Reviews (11)

Great general introduction to wealth building & investing.
Before I picked this book up I was indeed an idiot. Now I'm ... well, much much less of an idiot. Filled with definitions and anecdotes, this book explains how different types of investments work. Most helpful, however, are the very basic characteristics needed to become wealthy. Rather than focusing on complex descriptions of portfolios or giving a run-down of "hot" stock tips, the author delivers sound practical advice like "cut down your spending and save as much as you can." I also liked that it was not just a "beginner's" book, but provides tips for everyone from young adults to millionaires on how to build and safeguard wealth.

Bad cover, Great book!
I have to carry this in a brown bag so no one will see me reading an Idiot's book. But it's worth the embarrassment if someone does see it on my bookshelf- this is a great book on accumulating wealth for beginners. It has an easy to-read-format and gives sensible advice for people of any income level. Whether you have $50 a month to invest or a fortune, you can probably find some good tips in here. I am not a wealthy person, just someone trying to learn how better manage what I have invested and trying not to make any big mistakes. Tips include saving and investing knowledge, as well as how to start a business and how to cultivate the right attitude and habits for success.

Best investment
The book lays out in simple, easy-to-understand terms, the ways you achieve wealth. The writing is not preachy nor circuitous like Rich Dad, Poor Dad. What we have here is a clear, easy-to-follow roadmap to financial independence. There are loads of insights and mind-opening concepts here, so I recommend buying this book. It's money well spent.

A great book!
I liked the way he breaks down the stages of wealth. From 1-5, stage 1 being, just getting out of bebt and start to save; stage 2 which is the point where your investments actually start showing compound growth, all the way to stage 5 which is Rockefeller type of money. I think breaking wealth down into this form of stages actually lets you realize where you are at in your quest for wealth. I personally do not think I will ever achieve stage 5 wealth and dont really care to; I do want to achieve at least stage 3 wealth. All in all this is the best how to get rich book I have read so far, and I have read a few.

Great book, very inspirational!!!!!
This is a really good book, and is not totally about stocks as a previous review claims. It talks about the traits of wealthy people, taxes, investing, starting your own business and many other things. It is the kind of book you read over and over! I got it from the library originally, but it was so good I had to buy it! ... Read more

Book Description

This book makes it easy to learn how to get the most from a Roth IRA. In plain language in covers:

Choices. Deciding whether the Roth IRA is best for you, and where to establish your Roth.

Contributions. How to build wealth for yourself, your spouse, even your child.

Conversions. Determining when and how to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

Distributions. How to withdraw money from your Roth IRA without paying tax or penalties.

Strategies. Situations where the Roth IRA can provide special benefits.

This book is your complete, authoritative guide to Roth IRAs, covering all the rules -- and explaining strategies that will help you build and preserve retirement wealth. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bill and Mary Toohey are about as average as a couple can be. They live in Iowa, pull down about $65,000 a year combined, and have three children. What's not average about them is that they have a net worth of about a half-million dollars. They've paid off their mortgage, and they paid cash for their cars. Their oldest daughter graduated from college with no debts and with money in the bank. How did they manage? It takes a book to explain the particulars, but the executive summary is this: They lived on about half their income, and saved and invested the other half. Part of their plan is simply saying no to impulse purchases such as soft drinks and candy bars. (They show how they accumulated $26,733 in eight years by investing the money they didn't spend on junk.) Their strategy involves, in part, shopping around for the best price on their big-ticket purchases. (They take you step by step through a few transactions, from research to purchase, so you can do this yourself.) But the biggest part is living small. They have a modest house (one bathroom). They don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Their investment strategy is very simple, mostly stock index and bond funds. By never trying to be more than average, they made themselves extraordinary.

It's hard to imagine that many people will be able to follow their entire program--that one-bathroom house will probably stop most readers in their tracks--and some of their ideas about cheap entertainment seem a little far-fetched. For example, if you're thinking of taking the children to the circus when it comes to town, they advise, take them instead to watch the circus troupe setting up tents and feeding the animals. Imagine the family fun when the kids go to school and realize all their friends got to see the actual circus. Still, there should be plenty of useful advice in this Guide to Financial Freedom for any family. Most of it is simple and makes intuitive sense, and the Tooheys' breezy, conversational writing style makes you feel as though you were sitting with them in their (small) living room while they shared it. Best of all, their plan clearly works. A half-million in savings on a middle-class income is a pretty good leg to stand on when offering advice. --Lou Schuler ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Average Family with Above Average AdviceIf
If you ever wonder whether anyone really follows the advice in financial magazines, read this book. Bill and Mary Toohey were avid readers of MONEY but wrote to the editors, suggesting that their advice didn't help families with several kids and a modest income. The editors asked the Tooheys for their best financial tips. This book includes the Toohey family strategy for saving and investing and also for recognizing the importance of traditional family values. The book includes sound and simple advice that works for everyone. The Tooheys write for the majority of Americans who recognize they will never be millionaires.

Exactly What I Needed
This book was easy to read, interesting, and tells me what I need to know to achieve financial freedom. I plan to recommend it to friends and family. If you want freedom and don't know where to start, buy this book.

Excellent ideas on saving and early retirement
I thoroughly enjoyed the book which gives new ideas about how to handle family finances so that a job doesn't take priority over your freedom and family.

