Book Description

Baby Boomers are savings and investing at a rate of 33 percent of what they need to sustain their current lifestyles at retirement.The Coffeehouse Investor shows readers that by focusing more on their passions and creativity, and less on money and the hype and hysteria of Wall Street, they will actually build more wealth and improve the quality of their lives at the same time. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A Latte Wisdom - Served Sensibly
THE COFFEEHOUSE INVESTOR is written for those of us who recognize the importance of the investment process to achieve our financial goals but don't want to take a lot of time from family, careers, and recreational passions to obsess on the matter. This is a book that can be easily read in a couple of sittings. In fact, the book's brevity is a function of its message. Commit to a few basic investment strategies and "get on with your life". For the author those life passions include cooking and mountain climbing, so you will want to indulge him a bit (bite?) to digest the book's message. Contrived, perhaps, but I for one will take my tips where I can find them. Schultheis' advice is to diversify our investments, approximate the stock market's long-term results by using index funds, and save. These are themes that other investment writers have worked in detail, but a 'coffeehouse investor' is not about overwhelming us with detail. Schultheis chooses his statistical references and charts sparingly, but they are persuasive. Charts showing the average annual returns of large company stocks over a one-year, rolling five-year, and rolling ten-year period in Chapter 2 clearly show how risk in the stock market diminishes over time. On the subject of savings, I recommend his 'retirement worksheet' in Chapter 7 as a good working model. Why index funds? The majority of actively managed funds under-perform the benchmark indexes, and that's before annual expenses, management fees, and taxes resulting from portfolio turnover. Investing as equity owners in the stock market is ultimately an investment in the "collective" creativity of our fellow human beings. The best way to participate is to 'buy the market', which is the collective sum of all our entrepreneurial efforts, mirrored in an index fund, and avoid single stock ownership except with the "fun" share (say, 5 to 15%) of our assets. No reason why investing shouldn't have a fun component too. Schultheis wants us to ignore Wall Street's muddled, self-interested message that tells us to be long-term investors, and then stimulates an environment of short-term "stuff", "hot stocks and cool mutual funds", and a "switch-to-get-rich mentality". Books by William Bernstein, Larry E. Swedroe, Charles D. Ellis, Richard A. Ferri, and others detail in greater depth the reasoning behind asset allocation, index investing, and saving for retirement, but THE COFFEEHOUSE INVESTOR will reach a large segment of the investing public who might otherwise be occupied with family, career, and recreational priorities and miss the opportunity to embrace these important investment ideas.

The best graduation gift , solid, sound, & simple investing
The words that immediately came to mind after reading this investment book were "Zen-finance" quickly followed by "simple sophisticated elegance" then "hum, interesting, a pumpkin pie recipe". A strange combination of descriptives but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Coffeehouse Investor gets better with repeated reading for specific financial information, inspirational insights and the vicarious thrills climbing Mt. Rainier & Mt. McKinley. This investment package offers more than a how to instruction manual or food for thought, it also offers sustenance for the soul.

Mr. Schultheis seems to understand first hand the organized chaos of everyday life and the energy we all infuse into our family and careers. However, he never loses sight of the importance of taking responsibility for our financial lives, planning our fanancial future and keeping sight of our personal goals.

I value his direct and simple approach to savings, the understandable definitionn of the stock market average, and the concept of index funds. The notion of looking at your whole book of investments once a year to see how you've done in comparison to the market and to make small logical adjustments appealed to me. His subtitle says it all - How to Build Wealth, Ignore Wall Street and Get on with Your Life. I like that.

This book is probably one of the best graduation gifts any parent, godparent, or aunt can give. The fundamental principles, outlined by Mr. Schultheis, will give any young person the tools to start a bright and successful financial future. Along the way, she can learn about manaaged funds and fees, indexes, how to build a common stock portfolio, and the power of compounding interest. That section alone (Chapter 7) for many people, will prompt them to wish they had started saving in their twenties rather than in their thirties. Hah! So , I'll be sending my favorite graduate a copy of this book and making sure he completes the Retirement Worksheet before his first paycheck.

Oh and one more thing. Try the pumpkin recipe. Not being a pie person, but fueled by my Retirement Worksheet success, I risked baking the pie. Very good pie. Extraordinary book. I think you'll enjoy this Zen investment book as much as I did.

Great book
This is a great book for people who want to invest, but don't want to spend their lives doing it.

Solid advice that lets you sleep at night.
There are so many investment books full of snake oil on the market that it's always nice to run across a guide that doesn't pretend to have all the answers. Instead of passioned argument, dubious timing schemes, and mindless conjecture Bill Schultheis presents reasoned conclusions based on sound research. His message is simple: By using index funds to match the market average you will beat virtually all the pros. Not only this, but following his strategy is easy for anyone and carries minimal fees, taxes, and stress.

Other books profess strategies for "beating" the market and each year they are replaced by the latest fad and cost their readers in the process. The Coffeehouse advice is simple: Diversify your money, index your assets, keep the fees low, save money, and relax. History doesn't tell you what the future will bring, but the proven track record speaks for itself: This advice would leave you well ahead of virtually all other strategies the past 10 years and trounced virtually all mutual funds and stock portfolios over the bear market from 2000-2002. All of this without losing any sleep on how your stock picks are doing. Not too bad for a quick evening read.

For more intense advice and the details behind the theories presented here you may want to read books by William Bernstein (Four Pillars of Investing, Intelligent Asset Allocator), Larry Swedroe, and John Bogle. This book though is a great and easy to understand read for anyone looking to safely grow their money. Check out the site http://www.coffeehouseinvestor.com for more information.

"Coffee House..." changed the way I invest!
I was very skeptical when I first found this book. I am a poor reader and have found few books that can keep my attention. I have followed the stock market for the last 14 years and had a reasonable understanding of how it worked, this book helped me capitalize on my knowledge.

It is easy to read and understand, it keeps you interested and the chapters build upon one another. I originally bought two copies one in paperback and another in hard back. I have "leant" both copies out and the borrowers have enjoyed the books so much I am going to have to purchase another copy for myself.

