Book Description

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE CHANGING NEEDS OF AN AGING SOCIETY

"Cutler has hit a financial literacy home run. He has done an outstanding job of educating the professional working with the mature market about the psychology and complexity of the Wealth Span and about the financial issues and products that figure prominently in executing a successful strategy for older clients and families. This book is about as comprehensive as you can get for understanding the nuances of financial planning for mature consumers. It is filled with information, insight, resources, and (thankfully!) humor!"
–John N. Migliaccio, PhD, President, Maturity Mark Services Co.

"Learning across disciplines will be the way of the future. Dr. Cutler is in the unique position to authoritatively discuss advising mature clients from both the gerontological and financial planning perspectives. This latest in the Lasser Pro Series is sure to be a must for anyone who wants to do holistic financial planning for older clients."
–Kenn Beam Tacchino, JD, LLM, Professor of Taxation and Financial Planning, Widener University; Editor, Journal of Financial Service Professionals

"Dr. Cutler has written a cutting-edge guide for the myriad professionals who advise mature clients and adult children of older parents. His book is timely, much needed, and will undoubtedly become the definitive reference for practitioners and students of aging and the economics of aging."
–Lois A. Vitt, PhD, Director, Institute for Socio-Financial Studies; Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Financial Gerontology

"Dr. Cutler has provided a valuable resource to those of us in the financial industry. He has provided clear, concise commentary on the issues facing our aging population with actionable suggestions for the financial advisor. I highly recommend it to my fellow professionals."
–Kelly B. Auslander, CFP, President, American Financial Advisors, Inc.

Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent reference for both advisors and their clients
As an attorney-at-law, I found that "Advising Mature Clients" by Dr. Neal E. Cutler has given me a new perspective on analyzing,and on advising older clients about, the increasingly complex series of decisions we all seem to face as we age.

On a personal level, I found the book to be filled with information that is easy to understand and is well-indexed for use by the advisor as well as by those whom he/she advises.Its multi-disciplinary focus gives one an easy depth of understanding of the breadth of Gernontology, and financial & social issues that need to be considered, in just a few hours of study of the clear, concise tables, facts, and figures, which are presented in logical fashion.

The chapter on costs and financial benefits of Long Term Care Insurance alone is worth the price of the book.Strategies and alternatives to pay for Long Term Care Insurance are set forth, along with the sobering financial burden long term care imposes, and the alarming rate of increase in long term care costs, compared to the more affordable insurance premiums.

This book should be kept as a desk reference and ready authoritative source of information, to share with clients who have questions or concerns on any aspect of the topics of Wealth Span Planning and Financial Gerontology.

Excellent reference for both advisors and their clients
As an attorney-at-law, I found that "Advising Mature Clients" by Dr. Neal E. Cutler has given me a new perspective on analyzing,and on advising older clients about, the increasingly complex series of decisions we all seem to face as we age.

On a personal level, I found the book to be filled with information that is easy to understand and is well-indexed for use by the advisor as well as by those whom he/she advises.Its multi-disciplinary focus gives one an easy depth of understanding of the breadth of Gernontology, and financial & social issues that need to be considered, in just a few hours of study of the clear, concise tables, facts, and figures, which are presented in logical fashion.

The chapter on costs and financial benefits of Long Term Care Insurance alone is worth the price of the book.Strategies and alternatives to pay for Long Term Care Insurance are set forth, along with the sobering financial burden long term care imposes, and the alarming rate of increase in long term care costs, compared to the more affordable insurance premiums.

This book should be kept as a desk reference and ready authoritative source of information, to share with clients who have questions or concerns on any aspect of the topics of Wealth Span Planning and Financial Gerontology. ... Read more

Book Description

Growing up with two father figures, a "Rich Dad" and a "Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki understood the important of financial planning. In this audio-parenting guide, Kiyosaki and co-author Sharon Lechter have designed a step-by-step program for Moms and Dads to explain to their children the basics of our financial economy-the employees, the self-employed, the business owners, and the investors. By providing their children with financial problem-solving skills, parents can help to ensure a profitable future for their loved ones. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

A Vague Directory to Financial Success
I truly enjoyed reading another one of the famous Rich Dad books. I am a senior in high school, and I had no clue where to find direction on how to avoid my parents (in debt) footsteps -- that is until I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Onto the next guide and more appropriate for my age, Rich Kid, Smart Kid taught me many valuable lessons, especially about taxes and the banking system. Kiyosaki's financial aid also helped me to understand that just because I am not a "numerical genious" doesn't mean I cannot be very successdul in the "real world" creating ideas from my more "genious" skills. The only flaw however, in Rich Kid, Smart Kid, was that it repeated much of what was said in Rich Dad, Poor Dad. As a teenager, I want to know more about how to avoid debt with the government and where money comes and goes. As Kiyosaki says, understanding how money works is the key to financial freedom. Overall, Rich Kid, Smart Kid is a great first step toward success in an ever-changing economy.

Rich Kid Smart Kid
Rich Kid Smart Kid expands the 'basics' taught in Rich Dad Poor Dad and focuses on the weaknesses of our fractured education system in America. Kiyosaki does not disappoint the reader. He serves up his usual recipe of powerful yet simplified steps to remedy the imparities he defines. This book is a must read for every parent, counselor, and educator. I found the principles described in this book were very applicable to my personal financial plan. This value of the content of this book is definately not limited to 'Kids' as one may mistakingly derive from its title. Excellent book...I highly recommend it!

Instant Replay
Thank goodness it wasn't in slow-motion!
This is the fourth book of Mr. Kiyosaki's I have read. The ideas in all of these books could have fit in to one.
So why read this one? I couldn't tell ya

Great Book
This book was very insightful to parents all across the world. It teaches parents that in order to be successful in the financial world and the buisness world, you have to have a good education. (...)

Book Summary
Our current education system fails to adequately teach our children the financial skills necessary to survive later on in life. Robert Kiyosaki wrote Rich Kid, Smart Kid to fill those gaps. The fundamental premise of the book is that all children are born smart and rich. The goal of education is to bring out that natural genius within our children. Awakening this genius inside of us is a sure way to become happy. Therefore, being happy through realizing our innate potential is more fulfilling than being rich and unhappy. Rich Dad said, "If you are not happy while getting rich, chances are you will not be happy when you get rich. So whether you are rich or poor, make sure you are happy" (14).

