Book Description

Take control of your most important retirement assets

Investment advisors, financial planners, accountants, and attorneys are always hungry for expert advice and guidance on the best ways to help their clients make the most of their investments during their work lives and successfully manage their payouts when they retire. Written by two of today's most visible retirement planning experts, Tax-Deferred Investing meets that need. Cory Grant and Andrew Westhem describe proven wealth-building and payout strategies for both employers and employees.

• A complete guide to plan selection, investment, asset allocation, and distribution strategies
• Includes estate planning techniques for keeping the wealth in a family from one generation to the next

Cory C. Grant (La Jolla, CA) is Executive Vice President of Westhem Group/Wealth Planning, Inc., and a specialist on advanced estate, retirement, and business planning strategies. Andrew Westhem (La Jolla, CA) is President of Westhem Group/Wealth Planning, Inc., focusing on advanced estate, retirement, and business planning strategies. ... Read more

Book Description

Let Your Money Work as Hard for You as You Work for It! How many times have you received your W-2s for the year and said,"I made how much? Where did it all go? "

We have the answer and it's called The Tax Tracker.This product is an extremely simplified way to organize your expenses for tax purposes, giving you the ability to

Organize your taxes for a simplified and more productive tax return
Show you where your money is going for planning and budget purposes
Keep you from making the same mistakes twice, and
Keep your money in YOUR pockets

The Tax Tracker is an inexpensive filing system with no computer required. It is a year-round system that enables you to keep all of your receipts in place, categorized and organized so that you are not scrambling the night before you get your taxes done. In short, the Tax Tracker simplifies your life and your finances while:
Keeping you from missing important deductions
Ensuring a smooth and effective tax preparation process
Covering you in the event of an audit

The Tax Tracker is the only tax planning system of its kind in the country. Not only is it simple to follow, which is why people are keeping it up for the whole year, but also it is geared to your particular field. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not worth the price
I bought this expecting to find some ideas and tips about keeping track of my auction expenses and. Perhaps this "book" would help me think of expenses that are deductible that I hadn't considered or give me ideas for setting up a system to keep track. I guess for the price, I expected there would be some advice. This "book" only has 12 envelopes for keeping receipts in with a place to write totals on the front. The 12 envelopes are bound together with a title page and there is nothing else in the "book". Honestly, I think most people who sell on ebay have the ability to keep track of expenses in a financial program and can find a cheaper way to file receipts. This was not worth the price to me and I am sending it back for a refund. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover how to protect your assets from unpredictable judges, armed street gangs of plaintiffs, lawyers and Robin Hood juries determined to redistribute wealth in Asset Protection Lawyer Jim Bennett's eye-opening new book:

Bulletproof Offshore Asset Protection
The Money Fortress for the New Millennium

by Jim Bennett

If you keep money or other assets in the United States, it's time to look at other options.Because the court system in this country is out of control.Today, if you keep all of your money in the U.S., you're asking for problems, and even the most powerful, most expensive lawyers may not be able to protect you.

In the U.S., the number of lawsuits is increasing 7 times faster than the population.The number of lawsuits now in our court system awaiting resolution has topped 100,000,000.For emphasis, I'll say it again.Right now, over 100 million lawsuits are literally choking the life out of our court system waiting for some sort of resolution. It's no wonder, for example, that federal judges in New York sometimes wait as long as 11 years to decide non-jury trials.

And that's not the worst of it!

Every year, plaintiffs file 30,000,000 new lawsuits.On average, that's over 82,000 lawsuits per day!

Lawsuits have become the plaintiffs' negotiating strategy, a bullying tactic they use to force you to pay money.You see, plaintiffs and their lawyers have learned that if they sue you, you will likely give them (at least part of) what they want.This is because the cost of hiring defense lawyers and going to trial has mushroomed beyond what many executives, professionals and businesses can afford.

