Book Description

Financial experts agree: Asset allocation is the key strategies for maintaining a consistent yet superior rate of investment return. Now, Roger Gibson's Asset Allocation - the bestselling reference book on this popular subject for a decade has been updated to keep pace with the latest developments and findings. This Third Edition provides step-by-step strategies for implementing asset allocation in a high return/low risk portfolio, educating financial planning clients on the solid logic behind asset allocation, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

What your investment advisor should be doing.
There are many things to like about this book. The emphasis is on providing investment advisors with the information on asset allocation they need to connect successfully with clients. The only real flaw I see in the book is the watering down of material so that clients can understand it. I understand the necessity of doing this but it does leave open the door for dishonesty of the car salesman variety. Every investor even comtemplating using an investment advisor or even a broker should read this book from cover to cover. If he/she hears anything from the selected advisor that deviates much at all from what is here he/she should run not walk out the door. Perhaps the most important contribution of the book is the emphasis on the interaction of portfolio components to produce higher returns than undiversified or underdiversified portfolios. Gibson uses the Commodities Index as one of the portfolio components along with the EAFE, S&P 500, and REITs to show this. This index component is available in practical form as the Oppenheimer Real Assets fund. If you have net investment assets that allow private money management this is not a problem as the money management firm can buy more than 1 million dollars worth and distribute it among the clients. If you do not qualify for a typical money management firm the mutual fund charges a 5.75% load thereby making rebalancing something of a problem. Perhaps infrequent rebalancing would work. Therein lies the problem with the book. Even though Gibson is as honest as the day is long, the information presented is designed to handle the clients expectations and fears. All kinds of techniques and information are presented most of it assuming very little brains from the people who made all that money ( all of whom we would normally be assured are brilliant not just at making money but in all aspects of their lives ). A,B,C,D are all presented but when portfolio design time comes E is recommended and not just due to tailoring to the individuals needs or risk tolerance. Gibson tells the reader that it is necessary to manage the clients expectations and to make the portfolio more like that of the clients friends or more in keeping with clients prior expectations and thereby more acceptable. This may be true. But Berstein does the same thing in The Intelligent Asset Allocator. His reasoning is a little different:many of the models primarily rely on data mining or make certain assumptions and he believes in the use of index funds almost exclusively. So Bersteins portfolios also rely a great deal on judgement. Both believe that tracking error from the S&P 500 may be an issue. When all is said and done this is very much an art form. It is also very much a sales technique albeit an important one. Nevertheless, both this book and The Intelligent Asset Allocator are required reading for any serious investor. Gibson's book also has the best discussion of client risk assessment I have seen.

Good jumping off point.
I found this books very useful. I've been trying to find an intelligent investing style. Read things like "The Intelligent Investor" by Graham and "A Random Walk Down Wall St." by Malkiel and found them dry and somewhat inaccessible. I much prefered Evans and Malkiel's "Earn More (Sleep Better) : The Index Fund Solution" (cheesy title) and Bernstein's "The Intelligent Asset Allocator". Both small and intelligible books. The only problem is they seemed to state the solution to a problem I didn't know. That's where Gibson's "Asset Allocation" I think fits in. It describes what the problem is when trying to invest well. He makes very good arguments on what you can expect and what you'll have to understand. Things that Berstein and Malkiel go into more depth but Gibson gives you the big picture. I started looking for the solution to a problem and found that the last piece I need was to know what the problem was. Gibson's book reads fast and it is interesting. It's well illustrated and is a great jump off point to all sort of other books.

5 Stars
If you read just one book on investing, this is the book.

Gibson explains the principals of modern portfolio theory in a clear logical fashion.

Excellent.

Definitely recommended reading
If I had read this book in the mid-90s as I was groping through the stock market, and feeling thrilled at my success.. I would have probably preserved that thrill a little longer. I could have avoided getting burnt for sure.

A mandatory reading for people who are looking at long-term investing. Chapters 6, 7 & 8 deal with portolio diversification and are relvant and insightful. I found it to be a very useful education and not-too-difficult to follow (but then I have taken finance and accounting classes in school).

The other title along similar lines is "The Intelligent Asset Allocator" and this one has a good correlation tables across all major asset classes on a quarterly and annual basis. very useful and practical piece of information that is missing here.

But there are enough other useful and helpful pieces of information. Overall, definitely a thumbs up.

Buy this if you like making money
I don't think you'll find better advice.

If you would have followed this books "ABCD" allocation, you would have made almost all the gain of the 90's and even been slightly up thru the disaster of the 00's. Better than down 48% for the SP500 eh?

Your broker will hate you if you buy this book, but then maybe that's the best thing that could happen. Stop pretending you can predict the future and start managing your risk. ... Read more

Book Description

With more than a million copies in print, Robert Allen's Nothing Down for the '90s has probably helped more people achieve success in real estate than any book in history. Countless numbers of his readers are now financially independent and many actual millionaires attribute their wealth to his techniques. Why has this blockbuster bestseller been so successful? The answer is simple: it works! Now, in one of the most practical books you'll ever read, Robert Allen has created effective new wealth strategies for investing in real estate.

Real estate remains the one reliable investment in which profits can be made consistently, no matter where you live. Whether employment figures and stock prices are high or low, the real estate market never dries up -- it is one of the most dynamic income-producing vehicles ever created. The demand for housing will continue to be strong in most areas of the country for the foreseeable future. There will, of course, always be plenty of foreclosures, which are great opportunities to purchase properties cheaply. And, finally, mortgage qualification today is simpler than ever, with new mortgage packages that did not even exist twenty years ago.

