Book Description

A handbook for life insurance sales professionals who want to make or keep their business practices “client-centered”.An insurance consultant and trainer of over 25 years experience shares skills in marketing , prospecting, discovery, closing, handling client concerns and delivery. Includes Four Pillars of success. ... Read more

Book Description

Complete profiles of today's most successful annuities... Expert tips on how to maximize your returns...

Variable annuities now outpace mutual funds as the number one choice among street-smart investors—and it's easy to see why. Tax-deferred, commission-free, easy to purchase and redeem, carrying less risk than most other instruments, and exhibiting a superb overall performance, they are an indispensable addition to any low-risk, high-yield portfolio. Now, in the first book of its kind, financial planning expert Gordon Williamson demystifies annuities investing. Writing in a straightforward, down-to-earth style, he:

• Clearly explains how annuities work, profiles their return potential, and frankly assesses their relative advantages and disadvantages
• Steers you to the 100 best annuities for your investment dollar
• Emphasizes risk reduction without sacrificing returns
• Supplies complete annuity profiles, including average annual returns over the past 3, 5, and 10 years
• Ranks and evaluates today's entire spectrum of annuity products—aggressive growth/small cap, international, growth and income, balanced, money market, and more
• Pinpoints the best performing variable annuities
• Includes investment options within each annuity recommended

The word is out: variable annuities are one of the best investment instruments developed in this century. Now find out how you can take full advantage of their unprecedented earning potential with The 100 Best Annuities You Can Buy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent for Test Preperation!
This book is an excellent learning tool for test preparation!I took a $230 course and failed the exam. I read this book andcompleted all the work in the book and passed the test easily and confidently! buy it!

Why I passed the Life and Health Exam
Before getting this book I knew absolutely nothing about life or health insurance. After studying for 1 WEEK, I took the test and passed it. Of course I studied on average for about 7-8 hours a day and took over 100 pages of notes during that week but I was told that it would be impossible to learn all that material and pass the test in that amount of time. This book covers every detail and leaves nothing to chance. After every chapter, there is a mini-exam based on all the important information covered in that chapter, and the questions were exactly like those on the actual exam. There is even a final exam at the end of the book. Studying this book carefully, regardless of how fast or slow you want to do it, will make you 100% prepared for the exam. ... Read more

Book Description

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE COMPLICATED ISSUE OF LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE

"Next to buying the right long-term care insurance, buying and reading J.K. Lasser’s Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Insurance is the best investment seniors and their families can make to help insure independence and dignity in their golden years."
–Scott Harshbarger, President and CEO, Common Cause

"An indispensable book for all those concerned that the cost of health care will rob their old age of dignity and independence. The author, Ben Lipson, an articulate advocate of patient rights and an authority on health insurance, provides a lucid road map in a terrain mined with hokum."
–Bernard Lown, MD, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

"Long-term care insurance is a much-needed and valuable insurance concept, marketed in a maze filled with smoke and mirrors. Most of what passes for consumer guidance is just general information and superficial advice. But Ben Lipson’s book takes you by the hand, leads you through the insurance labyrinth, and shines a much-needed light on the product."
–Charlie Sabatino, President, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Critical coverage will help you:

• Decide whether you are among the 40 percent of people who do not need to buy long-term care insurance
• Receive the benefits you purchased when you have to make a claim
• Distinguish between fact and fiction during a sales pitch

J.K. Lasser––Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs
Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Book for all health care Professionals
I found the book to be very readable and informative. It took the mystery out of long term care insurance, by explaining in detail who would benefit from it and process of applying for the insurance. I also liked the book because it was written from the conumer's perspective. It can serve as an invaluable resource for all health care workers.

There has to be a better reference
While Lipson's book identifies many important factors in idntifying the benefit options of long term care insurance policies, he does little to compare companies. He brings up key questions like comparison of claim rates, lapse ratios, and loss ratios, but does not provide the answers or identify where to get this information. He talks about misleading risk statistics but does not identify the actual statistics. While I have a better understanding of benefit options, I would be unable to "Choose the Right Long Term Care Insurance" without researching this subject further.

