Book Description

Dubbed the "bible" by market analysts and traders since 1939, The CRB Commodity Yearbook provides indispensable information on over 100 domestic and international commodities. The Yearbook includes seasonal patterns and historical data, pricing and trading patterns on a monthly and annual basis, and more than 1,000 charts, tables, and graphs covering production/consumption, supply and demand patterns, and trading highlights. Gathered from government reports, private industry, and trade and industry associations, the data is compiled by the Commodity Research Bureau for this indispensible report.

Youll find:

• Worldwide supply/demand and production/consumption data for all the basic commodities and futures markets -- from A(luminum) to Z(inc), including all the major markets in interest rates, currencies, energy, and stock index futures.
• Over 900 tables, graphs, and price charts of historical data, many of which show price history dating back to 1900.
• A fact-filled CD-ROM featuring valuable commodity information in an easy-to-use electronic format.
• Concise introductory articles that describe the salient features of each commodity and help put the quantitative information in perspective.
• Articles by prominent professionals on key markets and important issues, including several by CRB Chief Economist, Richard W. Asplund: “Major Commodity Bull Market Continues in 2004," "U.S. Economy in 2004 Shows Strong Growth," "World Economy in 2004 Shows Improvement," and "China Continues to Drive Global Commodity Prices."

Book Description

Develop an insider's knowledge of real estate financing (traditional and creative) while remaining legal and ethical.

A brief but thorough overview of the mortgage loan market, from the concept of inflation to the different categories of lenders and loans.This book builds a solid framework for understanding how to make money in real estate by choosing the right financing.

Knowing the workings of the mortgage loan market as well as all the options available for financing are the keys to success for real estate investors and homebuyers.Financing Secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Investor offers a comprehensive overview of the basics, followed by clear, concise explanations of the many financing options investors should consider when looking to maximize profits.Demystifying such intriguing concepts as lease/options, sale/leasebacks, double closings, and more, this practical guide gives buyers the knowledge they need to make the best possible purchasing decisions. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

There are so many ways to make money in real estate!
There are so many ways to make money in real estate! Since my first flipper property, which I made $8000.00 after reading "Flipping Properties" I have pocketed 7 figures and acquired 7 units - with no prior real estate experience! Bill Bronchick illustrates and delivers, step-by-step techniques, in an user friendly manner! "Financing Secrets" will forever change the way you buy and sell real estate.

Bronchick makes a complex subject easy to understand
Well, Bill Bronchick has done it again. Following his excellent resource Flipping Properties, he's taken the complex subject of creative real estate financing and broken it down into it's component parts and explained each one clearly and concisely in simple language anyone can understand. In the section What to Expect from this Book he says, "This book will show you how to finance properties with as little cash as possible, while maintaining minimum risk and maximum profit." And he does.

Covering such subjects as loans, mortgages, foreclosure, and working with lenders, he gives you the background you need for the later subjects of creative financing, hard and private money, getting involved in partnerships and equity sharing and the more creative subjects of lease options and owner financing.

While the book is geared primarily toward real estate investors, it is an excellent guide for any person considering buying a new home or considering doing some kind of creative financing with an investor or other buyer on a house they already own.
After reading it cover to cover (an easy task) every real estate investor should then add it to their library as a useful reference for many financing situations that may come up in this business.

Great stuff
I recommend this book. If you are just getting started or have a lot of experience... this book will help you. Full of great ideas and solid information to help the creative real estate investor.

Byron Walker
Full Time Investor

Two thumbs way up!
This book had so many good finaning ideas, I read it three times! Whether you are buying as an investor or a homeowner, this book will show you real-life formulas for buying with little or no money. This is the first book that explains real estate financing in a way for the lay person to understand. The author, an attorney, has a real knack for making "legal jargon" understandable.

I would recommend this book to ANYONE who is either buying a home or investment property. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Among the library of investment books promising no-fail strategies for riches, Benjamin Graham's classic, The Intelligent Investor, offers no guarantees or gimmicks but overflows with the wisdom at the core of all good portfolio management.

The hallmark of Graham's philosophy is not profit maximization but loss minimization. In this respect, The Intelligent Investor is a book for true investors, not speculators or day traders. He provides, "in a form suitable for the laymen, guidance in adoption and execution of an investment policy" (1). This policy is inherently for the longer term and requires a commitment of effort. Where the speculator follows market trends, the investor uses discipline, research, and his analytical ability to make unpopular but sound investments in bargains relative to current asset value. Graham coaches the investor to develop a rational plan for buying stocks and bonds, and he argues that this plan must be a bulwark against emotional behavior that will always be tempting during abrupt bull and bear markets.

Since it was first published in 1949, Graham's investment guide has sold over a million copies and has been praised by such luminaries as Warren E. Buffet as "the best book on investing every written." These accolades are well deserved. In its new form--with commentary on each chapter and extensive footnotes prepared by senior Money editor, Jason Zweig--the classic is now updated in light of changes in investment vehicles and market activities since 1972. What remains is a better book. Graham's sage advice, analytical guides, and cautionary tales are still valid for the contemporary investor, and Zweig's commentaries demonstrate the relevance of Graham's principles in light of 1990s and early twenty-first century market trends. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Tired
Although I am mostly a value investor, this has never been my favorite book. The old 1973 edition which this replaces was dated and the examples were hard to relate to today's market. Even the previous editions were not ones I particularly enjoyed. Quite frankly, the book was and is boring. Also many of the investment ideas in the book simply do not work in today's market. For example, I agree with Niederhoffer that buying companies for less that Net Current Assets is ridiculous in general. Most who claim to be successful at this are simply liars. This technique worked for a short time following and during the great depression. But that was basically it. The idea of approaching one's investments as a business is old hat now but for those not familiar with the concept this book may be worthwhile although whether it is worth buying the book for this tidbit is debatable. The Buffettology books do this just as well and are more up to date. Despite the laughter and venom directed against these books they are useful modern investment books which the budding value investor would do well to read. This update does use more modern examples but with the rise of the internet this type of information is just not as rarely available as it once was. I just wonder how many more "revisions" this book can stand before it becomes like Graham's Security Analysis. Keep in mind this is a new edition of a book by a man who has been dead for years ( and not the first one at that). The modern investor would probably be better off learning something about valuation and applying that to determine if companies are undervalued. The primitive methods in Graham are not particularly useful today and do not reflect the methods of today's successful value investor.