Nothing Down for the 2000s shows you how to locate the best buys, deal with real estate agents, and manage properties, all with little -- or no -- money down. Discover step-by-step techniques and dynamic strategies to:

• Use real estate to build monthly income

• Finance bargain properties for equity or cash flow

• Guarantee and secure your retirement

• Find and profit from foreclosures before they are publicly listed

• Sell and trade for maximum gain

• Increase property value

• Use owner financing to create opportunities

• Obtain direct, legal tax cuts

• Profit from conversions

• Develop effective negotiation techniques, and much more

Excellent for beginners or experienced investors, Nothing Down for the 2000s is the key to generating low-risk, high-profit wealth and to a potential future of security and financial independence. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether youre a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand youll find profits easy to come by. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Great Book
This was the first book I have purchased on the subject of real estate investing in multi-family properties.I have been and interested in the subject for some time however.

I found the formulas and rules the book includes to be invaluable, and used them to create Excel spreadsheets to quickly analyze the hundreds of multi-family listings available.I found the book to be easy to read and understand.

The basics about multi-family properties
This book is very informative if you are a beginner to the multi family world.For anyone that has already dealt with multi family, then you do not need this book.However, Berges other book, real estate finance is a good review for the seasoned apartment owner.In that book he goes over some key performance and efficiency ratios that everyone should be aware of when dealing with multi family properties.

The book covers the general ideas behind multi family properties but of course it will differ by region slightly.The cap rates that he speaks of are not available in say california but might be available in indiana.Overall a good book for beginners to intermediate but definitely not seasoned investors.

Good beginners read. Beyond NOI and CapRate? Look elsewhere
This book devotes a fair amount of time on valuation from a beginners standpoint. Overall good, easy and quick read. The case studies and examples appear a stretch. The author suggest that the sweet spot is to find a property with 20% vacancy, a few minor cosmetic issues. It then claims that that by leveraging a 80% LTV, the owner, in a short period of time can increase the vale and sell for a healthy premium. Hmmm... I want to see Steve Berges try this in Chicago or New York metro areas.

As a relatively new property investor, I found the book useful and would recommend to others. I purchased and downloaded the software at thevalueplay.com which is adequate to complement the book's instruction bias. However, buyers beware, these are password protected Excel spreadsheets with macros and without the ability to add formulas, change things here and there, they are useless.

5 Stars for Berges' 5 Keys to Success
Out of all of the real estate books I've read over the years, this is by far one of the better ones.The author stays focused on the topic of buying and selling apartments and does it in a way that is easy to understand.Let me emphasize that when I say the book is easy to understand, that is not meant to imply that only the basics are covered.Not only does Berges do a great job of explaining the mechanics of the process, but he also mixes in a lot of personal examples which help the reader to connect the dots between pie-in-the-sky theory and real world applications.

Steve Berges concludes the book with an inspiring and motivational chapter he refers to as the 5 Keys to Success, which he points out are not limited to just real estate, but can be applied to any business or profession, as well as to one's personal life.I thought this section was very well written and gave me cause to reflect on my own course in life.

I've read several of the author's other books as well, all of which were good, but I particularly enjoyed The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties.Wow...what a great read!It's about time somebody wrote a book that really deals with the financial aspects of real estate (see my review).

Unique Insight into Apartment Market
The author, Berges, provides unique insight into investing in apartment buildings.There isn't much written about this topic, and what is, seems to be very generic.This book, however, provided lots of good examples with specific advice on what to do and what not to do.In addition, Berges sprinkles various tidbits of information throughout the book that while not directly related to real estate, are nevertheless quite relevant to being successful in it.I just finished another book of his, The Complete Guide to Investing in Rental Properties, which I also found to be very enjoyable. ... Read more

Book Description

Kapoor/Dlabay/Hughes' Personal Finance is the #1 market-leading Personal Finance text.It provides comprehensive coverage of personal financial planning in the areas of money management, career planning, taxes, consumer credit, housing and other consumer decisions, legal protection, insurance, investments, retirement planning, and estate planning.The goal of this text is to teach students the fundamentals of financial planning so they can make informed choices related to spending, saving, borrowing, and investing that lead to long-term financial security.Personal Finance, 7/e provides many financial planning tools using a step-by-step approach to help students identify and evaluate choices as well as understand the consequences of decisions in terms of opportunity costs. ... Read more

Book Description

The Great Bust Ahead is a concise, straight to the point book laying out in stark terms the case for a coming depression of historically unprecedented magnitude. It will be much worse than the 1930s, beginning perhaps as early as 2009-2010, and last up to thirteen years. Centered on hard fact demographics, the book boldly claims that the data presented are so irrefutable, that the outcome predicted by the book is equally as irrefutable. The compelling proof presented accurately accounts for the detailed trend of the economy from 1920 to today (something never before accomplished), and projects out to 2030 in detail. The book is very easy to read and understand, and requires no prior knowledge of economics. Down to earth things the average person can do to prepare for what is coming are covered. A summary of the catastrophic domestic social and international consequences is offered. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
This book is a fascinating read and I recommend it. But I can't help but think the author is acting like Chicken Little. First off, the author does NOT have an Economics background. Having said this, many prominent economists would agree with his conclusion that a great economic downturn will occur around 2011 after a great boom. The crux of the author's argument is that the consumer spending of 45-54 year olds drive the economy. In fact, there is a strong correleation between the the number of 45-54 yr olds in the demographics and the Dow Jones. By 2011, as the number of 45-54 yr olds decline, so will the Dow Jones. The author fails, however, to point out the correlation between the Dow Jones and economic indicators such as unemployment, productivity, and GDP. This is a huge missing link to his argument. There are other factors which the author does not address, such as technological growth that is driving up the productivity. The fact that the Great Depression was caused by, not only the demographics, but wildly unregulated financial system is totally ommitted.