The root of the current problem lies in America's transitioning from an Industrial society into an Information society. Kiyosaki explains the need for transitioning our thought, "In the Information Age, what you know becomes obsolete very quickly. What you learned is important, but not as important as how fast you can learn, change, and adapt to new information" (xi). These structural changes tangibly affect us regardless of whether or not we acknowledge them. Some of the problems facing tomorrow's youth include social security, healthcare, increased risk of obsolesce through increased specialization, and the need for lifelong education. Education must adjust with the times.

Currently, our education system teaches scholastic and professional skills. Scholastic education focuses on the ability to read, write, and do arithmetic. Professional education trains students for high-level careers later on in life. However, this Western brand of education fails our children in some crucial ways. Rich Dad said, "The child learns by doing, making mistakes, and then learning" (238). It's failure lies in its unconscious suppression of the innate genius within all of us, and by dismissing the role mistakes play in the learning process. This happens when our education system forces us to conform to what is only a partial definition of what intelligence is.

Financial education should be taught as soon as the child demonstrates some interest. While this may happen as early as five years old, more commonly a child's perceptions and self-identity is formulated between the ages of nine and fifteen. It is crucial to form the child's perception concerning money in a positive light during these ages. Encouraged by a famous Chicago-based study on learning, Kiyosaki believes, "...a parent's most important job is to monitor, guide, and protect a child's self-perception" (109). As a parent, the process begins by devising a "winning formula" for your children.

The formula Kiyosaki recommends should be tailored to each child based on their interests and which of the several types of genius they possess. Success requires having at least a winning formula for learning, for being a professional, and for financial success. We must be flexible enough to adjust our winning formulas when conditions render them losing formulas. The next step involves homework. Rich Dad said, "the primary difference between the rich, the poor, and the middle class is what they do in their spare time" (50). Kiyosaki recommends teaching financial literacy during your spare time.

To better serve the greater majority of students who fall through the cracks schools must adopt new teaching methods that engage students not just mentally, but also physically, emotionally, and spiritually . One way to achieve this in the classroom is by playing games. Games engage all our senses and reinforce learning. At home this entails teaching your children through pictures, games, and real life examples. Kiyosaki encourages parents to set-up three piggy banks for their children for tithing, saving, and investing. Parents should also expand their child's financial vocabulary. Appendix A and B offer many practical lessons that parents can immediately use with their children.

The larger goal to be achieved is to reorientate the way we view business and wealth. Kiyosaki says, "...if you want your children to be rich, teaching them to serve as many people as possible is a priceless lesson for them to learn" (197). Echoing the message of management guru, Peter Drucker, the primary purpose of business is to create a customer first, then to make a profit. This new perspective teaches our children and us that commitment to the public good is not incompatible with making a profit. In fact, it may be the best way to achieve social harmony. Everyone wins when we seek to develop our own unique genius and parlay our ability toward serving others while simultaneously enriching ourselves both personally and financially. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Stop! Do not buy this book- "updated" version is obsolete
I give the book three stars due to content, but the numbers are all obsolete. The information is now seven years old! OBRA laws have changed, gifting laws have changed, estate tax laws,...you name it. Save your money and buy soemthing that has been updated NO EARLIER than January '03. I am a financial planner specializing in this area, so I cannot- with good conscience- recommend that people adhere to the outdated information in the book- talk to an advisor who is up-to-speed on the new rules.

Wonderful guide
I read 6 different books on this and irrevocable trusts when my dad went into a nursing home. This one was by far the easiest to understand. My parents had a revocable trust that was not worth the paper it was printed on. This book saved my family a lot of money. Unfortunately I lent it to someone who never returned it, so I am buying another copy to give to a friend.

Mandatory if your loved one is to enter a nursing home
Alexander Bove's book is one of the few out there that really gives you the information you need when dealing with the finances of admitting a loved one into a nursing home. After I read this book, my family and I went to an attorney who "specializes" in elder law. This turned out to be incorrect, and the advice he gave was incomplete and just plain wrong. If we hadn't had Bove's book at our disposal, we would have unknowingly accepted the other lawyer's recommendations without realizing that they would have cost a huge portion of needed funds. DON'T ASSUME THAT AN "ELDER LAW ATTORNEY" KNOWS ALL THE INTRICACIES OF MEDICAID LAW! READ THIS BOOK! (And THEN double-check the most up-to-date laws to make sure nothing has changed since this printing.)

It really gave me a place to start
Easy to read and give very good cases studies. What it is missing is the extact thing to do, but I still find it useful ... Read more

Book Description

With 100 NEW FINANCIAL web sites!

If you're like most people, you want to get your financial life in order but don't know where to begin. Since its first publication in 1996, Get a Financial Life has helped thousands of people get out of debt, start saving, and begin investing. This updated edition -- expanded for the Internet age -- includes the latest information on how to:

Book Description

"As an asset protection lawyer, I think Mandell and Jarvis brilliantly explain the most effective wealth protection strategies. A must-read for advisors and clients alike."
–Arnold S. Goldstein, PhD, LLM, JD
author, Asset Protection Secrets

"I really appreciate the ‘Risk Factor Analysis.’ It is a unique tool for diagnosing–and then solving–some of the toughest problems in maintaining and protecting your wealth."
–Gordon Klein, JD, CPA, lecturer, UCLA’s Anderson Graduate
School of Management, frequent CNBC Commentator

"Chris and David’s concept of a ‘Personal Economy’ should be heeded by every individual investor. If you want to grow and shield what’s yours, this book is a great start."
–Jonathan Guryan, PhD, Asst. Professor of Economics
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

The interest in protecting one’s wealth is universal. Wealth Protection: Build and Preserve Your Financial Fortress serves as the ultimate handbook for readers who want to build their family’s financial fortress and shield it from potential risks. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great advice, for just about everybody
I just finished reading Wealth Protection and found it to be extremely valuable in planning for my financial future. I am a business consultant and consider myself to fairly aware of the various financial tools, strategies, and techniques...

