Book Description

Gene Walden is a master of summarizing volumes of objective data to determine “the best” in a crowded field of investment possibilities. For the fourth time, he turns his attention to helping investors identify the best mutual funds out of more than 8,500 possibilities.

Following his rigorous and proven model based on stringent criteria, Walden objectively rates the best mutual funds to own. Each fund receives an in-depth profile, ratings based on performance, consistency, and fees/ services/ management, a fund overview, and more.

The 100 Best Mutual Funds includes nearly every type of fund-blue chip, small stock, growth and income, sector, global, bond funds and more. Walden also includes a no-nonsense overview of investing in mutual funds and insights from 20 of the nation’s top portfolio managers. The author includes rankings divided into types of funds as well as an alphabetic listing. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Seems obvious that Walden used Investors FastTrack
The book is kinda of a dump of data and conclusions that the FastTrack people originated years ago. Skip the book and go to the source.

How can the author include so many load funds?
I can't understand how a book that claims to offer/judge the best mutual funds in America can include any non-speciality load funds in the group.The author lists many equity funds with large loads and returns that areless than many no load funds he didn't list.Given the fact that there areso many no load funds with outstanding performance it just does not makeany sense to include load funds in the book.

maybe good, but...
This book's title should really read "the 100 best (mostly loaded) mutual funds to own in america". I would not recommend it if you are building your portfolio with no-load mutual funds. Kirk Kazanjian's bookwould be a good alternative.

Very informitive
As a new investor this book was extremely helpful for me.This book is easy to follow and gives the information needed to compare funds.2 of the 3 funds I invested in were recommended by this book. ... Read more

Book Description

My intent with this book is to help investors succeed. Thisbook outlines a strategy for equity investing. This book is not aguide on how to set your financial goals or how much money you willneed at retirement. This book presents a simple and reliableinvestment strategy that will outperform 90% of all growth funds overtime with less risk. The strategy is designed to preserve yourhard-earned cash, and to share in the potential from investing insector mutual funds. This sector strategy has helped thousands inreaching their financial goals. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very easy read with lots of general advice.
This book was a very easy read. It was written for anyone starting or considering sector investing. I will use alot of the general advice in developing my strategies. While some of the examples are several years old, all of the concepts and stratgies still apply.

Great read for anyone familiar/curious about sector investng
This book is one of the best sources for sector rotation and investing out to date. It is written and organized well with explanations that the investment professional or layman can easily understand. Good charts and easy to understand graphs with occasional humor. I read the entire book over a weekend. I have been doing my own sector plays for years and even I learned some things. I also checked out the books website, which is very professionally done. ... Read more

Book Description

A collection of incisive articles revealing current methods for selecting and monitoring hedge funds. ... Read more

Book Description

This book takes a very simple concept on investing and helps explain it in a story about two children. It is intended for children and teenagers aged 10 - 16, but also is a book that adults, who have not started investing, can use to easily understand concepts about investing. The basic premise of the book is that a child investing only ten dollars a month in mutual funds can create wealth of about a million dollars over their lifetime, due to the length of time the money is invested. Thus, only $6,000 may turn into a million dollars if certain kinds of investments are chosen. The book is intended as an educational source for both children and adults. Children and adults can learn that if they start investing early and regularly they can create significant wealth over their lifetimes. If children learn this lesson early they will develop good money habits and be investors throughout their lifetime. This book would be a great gift to a child to help them start to learn how to invest, which will be something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives and hopefully help them be financially independent.

The boy in the story is a child with an attitude. He loves ice cream, watching 'Star Trek' and basketball, and watching his money grow. The story talks about why and how to invest in mutual funds, but also leaves the message that there are many more important things in life besides money. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

We really liked this book!
We are sisters, 9 and 11 years old. Mom and Dad have always tried to get us to save money but we weren't very good at it. Mom gave us this book for Christmas and we really liked it. It makes sense and tells us why and how to save money in a way that we can understand. Thank you Ted and Lora Lea for a cool book.

A Great Start
There have been many books, pamphlets, brochures and people try to convince of the value of buying RRSP's. However, this book is the first to lay it out in an understandable and fun way .... and this is now my first year for buying RRSP's.

It was a great Christmas present to receive!

Thanks to the authours! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good book on investing
With so many investing books out there, what a pleasure it is to read one that has practical information that actually works.

The "Profit-Line" Strategy will have you in the right investments at the right time and out before the roof caves in.
Dicks also goes into detail discussing sector funds and international funds. When to be in a money market fund and when to be in a bond fund. He also discusses "Investing for the times of your life" offering tailor made advice for people in their 20's, 40's and during retirement.