In answer to a previous reviewer who wondered how their investments faired in the bear market, according to the book they invested in Vanguard index bond funds which are based on secure bonds like the US treasury bonds so I suspect that they still have their money and some extra as well.

Common sense living in a non-sensical age
I find myself returning to this book periodically for inspiration. You don't have to be a wage slave forever. If you are willing to live well within (or drastically under) your means, you can accumulate enough wealth to chart your own course in life.

The Tooheys give a number of concrete examples of ways to cut expenses. They also call into question a number of the assumptions we make as a result of our brainwashing by modern media. For example: Why does a family really need more than one full bath in a house?

To someone fully immersed in our culture's consumer rat-race, the Tooheys are going to seem a bit radical. We are all a bit too accustomed to focusing on convenience and immediacy rather than long term cost. Try to keep an open mind and remember that the best things in life can't be found in a shopping mall.

end of the bull market?
Obviously, many find this book inspirational. And it is. But remember: the authors had close to $500,000 in winter 1999. I would like to know where they stand now--after 3 years of a down stock market. ... Read more

Book Description

Jason Kelly's two previous books demonstrated his talent for translating the complicated jargon of Wall Street into a common language the financially fearful could understand. Now Kelly's tactics will reach an even wider audience with The Neatest Little Guide To Personal Finance.Combining friendly advice with solid expertise, Kelly's newest book provides guidance on how to figure your net worth, get out of debt, maximize your income and plan an investment strategy for retirement. He includes lessons on how to borrow money wisely, choose an IRA, and manage student loans while offering hints on selecting insurance plans, filing tax returns and financing a home. With Jason Kelly's trademark flair, The Neatest Little Guide To Personal Finance shows how sensible saving and spending can lead to peace of mind and a profitable future. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good insurance listing
I was able to lower my car insurance by a few hundred dollars by calling Amica, the company recommended in this book. The other information about credit cards and bank loans made sense to me too, but will take longer toachieve a benefit. The car insurance savings were immediate, though.

Superficial advice, save your money
This book was a big waste of money.The information is so basic only a real novice would learn anything.And don't believe the positive reviewsyou read for Kelly's books.It's obvious he wrote them himself, since noone with a brain would praise the kind of junk he puts out.

Great for the financially fearful
I know Jason Kelly's stock book gets all the attention, but this little book about personal money and saving and stuff is really good too. I liked the stock book, but I'm so darned far in debt that I can't use it yet. SoI've found this money book better for me. Maybe when I'm done paying off mydebt I will be able to use his other books about investing. He's a goodwriter and funny too.

The funniest way to learn about money
Much to my surprise, this book had me rolling on the floor at times. Who would expect that from a book about personal finance? Kelly talks about his mother saving by not taking the whole family to dinner, talks aboutinvesting by telling about his curmudgeonly grandfather, and talks aboutinsurance by talking about his cheap sports car. The best part of all: theadvice is sound. If you need to know about money, this is the book for you.If you know about money, buy it as a gift!

Jason Kelly did it again!
I love this author! I read his Neatest Little Guide to Mutual Fund Investing and Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing and found both to be the best in their category. Now, Mr. Kelly has topped the personalfinance category as well. His advice on reducing debt is straight forwardand funny. He uses a lot of examples from his own life, even telling thestory of buying his RX-7 on the cheap and getting insurance on it for lessthan 25% of the going rate in California. As with his other books, this oneincludes great worksheets. His basic advice is to spend less than you earn,invest the difference, and protect what you have. He explains those threesteps in such a captivating way that you forget you're reading about money.I only wish he came out with more than one Neatest Little Guide per year. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Investment Wisdom at 9.1% returns??? Gimme a break!
Irrelevant one-liners and drawings from a bunch of underperformingpseudoinvestors with a superiority complex, written in a condescendinggrandmotherly tone. It was hard to keep a straight face while reading it.Save the wear and tear on your nerves by not reading this book. I didn'tbuy it, neither should you. ... Read more

Book Description

A Financial Road Map for Women

Whether you're single or married, a career woman or a full-time mother, young or mature, your financial future is vitally important to you. Ernst & Young's Financial Planning for Women draws on the experience of the nation's premier tax and financial planners. This accessible guide addresses the unique money issues related to the major events of a woman's life, including:

• Being single
• Getting married or living together
• Caring for children or parents
• Dealing with divorce or widowhood
• Being an entrepreneur
• Planning for retirement

You'll find practical, easy-to-understand explanations of important financial planning concepts; real-life examples of financial success; and personal advice based on the authors' collective experiences. Plus, there are worksheets and checklists, and a handy resource guide to books and Web sites for women.