Too bad real estate was not also in Benjamin Graham's field
If you have only time to read one book on investing, this classic should probably be it. But if you recently have read some of the popular get-rich-quick books, "The Intelligent Investor" is a necessary and powerful antidote.

The author has an extremely realistic view of the investment world. He sees the real risk where speculators may imagine there are instant riches. For Benjamin Graham, safety of capital comes first. But at the same time, he makes it clear that safety is not guaranteed, even if you do have a properly selected and well balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds.

On page 25, Mr. Graham warns the reader that: "There is no certainty that a stock component will insure adequately against 'large-inflation' but it should carry more protection than the bond component." The author does recognize that: "The outright ownership of real estate has long been considered as a sound long-term investment, carrying with it a goodly amount of protection against inflation." With this statement, he seems to recognize that inclusion of real estate could make an investment portfolio stronger. But he does not analyze real estate extensively as an investment in his book because he says that it is not his field.

Too bad he did not broaden his scope and also become an expert in real estate. If income-producing real estate had been looked at as thoroughly as stocks and bonds in "The Intelligent Investor," I believe many readers, with most of their equity in real estate, would be calling Amazon.com about giving this book a sixth star.

Classic book, but annoying commentaries
I was deciding between getting this edition or the more expensive hardbound edition (which does not contain the Jason Zweig commentaries). I naturally thought, why not go for the cheaper one and get the commentary for free? After all, I could just ignore the commentary if it doesn't help.

Bad bad choice. It was like choosing between a Beethoven CD and the same CD but with free shrieking commentary by a Damon Wayans movie character during and in between each symphony.

Zweig's writing when inserted between Graham's is like the annoying paperclip in MS Office, except there is no way to turn it off. He's in the footnotes (virtually every page!), he's in between every chapter. Open the book at a random page, and most likely you'll open it to a Zweig page.

The content and style of his writing feels condescending and contrasts so much with Graham's. When reading Graham you have elegant timeless prose by a humble, wise man who makes you feel he is sincerely interested in your well-being. By contrast, Zweig feels like someone who wants to impress you with his word plays, and puns. He really should have attempted to recede into the background and limited his voice.

I would recommend everyone to just buy the hardcover edition.

Buy Graham only. If you cannot read Graham, Zweig will only help marginally, and you still need to verify his comments against other contemporary Graham commentators. Get another book. If you *can* read Graham, then you do not need the commentaries in this book. Any questions you may have can be answered in thousands of sites on the net.

one of, if not the best, equity investment book
this is buffets' bible for good reason.

the book's central concept, the margin of safety, is reinforced time and again w/ supporting ratios and working examples, both from the 60-70s and from zweig's excellent supplements (an extremely valuable supplement to the original text, if for no other reason than to show that graham's teachings are timeless). while occasionally ratios will appear dated and no longer relevant (i.e. book value's importance has declined w/ the transition of the US eq mkt to increasing intellectual capital in a company's mkt cap), its discipline, focus and litmus tests (i.e. bond yields vs E/P ratios) still remain valid.

for the individual investor, there simply is no better book.

A classic!
This is an excellent text for anyone who wants to learn about investing. Strongly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

An essential guide to financial risk management and the best way to ace the GARP FRM(r) Exam
The Financial Risk Management Exam (FRM Exam) is given by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) annually in November for risk professionals who want to earn FRM certification. Written with the full support of GARP and providing questions and solutions from previous exams, this is the definitive guide for those preparing to take the FRM Exam as well as a valued working reference for risk professionals.
Phillipe Jorion, PhD, MBA (Irvine, CA), is a Professor of Finance at the Graduate School of Management at UC Irvine. The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) oversees the FRM(r) Certification Program and is the leading association for risk professionals, with over 38,000 members worldwide. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not required for the FRM
Warning: This book is not an official publication of GARP. It is not required reading for the FRM exam. If you had the impression that it was these things, blame marketing.

In years past, GARP did officially endorse the book. This had two unfortunate consequences. First, the publisher and author could charge an exorbitant price -- $150 for a paperback. Second, they didn't focus a whole lot on quality. People had to buy it! The book reads like warmed over lecture notes. It is disjointed, vague, incomplete and sprinkled with errors. It is probably the one aspect of the FRM exam that people complained most about. Eventually GARP distanced itself from the venture. People were a bit surprised when this third edition came out. I guess students will mistakenly think they are required to buy it.

If you are studying for the FRM exam, the only thing you need to buy is the CD of readings. There are numerous books, articles and websites you can read for supplementary material. Many of these are outstanding. If you have been involved with risk management for a few years, you already know what they are. This book covers the same ground as the CD. If it were reasonably priced, if it were well written, it might also be a nice supplement. It isn't.
... Read more

Book Description

Dynamic Hedging is the definitive source on derivatives risk. It provides a real-world methodology for managing portfolios containing any nonlinear security. It presents risks from the vantage point of the option market maker and arbitrage operator. The only book about derivatives risk written by an experienced trader with theoretical training, it remolds option theory to fit the practitioner's environment. As a larger share of market exposure cannot be properly captured by mathematical models, noted option arbitrageur Nassim Taleb uniquely covers both on-model and off-model derivatives risks.

The author discusses, in plain English, vital issues, including:

• The generalized option, which encompasses all instruments with convex payoff, including a trader's potential bonus.
• The techniques for trading exotic options, including binary, barrier, multiasset, and Asian options, as well as methods to take into account the wrinkles of actual, non-bellshaped distributions.
• Market dynamics viewed from the practitioner's vantage point, including liquidity holes, portfolio insurance, squeezes, fat tails, volatility surface, GARCH, curve evolution, static option replication, correlation instability, Pareto-Levy, regime shifts, autocorrelation of price changes, and the severe flaws in the value at risk method.
• New tools to detect risks, such as higher moment analysis, topography exposure, and nonparametric techniques.
• The path dependence of all options hedged dynamically

Dynamic Hedging is replete with helpful tools, market anecdotes, at-a-glance risk management rules distilling years of market lore, and important definitions. The book contains modules in which the fundamental mathematics of derivatives, such as the Brownian motion, Ito's lemma, the numeraire paradox, the Girsanov change of measure, and the Feynman-Kac solution are presented in intuitive practitioner's language.