Overall, a very practical and workable book on how to successfully invest in funds. Also interesting is that Dicks was one of the first to warn about back-end loads and hidden fees and costs that most mutal fund companies used to keep hidden in the small print.

Although the book was written back in 1997, the principles are still very sound. I would like to see Dicks write and updated version with perhaps his feelings on ETFs which are low cost but charge commissions.

For business owners, I highly recommend Dicks "How to Incorporate series" and "Form Your Coporation and Launch a Business in Any State."

One of the most under rated books out there
This excellent book by J.W.Dicks will take you from thinking about investing to actually investing and more importantly, investing profitably.Mutual funds are still the safest, most powerful way to invest in securities despite what is going on right now in the industry. The key is education and taking personal responsibility in lieu of turning your money over to a broker and saying "Here you invest it and watch it for me."J.W. Dicks will show you how to take control over your investments, start with little money but get big returns.I also recommend "Moonlght Investing", another book by Dicks as well as two other books by Dicks that were recommended to me and I jsut read are "Form a Corporation and Launch a Business in Any State" and"The Small Business Kit.Dicks is an attorney as well as a successful entrepneneur. Beware of other books written by people who are essentially brokers and write strategies to match the products they sell. There are also some book written by "How to Incorporate" by people who have yet to launch their own business, save selling used books and writing self published books.

Powerful, useful advice
This book by J.W. Dicks is possibly the best mutual fund book available today. I have been using his profit line strategy for the past 3 years and have made money while others have lost money. Dicks is one of the very few that recommends moving averages and relative strength factors with mutual funds.The chapter on how to reduce taxes was also very helpful.I also recommend Moonlight Investing also by J.W. DICKS.

Timeless advice by Dicks
I bought this book over 5 years ago and consider it the single best investing book out there. Especially when you consider what is going on right now in the mutual fund industry, the old mantra that "a mutual fund is a mutual fund" is not true at all.

Dicks shows you how to take the risk out of investing. How and when to move in and out of stocks, bonds and money market funds. He covers international funds as well and sector funds.

Dicks was also one of the first people to caution that mutual funds are not without risk. I believe that investors could have saved a small fortune (I know I did) had they had this information back in 2000 and even more recently.

I also recommend Moonlight Investing also by Dicks and the 100 Best Investments for your retirement by J.W.Dicks et all.

If you are in business then Form a Corporation and Launch a Business in Any State is a must read as well. Dicks is one of those authors that most people have never heard of, but he packs powerful information in his books that actually works and is based on experience not opinion.

Highly recommended.

Good investment book by Dicks
Mutual fund investment Strategies is 260 pages and 18 chapters, packed with powerful investment strategies. Mr. Dicks does make a strong case for mutual fund investing in place of individual stock investing. Dicks explains that you can invest in stocks and invest in a mutual fund, check your results in 1-2 years and see which has performed better. In most cases, it will be the mutual fund as most investors lose on individual stocks. On the other hand, if your individual stocks have performed better, then go with individual stocks...BUT...be sure to check your net rate of return.J.W. Dicks also talks about how to reduce risk and the fact that he discloses risk with mutual funds unlike other financial authors, is refreshing.Mr. Dicks also discusses investing for the "Times of Your Life" offering model portfolios for investors at various stages of their life.Overall, a very good investment book and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 63 million Americans now invest in stock mutual funds.Yet, among the thousands of available choices, less than five percent consistently beat the Standard & Poor's 500 index.The few managers able to surpass this venerable benchmark are a rare breed indeed.Wizards Of Wall Street reveals the secrets of 18 of the world's most steadfastly successful mutual fund managers-all of whom have outperformed the S&P 500 over the past five years, many for much longer.

Kirk Kazanjian, a noted investment expert and personal finance author, presents candid and telling interviews with each manager, tracing their careers and uncovering their successful stock picking strategies.Some, like David Alger, Thomas Marsico, William Miller, and Jim Oelschlager, are prominent in the press.Others, like Ronald Canakaris and William Oates, avoid the spotlight and rarely grant public interviews.Some look for growth at any price.Others keep a strict eye on value.Some buy only established giants.Others prefer small startups.All have indisputable track records, fascinating backgrounds, distinctive styles, and a wealth of knowledge to share.

The book culminates with a penetrating look at the traits these pros have in common and provides a list of ten keys to beating the market.Engaging and enlightening, Wizards of Wall Street will captivate anyone interested in investing for both pleasure and profit. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Not as informative as it is titled
I expected to find some "insights" on how to manage a "top-performing" mutual fund from this book, but most of the dialogs are not to the point. A lot of the questions the author asked are not relevant to the "strategies". This book is not technical enough either. It's a plain book with a big title. The reason I still give three-star rating is the book provides some biography of those managers, which is fun to read.