J. K. Lasser's Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Insurance
People over 50 and their adult children should read this book. It answers the important questions about long-term care insurance and it helps people plan for their future. Among the many surprises: 40 percent of people don't need long-term car insurance. Using the back of the book as a key, you can pretty well determine if you or your parents will or won't need it.
The book is easy to understand, many of the brief examples are sad but true, and there's also some humor.
I think this book can help many people stay independent, remaining at home rather than going into nursing homes.

A must have.
My parents are getting to the age where long term care is an issue. I bought this book to help break the ice on our conversations and I am so glad I did. I now know about the different options available to us, but perhaps more importantly, what to expect from the insurance companies during the application process. That is invaluable. My parents loved the overriding goal of the book which is how to keep your dignity and independence. If you're considering long term care insurance, get this book first. ... Read more

Book Description

In America, unlike anywhere else in the world, most people depend overwhelmingly on private health insurance and employee benefits. The astounding rise of this phenomenon from before World War II, however, has been largely overlooked. In this powerful history of the American reliance on employment-based benefits, Jennifer Klein examines the interwoven politics of social provision and labor relations from the 1910s to the 1960s. Through a narrative that connects the commercial life insurance industry, the politics of Social Security, organized labor's quest for economic security, and the evolution of modern health insurance, she shows how the firm-centered welfare system emerged. Moreover, the imperatives of industrial relations, Klein argues, shaped public and private social security.

Looking closely at unions and communities, Klein uncovers the wide range of alternative, community-based health plans that had begun to germinate in the 1930s and 1940s but that eventually succumbed to commercial health insurance and pensions. She also illuminates the contests to define "security"--job security, health security, and old age security--following World War II.

For All These Rights traces the fate of the New Deal emphasis on social entitlement as the private sector competed with and emulated Roosevelt's Social Security program. Through the story of struggles over health security and old age security, social rights and the welfare state, it traces the fate of New Deal liberalism--as a set of ideas about the state, security, and labor rights--in the 1950s, the 1960s, and beyond. ... Read more

Book Description

When faced with long-term disability or chronic illness, many people find the financial consequences as harrowing as the disease itself. Cooper shows that, with adequate planning, insurance should cover any and all disability-related costs. In fact, by choosing the right insurance, people can maximize their lifestyle and gain financial freedom. Readers will learn how to look at various insurance options, including life, disability, health, and long-term care, from a new perspective. They will discover they do have options for reliable insurance and financial security. Cooper offers practical advice on finding insurance, evaluating its coverage and avoiding pitfalls.Packed with ideas and strategies, this handy guide will help readers find and purchase insurance that a typical insurance company might not make available to a disabled person. They will also find suggestions for obtaining insurance when traditional sources appear to closed. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very disappointed ....
This book is a total waste ... save your money.

How to examine health, life, disability and care plans
Insurance Solutions is a very strongly recommended workbook specifically designed for businesses with employees having chronic conditions or disabilities and is especially valuable for its importance as an effective financial planning and problem solving management tool. Insurance should cover all disability-related costs, but it's important to understand differences between insurance policies and benefits. Readers learn how to examine health, life, disability and care plans for long-term usefulness.

