Book Description

As recent events have proven, when it comes to retirement, relying solely on a 401K plan is a sure recipe for disaster. By the year 2012-10 years from now-the vast majority of Baby Boomers will be on the verge of retirement-and they'll be looking to cash in on their hefty 401K retirement packages. The problem is, according to Kiyosaki and Lechter, that all of these people who religiously pumped thousands of dollars over their working years into their 401Ks are going to be crushed if their mutual funds just haven't performed. To avert this financial crisis, Kiyosaki and Lechter provide a detailed financial plan to help forward-looking people prepare for the worst and start planning now. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

Prophecy: Timely and Scary for Majority of Baby Boomers
I did not expect to get much out of this book. I expected the usual litany of admonitions and suggestions available in hundreds of articles and basic books on finance for the masses. Despite that low expectation, the first chapter had me hooked.

With an aging population, turmoil in the stock markets, and lack of knowledge about how much money is needed for retirement, author Robert Kiyosaki gives specifics to support his theory about predictable problems facing those who hope to retire.

The book won't appeal to people who are satisfied with their current job and have no plans to change in the future. But for those who care about government policy and how these policies and demographics are impacting our society, the book is eye-opening as well as easy-to read.

The "rich dad, poor dad" vehicle gets old but is stiff an effective and sometimes entertaining vehicle for conveying information.

Definitely a must read.
Rich Dad's Prophecy is most certaintly a must read book for anyone who has money invested, especially in 401 (k) plans.

While some of the information in RDP is similiar to Kiyosaki's earlier books, the pension, retirement and 401 (k) is fresh, startling and hopefully alarming to anyone who plans on investing their money between now and 2016.

2016 is the year when the bulk of the baby boomers will be forced to liquidate their retirement funds. When this happens, a major stock market crash is expected (no kidding!) that surpass the bear market from 2000 to 2002.

Another problem is what kind of money will current savers have in their 401 (k)s? For example, before going into self employment, I worked in a local office for one of the top 6 banks in the USA and had been putting all I could into my 401 (k) savings plan. Despite this being one of the "Big 6" Banks, matching by the bank was about average (and any matching reflected in reduced wages), options to invest in were patheticly weak and the bank would match us only with shares of Bank One stock.

After reading RDP and going into self employment, I rolled my 401 (k) into a self directed IRA with a brokerage firm. I now choose my investments between stocks, mutual funds and bonds or even Tax Liens, Discounted Mortgages and Real Estate. I'm in control, not my employer.

The only real benefit of a 401 (k) is the borrowing provision which unfortunately too many so called fiancial experts discourage.

And after the Enron issue, who wants to have that much money in company stock?

Kiyosaki is alerting people and none too soon. I am certain that all of the one star reviews are from brokers, financial planners and benefits directors from companies that hope that you blindly follow their advice even it means not having anything for retirement.

I cannot emphasize the importance of reading RDP and more importantly, following the advice.

To repeat, Rich Dad's Prophecy is definitely A MUST READ!

A Bold Contrarian View
It takes guts to write a prophecy, and it takes particular guts to write this prophecy. It is a refreshing, and probably correct, "contrary" opinion to the endless optimism that you get from Wall Street. For this reason alone, the book deserves five stars. (It is also better written than some of the earlier works, probably the result of practice.)

Early in the book Kiyosaki starts by pinpointing the central problem of retirement income--that ERISA, the so-called Employees' Retirement Income and Security Act, had actually undermined the security of workers' retirement incomes by replacing so-called defined benefit plans, underwritten at fixed levels by companies, with defined contribution plans, under which workers were individually responsible for investing their own contributions. Baby Boomers bought this snake oil because of their desire for individual, rather than collective, security. The results, and wreckage, can be seen at places like Enron. But the marketers of the new plans certainly knew what they were doing.

The underlying problem is that the Baby Boomers were the last American generation to be more numerous than their parents. Every succeeding generation has been of comparable, or even smaller, size because the Baby Boomers' fertility only approximated replacement rates. Thus, there is a flat, rather than broadening, pyramid as age groups get younger. This historic demographic shift called for far-sighted savings and investment plans designed years ahead of Baby Boomers' retirements. (Japan has a much higher savings rate than the US and is now staring this issue in the face.) Because Baby Boomers have put off retirement planning too long (as they have earlier in life with other issues), they are facing a massive financial crunch. The result, as Kiyosaki points out, will be a stock market crash that's almost a foregone conclusion: It's more a question of when rather than whether. The fact that this prophecy originated with "Rich Dad" doesn't make Kiyosaki less of a prophet. After all, God gave Moses the ten commandments.

My main quibble, and it's really a difference of opinion, is with the 2016 target date. In my new book, "A Modern Approach to Graham and Dodd Investing," I outline a target date closer to 2006 (along with some proposed solutions). That's when early Baby Boomers turn 60,and can start tapping their IRAs without penalty. (And they've never been ones to postpone gratification.) It's possible that my target date is too early, and that Kiyosaki's is too late, with the truth somewhere in between. But he and I agree on major concepts, while differing in detail.

A poorly written book based on a bad assumption...
Basically, RK uses this installement in the Rich Dad/Poor Dad series to claim that the stock market is due a big fall when, by federal law, Baby boomers start to withdraw equity from their tax deferred retirement vehicles at age 70.

This means that RK is predicting not only stock market performance over a decade in the future, he's also predicting tax law over a decade in the future.

The chances that the tax code governing 401k's will weather the years unscathed are miniscule. And it's a good thing too. RK's "ark" of choice - real estate - would also plummet in value during a massive depression where paying tenents would be scarce.

Going into a depression saddled with large real estate debt is a surefire way to be living under an overpass in a cardboard box for your retirment.

RK's got a point -- the market will be hurt when Baby Boomers liquidate their assets to live off of in retirement. But its doubtful that the government will force this selloff when the boomers get here. This shouldn't stop a wise investor from making long-term stock purchases or using more creative vehicles to make money.

I like that RK is so enthusiastic and assertive about getting your financial life in order and making a change in the way that you make money. Investments are great and people should build up some investments for their futures. But this book is founded on such shakey soil that it's difficult to stomach. Pick up some of his others (Rich Dad/Poor Dad or the Cashflow Quadrant) if you need a pick-me-up.

Promising more than delivering
The premise of this book is tantilizing: 1) The stock market will crash, and 2) here are some investment ideas to survive and prosper when the crash comes.

The author presumes that when retiring baby boomers begin to withdraw their 401(k) and mutual fund assets there will be more "sellers" of shares than "buyers" - thus the market will fall. This is a two-dimensional vision of the marketplace, yet plausible.

Regarding investment ideas for the reader: other than recommending the purchase of "income producing" real estate the second half of this book is hollow, and used by the author as little more than a platform for promoting his cash-flow board game and additional books he has written.