Dynamic Hedging is an indispensable and definitive reference for market makers, academics, finance students, risk managers, and regulators.

The definitive book on options trading and risk management

"If pricing is a science and hedging is an art, Taleb is a virtuoso." —Bruno Dupire, Head of Swaps and Options Research, Paribas Capital Markets

"This is not merely the best book on how options trade, it is the only book." —Stan Jonas, Managing Director, FIMAT-Société Générale

"Dynamic Hedging bridges the gap between what the best traders know and what the best scholars can prove." —William Margrabe, President, The William Margrabe Group, Inc.

"The most comprehensive, insightful, intuitive work on the subject. It is instrumental for both beginning and experienced traders."—

"A tour de force. That rare find, a book of great practical and theoretical value. Taleb successfully bridges the gap between the academic and the real world. Interesting, provocative, well written. Each chapter worth a fortune to any current or prospective derivatives trader."—Victor Niederhoffer, Chairman, Niederhoffer Investments ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Book for Traders
I would not recommend this book to build up an academic background but rather to develop an understanding and an intuition of how dynamic options are. As a hedge fund options trader this book has been very valuable to me to validate my own observations and where necessary to correct those observations, which at the time seemed correct, but which the author through market experience manages to convey the proper meaning. This book is not only factual but also provides you with the right frame of mind to think about options. I believe you can also use the author's experience to boost your own practical experience.

Great book - BUT so many mistakes
this book has helped me in NUMEROUS interviews over the years... it is a book that always keeps me fresh... HOWEVER, thank god i have a solid background in derivatives - otherwise, the 107 errors i found (mathematics, definitions, explanations, etc) would have driven me to a point of complete confusion... NEVER have aloof traders edit your book - get someone who understands derivatives and is separated from the world of day-to-day trading... this book could have been the bible of understanding the risks in options - including exotic options... instead, it is just a good book... well done Taleb... but could you have been more slack with the editing?

Real book for traders
really great to figure out the intricacies of options. if you need something more conventional just get hull; this book is by someone who does it for a living and has different intuitions than what you get in the ivory tower.
some of the points are great but may need more updating

Not Worth the Read
This book is surely not worth reading. The formulas and analyses are more often incorrect than they are correct. As much as he likes fluffing people with PhDs (which I have - in mathematics), I can't help but feel he himself lacks the requisite skills for proper option analysis. This is not a book any serious trader, quant, risk manager, or academic should bother adding to their library.

Derivatives Theory meets Practice
This book provides a healthy dose of practical wisdom for options traders so that they don't blindly follow their mathematical models into oblivion. The author (Taleb) has a PhD in finance, but also has traded in the pits, he knows both theory and practice and where they diverge.

Taleb focuses on hedging, which is a trader's main task when running a large portfolio of options. Instead of using a flood of equations, Taleb relies on charts, graphs, and tables to make his points. Most of the equations & heavy mathematics are relegated to the appendix, presumably because quants (or software) will price the instruments. He covers the behavior of the Greeks (delta, gamma, vega, theta, etc.) for vanilla options as well as behavior of exotic options, and delves into the practicalities of volatility, hedging at discontinuities, and various other topics.

The book is very popular on trading desks, and although I found it pretty good, I didn't find it to be outstanding. Also, notably, the book does NOT cover credit & interest rate derivatives at all; hopefully this will be corrected in the next edition.

So if you need a book on the practicalities of hedging a portfolio of vanilla/exotic options, then get this book. On the other hand, if you want some basic options theory, or want to focus more in pricing, or need a basic introduction, look elsewhere (perhaps to Hull's or Wilmott's books). ... Read more

Book Description

From the "guru to Wall Street’s gurus" comes a guide to one of the most profitable and enduring investment disciplines

"A must-read for all disciples of value investing. In 1934, Graham and Dodd created fundamental security analysis. Greenwald reinforces the worth of this approach, incorporates new advances, and takes their work into the 21st century." –Mario J. Gabelli, Chairman, Gabelli Asset Management, Inc.

Value investing is the one school that has proven itself consistently profitable over time. Practitioners of the value approach have produced excellent returns for investors in both good and bad markets.

Recognized nationwide for his expertise on the subject of value investing, Bruce Greenwald’s classes and seminars have been attended by some of the savviest investors on Wall Street. Value Investing presents the fundamental concepts of the discipline and illustrates its practical applications in a manner accessible to anyone with a serious interest in investing. It is sure to take its place as one of the most important investment resources of our time. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Packed with Knowledge!
This is a very lucid, practical introduction to the principles of value investing. It is detached, relatively objective considering the authors' bias in favor of the subject, doesn't hype or hard-sell and, on the whole, would be a valuable addition to any investor's bookshelf. If you're a relative beginner, your shelf will also need to include a dictionary of financial terms - the authors assume you already know the vocabulary. And who is the Graham cited in the title? He is Benjamin Graham, who all but invented security analysis. With coauthor David Dodd, he produced the book Security Analysis in 1934. Later, Graham wrote The Intelligent Investor. Both books are investment classics and have been revised and re-issued. This one may endure, as well, based on its thorough exposition on how to value a company and its instructive profiles of value investing heavyweights. Our recommendation: strong buy, long term hold.

Value Investing in the 21st Century
I am a professional investor (CFA charter holder and portfolio manager) and would suggest this book for anyone interested in the value style of investing. I would not recommend the book for a novice investor since some terminology is not explained. (Perhaps read this book after reading and understanding Benjamin Graham's The Intelligent Investor.) However, the book is an excellent read for someone with an understanding of investing. The book is divided into two main parts: The authors' views of different ways to value a company and profiles of successful value investors.

I think the authors' Earnings Power Value (EPV) approach to valuing a company is cutting edge. (Basically EPV is a rehash of Enterprise Value.) Most investors tend to value stocks based on P/E ratios - only looking at equity in a company. However, the proper way to value a company is to look at its whole capital structure - Debt, Equity & Cash. EPV is a much better tool than the P/E ratio for calculating whether a company is undervalued.

The second part of the book that profiles a half dozen or so successful value investors is interesting. It illustrates there are many different ways to execute a value oriented approach. The profiles do not give any hard cut rules that each investor follows, but it does give you a general idea. (I have been successful at applying some of the ideas in managing my own account.) The only flaw of the profiles is the lack of any type of track record. It would have been helpful to list the year-by-year returns for each investor compared to an index. (i.e. S&P 500 Index)

Overall, it's a great book and it deserves a spot behind Ben Graham's Security Analysis and Intelligent Investor.