Best book on this subject I have ever read
After the many books of the last decade or so that incorrectly predicted depressions based on convoluted wave theories and other hard to swallow ideas, it was a breath of fresh air, albeit shocking, to read this book. It offers seemingly irrefutable arguments for a coming depression of massive proportions, based on very logical demographic principles. The real convincer for me was that it provided real proof for this prediction by showing how the same simple concepts have accounted for the detailed trend of the economy since 1920. A quite remarkable feat. Even the author seems at times to be quite shocked by the accuracy of his results. With concepts that almost effortlessly explained the trend of the economy for the best part of the last 100 years, I found it very easy to believe what the book predicts for our future. Anyone who wants to at least have a fighting financial chance in what is coming our way a few years from now ought to read this book, especially baby boomers.

We Ignore Arnold At Our Peril
I read The Great Bust Ahead after reading the five page lead article based on the book in the February 2004 issue of the Professional Investor in the UK, a journal that does not publish articles lightly. (A link to the article is available on the book's website - address is the same as the book's title as one word). Apart from the "disappointed" reviewer who mysteriously wants longer books and more than one theory (sorry Galileo, one theory of the solar system just won't do anymore!), I agree with most of the reviewers - this is a 4 to 5 Star book. The book can be read quickly and easily understood. My first reaction was "surely it can't be this simple". However, the more I examined Arnold's reasons for the premise that the economies in western democracies are driven by demographics and, within that, the booms and busts by a specific simple sub-demographic, the more it became clear that the premise was not only correct it was common sense. The graphical data showing how the US economy has followed this premise not just approximately but precisely for the last 80 years or so, was not just mind-blowing but a revelation. After struggling (unsuccessfully) to understand "wave theories" like Elliot and Kondratiev, which I can now see are pure nonsense explaining nothing historically, Arnold's book is like having a curtain pulled back on a whole new vista. His confident prediction that the economy would pick up again by 2003/4 appears to be right on the button. I now totally believe his forecast that the economy will grow modestly and steadily though 2010 followed by the greatest bust and depression in history. I am able to believe it not just blindly, but because Arnold's logic and facts seem virtually unassailable. As one other reviewer put it - "This is an extremely important piece of work". I am now hard at work planning how to survive what is coming and, for the first time, I have a clear understanding of why I am doing what I am doing financially long-term. We ignore Arnold at our peril.

Disappointing [short book]
The author basically has only one theory to discuss in this [short book], and once presented in the most simplistic of terms, he does not feel the need to discuss it further. His theory is that the DJIA can be predicted based on the numbers of 45-54 year olds - "big spenders" as he calls them. When the numbers of this age group goes down, so will the economy. The rest of the book describes in overly dramatic terms (complete with excessive exclamation points and bold print) just how bad the depression will be when the numbers of this age group declines. The author predicts the worst depression in history will occur sometime after 2010 (when the numbers of "big spenders" will decrease significantly.) Then he throws in a paragraph or two about what to do before the depression (invest in stocks) and just prior to the depression (sell your house by 2010 and invest in Treasury bonds.) That's it.

Batten down the hatches! Heavy Waves Ahead!
Are we heading into the biggest depression of all time? Is it preventable? Who will be affected the most?GUESS! Mr. Arnold addresses these and many more questions in this book. His analysis is so simple enough that anyone can understand why there is cause for concern. With the amount of debt being financed by the US and taken on by other countries, we are definitely waiting for the great vacuum to suck in every investor. From Social Security deficit to the GOld Standard, Arnold hands out reason enough for every American to reconsider their investment strategy and think long term, very long term!
This is required reading for every American.

Mason Johnson
President, www.TomorrowsGold.com
Your Online Source for Gold News, Knowledge, and Resource Links ... Read more

Book Description

A step-by-step action plan to quick and lasting recovery after personal bankruptcy.Indexed. ... Read more

Reviews (156)

The Book Works! The FREE Seminar Works, Too!
I attended Stephen Snyder's seminar a year ago in NY. I purchased the book and have used the non-profit organization's services to delete eight items from my credit report. Last month I applied for and was approved a $13,000-limit credit card with 25-day grace period and 9.99% ongoing APR. My FICO scores are up and I can obtain a no-docs mortgage with 10% down whenever I'd like. The book has many important ideas for bankrupt people and I also suggest going to the free seminar. I attended my second one in NJ this month (one year after my first one). I was remotivated and seriously look to continue my financial future. I can't wait for "Business After Bankruptcy" and the new bankruptcy magazine this winter.

UPDATE (10/25/2002):
With the help of Stephen Snyder and his legal services I was able to remove my bankruptcy from Experian. A typical bankruptcy remains on an Experian credit report from 7 - 10 years. I've only had my bankruptcy for 5 years. Pretty impressive!

Amazing advice!
Wonderful! The advice he has given has truly helped me to begin my financial life all over again. The book includes the names of well-respected companies that are willing to work with bankrupt consumers. The helpful hints on how to talk to future lenders and what to bring with you has also made a big difference. I was amazed on how much more information you can get from lenders if you just ask the questions the way he recommends! The author has also gone through a bankruptcy, which gives him much more credibility. I now have a credit card and am about to buy my first house and a new car thanks to the wisdom I received in this book! I also feel secure that I will not end up back in a grim situation as long as I follow his advice.

The book is written in a way that you do not feel ashamed of your bankruptcy. It gives you hope and a solid path for the future instead of reminding you of your failures.

Thanks Mr. Snyder!