I don't feel that the day I spent reading this book was wasted, however, I'm not going to recommend it to any of my "thoughtful" friends. ... Read more

Book Description

It doesn't matter if you have $10, $10,000 or $1,000,000 to invest--Eric Tyson's Investing for Dummies shows you how to maximize your investment. This down-to-earth reference cuts through the jargon and provides you with the tips, techniques and strategies you need to make sound investment decisions.

Starting with the fundamentals, financial whiz Eric Tyson guides you through the ins and outs of investing in the stock market, real estate, small business, and more. With easy-to-understand explanations, helpful advice, and a lot of humor, this tape with quickly become your trusted investment counselor. On this tape, discover how to:

• Understand the risks and returns involved in different types of investment

• Invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds with confidence

• Purchase and invest in real estate with success

•Start or buy your own small business

Read by the author.

Dummies Guide audiobooks are also available for Classical Music, Fitness, Golf, Personal Finance, Parenting, Golf, PCs, Selling, Internet, Time Management, Job Searching, Opera, Dating, Investing, Home Buying, Negotiating, Sales Closing, Public Speaking, Alternative Medicine, Sex and Wine.

Reviews (51)

Helps you build a solid foundation for further reading
I have been investing in stocks, mutuals funds and real estate for about 8 years without ever reading a book on the topic. I bought this book to learn the nuts and bolts of investing. Despite the fact that I am not a beginner I still found the book informative. For example, Tyson says when a stock plummets don't bale out, buy some more at the lower price. I baled out of amazon.com at $11 and of course I deeply regret it now. I have since learned to hold during the bad times and now I am in profit territory with all of my stocks. He suggests that college savings accounts, such as 529 plans, may be a bad idea because it could hurt your child's chances of getting financial aid. He explains how bonds can go down in value and says instead of buying individual bonds it is better to buy bond mutual funds. I had been wary of bonds before reading this book, now I am thinking about buying a bond fund in the interests of diversification.

I didn't agree with Tyson on everything. He is more conservative than I am. I am only in my early 30s, so I believe I am young enough to take some financial risks. Also, he believes that it is a bad idea to pick your own stocks. Yet he also says that if you buy good companies and hold for several years you will always come out ahead as long as you have a diversified portfolio. I see no reason to pay a financial planner (who may put his/her own interests ahead of mine) to do this for me.

One thing I really like about the book is that he doesn't just focus on financial instruments. He also discusses investing in both real estate and small businesses. I will be buying a franchise within the next year and I found this information very helpful. Of course, I will need to do further reading on this topic.

This is an excellent book that I had a hard time putting down. If you want to learn more about investing I suggest that you start with this book. It will provide a solid foundation, and help you move onto more complicated financial books and magazines.

Very good book.
Eric Tyson's Investing for Dummies in broad in scope, but still written in plain english. Even the most naive to investing can understand and apply what he writes.I also recommend Personal Finance for Dummies and Mutual Funds For Dummies.You will find these books more informative than Jane Bryant Quinn's books. What is the love affair with her anyway? I made the mistake of buying How To Make the Most of Your Money and found it to be a complete waste. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Read and apply Eric Tyson's great work. You'll be glad you did.

Practical Introduction for Beginners
Considering that I know hardly anything about investing in stocks, real estate, etc., this book was a very good one because it introduced me to the basics. It starts with each topic on "level one" and gradually leads you to the level where you understand the topic but do not have useless information. It discusses stocks and bonds, real estate, portfolio buiding, and even the interesting psychological obstacles in investing. I thought an interesting idea was that to succeed long term in mutual fund investing, your portfolio must be diversified and well-researched. This book also discusses the pros and cons of having a financial advisor, and gives resources for more information. The book has cartoons, which add humor and taught me how investing would be applied to my life. The section of the book least applicable to me was about running and buying business, but it was interesting nevertheless. It was a great introduction to investing and I feel much more prepared than I did before reading the book.

Buy the Third Edition instead of this OLD one
The Third Edition of this book is already out. Why would you buy the second edition if the third edition is newer?

Lacking
There are very few good nuggets of information in this one.
I listened to the entire audio version in my car on the way to work. I didn't have to stop once to jot down anything important. ... Read more

Book Description

• Had you invested $10,000 in Cisco Systems back in early 1990, your investment would now be worth $3,650,000

• Similarly, a $10,000 investment made in Microsoft in 1986 would be valued at more than $4,721,000 today

• $10,000 invested in Yahoo! in 1996 would today be worth $317,000

How do you get in on those deals--especially if you're not a Silicon Valley insider? How do you buy the high-tech win-ners and avoid the losers? How do you find the Yahoo!s, Microsofts, and Ciscos of tomorrow?

The answers are here, in this newly revised edition of the national bestseller The Gorilla Game. The book reveals the dynamics driving the market for high-tech stocks and out-lines the forces that catapult a select number of compa-nies to "gorilla" status--dominating the markets they serve in the way that Yahoo! dominates internet portals, Microsoft dominates software operating systems, and Cisco dominates hardware for data networks.

Follow the rules of The Gorilla Game and you will learn how to identify and invest in the "gorilla candidates" early on--while they are still fighting for dominance, and while their stocks are still cheap. When the dust clears and one company clearly attains leadership in its market, you'll reap the enormous returns that foresighted investors in high-tech companies deserve.

This new edition of The Gorilla Game has been updated and revised throughout, with new focus and new insights into choosing the internet gorillas--the companies that are destined to dominate internet commerce.

Bestselling author Geoffrey A. Moore is one of the world's leading consultants in high-tech marketing strategy. Here you'll find his groundbreaking ideas about tech-nology markets that made his previous books bestsellers, combined with the work of Paul Johnson, a top Wall Street technology analyst, and Tom Kippola, a high-tech consul-tant and highly successful private investor. Together they have discovered and played the gorilla game and now give readers the real rules for winning in the world of high-tech investing.

Step by step you'll learn how to spot a high-tech market that is about to undergo rapid growth and development, how to identify and spread investments across the potential gorillas within the market, and how to narrow your investments to the single, emerging leader--the gorilla--as the market matures.

High-tech investing can be extremely risky, but investors who learn to play the gorilla game can avoid many of the traps and pitfalls and instead start capitalizing on untold profits. Personal wealth is only a gorilla game away.

Reviews (34)

A "must read" for investors in high-tech
High-tech professionals and amateur investors dream of catching the next hot stock before it takes off. Geoffrey Moore's latest book The Gorilla Game outlines a strategy for identifying and investing in high-tech companies. Geoffrey Moore's previous works Crossing The Chasm and Inside The Tornado serve as the foundation for the investment strategy presented. Individuals familiar with the author will find The Gorilla Game valuable as it applies Moore's ideas on product marketing to well known companies within the high-tech sector. One of the most interesting sections of the book is the three case studies which serve as examples of past Gorilla games and involve companies that most readers will be familiar with. The Gorilla Game is highly recommended for any reader with an interest in high tech industries regardless of their investment background.

