No comments about Trading and Investing in Bond Options: Risk Management, Arbitrage, and Value Investing.

5 comments about Investing for Dummies, Fourth Edition.

1. I bought this for my daughter, who is taking this a college course.
   She seems to be happy with it. She asked for this book it as the instructor told her she needed it for the class. Sorry I can't give you more info but I am sure it's a good book.
   
   Kathy in Las Vegas



2. I wanted to start investing and read somewhere you should first do some studies. That's when I came across this book. Very well written, and in simple to understand language. I used to dread 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds, Bonds. Now I am confident I know about them and what I am investing into.
   Showed new ways to look at debts, as to if I clear my debt sooner, I am investing in something which gives be interest equal to the interest I pay the bank.
   
   I would recommend this book to all who want to get into investing but are hesitant or don't know where to get information from.



3. I've read several "for Dummies" books, and in general the entire series is well written, concise, and gives you what you really need. However, I was very disappointed in this one. The book is really dedicated to the three methods of building wealth: equity (stocks, mutual funds, etc.), real estate, and small business. But there isn't enough info on any of the three subjects to do much with. You're better off getting a separate book on real estate if you plan on pursuing that. And nothing he says regarding small business is of much use to accomplish anything. That leaves stocks, bonds and mutual funds, which is what most users would purchase this book for. Regarding that, if you are completely new to mutual funds then this is the book for you as it will explain the basics. However, if you are beyond the very basics (i.e.; "What is a mutual fund?"), and are looking to seriously invest, then I think you'll be disappointed. And if you are looking to get into buying stocks directly, then this book seriously falls short. The entire section on stocks really just explains a canned stock report from a given company. Utterly useless unless you plan on subscribing to that service. No talk of forward PE's, valuation, etc.. Also, the author's continual insistence that you should stay in mutual funds because you "can't beat the market" since there are so many pros out there is utterly ridiculous. There are many gurus out there that have proven track records of generating higher than average returns. Just emulating Warren Buffet's portfolio will do that.
   
   I was looking for a book to dig more into stock valuation, company analysis, etc. and this book barely even touched on any of that beyond definitions. I wouldn't even call it Finance 101, since there is very little about monetary policy, bonds, interest rates, etc.. If you've picked out at least one mutual fund in your life (or purchased a stock directly), then this book is way too simple. If you tremble at the thought of picking a mutual fund and have no financial sense whatsoever, then this is your book.



4. Great book, lays it all out in terms I can understand. I started investing based on this book, and I refer to it often.



5. I didn't think reading about money/investing could ever be this fun or interesting. Straight talk and clear definitions for all the finance jargon.

4 comments about Investing for Cowards: Proven Stock Strategies for Anyone Afraid of the Market.

1. There are those who are very comfortable investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and a host of other vehicles that can earn lots of money . . . or not. Then there are those who are chicken-afraid of making the wrong decision, losing their shirts, and suffering the ridicule of everyone who knows them. This book is written for chickens.

   Fred Siegel is president of an investment management firm in New Orleans, widely respected for knowing the investment field very well. In addition to running his advisory firm, Siegel also runs The Siegel Group International, providing financial news analysis to broadcast media in the United States and other countries. He has been on the air continually since 1984, broadcasting from WWL-TV and WWL radio in New Orleans. His advice is heard far and wide-and can now be read in a fun sort of book.

   Fun? Investing? Chickens? Scary. The book is written in a light vein so it's easy to move through. The type is large, so that readers don't have to squint to get his message. There are several unusual features in the book-like red and black ink on the pages. Illustrations of chickens abound. There are lots of call-outs and sidebars, including testimonial quotes from his clients. The book is almost too self-serving in that regard, but one might expect a talk-show personality to be a bit self-promoting.

   The book is organized into twelve chapters, dealing with the stock market, jargon, and then the focus on chicken stocks. Siegel makes his point that buying particular types of stocks is wiser than buying others, and explains. He doesn't like mutual funds, but talks about them, trusts, bonds, and annuities. Even on-line investing is covered for the reader.