Helpful, and I am already disabled
I complete disagree with the other review. I doubt this was ever meant to be a book about how to redeem yourself if you are already on disability and didn't do any planning so are living on paltry government benefits. Instead, it is a book about hot NOT to end up that way even if you are already diagnosed with something. If all you want is to have all the insurance or benefits you need handed to you, then this is not the right book for you -- nor the RIGHT COUNTRY! If, however, you are willing to do some serious work then this book will let you see beyond your employer benefits and anything else you may have and make sure you don't get "bit" by the "American system." It does assume that you would be willing to pay reasonable premiums. But, I completely disagree that it offers nothing to people already out on disability. The hospital indemnity strategy alone could be worth fortunes, and the sicker you are the better it would seem to work. It does have a lot of forms and worksheets, but if you are a serious planner this can only be helpful. I especially like the single worksheet where she summarizes all of the insurance coverages in one place in a "risk analysis" format. It is about time that somebody treat people with disabilities as if they weren't all poor or incapablem and I really like it that somebody is trying to do something for people with disabilities in the free markeplace rather than just telling us all to rely on the government for everything.

HELPFUL, even though already on disability
I completely disagree with the other reviewer. This book was totally fresh and inventive. It does have a lot of forms and worksheets; but, for people who are really serious, they can only be helpful. I especially liked how she summarized the concept of "risk" and gave one single worksheet to let me get an overview of exactly where I stand with ALL my insurance. The hospital indemnity strategy the author outlines in the action plan section, alone, could be worth a small fortune in insurance income, even for people who are already out of work (assuming they are willing to pay reasonable premiums). Of course it helps to be employed when it comes to getting insurance; however, this author helps us do better than just rely on our employer policies alone. She also shows us how to better get prepared to become unemployed when the time comes. If all you want is somebody to "hand you" all the insurance or benefits you will ever need, and especially only after you are already sick or disabled this is not the book for you -- and probably not the right COUNTRY EITHER! However, if you are willing to do some serious analysis and planning to maximize your protection, and follow her plan, you can pretty much rest assured you won't get "bit" by the American "system" even if you are already diagnosed with something. I doubt this was ever meant to be a book about how to redeem yourself if you didn't get adequate insurance and then got sick afterwards and now are so broke you have essentially no options except pitiful government benefits; rather, it is a book about how to make sure that what you have will actually do what it needs to do when the time comes, and how to make it better even if insurance companies don't really want to deal with you privately anymore. I love the book; it's about time that somebody treat people with disabilities as if they weren't all poor or incapable.

Totally useless for a person already on disability ...
In my opinion, I found this "workbook" to be totally useless for a person who is already on disability, as most of the ideas presented are not applicable unless you are still employed. The title is, therefore, misleading and should instead state that it is for those with a chronic disease or disability "who are still employed."

Basically, this workbook contains approximately 120 pages of worksheets and spreadsheets. You, the reader, are to fill in the worksheets and then transfer the data to the spreadsheets, in order to determine your insurance needs and areas of insurance weaknesses.

Here's the problem -- most of us already know what insurance we have and what we need, without having to first compile the extensive amount of data requested in the first 120 pages of this workbook. Our problem is how to "afford" and "obtain" what we need if we are already on disability. And - if we are still employed - our problem is still, in many cases, how to "afford" the insurance we "need."

However, if you are still employed, do not know what insurance you need (or already posses), have lots of disposable income, *and* you have the endurance to complete the exhaustive worksheets and spreadsheets, then maybe this book is for you. If nothing else, it may give you some food for thought and may even provide you with a bit of information that you did not already know.

After the initial approximately 120 pages of worksheets and spreadsheets, the remaining 60 pages or so contain information and situations that are not always realistic, in my opinion. However, if you are still employed, you may find a few ideas that could possibly be helpful to you, depending on your personal circumstances.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I found this workbook to be totally useless to me, personally, as a person who is already on disability.

By the way, in response to the two (or, one and the same reviewers above), I am not attempting to "redeem myself since I am already on disability." Nor am I living on "paltry government benefits." In fact, I have never received government benefits. But there are many out there who do and should not made to feel badly because they do. Also, I am proud to say that I *am* living in the "right" country and am proud of my country as well.