So, plaintiffs conclude, "If we sue the defendant, one of two things will likely happen: Either the defendant will give us money to go away.Or we'll keep the defendant tied up in court for 2 to 5 years and then the jury will give us the defendant's money."

As you can see, in either case, the money comes out of your pocket!

Of course, you might win the case.But at what price?To win your case, you could easily pay six figures to your law firm.So in the U.S. today, even if you win, you lose.The price of lawsuits is so high that our court system is often the last place you'll find justice.

Who are the plaintiffs who can't wait to sue you?Just about anyone you can name.They include unhappy employees, clients, patients, customers, shareholders, investors, directors, partners, creditors, neighbors, friends, spouses and children.Anybody can sue you, if that person wants to.And many will.

To understand your attackers, let's look at what plaintiffs' lawyers have in common:

1.They love money.The more they stand to gain, the better they like it.

2.They love to gamble.They don't mind losing cases now and then because the winners far more than pay for the losers.

3.They love to fight.They don't mind wrestling with your lawyers for years in an effort to see who comes out on top.

4.They love to control.They will gladly spend weeks in depositions asking you tough questions so they can show you that they have the upper hand.

But, first and foremost, always, is the money.Money is the essential ingredient.If plaintiffs lawyers can't get your money, they won't waste one minute pursuing the plaintiff's case.

So the key to preventing lawsuits, the key to protecting your assets, is to make sure predator-plaintiffs and their lawyers can't get their hands on your money.

Here is all you need to know to protect your assets: If your assets are beyond the reach of U.S. courts, judges can't seize them, Robin Hood juries can't award them to a defendant, and plaintiffs' lawyers can't enforce judgments against them.

When plaintiffs' lawyers discover they can't get your money, they won't waste any time trying.Why should they!They can find someone else to sue who does have money in the U.S., which makes them a much more attractive target.

You want to know more, and you should.Because every day the problem grows worse.Every day creative plaintiffs' lawyers concoct new reasons to sue defendants.Consider this list of common reasons

Employment lawsuits arising from: Age discrimination.Racial discrimination.Gender discrimination.Religious discrimination. Pregnancy discrimination.Disability discrimination.Mental illness discrimination.Addiction discrimination.Sexual harassment.Peer harassment.Gossip among employees.Job references (good or bad). Whistle blowing.Retaliation.Wrongful termination.Negligent employee retention.Releasing medical information.Unequal mental vs. physical health coverage.Employee injury from chemical exposure. And much more.

Professional Malpractice lawsuits arising from: Medical malpractice. Legal malpractice.Psychological malpractice.Engineering malpractice.Architectural malpractice.And much more.

Business Liability lawsuits arising from: Environmental cleanup liability.Products liability.Shareholder liability.Securities fraud.Liability of outside directors.Liability from unsatisfied customers.Personal injury when a customer drinks too much and hurts someone.Personal injury when a customer slips and falls.And much more.

Personal lawsuits arising from: Divorce.Lawsuits by children. Lawsuits from business partners.Creditors claims.Accidental injury caused by a family member.Pregnancy (your son gets a girl pregnant). Personal injury caused by a drinking guest.Personal injury when a guest slips and falls.And much more.

If asked, your lawyer could probably come up with 100 more reasons people might sue you.The list seems endless.

And since the lawsuits will never end, and since plaintiffs' lawyers will never have enough money, you can (and should!) take one key step that will immediately cause lawyers to lose interest in you: Put your assets overseas, in a foreign protective country, beyond the reach of U.S. courts.

And to help you understand this fast-growing solution to the tidal wave of lawsuits, I've written this fact-filled book.I invite you to order your copy today. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

bulletproof asset protection
Clear charts, easy chapters, convincing arguments - yet not enough info on "how to"...I'm not sure that it is really necessary to complicate matters as much as he does. This book is mainly self-advertising and is clearly geared to very wealthy potential clients.