Packed With Knowledge!
This is a very lucid, practical introduction to the principles of value investing. It is detached, relatively objective considering the authors' bias in favor of the subject, doesn't hype or hard-sell and, on the whole, would be a valuable addition to any investor's bookshelf. If you're a relative beginner, your shelf will also need to include a dictionary of financial terms - the authors assume you already know the vocabulary. And who is the Graham cited in the title? He is Benjamin Graham, who all but invented security analysis. With coauthor David Dodd, he produced the book Security Analysis in 1934. Later, Graham wrote The Intelligent Investor. Both books are investment classics and have been revised and re-issued. This one may endure, as well, based on its thorough exposition on how to value a company and its instructive profiles of value investing heavyweights. Our recommendation: strong buy, long term hold.

Turkey and Where is the Beef?
There is simply not enough value in this book to justify using it. I'm sorry but words like Alta Vista and Cisco just should not appear anywhere in a value investing book. Period and discussion over. At least not up to the present. Maybe in the future but I doubt it. Also there is way too much verbage to describe much of nothing. The modern budding value investor would be better served by other book including Security Analysis by Graham. A lot of detail is missing here and much of the analysis leaves one wondering if the authors know what value investing really is.

Good book about value investing
The values are out there, it is just a matter of finding them and knowing what to look for. This book has many ideas about how to find the values.

I was somewhat disappointed in some of the math since I found some errors, for example on pg 139 of my edition, the formula for PV contains an error.

The Earnings Power Value seems to be useful for some situations, but not in all cases --- I think that point is covered in the book, yet so much time is devoted to EPV.

Even with some rough spots, this book will indeed help me in my investing walk. ... Read more

Book Description

During his fourteen years as Yale's chief investment officer, David F. Swensen has transformed the management of the university's portfolio. Largely by focusing on nonconventional strategies, including a heavy allocation to private equity, Swensen has achieved an annualized return of 16.2 percent, which has propelled Yale's endowment into the top tier of institutional funds. Now, this acknowledged leader of fund managers draws on his experience and deep knowledge of the financial markets to provide a compendium of powerful investment strategies.

Swensen presents an overview of the investment world populated by institutional fund managers, pension fund fiduciaries, investment managers, and trustees of universities, museums, hospitals, and foundations. He offers penetrating insights from his experience managing Yale's endowment, ranging from broad issues of goals and investment philosophy to the strategic and tactical aspects of portfolio management. Swensen's exceptionally readable book addresses critical concepts such as handling risk, selecting investment advisers, and negotiating the opportunities and pitfalls in individual asset classes. Fundamental investment ideas are illustrated by real-world concrete examples, and each chapter contains strategies that any manager can put into action.

At a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to cope with the relentless challenges provided by today's financial markets, Swensen's book is an indispensable roadmap for creating a successful investment program for every institutional fund manager. Any student of markets will benefit from Pioneering Portfolio Management. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Truly unique insight into institutional portfolio management
Swensen's book is a must-read for endowment managers and other institutional investors, particularly those who take a fund-of-funds approach (as does Yale, where Swensen is Chief Investment Officer). Swensen aptly lays out the investment policy that has enabled Yale to consistently outperform other U.S. endowments. As Yale's CIO, Swensen has set a target portfolio allocation that departs significantly from the still heavily U.S. equity and debt-focused strategy of most endowments. Swensen's approach includes a large allocation to asset classes that are not highly correlated to the U.S. public equity market. He outlines these "alternative" classes in his book, giving the reader an excellent view of how alternative investments can increase risk-adjusted portfolio returns.

Perhaps the biggest contribution of Swensen's book, however, is the debunking of myths that still lull fiducaries into making the wrong decisions, for example when it comes to picking investment managers. Swensen advises against chasing managers who have performed well simply because of their past performance. If attributes such as personal integrity and the right fee structure are lacking, solid past performance can become a liability, not an asset. Swensen describes the example of private equity firm KKR-- after tremendous early successes, the flood of investor capital into KKR enabled the firm's partners to set up a fee structure that ensured big payoffs for themselves even if their funds underperformed. This is just one of many valuable lessons the reader will draw from Swensen's book.

Thoughtful, cautious, and quite readable
This book provides some well thought out advice on how to invest. It deals mainly with strategies appropriate to handling multi-billion dollar portfolios, but many of the ideas would apply to ordinary investors as well. But because he is mostly very cautious about what strategies to use, the advice won't be terribly surprising to experienced investors, and won't satisfy many risk-tolerant investors.
The one area in which I disagree with the book is his overly confident rejection of technical analysis. While most simple versions of technical analysis have not shown impressive results, and it may well be that none work with investments of the size that Yale makes, the number of successful traders who make some use of technical analysis (for example, most of those interviewed in Jack Schwager's books) should not be dismissed lightly.

Many good insights
David Swensen reveals many insights available only from experience which are valuable for individuals and boards responsible for guiding large portfolios. I wished for more detail regarding the manager selection guidelines and asset allocation/reallocation criteria however we must respect that this information is proprietary.

A must-have for MBA students and investment professionals
First of all, Swensen and Takahashi's team puzzled me by its consistent performance to beat the benchmark for over 15 years, with last year¡¯s stunning annual return of 41%, leading the assets under management to easily surpass $10 Billion. The book is not only a great resource to look into the minds of the people who made this happen but also a wonderful application of finance, investment, asset allocation, strategy and management that you are learning in business school. Without mentioning the merits of the finance theory and investment techniques, the book is presenting a compelling case study of how investment office fits into the picture of institution building.

Second, the fascinating aspects of the book is the ¡°unconventional approach¡±, not just simply statistics and financial modeling, for long-time horizon investing. For example, in asset allocation and manager selection, it can come from topdown analysis with support of quantitative modeling and sophisticated simulation; it also can come from scientific findings and number crunching to uncover the value creation process, which usually leads to the later asset allocation strategy to fully take advantage of the discoveries.