Caveat Emptor
There appears to be a dichotomy here between reviewers who have gone to the seminars vs those just relying on the book to fix their credit. What's the point of the seminar if you've already read the book? Or the purpose of buying the book if you've already attended the seminar? The claims coming out of the seminar participants seem wild. Besides, no one should approach bankruptcy without full knowledge of the new laws pending in Congress. As another reviewer pointed out, things have changed in the past 10 years. Having a valid bankruptcy removed prematurely from credit, as another reviewer claimed they did with Steve's help, is extremely illegal if the purpose is to obtain credit fraudulently. I wonder if Steve takes personal checks to repair credit at the seminar -- or whether he requires all cash from the recently bankrupt?

on the road to recovery
I read the review by ebay_princess. Obviously she didn't truly read this wonderful book. Mr. Snyder does not talk down to women. Instead, he encourages husbands to listen to their wives and their "sixth sense." Each chapter is a step to be learned in the recovery process, so no - there is not a graph showing the steps to take. There's way too much information to consider to print it in such a way. There's many ways to establish credit. This book is for people who want to learn the RIGHT way to do it. Mr. Snyder's examples of his previous thinking (that Ford sucks) is written in a humerous way that tells us all to "build a bridge and get over it" if we want to do this the RIGHT way. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to reestablish their credit, whether bankrupt or not.

CRASH COURSE IN RELIGION?
I should have read the reviews a bit better BEFORE ordering this book! Not only is there NO "step-by-step" guide to repairing your credit, but this man is just plain offensive! He makes sexist pig comments such as how he is the "leader" of his house, but he takes his wife's opinion into consideration....well how nice of him!
I hope no Ford Motor Company employees purchase this book, he also comments on how when he found out a Ford was about the only vehicle he could purchase after bankruptcy they were "scared it would fall apart" being a measly American made vehicle and all. How embarrassing to have to call this man a fellow American!
If you want to read about how jesus saves, women are morons, and american made items are junk, buy this book. Otherwise, start saving your money now and and dont waste your time! I'm selling mine right now (I just got it today) and I feel like i'm ripping someone off by even re-selling this crap! ... Read more

Book Description

Highly regarded for comprehensiveness and quality, ULI's handbooks have provided real estate professionals with practical advice and authoritative information on the development process for decades.

The Multifamily Housing Development Handbook covers best practices and proven techniques for a wide range of project types and settings. Each aspect of the development process is explained in detail, from market analysis and financing to product design and operations.

Rich with color photos, examples, and case studies, the book describes the real-life experiences and strategies of seasoned developers, planners, and architects.

Highlights

Covers a wide variety of multifamily housing types and locations including garden, townhouse and high-rise project types, affordable and high-end price ranges, new, rehab, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse properties, urban and suburban locations, niche products such as student, military, and seniors housing

Includes practical, how-to information on the multifamily housing development process such as market analysis, site selection, feasibility, financing, planning, design, regulations, marketing, operations, and management.

Provides 14 illustrated case studies of successful projects that cover the site history and challenges, feasibility and financing, planning and design, marketing/leasing, experience gained, project costs, rental prices, and schedule. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I TOO USED MR. TIRONE'S HP-12C BOOK TO STUDY FOR THE EXAM
I purchased as much material as I could to help me through the appraisal certification exams, especially so to help me through the books I had to buy! It semed that I kept getting deeper and deeper with each book I purchased, the reviewed book included. I then saw one of my classmate's book on the HP12C, written by a Mr. John A. Tirone from Michigan. I purchased this book and used it to supplement the calculations in Mr. Fisher's questions and answers book as well as his Income Property Appraisal book.
The Tirone HP12C book was clear, comprehensive, and as said by others who have commented on Mr. Tirone's books, I was able to call him with questions on how to solve various income capitalization problems and also on how to fine tune my understanding of the Hewlett packard HP12C financial calculator. To my thinking, every appraisal text I have seen is deficient in assisting us students with the calculations on the HP finance calculators. Mr. Tirone's book and his giving no-charge approach to supporting his books and the topic are essentially lifesavers for most of us.

I used Mr. John A. Tirone's HP-12C Book to get me through th
I used Professional real Estate Propblem Solving using the HP 12C to get me through this confusing book as well as help me get through "G1" and "G2" appraisal's computations materials. What stumped me was the lack of clarity in the Fihser Tosh book as far as computations. for coverage of the HP12C it was a lifesaver to have Mr. Tirone's HP-12C real estate book. Mr. Tirone was helpful as several in our class called him for help while trying to absorb the confusing aspects of the Fisher/Tosh book. Mr. Tirone should write a book like Questions and Answers... or team up with the likes of the authors of the reviewed book.
One example in the Tosh book shows a calculation using a terminal value-sales price of $10,000 when it should be $100,000. This gave us fits and I could not figure the problem out until I called Mr. Tirone and he showed us how to do the problem.

Didn't feel like it helped much but I did pass
I was nervous before this test and I went through and answered every question in the book. The actual test seemed to ask significantly different questions. The result, however, was I passed with over 90 percent. Can you argue with that? It must have helped.

Don't waste your money if you already have the yellow book
If you already have the yellow book "Questions and Answers to help you past the Real Estate Appraisal Exams", don't waste your money purchasing the new book that was put out in 2000. It's the same book - just copy written in October of 2000. I made the mistake of thinking that there would be new questions since 1994, or the questions would at least be asked in a different format, but they are not. Word for word they are the same. So save your money if you already have the yellow book and just study it a little bit harder!

A necessity if you're about to take "the exam".
I just took the certified residential appraisers exam and passed on the first attempt. I do have several years experience, but feel that this study manual gave me the added depth and confidence to pass the exam. (95% correct) Thank You, LWK - Brenham, Texas ... Read more

Book Description

Lavishly illustrated, this book features 26 innovative planned communities. Following an introduction by Alexander Garvin that describes how planned communities have evolved, you get an inside look at the concept, the plan elements, the design, and how the master plan reflects the vision for traditional and new urbanist communities, both established and just off the drawing board.