Bulletproof lacks technical application
This book is good and long on why and short on how. There's a basic diagram of the legal entities but doing it yourself is not part of this book. It can be read at a single sitting. There were a few very helpful ideas but I'd like to see a lot more concrete explanation on the 'how to'.

Good Book
Great book to get you started understanding the ideas of offshore asset protection. Liked the very simple but complete discussions. He was very upfront of his motiviations and also warned the reader that he also sells his services. Check out jim's website for further updates from what he wrote. The only difference between the book and the web site is at the web site, he suggested that $100k vice $500k in liquid assets. Highly recommended read. I only wish his rates are cheaper. Now only if I had the assets to protect.

Could be called Asset Protection for Dummies
Attorney, Jim Bennett makes a very convincing case of the need for offshore asset protection trusts in modern day America in his book entitled Bulletproof Offshore Asset Protection -- The Money Fortress for the New Millennium. If not for the rights to the name held by IDG Books, his book could have been called Offshore Asset Protection for Dummies. Like books from the IDG Dummies series, Bennett's book offers simple explanations to make this complicated topic easier to understand with the aid of graphics, illustrations and flow charts. Offshore investment neophytes are treated to a personal experience of the author that makes it blatantly clear why anyone with assets should be nervous in today's litigious world. Without giving away the story, one disgruntled employee can potentially ruin the retirement plan for any professional or company owner. One of the better introductory books on the subject of offshore business that I've reviewed. Matt Blackman - Goldhaven.com

This book is comprehensive, succinct and easy to read.
I liked this book because it gave me the hard information I needed without a lot of unnecessary fluff. It described precisely how these things work, and especially how they work when you get sued. Very comprehensive, yet succinct. Very efficient read. It was also understandable; no legalese, and every time the author used a legal term, he explained it in clear English. I didn't know anything about these things when I started and I feel like I understand them pretty well now. ... Read more

Book Description

Let Your Money Work as Hard for You as You Work for It!How many times have you received your W-2s for the year and said,"I made how much? Where did it all go? "

We have the answer and it's called The Tax Tracker.This product is an extremely simplified way to organize your expenses for tax purposes, giving you the ability to

Organize your taxes for a simplified and more productive tax return
Show you where your money is going for planning and budget purposes
Keep you from making the same mistakes twice, and
Keep your money in YOUR pockets

The Tax Tracker is an inexpensive filing system with no computer required. It is a year-round system that enables you to keep all of your receipts in place, categorized and organized so that you are not scrambling the night before you get your taxes done. In short, the Tax Tracker simplifies your life and your finances while:
Keeping you from missing important deductions
Ensuring a smooth and effective tax preparation process
Covering you in the event of an audit

The Tax Tracker is the only tax planning system of its kind in the country. Not only is it simple to follow, which is why people are keeping it up for the whole year, but also it is geared to your particular field. ... Read more

Download Description

Estate planning. Not exactly the way you would like to spend a free, sunny weekend (or even a rainy one). The process sounds arduous, time-consuming and more than a little scary.Make your estate planning as painless as possible with Estate Planning Basics.This book provides concise, straightforward and easy-to-read explanations of the major components of estate planning, so that you don't have to spend hours wading through endless options (most of which apply to the wealthy).Learn about: * choosing beneficiaries*estate planning by parents with minor children* wills* living trusts* other probate-avoidance methods, including using a retirement plan like an IRA or 401(k) as an estate planning device* estate taxes, and tax reduction methods* trusts for people in second marriages, or for those leaving property to a disabled person* planning for the handling of medical and financial decisions if one becomes incompetentAttorney Denis Clifford gives you the reliable, plain-English answers you need, whether you're doling out the family heirlooms or steering clear of estate taxes.And now, thanks to Estate Planning Basics, these tasks don't have to take all weekend. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must-Have for Estate Planning
This is the best book out there on Estate Planning Basics. Armed with this book and Quicken Personal Lawyer I was able to do our living trust, wills, life insurance and other estate planning documents and save the legal bills. Even if you end up using a lawyer, you should get this book first to get informed. ... Read more

