Book Description

Financial expert and author Suze Orman is a Certified Financial Planner, a Registered Investment Advisor, and a Commodity Trading Advisor with over sixteen years of experience with major Wall Street financial institutions. Her firm, Suze Orman Financial Group, established in 1987, services nearly 1,000 new clients each year. She was cofounder, in 1990, of Consumers for Retirement Independence, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the senior community on how to become truly financially independent. From 1983 to 1987, Ms. Orman served as Vice President of Investments for Prudential Bache Securities. During her tenure there she earned the reputation of being one of the nation's experts on tax-deferred insurance investing. From 1980 to 1983, she was an Account Executive specializing in retirement planning at Merrill Lynch.

A regular on the CNN/FN show "Take It Personally," where she makes financial advice fun and accessible, Suze Orman currently appears bimonthly on the nationally syndicated morning show "Fox After Breakfast" as its financial expert. She also writes a financial column that began appearing in the nationally distributed magazine Self in February 1997. Continually sought out by the media for her accurate and unbiased opinion, she is quoted frequently in such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Mirabella, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Consumer's Digest, among others. Ms. Orman also serves as an expert witness in security fraud and insurance cases. She testifies in matters where elderly persons have lost funds through negligent actions of major brokerage/insurance firms.

The author of You've Earned It, Don't Lose It, which has sold over 150,000 copies in hardcover, Ms. Orman appears monthly on QVC in conjunction with that title. The book is currently selling close to 15,000 copies a month on the television shopping network, making it one of the top sellers. Commissioned by America Online to create a web site for its web subsidiary, GNN, Ms. Orman's home page, "The Bag Lady Syndrome," has been featured for over fifteen months and continues to be one of its most popular hits. She is also known as the money coach for iVillage's popular site on AOL called "About Work," where she personally answers the financial questions of thousands of people. Visit Suze on the Web.

2 cassettes / 3 hours
Read by the Author ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Practical, useful, multidimensional, immediate use
Just finished reading this...and then immediately went into work and changed my 401(k) contribution to the maximum. Also am looking for a money market account and will begin managing my own IRA stuff...now that I feel more comfortable doing it. Plan to lend the book to friends, and called my parents to tell them to get a copy and start getting things in order...such as getting a trust instead of a will, getting LTC insurance, etc. I liked her straightforward writing style; she has a knack for explaining the "mysterious" world of investing and finance in a way you can quickly and easily understand. She makes you feel more confident...that you can indeed manage your money. In today's often confusing world, it was very helpful to hear that you can trust your intuition and you don't have to "fall prey" to financial advisors. Also, from personal experience, I know that her advice about "good brings good" and "respect of money will bring you more money" is true. My husband got in a serious accident a year ago and at the time we were in a bad bad financial position--no emergency funds, high credit card debt, prospects of little or no income. This "kick in the pants" helped me to take control of my money and now a year later our credit cards are paid off, we have 4 months of bills in the bank, and I am maxing out my 401(k). Suze Orman's book came to me just when I was ready for the next step, and I am putting it to good use. I highly recommend!!!

Financial Serenity
While this author describes 9 steps towards "Financial Freedom," I kept asking myself, "But what about ...?"

For those of who want a great primer into recreating your financial identity, this is an excellent beginning.

Suze Orman started out with a degree in Sociology (And she was attacked in the financial world for having "too much psychobabble").

Two events that compelled her to learn about and to be an expert on money:
1. When her father's store caught on fire, he desperately ran
into the store to grab his cash register. This caused him to
be badly burned. And it taught Suze Orman to learn about
investments, savings and related topics.
2. After college, she was a stock broker for Merrill Lynch.
This is where she learned the difference between what was
being told to the public, and what the truth about money is.

Through these events she discovered her life's work is telling people the truth about money.

Within this book Orman talks a lot about uncovering your money memories, and seeing where those money memories have led you to have the relationship to money that you now have.

She also covers many fundamental topics about retirement and investing in this book. But she does not take readers through the journey of earning a dollar, to growing that dollar into several millions - or to allowing that money to work for you.

I'd suggest that you read these seven books, after reading "Nine Steps to Financial Freedom":
1. "More Wealth Without Risk," by Charles Givens
2. "Financial Self-Defense," by Charles Givens
3. "The Millionaire Next Door," by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D., &
William D. Danko, Ph.D.
4. "Simple Abundance," by Sarah Ban Breathnach
5. "Creating Money," by Sanaya Roman & Duane Packer
6. "Girl, Get Your Money Straight!" by Glinda Bridgforth
7. "Open Your Mind to Prosperity," by Catherine Ponder

Where most financial books assume that you have money, and that you are not only ready to allow that money to work harder than you work, they also assume that you will be at peace with this.

Read "Nine Steps to Financial Freedom," to face your past, and to practice, for the sake of practicing to be a peace with your control over money.

Useful bits
I found this book to be sowewhat educational with a some good ideas here and there. With books like this, I try the philosophy "absorb what is useful". Some things are very helpful and some are just conceit in my opinion. I wouldn't pay too much for it, but every little bit of simple info helps.

Outstanding book Suze
The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom is OUTSTANDING in presentation and content. Suze is indeed the Queen of personal finance and the most widely read financial author today.

In addition to this great book, I also recommend More Wealth Without Risk and Financial Self Defense by Charles Givens. Two books that gives even more OUTSTANDING advice that you won't find anywhere else.

Great books. Good luck!

My favorite personal finance book
Although Suze has written newer material, 9 Steps is still my favorite personal finance book. I believe it is the best personal finance book bar none.

These fans of Quinn need to get a life. If Quinn is so great, how come her book doesn't sell and those that bought it [myself included] were vastly dissappointed with it.

Besides, Quinn has her own place to write reviews. Why come over here unless it is a desperate attempt to drum up interest in her pathetic book. ... Read more

Book Description

"The advice is sound, insightful, and can be used by young people just getting started, advanced investors, and everyone in between." -- Jack Kemp

As incomes shrink and the cost of living continues to rise, more and more people are searching frantically for ways to build a stable financial future. But in the crowded and volatile world of today1s financial marketplace, the sheer number of available investment options has even sophisticated investors scratching their heads.

On this audio, taken from his best-selling book, The Truth About Money, long-time financial planner and Wall Street guru Ric Edelman has created an accessible and practical approach to money management that cuts through all of the confusion and delivers an unbiased and lucid guide to selecting the right investment strategy.

Here Edelman focuses on such key topics as estate planning, tailoring investment strategies to suit income and needs, and choosing a financial advisor. He takes the guesswork out of financial planning and provides the novice and the experienced investor alike with the tips, tools, and insights they need to make their hard-earned money work for them.