The authors of Ernst & Young's Financial Planning for Women: (seated left to right) Barbara J. Raasch, Sylvia Pozarnsky, Paula Boyer Kennedy; (standing left to right) Andrea S. Markezin, Elda Di Re, Freida Kavouras.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP's personal financial counseling practice tailors financial strategies for people at all income levels. The firm is the author of the bestselling Ernst & Young Tax Guide as well as a wide array of books on business and money management. Visit the firm's Web site at www.ey.com/pfc. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Don't Die Broke: How to Turn Your Retirement Savings into Lasting Income, by personal-finance writer and financial-education specialist Margaret A. Malaspina, offers a fresh take on one of today's hottest money matters by outlining ways to tap most effectively into the retirement nest egg that you're currently nurturing. While most such guides concentrate on actually amassing those future fiscal resources in the first place, Malaspina shows instead how to maximize what you're (hopefully) already building so you'll (hopefully) always have what you need. "Most people find themselves making decisions about retirement plan distributions with little guidance," she writes. "Few people understand the consequences of their choices--or, indeed, what choices they have." In clear, highly focused chapters, she offers solid suggestions for creating a lasting retirement income, lowering potential taxes, and building an estate worth passing along. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Don't believe the subtitle
The subtitle is "Taking Money out of your IRA, 401(k), or other savings plan-- and creating lasting retirement income, but there's precious little useful how-to here. There's basically one chapter (9) that deals with the details of setting up a withdrawal plan and the advice boils down to "go find an investment advisor". Most of the book is spent explaining 401ks, IRAs, workplace plans, etc.

It's my own fault, though. Next time I'll read the TOC before buying!

A Solid Effort!
Many rules and regulations govern pension plans. The technicalities are complicated and change constantly. People can make irrevocable errors doing something as simple as moving assets from one plan to another. Margaret A. Malaspina cuts through retirement plan red tape and explains the jargon. She shows you how to get to your money after you have worked hard to save it. This book demystifies your options and clarifies the consequences of your choices. The author makes reading about taxes relatively painless. We at getAbstract recommend this book to anyone planning retirement, switching retirement plans, or withdrawing retirement funds. However, because of its discussion of United States tax law, it is not useful to those in other countries.

A practical, step-by-step, effective approach
In Don't Die Broke, Margaret Malaspina offers a careful, practical, step-by-step, effective approach to ensuring proper and profitable management of money. Here is a wealth of useful advice and counsel on making money last, avoiding the need to spend retirement years worrying about financial security. The reader will learn how to turn assets into income; create a monthly paycheck from savings, stocks, and other financial resources; avoid making irreversible mistakes with retirement savings; understand a company's retirement plans, individual retirement accounts (such as the new Roth IRAs); transfer wealth to heirs; and minimize taxes on retirement savings. Don't Die Broke is "must" reading for anyone seeking relief from financial stress in their retirement and eventually being able to leave something to loved ones.

This book is a lifeline...highly recommend it
Like so many of my friends, my husband's and my focus has been all about reaching some magic number that would say, ok,now it's safe to retire without going broke... We gave not a thought to how we'd manage the moneyafterwards. But then we began to hear rumors ... you must do this, youcan't do that, and panic set in. Finally, after reading Ms. Malaspina'sbook, we understand what's really going on (better than we did aftertalking to our accountant!). I've given this book to friends and even acousin who was 69-1/2 and didn't have a clue about the need to startdrawing on certain retirement savings. This book should be required readingfor anyone over 50. Thanks, Bloomberg Press!

Excellent Treatise On A Very Complicated Topic
Margaret Malaspina has done an incredible service to the taxpaying world in her book. As a Certified Public Accountant, I can attest to fact that dealing with the Internal Revenue Service Code is an extremely difficultprocess. She has consistently dealt with this complicated and veryconfusing subject and de-mystified it in a way that heretofore has neverbeen done. As more and more assets of American citizens are finding theirway into retirement accounts, the timing of this book is perfect. Whatmight appear to be some type of simple election or investment decision canbackfire in terms of significant additional taxes. She attempts andsucceeds in identifying these problems and proposing appropriate solutions. I have read it thoroughly and have recommended it to my clients andfriends. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Outstanding information on RMD's and IRA's in general
Roth to Riches enables the average person to understand the complexities of IRA's in detail.This is an outstanding book that should be recommended to anyone with a substantial amout of money in an IRA.

an excellent book for people evaluating their options
this book is an excellent resource book for ordinary people with large ira's who do not know what their options are or why they should consider a roth ira. It is a great way to check and balance the advice you are gettingfrom other sources. I have utilized this book thoroughly with many of myclients.

Informative and Easy to Understand!!!
Roth to Riches is a must read for anyone who has ever considered or currently owns an IRA.Written in plain, understandable English (my native tongue), Mr. Bledsoe demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of boththe ordinary and the Roth IRA's.In this book, unlike other books that arealso written in my native tongue but which make me wonder if English is infact my native tongue, Mr. Bledsoe displays a unique ability to explaintechnical tax and financial planning concepts with candor and clarity. This book is interesting, informative and easy to understand.A bargain atthis price.Thanks for the insights.

Some crucial points are no longer valid due to new regs.
This would have been a very excellent book had publication been withheld until after the Taxpayers' Relief Act of 1998 had been signed into law. Mr. Bledsoe was aware there were going to be important changes and heprovideded a form in the back of the book, that the reader can use to sendfor an update on the the new regulations. Unfortunately the turn arroundtime for the update is quite slow. As the book reads in its present form,some very important areas are no longer accurate and an unwary reader couldbe lured into making a mistake in choosing a Roth IRA.

An easy-to-read book on Roth IRAs that's also comprehensive.
This is the first consumer-oriented book published (July, 1997) about theRoth IRA. As it turns out, it is a superb effort and one that other authorswill be hard pressed to match with future Roth IRA titles. The authorobviously spent many months fine-tuning his work. As the editor of the RothIRA Web Site, I read this book in well under two hours and found it to be aremarkably easy-to-read book. One doesn't expect books on topics such asRoth IRAs to be pleasant reads, but this book was both fun-to-read andinformative at the same time! I also gave the book to several others toread (including one person who had no idea how IRAs worked) and theyconfirmed my judgement. This is a great book on both traditional IRAs andRoth IRAs.