However, the book offered me numerous new strategies for more effectively protecting my wealth. The best thing about the book is that it is structured in a way that will allow just about anybody to find specific, tailored advice.

Good work Jarvis and Mandell! I look forward to your next book!

Clear and easy read book
I could not believe how easy it was to read and understand some of the complex issues in this book. The authors not only really know their stuff, but they can explain in a clear fashion. It's excellent!

Nice Outline But VERY LIGHT On Detail!!!!
This book will be good if you want to review the components that might make up your wealth protection strategy. However, the book comes up short on the detail needed to understand those components well or to structure a comprehensive plan for yourself.

To get a feel for the lack of detail take a look at the Table of Contents, note that it seems very comprehensive but when you look a little closer you will see that most of the chapters are LESS THAN 5 PAGES! The subtopics in each chapter usually make up a single paragraph with a large font bold heading that takes up a lot of the page.

In short, if you want to get an overview of the components you might ask your advisor to explain to you, this would be a valuable purchase. If you want to understand these things yourself, you will be disappointed.

key reading for safeguarding your money
i am privy to working with Chris personally and I can assure you he is one of the most respected, capable and knowledgeable persons in the area of wealth protection. the book's true magic lies in the fact that it is intended for anyone interested in protecting their assets, and it shows you how to do it in a very down to earth, easy to understand manner.

this is not designed for the technically advanced financiers out there, so don't fret. it is literally for anyone who wants to protect their wealth.
a highly recommended book.

Outstanding Insight and Detail
This is one book that I will keep close at hand over the next several years. Finally someone has put together the critical components of financial growth and asset protection. I particularly liked the focus on assessment, strategy and tactics. Excellent publication for the financial advisor and personal investor alike. ... Read more

Book Description

With their famous wit, seasoned advice, and impeccable business savvy, the bestselling financial duo shows baby boomers how to build wealth and security -- and how to afford anything they want when the work is done.

Whether retirement is on the distant horizon or right under your nose, The Motley Fool's Money After 40 is for anyone who wants a stable future free from financial anxiety. Baby boomers will learn how to fortify their portfolios to weather any economic climate and live the life they want regardless of the market's peaks and valleys.

Applying the principles of commonsense money management, David and Tom Gardner first explain how to predict what you will need and desire when you stop working. Do you want to volunteer in the community? Do you want the resources to turn a hobby into a small business? Do you want to build an addition to your house for grandchildren? In plain language, the Gardners guide you in creating realistic financial goals. From owning the right size home to affording sufficient health coverage, from sending your kids to college to taking that exotic vacation, The Motley Fool's Money After 40 explains how to:

• Organize your finances to preserve the funds you already have
• Master estate planning
• Create and protect wealth for your children and grandchildren
• Live a healthy, productive life free from anxiety and spiced with adventure

Using real-life examples and action plans that eliminate the drudgery of managing your income, David and Tom Gardner will help you understand exactly how to draw up financial plans sturdy enough to transport dreams. Designed to simultaneously educate, amuse, and enrich the reader, The Motley Fool's Money After 40 is a one-stop financial guidebook for gilding your golden years.

The good life is within your reach under the tutelage of the Fools. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Your additional feedback welcomed!
As with all of our books, we love to hear your comments, whether positive words or constructive criticism. We particularly benefit from the latter as we eventually take our books from hard-cover to paperback, so if you have any corrections or other suggestions, our organization would love to hear from you -- you can e-mail our Fool team at CS@Fool.com.

Tom and I put a lot of work into this book and have had many others breathe life into it, from great customer anecdotes and Motley Fool stories to numerous quotations from a variety of well-known business leaders and celebs via our NPR show. As with all Motley Fool books, it's our hope that we have educated, amused, and enriched you, and that you're inspired to make better financial decisions as a result. Foolish best! --DG

Self Promoting Charlatans in Jester Hats
Why anybody would buy an investment book from these hucksters is beyond me. Take a look at their book "Rule Makers, Rule Breakers", written during the bubble and still available via Amazon even though the Gardners no longer use those approaches to investing. The Gardners ran two real money portfolios based on those convoluted and untested theories that were quietly shut down after horrible performance in the post-bubble period from 2000-2002. Why wouldn't they ask their publisher to withdraw the book?

After their previous investing methods (Rule Maker, Rule Breaker, Foolish Four, etc.) were thoroughly discredited in the 2000-2002 bear market, the Gardners reemerged and started marketing investment newsletters based on a wide variety of new untested approaches. One of them, "Hidden Gems", specializes in recommending small, illiquid stocks which are sure to get a quick pop when the novice newsletter subscribers buy the recommendations. One of their books, "The Motley Fool Investment Guide" had bashed investment newsletters for calculating their performance by using purchase prices for stocks prior to when their recommendations were made public (i.e. the people that actually bought them would have paid more). Now that the Gardners are in the newsletter business, that's exactly what they do to inflate their own performance numbers. They're apparently incapable of shame.

How is it that these 2 guys who had the arrogance to start giving investment advice to the masses when they were barely out of college, have the time to host a weekly NPR radio show, write a never ending stream of books, write a syndicated newspaper column, run a business (The Motley Fool, with message boards, newsletters, etc.) AND research stocks?

Underneath the Gardners shtick (the "fools" versus the "wise, etc.) and the cutesy-poo writing are two guys that, like Wall Street and most of the mutual fund industry, will do anything for a buck. Don't fall for it.

If you're looking for a book on investing for retirement that is written by somebody competent and honest, I'd recommend John Bogle's book. Bogle, who ran Vanguard and brought low cost index funds to the masses, is a legend in the investment business and a true friend of small investors. You'll be better off getting investment advice from Bogle than a couple of fools.

A retirement book for the boomer generation
David and Tom Gardner walk the reader through retirement planning in their usual good-natured style. Everything is covered here for us age-phobic boomers-investments, insurance, housing, social security, health care, educating our kids and taking care of our aging parents. I particularly liked their suggestions about the need to downsize our oversized houses and to sell off our excess possessions on eBay (presumably to unsuspecting members of Generation X). A well-written and sensible book. Now all I need is enough common sense to follow their advice.