Edelman's latest audiobook The New Rules of Money is also available from HarperAudio. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

This book has no real competition
While there sure are a lot of books on personal finance, there are none as comphrehensive as Ric Edelman's great work The Truth About Money 3rd edition. And there are not that are as current. Most of the books that are on the bookstands have been around for awhile and say pretty much the same thing.

Ric is different. He is controversial. But his advice really works. Ric is not some magazine writer without a financial background who has never helped anybody and decides to write a book. As another reviewer has indicated, Ric is very qualified to speak on personal finance.

Other books that are useful include The Automatic Millionaire and although they have been around for awhile, The Millionaire Next Door and More Wealth Without Risk still offer powerful advice that you won't find anywhere else.

The Truth About Money is an outstanding book that must be read by anyone whow ants to learn the truth about money. The facts, not just opinions. Advice that is tried and true, not tired and through as with some financial authors.

And as already mentioned, this book has been updated and is current. Not just a new cover on an old book.

Edelman's best book yet. Outstanding!
The Truth About Money 3rd edition is more than just a updated version of the very best financial book ever written. It's almost like a totally new book.

Some many other authors out there just revise a few things and more or less put a new cover on an old book. Not Ric. This book is completely redone.

The Truth About Money is an easy read. It is informational, entertaining and enlightening. And it stands alone as a single source of financial information.

Want to know how to buy your first home, your next home and save on taxes when you sell. It's in here.

Want to get the facts on estate planning and long term care; learn how to protect yourself and your family? It's in here.

Want to learn the ABC's of investing; from annuities to zero coupon bonds, mutual funds to writing covered calls, go from owing money to owning money. Get out of debt and stay out of debt? It's in here.

And how about retirement. Do you want to learn the right steps that you need to take to reach the American Dream? Then read Ric Edelman's new book.

I considered myself pretty savvy on investing untill I took the 130 question money quizzes that Ric provides. I was surprised to find out how much I didn't know.

The Truth About Money is divided into 18 sections, 86 chapters and 625 pages. With all of that, you would think that this book would be a difficult read. Wrong. It is a delightful read. Ric is not only the most knowledgeable of financial authors, he is also one of the best writers in that he can take the most difficult subjects and make it fun and easy. No wonder his books have sold so well!

Ric is uniquely qualified to write on the subject of personal finance. Aside from earning the designations of CFS, RFC, CMFC, and QFP he was named by Research magazine as the #1 financial advisor in the nation for his focus on the individual client in 2003.

His firm Edelman Financial Services, Inc. has won more than 50 professional, business, community service and philanthropic awards and has been ranked twice by Bloomberg Wealth Manager as one of the largest independent financial planning and investment firms in the nation. The firm has created and implemented financial plans for more than 6,500 clients, and today Ric and his team manage $2 Billion for investors across the country.

If you want to buy just one book on personal finance, The Truth About Money should be that book. It is excellent. Everything you need to know about personal finance is in here.

5 stars is not enough. Amazon, you need to go back to 10 stars for this outstanding work by Edleman.

Laugh your way to Financial Independence
Whoever says money can't buy you happiness doesn't know where to shop. ~Gittel Hudnick

Ric Edelman is a top financial advisor who focuses on issues facing us all. This book began as a course he was teaching at Georgetown University. His work was first published in 1996. Since then, his firm, Edelman Financial Services Inc., has created and implemented financial plans for over 6,500 clients. This review is for the 3rd Edition.

Are you buying your first home, just starting to invest, sending the kids to college, considering retirement or making decisions about long-term care? There is a section for every major issue and tons of great tips and advice. I also love the comic strips throughout the book. Who knew you could laugh your way through a finance book?

The Truth about Money is divided into 14 main sections:

The Rules of Money Have Changed. Again.
Introduction to Financial Planning
Understanding the Capital Markets
Fixed Income Investments
Equities
Packaged Products
The Best Investment Strategies
The Best Financial Strategies
The Best Strategies for Buying, Selling and Owning Homes
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
Retirement Planning
Insurance
Estate Planning
How to Choose a Financial Adviser

Ric often gets frank about life choices and I enjoyed reading his comments about how we make choices that lead us to our present lifestyle. The information on "Where American's Spend their Money" is enlightening. Housing is at 32%. In the past few years I was able to decrease our housing costs in order to increase funds in other areas and page 307 makes perfect sense to me. I've also watched friends struggle with this issue because they want to keep their lifestyle at such a high level, their income won't cover the luxury of living by themselves. Issues like Liquidating your assets, closing bank accounts, paying off high interest credit cards and borrowing money at a lower interest rate than your credit card interest makes complete sense. Cutting up all but one credit card also works wonders.

While reading the information about credit cards on page 309 I was laughing out loud. Ric is a real comedian. Hey, wait, but he is actually getting my attention in the perfect way. There are also quotes from famous people all through the book and here is a good example:

"If you can see yourself in possession of your goal, it's half yours." ~Tom Hopkins

I loved the: "How to Use This Book" section. There is a list of "If You Are" situations and "Then Read" these page numbers. You can choose from: In Debt, Single, Married, Retired, Female, Young, Old, Parent, The Child of Aging Parents.

Features within the chapters include:

The 11 Reasons You Need to Plan
Building Cash Reserves
Event Risk
Three Ways to Buy Stocks
Understanding Volatility
The Computer vs. The Money Manager
How to Get Out of Debt
Should You Buy or Lease Your Next Car?
How to Protect Your Identity
The American Dream
IRA Accounts
Your Will
Ten Taboos Between You and Your Planner
Four Tips for Working Successfully with a Real Estate Agent
How to Make Money by Giving it Away

If you only have time to read one book about money, "The Truth About Money" should be the book! You could really laugh your way to financial security if you take this advice seriously. This has to be the most enjoyable book about money I've ever read. Everyone in America should read this book in their 20s so they can make wise financial decisions throughout their entire life.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Interesting, Motivating, and Understandable
Big book that I finished in less than a week. Great advice, gives you pointers on what to be wary of, and what has time proven strategy.

Easy, actually more like FUN to read. And motiviating. This is the best point. If you aren't motivated to act, it wont help you anyhow. The examples and descriptions make the goal of commanding personal finances and "owning your money" realistic. It does this by making you understand the processes.

Thats all I can say on this book, read the other reviews, they cover the rest.

One more thing though:

Why would you take advice from a canadian about a book written about the American financial institution?

Edelman raises the bar on personal finance
The Truth About Money is the most complete and up to date financial book on the bookstands right now. And Edelman is an authority on money.

First of all, The Truth About Money is 645 pages packed with powerful financial information. It is split into 13 sections and 89 chapters. This is very complete.

Everything you need to know about money is in here. From sending your kids to college, to investing, to insurance, to buying a home to retirement.

Edelman spends a considerable amount of time discussing the greatest discovery of the 20th century--compound interest. Simple but I am continually surprised at the number of people who do not understand or even have heard of the rule of 72. After reading Edelman, you will understand it and pursue your investing with new vigor.