If you feel like you are throwing a dart at the Wall Street Journal to pick stocks or think you might be paying too much to your broker, read this book! ... Read more

Book Description

From the bestselling author of Financial Peace, this companion volume to More Than Enough is a step-by-step guide to building wealth while strengthening your marriage and family.

In Financial Peace, Dave Ramsey showed readers how to get out of debt. Now he uses the same blend of down-home wisdom and straight talk to take readers to the next step: building wealth. But success means more than money--it means having a happy marriage and family. In How to Have More Than Enough, Dave Ramsey guides readers down the path to true success.

Rather than gimmicks or quick fixes, Ramsey's method for achieving financial and familial stability focuses on ten traits essential to creating prosperity, teaching children about money, living debt-free, and achieving marital bliss when it comes to finances. His easy-to-follow workbook illustrates each of these traits and allows readers to frequently assess their progress and honestly evaluate their situation. How to Have More Than Enough offers readers and their spouses the chance to work toward building wealth and strengthening their families. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

ABSOLUTE MUST READ!
This book is extremely benefial to read. Its easy reading joyfully guides you how to build a good foundation for success, personal wealth, and good family relationships. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great gift to those who want to retire early!
Great gift to those who constantly talk about wanting to retire early, but don't have a clue on how to start an early retirment plan. This book will definitely get them on track to retiring early.

For those who have some plans in place for early retirment, this book will help them examine their past and present decisions to see if they are on track. Also, it will help them with future decisions to ensure that early retirement becomes a reality.

Loved those "From the Hammock" comments - quick and easy to read! ... Read more

Book Description

This extraordinary collection of over two dozen business success stories reveals firsthand how personal financial freedom can be generated by applying the principles from the #1 New York Times bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad.Thousands of readers have gone on to greater wealth by applying the Rich Dad philosophy since the series debuted in 1997. Now, over two dozen people from diverse economic backgrounds reveal the successful strategies they used to get out of the "rat race," including couples in their twenties, people who've lost their jobs, retirees, and budding entrepreneurs. Some were living paycheck-to-paycheck before starting to buy small rental properties; others climbed out of bankruptcy by slowly investing in small, local businesses; and a 13-year-old bought his first rental property after playing the Rich Dad board game, Cashflow 101. Now they share their stories to help others achieve their financial success. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Reply to reviewer from Chicago
I too was eagerly awaiting this new book by Kiyosaki. Tired of hearing allegations as to "who has really benefitted from his teachings" I eagerly bought this book and read this new addition to the Rich Dad series.

I really think the reader from Chicago is missing the point. The fact is more wealth has been made in real estate than in any other venture. No other business or investment can compare. Writing books? C'mon now! Do you have any idea on how many books get turned down each year? And of those that are published, how many do you suppose really make any real money?

Many of Kiyosaki's critics have been asking for evidence that his strategies work. Well here it is in Real Life Success Stories from Real Life People who followed the Rich Dad lessons.
Like it or not, this is how "Real People" are making "Real Money" in Real Estate.

Perhaps in some future volume, Kiyosaki will profile business success stories and I look forward to those as well. But for the masses, Real Estate is the key.

Good book Mr. Kiyosaki but I doubt this will silence your critics----too bad for them!

Great book - very inspiring
I just finished reading Rich Dad's Success Stories and Rich Dad Poor Dad.Rich Dad's Success Stories was very inspiring. Great to see people from all walkd of life and different ages succeed and so quickly too! Rich Dad Poor Dad offers a paridimn shift and really sold me on the concept of starting my own business, getting into real estate and 86-ing my J-O-B which really does stand for just over broke.Rich Dad Poor Dad also got me to think of several creative income ideas. I will never go back to think the old way again.A friend of mine has the Rich Dad board game. I couldn't believe how poorly I did (that was before reading the books) and that was my wake up call. I was using Poor Dad thinking which explains why I wasn't getting anywhere. Now that I have read these two books, I am looking forward to playing the game again and then on to the more advanced game.More importantly, it's on to financial self reliance ala Kiyosaki.Thank you Robert for 2 outstanding books. I will be adding other RD books to my library soon. Your books are the only ones that I have bought that actually deliver on their promises....and then some.

Disappointing
I am fan of Robert Kiyosaki, however I found this book very disappointing. The stories are so new that they really only talk about people making life-changing decisions in the last few years. It would have been better to tell stories about people who have spent at least 5 years utilizing Kiyosaki's principles, so we could see if their new life decisions were effective etc. Or, wait a bit longer and write about these people in a few years time. Two much better books to buy for stories about successful property investors would be two Australian books (and no, I have nothing to do with their authors or any company associated with their promotion):
(1) Jan Somers: Building Wealth Story by Story; and
(2) Jim McKnight: Ordinary Millionaires.

Multiple ways to financial freedom
Rich Dad's Success Stories is more than just ample proof that the Rich Dad philosophy works and works well; it also shows you that there are multiple ways to achieve financial freedom and obviously, thanks to Kiyosaki many people are.

I would like to address MLM aka Network Marketing first as that seems to be the most misunderstood and abused vehicle to achieve success. It has been estimated that 4 out of 5 people fail in netwotk marketing and unfortunately some people who dislike network marketing embellish on that.

The fact is that network marketing does work (just ask the 1 out of 5 who make it) why do the other 4 fail? Could be a lot of reasons. One could be choice of company. A bigger one in my opinion is lack of training and yet another one is attitude; people let their negative friends and relatives (sometimes called pukers) control their lives and decisions.

Kiyosaki openly endorses network marketing (and not just the soap company--the industry as a whole) because it is the safest, low cost, low risk way to start a business. Donald Trump said a few years ago in a tv interview that if he lost it all and had to start over, he would enroll in a network marketing company and go to work.

Rich Dad Success Stories discusses many ways to make money. Most are real estate. Others are real estate. They are various ages. The book talks about a 12 year old who bought a rental property. It also talks about a 50 something couple that started over fearing going into retirement with nothing saved. They started a business and achieved incredible success.

