5 comments about Martin Pring's Introduction to Technical Analysis: A CD-ROM Seminar and Workbook.

1. The book does not have a glossary in the back of the book so we can look up words that the author failed to tell us the meaning. I emailed the author and asked him what certain trading terms meant in his book and I received an email back from somebody named "Lisa" that told me to look it up in the dictionary if you can't find the answer in the book. I think this person "lisa" was very unprofessional in the way she handled this email and her customer service skills need improving. There are better books than this one. This man is from another country other than America and he uses weird words to describe his examples. It's hard to understand.



2. I am just getting started into the world of technical analysis and trading stocks. This book is really helping me to understand some of the things I have been observing in the market. The best thing about the CD is the quizes. The reader's voice can put you to sleep - especially if you read the chapters first - he covers the exact same text.



3. As a newby and complete beginner in TA, I found this to be a near perfect book for getting your feet wet. The style is simple and straight forward with large print and easy to read charts. While there are a few typos, I did not find the excessive amount stated in the reviews of his second edition. I found the CD to be as valuable as the book. It's one thing to read a book, but actually knowing the material is what counts if you are going to apply it to trading. The CD is in multiple choice quiz format. After choosing your answer, Pring tells you in audio, not text, if you got it right or wrong and why. This way you can see if you actually understand the principals before you start risking money. Think back to your college days- how much did you learn from classes you only audited compared with those that had exams!! I dont own Murphy's book, but apparently it lacks this feature. While there is plenty of free info on the internet now, I would rather know I'm getting it from a known expert in the field. Prings book is compact and concise and can easily be read in 8-12 hours, depending on your style. While I plan to buy Murphy's book as a more comprehensive reference (over 500 pages is alot of reading), another must-have book I found is Elder's "Trading for a Living" (a psychiatrist and trader), with its psychology of crowd theory, very true of the market and an excellent supplement to anyone's collection.



4. The book is on the CD in a simple powerpoint like presentation with menus for each topic. I am happy with it.



5. Seller shipped much faster than standard timeframe. Product was "used" and was just as described. Great deal and great execution by seller.

5 comments about Free Money to Change Your Life.

1. This book has a tremendous amount of information on how to obtain money and it could possibly change your life. However a lot of the programs or information are state specific or in a special category, meaning not all programs are available to every state or to every individual for that matter. If you can find a program that you fit into and it works then great! Otherwise this book gives you other options about different things you can do to obtain "Free Money to Change Your Life" including possibly moving to another state or changing your profession.



2. This book was absolutely NO HELP at all. It's mainly about getting grants from the government and you have to be within a certain income bracket to do so. If you're middle class, FORGET IT! :(



3. As a successful grant writer I know how hard it is to get into the spirit of writing a good document. I'd highly suggest getting books that are more realistic like "Government Funding and You" or the "Grant Workbook". Both of these books walk you through realistic scenarios to get grants and they simply aren't hype books like this one!
   
   Kelli



4. I work for an organization listed in the book, and we do not distribute "Free Money". We provide small business loans at a rate between a mortgage and a credit card, and I honestly feel bad for the people who contact me because they found me in this book.
   
   If you're looking for resources for a small business, there are plenty of names you can get without spending whatever this book costs. [...]
   
   This book must provide incomplete information, given that 90% of the inqueries I receive do not qualify due to location. As a neighborhood based group in an north-east inner city, we focus on our neighborhood and do not lend outside of city limits, let alone Tennessee.
   
   Save your money. Please do not buy this book. It will only make you look foolish to those you tell about it.



5. Okay, so Matthew Lesko has the selling ability on his infomercials, but there's nothing to this book, if you don't get it immediately after it comes out from the publisher. He's got a disclaimer right in the front of the book that all the information in the book is outdated by the time it's published.
   
   It may not be his fault as I've written about 100 different agencies and organizations looking for money along with information just for information for anything from vehicle seizures to government giveaways.
   
   Out of all of those wasted man-hours, letters, and stamps I got 4 or 5 actual responses,...the rest came back "no such address" or "no such person, business" etc. Granted (pun intended) I was looking mostly for free government money for businesses among other stuff but this shouldn't be impossible to do.
   