Excellent reading and great investment tips
This book is full of great and timely investment advice from some leading investment managers. I also really enjoyed how the author took the best advice and put it all together to form specific strategies every investor can use to manage a profitable portfolio. It will be an insightful read for investors of all experience levels.

Big Disapointment
I'm not sure I found one decent idea in this book

I would rate this a "sell"
I bought this book hoping to learn some real insights. What I learned is that this author doesn't understand the business.

Very Good Book
One of the finest all-around investment books I have seen. Lots of wisdom from many excellent managers. ... Read more

Book Description

For most of us, investments and stock portfolios seem part of a frightening and foreign world, limited to those wealthy enough to be able to afford high-priced accountants and brokers. In this book, investor James E. Kearis proves that this picture is wrong. Kearis leads readers through his three-step plan in easy stages. First, the investor must choose a reliable newsletter, and then a good no-load fund. After that, readers track the progress of their funds using technical analysis-the same system many Wall Street professionals use. The cost can be as little as -35 per year and 30 minutes per week, while the profits can be dramatic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic and open minded!
I loved this book because it explores all mutual fund vehicles including sub-accounts of life insurance products. Many consumers will be introduced more to the insurance products in his next book "100% tax free investing" ... Read more

Book Description

Many new investors are shocked to discover there are over 8,000 different mutual funds to choose from! How do you know which fund to pick? Once you pick a fund, how do you know how well it is performing? Do you have to spend a lot of time learning about investing?

This book answers all of these questions and more. It shows how regular people can simplify their investment life and beat the pro's results.

Jill is a new investor who knows she must start investing for her daughter's education and her retirement.Jill turns to her nephew, a Business Major, and to William the friendly Finance Professor for advice.

With the help of her friends, Jill learns how to invest to meet her long term goals using index funds.

This entertaining book will help you to simplify your investment life and help you to achieve your long term financial goals. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Simple
I've read indexing books by John Bogle, Charles Ellis and Larry Swedroe but this is the book I bought for my niece and nephew. It's concise yet informative and appropriate for anyone with at least a high school education looking for a good explanation of the benefits of indexing.

Good book for beginners
I was a total dummy when it came to investing. I wanted a book to teach me the basics of investing. This book more than met my needs. It only took a couple of hours to read, but it covered the basics of mutual funds, index funds, and asset allocation. The book was very easy to read and was not filled with terminology I did not understand. After reading the book, I am ready to start investing in index funds, and I have already started to learn more about asset allocation. A must read book for people new to mutual fund investing!

Very basic information
This book is written for the total newbie to mutual fund investing. It does not offer specific advice on indicies or asset allocation, but it does make a clear argument for why to use a broad market index as the foundation for one's investment strategy. This is a one hour read.

Wish this book was available 3 years ago!
3 years ago I invested a bunch of money in load funds selected by a financial planner. I also put some of the money into stocks I picked. After reading this book, if I had only put my money in index funds! If I had invested in index mutual funds I would have made tens of thousands more money over the last 3 years. Book was great because it explained investing in language I could understand!

Great book for experienced mutual fund investors
I have been investing in mutual funds for over 10 years. I was selecting my funds based on how well they did compared to other funds. Through this book, I learned to compare the performance of my funds to the S&P 500 Index. I'm now a believer in using Index Funds for most of my investments!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Should be called financial basics...
I figured a book with a title of "Build your own mutual fund" would be an interesting read nevertheless a good introduction to building "folios" (see foliofn.com for more info on folios.)

However this book focused more on the basics of personal finance, which I know is the most important aspect of investing but if I wanted a book to tell me how to figure out my net worth I would buy a book on personal finance basics.

This book was supposed to be about creating your own basket of stocks but instead it wanted to teach us the basics of finance and I feel I wasted my time and money purchasing this book since everything in this book can be found on foliofn or in any "how to save money for your retirement book" which is very unfortunate since the author, myself and I'm sure others feel that the folio concept will just get bigger and bigger. I have even considered starting a folio except I realized that if I were to really make anything out of it I would need to switch most of my trading capitol over to foliofn just to try it out, and that is something I am not ready or willing to do.

Overall I feel that if you need a book on the basics of personal finance and you want a short introduction to this interesting investment approach this book may be for you. For everyone else please wait for a more advanced book on folios to arrive.