All that I am doing is voicing my own personal opinion (and last I heard, I was allowed to do so in *this* country. And my opinion stands in that this workbook is totally useless if you are already on disability and of very little use if you are still employed and already have a very basic idea about what you will need "if and when" you "may" become disabled and unemployed. Buyer beware -- save your money. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Non-objective review
The first review above of this book is clearly written by someone who knows the author. It may be good, it may be bad, but don't use this review as a guide.

THE MOST INFORMATIVE BOOK OF THE DECADE!
This book is the most informative look at health care that I have ever read. It studies the most piercing issues of our time, in an easy-to-read format. Anyone who has any interest in America's health care system should buy this book! Read it, and then recommend it to your friends. I am sure that you will love Falling Through The Safety Net, and when you finish you will be a more informed citizen. Buy this book! ... Read more

Book Description

High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety servers as an essential took for building architects, building owners and property managers, security and fire safety directors, security consultants, and contract security firms.

* Provides the reader with complete coverage of high-rise security and safety issues
* Includes comprehensive sample documentation, diagrams, photographs to aid in developing security and fire life safety programs
* Serves as an essential tool for building owners and managers, security and fire safety directors, security consultants and contract security firms ... Read more

Reviews (1)

For the megacities of the world- Tall Building Checklist!
for investors, managers, and inspectors of tall buildings, this is an exceptionally useful book. Mr. Graighead combines his Australian roots and his California experience in a clear guide to fire safety and security management of these "vertical villages." I have quoted from this work in forums around the world, and have made this book a special present for colleagues in the fire service and architecture and "authorities having jurisdiction." It is a how- to and why guide to active systems. I recommend it highly. And, given that so many skyscrapers are now being built in Asia and in Latin America, I hope this is translated into Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese. - Richard A. "Nick" Candee, Executive Director, Global Operations, NFPA International ... Read more

Book Description

In this fascinating insider's account, an American woman who became an investor alleges that irresponsibility, incompetence, greed, and fraud at Lloyd's, the world's most glamorous insurance enterprise, have caused the company to lose $12 billion in the last ten years. Lloyd's of London is not simply an insurance company; it is a society comprising thirty thousand Names (roughly 10 percent of whom are Americans) - private individuals like Elizabeth Luessenhop who accepted the risk of unlimited liability and pledged all their wealth to backing the insurance policies written by Lloyd's. The beauty was that the Names didn't have to put up any money to receive their profit share. As long as the premium calculations were sound, everybody prospered. But the 1980s were bad years for Lloyd's - and for the Names who backed its business. It was also a time when the Society of Names grew by 50 percent to cover the disastrous losses the company was beginning to incur. Risky Business, written with veteran financial writer Martin Mayer, is a detailed account of how the mismanagement of Lloyd's has affected thousands of American investors who, like Luessenhop, sought low-risk, long-term security. Luessenhop and Mayer take us inside a unique business institution and show us that the ramifications of a possible Lloyd's failure will be severe - and felt worldwide. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

How can insurance providers boost their image and increase business? Hedy and Les Abromovitz's Insuring Quality takes a hard look at the insurance industry and suggests innovative new ways of improving customer satisfaction, turbo-charging sales and polishing the tarnished image of the industry. The insurance industry has an image problem. From Woody Allen movies to greeting cards, insurance agents are ridiculed as boring, overbearing pests out to make a quick buck at someone's expense. Recent criminal investigations into some of the nation's largest insurance providers have only made the situation worse. And that's bad news for insurance professionals - for more than any other business, the insurance industry is built on trust. This book was written by insurance professionals for insurance professionals - so every example in the book is based on a real-life situation. There's no ivory tower philosophizing or impenetrable jargon; just practical advice from two veterans who have examined the true relationship between quality, ethics, and customer service. As the authors say, "Insuring Quality will help your organization solve real-life problems. It's for the people in the trenches..." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Look out, a humorous, realistic, easy read on insurance
At first, I thought this book was for company employees only to find out how to put "quality" into insurance, but I was pleasantly surprised that as an insurance professional myself, I learned a great deal about the importance of quality and ethics in this industry. The authors inject some amusing anecdotes, and make you think in different terms about insurance, and how important customer service is. Read it...you'll learn and laugh at the same time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Resource
This book is concise and well written. It has a good sampling of information for anyone interested in the insurance field or who currently works in it and wants to know more.