   I've heard from various sources that these Government office's tend to close up and move every six to nine months, so they don't have to give the citizens "free-money" so like I said I don't blame Matthew Lesko for that bit as it's nigh on impossible to chase a "running papertrail" unless you've already got money and know your way around Washington DC.

5 comments about Values-Based Financial Planning : The Art of Creating and Inspiring Financial Strategy.

1. As a financial professional who strives daily to help my clients make smart choices about their money, I am impressed by Bill's personalized approach to helping people take control of their lives by showing them ways to create and implement a viable foundation for their ideal financial future. There are many approaches of course, perhaps infinite, to planning wisely for your future. No one method or process is perfect. However, if you're truly serious about taking financial control over your future, whether you invest for yourself or work with a competent professional, then seek ideas and methods that are focused on helping YOU fulfill what's important to you in life. Bill's work talks directly about doing this and in beneficial ways that can help you make real progress towards achieving your lifetime goals and fulfilling your values.



2. If you are an Advisor, read the book for the good of your clients. If you are a client, read the book for your benefit and the benefit for your Advisor. The main focus is on personal values, but the issue of the Client-Advisor relationship is explored as well. You may be a nightmare Advisor, or you may be a nightmare Client. Find out, and if so, fix it!



3. I have been investing over 18 years with a this concept. Love it, It pays, I sitting on a very nice nest egg. Trust, your values are the key to successful plan. I have many friends that think they can do this by themselves and are broke. All the trades online will take you down the drain. I have seen it. The book is on target. It is a quick read, to the point. After reading this one read the book Elephant in the Room.



4. Note that I received this book "free" from a financial planner "offering" to "assist" me with my finances. Red flag. It turns out that this book is the most shamelessly orchestrated written sales tool I've ever seen. The sales technique compares to the various investing and real estate seminars held in hotel ballrooms "this weekend only, don't miss it!".
   
   First, the book is filled with BIAS. In one example, it presents several choices for determining whether you are a financial do-it-yourselfer, collaborator, or delegator. Then each investor type is described; interestingly, the only one described favorably is the delegator (the one who would hire a financial person). THAT is blatent bias.
   
   Next, I was actually downright stunned to read the chapter about choosing an advisor: "People who are great in any field don't have to spell it out. You can tell by potential advisors' behavior and demeanor whether they are good at what they do."
   
   What?! By their BEHAVIOR and DEMANOR?
   
   The chapter continues to tell you that certifications, track record, and years of experience have little value. While I would certainly agree that these qualifications by no means "guarantee" someone's expertise, I would smartly evaluate by THOSE criteria before I would "rely on your gut reaction to the individual you're meeting and use certain other criteria" (carefully-scripted checklist coveniently provided) "as a backup."
   
   I could cite example after example of how this book carefully crafts your thinking, pandering to your desire to be smart, savvy, wise, and values-oriented. Interestingly, the book decries salesmanship as old-fashioned and shameless, yet it is itself a fine example of a sales technique.
   
   I'd also like to note the method of the professional who gave me this book exactly matches the description given in the book. How convenient; read the book first then realize (wow!) that the guy you are talking to is JUST like the ideal financial advisor recommended in this book (what LUCK!). (Fortunately, I am clued-into the process because a new client of this advisor has filled me in.)
   
   Overall, I don't think there is any information of value to investors in this book. If readers are not aware and savvy, they could be persuaded by this propaganda and let their thinking become sloppy; the next step is placing a huge amount of trust in an advisor trained in the method of "Values-Based Financial Planning" TM (note the title page reveals the title of this book is a trademark, not a general description as it appears to be on the cover).
   
   That said, I guess I would highly recommend this book for financial advisors seeking easily-manipulated clients!



5. Don't buy this book. Get it for free from your local Values-Based Financial Planning professional - who will also offer you a complimentary 20-minute telephone consultation to help you understand how the concepts in the book can have a positive impact for you.
   
   Contrary to what some other reviewers have said, it is not a gimmick designed to sell, manipulate, or convince you to do anything. It is about helping you align your financial choices with your core values - so you can have a better quality of life.
   