Third, the stress and analysis of alternative investment assets and absolute returns are also worthy of mentioning. Contrary to what traditional financial theories or books focusing on efficient markets, Swensen¡¯s book casts a lot of insights on the less-covered alternative asset classes and less efficient markets. Interestingly, they never seem to be constrained by their own defined class by constantly exploring those asset classes. For example, Swensen is famous for backing venture capital and private equity. It is true that they took the plunge well before others did. Nevertheless, they explore much more than that --other inefficient markets and conventionally less-discovered places.

Finally, there are some more things that I would love to see in the book¡¯s next edition or a new book. One intriguing aspect of Yale Investment Office is its consistently great performance, which happens to coincide with the very volatile years from 1985-2001. Think about the Black Monday in 1997, the stagnation (coupled with high inflation) in late 1980s, bull market, bear market, Asian Financial Crises, Russian Default, Internet bubbles in 2000 and recent bubble-burst. How they weather through the storms as well as sunny days in a systematic way would be really worthy of reading. How do they deal with financial innovation, such as some exotic financial instruments and hedge funds?

In general, I would rate this book the highest score, with high hopes for another book from their team.

Original thought and a rare look into an important world
I give this the highest rating available for two reasons: First, it gives rare insight into the forces driving generally any institution and in particular investments by endowments and foundations. Second, Mr. Swenson provides surprisingly original and expectedly sophisticated thoughts on a number of new and crucial aspects of portfolio management from a wholistic and asset-class specific perspective. He also provides a fresh look at new or often brushed over topics including alternative investments, evaluation of quantitative strategies, and evaluation of managers within each asset class. Although the investments of the Yale Endowment are well known, I knew little about David Swenson prior to reading this book. I came away very impressed with his thoughts. He managed to provide insight and make interesting a lot of topics previously thought simple.

Generally speaking there are two sources of capital available, those from individuals and those from institutions. Every other investment institution(ie, investment banks, mutual funds, hedge funds, brokerages) are simply intermediaries that help transform investment capital into working capital. Understanding the needs of both individuals and institutions is crucial from a number of perspective. For an economist, both groups represent fundamental causal mechanisms in the flow of capital. For anyone in the investment business from stock brokers to investment bankers to hedge fund managers, both individuals and institutions represent a significant potential source of revenue. More information than we need to know is available about the individual. However, surprisingly little good information is available about institutional investors. If anything, the first half of this book provides a useful look into the views of an institutional investor.

Aside from providing a look at the industry, this book was undoubtedly insightful from a pure finance/investment perspective. Mr. Swenson manages to shed light on a lot of topics that were previously taken for granted. Examples include his illustration that on a risk adjusted basis, private equity funds(LBO and venture capital)on average don't perform that well. Only top-tier funds are beating the "market" (S&P500), and only they're worth investing in. Moreover, he's even shed light on the much whispered....never talked about fact that perhaps private equity managers are overcompensated.

His examination of alternative investments is only one aspect of the book. He also provides a fresh look at other important topics that often go unnoticed such as the limitations of mean-variance optimization in asset allocation, active vs. passive fund managers, the role of real estate within the overall portfolio, the significance of REITs, and many others. ... Read more

Book Description

Spend like a miser, profit like a mogul

Who says you have to spend money to make money?Savvy real estate investors follow the examples of Donald Trump and Walt Disney, turning substantial profits on properties without incurring the debt, risk, and maintenance costs of ownership—and now, so can you!

In How to Make Money with Real Estate Options, real estate expert Thomas Lucier introduces you to the low-risk, high-yield investment vehicle that can earn big bucks even for small investors. Lucier explains what real estate options are, how they work, and why they are the tools of choice for thousands of successful investors. Step by step, he shows you how to:

• Locate potential option properties using the Internet, want ads, and "bird-dogs"
• Contact and negotiate with property owners
• Perform due diligence and avoid options pitfalls
• Prepare an option agreement that protects you
• Insure real estate options with title insurance
• Package and sell optioned properties for optimum profits

Packed with no-nonsense advice on how to identify the most profitable properties and manage every step of the option process, How to Make Money with Real Estate Options is a practical guide to one of the secret weapons of savvy investors. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Knowledge Abound
This book is very detailed and informative on the Options process.I have read many books on the subject and this is one of the best out there.It was very thought productive and can help take your real estate investing career to the next level.

One of the best books prepared on options
Hands down a very informative book on real estate options and creative ways to make heavy dollars with little to zero risk!

Two Thumbs Way Up!!!
Two Thumbs Up!!!A must read!!! The most comprehensive, inclusive, and insightful read that is long overdue!If you want the real-world-scoop on how to do it and do it right, this no hassle guide goes to the point with invaluable tips and personal experiences to keep you savvy and up-to-date with all the right stuff, i.e., contact information, referral sources at your finger-tips. To have someone like Mr. Lucier share all his technology secrets and expertise is a rarity!If you have any questions, the author is available and as close to you as your cell-phone.Thanks Mr. Lucier for being my mentor and helping me become financially independent and independently prosperous!!

R.R.Ford. California

Step by Step Learning & to the Point with REAL Information
The author gives you excellent detailed information along with lots of resource links, not to mention his email & phone info.He actually does answer email questions quick. His book is an excellent value because it's all about "how to" without any fluff, missing details, long winded stories or get rich quick schemes.I've read many real estate books & this is probably one if not the best & most informative on a new strategy that the average person can use.

This was an exciting read
I read this book in one night. I was so excited.It is concise and to the point.This is a powerpacked resource good for any level of investor.This will become a classic

mike ... Read more

Book Description

“Bernstein has become a guru to a peculiarly ’90s group: well-educated, Internet-powered people intent on investing well—and with minimal ‘help’ from professional Wall Street.”--Robert Barker, BusinessWeek

William Bernstein is one of today’s most unlikely financial heroes. A practicing neurologist, he used his self-taught investment knowledge and research to build a popular investor’s website. Now, in the plain-spoken The Intelligent Asset Allocator, he shows independent investors how to build a diversified portfolio—without the help of a financial advisor. A breath of fresh air for investors tired of overly technical investment tomes, this book will help investors:
• Learn the risk/reward characteristics ofvarious investment types
• Understand and apply portfolio theory for an improved risk/reward ratio
• Sharpen their focus, and take control of their investment programs William Bernstein (North Bend, OR) runs a website—www.efficientfrontier.com—known for its quarterly journal of asset allocation and portfolio theory, Efficient Frontier. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

An Essential Tool For Serious Investors
Dr. Bernstein's excellent presentation in this text of Modern Portfolio Theory (in particular, mean-variance analysis) and his three-step approach to asset allocation should not be overlooked by the serious investor or by investment advisors. While some background in statistics would be helpful to the reader, don't run away if you are not a mathmetician. Read the chapters slowly, one at a time, and you'll gain valuable insights into the all-important asset allocation decision. No other text I've read to date better explains Modern Portfolio Theory and the underlying theories of asset allocation to the lay investor.