From a technical viewpoint, the information presented appearsto be quite accurate and comprehensive. Although the Roth IRA technicalcorrections were not yet signed into law when the book was published, theauthor was obviously quite familiar with the proposed changes and he doesreference the more important provisions. (The last page of the bookprovides a form to send in for a free report on the final Roth regulationswhen available.)

The book is 198 pages (8½" x 11" size) withthe actual text running through page 90. Pages 91 through 121 are what theauthor calls Roth Conversion Advantage charts. Most of the rest of the bookconsists of a reprint of IRS Publication 590, the IRS explanation of IRAs.After you see the IRS explanation of how traditional IRAs work, you willlike Roth IRAs even more! ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A GOOD PRIMER
Charles Schwab has put tgether a very good book on investing. This book is an excellent primer for anyone who is serious about making the most out their investments. I'm glad that someone has finally set up some tolerance levels for investers! Easy reading, I read this book in one night.I also highly recommend "Wealth without Risk' AND 'Financial Self-Defense" by Charles Givens both boks will show you ways to find more money to invest with and great MUTUAL FUND STRATEGIES. The books will show you how to make super rates of return (20% plus) without paying commissions and keep more of what you make!

A good book for beginners
Written for those just beginning to consider an investment plan, Charles Schwab's Guide to Financial Independence provides good sound advice that individuals can't go wrong with. The book includes sections that guide readers through the task of determining their own "investor profile" and asset allocation plan. Schwab recommends diversification through no-load mutual funds and cost-effective index funds and provides additional insight into the tax and record-keeping aspects of mutual fund investing. Some of the more interesting parts of the book: Mrs. Schwab's firsthand experience with an investment club and the book's epilogue, probably the only part actually written by Schwab. I found almost no negatives to this book except the part about dollar-cost-averaging which is a commonly misunderstood concept. Although there were many references to his own company, the book didn't seem to be self-promoting in general. I would recommend this book to anyone with little or no knowledge of investing.

maybe more stars, maybe less but I can't really say....
Being one of the "super novice beginners" targeted by the book (read other reviews) I found it very interesting and enlightening.

What got me started was kiyosaki's rich dad (worth reading with reservations) but this was a very good second book to read. Since then I've been reading/researching (7 books, 4 magazines, 3 weeks) before I pull the trigger to actually dropping cash.

I'm not sure what an experienced investor would say but what the hell, from one beginner to the next, read it.

"Fire and forget" method for investing
If you want to secure your financial future with minimum hassle, don't want to become a stock-market expert, or spend any more time and money on the Wall Street stuff than is absolutely necessary, then this is the book for you. It tells you a very simple, but extremely efficient method for investing your money. It also tells you why and how to do it.

It does not cover everything there is to investing, hey it doesn't even cover 10% about it. But it covers enough to have a "fire and forget" way with investments. You can trust that the money you invest with this advice will keep up with the better half of the smart investors. And you can go on living and enjoying your life without too many financial worries.

An excellent book for the target audience.

Worth every penny and much, much more
Buy this book. I can't say enough good things about it. First, the book is extremely well written, and targets a specific audience, that many of us are in.

If you are not professional investor, and want to learn more about the basics of investing and about the different products out there, then read this book.

Charles Schwab takes your through a good squence of explaining different investment philosophies, tools, tricks, etc. He proves that you don't have to beat the market to make money, you just have to match it. Now, I have heard this before in other books, but the overall presentation and support for this, is much well represented in this book.

If you are starting out, or attempting to re-organize your finances, before you get a money manager or financial advisor, get this book. It will definitely save and make you money. You will learn how to invest within your comfort level, and by the end of the book, the stock market and investing will be demystified.

You will regret not reading this book. I think this would also make a good gift. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Don't start here
This book has the best of intents, but no delivery mechanism. It is marketed toward the novice financier. The young people who have the motivation to take the next step towards financial independence, but no formal education in the world of money. This book assumes your an expert with tax brackets, investments, and bonds. In addition, the advice is very quickly becoming outdated with the economy the way it is. TAKE HEED! Be prepared before delving into this book. Very helpful, although it requires a great deal of prior knowledge.

great introduction to retirement funding
Time is Money has a load of basic financial concepts in its coffer. It was a pleasure to read, and the short quizzes at the end of each chapter really helped my focus and made certain I got the main concepts of each chapter. I am very annal about picking books because reading an entire book is a big investment of time, which I don't have a lot of to dedicate to pleasure reading--the time was definitely worth it. I've since recommended this book to friends.

Good luck! Jason

Awesome!
I bought this book almost 2 years ago and this really made me serious investing for the future. Easy to read yet very thorough. Best book for newbies on mutual funds & stocks. I am so glad that I came across to this book. I really appreciate the author to write such an awesome book. My investments on mutual funds are doing extremely well, I am starting investing on stocks as well. Thanks alot!

A read from Abroad
I am in Seoul Korea, where English books are not easily found. I stumbled upon this little treasure. I am starting the 4 step plan this month. As a result of this book I have overcome a lot of fear and recommend it to everyone. Its hardcore so even the math-account types will like it!