   I am a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, have been a financial advisor for thirty years, and a practitioner of Values-Based Financial Planning for four years. In my considerable experience, the philosophy described in the book is one of the best for helping you achieve your goals and realize your values.
   
   But it only appeals to a certain segment of the population: people who are serious about financial success and who want to be financial delegators. It does not appeal to do-it-yourselfers or collaborators. There's nothing wrong with doing it yourself or collaborating with a financial advisor. Just remember that the best professionals in any field don't collaborate with amateurs.

5 comments about The Warren Buffett Way: Investment Strategies of the World's Greatest Investor.

1. It wasnt a bad book and it didnt waste my time. But I want more meat from the author. More specifics on what makes this man tick would be appreciated. Its not bad - read it if you want to begin a discussion on Buffett. Don't waste your time if you already know something about Buffett.



2. Amidst the current market chaos, this book is more relevant than ever. Robert Hagstrom offers a largely historical overview of Warren Buffets exploits in the market over the past several decades - both good and bad ones, attempting to explain the guiding principles for each investment.
   
   As you make your way through the book, it doesn't take long to grasp the recurring themes of value investing, good management, and competence in the area you invest in. The discussion on index, passive, and active investment strategies was especially interesting in the context of speculative vs. ownership viewpoints.
   
   I have to admit, I've stayed away from the stock market, largely due to my own general ignorance of all the variables - even though I've taken courses, read and listened to books on strategies and numerous case studies. At times I've wondered if I was just being too risk averse for my own good, but I'm glad I've not given in because what implicitly held be back is exactly what Warren Buffet warns against: speculative investment.
   
   Great read and highly recommended. I'm looking forward to learning more about Warren Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway.



3. Book review of The Warren Buffett Way
   
   As I have been exploring economics from a variety of perspectives, it seemed only natural to read a book about one of the greatest investors of our time. I was pleasantly surprised by this book to learn that investing well was a rational and intelligent process and not just random chance.
   
   Obviously, there are those who dispute that statement but I believe that the weight of Mr. Buffett's success is a powerful argument against them. I also believe that his value investing strategy is highly compatible with the Christian life. As his recent buying spree proves, value investing helps out companies, and consequently keeps thousands of people employed, when they are down and it punishes investors that artificially raise stock prices by selling companies that get too expensive. This process of buying at undervalued points and selling at overvalued points moderates the growth of a company, consequently reducing instability and maintaining a rational environment for the securities market. Given the recent market plummet, I'd rather let billionaires keep the market afloat than my tax dollars.
   
   reprinted with permission from: http://naturalfamilylife.blogspot.com



4. I've had this book sitting on my shelf for a while. Purchased it then never got around to reading it. Finally, in the midst of this horrific market, I decided to give it a read, hoping for a fresh perspective.
   
   The advice given in the book and the summary of Mr. Buffett's investing philosophy is valuable. Sound ideas that I've already started putting to use in setting myself up to recover from this abyss we find ourselves in these days. Problem is, the books writing is mediocre at best. The organization and style of writing make the book a difficult read to stick with.
   
   Surprisingly, the best writing in the book, is his afterward where he reflects on how Buffett's philosophy has impacted his own investing strategies and career. He admits that using Buffett's philosophy straight may not be the best for the new economy, but that it can be applied to technology stocks, among others, with minor modification successfully. His original fund, which debuted, "coincidentally", with the first edition of this book, performed very poorly. He modified his investing philosophy after the first two years to include a broader range of funds.
   
   There are probably better books on Buffett.



5. Excellent book for those interested in learning how Warren Buffett values stocks and businesses. I really learned quite a bit for the first read now I'm reading it a second time to pick up on what I might have missed!
   
   Excellent book!

5 comments about A Beginner's Guide to the World Economy.

1. Have you asked this question before? Or any innumerable other ones regarding business or economics?
   
   Well, this is the book for you. Randy Charles Epping is not going to win the Nobel Prize for literature any time soon; but, he has produced an excellent book about what going on in the world economy. His non-jargon based explanations of everything from GDP to stock options to how the Federal Reserve works are enough to shine some light on the, often mystical, world of the Nightly Business Report. Epping answers 81 questions with succinct clarity.
   