Book Description

As they approach retirement, millions of Americans are discovering that their IRAs and other retirement plans are subject to tax rulesso bewildering even CPAs dont understand them!Yet failure to comply with these IRS regulations can have dire consequences when money is taken out from their plan.This one-of-a-kind guide explains how to plan ahead to minimize taxes on future distributions.Now revised to include the latest tax law changes.Features include:c Easy-to-follow question-and-answer formatc Complete coverage of IRA, Keogh plan, 401(k) plan and 403(b) plan distribution rulesc Planning steps to limit taxes on retirement fund payoutsc Estate-planning strategies to protect heirs financial securitySeymour Goldberg, CPA, MBA, JD, is a tax attorney and professor of law and taxation at Long Island University.He lectures frequently on tax and estate-planning strategies. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent but not current
This was an excellent book and gave me a very good understanding of distributions rules prior to January 1, 2001; however, the laws have since changed and I would not buy this book today.Much of the rules explained here are still the same, but you would have to know the material you are supposedly buying this book to learn in order to know the difference.If a new edition came out, I would buy it.

Excellent Information
As always with Seymour Goldberg, the information is outstanding. I don't like the question and answer format, which I feel is an inefficient way to convey information, but others might love it. It is very difficult toacquire comprehensive information on IRA distributions and this is a verygood source.

Must reading for an IRA owner turning 70 this year
Seynour Goldberg takes the reader though all the intricicies of a complicated subject and provides the information necessary to make an informed decision.The pluses and minuses of single vs joint life expectancy and term certain vs recalculation are clearly defined for the IRA owner who must make decisions regarding required minimum distributions upon reaching 70 1/2 years of age. ... Read more

Book Description

Curiosity - Anxiety - Anger

Successful executives experience, work with, and harness the power of all of these vital emotions. The Quest for Executive Effectiveness invites you to become the executive champion who:(1)filters computerloads of knowledge and comes up with an integrated perspective.(2)weaves the threads of control and openness,(3)partners technical production and "hopeful" thinking,(4)is mindful of work goals and ethics,(5)has the invitational power to achieve a vision through motivation and action, and(6)is a charismatic and transformational leader. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The CEO's Guidebookl
As CEO of small Ferrara Company I find this book most helpful in setting my mind and path straight on many matters in my work. Happily it is an interesting read and study with rules, guides and recommendations that serve well in the conduct of one's own personal and social life as well.

Back to Basics
A basic understanding of what makes people tick, fundamentals of emotion and motivation, are related to executive effectiveness in a way that anyone can understand by Ann O'Roark, who distills her many years of experience with managers in the workplace into perspectives useful to leaders and would-be leaders in any type of setting or organization. Her examples demonstrate clearly how a theoretician who lives in the real world can relate theory to reality in a way that can be truly helpful. ... Read more

Amazon.com

TurboTax Deluxe, widely recognized as the premier tax preparation software package, can help you prepare your own return, whether your tax situation is simple or complex and whether you know a lot about the tax process or not. The package uses an interview approach to prompt you for information and is very efficient at checking accuracy, suggesting savings, and flagging audit triggers. Users who know the product well can cut to the chase with a more direct Forms Method for entering data.

TurboTax Deluxe has all the core elements of Intuit's entry level TurboTax 1040 product, but adds a number of helpful features, including online reference books and IRS publications, a 1998 tax planner, a copy of Intuit's QuickPlan financial planner, and free electronic filing (with a rebate coupon).

The TurboTax CD-ROM includes both 32-bit and 16-bit Windows versions of the product (the latter for Windows 3.1 users). A clear 64-page manual with ample screen shots gets you started quickly and will walk you through all the details of the tax preparation process, including optional electronic filing.