By the way, do you know one of the greatest success stories of all time was Col. Sanders? Do you know how old he was when he started? 50? 59? 63? No he was 65 and broke. Got digusted at looking at his social security check for $150 and went to work. He decided to sell his chicken recipe and was turned down 1,009 times (how is for rejection MLM'ers!) but never took no for an answer. The rest is history.

Rich Dad Success Stories shows real live examples of other Col Sanders. Tremeendous success stories of people who are making it.

Good book. Highly recommended.

Book Summary
Robert Kiyosaki does not believe in telling people exactly what to do. Rather, he wants you to think independently and find your own path by using the lessons learned from his Rich Dad. He says, "Rich Dad books are written for the purpose of expanding the reader's possibilities in life, rather than becoming a specific recipe book on how to get rich" (viii). Success Stories highlights the accomplishments of several people from various backgrounds who were motivated to take action after reading Rich Dad. According to Kiyosaki the need to take action is greater than ever, "We are heading into an era of great financial turmoil and uncertainty. The financial storms that lie ahead will test all of us...me included" (x). These success stories describe the conscious efforts of people to transition from the left to the right side of the Cashflow Quadrant.

Baby boomers Ed and Terry Colman began building their asset column after a chance meeting with an Amway agent. Encouraged to take the necessary steps to provide for the future of their newborn son, Jake, the couple joined Amway. While they did not earn much, they did learn and were exposed to many ideas that aided them in the future. The most important lesson the Colmans learned was that "to be successful in any investment strategy, one needs to access correct and current information and constantly monitor the situation" (9). The Colman's investing hit high gear after attending a seminar, precipitating their investing in VA foreclosures in Port St. Lucie Florida, Phoenix Arizona, and Clarksville Tennessee because of the low money down required. They learned that effective property management is crucial to the success of their investment. Terry reflects on his change in perspective, "Unlike our younger, more naive selves, we made a conscious decision to find out how the world works, to be open to change, and to be responsible for our financial well-being" (17). The Colman's story parallels that of others featured in the book.

A common thread running through many of the success stories is that success is positively related to the ability to leverage other people's time and money. Many attended seminars from which they later employed those strategies learned. Others, such as Rich Dad employee, Cecilia Morrison, bought a laundromat after learning more about it from the Coin Laundry Association. Similarly, Stacey Baker purchased her medical practice with the help of the New Zealand Medical Assurance Society whose purpose is to lend money and provide insurance for health professionals. When investing in real estate, Ronald Hoard makes good use of the services offered by large property management companies and certified commercial investment managers (CCIM) in selecting choice locations. Hoard offers the following recommendation, "Start investing now and allow yourself at least three years to learn, make mistakes, and succeed" (213). While each person followed Rich Dad's general guidelines, they all pursued a unique path catered specifically to their own interests and ability.

Merced Hall pursued her interest in flipping properties after playing the Cashflow 202 board game. Her plan requires her to purchase properties with cosmetic, rather than structural, problems at a 50% discount or more. When selling, she pays the closing costs and offers the renovated homes for nothing down. Michelle LaBrosse offers us another example of the ability of some to leverage their own specialty training. Educated with a Masters in engineering, LaBrosse applied her systems management experience toward risk management and product development. Her five-tier approach toward production includes formulating a concept, developing a "cookie-cutter" (systems) approach, testing the product to a focus group for feedback, launching the marketing campaign, and continually making minor corrections to expand product life cycle.

While these stories show that there exist many paths toward success and financial independence, all have done so by working within the paradigm constructed by Rich Dad. These guidelines advocate ongoing financial education with the goal of reducing risk and expanding your exposure to potential investing opportunities. The most important ingredient is action. Rich Dad offers a method by which you can become rich on your own terms. ... Read more

Book Description

Compelling letters by real life parents and children beneficiaries illustrate the major concepts in estate planning.While most estate planning books focus on the "how to" format of reducing tax liability, this collection of letters and stories from real life people emphasizes the more human aspects, including people's desires and goals for future generations. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Estate Planning Made Easy
An excellent book -- the best I've ever read on the subject. As a financial advisor I can't recommend it enough. Most find estate planning confusing. This book is not confusing. It's an easy read. Each simple, short, touching story illustrates a different problem that can arise by not doing good estate planning. It will make you think about your own situation with more clarity than was possible before. This book could be called Chicken Soup For Your Legacy.

A MUST READ
This is the first book I have actually seen on estate planning that was actually interesting. The stories and letters are captivating. I found myself drawn into the next one without even knowing it. By the time I had finished the book I felt like I not only learned a fair amount about estate planning, but that I also learned a lot about myself. I found myself thinking about what I really wanted to pass on to my heirs (and not so much thinking about the money). Kudos to these great authors.

The Best Estate Planning Book on the Market
Almost all books on estate planning explain how to minimize taxes and avoid probate. Colleen Barney and Victoria Collins take a totally different approach focusing on the emotional aspects of leaving money. Using compelling real life stories and letters, the authors focus on what fairness really means, passing values, wisdom, goals, ideals and life's lessons in a meaningful way, preventing fights after your death, who are the "right" people to choose as trustees and more importantly as guardians, sweating the small stuff like passing personal effects and dealing with the always sticky situation of second marriages. With a great deal of emotion, the authors take a very non-technical, understandable and realistic look at the personal side of estate planning with the goal of ensuring that your best intentions are realized after the estate has been settled.

A MUST READ
I never thought I would read an estate planning book, let alone recommend one. A friend recommended I read the book. He told me that the book was a unique perspective on estate planning. He was right on the mark. The stories and letters were captivating. I actually read the whole book over one weekend -- I just didn't want to stop. I would recommend that anyone who cares about someone read this book and use the lessons from it to design an estate plan that is meaningful -- not just about passing money, but about passing valuable life messages.