More than 200 extra-large, high-quality photographs and illustrations.
Showcases outstanding housing types, architectural themes, site plans, and other components.
Includes project data on residential, commercial, and open-space uses. ... Read more

Book Description

Get out of debt and stay out with the help of Dave Ramsey, recently seen by millions of Today Show viewers. His practical regimen, first set forth by The Financial Peace Planner, which will be published by Penguin in January 1998. Loaded with inspirational insights that come from personal experience, this set of books is the most valuable purchase a debt-ridden reader can make. ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Good, sound advice for the average American family.
I heard about this book from a friend a couple of years ago but just got around to reading it. I truly wish I had read it back then - I'd probably be debt free by now. Debt free in America? What a concept! Ramsey makes the reader realize that we live in a "gotta have now" world and that by using credit to get it, we end up spending way too much money for even simple things like food (i.e. eating out compliments of a gold card at 21% interest) and everything we think we own is really owned by a bank or finance company. Scary ideas at first, but very comforting once you buy into the concept of debt-free through discipline.

UN-common sense
Say what you want, this book is a life changer. My wife and I have had the same exact income (thanks to a raise freeze at my work) for nearly 2 years straight. Year one was a break even year, and then we read Financial Peace. Year two still has two months left, and yet we've already paid down more than $5,000 worth of debt by following these stupidly easy steps he outlines. Common sense is ignored too much because "It can't be that easy". It wasn't easy at first, but each new 'paid in full' statement made us that much more fanatical.

Read this, follow the steps, and watch your life change. We'll be debt free except the house after 13 total months of following this program ($14,000 in debt). Think about it, no increase in income, but about an $1100 monthly increase in disposable income. You don't need a raise or 2nd job, you need to manage your money with wisdom (aka common sense).

SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL
This is a very simple and easy to read book about getting out of debt and becoming financially free. The steps are clear-cut and presice and I plan on using the techniques to become free of debt. But to me the most powerful thing about the book is how it changes your way of thinking about debt. I like everyone hates being in debt but for some reason we've come to think that it's neccesary. The whole nation is in debt and it's only getting worse. This book opens your eyes to the fact that debt destroys lives and causes a never ending cloud of depression over you.
I really don't think people realize this in their everyday lives. They buy and buy what they can't afford and wonder why they're not happy with their spouses, jobs, careers, lives. Bottom line ,,, Debt equals NO PEACE and this book proves it.

The only negative about this older version of the book is that it doesn't suggest what a person should do if they don't have the money to take the steps. The book is so powerful in influencing your mindset it seems strange that it leaves out the important fact that a person may have to get a part-time job or they may have to cut out a lot of luxuries in order to get debt free. This version also doesn't suggest how a couple should work out differences of opinions when it comes to credit.

Other than those two things this is a great read for everyone and a book I feel every freshman in college should get for free before they start receiving all of those pre-approved credit card statements..

Knowledge without Action is Powerless!
Dave Ramsey presents some very good information and IF most people appled it they could indeed create Financial Peace. The truth is as Dave says on page 271, "..Reading this book and obtaining knowledge is good, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH." Over 7 trillion dollars in consumer debt has families struggling with not only money but with time. They need a system that takes less than an hour a month, which is about all of the time and energy they have to break free. Dave certainly has the heart of his reader in mind when he wrote the book.

Change your life...now!
This, in a nutshell, is a great book. That is a title that I do not give lightly but the reason that I do is that the principles in this book have the potential to change you life and the lives of your children. In a very easy to read and understand writing style, Dave Ramsey communicates how to win at the personal finance game. He teaches how to get out of debt and stay out. He teaches how to invest wisely for your future. And he teaches how to come up with a monthly financial and how to live it so that it works. I've tried for years to make a budget work for me but seemed to blow it every single attempt. Putting Dave's practical methods into practice, I've seen how a plan can put me in "control" of my money, instead of wondering every month "where did it go!"

I would recommend this book to anyone that's serious about getting control of their lives. It is not for those looking for casual reading. Read only if you want to change your life. ... Read more

Book Description

A one-stop reference for in-depth explanations of mortgage topics

With the creation of so many new, complex mortgage programs, it's difficult for consumers --not to mention real estate agents, attorneys, closing agents, and mortgage brokers--to keep track of them all. Written by nationally syndicated real estate columnist Jack Guttentag, The Mortgage Encyclopedia helps readers understand the various mortgage terms, features, and options by offering clear, precise explanations. The alphabetical organization of terms makes it easy to quickly find information on any topic, from FHA, Investor, and No-PMI Loans to Origination Fee and Rate Float. Each entry includes not just a description of the term, but also relevant advice for consumers, such as answers to the questions "Is this loan right for me?" and "Can I negotiate this fee?"

• Guides readers through the bewildering array of new mortgage programs
• Features definitions and explanations of common mortgage, escrow, and closing fees and arcane mortgage terminology

Book Description

Develop a Winning Investment Strategy -- with Expert Advice from "The Nation's #1 Money Manager"

Peter Lynch's "invest in what you know" strategy has made him a household name with investors both big and small.

An important key to investing, Lynch says, is to remember that stocks are not lottery tickets. There's a company behind every stock and a reason companies -- and their stocks -- perform the way they do. In this book, newly revised and updated for the paperback edition, Peter Lynch shows you how you can become an expert in a company and how you can build a profitable investment portfolio, based on your own experience and insights and on straightforward do-it-yourself research. There's no reason the individual investor can't match wits with the experts, and this book will show you how.