Need more tech than investment savvy
This book came to me highly recommended by a friend and I read it in no time at all, very well presented and very readable. The only thing is to get the most out of it you need to have a lot of tech knowledge. I work for an e-business consultancy and I found the idea of picking the basket of stocks in a potential Gorilla industry a bit of an intimidating task. However, it does point out you can make a lot of cash from investing later in the game as it becomes more obvious who the key player is, this is probably a better approach than the one they advocate for most people.

Great insight even for the non-investor
Great insight into what makes a Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, or other high-tech monster. Very instructive for spotting trends even if you are not into investing.

Sadly funny (in hindsight) closing remarks, however, when mentioning criteria for the gorilla-game theory to work: "...you need equity markets which have... high legal integrity... in the realms of ethics and legal integrity, US markets lead the world in policing their own ranks...". In light of the many recent financial scandals I'm sure the authors will rephrase this in the next edition.

Oops
The high-tech stock collapse has led to a lot of agonized soul searching from burned investors in the past year. How in the world did all those dot-com pet stores get funded? How did Cisco ever get a $500 billion dollar market cap, and how did so many other companies get valued at tens of billions of dollars with no profits and little sales?

Well, one problem was that too many people read this book.

Don't get me wrong--Geoffrey Moore is definitely a heavyweight business thinker. His earlier books were tremendously helpful in explaining the strange, non-intuitive ways in which high-tech markets work. But here, he and his coauthors attempt to build on his earlier work to offer a "gorilla investment strategy", which has now become a victim of its own popularity. *Any* mechanical investment scheme will eventually fail if it becomes too widely used, and it is easy to find the roots of the investment idiocies of the late nineties in this book. Just look for emerging high-tech market leaders, he says over and over, with little attention paid to just how much this eventual market dominance might be worth. Worse, he asserts that you can't know which company will emerge as the dominant player in a given sector, so invest in them all. Venture capitalists, once they realized how many investors were following this strategy, responded by cranking out unlimited numbers of startups doing exactly the same thing; as long as they were competing in a market that might eventually select a "gorilla", then they could be confident of "flipping" a successful IPO to naive investors. Anyone who used this book as a basis for investing over the past couple of years would have, in effect, been getting suckered into a Ponzi scheme.

Moore creates a vivid symbolic menagerie to explain the dynamics of high-tech marketing, but any high-tech investor needs to know that in addition to the authors' gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys there are a lot of dogs. Also sharks.

Very useful to the average guy but little on valuation
Having worked on Wall Street in research I can say that this book is a must read for technology investors. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I believe that, in a very simple manner, the authors lay out the evolution of technology giants within different sectors. They help you identify the next "800 Lb. Gorilla," which may generate substantial returns for investors.

If there is any weakness it is that very little is provided in terms of how do you value these companies. Most past "gorillas" came public with very modest valuations but in today's markets many companies are coming out at higher valuations, providing less upside in the long-term. The reason is that many investors are more astute than in the past and are seeking to find these "gorillas." Therefore, the problem that lies before the investor is how to find the gorilla before the pros do. Too many pros and individuals tried to find them in the past 2 years and only got burned (they were all greedy going after the hopes of generating such returns and the possibility that one would be the "800 lb gorilla.")

If you want to learn about technology life cycles, product differentiation and what to look for in the next decade's giants I recommend this book but recognize that it provides little in terms of valuation exercises. ... Read more

Book Description

Bestselling author and financial expert Suze Orman helped millions of Americans turn toward their money and embark on a true path to wealth with her #1 bestseller The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom and her national bestseller You've Earned It, Don't Lose It.Now she returns, with a book that goes beyond the fundamentals of her earlier work in challenging and inspiring us to realize our full financial potential, and to realize as well that the bottom line of life is comprised of much more than money.

Practical, spiritual, and above all soundly financial, The Courage Be Rich addresses the rites of passage we all must face-marriage, divorce, death; spending (and overspending) on life's necessities and luxuries; taking control of our financial tomorrows today.From the business of love to buying a home; from imparting proper values to our children to defining our own self-worth; from starting over to staking a claim to our future, Orman shows us how to find the clarity, conviction, and courage to meet the obstacles and opportunities of a lifetime.

Expressing her deep belief that only when we truly learn to value and respect money in the most expansive sense will we be able to change our financial destiny, Orman demonstrates-through exercises, examples and case studies-how to create a rich and abundant life, starting from what we have today.Finally, she takes on the seldom explored subject of money and grace-the rewards wealth bestows and the responsibilities if confers.

There is no more persuasive, compelling, and honest a financial teacher today than Suze Orman.Building on the rock-solid foundation of her earlier lessons, The Courage to Be Rich is, in every sense, higher education on matters of vital importance to us all.
... Read more

Reviews (124)

If You Believe in Mind over Matter this Book is for You
Most of us believe in "Mind over Matter." Well Suze Orman teaches us that "Mind over Money" works, too! I already practice most of the frugal ideas Suze has in this book but I enjoyed reading how your mindset really does influence the coldest, hardest facts of life - your money. One of the powerful lessons I took away from the book was never to give in to the temptation to "hide" from your money when times are tough. I immediately thought of The Unattractiveness Stall described in THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION because the last thing I want to do is face up to "ugly" bills and looming payment deadlines. Strangely, the more I faced my money situation the more I began to enjoy (yes enjoy) paying my bills because I could see that each payment brought me closer to achieving financial freedom. I encourage you to read this book, examine your personal attitude towards your money in general, and use the information to break yourself of bad money habits for good.

A guide to financial responsible behavior
I especially liked the first section, acts of courage. Even if you financial life isn't in disarray, and if the amount of dept you have is very limited, there is much emotional intelligence in this section, and its messages are worth thinking about: The author shows how negative emotions as shame, guilt, fear and anger influence bad financial decisions, she shows how negative thoughs and words, in combination with lack of goal oriented thinking may stop us from achieving what we want. She shows how material clutter doesn't do much good neither and hert advice to walk through your house and look for items you do not longer use and other stuff that is "just filling closets" is something that too many people suffer from. Just applying this first section might pay back for the book.

As for section 2, marketeers won't be happy, but some of the advice is well worth considering. For instance, an exercise in Chapter 4 makes you consider this as: "How much money would you save if you drove your car one extra year? And waited one more year to upgrade your computer? Or to redecorate that room in your house?" As the author is right to state, many people are trying to "keep up with the Jonesses" and are envious if their neighboor seems to be living in better financial conditions. The same section tackles the issue of credit card debt, a problem that is quite common is one looks at macro economic figures but a dept that often is doing a lot of damage to people's self-worth. For non-US readers: some of the practical advice is US-centric. I have no use of 401k plans, US divorce and social systems, I don't have to pay taxes in the US, I do not have to save to pay the college or education of my kids, I'll be able to "survive" on my retirement money, etc. (thank god I live in Belgium, and that our social system takes care of all that!)