Most Valuable Estate Planning Book
What a refreshing and interesting take on what normally is a boring topic (estate planning). Once I started reading all of the stories and letters, I just couldn't put the book down. Not only was the book interesting and easy to read, but it is the first time I actually understood what it really means to plan my estate - it isn't just about the money, it is about passing on the values and ideas that I cherish. ... Read more

Book Description

Enactment of the Roth IRA law has not only revolutionized retirement planning, it may forever change the way we save for other major life goals-- from purchasing a home, financing a college education to establishing an estate trust fund. Regardless of whether you are an individual concerned about retirement or a professional financial advisor, you will find that this book provides an invaluable guide to the mechanics and subtleties of the Roth IRA legislation.

Highlights of this book:

Quick Start overview that can be read in 15 minutes.

All rules explained in simple, non-jargon English.

Easy 5-step retirement planning method clarifies goals.

Analysis of 11 profiles (ages 25 to 85) using state-of-the-art software.

Comparison with 401(k) savings / capital gains funds.

New technology shows how partial Roth Conversions can maximize assets.

Enhancing estate plans with the Roth IRA.

Reference forms (5305, 5329) and TCA Sections 408A, 219 and 408.

Includes current legislation: Technical Corrections Act (July) 1998. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA Conversion
I am over 65 and have found the "Roth IRA Book, An Investor's Guide" by Dr. Gobind Daryanani to be an excellent information source. There are a number of factors to be considered in evaluating the the conversion of a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Dr.Daryanani's book is an excellent supplement to IRS Publication 590 (Individual Retirement Arrangements) since it explains and clarifies many potential problem areas. His book is well organized and written in clear understandable language. The book, together with reference to Pub. 590, provided the information I needed to feel comfortable in my IRA planning and execution.

Step-by-step, help you determine if a ROTH is right for you
This book takes some pretty complicated number crunching and makes sense our of it. It walks you step-by-step throught the calcualtions to determine what kind of benefit a ROTH IRA would provide to you. After reading you should easily be able to tell if the ROTH IRA is the best choice for you. Additionally, if you have other funds eligible for rollover into a ROTH IRA, the book helps you determine the optimum rollover amount. I thought is was very well written.

The best book on the topic.
I've been reading a lot about the Roth and this is the most complete treatment I've seen. This is easy to follow and complete. I'm happy to have read it and have already saved money.

Contains little more than standard journalistic accounts.
I was disappointed in the book. I reasoned that a decision involving thousands of dollars warrants a $40 book purchase. Unfortunately, there is little to be gained from this book that can't be found from a quick search of public media. Moreover, the author uses this hastily-prepared book as a platform for selling yet another product, a so-called "high-end software package" to compute "optimal" Roth conversion levels. No book or software can really deliver an "optimal" recommendation due to the many uncertainties involved. The failing of this book is that it does not help the reader intelligently consider the variables and possibilities. It's full of boosterism about the virtues of the "Roth project." It has not been spell-checked, much less edited. The level of organization and quality of writing style are exemplified by the fact that Chapter 7 (SEVEN) begins, "The Roth IRA is a new type of IRA that has been made available as of January 1, 1998. It is named after..." In sum, an opportunistic volume targeted to the millions who need help with a complex financial decision.

Well written and easy to follow
Have reviewed several publications dealing with this topic. This book answers all of the common questions which arise and is also relatively easy to follow as a reference book. In addition, if I had trouble interpretting an answer, Dr. Daryanani's email address served me well. A reply came within 2 days! This book was recommended to me at a Fee Only Financial Planning Forum by another planner. I would be comfortable recommending it to anyone. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck, working long hours at a JOB that stands for “Just Over Broke”? Do you dream about retiring early to spend more time with your loved ones—or finally owning a house in your favorite part of town? If you’re ready to take charge of your finances and move beyond your salary to create new wealth, then come on, girl – it’s time to make your money grow!

These days the stock market can make anyone flinch—but as the money-wise Glinda Bridgforth knows, it’s more important than ever to plan for the future and secure your lifestyle. In this timely follow-up to her bestselling Girl, Get Your Money Straight!, Bridgforth teams up with investment expert and stockbroker Gail Perry-Mason to deliver power-packed, sister-to-sister advice on how to master the stock market, grow your income, and start investing in your biggest asset—you.

Beginning with simple, engaging exercises to help you assess your finances and transform any negative money beliefs that hold you back, Bridgforth and Perry-Mason then present their step-by-step program for becoming acquainted with investing and making your money work for you, 24-7. You will learn how to:
Clear away debt and clear the deck—for investing
Create new streams of income by using your own special talents
Develop an investment mission statement
Map out a personalized plan for retirement and take advantage of the best retirement options: 401(k)s, IRAs, and more
Own your own piece of the rock: buying prime real estate
Take the mystery out of the market and build an investment portfolio that’s right for you
Use bonds, mutual funds, and blue chip stocks to lower your risk without sacrificing profits
Read the market for winners and losers—and get the knowledge you need to protect your assets

Filled with Bridgforth’s warm-hearted wisdom and advice, and complete with worksheets, exercises, affirmations, and inspiring stories of African American women who’ve successfully grown their money tree, Girl, Make Your Money Grow! is a fresh, fun, and eminently practical guide to achieving the next level of financial security and to funding the future of your dreams.

Reviews (2)

Consider this your first investment!
This book is a must have for everyone interested in getting their financial houses in order. Both of these women spoke at a networking brunch I attended in San Francisco on Mar.6'04. I bought the book (yes, it is signed by both of them) and started reading it on my way home. This book is full of tips on clearing your debt, ways to supplement your income, how to save your money, steps to help you understand your spending habits, information to help you understand investing and your investment options, planning for retirement...I could go on. I've been sharing information with friends everyday, so I'm going to just get them their own books!

Make your money work for you
Is retirement looming in your future with a big question mark? Do you still need to do more financial planning for this event? Are you on the verge of bankruptcy? Do you need to learn more about investing? Do you want to create more wealth? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you should read GIRL, MAKE YOUR MONEY GROW! This is a true sister-to-sister conversation about using what you already have to build your nest egg--you. Glinda Bridgforth and Gail Perry-Mason tell us that we are our biggest assets and then they show us how to harness our talents and skills to be more productive financially. They state, "Be willing to invest in yourself, and graciously receive and enjoy boundless dividends for life."