The glossary of terms at the back of the book is a good tool for anyone starting out in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

With financial management becoming more complex and technical, this long-needed book goes beyond formulas to explain the mathmatical concepts for everyday users. Leading experts clarify the numbers behind risk management, including yield curve modeling, pricing bonds, forwards, and options; and value-at-risk. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A (almost) complete reference
I bought the book as a practical reference in risk management/ applied financial engineering. I think the book accomplishes this goal.

It describes concepts and techniques in a clear, logical way and, most important, gives clearly outlined numerical examples, which help to implement the models. If all material would be written that way one didn't have to buy several introductory books and save a lot of money. This is especially true for professionals who want to implement things in a reasonable time without loosing time with (generally) confusing and incomplete derivations that have to be figured out afterwards through a painful process.

I must say though, that the work lacks to present some important concepts and techniques in interest rate risk management. As in many cases, fixed income applications were almost omitted. A treatment of PCA applications (hedging, simulation) would be very welcome and a more complete description with examples of interest rate models with implementations would complete this work.

Excellent reference for financial derivatives
I have read this book for the class of modeling financial derivatives and I was very impressed by the presentation of the theories of financial derivatives and risk management. The book covers derivative pricing in a very detailed form. THe best thing about this book is the presentation of the problems(mathematical) throughout the book, either through graphs, spreadsheet models, etc. It is not pure theory book, but it also contains many applications which encompas real finanical world. Such presentation enables the reader to easier comprehend the contents of the subject. Overall, the book is very very good for a beginner in finacial derivatives fiels, but it is also a great contribution to one more experienced in the field. Greatest emphasis was put on interest rate models, option models, volatility and risk management techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A practical guide for charitable advisors
This book is a practical and thorough guide to charitable and planned giving tools and techniques, written by leading experts in the field. It contains detailed analysis, planning examples, questions and answers, graphs, and helpful tables, forms, and samples.

In addition to useful technical information such as when to use a charitable lead trust, and how to structure gifts from retirement plans, the book also delves into more sensitive planning issues such as how to recognize ethical dilemmas, and how to manage a planned giving team which mixes both non-profit and commercial sector advisors.

Furthermore, it provides up-to-date analysis of charitable and planned giving trends, including the use of the Internet, information on specialized software packages, and a detailed chapter-by- chapter bibliography recommending related and timely books, articles, and websites.

This book is suitable for the following readers:

Planned Giving Staff
Development Staff
Attorneys
Accountants
Financial Planners
Insurance Agents
Trust Officers
Investment Advisors

Because the book balances cutting edge techniques with the need to avoid overly aggressive and risky planning, charities may find it advantageous to provide copies to their Advisory Board members and other commercial sector advisors with whom they work. And since the book contains detailed information, ranging from basic to advanced, about charitable planning tools, laws, and trends, advisors who want to include such plans in their portfolio will find this book handy in developing both sound plans for their clients and profitable working relations with non-profit organizations.

Chapter Headings:

Techniques of Charitable Planning
Selling the Dream
General Rules for Charitable Deductions
Income Percentage Limits
Gifts of Property
Partial Interest Rules
E-Philanthropy and Technology Issues
Ethical Issues in Charitable Planning
The Planned Giving Office
The Planned Giving Team
Tools of Charitable Planning
Bargain Sale Transactions
Below-Market Interest Loans
Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Giving Using Life Insurance
Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts
Charitable Remainder Unitrusts
Community Foundations
Qualified Conservation Contributions
Donor Advised Funds
Pooled Income Funds
Private Foundations
Retirement Plan Gifts
Testamentary Gifts
Supporting Organizations
Appendices
Planned Giving Trends
Charitable Gift Annuity Rates and IRS Expected Return Multiples
Charitable Remainder Trust Administration
Income Percentage Limits for Lifetime Charitable Gifts
Codes of Ethics
IRS Filing Requirements and Forms
Model Forms for Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable Planning Software
Tax Rates and Credits
Valuation Issues Relating to Specific Assets
Valuation Tables
Charitable Planning Websites ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for insurance buyers too
I am an owner of an apartment building and was nervous about being inappropriately insured. After reading the book, I feel like I know exactly what I want and don't want. Like I am on equal footing with an agent/broker. ... Read more

Book Description

Risk is a cost of doing business. The question is, "What are the risks, and what are their costs?" Knowing the vulnerabilities and threats that face your organization's information and systems is the first essential step in risk management. Information Security Risk Analysis shows you how to use cost-effective risk analysis techniques to identify and quantify the threats--both accidental and purposeful--that your organization faces. The book steps you through the qualitative risk analysis process using techniques such as PARA (Practical Application of Risk Analysis) and FRAP (Facilitated Risk Analysis Process) to:oEvaluate tangible and intangible risksoUse the qualitative risk analysis processoIdentify elements that make up a strong Business Impact AnalysisoConduct risk analysis with confidenceManagement looks to you, its information security professional, to provide a process that allows for the systematic review of risk, threats, hazards, and concerns, and to provide cost-effective measures to lower risk to an acceptable level. You can find books that cover risk analysis for financial, environmental, and even software projects, but you will find none that apply risk analysis to information technology and business continuity planning or deal with issues of loss of systems configuration, passwords, information loss, system integrity, CPU cycles, bandwidth, and more. Information Security Risk Analysis shows you how to determine cost effective solutions for your organization's information technology. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Proper content, horrible writing
After having read the book, I was left with a mixed feeling. The content of the book is OK. Not special, just OK. If this book changed your way of thinking about risk, then this is probably one of your first books you read on the subject. I give the book content 4 stars, since it's decent, easy to follow and fairly complete. Besides that, the author included three good articles at the end of the book, one of which (by Caroline Hamilton) is particularly well-written.

Now for the style. I can only agree with one of the other reviewers regarding the comment he made about proofreading the book. I wonder if the book was proofread at all. There are so many errors and annoyances in this book, it starts working on my nerves fairly quickly. To name but a few:


The writer contradicts himself on several occasions. Sometimes this gets hilarious:
- Page 30: [The cost/benefit analysis] is the most important step of any risk analysis process.
- Page 35: As discussed in the previous example, the scope statement is the most important element of the risk analysis process.
- Page 39: The most important element of any risk analysis process is the recommendations of controls and safeguards... etc etc.


I understand that mister O'Leary is his mentor, but don't tell me five $%^$@ times that he is the Director of the Education Resource Center (pages ix, 12, 13, 65, 66).


The spelling errors are a real pain in the butt:

- page 217: "Aurebach" instead of "Auerbach" (my favorite; it's his own publisher).
- page 16: "can shared" instead of "can be shared"
- page 36: ".appropriate" instead of "appropriate"
- page 43: "their role" instead of "his role"
- page 45: "control" instead of "risk" (last word on the page)
- page 46: "these" instead of "there"
- page 47: "guideline" instead of "guidelines"
- page 55: "their" instead of "its" (it refers back to "job")
- page 64: wrong comma usage
- page 71: "in" instead of "it"
- .....
- page 162: "Originizational" instead of "Organizational"
- page 217: "Ozierz's" instead of "Ozier's"


The writer uses the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V too many times. Definitions should be reworded, not blindly copied. See pages 7 and 57, pages 47 and 72 etc.

Sometimes bulleted items in the same list have a trailing dot, sometimes they haven't.