The title is a bit too much hype to my taste. That's why this book lost a star. Yet, there is some thruth in it. Another book that contains similar lessons is "The Millionaire Next Door" by Stanley and Danko. They came to these conclusions by studying millionaires. Their book preesents their findings, whereas Orman's book is more practical.

Patrick E.C. Merlevede, MSC -- co-author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

Another winner by Suze!
When it comes to personal finance, no one is better than Suze Orman.

This book goes a lot deeper into personal finance tha her previous books.

Highly recommended.

A very, very, very good book. Thanks Suze
I have read several other books by female financial authors. And found those 1,000 page fluff filled books about as useful for financial knowledge as a used piece of toilet paper.

Suze is the best. She is passionate about personal finance and goes beyond just offering financial advice. Not just marketing, although her books and other products certaintly outsell that NY female magazine writer by about 1000 to 1. Suze's books sell only because she has something to say.

The Courage To Be Rich is by far one of Suze's best works to date. She really get's down and deep into the mental aspects of money and why your attitude directly affects your financial situation.

Some of what Suze writes here is similiar to 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, Suze's best book in my opinion and I like The Courage To Be Rich better than The Road to Wealth which is also excellent and probably appeals more to those analytical types who enjoy that NY female writer with the 1,000 page book full of fluff. The Road to wealth, is not fluff...it is powerful information.

None the less, I still like The Courage To Be Rich even better. More hard hitting. More results oriented.

Great book Suze. We love ya!

The Courage To Be Rich
I found this book very annoying. I wanted a financial help book and got a religious discussion of everything. I do wish that business and religion could be kept separate. If I wanted religion I would look for a religious book. She would be more helpful if she kept to the financial facts and let the reader deal with their own spirituality. I am sorry I wasted money on it. ... Read more

Book Description

Of course you work for your money. The question is, does your money workfor you? You know you owe it to yourself and your family to make the bestpossible fiscal decisions. So why aren't you managing your money better?Perhaps you think that you don't have enough extra cash to bother learningmore about money management (a common myth). or maybe phrases such as "mutualfunds," "long-term bonds," "annuities," and "whole lifevs. term" make your head spin.

For all those people who don't know the difference between the commoditiesmarket and the supermarket, here is expert and trustworthy advice from afinancial counselor and lecturer who speaks your language. Cutting throughthe jungle of statistical complexity, Personal Finance for Dummiesshows you how to make easy work of your own finances, no matter what yourincome or experience level. Greater return for your money, with less anxiety-- that's a bargain if we ever heard one. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Required Reading
When I bought the first edition of this book, I was a poor post-graduate loaded with bad debt. At the time, I knew nothing about CD's, funds, stocks, bonds, insurance, 401(k)'s, home-buying, budgeting, saving, debt-reduction, taxes, or any other basic issues of personal finance. All I knew is that I never could seem to "get ahead" financially. Tyson's book led me from this sorry state through four years of self-education and growing self-confidence about controlling my own financial future. Even now, debt-free and market-positioned, I still reference this book when I encounter a new facet of my financial life.

No "get-rich-quick" scheme, Tyson lays out a solid framework for anyone interested in getting and maintaining control of their own financial situation throughout a lifetime. The ideas he lays out help a person not only educate him/herself concerning money, but also instill confidence that a financial situation can be corrected or controlled personally.

Although this book would serve as a valuable reference to ANYONE interested in their own financial future, it would especially be useful to a young person just "starting out" or to any person who feels overwhelmed by their own financial situation.

Great start to personal finance
When I entered the real world fresh out of graduate school, my financial situation was not too healthy, which most new graduates can empathize with. After overcoming the horror of my overwhelming debt, I started reading books on personal finance (a great hobby that is not expensive if you use libraries and friends). Personal Finance for Dummies was a very refreshing, practical book on personal finances. Unlike most books, it gave a lot of necessary PRACTICAL DETAILS in an EASY TO READ fashion. And it was not full of bogus get-rich-quick schemes or attempts to sell a plethora of expensive get-rich-quick products that you "need." If you want down to earth advice, read this book.

The money it took to buy this book and the time it took to read this book were the two best investments I ever made! Two years later, I have investments, and I am almost debt-free. It took a lot of work and a lot more discipline. But without this book, I probably would not have come as far as fast.

Good luck! Jason

If you make money, you need this book
They don't teach personal finance in schools. In this book, author Tyson teaches what every high school in the nation should teach anyone who plans to earn money.

This book provides excellent advice on how to save your money and how to set your savings and spending priorities. In particular, Tyson takes into account the tax advantages and disadvantages of various approaches, and he gives an easy to implement way to maximize the tax benefits that the government provides to encourage wise financial decisions.

It is true that the author likes Vanguard's mutual funds and his book clearly recommends them (along with some others). He's in good company: Consumer Reports also recommends some of Vanguard's mutual funds, and Vanguard consistently has the lowest costs in the mutual fund industry.

Finally, a word of advice: Avoid, avoid, avoid any book that recommends dubious tax evasion schemes like starting your own fictitious business for the purpose of taking tax deductions on personal expenses. Instead, buy this book and follow Tyson's recommendations on taking advantage of legitimate tax benefits associated with wise saving and spending.

The most informatvie book on the subject I have ever read!
I work as a financial professional, counseling individuals regarding the options in their employer-sponsored retirement plans. Although the counsel I can give is limited to their retirement plan, several have asked me for advice in other areas of their financial lives. I do not hesitate to recommend this book. Whether you are starting from square one in getting your financial house in order, or your checkbook is balanced to the penny every week, there is information in this book that will benefit you. The "For Dummies" format is perfect for this subject, and Eric Tyson does an excellent job of breaking into layman's terms the most complex of finance and investing concepts. Also, an excellent section on selecting a financial planner is provided. I have often seen the devastating effects that the wrong financial advice has wrought in people's lives. The list of criteria to apply when seeking a financial advisor is one of the most valuable tools I have seen on the subject. This book is one of the most valuable resources I have ever seen in helping the average person get control of their financial lives. Applying its principles will pay immediate as well as long-lasting rewards.

this book has changed my life!
I recommend this book very highly to just about everyone. This is a down to earth guide to getting your personal finances into tip-top shape. No hype here. Just honest to goodness advice that took me from a hand-to-mouth existence and debt up to my eyeballs, to nearly no debt (just mortgage), money in the bank, and investments, plus nearly a paid-off home, all within about 5 years. Anyone willing to hold down a job and follow the common-sense advice in this book, should have no problems achieving similar goals. I should point out that this book is NOT about any "get-rich-quick" schemes, but about down to earth long-term investing, and money/finance management. ... Read more

Book Description

Have your goals and dreams gotten lost in your daily struggle to earn a living and provide for your family?