This book is great!
I've read several of The Motley Fool books and this one is great! ... Read more

Book Description

THE GREAT BOOM IS COMING

How and where we work and live is about to change drastically. In The Roaring 2000s, Harry S. Dent, Jr., one of the world's most prescient forecasters, turns his visionary eye to the full spectrum of possibilities that will follow in the wake of a burgeoning turn-of-the-century economy. Dent identifies opportunities, explores trends, and makes concrete predictions. Among them are:

A Dow that will reach at least 21,500 and possibly 35,000 by the year 2008
The rise of "gazelles," small- to medium-sized, high-growth companies that are now creating most of the jobs in the country
The Eight Critical Technology Trends Changing How We Live and Work
The New American Dream -- why changing technologies could mean a return to small-town living, and the nine types of boomtowns that will offer the highest quality of life
The New Network Corporation, which features leadership at the center rather than management from the top, and human browser teams that represent customers by connecting them directly to servers or specialized products and experts. These organizations are fast, responsive and entrepreneurial
The Seven Principles of Successful Investing

For anyone who wants to take advantage of these invaluable, emerging opportunities. The Roaring 2000s is a necessary guidebook to a not-so-distant future. ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Share market and real estate
I think the basic assumption about the impact of the baby boomers is correct, but where Harry went wrong is that he encapsulated the "message" by focusing exclusively on the sharemarket. If he had said that assets, viz average share prices and average property values, will quadruple by 2008, then he will probably be right. Unfortunately he said words to the effect that the Dow Jones will go from 10,000 to 40,000 by 2008. What he didn't properly explain was that in some years real estate will go up, and down, likewise the share market. Together, over the period 2000 - 2008, the combined value will quadruple. His thesis is correct; it was the catchphase that was wrong.

How this guy ever got published is a lesson in itself...
How this guy ever got published is a lesson in itself!
I read this book back in 2000 before the crash and agreed with
some of his reasoning as to the mechanics and ideas which would be implemented in the New Millenium, but disagreed with his
belief that there would be such great prosperity,as history ALWAYS repeats itself.
But alas, no one wants a pessimist. Then he came out with the "Roaring 2000's Investor", which again was creative and showed brilliance, but proved to by flawed on many levels. Now he has another book slated to come out

"The Greatest Bull Market in History: 2003-2008: Investment, Business and Life Strategies - For the Great Boom Ahead and the Great Bust to Follow"

If his past predictions are any indication, this title itself is already filled with hindsight and error. I can tell you there will be no sustainable bull market on any of the indexes for at least the next decade.

I must admit I would like to speak with this guy. With a few real life experiences under his belt he may really hit the target, but so far the best title for a book would be "The Roaring 2000's: How to prosper by making the best seller list by publishing books that make people believe you have the answers."

Lession #1: Don't put dates in the titles of your books that try to predict the future"

What is your opinion of the economy?
It is amazing how everyone has a prediction about the economy, but few will have so many predictions come true. Start with Mr. Dent's first book "The great boom ahead", how did Mr. Dent know the deficit would be wiped out by 1998? Furthermore, I encourage the reader to really study the dow channel. Regarding the Roaring 2000's, I would encourage the reader to read (by the way this was published in 1998) page 296 "remember 2002 could see a substantial correction for adding to stock positions." Furthermore, turn to page 305 "the best years in the stock market and economy should come from late 2002 into...." The last piece of evidence you will find on page 52 "The Roaring 2000's will parallel the Roaring 20's on a two generation or 80 year lag." Do your own research, look at the chart of Intel July 1992-July 2002 and General Motors February 1912 and February 1992, you will find they overlay exactly, exactly 80 years apart. Enough said.

This time around Dent's predictions are completely wrong.
Harry Dent poses as an economist but he is not. He also poses as a demographer but he is not either. As a consequence, he develops sweeping broadbased theories without solid scientific foundation. His main theme is that the large Baby Boom generation is going through its peak spending years during this decade, and as a result it will sustain an economic and stock market boom until 2009. He concludes that it is almost certain that the stock market will earn 10% and above returns throughout this decade.

However, when you look at the record so far, Harry Dent's prediction in 1999 for the first decade of 2000's is way off. The ink was barely dry on his book when the stock market actually peaked (first quarter of 2000) and then tanked. The stock market then suffered a three year bear market. Current outlook for the stock market is for increased volatility, but reduced growth in the single digit range (not the double digit range, Dent predicted).

Dent missed a lot of things. Some of them he could not have predicted such as heightened geopolitical risk, terrorism. Some other factors, he should have predicted. These included the overvaluation of stocks as a result of the Internet Bubble, the onset of World deflation associated with the flooding of cheap exports from China, the eventual slow down of the U.S. economy among others.

Dent also pauses as a futurist. In this role, he just repeats what Alvin Toffler stated in Future Shock almost 30 years ago. Technology will reform the workplace, will boost economic productivity, etc... Nothing new or informative here.

The only somewhat valuable part of this book includes several recommendations for successful investing, including:
1) Save at least 10% of your salary;
2) Use buy and hold strategies, don't try to time the market;
3) Use mutual funds to most efficiently diversify your holdings;
4) Use asset allocation. The greatest returns result from the correct asset allocation. Asset allocation should match your personal risk tolerance; and
5) Invest systematically not emotionally.

However, the author did not support these good investment strategies with adequate useful details. For instance, using a 401K is the best and easiest way to implement all of his five strategies mentioned above. Also, within his mutual fund recommendation, he did not mention the advantages of index funds (greater diversification, lower cost). Thus, he omitted much information for this section of the book to be as informative as it could have.

The Knaves and their New Economy
Harry Dent couples an investment advisory book with a piecemeal economic analysis of the dynamics of the so called 'New Economy' in the 21st century. The author Harry Dent may drool blissfully over his portfolio (which at the time 1998 was probably doing quite well) and see a world of compounding returns and infinite growth, but we live in a real world of scarce resources and measured productivity gains which usually grow marginally each year. One thing that I find anecdotal was the chapter on human development entitled the 'The Right Brain Revolution,' which appealed to the kooky materialism of Abraham Maslow. This was just a rehashing of tired humanistic theories over man's wants and needs.

