principles to fit a particular "new" situation rather than just have you memorize some rules. Some might not like this method...

Excellent but not for the beginner
I used this Textbook in my MBA Financial Accounting course at DePaul Unversity in Chicago, IL.I had very little knowledge of the topic before I took this class.

This book is well written, well organized, and is not too wordy.Because of the depth of this book and its brevity, every sentence is important and I found I had to reread chapters about three times before I really understood the material.

I did notice a few minor typos in the chapter exercises, but for the most part I found it extremely accurate.

This is a difficult subject and this book covers much material.Each chapter must be read carefully.To fully understand the material, I highly encourage doing the exercises in the back of each chapter.Houghton Mifflin has the answer keys in Excel files on their web site, but you need a password to get it.

I can understand the person who found this book confusing.I don't think this book is great for somebody new to the subject. But after getting your feet wet in the subject, this is an excellent text.

This book will make a wonderful reference for years to come.In fact, my father, a small business owner wants my copy.

Accounting book thats confusing
I realize that this is an accounting book, but I feel it is very hard to follow.Someone without a knowledge of accounting could get very confused just by reading the first chapter.I could heve thought of many other things I would rather have spent $$.. on.There are better books out there. ... Read more

Book Description

In addition to the solid estimating data this manual has provided for years, this new edition is expanded and updated to include installation of pneumatic mechanical instrumentation, which is used in monitoring various process systems. ... Read more