   While, I would not say this book is a must read, I would say that if you wanted to know what are this stuff was, you should pick it up.



2. This is an excellent book for a novice/beginner, who is trying to understand the basics and scope of the World Economy in plain english.



3. If you want to understand the current issues about the World Economy, this is the book to buy. It does not cover the economic theory; there are other books for that. This one is easy and fun to read; especially when you hear the term in the news and understand them.



4. As an International Relations major in college, without much of a prior economic background, this book was a life-saver in understanding some of the dynamics of International Economics, theories, events, and the like. After reading this book for just a few hours, I could proudly define everything from hedge funds to globalization, which allowed me greater understanding of events on the news or in scholarly economic or political literature. Why take a an actual economics class, when this book offers just enough insight to make you a much more economically-informed citizen? Even if economics, global or not, isn't your forte?



5. I highly recommend this book. Has an indepth look at world economy from a vantage point. Great read.

5 comments about Credit Card Debt:.

1. I am deep in credit card debt, and I am being hounded by credit card companies, bill collecters, etc. I thought that this book would really help me with my alternatives for debt consolidation, give me guidelines about when to file for bankrupcty, and offer some advice about how to work with professionals. Instead, it seems like this book is written for the average person who isn't too deeply in trouble. I will keep looking for a book that evaluates the various debt consolidation agencies, talks about making settlement offers with the credit card companies, and provides information about how my credit report will be affected by the various alternatives. At this point, would it better to just file for bankruptcy? Would it be worse for my long-term credit to file Chapter 7 as opposed to making 50% settlements with my creditors? How can I find answers to these questions?



2. All right, here is my review: I think this book is not bad at all. It gives some very useful information about credit cards and credit card issuers. It is always very useful to have this info in your mind, although some of them are really straightforward and clear. Sometimes you need to read it in someonewelse's words even you know it. By the way, if you really don't know how to organize your finances like writing down your balance and credit limit on a piece of paper, you should really read this book!

   Ok, that was the good part about the book. What about the rest? Don't we all know how to try to get lower interest from issuer and high interest rate induces high interest on top of your balance in every billing cycle? We know what a transfer balance with promotional rate is etc. and how to use it in our advantage. If you don't, Read this book.

   Do you know what is the magical trick behind all of this credit card debt reduction techniques! I'll tell you that. PAY YOUR BALANCES. From no book you cannot get any information about how to reduce your debt without paying money. So, don't spend much, but try to pay as much as you can. Booom, you reduce your credit card debt. That simple.

   Last words, this book covers some useful info you might not have known at all. Maybe it should be called "credit cards for dummies". Aren't we all little bit dummy in this field?




3. According to the author of Credit Card Debt, a freeloader is what credit card companies call the smart individuals who pay off their debt every month (they've gone to a less likable "deadbeat" since the printing of this book).
   
   While the information is almost a decade old, there is still a wealth of knowledge in this book and most of the core principles are still valid. Daskaloff describes the credit card industry in terms of specific credit cards and accounts for specific people: those who pay their cards off every month; those who carry a balance; people who are very disciplined; etc., and this format is very helpful for the average consumer. The book is an easy ready, but one that is recommended for those who want to learn the basics on the industry that is shaping our culture.
   
   All in all, it's a good book and is well worth the $7.



4. I wish I had read this book 10 years ago. I really liked the way the author put forth, in plain language, what I could do to get out of credit card debt. Organization is key and so is reading the fine print on the back of your credit card statement. I thought that the charts in the book were a bit too complicated for my taste and that the simple notebook approach with a page for each credit card, worked better for me.



5. If you are looking for a lot of good information, and plenty of options on how to help get out of debt this is the book for you. I bought three debt books from Amazon, and this was the best of them all. This book costs the least amount of the three books I purchased. You can refer to this book year after year for refresher ideas.

5 comments about Getting Started in Technical Analysis (Getting Started In.....).