Dr. B effectively presents additional arguments for value investing and tax-efficient investing. The last chapter also contains a very useful reading list, providing a synopsis of books by Malkeil, Bogle, Haugen, and a host of web sites which can provide valuable data and reading. Investors should not overlook Dr. Bernstein's own web site, which is frequently updated with his newsletters.

The very beginning investor should perhaps first explore Bogle's Common Sense on Mutual Funds, and then explore texts by Burton Malkeil, Larry Swedroe, and perhaps a few others. This text can then be dived into (patiently). Bruce Temkin's recent text, The Terrible Truth About Investing, should then follow, lest the individual investor believe that he or she knows it all.

I highly recommend this text as an addition to every serious individual investor's library, and to investment advisors desiring to explore the fundamentals of Modern Portfolio Theory.

Very good but with some inconsistencies.
This book is a very good read that kept my attention. The book focuses on low-cost index fund oriented investing across various types of investments and is a good companion book to A Random Walk Down Wall Street. The author looks at both investment theory and how the theory applies to actual market history. Although the theory can involve a little too much math at times for some readers, this is not a problem as the author's point comes across clearly.

Although the book was generally excellent, some of the author's points are inconsistent. For example, the author talks at length about how future returns are unpredictable but later states that stock prices are overvalued and due for a downturn. Additionally, the author stresses how periodic portfolio rebalancing is important in asset allocation but then says that there is a strong argument for never rebalancing due to tax consequences. However, these inconsistencies are insignificant to the work as a whole and I strongly recommend this book.

The Intelligent Asset Allocator: How to Build Your Portfolio
Bernstein has become a guru to a peculiarly '90s group: well-educated, Internet-powered people intent on investing well-and with minimal 'help' from professional Wall Street

Outstanding all the way around
I've read many investment books but this one is a cut above. Bernstein is a gifted author and lays a path for the reader to reduce investment risk while increasing investment returns though, what else, intelligent asset allocation. He covers the tradeoffs of mutual funds and stock picking but the real meat of the reading is the benefits of asset allocation (spreading your investments into classes that move independently of one another) and how one might implement such a strategy. He stops short of telling you which strategy but he does provide sufficient data for you to get started.

Bernstein is a gifted writer and a powerful, logical presenter of what should be an easily managable financial strategy. It should be the only book you need on investing.

Don't be scared
When you pick up this book and look through it the graphs my scare you. Don't let your math phobia kick in. William Bernstein does a great job of walking you through each chapter. In fact at the end of one of the first chapters he tells you to put the book down for a few days and just digest the information. I would rate myself as at least an investor with moderate investing knowledge. I found this book helpful and the charts held validate the points Mr. Bernstein is making. I suspect I will refer to it often when I have a guestion about investing. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for How to Create & Manage a Hedge Fund
A Professional’s Guide

"True to its title, McCrary provides a clearly written and complete overview of the issues associated with starting and running a hedge fund. And for those outside the hedge fund world, the book’s successful marriage of finance theory and market practice with the author’s own vast experience makes for an enjoyable and thoroughly informative read."
–Christopher L. Culp, Managing Director, CP Risk Management LLC, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Finance, Graduate School of Business, The University of Chicago

"McCrary has drawn from his experience on Wall Street, LaSalle Street, and at the academy in crafting this encyclopedia for hedge fund managers and advisors. Covering the field in plainspoken business prose, he demystifies the secretive world of collective private investment. Whether you earn your living in finance or law, in accounting or marketing, if the subject is hedge funds, you must read this book."
–Patrick Daugherty, Partner, Foley & Lardner

"Building on his broad experience in the securities and derivatives markets, McCrary offers a well-researched guide to starting and running a hedge fund business . . . he tackles everything from the mundane, like regulations and accounting, to the complex, like investment techniques and risk management, in an articulate and insightful manner . . . a necessary handbook for money managers and investors alike."
–Peter F. Karpen, Managing Member, Diversified Investment Management, LLC ... Read more

Reviews (10)

60 Pages of Applicable Information
Years ago I swore never to read another book with the words "How To" in the title. I broke that rule and am now very sorry I did. To be fair, there are a couple of good chapters in this book. Chapter 10 on regulation is a nice overview of the subject, and chapter 12 makes a valiant effort, but ultimately fails to make hedge fund taxation lucid. Unfortunately much of the book is unabashed filler. Chapter 11 is titled "Accounting for Hedge Funds", but is instead a 15 page overview of the first week of Freshman level accounting. Chapter 15 takes ten pages to explain the obvious and intuitive parallels of hedge fund cash flows to options. I got about 60 pages of applicable information on the subject out of a 300 page book, and still feel ripped off. Why is it that there are so many terrible books about money management?

Uh-huh. UhUh!!
Dear, me. Imagine being able to coach a winning business plan in fewer than 20 pages. And marketing, my dears! Why, other people write book after book about marketing, and, viola, all is covered in only twenty pages. That is amazing, especially since all the evidence is that the single most important aspect of creating a successful hedge fund is the marketing side. I can't imagine why the book would deal with trading or corporate structures in the US sense. Most successful hedge funds are incorporated in other jurisdictions which often use different terminology. And, my dears, how useful is it to introduce an S-corp, a US IRS term and structure used primarily in real estate. Few hedge funds invest in real estate, and even fewer non-US jurisdictions recognize that peculiar tax creature.

On top of all that, you don't even get paper, binding or book covers for your money. Talk about 50 ways to leave your lover. Well, buy it if you must, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Criticisms don't make sence to me....
While admittedly there is a lot of fluff in this book - ie explaining strategy and instruments, there is a lot of valuable advise on creating the structure of the company and constructing a business plan.

If your looking for someone to tell you how to trade in the financial markets you probably shouldn't be starting a fund.