Ric also has a full chapter on how to prepare for economic collapse and another chapter on social security. Edelman recommends that regarding social security, that "you take and money and run" meaning that you are better off to retire and take benefits at age 62 than wait untill later. Considering the current sad state of the social security system, I couldn't agree more. Another way to put it is take the money now because it may not be there later.

At 645 pages, The Truth About Money may appear challenging but in reality is a eay and fun read. This not Jane Bryant Quinn. Ric Edelman is both a financial expert and a interesting writer. I got through the book in a few days. It was hard to put it down.

Since the book was written in November 2003, The Truth About Money is also the most up to date financial book out there. Forget those books that were written by magazine writers in 1997 and were out of date even before they were released.

Also, this book is obviously updated from Ric's first 2 editions. If you have either of those books, this one is bigger and better. Ric Edelman is not one of those authors who puts 2 pages of new information in a older book and calls it "new". This edition has been completely revised. It is like a new book.

Highly recommended book. ... Read more

Book Description

"Simply the most important new stock book of the 1990s, to date. Buy it and read it." —Kenneth L. Fisher Forbes

The runaway bestseller—updated with new material included for the first time!

"The Warren Buffett Way outlines his career and presents examples of how his investment techniques and methods evolved and the important individuals in that process. It also details the key investment decisions that produced his unmatched record of performance." —from the Foreword by Peter S. Lynch Bestselling author, One Up on Wall Street and Beating the Street

". . . an extraordinarily useful account of the methods of an investor held by many to be the world's greatest." —The Wall Street Journal

"Robert Hagstrom presents an in-depth examination of Warren Buffett's strategies, and the 'how and why' behind his selection of each of the major securities that have contributed to his remarkable record of success. His 'homespun' wisdom and philosophy are also part of this comprehensive, interesting, and readable book." —John C. Bogle Chairman, The Vanguard Group

"It's first rate. Buffett gets a lot of attention for what he preaches, but nobody has described what he practices better than Hagstrom. Here is the lowdown on every major stock he ever bought and why he bought it. Fascinating. You could even try this at home." —John Rothchild Financial columnist Time magazine ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Belongs on the list of all time investment classics.
Other reviewers have written that this book is undervalued and they are right. Right from the start Hagstrom gives us advice on the nature of the market. He then gives management tenants, how to value a business and all kinds of investment tenants. These tenents are so fundamental that its very difficult to see how investing can be done without them in one form or the other. This makes the book timeless. Numerous examples are given from real world cases of how these tenants are used. There is also an excellent appendix that gives examples of how a business is valued. This is very helpful. Some reviewers have criticized Hagstrom, saying that if the book is true, why isnt he rich? But this is not how information is to be judged. There are many books that contain solid gold advice, but there are few who master them. Buffett is among them. If one wants additional information on Buffets methods, I suggest reading "How to pick stocks like Warren Buffett" by Tim Vick. But The Warren Buffett Way is a classic and at the top of the heap.

one of the most popular investment reads
This book is for anyone whether you are trying to understand investing for the first time or an experienced investor refreshing yourself with the principles of fundamental analysis. Hagstrom answers all the questions of what makes Buffett one of the most successful investors of our time. He talks about Buffett's childhood as a boy ambitious to turn a profit in selling Coca Cola as well as his philosophy behind which he makes his decisions on buying a particular stock. The refreshing part about investing like Buffett is whether you buy millions of dollars worth of stock or just a few shares of stock, you can still use the same principles that Buffett uses in making a decision. The methods are straight-forward and bring common sense approach to picking stocks. In it you buy stocks as if you were buying groceries and not as if you were buying perfume. It is not even necessary to know any complicated formulae about how to determine the value of a stock although some elementary math is required. If you only had to pick one book to read about investing and burn all the other books I would recommend this book. It is more informative that many other textbooks out there read by college students filled with unnecessary math and financial theory.

Worth the read
Forget B-school, read this book. Seriously, a great introduction to value investing and the Buffett mentality of risk.

Hagstrom's analysis is very easy to read and understand... a book everyone should read.

What if Mr. Market goes really crazy?
If you are reading this book just to be better informed, I think you will get your money's worth. I feel I got a five-star education. But if you are going to read it to make a decision to buy or not to buy Berkshire Hathaway, you should keep these two points in mind: First, almost everyone considers Warren Buffet to be the world's greatest investor. This special attribute of Mr. Buffet might be reflected in the price of Berkshire Hathaway stock. If Warren Buffet were no longer around, what would that do to Berkshire Hathaway? Hasn't Mr. Buffet's greatness built in a premium in Berkshire Hathaway stock?

Second, this book proves that Mr. Buffet beat Mr. Market most of the time under normal circumstances. In abnormal circumstances, Mr. Market could beat Mr. Buffet. Abnormal circumstances would exist if Mr. Market went into a long, deep depression (like he did in the 1930's and dropped in value by 90%). And could a second terrorist attack similar to 9/11 cause Mr. Market to panic and create abnormal circumstances in the economy?

No matter how good the company, Mr. Market can and will hurt the value of its stock. If there is another terrorist attack like 9/11, Mr. Market will panic and Coca Cola, Washington Post, GEICO, etc., would all suffer terribly.

Once Again, Take It With A Grain of Salt
I am not Warren Edward Buffett. Unlike Mr. Buffett, who has the delightful headache of trying to figure out where to put his steadily growing billions, I am a non-investor, sitting on the sidelines, wondering what all the fuss is about. Like most readers of this book, I have been told incessantly to invest for retirement, and not knowing exactly how I should do so, I figured it might be a good idea to glean a few secrets from a proven successful investor. Hence, I read The Warren Buffett Way from cover to cover, hoping to learn a few things.

And what did I learn? I learned that I am not Warren Edward Buffett. Unlike Mr. Buffett, whose circle of associates includes all of the Beautiful People of Corporate America, I am surrounded by ordinary people, more than a few of whom are looking for a way to get rich quick. Whereas Mr. Buffett is patient and thoughtful with his investments, most of the people I encounter are thoughtless and reckless with their gambles. These two things, which I increasingly began to ponder as I read this book, distinguish me from the Oracle of Omaha, and quite possibly from most readers of this book.

The book consists of nine chapters, and is mostly historical in nature. It details many of Buffett's past exploits in the stock market, mostly the good moves but also some bad ones, and offers some of the principles guiding Mr. Buffett's stock investing strategy, grouped into three classes called Management, Financial and Market Tenets. The first four chapters of the book delve into the early history of Berkshire Hathaway, the key influences on Mr. Buffett which helped to shape his investment philosophy, Mr. Buffett's perspective on the financial markets, and the principles by which he goes about purchasing a business. The last five chapters of the book give example after example of some of Mr. Buffett's past stock moves, and tries to show his Tenets in action.