TurboTax Deluxe can import data from last year's TurboTax and from Quicken. It also works with Intuit's TurboTax State product for preparing state tax returns. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I DID IT!!! NAH NAH NAH!!!
Usually my better half does the taxes but this year I did it! Using this tool, I got it done in an afternoon. Would have gone faster if I read the book and had done taxes before, but it had everything, even prompts that got me done and we are happy with the results and $ saved. Deluxe is really only for those who have complicated returns and want electronic services. Regular edition is okay for most, so save your money. If you buy now, you can only deduct it from next year's taxes anyway! To make it better: get rid of that silly hat icon, gosh comments, etc. We are grown people using this and there is nothing funny about taxes. Margaret ... Read more

Book Description

It is time for a new beginning. We need to go back to the fundamental purpose of taxation: to simply raise revenue for the operation of government. A new tax code needs to be drafted according to basic principles that will avoid the complications that have led to the present code. This book puts forward a complete tax code that is remarkably concise and clear. This is possible because it focuses only on the task of raising necessary revenue. Tax exemptions that promote other goals are severely restricted in order to keep things simpler and bring such goals into a forum of open debate. Specific funding legislation should be debated and passed rather than hidden in special interest tax exemptions. After all, why should we not be allowed to clearly see how our money is being spent?

Some may object that the proposed code is too simplistic because of clarity and brevity of the code, but simple does not mean simplistic. Let those who insist on the inadequacy of the new code demonstrate the necessity of a more complicated code. We have a right to laws we can understand; therefore, anyone claiming the need for complications must justify them. The aim of this book is to clear the confusion of the present situation by advancing a concrete, understandable starting point for the tax revolution so ardently desired by so many Americans. ... Read more

Book Description

For over forty-five years H&R Block, the world's largest tax preparer, has been helping you and your family file the best tax return possible. The H&R Block 2001 Income Tax Guide will show you how to take advantage of the latest tax laws to save even more money.

H&R BLOCK'S SPECIAL FEATURES

• Block's Tax Organizer to help you get started
  
• Special Tax Planning Worksheets to help you save $$$
  
• Answers to the most-asked questions about federal tax returns
  
• Charts, tables, examples, and tips for information at a glance
  
• Directory of Special Topics to help pinpoint areas of concern for you and your family
  
• Encyclopedia of Tax:A-Z answers to tax problems, questions, and issues
  
• Sample federal tax forms
  
• 2001 Tax Calendar: important dates to help you keep track of next year's deadlines

AS ALWAYS, BLOCK'S TAX PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE THE MOST CONCISE AND COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, SUCH AS

• How will tax law changes and rulings affect me, my family, my business?
  
• How will a change in filing status affect my return this year?
  
• What is the best way to use my business deductions?
  
• How should I respond if my return is questioned by the IRS?
  

NOW YOU CAN ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BONUS FEATURES!

• $10 OFF tax preparation and electronic filing at participating H&R Block offices
  
• Personal answers to your tax questions: call your local H&R Block office
  

Reviews (2)

A general rerference
Having worked for H & R Block as a tax preparer, I have purchased this book every year mostly as a reference book. One motivation was the ...coupon in the back that I always sold to one of our customers thus reducing my overall cost of the book.

Having purchased other reference manuals in the past, I found H & R Block's book quite superior to others and pretty much in line with many of the courses that I took from them during the off-season. Due to the fact that this year's edition was very late in publication, I had to look for a suitable substitute to it. I found "Taxes for Dummies" by Tyson and Silverman better written and organized. For the price, I would recommend the later for the same price and written more towards the layperson understanding of tax preparation.

Unfamiliarized
I have went for the past 6 years to H & R Block to have my taxes done and now it's time to learn something for myself. ... Read more

Book Description

A tax attorney shares ten simple tax strategies in easy to understand language that will eliminate or substantially reduce your taxes beginning today. ... Read more

Book Description

If you read the original Buffettology, you know exactly half of what you need to know to effectively apply Warren Buffett's investment strategies.