Bridgforth and Perry-Mason should be applauded for their efforts to educate and arm African-American women with the tools necessary to attain more income. The plan they've outlined and presented is straightforward, logical and concise. They have even provided testimonials from those who have tried their plan and they themselves have included their own personal stories for inspiration. This book is awesome. All women should know the secrets within the pages of this novel. It takes the mystery out of investing. For those of you struggling with your finances or those that simply want to increase your net worth, read this book; it will change your outlook on how to increase your income and motivate you to begin now.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers ... Read more

Book Description

In How to Conquer Wall Street, Tirrell J. Paxton levels the playing field by equipping individual investors with information and skills that are normally employed by financial planners, stockbrokers, and institutional investors.How to Conquer Wall Street breaks down the doors to this exclusive club of professional investors.This self-study investment program enables ordinary people to grasp and utilize financial information to make wise investment decisions.

In light of recent corporate scandals, such as Enron, ordinary investors have become increasingly wary of investing.Tirrell J. Paxton encourages investors to obtain an understanding of the fundamentals of investing and financial planning, so that they can make informed decisions regarding their investments.This way, an investor will not have to blindly rely upon the advice of financial planners and stock analysts.How to Conquer Wall Street includes a lecture on CD, written materials retrievable from the publisher’s website, and referrals to other sources of information.

In How to Conquer Wall Street, Mr. Paxton categorizes investments into five groups, which are retirement investments, college savings plans, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.Additionally, he identifies the rights, risks, and profits associated with each of these categories.Accordingly, he describes a thought process for selecting and monitoring investments, which does not require prior financial training.Lastly, Mr. Paxton discusses the services provided by financial planners, stockbrokers, and internet brokerage companies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

How to Conquer Wall Street
The world of investments is vast and often time intimidating. In the midst of the Enron scandal and other corporate wrongdoing, I have been reluctant to engage in any type of personal investing.

Alternatively, I have relied on brokers to assist me in establishing investment strategies to build wealth. It seems as if the ones I have dealt with are more concerned with commissions than assisting me with an investment strategy to maximize my profits.

How to Conquer Wall Street has restored my confidence because it provides me clear and concise information that I can use to understand long and short-term investing. I can better read financial reports and can more actively determine if my broker is carrying out my investment strategy.

I think it is an excellent learning tool that reinforces the knowledge that I've previously acquired as well as introduce other topic that I was unaware of. I think it is a must have for personal investing.

"How to Conquer Wallstreet"
At last a point of reference which simplies the Wall Street maze.
This audio book makes it all so easy to understand and grasp.
I love it, Every time I listen to it again: I learn something new, and gain a deeper understanding of what I learned before.
Its worth your time. ... Read more

Book Description

Newly repackaged and updated! This #1 national bestseller offers you practical advice onhow to achieve financial success by eliminating stress, worry, anger, and fear.

In this practical and simple book, Richard Carlson turns his attention to two of the most important issues in our daily lives-stress and making money. Newly repackaged and updated with 10 new essays, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money offers 100 brilliant strategies for living more fully and worrying les as a means of attracting more wealth into our lives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice Essays
I gave up reading Richard Carlson's "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money" (formerly titled "Don't Worry, Make Money"), but only because I have other books that I'd rather be reading right now. Carlson's book consists of 100 short sermons about getting along in life, and it's all good stuff. Most of the lessons are obvious from their titles: Express Your Gratitude Toward Others; Think BIG!; Ask for What You Want; Charge What You Are Worth; Think About Purple Snowflakes; etc. Each is backed up with an anecdote and a bit of explanation. (OK, "Purple Snowflakes" is about being different when you need to get someone's attention -- such as taping your message to a football and mailing that, to make sure your letter will be noticed and opened.) I particularly liked Lesson 15, "Remind Yourself that Your Life Begins Now," in which Carlson points out that a ship's wake does not power or steer the vessel. We have momentum, of course -- and other constraints -- but it's up to us to decide each day in which direction to steer. If this sort of thing inspires you, Carlson's bibliography of 29 similar positive-thinking book may be of use. Or look for his other six Don't Sweat the Small Stuff titles. Good advice, all of it. The more seriously you take it, the more it will benefit you.

Genius
This book has been incredibly useful. I now recommend it to everyone for personal and business uses. The insight it provides is unmistakebly worth every penny and the gas to go and get it! ... Read more

Book Description

The best time to plan for trouble—the death of a spouse, the collapse of a business, the loss of your home—is before you’re overwhelmed by it. This is especially important if you have a family or a small business or are beginning to save for your retirement. But what should you do first? In 50 Simple Steps You Can Take to Disaster-Proof Your Finances, money and real estate expert Ilyce Glink walks you step by step through the things you need to do to protect your family and your money so you can survive any crisis. Topics include:

* Getting organized: What do you have and where is it?
* Banking and credit: The credit, accounts, and emergency cash you need
* Travel: Traveling safer—and for less money
* Insurance and health: How to buy the important policies and save
* Investments: Diversifying to help you weather the tough times
* Family matters: Planning for your children’s and aging parents’ futures
* Estate matters: Wills, living wills, and more
* After the disaster: Finding the emergency aid you need

In her friendly and easy-to-understand style, Ilyce Glink shows you how to avoid the ten most common mistakes people make in planning for their future, helps you add up the numbers with simple worksheets, and guides you to the leading websites for more information. With this indispensable guide, you’ll know you’ve done the best you can do for yourself and your loved ones. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF INVESTING IDEAS
I like to read how the average guy becomes rich investing in ways I can follow. That is the slow and easy way. Not day trading or trying to make a quick buck. Another author who compiled a list of ordinary people who made a great amount of money in stocks is an author named R.Max Bowser. Any reader who reads "Eight Steps To Seven Figures" may want to check out the book, "Penny Stock Winners:True Stories of Successful Investors" by R.Max Bowser. In his book, Mr. Bowser interviews 15 successful individuals who have entered into what he calls microcap investing (buying stock in small companies with great futures). Mr. Bowser has an especially timely chapter on how to prevent being victimized by brokers that sell and later manipulate a company's stock, and provides a list of brokers that have been accused of operating these scams.