The style of the book is mostly active until the fifth chapter, whereupon it becomes plodding. The book is extremely repetitive at points, and as other reviewers have pointed out, key concepts are not fully explained up front, suggesting that the possible target audience for this book are those having a strong background in the general principles of economics and business.

In all honesty, I have previously encountered most of the content of this book in coursework or self-study. I previously read Mr. Hagstrom's The Warren Buffett Portfolio, and found the two books to be similar in some respects. That said, I still found this book to be very interesting and useful, primarily because it exposed me to an investment approach which utilizes these concepts in ways I had not previously considered. I also found it highly interesting on an anecdotal level, given that Mr. Buffett's investment career spans The Go-Go Years, The Nifty Fifty Stocks and the 80s and 90s Tech Stock Boom, and yet he never once participated in these tech-stock manias but handily outperformed tech stock investors nonetheless.

Like I said, I am not Warren Edward Buffett and I can not expect or even hope to do what he does, but that does not mean that I can not think like him. Even Mr. Buffett cautions the small investor in this regard, as there are things that he can do that none of little guys can do. Yet, he also has said that there are things the little guy can do that he can not do. That said, the book deserves to be read by any one lacking the ability to reason through the process of investing. However, readers at all levels should not stop with this book. Others have pointed out that one could get even more information straight from the horse's mouth- the Berkshire Hathaway website.

On the other hand, as this information details past moves for which the conditions surrounding them are most unlikely to come around again, I believe that the more astute reader looking to learn more should consult The Money Game by Adam Smith for a brief historical look at financial foolishness (albeit the late sixties but the resemblance to Right Now is striking), The Theory of Investment Value by John Burr Williams for Buffett's original basis for valuation, and The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham for a more detailed explanation of the concepts of margin of safety, intrinsic value, and the benefits associated with ignoring the market noise. These three books will help one learn how to reason through the investment problem, as this is the most important step, aside from finding smart people (as Mr. Smith admonishes forcefully in The Money Game and Buffett has consistently done) and thinking more but acting less (as Buffett has said- do a few things right and screw everything else). ... Read more

Book Description

Making Peace with Money is about creating a relationship with money that is free of stress, worry, and pain. It offers practical advice on getting debt under control and managing spending, then outlines principles for changing psychological attitudes and opinions about money, for bringing more money into your life, and for using it more effectively and pleasurable. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Changes Our Money Attitudes
"This program works. I give you my word on that," Jerry Mundis writes in the introduction. And I believe him. Although the focus is an inward journey towards changing our relationship with money, it's not a book that one just reads and puts on the bookshelf but works in order to get the most benefit from it. It contains both insights and practical exercises that bring changes in our attitudes and then our actions towards money.

The chapters are divided into different areas of our relationship with money--debt, spending, generosity, vision, etc.--with each chapter containing essays, exercises and then quotations, anecdotes or meditations on that particular area. This book seems to take off where Mundis's first book, "How To Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously", left off. I found his first book to be more matter-of-fact with a 12 step program foundation for debtors and only a relatively small amount of space dedicated to the attitude changing or more spiritual aspects of money problems. "Making Peace with Money" addresses debt in the first chapter but then is more focused on changing inner thoughts and attitudes about money. Therefore it's more useful to a larger number of people, those who may not have a debt problem but want to come to terms with their money relationship.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the last chapter that addresses special circumstances such as being out of work or problems with being able to spend money on oneself, what the author calls 'Anorectic Spending'.

I think this book would be especially useful to the person with serious debt problems when coupled with Mundis's other two books, "Getting Out of Debt,..." and "Earn What You Deserve". By diligently doing every practice in these books, one's attitude towards money couldn't help but change. Don't positive attitudes plus positive actions equal positive results? No wonder Mundis guarantees his program. ... Read more

Book Description

Suze Orman meets the Tightwad Gazette in this book from America's leading money-saving expert.

What are the 3 secrets to building long-term wealth?

What are the 5 things that no one thinks of before buying a home?

How can you save up to 40% on the car of your dreams?

How can you get long distance telephone service for almost nothing?

Clark Howard answers all these questions and many more in Get Clark Smart. With practical tips and on-line resources, Howard helps readers to get rich by saving money in unexpected places and investing those savings creatively. Howard has a passion for saving money and a zealot's enthusiasm for sharing everything he's learned. His strategies for getting rich by saving wisely will turn readers into financial wizards. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A good overview of many consumer issues...
There are about 72 different topics discussed in this book from buying a house and car, to identity thief and timeshares. Each topic is 3 or 4 pages long and this is an easy book to read. If one topic doesn't interest you you can skip over it to the next. Also this book can be used as a reference book. the author apparently has a radio call in show where he answers consumer questions. I have never heard the show apparently its not carried in our area. So I had no preconceived notions about the author before reading the book. The subtitle to the book is the "ultimate guide to getting rich from America's money saving expert." Clark Howard may be the country's money saving expert, but this book is not a guide to getting rich. The subtitle is misleading and ironic since the author is crusading against the misleadings of consumers by various companies. The information contained in the book is worth while, but the book is not a getting rich book. There are plenty of web sites listed in the book and if one topic was of particular interest to you, further reasearch would be needed.
There are many money savings tips in the book, but I didn't count them to see if there were "hundreds" as the book's cover claims. The book is very informative, covers many diverse topics and is worth the price of less than $12 on Amazon.com, but I felt that the subtitle and cover claims are over the top.
Overall its a 3.5

Comprehensive, but easy to follow
I didn't expect much from another book of financial advice -- but, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only do Clark Howard and Mark Meltzer cover many areas, but they write in a very clear, concise manner. There are a number of useful financial tips I have already used to save a not inconsiderable amount of money. More importantly, the book will be a great reference tool for my future purchases. Thanks Clark & Mark!

Chock full of wise money advice
Just finished reading this book. It's somewhat mis-titled. It's not really a get rich book. It's more of a be careful and wise with your money.

This book covers things like car buying and leasing advice, how not to be taken and get a good deal, investing basics, insurance, home buying and renting, travel advice, Time-Shares, Health Clubs, etc.

Clark Howard is personally responsible for saving me $900 through this book and his radio show, all by doing simple stuff. I heard on his show about the Retirement Savings tax credit that I had failed to take in 2002 and probably would have missed this year. I will make sure to claim it this year and file an amended return last year. That was $400 saved. In the book, he also gave me a source (Costco) to shop for auto insurance that will save me $500 a year for slightly better coverage than I have now. I have checked around at many other companys and never found an offer nearly as good.

The writing is casual, fun, and full of anecdotes of how either Clark or his listeners have used his advice to save money. There's an incredible amount of common sense advice to save and protect you from getting ripped off. All of it is practical and easy. Nothing goofy like only buying 10 year old cars or recycling dental floss.