Published in 1997, the bestselling Buffettology was written specifically for investors in the midst of a long bull market. Since then we've seen the internet bubble burst, the collapse of Enron, and investors scrambling to move their assets -- what remains of them -- back to the safety of traditional blue chip companies. As price peaks turned into troughs, worried investors wondered if there was any constant in today's volatile market. The answer is yes: Warren Buffett's value investing strategies make money.

The New Buffettology is the first guide to Warren Buffett's selective contrarian investment strategy for exploiting down stocks -- a strategy that has made him the nation's second-richest person. Designed to teach investors how to decipher and use financial information the way Buffett himself does, this book guides investors through opportunity-rich bear markets, walking them step-by-step through the equations and formulas Buffett uses to determine what to buy, what to sell -- and when. Authors Mary Buffett and David Clark explore Buffett's recent investments in detail, proving time and again that his strategy has earned enormous profits at a time no one expects them to -- and with almost zero risk to his capital.

In short, The New Buffettology is an essential companion to the original Buffettology, a road map to investment success in the worst of times. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A simple, easy to use antidote to irrational exuberance.
I recently retired at 30...or so I thought.Unfortunately, one can never truly retire, unless you have a particular immunity to the sound of your cash devaluing.It was like nails on a blackboard to me, my dreams of ignoring business and wrapping myself in the arts; good food, better wine...all gone.Gone with the realization of inflations dastardly influence on assets kept in cash.

I knew I had to put money to work, but where?Coming from "inside" corporate america, that is, with an operational focus, I've always had an aversion to investing time or money into that which I didn't know, and I know there's an art to everything (especially investing).As a former CEO, I came into contact often with investors, and whether they were willing to pay more or less than my company's stock was worth wasn't the principal difference among them, the most striking difference was the amount of intelligence they brought to the analysis.I would often sit in on meetings and wonder when they'd start asking the important questions, instead, most would work their understanding through totally different (and I thought much less efficient) vectors.I always knew there was a much simpler means of analysis.

This wonderful book is, for me, that analysis.Laid out in plain easy to understand terms and instructions, Buffettology taught me how to objectively value publicly traded stock with discipline.

So what did I do when I put my first money to work?I ignored Buffettology's teachings, and bought stock in a company that I've always wanted, but Buffett would never buy.

That cost me a car in my first week.

Probably a cheap lesson in the grand scheme of things.I'm dumping that stock tomorrow, sharpening my pencil, buying that BA 35 Solar calculator, and applying some Buffett style discipline from here on out.

Wish me luck...no cancel that, just pray that I have the good sense to follow his sage advice.

Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, California

Value Investors, Pay attention


The Buffettolgy scheme could sound very simplistic to some, or just boring to others, but out of experience, the lessons of this book are the fundamental basis for a real long term and wealth building investment process. For those who believe in the get rich quick with some colorful charting approaches this book may sound too simple to be true.

The essence of this book is to find stocks that stand the test of "Durable Competitive Advantage" with a careful and simple approach and plenty of examples. It is worth reading of you are a novice investor, but if you are not, then you will need to skip this book.

Book Strengths: Simple approach, good examples
Book Weaknesses: Short in theory

Bonds Present Value and Future Value
One of the discussings in the Book centers around determining the Present Value of Money for a Bond.Bond interest maybe payable at annual, semiannual, or quarterly intervals.Lets say the interest on a bond is a 7 percent, five year bond, of 100,000 dollars.Assume interest payments are semiannual. How do you find the Present Value of the Bond? For five years there are 10 payment periods, each payment period is 3.5 percent (7 percent/2). Divide the Present Value of the period 1, 100,000 by 1.035 (100% + 3.5%) which produces 96,618, the new value for the next period.Repeat the process for ten periods.The 10th period value represents the Present Value of money.The Present Value of money is the value, for ten pay periods, at 3.5 percent compound interest, yielding principle plus interest payments totalling to a 100,000 dollars. Using the future value of money, the semiannual payment can be computed by multipling 100,000 by 3.5 percent producing a equal interest payment of 3500
dollars.Find the Present Value of money for the interest payments is the same above mention process.The Present value of the interest would be 29,108 dollars.