1. As an experianced trader, I found this book very interesting and gave me a good overview of what technical analysis is. As the title suggests it is for beginners and gave me a good understanding with numerous examples to get the reader to understand the concept on his own. It would have been helpful to have the charts being discussed on the same page. Those expecting a detailed "recipie" on how to trade with technical analysis should not buy this book. As for technical analysis as a tool for trading I have always been a skeptic. This book has not changed my opinon on TA, but the book is an excellent reading.



2. The book provides excellent technical analysis information for the selection and monitoring of equities and commodities. It is clear and separates the basics from the more detailed expansion of the analysis concept.



3. I am still using the glossary to analyze current market situations even after reading the whole thing. I love schwager's books. The people who are disappointed with using TA are looking for the "holy grail system" of trading and are refusing to become better traders. I believe there is no such thing as a holy grail system, and if there is, its being used by institutions that you can't beat. You just need to learn everything. I would definitely recommend using the techniques in this book when checking out stocks and setting price targets planning entries / exits. The book helps you figure out possible risk/reward ratios when entering a trade and where to put your stops. Jack Schwager's books have done nothing but make me money so far and helped me become a better trader. I do realize you can't rely on TA alone to make your trades, but the amount of knowlege he wrote into this in the back of the book/glossary makes it a quick resource. His section on flags and banners is must read. I feel confident I can handle any stock situation, and thats the point of the book. My goal is to beat the market every month. So far I am up 15% this week after reading the book!



4. Quite possibly one of the worst books I've read on TA in some time. As an active trader for the past 15 years who utilizes technical analysis, the entries and descriptions are almost encyclopedic in nature as opposed to explanatory & pragmatic.
   
   Sure, the Author describes what an ascending bull flag is; but then promptly moves on and doesn't explain methods for trading it. This situation repeats itself time & time again; while the author shows retroactive trades based on various patterns, he fails to discuss valid entry points based on probability of success. In addition, -MANY- things are excluded entirely from valid TA (umm... discussions of Volume, momentum, etc... where are they?).
   
   Furthermore, at -every- point in the book, the author is conciliatory in regards to technical analysis; always offering reluctant support for TA while suggesting that quite a lot of people believe it's hokum. While it's great to offer a contrary viewpoint in establishing a kind of rhetorical dialectic, if you're buying the book, you want to know how to successfully trade -utilizing- technical analysis - otherwise, you'd be buying 'Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis'.
   
   Towards the end of the book, the Author insultingly offers the tidbit that he won't be 'revealing' his successful strategies - because they're far too valuable to provide in a paperback book. It was at that moment that I had to stifle the urge to throw the book across the room. You see, there -are- no 'tried and true' 100% salient trading strategies - profitable trading utilizing TA is a combination of talent, experience, judgement, and minimizing losses.
   
   Essentially, this book is an obnoxious, pedantic, and degrading advertisement for his investment fund; which concludes with the Author essentially suggesting that after wasting your time reading it, your money is still best placed in his hands.



5. I bought this book thinking that technical analysis might actually have some basis in hard numbers. Unfortunately, that couldn't be farther from the truth. Even in the cherry picked examples for the book there are mixed trading signals on the charts, and Schwager qualifies all statements with a measured amount of uncertainty (you'll become familiar with words and phrases like "can be," "might," "often," "probably").
   
   Like it's always said: "Past gains are no guarantee of future returns." Or in Warren Buffet's words, "I realized technical analysis didn't work when I turned the charts upside down and didn't get a different answer." All this book did for me was reaffirm my sneaking suspicion that technical analysis is bogus, and is wrapping what is really just gut instinct in a pseudoscientific name. Since one man's "head and shoulders" is another man's "flag and pennant," it basically boils down to drawing a trend line that you think accurately fits some arbitrary data range, and trading based on that. I don't think technical analysis even has a place combined with fundamental analysis, besides taking advantage of people who set up limits based on these principles.

5 comments about Technical Analysis for the Trading Professional.

1. I am an experienced trader and an avid reader of trading books. This book has nothing new to offer since the author doesn't reveal any of her secrets unless you are willing to go to her website and pay $800 to get access to some of her indicators. She spends pages and pages to expalin very simple concepts. Total waiste of money and time.