Read the book, listen to the radio show, and start saving your hard earned money!

A must-have for your reference shelf
My brother-in-law had loaned this book to my dad, but I found it extremely handy for someone in my situation: a nearly-graduated college student getting ready to join the "real world." From buying a car to getting out of debt, Clark Howard shares practical tips to help you save money and be a smart shopper. While I may not get rich from reading this book, it has definitely helped to steer me in the right direction!

good consumer reference; NOT a get-rich guide
Clark Howard provides solid advice on topics such as buying a new or used car, buying a home, buying a computer, buying insurance. There's probably not much here you haven't seen elsewhere, but it is presented in a consolidated & readable fashion. The most useful part of the book is Howard's advice on documentation -- how to write effective letters & protect your rights in dealing with creditors and service providers. The focus of the book is much more on making informed purchasing decisions and on protecting your rights as a consumer than it is on getting rich. ... Read more

Book Description

Think of sports: a football game, a round of golf, a tennis match. Or think of a play, or an opera. Now think of the halfway mark in that event -- the halftime, the intermission -- when everyone takes a breather and wonders the same thing: What's going to happen in the second half?

We have a similar point in our lives, often around our fiftieth birthday, when we begin to wonder about our second half. If you're at or approaching that age, you probably think about how much money you're going to need so you can have the kind of life you want. Charles Schwab, bestselling author of Charles Schwab's Guide to Financial Independence, offers you advice and support for getting there.

For more than twenty-five years, Charles Schwab has been passionate about demystifying investing. In a user-friendly style, You're Fifty --Now What? offers a mix of clear and workable advice about how to accumulate and grow your money. Through simple worksheets, understandable language, and a healthy dose of encouragement, you learn how to take control of your financial life. You'll find answers to your questions, including help with estate planning and charitable giving.

His message emphasizes that the goal is not just financial security, but also the peace of mind that comes from knowing you're prepared. He takes you step-by-step through a process that will enable you to see where you are financially today and where you want to get so that the second half of your life can be as fulfilling as you hope.

One hundred percent of the author's profits from this book will be donated to a charity that benefits seniors through The Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation.

Dear Reader,
We have a point in our lives when we find ourselves wondering about the second half. The age differs from person to person. For some it comes in their late forties, for others it's in their early fifties. When we reach that age, we feel different. We may sense a change coming and we want to pause and to think about what we've accomplished and what we still hope to do.
So what does this have to do with investing?

A lot. A sound investing strategy is what gives you the means and the courage to do what you want. The issues may seem daunting. But it can be done. It has to be done, because while getting older isn't a bad thing, being unprepared for it is. And by not understanding the financial part of your future, you sabotage yourself and you limit your choices.

Start today, maybe even right now. Take control of the second half of your life. Dream about it, wonder about it, think boldly about what you want. And take the first step, which is usually the hardest. Once you get started, the satisfaction you feel will keep you going. But don't delay in your preparations. The best is yet to come.

Charles R. Schwab
from the prologue ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Good overview of planning issues - with limitations
It's good to see a book like this focused on the issues confronting retirees, and those approaching retirement. The book provides a very broad and general overview of the issues involved.

I applaud the author's advice to consider a 4% annual withdrawal rate from investments. In my experience, many financial advisors, influenced by the prolonged bull market, have suggested higher rates.

I caution against following every opinion in this book, however. Three broad suggestions by the author stood out as troublesome, in my view:

First, that "you're better off including individual stocks and stock utual funds in your retirement account (where taxes are deferred) and bonds in your regular account (which is currently taxable." (Page 184.) Adopting a contrary strategy, and minimizing taxes on the equity portion of your portfolio (held in a regular account), can in my view yield far superior results, from both a financial planning and estate planning perspective.

Second, the statement "If you have a Roth IRA, I sugest you withdraw from it first [to generate retirement income] since your withdrawals are not taxed." This statement completely ignores the tremendous long-term benefit of tax-free growth, and I completely disagree.

Third, the suggested asset allocation models are too simplistic -each individual's own asset allocation should be affected by many factors, only some of which are discussed in the book.

While a brief discussion is made of Modern Portfolio Theory and probability analysis (Monte Carlo), more insight into these areas could have been provided, given their utility.

The foregoing comments illustrate the limitations of any book seeking to address the very complicated tax, actuarial, financial planning, asset protection planning, and estate planning issues confronting the retiree today. Despite this, I recommend the book (with reservations) to both retirees, and those approaching retirement, who need to increase their knowledge of basic planning concepts. There is tremendous value in each person educating themselves on financial planning concepts. Just don't take this (or any) one book as gospel.

Welcome Resource!
Schwab's book provides solid and practical information for those of us who no longer can be called young no matter what the definition is. Unfortunately, helpful financial books that target Baby Boomers and older folks are in shamefully short supply! For readers who want another indepth look at the financial issues that face older investors, I'd suggest another excellent book-the Retirement Bible. Like Schwab's book, the Retirement Bible provides advise on recommended portfolio withdrawal levels and devotes an entire chapter to discussing in what order money should be withdrawn during retirement. Unlike Schwab, Lynn O'Shaughnessy, the author of the Retirement Bible, suggests that Roth IRA money should ideally be touched last. I definitely agree with her opinion and many financial experts do too. What I also like about the book is that she demystifies a lot of estate planning issues, which books written by attorneys hopelessly fail at. You can't go wrong getting either of these books.

For Baby Boomers: Should be titled You're 60, Now What?
This is a book that everyone should have in their personal development library. Is it a great read or does it have cutting-edge insights? Probably, no. But wisdom is wisdom and doing what's right with your money is more a matter of principle than fancy strategy. If your strategy is too far removed from this book, then you're probably taking on far more risk than you should. I think that a lot more should have been written about wills and trusts for estate planning. That's an area that would have only taken another 10 pages, but would have completed the works and is something that everyone over 50 with bucks needs to know well.

This book is a must read and a real eye opener.
I am in my mid fifties. I have a MA in economics on top of an engineering degree. I was never very interested in investing as an economics student when it was merely a academic subject. I focused on other parts of my study of Economics. Now that I am older and trying to determine if I am indeed able to retire now I am finding the subject of investments much more fascinating and "Your' Fifty...." Extremely informative and helpful in showing me how retire in some comfort and with some confidence that I can sustain that comfort in the face of taxation and inflation throughout the "second half".

I have read several other retirement investment books since this one and found that this one was the best of the lot. I highly recommend it to anyone who planning retirement savings plans or anyone wondering about retirement right now.

A good resource for us aging boomers.
I've read many personal finance books and none of them was perfect. Every person's situation is different and what works for one person may not work for another. However, out of all of the books that I've read in this genre, this was one of the better ones.