Dissapointing
This book only gives a brief overview to the actual nuts and bolts of starting a hedge fund. Instead it spends time explaining various hedge fund strategies, risk-management approaches, and basic entity structures (what is a c-corp? what is an s-corp? what is an llc?).

As someone who has started a fund in the past and is looking to start another, this book was a disappointment. If you are learning the info in this book for the first time, you probably shouldn't be starting a fund in the first place.

Must have resource
A lot of great commentary about the preparation and hard work to build a business, not just trade/manage money. The other reviews listed here correctly point out that this is not another instructional book with investment techniques. This is the ideal book for someone confident enough with their investing strategy be it equities, bonds, limited partnerships, real estate, futures, commodities etc. to grasp business structures, investor/customer expectation, realistic marketing timelines, accounting, and the business aspect of managing a fund. Expect to seek out additional resources to add on McRary's outstanding work. If you are even toying with the idea of starting a mangement company, fund, fund of funds etc. do not proceed without this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The stock market has always been a centerpiece of the American financial scene. With a balanced portfolio that includes stocks you can make a relatively quick profit or save for retirement—if you know what you’re doing.

Whether you’re a beginner that wants to take a crash course on stock investing or you’re already a stock investor who would like to review your current situation, Stock Investing For Dummies has valuable lessons to offer. 

Stock Investing For Dummies will give you a realistic approach to making money in stocks. It offers the essence of sound, practical stock investing strategies and insights that have been market tested and proven from nearly a hundred years of stock market history. This book will help you succeed not only in up markets, but also in down markets. Easy-to-follow and reassuring, this guide will make you a better-informed investor through an exploration of:

• What stocks are and why you should invest in them
• How to create a successful stock portfolio
• The best ways to invest: conservative, aggressive, long-term, short-term
• Information gathering techniques you can use to research stocks before you invest in them
• Investing for growth versus income
• How to analyze industries, companies, and stocks
• Minimizing the tax on your capital gains
• Knowing when not to invest
• How to choose the right broker

Bull markets and bear markets come and go, but the informed investor can keep making money no matter what. Packed with tips for building wealth and holding on to it, Stock Investing For Dummies will show you how to buy and sell with confidence in no time! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Tight book
For some odd reason the book I got has a different cover. Nevertheless, this is a funny and helpful book.

Solid Easy to Read Foundation
I knew nothing about the stock market, but this book covered all the key concepts in a easy to read and understand format--highly recommended.

A GREAT REFRESHER COURSE FOR THE SEASONED INVESTOR
I read almost every book I can about investing. I have been investing since I was a paperboy at age 16. A man came to my parent's home and presented stock to purchase in an insurance company that was going public. My father, brother and I bought shares in that company. (I realize now that we made a very risky choice in purchasing stocks from a man selling door-to-door). Several years later, I sold my shares to pay college expenses. After college, I jumped into buying low-priced stocks. I later was introduced to a system of buying low-priced stocks of $3 or less a share by an investor named R. Max Bowser. Somewhere in the 1970s I began receiving free copies of a newsletter that he started. After a year, I remember having to subscribe in order to keep receiving the monthly newsletter. I have found his system to be profitable and easy to understand. In addition to the featured book, "Stock Investing for Dummies," I would also recommend R. Max Bowser's books. I have recently read Mr. Bowser's newest book which is based on his investing experience over the past 24 years. After buying "Stock Investing For Dummies," I would recommend getting hold of a copy of "Guaranteed Profits: The Only Stock Market Investment System That Comes With A $5,000 Guarantee," by R. Max Bowser. I have never known of another author making such a guarantee.

Very Basic Stuff
I thought that this book was very simple, too simple, almost to the point of being useless. It has all the basic stuff but it just seems simple and very basic. I think one needs more including the do's and dont's including some guidance or the investor could lose a lot of money - and quickly.

This is a competitive market with hundreds of books on the market. I like any book by John C. Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group of mutual funds or by William J. O'Neil. Another good source of books is the Bob Brinker reading list at www.bobbrinker.com.

This book just leaves me feeling like it is a bit light weight.

3 Stars.

Jack in Toronto

Great book on stock investing
I purchased this book in an attempt to decipher all the stock market jargon on the Internet. This book has helped me understand the vast majority of the terms, and gives solid information for first time investers (the author even explains WHEN NOT to get into stock investing). The layout and organization of the book is the reason I gave it five stars. ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the revolutionary developments occurring in the world's financial markets and institutions —i.e., innovation, globalization, and deregulation —with a focus on the actual practices of financial institutions, investors, and financial instruments. KEYTOPICS: Extensive coverage of the markets for derivative securities. Coverage of Depository Institutions is included. For professionals in the field of financial markets. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book is great, very educational!
I use this textbook for my Financial Markets class and I learn so much from it. Fabozzi does a wonderful job of transfering his ideas to students so they can comprehend them and learn. Because of this book, I will definately get an 'A' in my class. I recommend this book to anybody. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for Collateralized Debt Obligations & Structured Finance

"Caveat emptor! Never in the history of finance has this warning been more appropriate. With the development of CDOs, credit derivatives, and other esoteric structured finance techniques, market participants–the savvy as well as the novice–are exposed to a bewildering array of new ideas, concepts, and structures. Janet Tavakoli has tackled these subjects in an outstanding mixture of exposition, mathematics, and skepticism. A must-read for anyone who plans to play in these markets."
–Jack Caouette
Vice Chairman, MBIA Insurance Corporation

"A timely and comprehensive survey of the latest developments in structured finance, particularly given the rapid pace of change in the last few years. The author’s depth of knowledge and wide experience are conveyed clearly to the reader. At a time when the industry’s ability to meet the complexities of the differing requirements of market participants is under challenge from both the events of the last cycle and the authorities, the insights offered in this book are especially valuable."
–Mark Hale
Group Strategist, Ansbacher & Co., Ltd.

"Structured finance is central to the continued development of active credit portfolio management. In this book, Tavakoli not only provides an authoritative account of many of the structured finance products employed by portfolio managers, but also addresses, in a forthright manner, a number of the ‘burning issues’ affecting the industry in a post-Enron world."
–John Cross
Global Head, Portfolio Management, Standard Chartered Bank ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Collateralized Debt Obligations & Structured Finance
This book combines expertise and readability in the style of Tavakoli's "Credit Derivatives". I would expect it to become a classic in this market as is her other book in the credit derivatives market. This book has particularly nice coverage on SPEs. Her explanation of the evolution of CDOs from balance sheet deals to arbitrage deals includes lots of practical examples and clear graphics.