An outstanding guide for everyone
I have been searching for an investment book, and finally decided to purchase this one. It is definitely well written, and easy to read, even for a 27-year-old beginning investor like myself. The author illustrated his strategies with real-life stories and historic data. This is a book for everyone who understands the joy of delayed gratification, and wants to have financial freedom. Some of its strategies coincide with my own: start investing NOW, establish a goal, buy only stocks and stock mutual funds, invest every month, buy and hold...and hold....and hold..., and take what Uncle Sam gives you. The book also warns you about the common mistakes investors make: acting on a tip/news, trying to time/beat to markets, trading a lot instead of investing, etc. It is very insightful and informative. I consider buying this book one of my best investments.

Excellent for beginner
This was the first book I read after I developed interest in stocks. At first i thought its just another book on finance with a lot of promises but absolutely no practicality and most books leave u with more qts than answers.
I am a novice to the stock market and this books gave me idea as to what tools and sources are available and also provided me an insight on what returns I might get 30 years down the lane.

Eventhough the author mentions about mutual funds, I suggest readers go through other books available in the market regarding mutual funds as the focus in this book seems to be stocks stocks and more stocks.

Its a damn good book for beginners and answers basic questions like how to buy stock, what cost and the sources and also how to go about putting your initial investment.

I would recommend to beginners like me !!!

worth at least $.../year to read this book
Excellent and easy to read with timeless advise. If you want to get to seven figures it will not be via paycheck, day trading or waiting for the next boom market. With the knowledge you gain form this book, if put to action you will be financially secure in 15 years.

A Post-Enron Analysis
Since this book has Enron's phone number in the appendix, I thought I'd share my views on some of the points raised in this book.

1) I have NEVER been a fan of 401K. As the Enron employees found out, they are not a fail-safe investment. You don't have any say-so in the stock selection or even choose if you want a load or no-load fund to put your money in. And it is apparently very easy for the company to make off with your funds leaving you very little recourse.

2) I would advise the reader not to pay all that much attention to the recommended "must-have" stocks, even though he only had one or two real losers in the bunch (Lucent, Tribune). I believe it would be more effective if maybe sectors were chosen, then use Carlson's advice on how to choose your favorite stocks wisely. Carlson says to know your strengths and weaknesses and interests as an investor and invest either in index funds or individual stocks, or some combination of both, so I go along with the need for personal interest, or buying from companies whose products you actually use yourself. He lists entertainment/media, health care, information services, financial services, retailing, consumer products/services, technology, telecommunications, and energy (thank goodness, he didn't recommend Enron here). I think I would add the transportation sector, but for some reason that one isn't discussed. And I wish I had chosen an index fund instead of my Strong funds. Luckily I did not invest all my eggs in that basket.

4) I really hate the "limit shocks to your finances" chapter. I couldn't believe there was a chapter that suggested one avoided having children or taking care of one's elderly parents. What's wrong with this picture? Job-hopping and divorce are also considered shocks to the seven-figure dream. On the other hand, these things are a pretty good shock to the five-figure income, as well! I also believe that higher education is a financial pit worth avoiding unless you absolutely need it. I know too many people with an expensive piece of paper on the wall and not using it. Carlson feels that education levels correlate strongly with future earnings. I believe future earnings depend upon whom you know at the company you work at, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that point!

I guess the real problem I have with parts of this book is not only a post-Enron attitude but a post- 911 attitude as well. At the time I bought this book, I certainly wanted to find out how to make more money than I was. However, these days being a millionaire just isn't a goal for me. Being healthy, happy, and loved are better goals for me, I think. When a book comes out with a title something like "Eight Steps to Six Figures, And Being Happy With What You Have Afterwards", I think I'd rather buy that one instead. In the meantime, I can't say this book wasn't informative for me, and if I HAD to pick a stock, I believe I can now do so with confidence. But I really think I'll put my book up for sale! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A concise guide to your 401K
This short book covered more than I thought it would, a must read if you are considering a 401k plan or are ready to retire.

Great help with financial planning whether you are 22 or 62
Ms. Rowland does a great job answering just about every question imaginable when it comes to dealing with your 401K plan. There is advice for getting started,switching jobs, planning beneficiaries, actually retiring, taking loans out against your 401k...everything. The book is written in a series of 2 page articles she lists as "steps" so if you want to skip around you can. While a little of the material is dated as a result of the recent tax changes, it is mostly in regards to amounts an individual is able to contribute. I felt I was fairly knowledgeable on this topic before I started reading but I found it pretty interesting and worth the time.

excellent book
This book is excellent! She explains, in-depth and in easy to understand language, exactly what a 401(k) plan is and how to use it to plan for retirement. Her book clearly explains the role of the 401(k) in retirement.

A must read if you are considering 401(k)
This is an excellent book about 401(k) plan. I found 99% of my questions answered in that book. The book is well-organized, and the author did a good job in presenting the pros and cons of 401(k)plan. The only thing I recommend to the author is elaborating more about the 401K status for non-residnts, and how can they get their money out of this plan in case they decided to leave the country.

Everything you need to know about 401(k)s is in this book.
More than 22 million Americans have 401(k) plans worth an astounding $750 billion. Chances are, most employees who sign up for this great perk do little more than read an occasional article on the subject. But big bucks -- and 22 million nest eggs -- are on the line. So if you're lucky enough to be eligible for a 401(k), you owe it to yourself to read this objective guide. In a series of easy- to-digest steps, personal finance writer Mary Rowland lays out -- including sample portfolios, reducing taxes, monitoring plan expenses, taking a loan, or making a withdrawal. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Informative
In SURVIVING FINANCIAL DISASTERS, Tiffany R. Love seems to cover all of the major areas of financial upheaval that may wreak havoc on one's life. From bankruptcy to foreclosure to auto repossessions to evictions, this book is complete, clear and informative.