The book is intended for someone that is in the later stages of their working life who expects to retire in the not too distant future. Although the title of the book implies that it was written for someone in their 50s, the book is really intended for anyone that is in the latter half of their working career. I am in my forties and felt that this book had a lot to offer. Schwab offers advice on how to invest in preparation for your retirement, and what to do with your investments after you retire. Although the book does not assume that everyone has built up a nice nest egg by the time that they're fifty, it acknowledges that those that haven't are going to have a some of catching-up to do.

Schwab does have an aggressive bias when it comes to investing. He recommends a portfolio that is heavily weighted in stocks even after you retire. This is contrary to the traditional weighting recommended by most other sources. His rationale for this approach is that retirement is much longer now than in the past. People are living longer. The returns that you get with a traditional conservative portfolio may not last your lifetime. He also feels that the income that you'll need after you retire is often understated by many financial planners. Although we live longer, the older we get the more unexpected expenses we may incur (medical, long-term care, etc). Although he acknowledges the risks with this approach, he points out that there are risks with the conservative approach also - that your savings will run out when you need it most.

In addition to investing, Schwab covers other topics such as types of insurance that will make your retirement years less risky for you and your family (life, health, disability, long-term care, etc).

Schwab includes a chapter on charitable giving and stresses how important it is for all of us to give back to their community. Like other texts, he summarizes some of the tax advantages of giving, but he truly seems to believe that those fortunate enough to have accumulated some wealth need to consider returning some of it to a cause that they believe in. I thought that this chapter was nice touch and a departure from the "show me the money" attitude that is the cornerstone of most personal finance books.

This book is not perfect and may not be for everyone, but if you are in the latter half of your working career, I think that you will enjoy and benefit from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Warren Buffett Way reveals how to profitably manage stocks once you select them

Staking its claim on the New York Times Bestseller list for 22 weeks, The Warren Buffett Way provided readers with their first look into the strategies that the master uses to pick stocks. The follow-up to that book, The Warren Buffett Way Portfolio is the next logical step. It will help readers through the process of building a superior portfolio and managing the stocks going forward.

Building and balancing a portfolio is arguably more important than selecting any single stock. In The Warren Buffett Portfolio, Robert Hagstrom introduces the next wave of investment strategy, called focus investing. A comprehensive investment strategy used with spectacular results by Buffett, focus investing directs investors to select a concentrated group of businesses by examining their management and financial positions as compared to their stock prices. Focus investing is based on the principle that a shareholder's return from owning a stock is ultimately determined by the economics of the underlying business.

Using this technique, Hagstrom shows how to identify lucrative companies and manage investments synergistically for the best possible results. The Warren Buffett Portfolio draws on the collective wisdom of Warren Buffett and other mavens of focus investing, including economist John Maynard Keynes and investors Philip Fisher, Bill Ruane of the Sequoia Fund, and Charlie Munger, Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. It clearly outlines the strategies and philosophies of focus investing and illustrates how to implement them effectively. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This book adds something to the existing literature.
I read this book the week before the annual meeting and hoped Warren or Charlie would comment on it. Charlie Munger did not disappoint. He recommended it even though he did not care for Hagstrom's first book. As someone who enjoys reading Charlie's ideas and philosophy, which are usually published in Outstanding Investor's Digest, I found this book to be quite interesting. New and different ideas are covered which may inspire the reader to investigate further. The topics of probability and psychology are discussed as they relate to investing and some actual data is presented instead of the usual anecdotal evidence. If Charlie recommends it, it must be worth reading. Other books he recommended at the meeting were Ron Chernow's "Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr." and David Landes' "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations." Warren Buffett recommended reading Washington Post Chairman Katherine Graham's autobiography "Personal History" and John Bogle's "Common Sense on Mutual Funds."

It doesn't add much to the understanding of Warren Buffett
Don't get me wrong...the book isn't awful. It is just that it is more of a compilation of 3 sources of Buffett-isms and investment psychology than anything else. If you have read Warren's Letters to Shareholders, and Peter Bernstein's "Against the Gods - The Story of Risk", and have ever heard Charlie Munger speak, there is nothing new here. The author is a qualified mutual fund manager, and I commend him for not plugging his own fund throughout (though he does plug his first Buffett book many times.) But precisely because he has written 'one of these' before, I view this current effort as irrelevant. Go to the sources...get online, read the letters yourself, read "Against the Gods" and read "Buffett - The Making of an American Capitalist." Those give you much more color, flavor, and insight on what makes The Oracle tick.

A true treasure among modern investment books...
In "The Warren Buffett Portfolio", author Robert Hagstrom devotes an entire book to debunking the greatest misconception prevalent in the investment world today: the myth of "diversification". Hagstrom sets out to prove that Mark Twain was a market wizard when he said "put all of your eggs in one basket, and guard the hell out of that basket!"

The heart of this book rests on the premise that a proper portfolio must be "diverse" (i.e. must include 40 to 100 different companies) in order to remain "safe" and avoid a loss of capital. However, while such a notion may decrease short-term volatility, it does not necessarily increase returns. Hagstrom examines investment guru Warren Buffett's ideas on the subject, such as "knowledge decreases risk, not the number of stocks in your portfolio". Such an approach makes sense. Which is better, to own a few companies that you know everything about, or a lot of companies that you know little or nothing about? The less you know about a company, the more likely it is that an unforeseen event will sneak up on you and hammer your portfolio.

The book also addresses the fallacy of "re-balancing a portfolio". Again, Warren asks, why are you selling off your best company to buy a bunch of under-performing companies? Such a line of thinking is akin to saying "Michael Jordan takes too many shots and makes too much money relative to the other players on his team, so he should be traded to another team for three players so as to decrease the risk of an injury hurting the team... or we should give more shot opportunities to players of lesser talent so that the team doesn't become dependent on Michael Jordan to win." Nobody ever won an NBA Championship with run-of-the-mill players, but the Bulls won six NBA titles by relying on Michael Jordan.

It's this stalwart advance in the face of conventional wisdom that separates this book from most in the stock investment genre. Give it a try. You may find it's the most profitable book you've ever purchased...

Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"

If Hagstrom's so smart...why isn't he rich?
I have always been fascinated by Warren Buffett ever since I heard about this character in Omaha who didn't even have a stock ticker his office but had remarkable results in Adam Smith's SUPERMONEY.

I read THE WARREN BUFFETT WAY with interest and watched with anticipation as Hagstrom launched Focus Trust as a means of replicating Buffett's success. Alas, after an initial doubling of value in the Bull market the fund has generally hovered around $20 and singularly failed to even come close to matching Buffetts track record.

Hence, I'm forced to agree that too much emphasis is on Buffett the stock picker and not enough on Buffett the Business and Management analyst. Look elsewhere.