One of the best for beginners
I like this book so much I bought it for my sons. It is a no nonsense book that drives home the message of the value of time and money combined. It rates right up there wirth Get A Financial Life ... Read more

Book Description

Money is one of the most stressful issues that most families face. With each generation living longer, and the wealthiest generation about to pass along their inheritance, it is imperative that money be handled thoughtfully to help meet the needs of all—grandparents, Baby Boomers, and the youngest family members.

Using the unique step-by-step advice shared in Funding Your Dreams Generation to Generation, veteran financial expert Carol Akright shows how families can achieve their most cherished dreams—be it for funding college education, making long-term care affordable, or traveling together to share experiences and adventures as an extended family.

With the skill of an experienced financial planner and the insights of a family counselor, Akright brings the issues to the table, and helps families turn money into a dynamic force for accomplishing good. Calling it Intergenerational Financial Planning, Akright offers practical strategies to:

*draw families closer by sharing their deepest dreams, while working together to actualize those dreams
*commit to funding the dreams of all of the generations using wise financial planning
*share financial values, create family "emotional capital," and teach fundamental financial skills to the younger generations
*resolve money conflicts while meeting the needs of elders, children and those in between ... Read more

Reviews (8)

WELL HERE IT IS
ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PLANING ESTATE PLANNING. IF YOU GOT THOSE LITTLE ONES AT HOME AND YOU WANT TO LEARN THE JOY OF GIVING. THIS IS THE BOOK. IT HELPS YOU LEAD YOUR FAMILY DOWN THE PATHOF WEATH AND CLOSENESS. THIS THE BOOK.

Finaly, a financial book that makes sense!
Through the years I have visited the financial section of book stores, somethimes purchasing a publication that looks interesting, only to find that I would need a degree in finance to understand it. What a pleasure to find "Funding Your Dreams". A book that is written so that one can understand its concepts without all the 5 dollar words that send me to the dictionary every other sentence! Carol writes with knowledge, compassion and understanding of the lay readers needs. Most of all she gives sound, solid advice with suggestions for practical application. I wish I had had this book twenty years ago but it's never to late to start. This book is a must read for everyone, regardless of monetary assets. I also appreciate the balance that Carol presents to the reader. Yes we need to save, yes we need to plan for our children, our aging parents, and our own retirement, but we can also need to give ourselves permission to set aside some funds for our own enjoyment. Carol obviously has a zest for life and her energy comes through in her writing. This book should be on the coffee table of every home, and should be read by every generation that lives with that coffee table! This book would make a wonderful gift for young couples ( or graduates) starting out as well as those of us in the baby boomer generation. Thanks Carol, for writing words that I have needed to read for years!

The best financial book ever!
This is the first book that really made a difference for me financially! My family and I have met several times to discuss and plan our dreams and funds. We have been able to brainstorm and come up with ideas financially for each family member, with two of their dreams already accomplished. Even my nine year old is happy (he got an increase in allowance) and is telling all his friends to have their parents get the book!

I loved how the author "speaks directly to you" rather than just giving financial information. I hightly recommend this unique book that is simply put, direct, and actually affects changes in your financial status! It's a must for single parents like me!

Funding Your Dreams Generation to Gernation
Carole touches on important and weighty subjects, yet presents them to the reader in a friendly, accessible, easy to understand style. From the very beginning we think of her as 'Carole' rather than Ms Akright, feeling that we are not facing a stranger, but, instead, listening to someone we know who cares about our problems. Not only does the book convey great generosity of spirit, but it also offers practical information that can benefit any family. The book is devoted to showing that dreams can indeed come true, and helps the reader understand 'that money can and should be used as a family resource' that can help with dream fulfillment. Carole covers the dreams and needs of each generation, including basic issues such as retirement, long-term care, children's education, even meeting the bills. But she does not forget the vacations, adventures, life styles, purchases that one might also dream of. As she says, 'You have the right to go after what you want in life.' According to Carole, inter-generational dream funding leads to a greater closeness of families, a greater sharing of values, and offers more emotional support, ideas and energy, as well as larger financial resources to call upon. This is a book to read, think about, and then perhaps read again in order to learn how to make dreams come true.

A Dream Come True
This book is a comprehensive and compassionate book that opened my eyes to some of my more embarrassing habits. I wish this book had been available twenty years ago--it provides excellent financial planning guidelines, even for those of us baby boomers who have dreamt away substantial fortunes without even noticing. But it is never too late to plan for the future, as Ms. Akright points out. ... Read more