In Discover the Wealth Within You, Ric Edelman shows you how to choose fun, enriching and rewarding financial goals and gives you a simple straightforward plan for achieving them. As he reveals in this audio, all you need to become wealthy is to decide what you want to do with your money. With enticing, personal goats in place, you'll motivate, excite and sustain yourself in your quest for wealth.

Once you set your goals properly, you'll embark with Ric on a detailed exploration of personal investing. Ric reveals his formula for creating a plan to achieve your goals, build your financial future and finance your dreams -all through his unique, time-tested investing strategies.

By following Ric's plans and guidelines, you can achieve a healthy, balanced and richly rewarding life. Anyone can do it, he stresses, with the tools and techniques he provides. So, join Ric and discover the wealth within you.

Reviews (18)

Awesome and Inspiring
What a pleasure it is to read someone like Edelman who is not only uniquely qualified to write on the subject of money but also writes in such a breezely easy to read style.

I just picked up this book after reading "What You Need to Do Now" and "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth" by Edelman. The previous books helped me more than anything to overcome the bad advice I got from reading other financial books.

Besides Ric's books, I also recommend "The Road to Wealth" and "The Laws of Money" by Suze Orman. I believe that Ric and Suze are the two best financial authors out there right now. Both are CFP's and Ric's firm is ranked among the top 5 firms in the country by Bloomberg. Obviously Edelman would not have this many clients if he didn't know what he was doing now would he?

Clear, understandable and comphrehensive
Most financial books are boring at best and many times written by unqualified people. This new book by Ric Edelmen is like a fireside chat with a warm and funny advisor. Edelmen's writing style is clear and understandable and the material is comphrehensive and fresh.

In Discover The Wealth Within You, Ric Edelmen willt ake you on a journey to self discovery. Edelmen shows you how to choose fun, enriching and rewarding goals and gives you a simple straightforward plan to achieve them.

You'll discover that creating wealth isn't all that difficult, once you set the right goals. According to Ric Edelmen, all you need to do is decide what you want to do with your money. With enticing personal goals in place, you'll motivate, excite and suatain yourself in your quest for wealth.

After using Ric's worksheets to help you set goals properly, you'll embark on a detailed exploration of personal investing. You'll discover Ric's formula for creating a plan to achieve your goals, build your financial future and finance your dreams--all through his unique, time tested investing strategies.

By following Ric's plans and guidelines, you can achieve a healthy, balanced and richly rewarding life. Anyone can do it, says Ric, with the tools and techniques he provides.

Informative and entertaining, Discover The Wealth Within You is a must read in everyone's personal financial planning and investment libraries.

An easy (and funny?) book on personal finance
This is a book for personal finance. But it only concentrate on 2 main topics - setting up goals and picking up mutual funds. On goal setting, it is one of a few books that give such an emphasis (and proportion) on this topic. It is important, critical, but somewhat over-long. (Imagine listing several pages of places/events that help you to pick up for your goal?) The good side is that the importance of goal setting is applicable is many other areas - not just personal finance. The second half of the book is about mutual funds, and there are some very interesting 'facts' - e.g. Morning Star ratings, index fund, tax benefit, etc. Since the author is quite humorous, it is a very easy read for the 300+ pages. One thing I only like is that some of the footnotes are totally pointless - they are there just for the sake of being funny?? Maybe Ric can consider 2 labelling of footnotes - one is useful and the other is only joke.

Truth, honesty and Integrity
These are the three values that come to mind when I think of Ric Edelman. There are many financial books out there and advisors eager to take your money, but how many can you trust?

Edelman was named the #1 financial advisor by Research magazine for his focus on the individual client. He has earned three Awards of Excellence by Royal Alliance Associates, was named Ace Advisor of the Year by Ticker Magazine, named Financial Planner of the Year three times by World Invest Magazine and named one of the D.C. areas top financial professionals by Washingtonian magazine.

His firm Edelman Financial Services Inc., has won more than 50 professional, business, community service and philantropic awards, was named three times by Inc. magazine as the largest growing privately owned financial company in the nation. awards and has been ranked twice by Bloomberg Wealth Manager as one of the largest independent financial planning and investment management firms in the nation (his firm ranks 6th 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 people across the country.

His classic book The Truth About Money was named book of the year by Small Press magazine and his five books have collectively sold over a million copies.

Ric has also earned several financial designations, CFS, RFC, CMFC, CRC, and QFC.

Finally the man has three important qualifications: Truth, Honesty and Integrity.

Ric Edelman is not a "me-too" financial author. He stands alone. In the opinion of many, he is the best.

Go for your dreams!
I like Ric Edelman. Not only because he is an acknowledged expert in the field of personal finance but also because he is a excellent writer who mixes humor with facts.Discover The Wealth Within You is not some boring 1,000 page book that is both out of date and boring, but a refreshing look at personal finance that will take you to where you want to g financially.The charts and graphs illustrate Edelmans ideas while the cartoons will break up the reading. This is one of the fewbooks that I read non stop. The book is interesting, informative and funny----most importantly, this book delivers on it's promises. Something that I cannot say about other personal finance books.Discover The Wealth Within You is excellent and I highly recommend it.GO FOR THOSE DREAMS! ... Read more

Book Description

As a mentor to her peer group and speaking from her own

experience, author Vanessa Summers is well equipped to

help young women develop a sense of confidence and

competence about their money matters. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Terrific intro to personal finance for young women
For any woman who finds the idea of taking charge of her financial future daunting or dull, Get in the Game is the perfect antidote. In plain English and with entertaining analogies, the book breaks down the basic financial concepts that any woman who is not INDEPENDENTLY wealthy needs to know. A great primer for women on personal finance and investing!

Very informative!
Vanessa Summer's background and talents come through in this book to make it both informative and easy to read. Her tips on managing your money and investing offer clear and precise suggestions that I believe are the keys to financial health. A recommended read for those women just begining to manage their own money and explore investment opportunities!

Great for any woman!!
Summers is great at introducing her topics in a manner that is not overwhelming. Plus she gives great tips and facts to back up why you should take care of your finances. An excellent read for a recent college grad or your mother.

Not for the serious investor
The book was short, light and easy to read. It was also a very superficial treatment of the topic, more of a cheerleading tome than anything else. If you want hard numbers/facts, look elsewhere.

Girlfriends' Guide to Money
Nice book with lots of helpful information (e.g., charts, tables, lists, etc). The target audience seems to be women in their 20's and as I'm in my 30's I still found it helpful. It's a good beginner book.

Aside from financial stuff, it's motivating and somewhat inspirational -- but not obnoxiously so.