I liked the focus on Retain Earnings and Consumer Monopolies
1. Does the business have an identifible consumer monopoly?

Customer monopolys provide perdictable retain earnings, year after year, because of their positioning in the market.Customer monopolys are unlikely to be upset by a competitor in the same market space.Buffettology seeks to analyze companies with a toll-bridge business model, these are reoccurring services and provides that drive sustained revenue.The test for customer monopoly is determined by who much a investment banker will fund, if you should gain ownership rights for startup.

2. Are the earnings of the company strong and showing an upward trend?

The central theme of Buffettology is measure what the company does with its retain earnings long term.Working Capital=Current Liabilities less Assets, Return on Equity= Net Income/Working Capital * 100, and Earnings per Share = Net Income / shares.

Consistent retained earnings demostrates strength in the sector.Dividend payments diminishes the earning strength caused by taxation on the payment.Companies who year after year maintain above average return on equity demonstrate they know too get a return on their retained earnings investments.Consistent retain earning levels make long term prediction possible.Consumer monopolys create barieers for other competition factions to take away business.Knowing a predictable return on investment creates confidence and provides leveraging motivations for external investment.

Buying low priced securities helps increases the rate of return.Invest from an financial or accounting business perspective.Wait for the market to go down, to get the right price.Diversity does not necessarily product return on investment.All you need to know what to buy and at what price.Determine the kind of company you want ownership in and determine the sale price you will purchase at.

Finding the right price uses an technic called Intrinistic Value (IV).IV=Earnings/(.10) {Bond percent } *100. The share price must not exceed the IV price.This helps you determine the right price to buy.Look for a bargin in a qualified company.This requires patience.

3. Is the company conservatively financed?

Select companies that use retained earnings for financing than long term debt for financing.Debt finances growth, growth drives price higher, and interest compounding reduces earnings. So, conservatively financed companies do not take away earnings.

4. Does the business consistently earn a high rate of return on shareholder equity?

Shareholder equity=Companies assets less current liabilities. Return on Equity = After Tax Earnings / Shareholder Equity.Buffettology wants sustained return on equity of 12 to 15 percent.

Price of the share is used to determine when to buy and return on equity is used to determine when to sell.Look for bargin prices to buy, this requires patience. The goal is achieve predictability in the direction of the companies growth.Customer monopoly's are resistence to change and can leverage economy of scale to drive down price.Earnings are used to predict the likihood of consistent performance in the consumer sector.Drops in earnings could indicate shifts in consumer spending patterns and new emerging markets.Return on Equity tells you when to abandoned the company.

5. Does the business get to retain its earnings?

Companies that keep their retain earnings qualify for selection scrutiny.Dividends reward stock holders; however are subject to taxation. Select companies that retain their earnings to be used in the growth of their company. The earnings must exceed the rate of return of a bond.

6. How much does the business have to spend on maintaining current operations?

Exclude companies that channel a significant portion of their retain earning for repair and maintenance.Select companies that have low cyclic operation costs.In commodity based companies the low cost provider wins.Commodity based companies are the least appealing Buffettology investment because of their maintenance cost requirements.

7. Is the company free to reinvest retained earnings in new business opportunities, expansion of operations, or share repurchases?How good of a job does management do at this?

The goal is to increase the return on investment rates.This is an area is risky for consumer monopolies because they enter into businesses that are not their core competences seeking to growth larger. The fantasy of an every expanding company can cause losses which equates to abandonment of the investor.Buffett's philosophy is to "know what the business does" and determine "how well they know their business".Perhaps, this is the double edge sword to praise and to avoid dependant on the strength of response for the previous two statements.

Share repurchases seems like a good idea.Share repurchase remove debt owed to the shareholder.Less debt may mean a stronger financial.