Book Description

As co-founder of the Excellerated Learning Institute, RobertKiyosaki has had ample opportunity to observe our public educationsystem. Like many concerned educators, he finds it woefully inadequatefor the job of preparing young people to cope with the demands ofmodern life. In this new edition he dissects the reasons why schoolsfail and describes solutions that can put every child in touch with theinnate joy of learning. At a time when more children are failing inschool-and more schools are failing children-Kiyosaki introduces a noteof sanity and hope for improvement. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Life altering book!
I have read all of Kiysaki's books and played the game (loved them all!!!) and each time my mind expanded that much more. 'If you want to be Rich and Happy - Don't go to School' was the first book of Robert's I ever read, and its impact on me has been significant. As I write I am in the process of changing my chosen career path (I am currently at University studying to be a teacher - for the last 2-and-a-half years) because I agree so fervently with Kiysaki's observations about the school education system - he only put into words what I have felt for a long time and dared to question. All my University colleagues don't want to bother messing with the 'system', the 'system' is going to provide a secure job for them as well as reasonable pay. If you are a parent especially you will value this book. If you are a teacher or educator of young people, please read this book. To wrap up I would caution anyone who does read this insightful, ahead-of-its-time book that your mind will be opened and you won't be able to think of education as our society knows it in the same way again. Enjoy!!!!!!! I know you will! (P.S. If you could recreate the education system, what would you do or how would you go about it? email me: mcila@yahoo.com)

WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!!!
Yes, thats right. The book is worth its weight in Gold!
Kiyosaki reveals the reasons why school has brought upon poverty among the poor and especially the middle class people of America. You will be amazed when you read this book how our education system brainwashes us to go to school, get good grades, and graduate to find a safe secure JOB (just-over-broke) in a large corporation in order to become a slave to corporate America...AKA LIVING IN POVERTY!!!! School always discourages you to follow your dreams in life.
Yes, Kiyosaki does repeat his ideas through Chapters (which seems tedious to read)...but it expresses it in different ways using different examples to get the readers' minds outta of rat race the education system programmed us to be in.
EXCELLENT BOOK!!!!

"Surprisingly helpful advice!"
As a teacher, I was curious to find out just how much 'damage' this author was going to do to our educational system! After reading it, I discovered the answer: no lasting harm. This is a practical and interesting book that really IS quite helpful. It fills in the 'gaps' that we, as teachers, unavoidably leave in our students' lives. I found myself really liking the suggestions and organizational structure of this book! It contains useful lessons and useable advice for life--much like 'The Mizraim Principles' (based on the life of Joseph the Hebrew) does for Christian readers. I has hoping the information presented within these pages wouldn't hurt my profession. Now, I realize--it just might help! (...)

Lose your stereotypes/fear of the rich in 1 book¿?
Years after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, and 4 of Robert's other books-- I picked this one up with no intention of learning anything solid in addition to what's in his more recent books. I was wrong to no end. --- "don't judge a book by it's cover" should immediately be replaced with "don't judge a book by it's TITLE" .. case in point: "if you want to be rich and happy, don't go to school?" .. the question mark at the end is what most people seem to overlook .. I have had over 10 comments on the book's title and none were positive... "go get a job and get rich" was one reaction. fortunately my mind has already unlearned the core of bs manufactured by our 'school' system (indoctrination system ;-) ).. so the comment didn't stick..though these utterances always tend to shatter your thoughtwaves temporarily..we're only human =o)In fact I would go so far as to say that, having read hundreds of books in my lifetime, this one is the most necessary to our survival at present. It's ironic that one small book could be powerful enough to crack open a tumor of dogma such as the brainwashing taking place in our schools... like many societies and institutions...this one has no place in our society. It was only a short while ago that everyone started getting jobs.. before that everyone was their own soverign and did something useful. And people act like being independant is the mew fad of the millenium.. rediculous but what else could you expect. -- Let them spend 8 years on their Ph D - i'll be a step ahead of them just by not pursuing it... probably a lot further. **NOTE: this title plus the following will reverse even the most intense brain washing caused by our educational system..not all are related to creating money...but we must also take into account the indoctrination that takes place with the 4 basic groups of academics also =)Think and Grow Rich......Richest Man in Babylon....The Secret of Life.... The Creature from Jekyll Island...Pentagon Aliens, Secret Life of Plants...Simple Steps to Impossible Dreams...Mushrooms and Mankind...Cure for All Diseases... MEdical Mafia...Alice in Wonderland and the World Trade Center Disaster... LISTEN LITTLE MAN!....Territorial Imperative....Path of Least Resistance....Lots of reading ... but at least you'll be able to use the material... would you rather go back to school?

Book Summary
Robert Kiyosaki wants to break the cycle of winners and losers in society by re-educating our youth. This process begins by providing people with the financial understanding necessary to succeed in today's society. Kiyosaki remarks, "Given the structure of modern society, the neglect of this information is comparable to neglecting to teach farming skills in an exclusively agrarian society" (10). The purpose of education is to provide our children with the skills needed to succeed later in life. The ability of education to respond to the times should be the marker by which we judge its overall utility and effectiveness. The fact that school still ends at 3pm and that students have off during the summer testify to the failure of our educational system to transition itself from the needs of the agrarian age to that of the new information age. The information age speaks the language of money and ideas. According to Kiyosaki, recognizing the importance of money in today's society is essential:

...in the past 100 years, money has become almost as necessary for survival as air, water and food. In today's world, money is synonymous with survival...To say that money is corrupting and evil in a world which runs on money makes about as much sense as saying that pigs or potatoes are corrupting an agrarian society (72).

Our educational system should adjust to reflect this new reality. By meeting the special needs of today, we are better able to develop the potential within all of us, thus preparing each of us to make a unique and valuable contribution to the world.