2. This is a hard book to read but I think it's from a stream of consciousness that's "in the zone." It's one of probably only a handful of books ever written that can give you a unique insight into the mind of the market. Most people won't get it and never will. Thanks for sharing Connie.



3. This is an absolute horrible book. Like one reviewer already said, The author promises to take you into the promise land, but then tells you that she will not give you her secret formula. The book does not lead you to figure it out for yourself either, it is filled with traditional technical analysis you can get anywhere else.
   
   What is the point of writing yet another T/A book if you don't have anything new to say? One reason, advertise her website!



4. In this book you will really find invaluable hints and informations. New uses for RSI, when the author teaches how to put indicators on indicators; indicator reversals(wiht RSI) to sum up with the indicator divergences; how to use oscilattors(RSI in particular) to assess Elliot Wave counts; new methods for price projections with reverse engineering RSI and with Fibonacci(sure!).
   Well, I tried to follow the market(real time and past charts) searching for RSI reversals and it really works, most of time. Also, price projection with RSI reverse engineering also works. Just export the prices and RSI from your vendor into an Excel spreadsheet and use the "forecast" formula, with price closes and RSI values. If at that time the correlation between RSI and prices are good(near 1), so the price projection will work(I tried myself many times, with a good rate of success).
   The concept that RSI can also be used to detect a trend, opens a new window in how to use this oscillator.
   Well, beside that, there are many, let's say, exotic points. The chapter about Gann is almost like a chapter of The Lord of Rings or Harry Poter(well, maybe because I didn't understand it!).
   Anyway, even many concepts are not clear offered by the author(composite index and the Gann's methodology, as already commented by a reviewer)the book is worth the money, and you will learn a lot(and earn more) if you read it. But, it is not easy. I suggest you to have a good grasp on the basic indicators and technical analysis before start this journey.
   And, take your time to read it. More, many more than once!
   Ah! Make sure you have your chart in front of you to practice the ideas and concepts.



5. There are books that teach you concepts of technical analysis, but none, except this, that tell you the nuances and how to acquire that razor sharp edge so essential for professional traders. This book touches on several concepts and explains how they can be interpreted / better analysed compared to the lay trader. The description on Elliott waves and how they can be combined with oscillators is perhaps the best analytical discourse on Elliott I have ever read. That single chapter is worth the cost.
   
   However, the book has two negatives. One is the lack of adequate coverage on Gann, purportedly for "reasons of confidentiality", despite Constance claiming it to be her primary method. Second being that of marketing herself. I guess the class of the book itself is sufficient marketing enough and obvious references to her skills only create a jarring effect.
   
   Overall its a book that you start as an apprentice (though a well versed apprentice, since its a book not for the beginners) and finish as a master.

5 comments about Mellon: An American Life (Vintage).

1. What I found interesting about this book is that is a history lesson in American business and early regulatory policies that shaped the landscape we see today. At the same time, it is a story of classic love and betrayal. I found the author doing a great job when the story focused on Mellon's marriage and the demise of such, but he tended to become a bit lost in the details when describing all of the political ups and downs. Overall, a fine book and great American story



2. Cannadine exceeded expectations on a number of fronts with this definitive biography of Andrew Mellon. It has everything you'd expect from a grade-A biography, laying out where Mellon's family came from (both physically and philosophically), how Mellon grew up, his rise, peak, eventual fall from grace, death and legacy. Not only that, but Cannadine does all of this exceedingly well, giving his reader a sense of the nuances and subtleties of Mellon's personality and life. If Cannadine had done nothing else, he'd still have written a five-star book.
   
   This book goes beyond most rock-solid biographies that I've read in Cannadine's sensitivity to the larger meaning of the events in Mellon's life, his place in history and his impact even after his death. While this sensitivity is present throughout Cannadine's book, it really comes together in in his three-part epilogue, which you will absolutely not want to miss, it is the highlight of the book.
   