8. Is the company free to adjust prices to inflation?

This may be an accounting question. Most accounting software packages can adjust for inflation in their accounting software.

9. Will the value added by retained earnings increase the market value of the company?

This is complex. Its starts with Present Value and use compounding to determine end value over a specific interval of time. In most cases the retain earnings will increase the end value; however, if the company is losing its consumer monopoly to a new market force than it should be abandoned.

One the best books on Warren Buffet value investing
One of the very best books that tries to explain Warren Buffett's approach to value investing.Unlike most "Buffett" authors, she stays true to the essence of Warren Buffet, and emphasizes solid financials before looking at price, etc.Other authors stray from the Buffett path by trying to apply his method to technology stocks, overlook the fundamentls and focus on price history and movements (doh!).Mary is stays true and is thorough.

The good:Mary Buffett is very specific about what factors she believe Warren Buffet considers whe selecting a stock, and she gives examples and lots of info to explain it.

The "could be better":
1) She is so close, but does not give precise formulae for each factor, or uses a vague term at a critical spot.It took me many weeks and many more books to fill in the gaps to where I could develop a complete analysis of a stock.
2)It would be a great assist to give an example of how to use a data source such as Value Line to plug into her analysis steps.Formulae and data elemts from a specified source would make this book priceless.

As solid and treu to Buffett as this book is, I cannot believe Mary Buffett didn't follow-up with a website, newsletter service, analysis software, speaking engagements, etc.She has divulged more specifics about warren Buffett's value investing method then anyone else I could find, yet has not pursued the real cash cows that could come from it.

Read this book a few times, and carefully work through to develop the complete calculations (don't be lazy now!), combine it with a 90-day trial of Value Line and you will be able to quickly filter hundreds of stocks down the best values for the next year!

My highest recommendation for an investing book other than Warren Buffett's writings and the books by his mentor Graham.Get this with Graham's The Intelligent Investor, read Warren's Letters To Investors at berkshirehathaway.com, and you will have a solid value foundation! ... Read more

Book Description

• Be tax-conscious all year long and lower your tax rates
• Record-keeping essentials to project your tax deductions
• Year-endtax moves to cut your taxes

Plan now–so you can save later

With each new tax year comes new tax laws, and this year is no different. From the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act of 2001 to the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, you can no longer afford to take a wait-and-see attitude when dealing with your taxes. You have to be proactive.

If you’re looking to avoid unwelcome surprises at tax time, pick up J.K. Lasser’s Year-Round Tax Strategies 2003. Whether you invest in stocks or mutual funds, own a home, work from home, or own a business, this invaluable book provides tax-saving strategies that will guide you throughout the year–ensuring a shock-free April 15th. Plan ahead, prepare for new tax laws, and pay fewer taxes with the help of J.K. Lasser’s Year-Round Tax Strategies 2003.

Detailed tax coverage provides you with:

• Comprehensive coverage of new tax legislation and IRS rules
• Plain English explanations of income-reporting rules, tax deductions, and tax credits
• Special sections highlighting tax-planning and tax-saving opportunities for investors, business owners, and individuals planning for retirement and other special circumstances
• Questions and answers that illustrate tax-filing and tax-planning techniques

Reviews (1)

The book lists some very good tax saving strategies.
The book lists some very good tax saving strategies, however a little bit more details on each one of them would have made the book better. ... Read more

Book Description

The Relocation Tax Advisor, Year 2001 Early Edition,is a tax planning guide specifically geared toward corporate employees who are being transferred and need guidance in planning for the tax implications of their move. Also included in the publication: current state and federal tax rates, full size IRS Form 3903. ... Read more

Book Description

Get help determining your tax-paying options with this easy-to-use guide to the best-selling tax prep software on the market. Contains material not found on software and written by expert author and Intuit insider Gail Percy, CPA. This is the ONLY guide officially endorsed by Intuit. ... Read more