First to give a background to this book: it was written in 1998-which in Greenspan rhetoric may be deemed a time of "irrational exuberance"-so not suprisingly the author was blissfully optimistically over a booming economy. In reality there was a long-term inflationary boom coupled with a strong market for IPO's and tech stocks. Of course, the speculative bubble burst. Contrary to the harbingers of infinite economic growth, there are no new dynamics to the so called "New Economy." If companies hemorrhage money on spending-showing no prospects for profit in their foreseeable future-than they'll probably be restructuring, going out of business, or solve their insolvency problem by merging with a larger firm. Generally, the present recession has made those who believe that there are some new rules to the game come to retreat from their Alice and Wonderland economics. Granted, we're not going to be in this recession forever contrary to the prophets of eternal economic gloom. However, there are NO new rules for a "New Economy" where profit margins can be razor thin, earnings simply non-existent and profit/equity ratios are absurdly proportioned. So, now we can come back to the real world of 2003, where high government spending and half-trillion dollar deficits crowd out the supply of credit and capital.

Dent is optimistic over the labor market giving way to 'entrepreneurs,' freelancers and temps. However, it is by no means a positive sign when corporations are taking the axe to their personnel that we're in for more prosperity. In addition, some of Dent's positive economic indicators and his analysis are erroneous. For example, he sees large population growth as some positive sign that with more people, they'll be more consumption and consumer spending. But consider that in recent years, GDP growth aside, actual productivity gains have been miniscule and sometimes actually losses over the previous year. Moreover, the population growth (chiefly fueled by immigration) far exceeds productivity growth. So how is this deemed a positive sign if they're less goods and services available on per capita basis? These factors which shade the real 'New Economy,' may suggest that we will be in the economic doldrums for a little while longer. Dent ignores substantive economic indicators, which even in 1998 could have foretold the present recession. If anything, it is quite tenable that the first decade of the 21st century may resemble the stagflation of the 1970s-where inflation and unemployment are high-though not with such severity.

All things considered, the blissful optimism and absurd economic logic so popular which fueled the speculative boom circa 1998 was but a foreshadowing of the present dreary state of economic affairs. The prosperity gurus will never be able to transcend common-sense economic logic with their gospel of eternal economic optimism. Then again, their perspectives are skewed in times of boom when all they see are compounding equity returns. It just seems when some people have a run of luck in the market, they have a tendency to have their judgment clouded in seeking out more 'easy money.' Some like Dent even hope to jerry-rigged the market with a psychology of perpetual prosperity. Anyway, Dent's bullish predictions have already been disproven. (I give it a pithy 0.5/5.0 star rating ... ... Read more

Book Description

Learning how to talk your way out of credit card debt is the quickest, easiest, and most efficient way to start saving money!

It's true! You can call your credit card banks to negotiate a better interest rate and have fees waived! However, it may not be as easy as picking up the phone and asking. That's because bank representatives are trained to deter you from pursuing the deals you deserve. Overcoming their tactics can be difficult when you don't know what to expect.

Scott Bilker, author of Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt, and creator of DebtSmart.com, has spent 10+ years making banks compete for his business. Now, he's sharing his personal phone calls to banks that saved more than $43,000 for himself, his family, and friends! These 52 phone calls, out of the hundreds he has made, demonstrate exactly what worked, what didn't, and why. In each call transcript, for anonymity, banks have been renamed as dog breeds and their reps as bugs.:)

In this book you will discover proven negotiation strategies, and build your confidence, while learning how to: (1) get annual fees waived; (2) lower your current interest rates; (3) shop for the best credit card deals; (4) get late-payment, overlimit, and cash-advance fees waived; (5) compare loan options and calculate savings; (6) dispute charges and get all your refunds; (7) negotiate account settlements; and much more! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

the best book there is on the topic
I unexpectedly run into high debt. So far, I just got this book 2 days ago. I made three phone calls, saved $85 dollars fee for a credit card and about $3,000 in interest charges on one credit card. And this is just the beginning. Extremely helpful book. I honestly recommend it to people like myself because there is always a solution and this book gives me hope

Details taking charge of your credit card debt
"Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt" provides solid advice on getting your rate reduced, annual fees waived, removing a late payment fee, handling disputes, and many other common problems when dealing with credit card companies. More than just advice, it is a collection of detailed examples of phone calls including complete transcripts. Each transcript demonstrates how the author handled a particular issue and the results of the call. Not content to just give one example of getting an interest rate lowered or removing over limit fees, each type of problem has several transcripts so you can get a good feel for what to expect and how to handle it. Most people are not aware of how much power they have when dealing with a credit card company and how to get things changed. This book walks the reader through the process from beginning to end and is a recommended read for anyone looking to gain control of his or her credit card situation.

Not to bad
My boss bought this book for me to read as I am an accountant. This book is probably very good for people who do not have a clue about their own finances. Otherwise, most of this is just common sense if you think about it.

Each person can individually call their credit card company and negoiate lower rates, late fees, dues, over credit limit fees, and interest rates instead of using the rip off companies of debt management you hear adverstised on all the air ways.

The book offers the novice "scripts" to follow. However, you must be willing to be agressive enough to call, then ASK for what you want. And if you do not get want you want, you must have the capability of moving your debt to another credit card, otherwise, you are stuck.

The reason I gave the book 2 stars was because in all of the examples, I never say the interest rates negoiated more than 3% (i.e. from 21.9% to a whopping 18.8%) Per the book, you do do better when you wait for the credit card companies to send you a letter to transfer balances at rates which are usually very low.

Again, if you are a novice, this is a good book for you. It is a quick read. You should use to book as continuing education of your own finances.

A valuable book from day one
I was shopping for a book that would help me with the credit card debt I have accumulated. I chose this book. It has proven to be very bemeficial to me. It contains a large amount of information your banks don't want you to know. My first night of reading the book, I got up to about page 70 and made my first phone call, with the intent of gaining information about the account and possibly getting a fee reversed. I ended up getting a $50 credit to the account, relatively easily. I cannot praise this book enough! If you need to reduce your credit card debt, this book may very well be your solution.

THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED IS CONTAINED HEREIN...
I had the same problem most of you reading this have. But after reading this book from cover to cover, I was awashed with a new vigor and confidence to launch a strategic war of words with the credit card telephone handlers. As you read thru the transcripts of the author's actual calls, picture yourself talking on the phone with the same savvy as he. Then close the book, put up your over charged, over penalized, and over interest rated bill and MAKE CALLS! Show them that you are taking CONTROL of your finances and relish the experience of sticking up for yourself. ... Read more

Book Description

The number of new personal bankruptcies filed each year continue to increase. And there is no relief in sight. Bankruptcy is never a painless or easy decision, but with a little know-how, you can get through this process with a minimum of headache, heartache, and indigestion. With a clear focus towards the future, you can then begin to get your finances—and your life—back in order.

If you’re considering bankruptcy, are currently in the process of filing for bankruptcy, or on the brink of bankruptcy and looking for a way to get through debt, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies can help you make the best decisions about your financial future.

Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies is a nuts-and-bolts toolbox, which covers both Chap7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Written by two seasoned experts on bankruptcy law, this easy-to-follow guide walks you through the bankruptcy process and explains how to rebuild your credit after filing for bankruptcy. Straightforward answers and re liable advice can help you sort out all of your possibilities, with a clear understanding of what you have to gain and what’s to lose. This carefully written guidebook will show you how to:

• Consider alternatives to bankruptcy
• Decide which type of bankruptcy is right for you
• Prevent further financial damage before filing for bankruptcy
• Defend yourself from bill collectors and the IRS
• Save your home and other important assets
• Wipe out credit card debt
• Use bankruptcy to deal with tax debts
• Repair your credit and stay out of financial trouble

Filled with expert tips and tactics for navigating the world of bankruptcy, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies gives you the ammunition and information you need to intelligently and confidently choose your own best path and get back on your feet again. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good Book
Good book although some aspects are very general. See also Surviving Financial Disasters By Tiffany R. Love it comes with a CD ROM.

Indispensable primer for anyone considering bankruptcy
This tome is an absolute godsend for those who are considering filing for bankruptcy yet may not know much about the process. This book covers all the bases concerning Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings. From common mistakes and misconceptions to the highly specific legalese of bankruptcy law, this book addressed nearly every one of my concerns about this complex and emotionally challenging process. I opened the front cover a bankruptcy know-nothing and set it down feeling like an attorney.

This is not a DIY guide to financial rebirth (in fact the authors highly discourage this), but more of an "Everything-You-Ever-Wanted-to-Know-About-Bankruptcy-but-Were-Afraid-to-Ask" reference. The authors do not delve into the minutia of the process. They seek to be more like tour guides, leading you through the perilous wilds of US bankruptcy law with their collective wealth of knowledge on the subject. I found more useful information in the first 10 pages of this book than I did in six hours of web-surfing.

The most superlative compliment I can bestow upon this volume is that it helped to allay my fears and crystalize my plans for my financial future.

Finally, an understandable bankruptcy book!
This book is clear, concise, understandable and even funny at times. The authors have done an incredible job of taking a very complicated topic and making it understandable for a lay audience. At the same time, they avoid talking down to the reader.

Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies is, first and foremost, a very useful tool for anyone even thinking about bankruptcy. It answers all the questions without preaching or browbeating. It ought to be read by every potential bankruptcy client before they meet with a lawyer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Talk about an audacious title! But Suze (pronounced "Suzie") Orman means business in this anecdote-rich compendium of tips on 401(k)s, marriage, homes, and happiness. The PBS star/financial adviser has made plenty of the mistakes she warns against, like getting a 30-year mortgage instead of a cheaper 15-year, using Visa cards as magic carpets to calamity, and losing $20,000 in borrowed bucks to bum investment advice. Then she became a Merrill Lynch broker and an author capable of selling 10,000 books in 12 minutes on QVC.

Orman's point--in this and her No. 1 bestseller The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom--is that you'd better face fiscal facts and avoid fear, denial, and the self-fulfilling low expectations the novelist William Wharton called "the Poverty Mind." America is a nation of check-bouncing, late-fee-incurring, guilty bad planners. How long will it take to pay off that $3,000 Visa bill with minimum payments? Thirty years, you poor, dear fool! What would you gain if you bought stocks instead of your daily latte for 30 years? $165,152! Her book might've been titled The Courage Not to Be a Self-Sabotaging Neurotic.

Orman is the Andrew Weil of money health--she yearns to enrich your life emotionally, too. If you can't stand discussions of the psychological origins of fiscal decisions, or self-help lingo like "money is attracted to people who are strong and powerful, respectful of it, and open to receiving it," you'll want a more nuts-and-bolts adviser. If you want pep talk, true tales of woe and makeovers, and a jolt of a true pop culture phenomenon, Suze is for you. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Reviews (124)

I'M IMPRESSED!
Suze Orman definitely knows her stuff. When it comes to financial awareness, I have slept through 40 years, and made countless mistakes, as have untold millions of Americans. I completely agree with Suze when she states that it truly does take "Courage to Be Rich". It requires planning, budgeting, understanding, and total willingness to change from living from paycheck to paycheck, wondering when everything's going to get better. But, it won't get better, unless you and I make a change, and improve our lives. The middle of this book got a little dry when it got into the meat of the issue, eg. stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, Roth IRAs, etc., however, she explained those various investments very well. I'm just beginning to make up for a lot of wasted time, and this book was very enlightening to me. If any other books explain the subject as good or better than this one, please let me know. One inherent problem with a book like this is that after a few years some of the concepts will have changed, but the basics will always apply.

DEVELOP THE COURAGE, MOVE YOUR STALLS ASIDE!
This latest book by Suze Orman continues her wonderful advice combining how to feel positive about making and collecting lots of money with simple "how to" investment advice about things like the common mortgage and retirement plan. This book is especially good for people who have unique problems and need basic financial advice. Her greatest contribution is to make people realize that on an emotional level, it is okay to want to be rich and her exercises help us develop THE COURAGE TO BE RICH. It is not as easy as it sounds. The psychological side of us keeps putting up "stalls" to succeeding. We need to ask ourselves some tough questions to deal with how we feel, what needs to be done and to develop solutions that make us and everyone else better off. I recommend THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION if you are interested in identifying your own "stalls" and want to start asking some of the tough questions. You will start to succeed in many new ways and at a much faster rate. Read both books to become so much more effective and develop the courage to accept the good things that come your way.