Kiyosaki believes that by embracing the Malthusian doctrine of scarcity the American educational system stifles the "gift of genius" that each child is born with. He rejects the zero-sum game begun in school and perpetuated afterwards permeating throughout all walks of life. Educators must realize that scholastic achievement is but one measure of genius, and the long-term effects on a child who may be a musical or mechanical genius, but not an academic genius, are disastrous. This inevitably leads to many societal problems that are ultimately education-based. Kiyosaki demands action now and asks, "Must the problems land directly on our own doorsteps before we can care" (48). Change can only be wrought once we accept that there is no such thing as a stupid child.

The fundamental principle of human learning rests upon making mistakes and learning from them. More effective learning requires engagement of not only mental learning, but also emotional and physical learning. Kiyosaki believes that today's education system errs because, "Of all the methods of learning that are available to us, memorization is the most monotonous, the least challenging, and the most boring" (127). Many blame teachers or professionals for our system's failings. However, 94% of the time it is the system itself that has failed.

Some ways in which our system fails us includes asking the wrong questions and accepting only one right answer, and by promoting specialization, rather than generalization, to early on in life. School teaches specialization. While this is good for corporations, it is bad for you. Specialization leads to decreased opportunities and obsolescence. Therefore, beware of the detrimental effects of specialization. Learn to become a generalist by committing yourself to lifelong learning and self-improvement in many areas of your life. Concentrate on such practical business matters as production, sales, accounting, organizational management, and finance. Most importantly, affect change by leading by example. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Financial Planning
This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn basic principles about money management including estate planning and retirement.

PLANNING FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE is well organized, easy to read and understand! The authors explain and illustrate good examples of worksheets for each topic; the book also includes additional blank worksheets in the back of the book.

Other topics include: housing, insurance (car, life, and medical), stock market, transportation, retirement, estate planning, etc.

A disk is included with sample template files to enable the user to prepare numerous worksheets using EXCEL. Examples of templates: budget, income statement, balance sheets, future value of money, loan payments, estate planning.

My students (Ages 17 and up--even older adults)love this book because of its importance to their personal lives and their financial future. They never return this book to the bookstore during "buyback"; they tell me that they will keep it as a great resource. I AGREE! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Smart Money
Excellent book with practical, easy to follow advice minus the financial jargon. Mr. Ferri explains financial concepts in a simple, straightforward style and walks the reader through steps to develop a sound, well thought out financial plan. I'd highly recommend this book!

A great book to help the non-professional invest
This book was well-written, easy to follow, and really helped explain how to invest your money. Although I read a lot on investing, this book provided a lot of new and enlightening information. Mr. Ferri's book is a must and will really help you invest your money profitably.

Sound, practical, reader-friendly investment advice.
How can investors in stocks gain the investment knowledge needed to plan for retirement? Serious Money covers everything from considering the pros and cons of diversifying a mutual fund portfolio to developing a logical investment style based on real returns rather than dreams. Chapters outline Ferri's particular style of investing and reflect the author's background as a stock broker and financial advisor. ... Read more

Book Description

Estate planning is more important than ever, and it's no longer just for the very rich.

Today's "middle-class millionaires"­­created by the booming stock and real estate markets­­have more assets than they ever believed possible. That unexpected wealth brings with it new concerns about how to protect their money and their heirs. A best-seller in its first edition, this book shows anyone how to implement estate planning into a long-range financial plan. It includes the latest on:

• Disability planning
• Living trusts; asset protection through long-term planning
• Family limited partnerships

Written by two noted tax attorneys who have revolutionized the estate-planning process with their techniques, Protect Your Estate, Second Edition, enables readers to understand the newest changes in the tax laws and turn them to their own advantage.

Reviews (3)

Protect Your Estate - by Esperti, et al
I bought the previous edition of this book several years ago and learned so much from its straight forward, well-organized and clear presentation (I am neither an accountant nor a tax person) that co-workers and family members began quizzing me on matters of estate planning. This book allowed me to answer many questions and also enabled me to have a very intelligent conversation with a professional estate planner. I consider the book such a valuable resource that I just purchased the updated edition.

Good Stuff!
I am an estate planning attorney, not affiliated with any of the author's companies, and I think this book is a "must read" for anyone who is serious about planning his/her estate.

By the way, estate planning is for everone, not merely the "wealthy." The cost (in time and fees) to have a customed designed and implemented estate plan will probably be the best investment you will ever make to protect and preserve your wealth for your loved ones.

Detailed overview in layman's terms
Outstanding book to educate yourself on estate planning. This book will prepare you for the planning process so you can understand what your estate planning attorney is talking about and what he or she is trying to accomplish for you. It also very clearly outlines the fallacies inherent in trying to conduct estate planning without competent legal counsel. The authors tell you know how to find competent advice and how to arrange conduct free consultation interviews with any prospective estate planning specialists. If you are even thinking about estate planning, GET THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Terrific introductory book on beginning investing
I actually picked this book up for a dollar at a thrift store. One of the best investments I ever made. It is an excellent introduction to the basics of money management & investing. In particular, it highlights well certain basic concepts such as the shrinking value of the dollar, compounding, importance of saving, attractiveness of mutual funds for the small time investor, and more.

The pictures & layout aid in a very very good introduction to the subject matter.

Yes You Can Review
James E. Stowers' Yes You Can is a financial self-help book full of entertaining cartoons and images that help illustrate very valuable, tried and true information.The straight-forward language sits on the level of everyman's understanding, while universal analogies and examples provide a wider lesson board.The message of Stowers' book is simple: financial independence is achievable-especially when the steps are laid out in front of you in such an enjoyable way.