   The first point Cannadine develops is that Mellon's life straddled the line between two different eras in American history. He shows how Mellon, without changing his behaviors, was perceived one way for much of his life, then a totally different way at the end of his life. Through his awareness of this point, Cannadine really demonstrates to the reader how radical the shift in sentiment was in America in the 1930s.
   
   The second point Cannadine is aware of, as any successful biographer of a great historical figure must be, is the idea that Mellon was a human being with some great strengths and some great flaws. In my experience, people who have the strengths to accomplish the most often have corresponding weaknesses to go with them; Cannadine really makes this point clear in his epilogue, doing a "balance sheet" of positives and negatives of Mellon's character and accomplishments. I've never seen an author take even-handed analysis to a similar place, and it really helped bring together the books ideas at the end.
   
   Finally, Cannadine captures a truth about life, society and politics that imbues the book with a sense of sadness. It becomes obvious that many (though certainly not all) of the good things that happen to Mellon happen out of chance. Similarly, when bad things happen to Mellon, most (again, not all... his divorce comes to mind as an obvious exception) of them are undeserved. Mellon dies near the low point of his public popularity, suffering primarily for sins he did not commit.
   
   I highly recommend this book for lovers of biography and history, it is truly a step beyond a really good biography.



3. This beautifully written and fascinating portrait of Andrew Mellon is the single most compelling biography I can ever remember reading, as well as the most interesting history lesson I've ever had. An amazing piece of work.



4. It is a complete history of the Mellon family from their immigration from Ulster in 1815 to the death of Andrew Mellon. It absolutely shows the vindictiveness of Franklin Roosevelt in his attempt to convict Andrew of tax evasion and the generosity of Andrew with his gift of the National Gallery of Art and its original paintings to the people of the United States.



5. It took me a while to read but I was sad when it ended.
   I came upon this book one day and saw the reviews and
   decided I needed to read about this man.
   A very well written biography of one of our Great American
   business men. I enjoy reading biographies and this one
   really kept my interest. The art work Mellon purchased
   is outstanding. I must go to the museum in Washington
   and view this outstanding art work. Mellon lived a very
   intriquing life. I truly enjoyed this biography.

5 comments about More Wealth Without Risk.

1. More Wealth without risk was published in 1991. I read it for the first time in 1995.
   
   Those who familiar with his books and the cases which were filed against him know that the people who sued him late in his life did not follow the strategies outlined in his books.
   
   My only regret is that I did not pay attention to the Investor's decision line when the stock market crashed in 2000. I lost half of my 401k due to that oversite.



2. I am in the process of researching the correlations between the current real estate market, the fed funds rate and the stock market. I strongly believe that we are going to see some very bullish activity in the stock market over the next 2 years. I see some strong simularities between the year 1997 and 2006. Please let me know what you think of this money movement strategy. I originally read about it in a book by the late Charles Givens. The author may have had some problems with his other ideas, regarding car insurance, but I think this strategy really makes sense and we should pay more attention to it.
   
   I have a website where I am including free infromation about this and other wealth ideas. http://www.nobodytosomebody.com



3. Absolutly a must have book for the person who does not know a lot about anything financial. We written and to the point directions with easily comprehendible information to help you save money and earn in all aspects of life.



4. I was introduced to Mr. Givens back in January 1989 on one of his many
   appearances on "The Today Show." At that time Mr. Givens was promoting his book, Wealth Without Risk.
   
   To say that I was skeptical, would be an understatement. Nonetheless, I went out and bought his book and passively applied some of the strategies.
   
   Several months later, I had moved from Pennsylvania to Orlando, FL and came in contact with Dennis Jumper, a Givens member and Share The Wealth rep.
   
   Dennis convinced me of the increased opportunities available via the
   membership so I joined. Also that day, I met Mr. Givens for the first time.
   
   He was very dynamic and charismatic.
   
   Prior to studying the Financial Library and applying the Givens Power
   Strategies, I was like a gerbel in a cage! Earning money was the easy part. hanging on to what to what I made and keeping ahead of taxes and inflation was the hard part. I found that the more money that I had coming in the front door, the faster it went out the back door!
   