Another winner by Suze!
When it comes to personal finance, no one is better than Suze Orman.

This book goes a lot deeper into personal finance tha her previous books.

Highly recommended.

A very, very, very good book. Thanks Suze
I have read several other books by female financial authors. And found those 1,000 page fluff filled books about as useful for financial knowledge as a used piece of toilet paper.

Suze is the best. She is passionate about personal finance and goes beyond just offering financial advice. Not just marketing, although her books and other products certaintly outsell that NY female magazine writer by about 1000 to 1. Suze's books sell only because she has something to say.

The Courage To Be Rich is by far one of Suze's best works to date. She really get's down and deep into the mental aspects of money and why your attitude directly affects your financial situation.

Some of what Suze writes here is similiar to 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, Suze's best book in my opinion and I like The Courage To Be Rich better than The Road to Wealth which is also excellent and probably appeals more to those analytical types who enjoy that NY female writer with the 1,000 page book full of fluff. The Road to wealth, is not fluff...it is powerful information.

None the less, I still like The Courage To Be Rich even better. More hard hitting. More results oriented.

Great book Suze. We love ya!

The Courage To Be Rich
I found this book very annoying. I wanted a financial help book and got a religious discussion of everything. I do wish that business and religion could be kept separate. If I wanted religion I would look for a religious book. She would be more helpful if she kept to the financial facts and let the reader deal with their own spirituality. I am sorry I wasted money on it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bestselling author Jane Bryant Quinn has revised and updated her classic 1991 primer on finance, Making the Most of Your Money, to prepare readers for the challenging fiscal atmosphere that she sees in the coming century. Written in her familiar, easily understood style, it starts out by helping you determine exactly where you stand on money matters and explaining basic money management techniques. Next, Quinn offers comprehensive discussions about insurance needs, home ownership, college funding, investment planning, and retirement. A useful series of appendices provides additional information on insurance, college, bonds, pensions, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (176)

BORROW IT--DON'T BUY IT!
I gave this book a 3 only for people
who don't know beans about personal
finance and like to read as a hobby.
The information is way too basic and
some is misleading i.e. her comments
on stock splits. Quinn makes it
sound like when a stock splits say
2 for 1, you now have two five's in
place of one ten. The truth is when
a stock splits a tremendous amount
of momentum and excitement is
created --- it goes beyond a stock
splitting,it's the amount of money
that can be made during all phases
of the split that makes investing in
stocks that are splitting exciting. I saw similiar errors
with insurance. home buying, mutual
funds, credit etc, etc.etc. If you
are curous, like was, you may want
to read this. But don't take the in-
formation too seriously and you'll
definitely want to read some other
financial books to get some real
meaty financial techniques. My best
advice---save your money and your
time---READ SOMETHINGELSE.

Mostly 1970's advice
The bulk of this book is just regurgitated information from a book that Quinn wrote back in 1979. The newest piece of information that I found were the new (ha-ha) Roth IRA's

This book is really 180 pages of information fluffed out to 1,000 pages of mostly useless trash. The most useful stuff can be found on the internet for FREE. If you really want to read this book you can borrow it from your library for FREE. It will be there. This is not a hot book with a huge waiting list.

I also found it amusing to see this book listed with Suze Orman's great book The Road To Wealth here at Amazon. No doubt this is just an attempt by Quinn to jump on Suze Ormans coat tails (just like she did with Venita Van Caspel in late 70's and early 80's)

The Road To Wealth is an excellent book that has content which is also current by the way and Suze Orman has the credentials to boot. What credentials does Quinn have? I rest my case!

Skip this book and buy The Road To Wealth, The Automatic Millionaire or something useful. You may also want to buy the original version of this book; Making The Most of Your Money by Ray Linder. JEESH QUIIN: You can't even come up with an original title for Gods sake!

Almost as Imporant
As a companion book to "How to Make the Most of Yourself," this anthology can begin to reveal the other decisions of life that are important for everyone, and place in perspective the priorities we have, and those we make, and how. Usually leads to a comfortable life, if not always a happy one. Highly recommended for those who consider the deprivations of life as related to their finances and the power they possess rather than the satisfactions of life from other more elusive sources that cannot be spent but may be longer lasting and self fulfilling. Usually a help in making money!

This book has been valuable to me for eleven years.
I originally bought this book called "Making the Most of Your Money" back in 1992 in order to help me with estate planning and general financial advice: I was only 24 years-old. That being said I don't know how Quinn could have stolen the title from Ray Linder's book since Quinn's original book was published before Ray Linder's book (1995).

For the record, we have followed the advice of Quinn's original book. Overall our net worth increased substantially during the period 1999-2004 because we were diversified and we continued to invest throughout. We also saved around 15-20% per year: not as good as the 30% per year that another reviewer from Japan recommends, but still a decent amount considering we live in one of the most expensive areas in the U.S.

I totally disagree with those who say that the 1991 version of the book pushes annuities and cash value insurance. My father-in-law who is a CFP and insurance agent always hated Quinn's advice because she recommended Term Insurance. We personally don't own any annuities, but our parents like them so maybe we'll invest in them in the future.

I do agree with those who say you shouldn't rely on the book for detailed investing, estate planning, college savings, and insurance purchases. For that you should find a detailed up-to-date book on the specific subject that interests you and then consult a good CFP, accountant, or estate-planning attorney. There are a lot of things that have changed since 1991; as a result the book is out of date in many respects.

In conclusion, the book was very helpful to me as an introduction to personal finance, estate planning, and purchasing insurance. It was a very good book when it was published 12 years ago. However, a lot of things have changed making the book out of date in specifics. But, I still believe that the general advice in the book is good.

Incomplete, confusing and boring
From reading passagers of this huge tome by Quinn, it is all so obvious what she has copied from other financial authors...and what she has left out. In some areas Quinn rattles on and on buut never seems to get to the point. Somewhat like asking someone for the time and they try (incorrectly) to explain how a watch works and leaves you wondering; what the heck was that all about?