Take It With A Grain of Salt
Don't get me wrong- I learned a lot of valuable lessons about investing from this book. However, I believe most people don't understand the true secret of Mr. Buffet's success, and that is his ability to buy influential stakes in large concerns that he understands thoroughly. Buffet is not the typical small investor who is trying to nickel and dime his way to riches. Far from this, he is a man who has a lot of cash behind him, and can wield that cash to obtain seats on the boards of promising companies. Once there, using a bit of common business sense and uncommon financial influence, he can effect positive change in a company (there may also be a few derivatives being bandied about to boot). None of us small investors can ever do that.

Like I said, I learned a lot from the book. Instead of telling me which stock to buy, the book offered me basic principles to guide me in my investment activity. The book also helped me to better understand my own financial behavior and accurately diagnose my investment temperament. It also gave me some very important pieces for a strong blueprint for successful investing. Three of the most important lessons that I took from this book are first, buy only those companies that you understand intuitively, second, be patient with your investments, and third, the most important lesson, never hesitate to buy into quality and transparency. The book also pointed me in the direction of other references that I believe are worth reading, such as John Burr Williams' Theory of Investment Value, Benjamin Graham's Security Analysis, B. Graham's Intelligent Investor, and Philip Fisher's Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits. One gem from the book I found especially startling (and very insightful) is Buffett's overwhelming approval and outright endorsement of index investing to those of us who want to be in the market, but either can't stomach the volatility or are too lazy (or dense) to do our own investment research.

I also found that reading this book in combination with John Bogle's Common Sense Investing in Mutual Funds made for good, strong positive reinforcement.

If you can't beat the market, join (index) it! ... Read more

Book Description

The classic bestseller by Benjamin Graham, perhaps the greatest investment advisor of the Twentieth Century, The Intelligent Investor has taught and inspired hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Since its original publication in 1949, Benjamin Graham's book has remained the most respected guide to investing, due to his timeless philosophy of "value investing" which helps protect investors against areas of (possible) substantial error, and teaches them to develop long-term strategies with which they will be comfortable down the road.

Over the years, market developments have borne out the wisdom of Benjamin Graham's basic policies. Here he takes account of both the defensive and the enterprising investor, outlining the principles of stock selection for each, and stressing the advantages of a simple portfolio policy. This tape demonstrates that the continued success of common stocks cannot be taken for granted. Among its special features are the use of numerous comparisons of pairs of common stocks to bring out their elements of strength and weakness, and also the construction of investment portfolios designed to meet specific requirements of quality and price attractiveness.

Benjamin Graham (1894-1976), the father of value investing, was perhaps the most influential investor of all time. His books are investment classics, with The Intelligent Investor (first published in 1949) and Securities Analysis (1934) selling steadily. His life and work have been inspiration for many of today's most successful businessmen, including Warren Buffett.

Bill McGowan, a two-time Emmy award winner, has been a corespondent and anchor for several nationally syndicated television series over the past decade.

Reviews (7)

One of the best books on investing ever written
This is a must read for any person serious about investing (ie not gambling) in the stock market. The book is rather easy to read. Graham was an investor but also a teacher (at Columbia). He has a good balance between technical yet simple explanation. If you know absolutely nothing about the stock market and financials, you may still find it a bit obscure at time, but you should probably not invest directly anyway (at least not right away). For everyone else, read it.
Yes the latest edition was written in 1972. It is amusing at time to see the evolution. But actually this evolution is also part of what you learn by reading the book. You do see that some things never change (like valuing a company!), and others do change quite a bit. it gives you a nice perspective. Now the intersting part of the book is to understand the logic of Graham, less its conclusions. The conclusions date a bit. Graham used to work at a time when most corporations where industrial companies, when nowadays services are dominant for example. So take graham conclucions with a grain of salt. But do read in depth and try to understand his logic.
Value investing won't make you rich overnight. But reasonnably well done, it will avoid having you lose money, and can even open you the doors of year by year over-performance in the market. Warren Buffett and several other successfull investors have followed the approach of Graham. But as they all say, when you first read about value investing, you either understand it right away, or you never will. But trust my 15 year of investing on the stock market, you're better of understanding the value of value investing. And this book is the key to it.

Intelligent Investor
Intelligent Investor is the single greatest book ever written on investing. Look at Ben Graham's track record, all of several of his students (including Warren Buffett) have also built foutunes using his advice.

No real value here
I got this book because of a Lou Rukeyser panelist who recommended it for understanding the latest milieu in the stock market. I found this book densely written, boring and of no practical value. A one year subscription to Money magazine would be better spent if you are truly a novice and are interested in portfolio analysis.
Graham gives little insight to the market, focusing on how building your portfolio with bonds and stocks for long-term (ie. buy and hold) growth. Does anyone still believe that garbage? If they do have they held thru last debacle in the market and made money?
Perhaps Graham has great things to say, but alas, not here.

JZfrom Detroit
While Graham's text is obviously one of the most important guidebooks for investors written in this century, I have to agree with the reader from L.A. and say that it is quite a difficult read. Perhaps this is why so few people out of the masses have made a fortune in stocks. If we could all understand it, we'd all be rich.

Audio version, though dated, still useful
The audio version of this book is fairly easy to take. The two tapes (each with two sides) can comfortably be covered in a few drives back and forth to work. While I must admit that I was disappointed when, early in the first side, the speaker announced that the most recent update to the book was in the early seventies. So their references to an expensive Dow of 800 or so is almost amusing today. I found, however, that the material was quite useful sometimes because of that perspective. We are all too often reading someone's writing today about how smart they were yesterday. It is interesting sometimes to listen to what someone thought was smart yesterday and determine if that wisdom would have held up to the present day.

Tom Kelly ... Read more

Book Description

The 1990s were some of the most prosperous years the U.S. has ever seen. From the booming stock market, to falling mortgage rates, to the reemergence of America as the premier global economic superpower, it has been an unparalleled period of prosperity. Harry Dent was one of the few economics who saw it coming.

According Dent, The Roaring 2000s will be a period of unprecedented opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs. Based on rock-solid historical information and research, Dent offers detailed investment strategies to help you exploit the coming boom.

With The Roaring 2000s Wealth Builder, you'll learn about future trends in the job market, technology, demographics, and real estate. You'll learn about the next great population migration and how the Information Age is engendering radically different business and organizational structures. And you'll learn exactly what you can do to obtain financial security through these changes so that you can create the lifestyle for you and your family that will provide balance, luxury and peace of mind. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author
Four Cass, 6 hrs.