Tavakoli's insights are especially valuable when highlighting caveats introduced by the rapid growth of credit derivatives technology in structured finance. She recommends structural approaches to getting fair value for both structurers and investors. Much of the information on synthetics is new material, and losses that are just now being realized in the market place might have been avoided had this book been available six months ago.

Tavakoli also predicts products that will wane and the products that will experience a growth spurt - such as the secured trust -in the Basel 2 environment.

Authoritative and Clear Account of Structured Finance
I noticed the same reviewer seems to have posted multiple negative reviews for this book and Tavakoli's credit derivatives book. One of the reviews echoes the words of a fellow who is coming out with his own books on these subjects, so there may be a motive of self-interest. In that respect the one and two star reviews may be a form of envious homage.

I'm a 5-year veteran in credit derivatives trading. I hedge synthetic collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and manage the risk for single tranche CDOs. I was very glad to receive this book and like it as much as Tavakoli's book on credit derivatives. Tavakoli clearly defines terms. She then clearly explains the products. There are many aspects of the structuring I wasn't aware of that are explained as an entertaining read in this book. Our structuring group liked this book as much as I did, and bought copies for everyone on the desk, and bought copies for customers.

I work for one of the well managed banks that has been providing good value for customers, but I was happy to see Tavakoli talk about how customers have often been ripped-off and she suggests how customers can avoid this - for instance by dealing with my bank. I liked the way the various structures are explained from the bottom up. Tavakoli makes it seem easy to understand the various complex components and the structural options.

The section on language and gaming is especially important. The debate on deal managers both for and against, and the inconsistency of the rating agencies both internally and externally is clearly explained. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, since we want rating agencies to take independent views, but it is important to realize that discrepancies in the approach to rating structured products exist. Tavakoli did an excellent job of explaining this so that there are no misunderstandings.

I also enjoyed the account of non-CDO structured finance products, since I may gravitate to the structuring side of the business in future.

Excellent Resource for Investors
For investors who need to know more about structured finance including new synthetic securitizations using credit derivatives technology, this book is a great resource.

Required Reading
Collateralized Debt Obligations should be required reading for investors in the CDO market. Tavakoli gives a thorough overview of the market and explains the relative value traps and opportunities. Tavakoli explains several different kinds of possible structures in which cash flows can be diverted to either the detriment or the benefit of investors. The recommendations for the structural protections that investors should ask for repay the cost of the book - and the valuable time you take to read it - several thousand fold.

Rating agencies have a difficult time rating tranches of several structures and as an investor, I wasn't aware of these discrepancies before. This book makes major strides in improving transparency in structured finance.

Collateralized Debt Obligations and Structured Finance
Strange how the reviewer(s) from NY, SF, and London (who rank this book with 1 or 2 stars) all write in the same style, all are anonymous once and identified once, and the same reviewer(s) wrote essentially the same reviews on Tavakoli's 2001 book. Who is gaming whom? My first impression of this book is good - I have only skimmed it so far - but I believe it is worth my time for a thorough study. No, I am not a 'trainee' - I have been trading commodities and currencies since the mid 1970s. ... Read more

Book Description

The Industry’s Most Comprehensive Treatment of the Modern MBS/ABS Marketplace–From the Pioneers Who Helped Create the Market

"Lakhbir Hayre’s work ranks in the top echelon of fixed income research of the past two decades. Both new entrants and seasoned market professionals can benefit from the insights compiled in this volume."–Greg Parseghian, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Freddie Mac

"This is an enormously comprehensive study of the MBS and ABS markets by one of the most respected people in the field. Its unmatched wealth of institutional and technical detail make it an invaluable reference to anyone interested in these markets."–Richard Stanton, Associate Professor of Finance, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley

"This is an excellent and comprehensive guide that is clearly required reading for anyone interested in these important financial markets. I particularly liked the many explicit examples of prepayment modeling approaches."–Francis A. Longstaff, Professor of Finance, The Anderson School, University of California, Los Angeles

High credit quality and superior returns have contributed to the growthof MBSs and ABSs in the institutional investment community. Let the Salomon Smith Barney Guide to Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities provide you with the expert, in-depth treatment you need to understand–and profit from–MBS and ABS investments. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hayre is lucid and informative! The Best Prepayment book
As other reviewers have mentioned this is a must for anyone involved with MBS ABS markets. Outstanding discussions on prepayment. Very detailed analysis of MBS ABS structures and related processes. A must for all people working with MBS.
Some modeling is hidden and not well explained...

An Essential Guide Plus Another
A fine guide book for the asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities markets from the original dominating force: Salomon Brothers (now Salomon Smith Barney). This comprehensive volume is an essential reference for asset backed securities and mortgage backed securities, albeit it is somewhat U.S. centric.

"Collateralized Debt Obligations and Structured Finance" by Janet Tavakoli completes and updates the essential structured finance collection. Tavakoli discusses synthetics which use credit derivatives techology and compares them to cash deals. She also exposes weaknesses in the ratings and in the structural elements that investors and structurers can correct, or at least negotiate value. She also talks about the risks of fraud, inadequate asset due diligence, and inadequate documentation & structural protections.

Clearly the best!
A clear and detailed book, written by the No. 1 expert in MBS from, Salomon Smith Barney, the best MBS underwriting and trading firm on Wall Street. A must for all people working with MBS.

Highly Recommended!
Lakhbir Hayre has created a comprehensive and authoritative reference guide for the asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities markets. In compiling this book, Hayre drew on the expertise of ABS and MBS specialists from Salomon Smith Barney, which was a pioneer in the development of these markets and still trades the largest volume of the securities. This huge volume includes plenty of charts, graphs and illustrations as companions to its enormously detailed and clearly explained descriptions and analysis. We [...] recommend this book as a useful reference for experts and an enlightening introduction for securitization novices.

its ok
it was a good well balanced book it was fun to reasd ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers a unique combination of practical valuation techniques and the most current thinking to provide an up-to-date synthesis of valuation theory as it applies to mergers, buyouts, and restructuring. It includes detailed treatments of such topics as free cash flow valuation, valuation of leveraged buyouts, Real Option Analysis as applied to entry and exit decisions, valuation of special offer structures, and more. ...