A great gift for a any youngish woman (or guy) who has just graduated, gotten a first professional job, or needs a little push to get financially organized. ... Read more

Book Description

According to motivational expert Dr. Robert Anthony, permanent happiness and financial freedom can be yours, but only if you are satisfied with all aspects of your life -- particularly your work, since that's where so much of your time is spent. Now you can achieve such satisfaction by learning how to take charge of your own destiny. This step-by-step guide shows you how to: develop a positive faith in yourself and your abilities; replace risk-fear-failure with challenge-confidence-success; work hard without being a "workaholic" motivated by fear; and eliminate "should/ought" from your vocabulary. Learn to enjoy your job more by: realistically setting objectives; becoming more flexible; and working for your own -- no one else's -- approval.

The key to Doing What You Love, Loving What You Do is in becoming a positive, focused, self-confident and goal-oriented person. It can make the difference between dreaming your life and living your dream. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This type has changed my life.
I have listened to this tape about 60 times. Each time I listen I hear something new and enlightening. Get it, and leave it in your tape machine.

UGH
Dr. Anthony clearly means well, but this volume was a waste of time for me. It is a loosely organized collection of pithy and obvious observations, anecdotes and truisms. There isn't an original idea or suggested approach in here--in spite of the great title.

this book changed my life
this book gave me a new way to look at life ,I feel I have more self-confidence, and my goals are clearer to me now. ... Read more

Book Description

Trading for a Living Successful trading is based on three M’s: Mind, Method, and Money. Trading for a Living helps you master all of those three areas:

• How to become a cool, calm, and collected trader
• How to profit from reading the behavior of the market crowd
• How to use a computer to find good trades
• How to develop a powerful trading system
• How to find the trades with the best odds of success
• How to find entry and exit points, set stops, and take profits

1. there are more buyers than sellers
2. buyers are more aggressive than sellers
3. sellers are afraid and demand a premium
4. more shares or contracts are bought than sold

1. I and II
2. II and III
3. II and IV
4. III and IV

Reviews (141)

Really good and useful!!!!
This book contains nearly all the necessary materials for a beginning trader to start trading. I think the only area which is missing is fundamental analysis. O'Neil's book has better covering of FA but the part about TA is very weak and hard to understand.

I feel the TA part is more concise than the John Murphy's book. The later has more than 500 pages but without covering too much about trading psychology. I learned quite a lot about psychology from this book which I am using everyday in my trading. Some of them are also useful for my daily life.

Another strong area of this book is it combines the TA indicators to form a trading system. I got the idea to develop my own trading system from it. Although my system is very different from Elder's one, his idea is valid.

Among the hundred trading books that I have read, this is still one of my best favorite and I am still reading it from time to time. The price is slightly high, but I recovered the money from my first trade. Really good!!

'THE' Best Book on Trading
2 Years ago I became a full-time trader after taking several courses and reading more than 40 books on trading. Dr. Elder's book is the ONLY one that has made me money, a lot of money (603% last year).

The first half of the book deals with the psychology of both the market and the trader. I didn't fully appreciate this portion of Dr. Elder's book until I began trading. This is the biggest obsticle of the trader. His insight has really helped me to understand the movements of the market and myself as a trader.

The second half of 'Trading for a Living' deals with technical analysis and money management. This has proved invaluable to me. There is so much accurate information I've read the book eight times, that's how jam packed it is with useable information. Also, every word matters--no fluff at all--unlike most of the books on trading I've read. And, don't overlook his money management chapter. This is where amatuers fail. His simple money management system will help to elivate you to a professional trader. If you want to make money, this is the book.

technically worthless
I am a professional trader. This book has a good section on psychology but thats it. Totally worthless when it comes to the technical part. In fact I always wondered what made this book so popular with the public. I guess most people read the books but don't use the knowledge in them.

This Guy is a Psychiatrist
Alexander Elder is first and foremost a psychiatrist, and it shows when he explains his insights into individual and mass psychology in the first two chapters of the book.

These two chapters are the real gold in the book; i have not read a more succinct and hard-hitting explanation of the behavior of individuals and crowds, and these two chapters are the ones you want to read.

The rest of the book is devoted to the basics of technical analysis. There is a lot of stuff out there on technical analysis so the stuff in Elder's book is likely to be somewhat outdated.

Nevertheless, read this book for the part on the psychology. This is fundamental and basic for any investor or trader, and is crucial to your success in the markets.

Timeless gem
Aside from psychology and money management, this book is an essential reference about formulas (MACD, WILLIAMS %R, ADX and at least a dozen more). It shows whether such oscillators are trend-indicating or trend-following, whether one should use it within trading ranges or when trading a trend. Most (if not all) of these indicators contain its origins and market psychology, the formula and worksheet / chart examples and how to use it in bullish / bearish markets.

This book is ten years old. But it still proves correct in areas that couldn't be forseen back then. Although obtaining and processing all the financial data with appropriate hard- and software was a challenge back in 1993, the book does not spend too much time on such (volatile) details.

This is why I consider this book a timeless gem and a true value for any interested trader - giving it a full five star. ... Read more

Book Description

" . . . quite simply the best financial self-help book." ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Excellent, easy to read introduction for managing finances.
Chilton's book is a must read for anyone over the age of 10.

Written as a novel, Roy the Barber takes clients through easy steps to create wealth. He discusses everything from the new Roth IRAs to home buying, mutual funds, compounding intereset, investment strategies and how to save money necessary for achieving financial wealth. His advice is practical, sound, and realistic.

Unlike most financial books, The Wealthy Barber is free from technical jargon, and encourages readers to take action now to be smarter about money issues.

Even seasoned financial wizards benefit by discovering better ways to explain finances to others.

Read it, and pass it on to your spouse, family, children and friends.

Get Rich Slowly, Steady, and with Sure Success
There are a lot of books on how to manage your money. Most are too thick, few leave a lasting impression and almost none of them are fun to read. One of the first exception is "The Wealthy Barber" by David Chilton. It is really fun. You read this book like a novel with a trouble putting it down. But by combining the common sense and humor this "novel" in its dialog style shows that sound financial planning is pretty simple stuff. And it actually makes personal money management understandable and attainable.

I believe, plenty of years from now "The Wealthy Barber" could be remembered by readers. And they could remember Mr. David Chilton not as best-selling author, but as the guy who inspired hundreds of thousands of people to save their way to prosperity. In fact, for many readers, "The Wealthy Barber" is possibly the only book they need. If ever a financial planning was written for those without any financial backgrounds, this is it - "The Wealthy Barber".

Well-balanced advice
If you cannot decide whether you should own or rent a place to live in, the barber discusses this issue very thoughtfully, and this discussion will help you make the better decision.

The barber does believe that it is possible to make money in stocks. If you have discipline and courage, he thinks you can actually buy low and sell high. The barber tells you to buy undervalued stocks and then sell them later for a higher price when the real value of the stock is recognized by the market. The author does warn you that you do have to be able to tell the difference between an undervalued stock and one that is unhealthy. This is tough to do. So it is not the barber's fault if you lose money because he leaves it there for you to figure out.