Ms. Love delves into many topics, the most complete area is the bankruptcy section. Speaking from her personal experiences, Ms. Love provides us with the 411 regarding the most common types of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy. . .we've all heard about it but what is it really and how does one learn about the process? This book does a wonderful job of explaining the two types of bankruptcy - Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 and the differences between the two. Also, it explores such interesting topics as whether you can declare bankruptcy and keep your property.

Foreclosures are another financial disaster that is highlighted in the book. Ms. Love urges her readers to avoid rushing into a definitive decision that may cause an avalanche of other financial grief to rain down on them. Stressing that setting objectives is paramount and planning does not require cash, Ms. Love clearly sheds light on an otherwise dark situation.

For anyone who has fallen down on their luck and is seeking some common sense and guidance, then you may want to consider SURVIVING FINANCIAL DISASTERS for your financial repertoire. Some sections of the book such as bankruptcy, foreclosures and auto repossessions are fairly extensive. Whereas some areas of the book, such as eviction is well-presented but not as broadly covered.

Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Fantastic
This book is GREAT!! It has the forms and samples I need for my counseling business. The author did an outstanding job editing the book and it's easy to read. Everything you need to know is in here. The CD ROM alone is worth the purchase. No, I don't know the author. I did meet her a signing and let's say she's all that and ... (too bad they didn't take a piture of her body).

Comprehensive and easy to read
Get rid of your debts, Get this book.Comes with a CD ROM with Bankruptcy forms that I couldn't find any where. This book guided me through a very difficult decesion and it's been accurate all the way. The Selling Possession section is awesome says my sister who is reading the book too. Great Job! ... Read more

Book Description

This Nutshell presents an introduction to estate planning. Subjects covered include the transfer of property at death at will under the intestate law, survivor interests, community property, and "simple" wills. Addresses insurance, estates arising from status, Social Security, pensions, workers' compensation, and veterans benefits. Discusses charitable trusts, the rule in Shelley's case, the Doctrine of Worthier Title, the Rule Against Perpetuities, and the Rule Against Accumulations. Also addresses fiduciary administration and federal estate and gift taxes. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

definately recommend it
I only wish I had found Getting Loaded sooner. I'm recently married and after that happens you pay much more attention to your finances. This is the book to help anyone, single or married get their act together. It's a quick, easy read and it's easy to reference topics because it's 50 short chapters, not 10-12 long ones. I definately recommend it

Reader
This is a great book that young people interested in their personal finances can relate to. Easy to read and presents many investing options with step by step instructions on what to do if you are still confused. It even includes a script for exactly what to ask for when calling investment firms. I would recommend it to everyone, you can never be too young to read this book because time is of essence. Would make a great graduation gift!

This book blows!
Why wasn't this book around 25 years ago. It's cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars!!!

Seriously, the book is great. I picked it up at the local library's booksale for $.50 (Ha! I learn fast).
While aimed at the 20-30 something crowd, where it's advice will do the most good, (time really IS money, apparently) it does have a slew of practical "secret's" that will save anyone with patience and commonsense from uberconsumerism.
It's quick pace, short chapters and witty writing style pretty much ensures that when I pass this book on to my 24 year old son he'll actually read the thing (or else!).

A "Must-Read" before you invest another dollar!
Awesome book! Highly recommended for financial novices and experts alike. This book is very well written and arranged in a logical manner to help the beginner build a good foundation of personal finance without insulting the intelligence of the financially astute. Filled with wit, humor and thought-provoking cynicism, Mr Bielagus serves up a short-order lesson on how to cut through the complex financial world without being intimidated. A great way to benefit from a financial expert's many years of research in less than 400 pages! An absolute "must-read" for anyone on the road to financial independence.

Excellent Book For Young Investors
After scouring through endless personal finance books, I can finally say that I have found a book that easily relates to the young investor. In comparisons to the other personal finance books, from Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (which is more of a philosophical book rather than a 'how-to' book and should be taken that way instead of following his dangerous advice), to Making the Most of Your Money by Jane Bryant Quinn (overall excellent), to Road to Wealth by Suze Orman (estate planning is excellent), and to Personl Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson (investing plan is very good), just to name a few top rated books, this book deserves recognition. A smart, young adult looking to secure their financial future early in life can easily relate to the topics he discusses and can take action immediately. I recommend this book to anyone, especially to the younger generation. ... Read more

Book Description

Easy-to-follow personal finance guidelines--from #1 Rated Financial Advisor with American Express Financial Advisors

Charles Zhang became one of today's most nationally known and trusted financial advisers by stressing sanity and sensible investing over dubious, get-rich-quick tricks and schemes. In Make Yourself a Millionaire, Zhang transfers his program to the printed page. Far from a confusing, all-or-nothing approach, this book outlines a clear and rational approach to organizing and planning all aspects of a financial life.

How do different investments work? How much insurance is too much? Zhang answers these questions and more as he discusses:

• Recommended investments for virtually any portfolio
• Asset allocation techniques that work
• Actual examples of success and disaster
• The role of insurance as a key element in a portfolio
• All major financial instruments: stocks, bonds, funds, REITs, cash

Reviews (8)

Financial Guidebook!
My wife and I recently returned from a vacation overseas. Like most tourists, we found our guidebook to be an invaluable resource that helped us to understand the sights we saw. Charles and Lynn understand that most investors are overwhelmed with information that is important to them, but at the same time confusing. First, they reccommend working with a financial advisor to set up a plan. Second, they offer this great book as a "guidebook." The book can be used as a refernce tool that will prove to be an invaluable resource for people that are striving to meet life's most important goals. Thank you Charles and Lynn!!

What do you want from yourself
It's a very straightforward guidebook to encourage you to start to plan for your financial real dreams. A must read and true value add roadmap for your road to wealth!

Plan to be a Millionaire
As an inspiring investor coming out of college, learning about investments is an essential part to planning for my life. I can effectively diversify my portfolio by investing in mutual funds to capture many types of investment vehicles whether they are growth funds, global equity funds, or even precious metals funds. I want stability and growth for my future and Zhang's book really helped me to understand every aspect of the Mutual fund. I have recommended this book to many of my friends graduating college and looking to plan ahead with investments to secure their future. In uncertain times, Charles and Lynn Zhang have helped me to become a knowledgeable and confident investor.