   After reading Wealth Without Risk and pouring into the Financial Library, my wife and I found that it was very easy to stack strategies i.e. use the personal finance and tax reducing strategies and increase our contrbutions to our company 401(k) thereby reducing our AGI and being eligible for deductible IRA'S. Taking the savings from auto insurance and putting the profits into our insurance companies annuity and seeing our insurance premiums go even LOWER!
   
   We had our son help us in our family business and pay him a "tax
   deductible" salary instead of a "non deductible" allowance. Used our
   automobile in our business and go from a zero allowance to a 80% tax
   deduction, this includes service and maintenance costs. Take "tax
   deductible" business trips instead of non deductible vacations and more.
   
   We also moved from a local bank checking account to a money market mutual fund to take advantage of the higher interest and flexibility.
   
   We were amazed to see how money we were saving from restructoring auto,
   health and homeowners insurance PLUS modifying our W-4 form at work. All of this "new found money" went into our money market mutual funds for
   emergencies while also funding our IRA's and regular mutual fund accounts.
   
   We actually had investments that were growing for the first time.
   
   With our business, we also set up a SEP IRA for my wife and I and we are contributing the maximum and also have IRA's set up for our son directly from salaries from helping us and of course we take a tax deduction.
   
   We also fired our financial planner. In 1987 he put us in bad loaded stock mutual funds which dropped a lot as did the overall market that year. Then he put us in bonds at the absolute worst time and we missed out on part of the market rebound in 1989. Now, all of our investments are in NO-LOAD MUTUALS only and we are our own Financial Planners! We are using the Givens Money Movement Strategy as our guide and estimate that we are on track to have a retirement income well in excess of six figures just from our investments.
   
   We follow the money movement strategy and that kept us from losing money in 1989, 1995, 2000 and 2007. In 2000, we pulled money out of stock mutual funds and individual stocks, moved into a money market fund and then into a zero coupon bond mutual fund. One of Mr. Given's mantra's was,
   
   "When interest rates are high, stocks will die." So when Greenspan started raising interest rates, we pulled out of stocks and moved into money market mutual funds. As expected, stocks fell and fell hard with the Dow Jones dropping from nearly 12,000 to 8,000 and the Nasdaq from 5300 to under 2,000. Likewise, when interest rates started going up again we once again moved out of stocks and missed the stock market slide we have had in 2008. Mr. Givens money movement strategy works everytime.
   
   Mr. Givens also has another mantra that goes like this:
   
   
   "Everytime interest rates drop 1% all bonds appreciate 10%." We made 45%-50% on our bond fund while others were chasing stocks and buying on the dip or using the old "buy and hold" strategy. And since we used the recommendations by Mr. Givens and the Givens Org. we had investments that were growing and paid no commissions -we used only NO LOAD FUNDS.
   
   I also dropped a whole life insurance policy and moved into a LPT policy.
   More money to invest and/or build on our lifestyle.
   
   If I had to choose the single most important strategy, it would be "The
   Dreams List" Strategy. This is what ! got us to take action and make
   everything possible. The Dreams List also kept us motivated during many
   difficult times and kept us on track.
   
   In 1991, I had one of those unfortunate reversals in my life. Fortunately at that time I was not only a Givens (IAS) member but also associated with Share The Wealth, the direct selling division of the Givens Org. and had qualified for a Managers Conference. Part of that included going to Mr. Givens home. I meekly approached Mr. Givens while he was entertaining
   approximately 80 other guests and asked him if I could have a few minutes of his time, that I had a personal issue and needed some advice.
   
   He was gracious, politely excused himself from his other guests and spent about 30 minutes with me discussing my situation. His advice worked and to this day I can recall his look of concern and sincerity in wanting to help me. Mr. Givens was a one of a kind guy.
   
   This book should be renamed THE SUPERFINANCIAL BIBLE because for us,
   it has helped us reach financial goals that we consider SUPER and wouldn't
   have achieved without the Givens Strategies. Mr. Givens, RIP and thank you!
   
   
   
   Tony DeFrancisco
   
   Winter Park, FL



5. Great financial information that is very relevant to every American in theses days and times.