Reed Floren ... Read more

Book Description

10 Minute Guide to Mutual Funds The 10 Minute Guide to Mutual Funds is the essential guide to selecting and managing your mutual fund holdings. There are now more than 7,000 mutual funds and selecting the funds that match your needs can be confusing. This book offers easy to understand strategies that will help you better manage your fund portfolio. 10 minutes is all you need to learn how to:

• Research and evaluate financial performance of funds
• Select a fund that meets your investment objective
• Buy directly from the funds without using a broker
• Monitor the performance of your funds
• Keep organized records of your fund purchases, redemptions and distributions for income tax purposes

Download Description

Mutual Funds: Your Money, Your Choice gives you an unvarnished look at both the positives and the negatives of mutual fund investing: the real risks, the real costs, the real tax issues, and the real returns. Simply and clearly, without complicated charts ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Your Money, your choice Mutual Funds
I was asked to review an early draft of this book. I'm really glad I did! Like many other people, I'm recently retired, need to stay tuned to the stcok market so that I can keep my "nest egg" wisely invested, but would much rather be outside playing golf, tennis, etc. I want to enjoy every minute of of each day, and the last thing I want to do is study and play the stock market! So, I don't, or at least not nearly as much as I should.

This book was exactly what I needed. I learned a lot more about mutual funds than I had expected to learn and it was written so that I could easily understand it. Subsequently, I'm making changes that will simplify and improve my investment strategies and will allow me to play golf without that little voice in the back of my head telling me that instead, I should be sitting at my desk studying the "market"!

If this all sounds familiar and you can relate to what I'm saying, then read it! You'll be glad you did!

Mutual Funds: Your Money, Your Choice
This book is great and I felt that Dr. Jones had written it just for me. He is right, it is my money and my choice to make good investment decisions. After reading the book, I feel like I am ready to avoid the pitfalls and invest in mutual funds. Thank you Dr. Jones for writing a book that even I can understand.

Mutual Funds: Your Money, Your Choice...
This book is fabulous! Clear and precise, it answered all my questions. Since I am just getting in the investment game, I was pleasantly surprised to find a book so easy to follow for the novice. Kudos to the author! I am really looking forward to Dr. Jones's next book!

Finally a book on mutual funds that I can understand
I really don't know much about investing. I even avoided those type of courses in college (majored in the life sciences). But I realize that now that I'm a home-owner and making money I need to do something about my future. I'm not a big fan (at all) of the "For Dummies" series of books, so I wanted something a little more informative but personal. While browsing the books I came across this book and found the layout appealing. With chapter names like "Understanding Mutual Funds: The Nitty-Gritty Details" and "Seduced by the Dark Side" I thought this would hold my attention. Upon browsing the first few pages of some of the chapters I also realized that the author took care to write for a varied audience, which I appreciate since this subject somewhat scares me. All in all: job well done! I have read the book from cover to cover and I even made notes in the margins and bookmarked some of the pages. I'm ready to start investing, and I'm much more confident now! Thanks!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mutual Funds Explained!
In the large market of mutual funds, there is a good chance that you can choose the wrong fund. This book will teach you the ways in which to investigate, buy, and trade mutual funds. I found the information contained about each mutual fund, it's purpose, value, etc. to be in depth and easy to understand. The explanations of statistical data are to the point, and the mutual funds listed as the best are convincing. Williamson explains the do's and don'ts of mutual funds and all of the lingo is explained. Get this book before you buy a fund! ... Read more

Book Description

Expert and independent guidance on selecting the best funds for your portfolio.

You have a lot riding on your fund investments. So it’s only good sense to get your information from the acknowledged fund expert–Morningstar. Our analysts present a diverse selection of funds ideal for building and maintaining a diversified portfolio. Our comprehensive one-page reports include historical and year-end information. Plus each contains a written Analyst Report detailing a fund’s strengths and weaknesses. This year, take control of your investments and your future with Morningstar’s help.

You’ll benefit from this book if you’re:

• Starting a new fund portfolio
• Shaping up your portfolio in the wake of the bear market

You’ll also benefit from:

• 140 exclusive Morningstar Analyst Picks
• Tips for picking great funds

For nearly 20 years, Morningstar has helped individuals and financial advisors make better investment decisions. Our information and analysis is trusted, independent, and provides a level of insight unavailable from other sources. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the stock market has risen to ever-greater heights in recent years, high-tech stocks have led the way. But how many investors, though up to their ears in tech stocks, truly understand what they own?Michael Murphy, editor of the California Technology Stock Letter, makes it his business to understand the breakthroughs in science and engineering that are reshaping our lives. His book, Every Investor's Guide to High-Tech Stocks and Mutual Funds, is a useful guide for investors, both beginners and pros. It includes rundowns on the latest trends in semiconductors, computers, software, communications, and medical technology. This second edition includes a chapter on investing in Internet stocks. Murphy presents his own strategy for picking tech stocks, and offers recommendations of stocks and technology mutual funds that may have the best long-term prospects. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Okay, but nothing new here!
I'm kind of scratching my head here, wondering if I read the same book asall the five star reviewers. I wanted a bit more of a discussion on risk, Iwanted more on how the money he runs has been performing, and a bit morerigor on the decisions as to choose stocks.