In Beating the Street, Lynch for the first time:

* Explains how to devise a mutual fund strategy
* Shows how he goes about picking stocks, step-by-step
* Describes how the individual investor can improve his or her investment performance to rival that of the experts of the investment clubs. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Peter's Principles are great
They've has done it again, this book is very funny and filled with useful tips from seasoned investor Peter Lynch. This book has several of "Peter's Principles" (which are very humorous one-liners that make a lot of sense for investors.) My favorite parts of this book are: The story about the St. Agnes 7th grade portfolio managers (these kids beat out 99% of fund managers when they had a two year gain of 70%.) Another part of this book that I enjoy are the subtle tips for evaluating stocks. Mr. Lynch doesn't tell you to do this, that, and another thing to find the ten-baggers, but he does give clues throughout the text.

Reed Floren

Yet Another Mis-Leading Exhortation to Buy Stocks
This book, written in 1993, simultaneously comes at the end of Mr. Lynch's career in money management and the beginning of a long sprint in the broader stock market, largely fueled by tech/internet stocks. In any period, one can expect 1 of 100 money managers to far outperform both his or her peers and the broader market by chance. Mr. Lynch was that one money manager.

Mr. Lynch starts the book by turning investing into a game. Although his method was subtle (using an example of grammar school kids picking stocks), the implications are profound. Investing does share some resemblance to many games we play in life, and one of the Great Money Masters, the fictitious 'Adam Smith' readily admits this in his classic book on investment, The Money Game.

However, Mr. Lynch takes things one step beyond the game, and as the book's title hints, he turns all investment activities into a competition. In so doing, he pits the small investor against the institutional Players, and as a result, sets up the naive reader to walk a well-trodden path littered with sorrow and the bones of many foolish investors.

Granted, 'Adam Smith' once said, "The Players aren't smarter than you. They just have more information", and there also is a certain level of truth to Lynch's assertion that the Little Guy can outperform the Big Boys. However, Lynch fails to disclose one important and critical difference.

I believe it was Hemmingway who said, in response to Fitzgerald's observation that the rich were not like the ordinary schmuck, that "Yes, I know. They have more money." Something frightfully similar can be said of the key difference between the Little Guy and The Players, but with one critical insight: The Players do not merely have more money, they have a lot more of Other People's Money. That in essence is the fundamental difference between The Players and the Little Guy, who must wager his (or her) own hard-won funds in order to play the Grand Game- the stock market.

Needless to say (but will be said anyway), the consequences of one's actions weigh heavily on one's shoulders when one's own money is at stake, but really aren't felt when Other People's Money is on the line. The Players play with Other People's Money, but you, dear investor, play with your own hard-won earnings. That said, the intelligent investor must ask herself, 'Do I really want to play with my money?'.

Beating the Street rests heavily on this undisclosed truism and a host of faulty assumptions. The book really is a sales pitch to buy stocks and to participate as much as possible in stock mutual funds. To that end, Mr. Lynch places before the reader a number of questionable arguments. Here are just two:

First, perhaps the most flawed argument of the book is that the small investor, upon retirement, will spend more than she earns in investment income. This is stated as a bona-fide fact when in reality, it is a generous assumption. From this assumption, Mr. Lynch then argues that one should invest in stocks and use some portion of the capital appreciation in addition to the dividend income for the purpose of meeting one's spending needs. He then fortifies his argument by citing inflation and emphasizing its ability to erode fixed income.

The facts are 1) how much investment income you will need is determined by how much you plan to spend, 2) many people choose to work either part-time or full-time after retirement (either out of necessity or desire), and thus have some supplemental income, 3) though the general historical trend for stock prices has been 'up', there is nothing that says that stocks have to go up, and finally 4) inflation can adversely affect stock prices (and have actually done so in the past). Lynch invokes the inflation argument when trashing bonds, and abandons it when touting stocks, even though inflation acts on both. Nor does his idealized comparison of stocks vs. bonds on pages 52-56 take into account taxes and transaction costs incidentally.

Second, on page 69, Mr. Lynch boldly says that, "If you plan to to stick with a fund for several years, the 2-5 percent you paid to get in will prove insignificant". This last statement may actually be worse than his first (of many) flawed arguments, for the following reason: the money lost to the load fails to compound at whatever investment rate of return, and over long periods of time, the difference between what you committed and what gets actually invested grows- and this is before we even consider the effect of annual expenses.

These and other flawed but superficial arguments for stock investing make for very difficult reading. Apart from the gross argumentative errors, the book presents many of Mr. Lynch's reminiscences of a stock market long gone. However, there are some useful hints in the book, most likely put there by Mr. Rothchild, but they are far outnumbered and over-shadowed by Mr. Lynch's deceptive pitch to buy stocks.

Excellent
It's hard to find a better written book on investing that Beating the Street. Despite working in the industy for many years, Peter Lynch urges people to do it for themselves. He writes clearly giving examples of how one could do better than the Wall Street pros. This book is one of the best on investing that I have read.

Not Half Bad.
In my opinion, this book was a lot more readable than I would have expected a book about the stock market to be. The light humor (very light) kept the book interesting and there were plenty of good tips. The "20 Golden Rules" were great. Lynch obviously knows what he's doing and he proves it by giving real life examples from his own successful experience. The only setback I found was that the tips were made out to be really easy, but they sounded tough. Overall, though, I would recommend it to both beginners and pros involved in the stock market.

Learn from the Master
Lynch's success comes not from his complex algorithms and estoric financial modeling, but from opening his eyes to the world and noticing good businesses.

His success at Magellan is attributed to his ability to find good companies, at reasonable valuations, and be patient enough to watch them climb.