Must read
This book provides excellent information. I am especially impressed by the charts - for example, the chart about the historical growth of stocks after the wars. Great book! A must read!

THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!
It touches on every area of financial planning. It reads very smoothly, is easy to understand, and I can apply the knowledge I've gained on a regular basis. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you limping towards the big three-oh one minimum payment at a time?

Are you "on your own" but still asking your parents for cash each birthday?

Do you crumple up your ATM receipts to avoid looking at the balance?

Are friends in the same income bracket beginning to pull ahead of you?

If you're young, smart, and drowning in debt, Debt-Free by 30 offers a practical, step-by-step plan to help rescue you from the financial abyss. Written by two twentysomethings who found their way back from the horrors of overwhelming debt, this authoritative guide reveals the secrets of debt-free living:

*The Seven Debtly Sins-and how to avoid them at all costs
*Where Does All the Money Go?-taking your financial inventory
*Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Banking but Feared Being Bored out of Your Skull
*Beating Credit Cards at Their Own Game-how to save hundreds of dollars in interest in less than five minutes
Plus tips for

* Driving for less
* Keeping more of what you earn
* Life after debt
. . . and much, much more

Featuring financial IQ Quizzes, no-brainer savings advice, and painless ways to spend less, Debt-Free by 30 will put you back in control of your money-and your life. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Practical, easy to read and down right funny
My chances of becoming debt-free by 30 have passed. However, as I perused the aisles of my local bookstore in search of a common sense book about getting out of debt, this one was clearly the winner. The book is filled with common sense advice on how to cut expenses and prepare for the future. It's all outlined in an easy-to-read fashion and delivered with a witty sense of humor. The authors offer a variety of on-line resources which I promptly accessed as I read through the chapters.

Prior to reading the book I was sure I had analyzed my budget completely and was paying off as much of my debt as possible. However, after reading some of the stories and examples in the book, I reworked my figures and discovered an extra $200 a month I can contribute to debt-reduction.

Anthony and Cluck have a "come on, you can do it" attitude that makes debt reduction seem a little less painful. I sure wish I had this book when I was twenty-something. However, with a little motivation I was able to establish my own debt-free day which will be well before I'm 40. Some of us take longer to learn. Wherever you are on your debt reduction efforts, this book can help.

Worth Going Into Debt For
Charge it if you have to, this book is a must for anyone who makes and spends money. Even if you're not "young," "broke" or even in debt, the book is an entertaining and useful guide. I stood in the aisle of a bookstore with a friend of mine who is in debt -- $20,000 in school loans, $6,000 in credit card debt, a car lease -- all on a first-year teacher's salary. We read the book nearly cover to cover, laughing to the point of turning heads. I didn't buy it myself, as I'm not in debt. But I found myself wanting to refer to it so often -- for subjects such as car purchasing information (that's car PURCHASING, not leasing; for why, refer to the book) -- that I went ahead and bought it to add to the "personal finance" section of my bookcase. I'm now reading the whole thing all over again -- get this -- for fun. That's how funny the book is, and how pertinent to just about everybody's financial life. Buy it, charge it, borrow it, steal it. Just get it.

It changed my life!
I highly recommend this book. It is very informative with great advice, and best of all...entertaining to read.

I've read a lot of financial books, but this one is the only one that gave me real hope. Anytime I want to dig out my credit card I re-read a small section and stay on track.

I originally read this book in the fall of 2002, and have finally decided to write a review b/c of impact it has had. I've paid off more than 50% of my debt since reading the book, and I haven't paid a cent in interest to credit card companies.

For the first time in my life I was able to see how easy it is to cut back on spending just by keeping track of my Starbucks/eating out for lunch habit. Everyone will have a different situation, but it gives you the advice you need to objectively view your own spending, develop a plan, and still have a life. Best of all, the book will make you feel empowered and motivated, Other books are written to make you feel like a financial idiot or someone who needs to join a twelve step program for debt.

Common sense, but at least it's not boring
This book is so much common sense. I just don't understand why people have a problem with budgeting. It's simple, don't spend more then you make! But if you do have a problem with this concept or need help getting out of debt, this book could help. Money saving tip - get it from the library!

A Surefire Motivator
My husband purchased this book for us about 2 years go. We read it in less than a week - an easy read as others have already mentioned. To say the least, we found this book motivating. After we read it, I made a spreadsheet of our debt - including who we owed, how much, the interest rate, and a schedule of how soon/or not we would pay it off making various payments. (To put it into perspective, we owed over $15K in credit card debt). We called each credit card company and got them to lower our rates. The one that didn't, lost all of our money. We transferred it to an introductory 0.00% credit card instead. We then started with the highest debt/highest interest rate, and worked our way down to the last of the credit cards from there. It took us about a year and a half to get it paid off, but it was worth the wait. Here we are less than a year from paying off our credit card debt (keeping only auto loans and a student loan as debt) with thousands of dollars in our savings account. We pay cash for everything we purchase, and seriously consider our purchases before making the transaction. Our lives truly changed after reading this book. This book will be our future gift to college grads. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ric Edelman believes you can't create a truly effective personal finance plan until you really know what you want out of life. In Discover the Wealth Within You he shows how to develop a realistic series of individualized goals for your future, and then how to construct an investment program to help you realize them. Edelman, author of New York Times bestsellers Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth and The Truth About Money, draws on these books to explain why we're ultimately more successful with our financial agenda when we focus on it as a means to an array of unambiguous objectives (such as "see an event in person during the next Winter Olympics" or "have plastic surgery in three years") rather than vague long-range aspirations (like saving "for retirement" or to "buy a house"). In the first section he unveils a step-by-step process for determining the precise objectives that motivate us; in the second he points us toward a mutual-fund-based savings plan that should be easier to capitalize consistently because we know where it's taking us and when we'll get there. Incorporating a profusion of appropriate cartoon strips, inspirational testimonials, persuasive statistics