What about buying low and selling high in real estate? On page 178 Mr. Chilton writes that sometimes it is possible to "buy it [real estate] at any price, sell higher." But in other parts of the book he writes that real estate prices won't always keep going up.

The 10% solution is not enough, it won't get the job done for many readers. There are signs that inflation, after a long absence, is on the way back. It should be a 15% solution.

I deduct one star because the book does not have an index. I think an index is very useful, and adds value to a book. However, on page 44, after discussing all the pros and cons of owning versus renting, the author says that buying the condo was a good idea. I became so happy that the barber put the new condo owner on the right track, I gave him back the star.

All I have to say is get on with it!
I almost didn't make it through the first part of the book.
The first two chapters are a waste of time unless you are a Detroit sports fan. (And I live in Detroit)
The next two chapters talk about wills and life insurance and have some useful information if you don't know anything about either of these two areas.
Start on Chapter 6 for retirement
If you are already a home owner, invest in a 401k or some other type of IRA, and have some idea of what you do with your disposable income then skip this book.

IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT, I must say this book has much more "real" concrete financial advice than a book like Rich Dad Poor Dad. If you had to pick between the two, select this one

The Wordy Barber
There are true gems in this book and even though they are buried in a lot of irrelevant drivel, they are there! Do not let the silly modern 'reader friendly' fad of making any topic "easier", ' idiot proof' and 'for dummies' by the use of a conversation that is utterly off putting and idiotic, stop you from gathering the gems of knowledge in this book. Rise beyond that and get the BENEFITS!

Unlike some recent popular drivel that masquerades as ' a road to financial freedom' etc, after you have read this book you have a detailed blue print that you can follow immediately and get yourself on tract to a secure financial future.

As I said.. wordy, so 4 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

Would you like to know the secrets to making all the money you’ll ever want?

Now, two mega-bestselling authors with decades of experience in teaching people how to achieve extraordinary wealth and success share their secrets. Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator of the phenomenal Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and Robert G. Allen, one of the world’s foremost financial experts, have helped thousands of people become millionaires. Now it’s your turn.

Is it possible to make a million dollars in only one minute? The answer just might surprise you. The One Minute Millionaire is an entirely new approach, a life-changing “millionaire system” that will teach you how to:

* Create wealth even when you have nothing to start with.
* Overcome fears so you can take reasonable risks.
* Use the power of leverage to build wealth rapidly.
* Use “one minute” habits to build wealth over the long term.

The One Minute Millionaire is a revolutionary approach to building wealth and a powerful program for self-discovery as well. Here are two books in one, fiction and nonfiction, designed to address two kinds of learning so that you can fully integrate these life-changing lessons. On the right-hand pages, you will find the fictional story of a woman who has to make a million dollars in ninety days or lose her two children forever. The left-hand pages give the practical, step-by-step nonfiction strategies and techniques that actually work in the real world. You’ll find more than one hundred nuts-and-bolts “Millionaire Minutes,” each one a concise and invaluable lesson with specific techniques for creating wealth.

However, the lessons here are not just about becoming a millionaire—they are about becoming an enlightened millionaire and how to ethically make, keep, and share your wealth. Whether your goal is less than a million dollars or that amount many times over, there’s never been a better time to achieve abundance. Let The One Minute Millionaire show you the way.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (136)

Amazon you need to give more stars. On a scale from 1-5,
This book is at least a 10.

Seriously, I have long been a fan of both Mr. Allen and Mr. Hansen. This book is great. It combines both fiction with non fiction and as a result you have a mega best seller and super book that can create powerful results for people who actually read and use the concepts in the book.

The fictional story is inspiring and really not that far off what others have done. It reminds me of Allens excellent book "The Challenge", how Allen took three people straight out of the unemployment lines. People who were broke and frustrated and showed them how to earn $5,000 in real estate in three months.

So the fictional part is no really so fictional at all. The non fictional part is the best of Allen and Hansen and delivered in a new and exciting way. You'll learn how to use the internet, real estate and n etwork marketing.

Overall, a great book. Inspiritional, motivational and educational. Certaintly better than reading JBQ's antiquated and boring nonsense.

Good book. Highly recommended.

Powerful and inspiring
Robert Allen and Mark Victor Hansen have scored another winner with The 1 Minute Millionaire. I have many tapes from Hansen that were promoted by SMI many years ago. And I have read some of Robert Allens books, most notably Multiple Streams of Income, Nothing Down and Creating Wealth.

I'm in network marketing and am h appy to see prominent people like Robert Allen, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Kiyosaki, Brian Tracy and others promoting this concept of wealth creation.

As everybody knows by now, The 1 Minute Millionaire is both fictional and non fictional. The fictional part is a story about a mother who must create income quickly. The non fiction part showcases Hansen's and Allen's most famous strategies. As a result this book is both inspiring and educational.

I recommend The 1 Minute Millionaire for anyone. It can change your life.

Six degrees of separation
This book is better than the Wealthy Barber or any of the Kiyosaki books that are written in this type of "make believe" style.

However I was left with two questions: Where do you get a mentor like the one in the book for free? Not to mention, friends like that? Friends that will work for free and support you unconditionally

2.5 - 3 stars - It has some good points

Unique and Powerful Book!
This book was required reading in my Network Marketing organization, and I had the great pleasure of reading and leading a book discussion on this wonderful book.

Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen have written a synergistic, life-changing book. It's a quick read--most of the sections on the left-hand side of the page are 4 pages long or less--and the lessons are powerful. The right side of the pages (the story side) are compelling. And it's ingenious that they thought to write the book to take advantage of the cumulative effect of symbolism and emotion along with practical information.

If you're more logical and left-brained: The "right side brain" pages are a short story about a young woman, newly widowed, challenging her rich and (rather stereotypically heartless) in-laws for the right to raise her children. Some of the characters' actions will seem illogical and unrealistic. However, if you buy this book I would strongly ask you to suspend the "left brain" belief for a moment to let the core of the lesson come through for you. In the end the short story will further illuminate the lessons on the "Left Hand" pages and will bring them into sharper focus, because you would have put those lessons into practice by visualizing and feeling along with the character.

For the predominantly right-brained (like me): this isn't a heavy book. The sections are short, and the 24 AHA's are especially illuminating and helpful. The rest of the book has great suggestions for creating sources of income (of which Robert Allen is especially famous for), and for integrating those changes within yourself to better yourself and others around you (as Mark Victor Hansen is fond of teaching). After reading the short story, the "left hand" pages will bring everything you learned by "feeling" through the story into even greater focus.

All in all, this is a great book to add to your library. If you've read any of the RichDad series and Robert Allen's Multiple Streams of Income, you'll definitely want this in your arsenal.