This book is much more specific than his other release. Here, he provides detailed accounts of stock picking strategy, including how to choose from different stocks, when to buy, when to buy more and when to sell.

This is a quick read, but there is a huge amount of information that the average investor can use to their benefit. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive guide to mortgage-backed securities --now revised and updated

The classic -- and single best -- resource for understanding and trading mortgage-backed securities has been brought fully up to date with The Handbook of Mortgage-Backed Securities, Fifth Edition, giving you timely insights into everything from fundamentals to investment characteristics of mortgage-backed securities, as well as state-of-the-art strategies for capitalizing on opportunities.

The Handbook’s seven sections bring you up to speed on mortgages and pass-through securities; stripped mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations; credit-sensitive mortgage-backed securities; prepayment modeling; valuation techniques, relative value analysis, and portfolio strategies; commercial mortgage-backed securities; and non-U.S. mortgage-backed securities.

This edition is more than just a revised edition – it’s practically a new book: twenty-nine of the chapters are either new or have been substantially revised, reflecting the most recent developments in the mortgage-backed securities market, in terms of both product development and financial technology. These entirely new sections give you a seamless transition into the 24-hour, global financial markets of the 21st century. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent but Compiled Work
I have seven years of experience selling these products, and I use Fabozzi's book often. This is a good reference, and a good treatment of mortgage and asset backed securities. I only gave it four stars because the fact that this is a compiled work of research material interrupts the flow of ideas. On the other hand, there is some merit to getting different angles on the subject from different viewpoints.

One caveat. Mortgage derivatives used to mean calls and puts on mortgage backed securities. Today, however, entire portfolios of mortgage risk are laid off in the form of credit derivatives.

Tavakoli has the best treatment of that topic in the book: "Credit Derivatives".

A major reference
A vast collection of articles by practitioners on Wall Street, this book covers a broad number of topics on Mortgage Backed Securities. While not a scholarly approach, 'street research' typically aims to educate the fixed income portfolio manager.

Fabozzi handbooks are overrated
It's the industry standard. Everyone has one. It stands alone in its field. And if you're reading this you're probably going to buy regardless of what is written here.

But I've found this book (along with some of the other Fabozzi 'Handbooks') to be overrated. Basically, the format of 30 or so different authors each writing a chapter in the form of an article diminishes the usefulness of the book. There is no narrative, pedagogical or otherwise. The format leads to significant gaps in coverage. The quality of the chapters is uneven, as is the level of detail covered.

Don't misunderstand me -- the Handbook isn't bad, by any strecth of the imagination. It's just not as good as it could be. It has almost no fluff, and all the information in it is good. And the competition is a very slim field. For many things Fabozzi is not only your best choice, it's your only one. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wow! Lots of forms and info...
This is a book for seasoned investors, brokers, and syndicators. It contains several hundred forms and checklists that will make sure you never forget an important element of the buying and selling process. However, it is not a "stand alone" book on real estate investing, but a book designed to accompany other texts on the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (58)

Financial Freedom
I read this book several times in the early 1980s. I read it until it fell apart. Since then I've been through dozens (more like hundreds) of other investment books, but this is the one that taught me first principles and taught them the best. Basically this guy is a really fine writer who happens to write about investments and personal finance. He's witty, entertaining, and right on target.

As for the content, the basics of investing and frugality are covered. When you get right down to it the basics are all you need, and you can fit them on a 3 by 5 card. Almost all of my investing mistakes in the past 20 years have been a result of trying to make things too complicated. Tobias keeps his message simple, and that's one of this book's strengths.

Like other reviewers, I've given this book as a gift over the years. However, there's another good writer out there in recent years -- Jason Kelly, author of "The Neatest Little Guide..." series.

The Best One-Stop-Shop for Investment and Financial Informat
Not only does Andrew Tobias suggest that readers save and invest, but also shows real ways that people can spend less (through conservation, stocking up on essentials at warehouse prices, saving money on insurance (auto, life, etc), paying yourself first, etc). Additionally, he explains investment vehicles in simple layman terms while divulging his personal opinions. All of this is done in a humorous, witty and quick read...a pleasant surprise to those of us picking up Investment Guides. Tobias truly covers it all, from savings accounts, to options and everything in between such as treasuries and annuities. He also discusses the merits of self-directed investing. It is telling that he dedicated the book "To my broker -- even if he has, from time to time, made me just that." This is a must read for those seeking entry-level knowledge of the ins and outs of investing or simply a witty read on the topic.

Good book, but not the only guide needed.
Although in my opinion this isn't the only investment guide you need, it is a great book that really sheds light on some of the more boring aspects of personal finance.

This entertaining book gives you a good understanding of personal finance, saving, investing, and various strategies to boost your net worth.

I highly recommend getting a copy of this book for yourself and one for a friend, believe me if they follow the tips they'll be thanking you later.

Here's what different national publications have to say about the author:

"Andrew Tobias is one of the financial community's pithily perceptive observers." Forbs

"So full of tips and angles that only a booby or a billionaire could not benefit." The New York Times

"The only investment guide many will indeed ever need." Barron's

Reed Floren

Great book to learn more about finance
It is really the only investment book you will ever need. It covers lots of basic materials. When I first read the book, I thought it lacked details. However, it gave you enough information so that you can dive deeper into other topics on your own. If you are a beginner to investment, that is the best book you will find. Another comparable book would be "The Motley Fool Investment Guide : How The Fool Beats Wall Streets Wise Men And How You Can Too"

Not the Only Investment Book You'll Need, But a Good Start
I read this book more than ten years ago, when I saved enough money from my first job to start dabbling in the stock market. The new edition also has information on Roth IRA's and still offers good advice. For example, selling life insurance to a single person is like selling ice to an eskimo is a mantra that is still ingrained in my mind. Another is that discount brokers are better than full brokers. The book is easy to read and understand. It complements, Engel and Hecht's "How to Buy Stocks." ... Read more

Book Description

The classic bestseller by Benjamin Graham, perhaps the greatest investment advisor of the 20th 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 the 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. Among the book's special features are the use of numerous comparisons of pairs of common stocks to bring out their elements of strength and weakness and the construction of investment portfolios designed to meet specific requirements of quality and price attractiveness.