Accessible, pragmatic, and comprehensive, THE ROAD TO WEALTH imparts information critical to every stage of listeners' financial lives. Whether one is a novice investor or a veteran of the market, whether laying the building blocks for a rich future or seeking comfort during the retirement years, THE ROAD TO WEALTH has the answers. With her unique grasp of the life of money and the role money plas in listeners' lives, Suze Orman has compiles an invaluable resource of practical financial information. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Financial answers for the rest of us.
The book provides us with a wealth of practical financial answers in a very sound, straightforward, honest, and easy-to-understand language. The core emphasis of the book is to help you create a strong, debt-free foundation to amassing assets and protecting them in periods of economic downturn; from buying a home to providing for loved ones; from investing with confidence and navigating the markets in good times and bad to securing reliable income for our later years. If you are interested or have any of these financial needs you need this valuable book. This is a book designed to help you take action-wherever you are in your life and whatever your needs. If you think all the advice you need is from your local bank then you have obviously missed the boat.

FinanacialNeeds.com

The Road to Wealth
The Road to Wealth by Suze Orman was extremely informational. Being 18 and very new to the world of finance I learned a lot from reading it. The way the book is set up in a question and answer format makes it easy to read on specific subjects. It would be a good idea to keep a copy in your house. That way you could read the different chapters as they apply to your life. I liked the section about paying for college best because I have to pay my own way through college, so it gave me some helpful tips. The Road to Wealth covers a wide variety of finance subjects all of which could be helpful at many different points in one's life. It covers everything from how to prepare yourself financially for when you retire to making out a will. I would recommend this book especially for people who haven't experienced much financially. It is a great way to learn about many different aspects of the financial world.

Ten stars and her best book
I own a few of her books and this is the best in many ways. Ever wish that some financial advisor would answer your question? The question that either never gets asked or the writer runs out of space before the book is done and your question is missed?

Well, this almost 700 page gem not only answers in a Question and Answer mode literally thousands of questions but does so on subjects that cover managing debt, home ownership, insurance and paying for college. To retirement concerns and stock, mutual funds and annuities. And a topic many people put off discussing, wills and trusts.

You also get her newsletter FREE when you buy the book. I really appreciate her chapter on Money and Intimacy which basically covers the things that cause problems in a marriage when it comes to money. One person spends to much and one person is afraid to spend much at all. And she covers the subject of bankruptcy which is something that seems to be happening so much these days. She also discusses issues that are very 2002, like same sex unions and live in partners and how to protect ones assets.

This is a good book to have in ones library and I think it is one I will be giving to my local library because it is the best on the subject in my opinion. Sort of an encyclopedia of financial Q and A.

Follow Suze to YOUR Road to Wealth!
I have to admit that I didn't like this book all that much when it first came out. So I didn't buy it when it was originially released.

Several weeks back while browsing my favorite book store, I cam across this book now in paperback, noticed it was updated and revised from the original version and found some good info that I had missed earlier.

Anxiously I took the book home and placed post it notes throughout the book to areas that applied to me. I was able to make substantial savings especially in the areas of insurance and credit card debt. I also started investing in my company's 401 (k) plan and am taking advantage of Pres. Bush's generous IRA provisions contributing the maximum to both retirement plans. Thank you Pres. Bush!

Overall, this is one of the best financial books that I have ever read. It is very complete and also very well organized.

I also recommend Suze's newest book The Laws of Money, also now available in paperback.

Thank you Suze Orman!

A Wealth of Infomation
My father recommended that I read this book, as he is a director of property tax and works in the business and finance world every day. I was scared at first at the size of the book, but it is actually very easy to understand and a great reference book.
It has a convenient question-and-answer type format that allows the reader to peruse over various topics, or to narrow in on one in particular.
I was greatly surprised at the immense amount of information that this book contains. Everything from the emotions of divorce and how it affects to finances to how to pay for college is covered throughout the pages.
I would highly recommend that this book be found in every household, as it is would be an excellent source to turn to with many small questions- about wills, investing, and any other sort of monetary question.
On a final note- Suze Orman also has her own tv show that is quite interesting and information as well. Just like the book, it is also not boring, but rather takes tough subjects and make them seem easy! ... Read more

Book Description

Suze Orman, America's most trusted personal finance expert, gives you the guidance that will point you in the right direction every time you need to make a decision about your money.

Like a compass, the laws of money directs you to safety, security, and prosperity. They give you the ability to define your financial destiny and guide it with your own hands, so you can hold on to what you have and create what you deserve.

These laws are as timeless as they are timely. The Laws of Money, The Lessons of Life provides you with the solid financial foundation upon which you can stand, regroup, and build.

• Law Number 1. Truth Creates Money, Lies Destroy It.
• Law Number 2. Look at What You Have, Not at What You Had.
• Law Number 3. Do What Is Right for You, Before You Do What Is Right for Your Money.
• Law Number 4. Invest in the Known Before the Unknown.
• Law Number 5. Always Remember: Money Has No Power of Its Own.

Reviews (47)

I'm good enough, smart enough, and doggonit people like me!
This book is great for people who are inexperienced in handling finances. Suze lays forth ideology that should be followed if you are interested in having a good retirement and being able to provide for your family in the future. Many of the ideas presented in this book she states over and over again on her CNBC program The Suze Orman Show.

Some of the thinking put forth is plain common sense - such as realizing the damage that could result from building a high credit card debt. Some parts cause you to think about the financial implications beyond the obvious - such as the additional costs of owning a home.

Suze's books are geared towards individuals unfamiliar with the world of finance; people who shy away from words like "investing" and "interest rates". If you are starting off your life and intend to plan a financially prosperous future, definitely read this book. It could save much hardship in the future by giving you something to follow when making a major purchase such as a home, car, or college. It will help you plan your retirement. I would not recommend this book if you are financially competent and want to take your investments to the next level, such as diving into the stock market.

The additional pages in the back for writing notes and completing "exercises" did not intrigue me. But overall, the book was well written and Suze was able to bring her own personal parables into the book, making it an interesting read.

Extremely Helpful and Readable
Suze's book is full of hard hitting honesty, not only in her personal tidbits, but in providing the advice you need to follow in order to your financial life in order. Her laws are simple, but deeply thought out and when you read the book and really realize what the laws mean, you can easily relate them and apply them to your life. I understand that Suze may appear to be a marketing machine, but as someone who has met her, I can attest that she is genuine and truly cares about helping people gain control of their finances and get out of debt. After all, the cover price of this book is much cheaper in the long run than paying for advice from a random financial advisor. Suze has proven herself, time and time again, to be a savvy, smart, helpful resource for people who are willing to take the time to read her books and apply the lessons within to their own lives. This book is by far her best one yet and I believe it will quickly become a classic resource for anyone needing a solid finance guide.

"Truth creates money. Lies destroy it."
This book challenges the reader to seek honesty and reality in their investing; the book challenges the reader to find out where they are (realistically), what they want to achieve, and then make an honest and realistic financial plan to accomplish the changes. This is really the essence of the present book.

You need to construct an honest and realistic plan with good investment vehicles. So this book has a lot of the normal sound advise that people give but it has a series