I can go on and on.

To wrap it up, the writing gets 1 star. Equals 5 stars. Which will be rounded to 2 stars, simply because of his sloppy writing. If the writing were better, I might give it 3 or 4 stars.

Qualitative not Quantitative
The book outlines - over the course of about 50 pages - a simple and qualitative risk metric.IF one is looking for a method to quantify risk then look elsewhere; perhaps to a professional actuary.

Overall it is a decent book for an introduction to qualitative risk analysis.

Awesome Content - hurried writing
I believe that this book was pushed out to the presses much too quickly.Be prepared to rewrite some of the processes because of poor writing (and/or proof reading).Some of the steps in the Qualitative Risk Analysis just strait up don't make sense.

However I give it two thumbs up for content.This book helped me with disaster planning tremendously.

Bottom line this book is worth the money and deserves/needs a second edition.

A very good kick-off book on Risk Analysis
This is the only book that provides a general overview of what a Risk Analysis is, and I consider it a very good basis for learning how to perform a Risk Analysis and evaluate the risks. Anyway, it is my personal opinion that there are no standard methods to be used: a good Risk Analyst stays to a good Risk Analysis, like a good tailor stays to a good suit. Every time that you will have to perform a Risk Analysis, you will decide with the team or with the customer what kind of methods are going to be used and wich kind of evaluation parameters are going to be taken into consideration. Another thing that I disagree about, is the time that should be spent on the Risk Analysis: to perform a good analysis in ten days, is like expecting a persian carpet to be made in one week or a good italian meal to be served in three minutes.

Superb book - explains the details
This is an excellent introduction to risk analysis in general and a highly effective guide for conducting a security risk analysis.

Of the 281 pages in this book, 156 pages are devoted to the seven chapters comprising the "how to" and case study, with the remaining pages allocated to six highly valuable appendices.

Chapter 1, Effective Risk Analysis, starts the book by discussing risk analysis in general, including common approaches, and leads into the author's approach.The next chapter covers qualitative risk analysis, followed by a chapter on value analysis.By this point it's clear that the author's philosophy is to capture major risks, cost data and develop impact without getting bogged down in complex methods.I liked chapter 4, which discusses other qualitative methods, their strengths and weaknesses, which adds context to the heart of this book: Chapter 5, Facilitated Risk Analysis Process.In a nutshell, this approach involves all stakeholders and spreads the responsibility and accountability for identifying, analyzing and prioritizing risks.This is as it should be because security should be everyone's job, and the stakeholders (led by subject matter experts) are the best source of authority for making trade-offs and allocating resources to ensure the degree of security that consensus dictates.Since security is, in part, a function of trade-offs, the Facilitated Analysis Risk Process proposed by the author is an effective and essential process supporting security.Chapter 6 covers other uses of qualitative risk analysis, and is though-provoking and informative.The case study in chapter 7 ties together the preceding chapters and concludes the text on risk analysis.

The appendices are, in my opinion, invaluable.Like a previous reviewer I lament the fact that the tables and forms were not included in electronic format, but this is a minor quibble on my part.Appendix A is a comprehensive, 25-page questionnaire that covers every facet of security risks.Appendix B contains a reproduction of every form associated with the Facilitated Risk Analysis Process (Scope/Business Process Identification, Action Plan, Final Report, Controls List, Risk List and Controls/Risk Cross-Reference List).Business Impact Analysis forms are provided in Appendix C, and a sample report is provided in Appendix D.Threat definitions are provided in Appendix E, and three short papers authored by other experts giving other opinions of risk analysis are the subject of Appendix F.

Overall this is a highly focused book that should not be ignored by anyone who is responsible for security, business continuity or disaster recovery planning.Even if you are more apt to use quantitative methods instead of the qualitative methods proposed by the author, this book is still an important work on security risk analysis.The appendices alone are worth the price of the book. ... Read more