The Intelligent Investor may be the most important book you will ever read on making your investments a success.

"The Intelligent Investor is the best book ever written for the stockholder," says author and investment counselor John Train. Benjamin Graham's classic work offers sound and safe principles for investing-principles that have worked for more than forty years since the first edition was published. With an introduction and appendix by Warren Buffett, one of Graham's most famous students in investing strategy, this book takes account of both the defensive and the enterprising investor.

"By far the best book on investing ever written." -- Warren E. Buffett

"There have been other good books written about money since 1841, but only a few hold up. The best known and most likely to make you money is The Intelligent Investor." -- Andrew Tobias

"Graham ranks as this century's (and perhaps history's) most important thinker on applied portfolio investment." -- John Train, author of The Money Masters ... Read more

Reviews (55)

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.

Somewhat out of date
Before deciding on whether to buy this book or not, one should take into account that even this version is 30+ years old, and that the original version was written over 50 years ago. Though successful investing for the greater part is founded on principles (which are timeless), the content, style and writing of the book is old-fashioned, which makes it a bit tedious to read.

Stock market history may be interesting, but the book continuosly refers to the 1971 - 1972 stockmarket, which is quite a bit out of date. There have been considerably better books written on investing since then (Hagstrom: "The Warren Buffett way", Lynch x 2: "Beating the Street, One up on Wall Street").

Yet there are still interesting chapters in the book, and some valuable pieces of advice as well. The book contains what Buffett views as the most valuable words ever written on investing: "Investing is most intelligent when it is most businesslike". Other valuable pieces of advice include why one should be careful about investing in IPOs.

Since one basically only has to understand and follow a couple of basic laws to become successful as investor (and those laws has nothing to do with beta or APT) and this book contains some of them, it can be recommended, with some reservation. But it is tediouos to read and better books on investing have been written since 1973.

Buy it !!! For any investor
The issue is how to make money on the stock market.

The conclusion is that if you have the discipline and follow the advise with rigour, you will make money on the stock market. It is not for a day trader but a genuine investor.

There are many pieces of sound advice. One of the recommended easy and time saving way to pick a stock: buy the stock of Dow Index companies with minimum P/E ratio.

It is a classic.

Use With Caution
It may seem an odd thing to say about a book whose hallmark is prudence, but this volume is dangerous. The general principles it inculcates are fine but be very wary of following its more specific recommendations such as avoiding a stock if its price/book ratio is greater than 2. Under current conditions you would end up with an odd, unbalanced portfolio. The basic premise of this book, that Mr. Graham could reduce his complex discipline of value investing to rules of thumb simple enough for individuals to follow, may just be a mistake.

Eye Opener
Graham's book is by far the most thorough, well thought out volume on investing that has ever been produced. Graham's thought processes and advice are indispensable. ... Read more

Book Description

This popular business start up guide prodives an effective system for new agents to successfully plan their days and weeks.Up and Running in 30 Days features a results driven business development model that will increase productivity in new and seasoned agents like. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Keep Your Checkbook Open
If you buy this book, plan on keeping your checkbook open. You'll need it to buy the other books that Carla Cross frequently references and which are, unfortunately, key to using some of the charts contained in this book. Without the information from the other books it makes some of the charts useless. In the first 20 pages alone there are a dozen references to other books, either written by the author or others.

Up & Running in 30 Days
This book seemed very interesting but it still left me with a lot of questions..... For one where are these tapes that are continuously reffered to in the book? Also, this book assumes you are already an agent and I would think that part of getting running is how to get started! If anyone knows about the tapes for this book please e-mail me at mpdragon@netzero.net

Simply the best quick start business plan for realtors.
Very logical, simple, yet through. This book pinpoints why so many agents fail in their first year of real estate. Lack of proper planning from a true business perspective. Excellent jump-start to get going in this industry.

Not a good book
This book was a waste of money! The forms and checklists are great, but it lacks a lot of other important information. I would suggest "How to List and Sell Real Estate in the 90's" by Daniell Kennedy, it is very motivational and packed with excellant information. ... Read more

Book Description

The realtor's essential guide to harnessing true earning power

How to Become a Power Agent in Real Estate gives real estate agents both the powerful sales techniques and the practical management tips they need to double their income by closing more transactions. Based on the outstanding success of Darryl Davis's seminar "The POWER Program," this motivational guide utilizes POWER Principles to help the new agent as well as the experienced top producer dramatically increase listings and sales.

The book is full of Davis's surefire methods for managing the sales process, including time management for agents, prospecting for listings, handling the seller's and buyer's concerns, maintaining a winning attitude, and generating more sales in less time. He also reveals how clever use of the Web can provide a competitive edge and how the top producers work smarter­­not harder. Offering field-proven tools and techniques, Davis shows agents how to progress at their own pace to their own personal Next Level and accelerate their entry into Top Agent status.

Reviews (16)

What you can get out of " POWER AGENT IN REAL ESTATE"
The book is great. It is the same material used in the 12 month Darryl Davis Program. The program itself helps those not as self motivated, but anyone who reads the book, does what it says and can hold themself accountable, will benefit greatly. For others