Another problem is that this book is now about 8 years old. A lot of changes have occurred in personal finance during the last 8 years.

Although the book looks intimadating by it's size, the real problem is how much is left out.

I recommend Suzes Orman's excellent book The Road To Wealth in place of, not in addition to this book. Other good books to get you up to speed include 10 Smart Money Moves For Women, Smart Women Finish Rich and 9 Steps to Financial Freedom. ... Read more

Book Description

Key Features:

* Discusses the impact of retirement, and how to successfully prepare for it
* Devotes an entire chapter to tax planning and sophisticated tax strategies
* Explores key concepts and strategies of investment planning, including asset allocation
* Covers risk management strategies of insurance planning, including life, disability, health, and long term care
* Explains principles of estate planning and examines advanced estate planning strategies
* Explores the key aspects associated with divorce and death
* Underscores time value of money and creative use of calculators in financial planning
* Presents universally acclaimed methods of practice management
* Discusses the impact of September 11 (2001) disaster on the investing public ... Read more

Book Description

Ric Edelman, best-setting author of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth, provides a back-to-basics plan for getting started on the road to financial, freedom.

The time to act is now -- to preserve your financial well-being, secure your family's future, and ensure your peace of mind.

Financial expert and best-selling author Ric Edelman's 8-point plan will help you to:

Prepare for money emergencies by establishing a cash reserve, with tips on checking and savings accounts and safe places to stash that cash.

Provide for your family with the right kind of health, life, disability, long-term care, auto, homeowners, and liability insurance.

Preserve your assets with proper estate planning, from wills, titles, and trusts to probate, powers of attorney, and taxes.

Secure your home with a 30-year mortgage and do so while you still have a job and can get the loan.

Protect your income with the right questions to ask your employer about business continuity coverage, Phoenix plans, and other company-saving procedures.

Defend your business with key man coverage, cross training, data backups, off-site storage, consultants, and other strategies.

Help others in their time of need to make sure that no one is left behind.

Plan your next investment moves by developing carefully designed, highly diversified long-term portfolios that will weather any storm.

Reviews (14)

Simply Amazing
I was worried about what to do these days, and I was able to Ric's book in even less time than he wrote it. It is a very fast, easy read - and most importantly, it covers everything I needed to know right now. His writing style is friendly and accessible, and the book is filled with practical, usable information I can understand, about bank accounts, mortgages, insurance, even buying a home safe! I'll be acting on much of his advice immediately. I'm most impressed that he's giving all the money to charity. This book is a great contribution, not just to charity, but to all of us who need the information to handle these times and the confidence to get us through it. I strongly encourage you to read this, and share it with friends. I'm now going to read other books of his.

Well written book, gives great advice
With the evnets of 9/11, many of us don't know where to turn regarding our finances. This book will guide you with great advice. I'm glad I purchased it and will advise you to do the same. An easy read!!!

Helped me more than anything
I had the opportunity to buy another book by this author several years but now regretfully passed and watched by investments go down the drain as I followed advice from another financial author.

Edelmans book helped me to recoup those losses and get back on track. I have since added "The Truth About Money" and "Ordinary People Extraordinary Wealth." I also recommend "The Road to Wealth" and "The Laws of Money" by Suze Orman, another credible financial author.

don't rush to do any of this
Ric still assumes you can get 10% on investments. Right. And your Enron retirement plan will keep you cozy until you're 99.

An insurance salesman's dream!
This book should have been titled "Why you need to overinsure yourself rather than plan for retirement!" Ric uses life insurance *AS* his retirement plan and recommends you maintain enough insurance to provide an INCOME to your family. Not just pay off your debts and provide some cushion for your family, but to actually LIVE off the income. Geez, no wonder insurance rates are sky high! I can see a larger policy for a working man with a wife and young children to support -- so that his wife can have a few years to find her own way. But this man is advocating using life insurance for something it was never intended to be used for.

On top of that, he completely discounts just how much all this life and disability insurance costs. He maintains that if you can purchase a VCR and TV, you can someone find the money each month for all this insurance. Well let me tell you, I did just a basic search for the numbers he recommended for my family and we would pay out OVER $500 a month just for insurance! No thank you. We'll stick with our meager $100,000 whole life policy and the term policy for paying off the mortgage.

And that's another thing! I've never read a financial planning book that advocates not paying off your mortgage! His entire chapter about that was totally contrary to ALL the other advice out there and I couldn't disagree more. One should maintain the status quo, pay your debts, save, invest, and then pay off the morgage! Provide for your own retirement and stop using life insurance as your retirement plan. ... Read more

Book Description

From America's most trusted financial advisor comes a comprehensive guide to a new and utterly sane financial choice. In Die Broke, you'll learn that life is a game where the loser gives his money to Uncle Sam at the end. There are four steps to the process:

No, don't tell your boss to shove it...at least not out loud. But in your head accept that from this day on you're a free agent whose number one workplace priority is your personal bottom line.

You should be as conscious of spending as you are of saving. Credit should be a rarely used tool for those few times (buying homes and cars) when paying cash is impossible.

Your work life should be a journey up and down hills, rather than a climb up a sheer cliff that ends with a jump into the abyss.

It sounds terrifying, the one intolerable outcome to your financial life. And yet, in truth, dying broke might be your best option for a life without fear: fear of failure and privation now, fear of impoverishment in the long run. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

Outstanding Advice; Solid Financial Game Plan
"Die Broke" is far superior to many much more popular personal finance books. Author Pollan is pragmatic in steering individuals to avoid the "wage slave" trap the vast majority of us bungle our way into. Among many noteworthy observations, Pollan wisely points out how home ownership is not the near-guaranteed money maker it once was. This book is a perfect gift for the college graduate or someone in their mid-20s. Following Pollan's advice empowers someone to be responsive to the real world of declining living standards for most of us and practically no job security. I do feel one is better buying a 3-5 year old Japanese car and keeping it 10 years while Pollan recommends continously leasing new cars. This book is an overlooked gem that deserves the occasional re-reading.

Read this book firs