   As you might suspect, this book is going to give you a "once over lightly." It's not really deep, nor does it need to be. It meets its design of giving chicken investors enough knowledge to feel comfortable looking more deeply into the opportunities. As with any investment advisor, it's smart to take the advice carefully and understand that biases are present and influential. Whether you agree with everything Siegel says or not, you will have a broader understanding of the world of investing after reading this book.




2. This book is for the reader who is new to investing. If you are interested in investing in the stock market, but are worried about the outcome, then this books provides some good advice. The investment approach recommended is truly for very conservative types - but the truth is, that the author's recommendations have worked well in the past and are worth consideration by all investors. Reviewed by the author of THE SHORT BOOK ON OPTIONS.



3. As a veteran financial broadcaster, Fred Siegel loses nothing when shifting to the print media. He is just as clear in these pages as he is on his talk show on WWL. He believes that profits drive value, and the investor must look for them, not some hot Dot Com or 2020 high tech product that is unproven and unnecessary. As much as there is good advice on what an investor should do, the really valuable advice is on what not to do, and who not to do it with. This book is a real eye-opener for the average investor.



4. There are a lot of books on investing in the markets. This one is just average. Personally, I found the layout of the book to be very 'busy' and disorganized. I think there are a number of other books that would help the beginning/novice investor more than this one. Look at my other reviews for suggestions.

No comments about There's Always a Bull Market: Conservative Investing in Stocks, Bonds, and Gold.

No comments about The Power Portflio.

5 comments about Stocks and Bonds for Jack and Jill.

1. OK ... I said it! As one who has been in and around the stock market for years,
   this little book made clear concepts I should have known but didn't. Fun Read!



2. I know too many people who throw up their hands and proclaim that they will never understand investing. They will all be getting copies of this book, if for no other reason than that our cocktail party chatter will be more interesting.
   
   It's a quick read that anyone over 12 will understand and enjoy, but it won't insult the intelligence of adults.



3. This book is really easy to read, it summarizes different types of investments for the novice or someone who needs a refresher course. Tying the nursery rhymes in keeps book entertaining and informative, a must have for new investors!



4. A Great primer for new investors, both young and old. Bob Bolinger puts a simple rhyme and reason to the complicated stock market with his excellent book Stocks and Bonds for Jack & Jill. Start your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces off with the perfect holiday or birthday gift with this book. Maybe they will thank you years later for the lessons found in this book by naming you in their will.



5. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to read a number of books about basic investing that were extremely helpful. In this book, the author's goal was to explain the terms that most everyone's heard but does not necessarily understand. This, so that the new investor could be equipped with the knowledge necessary to approach the process in an intelligent and thoughtful manner.
   
   In my opinion, this is an outstanding book regarding the basics of investing. After reading it (and, it's a very quick, one-sitting read), anyone from high school student on up will have an uderstanding of the basic terms, and that will make it easier to learn what needs to be learned as they advance in the investment process.
   
   This book is not just for the young, however. Anyone, of any age, who invests in the market will most likely find this book very useful, either as a refresher of that which they already know, or as an explanation of that which they should know.
   
   By the way, as indicated by the title, Mr. Bollinger used nursery ryhmes and very simple examples to make it even easier to understand. Very clever. I'm not sure how he came up with the idea but, in my opinion, he pretty much did it perfectly.
   
   Well done!!

No comments about Successful Stock Speculation.

No comments about The Revolution in Techniques for Managing Bond Portfolios.

No comments about Low-Risk, High-Performance Investing With Convertible Bonds: Profit-Making Strategies for Identifying and Trading Convertible Securities.

1 comments about Investing in Junk Bonds: Inside the High Yield Debt Market.

1. Given that high yield bonds make up fully 25% of U.S. public corporate debt, and 19% of European corporate debt, you'd think there's be more and better books written on the subject.
   
   Think again.
   
   The best material on high yield bonds is written by the underwriters and research departments of large investment banks. It is a market of closed information. Why?
   
   Fees for issuance of a high yield bond are higher than equity IPO fees. Load fees for investing in a high yield bond funds are higher than other fixed income funds.
   
   Nevertheless, this is an indispensable book for those who wish to enter this last bastion and clubby private world of finance: the small, high stakes high yield bond market.
   
   But it desperately needs an update.