Definitely a winner!
What appealed to me about this great book by Allen and Hansen is that it offers both fiction and non fiction, it is entertaining and enlightening and the timing couldn't be better.

People who think this is "hokey" or "feel good" just don't get it. Perhaps too much left brain training and I am curious as to how they are doing financially.

The 1 Minute Millionaire is a great book. It will inspire and educate you. This is must read, especially after listening to the democrats. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Millionaire Next Door, Tom Stanely identified the millionaires around you. In the Millionaire Mind, he told you how they think. Now, he tells you how to get their business.

NETWORKING WITH MILLIONAIRES

The affluent market segment is growing seven times faster than the household population in this country. Dollar for dollar the most productive way to penitrate the affluent market is to network with its members, their advisors, and the key members of their important affinity groups

DR. STANLEY IMPARTS HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE BY EXAMPLE:

• Learn how to attract hundreds of affluent business owners as clients and never make a sales call
  
• Learn how top producing marketers generate business by employing eight key networking themes.
  
• Learn how to personaly access the top business owners in your community.
  

Networking is the essence of high performance marketing. It is professional selling at its highest form. Networking is about influencing the influential. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

8 STRATEGIES TO SUCCESS via networking
I have read all of Dr. Stanleys books and/or listended to his work on audio, as I did with this one.Networking with millionaires is as the title indicates a book to show you how to penetrate into the market of the affluent and offer them your services. It is not intended to be a continuation of Stanleys poplular The Millionaire Next Door or The Millionaire Mind.Since I am in financial services and also network marketing, I found this book invaluable to attract clients in both businesses.I first became acquanted with Dr. Stanley's work many years ago when I joined toastmasters and started to rub shoulders with the affluent. Somebody suggested Networking With The Affluent and that book helped me immeasureably. I have since added other books/audio programs by Dr. Stanley.Highly recommend Networking with Millionaires.Good program. Highly recommended.

Big fan of Tom Stanley but this book was big disappointment
I am a huge fan of Tom Stanley's. The Millionaire Next Door had a profound impact on my consumer behavior and personal finances and my life in general. I have read the Millionaire Mind as well, and its a good book.

The information in this book could have been covered in total in the first audio tape (there are 4 tapes in total). I agree with other reviews saying the information in this book is highly repetitive and slanted towards accounting and finance-- almost to the exclusion of other areas of business.

The other problem with this book is that its almost completely anecdotal. Stanley strays from his core strength shown in Millionaire Next Door. Stanley became a bestseller in MND because he was able to synthesize and capture data based on research and present it in a beautifully coherent fashion. On the contrary, this book is full of stories and anecdotes and is all over the place in the presentation of material.

This book is in an interview format, (Tom Stanley being interviewed by a guy with obviously scripted questions) which I didn't like as much.

One major thrust this book holds is that you need to be a complete problem solver for your customers in all aspects of their lives and business enterprise in order to sell your product to them. An example he provides is a CPA who helps a client's kid get into a top college.

The problem with this approach (that Stanley doesn't acknowledge or address) is that you completely rely on the benevolence of decisionmakers at a given business when you solve all of their other life problems and not overtly sell them anything.

What Stanley proposes is not new to Salespeople like myself. Salespeople like myself have always expanded our job descriptions to help our customers solve all sorts of problems. The problem with Stanley's approach is that it's not as workable as he advocates because there are more takers than givers in the business world. By and large, business decisionmakers in real life don't return favors as the book portrays they do to his "Ace of Aces" examples. Especially when decisionmakers yank you around on price and price alone. Stanley does not have an answer for networking to that type of millionaire.

If businesses and business decisionmakers were as benevolent as Stanley suggests they are -- returning favors as they are given out -- personal concierge services would overtake the planet and salespeople would cease to exist.

This book was repetitive in its message.
This book was repetitive in its message that in order to network with millionaires, one has to meet the needs of others first and do so out of a true intent to help. The book gives good examples of how people have done this, but is somewhat biased towards financial professionals and accountants.

Author is good but is resting on laurels with this one
The author is great, this work is not. He simply sat down, had a conversation, and recorded it. Here is all the book says:

Offer your service for free to millionaires in a way that makes you further contacts.

An example is a CPA giving a speech to a trade organization on issues that affect them and perhaps specializing in serving that industry. I didn't need to listen for hours to know this. This should have been a magazine article, not a book.

He also doesn't cover any downside. Most of the stories are simply of people who networked this way and had great success.

I loved The Millionaire Mind and sometimes pass on little tidbits of information gleaned from it. I just told you everything I learned from this book. Every one of dozens of stories was the same lesson with different characters. I listen to a fair amount of audiotapes and this was a rare disappointment.

Do you offer services that require CEO's approval? Read me!
The audience of this book is not the lazy person. This audiobook will make you work very hard for very little, in the beginning. Treat the time spent implementing these 8 techniques as an investment with a compounding return of investment rate of infinity.

Let me tell you something, I've read a few other books on personal network building, and this one is by far the best on the subject. This is absolutely not about the concept of MLM (multi-level marketing), which is a topic I choose to avoid.

If you would like to buy this book and learn to become a millionaire and think like a wealthy person, this is probably not the best one. I recommend Robert Kiyosaki's books for that purpose. He will in turn recommend The Millionaire Next door, which is how I stumbled upon this book. "Networking With Millionaires" is written for consultants and it is all about working with your top clients and building extremely profitable relationships with previously impossible to reach clients. Spend $0 on advertising and achieve infinite returns on your investment.

If you are already a great salesperson, you will still gain a lot of insight to help you breach that elusive barrier of the CXO executive offices.

I have never heard this much useful information on a subject that so little is truly written on in such a short period of time. I knew a lot of the information presented herein already, but there was quite a bit of new knowledge and inspiration that gave me a lot of ideas I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

If you are looking for a gift for someone who is a successful self-employed professional, they will be in debt forever to you if you buy them this CD as a gift.

This audiobook is highly recommended by me as a representative of its intended target audience. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the Author
3 Cassettes, Approx. 5 hours

While The Millionaire Next Door examined the spending/saving habits and lifestyles of today's millionaires, Eight Steps To Seven Figures, written by bestselling author and CFA Charles Carlson, reveals the investment strategies and ideas that everyday investors have used to elevate their net worth to the fabled millionaire threshold.Interviewing "mainstreet" investors, Charles Carlson describes how they have grown their investments, the kind of vehicles and individual stocks and bonds they have invested in- and offers eight step-by-step lessons investors everywhere can use to emulate the success of these everyday investors. He discloses the common investment mistakes the millionaire investors have made and how you can avoid them, and discusses how the millionaire investors got started, how they chose their investments, how much time they spend on their investments, and what they feel are the keys to their investment success.An absolute must-have for today's investors.

... Read more

Reviews (35)

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF INVESTING IDEAS