However, I did like theopening chapter, and the discussion on convertible bonds for high-techcompanies, even though both could have done with a little more"meat" also.

Good for the novice, but anyone with a bit moreexperience will be frustrated.

No Guide or Strategy here
Some explanation about high tech sectors. Then some fundementals used to evaluate companys.This book is a waste of time and money. Dont buy it because of its attractive title.

Mike Murphy is a genius
This book makes so much sense.Murphy points out the indicators that our society and economy are undergoing fundamental changes, as significant as the evolution from a hunter-gather society to agricultural; agricultural toindustrial; industrial to commercial; and now it's commercial toinformational/high-tech.Even if you weren't interested in his investingadvice, this book would be worth reading for enjoyment, and to educateyourself about the developments that are going on in our society intechnology and biotechnology.But once you read this book, you'll findyourself unable to resist taking Murphy's advice on investing.Whowouldn't want to do just what he says after he tells you the inside scoop(Wall Street is underestimating the potential because they're so farremoved from where the action is) that is practically guaranteed to makeyou a lot of money (just look at the indicators around you!)? Afterreading it, I subscribed to his newsletter and check his web site daily(www.techinvestingonline.com), and I follow his advice.I've certainlyjoined the Mike Murphy cult, even though I recognize that his writing is abit sensationalist...I can't not believe that what he's saying is true.

At last I understand technology
I've been working in computer R&D since the late 60's. I was jealous of friends who paid for their Silicon Valley houses using investments in Hi-Tech. The field just seemed too confusing and too volatile. Now it'slike the gold rush of 1849 and even crazier. I found Murphy after a searchof Amazon.com and what a great book! He explains the industry and it allfit together with what I knew from experience. A subscription to Murphy'sCalifornia Technology Stock Letter resulted in a 97.9% increase in myportfolio for 1999 with half of it invested in index stocks. Note that noneof the Hi-Tech picks were in internet stocks. (Murphy performs detailedfundamental analysis and believes in value. Only recently has he added anyinternet stocks.) Note that he concentrates on the Western USA since heinsists on face to face discussions with the CEO before making arecommendation. Some complain that Murphy doesn't understand biotech - wellhis biotech picks are hot now. Others say look at his mutual funds - a faircomplaint in 1998 but 1999 his technology fund was up 97%. So if you wantto understand the Hi-Tech and Bio-Tech industries you have to read Murphy.

The author did very poorly for his own mutual funds!
I checked out the book from local library. It looks interesting. I flipped through the book and found out that the author manages two mutual funds: "Murphy New World Biotechnology Fund" (MNWBX) and "MurphyNew World Technology Fund"(MNWTX).

I checked the funds performances.They are the bottom of the same fund category since the start of the funds.I returned the book right away.

Are the strategies proven winningstrategies? I don't think so. Save your time and money. Otherwise, you'llonly get some wrong ideas and even lose tons of money like the author did. ... Read more

Book Description

The books gives ordinary investors some insights into how professional money managers rip off the public. It provides scathing commentary and insights on just how "The American public is being fleeced" by Wall Street. The mutual fund industry is getting rich at the public's expense. This should not or need not happen according to Mr. Lux. "It's time to turn our backs on Wall Street and their sponsored investment schemes that line their pockets." Mr. Lux writes about the merits of index investing and he gives tips on how to value stocks and maximize returns. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Read -A Wealth of Information
I just loved Mr. Lux's book about Wall Street and how it takes advantage of people without their knowing. Now, I know why I won't invest in mutual funds again!! The book will be of great help throughout my life. Thank you Ted!!!

Wall Street better watch out a new sheriff is in town!...
Mr. Lux exposes the little talked about secret wall street doesn't want you to know about. This book could save you thousands of dollars in hidden costs your mutual fund company is taking from you. ...

If I only read this book sooner.........
The book by Ted Lux is an insightful journey into the industry of investing. In his book,the author outlines ways to manage your own portfolio without spending a great deal of time and avoiding the expense and bias of the middle man-your local stock broker or mutual fund company. With more and more funds now charging loads to purchase their fund,this book is quite timely. I urge those who have an interest in saving money and investing to read this book. You will be glad you did. ... Read more