Yes you can achieve financial independence
I found this book informative, but an unnecessary read.If you have a brain that functions at a level above a 10-year-old's mind, then this book will not teach you anything new.Yes You Can reiterates the importance of saving your money to build interest, but spending enough so you get the most you can for the value of a dollar. You should have a budget and decide what to buy carefully. Plan for the future. Personally, I feel this book should be retitled "Idiot's guide to money." Yes You Can may be vital for some, but hopefully common sense exists in most.

a must book for young people
I have two of this book and loan to young people to read. This book teaches the importance and benifits of investing in an easy manner. The book is tops and so is it's author.

A MUST READ BOOK FOR ANYONE SEEKING FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
I was initially attracted to this book because I have several mutual funds with Mr Stowers company-AMERICAN CENTURYINVESTORS (formerly 20th CenturyInvestors) Stowers espouses the power of mutual fund investing, valuable at atime when many literally deifyindividual stocks, includes charts and how to pick mutual fund winners--asStowers states; "All mutual funds arenot equal, some are better than others" Finding money to invest and postretirement strategies. The personalsurvey included in the book is like a financial check up and future planner. If you want to make a profit frominvesting and get the most from mutualsthis is the book for you. I also highly recommend "MORE WEALTH W/O RISK" byCharles J. Givens and 'Mutual FundStrategies" by Jack Dicks. ... Read more

Book Description

The Wall Street Journal Guide To Planning Your Financial Future

provides clear explanations of the things you need to know and guidelines for the decisions you have to make to enjoy a comfortable retirement. It covers the advantages of salary reduction plans, clarifies the difference between Roth and traditional IRAs, and describes the benefits of effective tax planning. And it provides practical, helpful ideas to get you started. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not Bad but Not Great Either
I had high hopes for this simple book since I am totally a visual learner. The pictures and colors greatly appealed to me, and they are indeed very nice.

That being said, I felt like the organization of the book was lacking; too many concepts were explained out of order or in such a way that a smooth flow didn't occur. Also, knowledge was assumed on the part of the reader in a manner that I found unacceptable. It was like, "Jeese, I'm reading this kind of book to find out WHAT such and such is, not just to read ABOUT it." Kind of like being told lots of details about a 401(k) without ever being told what it really is.

Overall: Helpful as a supplement to another book, such as _Retirement Bible_, by Lynn O'Shaughnessy. Good for reinforcing your learning.

a very good book, on its topic, and very esy to read
Its a very easy to read guide on planning your financial, future, I bought this one, and after reading it, I also bought the one on "money and invesing" and the one on "personal finance". I live in Mexico, and altough retirement doesnt works the same way as in US, the books does works in some parts (65%) to planning your financial future in Mexico

A good, basic introduction to the issues of retirement
Nearly all young people and most of the rest of us do not want to think about the time when we will have to live off some portion of what we are earning during our working lives. We face so many financial pressures each and every day that we end up spending all (or more than all) we earn. We can't seem to find any surplus to put away for that far away retirement. We have to deal with today.

But tomorrow comes and we need to face that. And the sooner the better! This guide is a good introduction to the basic concepts of the issues that need to be considered when thinking about your future financial needs. It is especially good as a text for young people to help them form their thinking about the basic issues of earning, spending, and saving and how to plan and control all three.

This is NOT detailed or current enough to serve as a guide or manual for financial planning. This is an introductory text to help you understand some basic concepts and terms. This guide helps you gain a working vocabulary of the terms and issues involved in preparing for a nice retirement. It is VERY colorful with many illustrations that add to the text and many which are there as eye candy.

Great OBSOLETE information
This was a great (5 star rating) book in 1998. However, there have been many changes in the tax laws and retirement saving instruments (like roth IRA, education credit etc.)since 1998. WSJ needs to update this great book soon.

An Excellent Overview
I was impressed with the clear concise coverage of the broad range of retirement finances. As a younger person (30) trying to map out my retirement plans, it offered me valuable info without a lot of opinions about what I should do. It will remain a valuable reference for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

Through trial and error, Marc Allen discovered a specific set of principles to help people attain financial success and lasting satisfaction while doing what they love. The tools are simple, and everyone has them: "a miraculous body, a phenomenal brain, and a vast and powerful subconscious mind. Now it's just a matter of focusing them in the right direction." In his books and seminars, Allen shows how to create one's ideal scene; discover higher purpose; write a business plan simply and effectively; find capital to start a business; and discover the benefits of adversity. Listeners can gain this wisdom at their convenience in this three-CD set. Recorded live at the author's seminars, this is an audio original - not an audio version of the author's book of the same name. Noted for his humorous, relaxed style, Allen offers both inspiration and instruction in The Millionaire Course Seminar, putting the listener on the right track both philosophically and psychologically. Not simply a set of motivational ideas, the course is a powerful plan for creating a life of material and spiritual abundance. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Advice beyond business
This audio book has words of wisdom from a self-made millionaire who takes a more relaxed approach to life's challenges and situations than most 'Type A' success stories. The main focus here is learning to do what you love and creating a career out of it. Some of the lesson topics include: "Imagine your ideal scene," "Discover your core beliefs, and learn how to change them," and "Grow at your own pace. ... Read more