fainancial

As a financial planner specializing in Wealth Preservation Planning, one aspect of my practice is providing life insurance, when appropriate. As a result, part of my job involves the delivery of death claim checks to widows. Unfortunately, many of them have never had the opportunity to deal with family finances or budgeting - but are suddenly thrown into a situation where they must assume that responsibility. It comes at a time of great instability and disruption.

"On Your Own" by Alexandra Armstrong and Mary R. Donahue deals sensitively with both the emotional and financial issues of widowhood, and provides guidance for both - with compassion and authoritative wisdom. It provides comfort and knowledge in a clever structure which allows the reader to review applications of each chapter's information in one of several optional formats, based upon her individual set of circumstances (young with children, elderly, etc.)

I am so impressed with the book that I give it to each of the beneficiaries to whom I deliver a death claim check. The thank you notes I have received have provided a wonderful reward for sharing this valuable information.

I purchased this book five years ago from Ms. Armstrong at a NAIC Congress in Florida. At the time I purchased it as a reference for my investment club's library. With 21 women in the M & D Investment Club I figured someone would need it sometime. I have skimmed it occasionally through the years but when I recently become widowed it was the first book I brought out. Ms. Armstrong has literally saved me much time and grief in trying to figure out what to do next. There is no time of greater confusion and despair than at the sudden and unexpected loss of a beloved spouse. When I can read this book gives me something to do or think about. The suggestions for organization are excellent and will allow me to make informed descisions instead of emotional decisions. While I did not expect to be the recipient of her wisdom I am grateful for it. I highly recommend it for all women, married, single, divorced or involved in any relationship that has financial involvement. We can't afford to not know how to best proceed with our financial future.

For all who have ever asked "What do I do now?" or "Who can help me with...?" I recommend "On Your Own". Like earlier editions, this is a sensitive and insightful resource for those who have recently experienced (or are preparing to experience) the loss of a spouse. In a highly readable and usable style the authors lead the reader through important topics often thought to be too intimidating or too confusing for someone wrought with fear and sadness.

I highly recommend this book but it is a little disorganized. It appears to have graduated from being a collection of coveted class handouts for MBA's to an almost-book. Its perfectly bound but the fonts are large, uses Power Point graphics, and needs great editing to turn it into a professional book.

That aside, you will find information here that you won't find elsewhere. It is easy to read and the information is easy to apply to your own business, although the book's focus is on evaluating existing (not new) technology companies. I'm glad the author has made it available.

The author assembles critical strategic and financial methodologies and ratios into one book, then shows how they applied to real companies over the last 10 years. This works quite nicely with two small problems for me. First, many of the examples were telecommunications companies where a deep understanding of the technologies was needed to understand the context of problem being highlighted. Secondly, the over-reliance on financial ratios restricts many of the techniques to existing (and not startup) companies.

However, I immediately applied two of the techniques to a new software product. I particularly liked the application of his adjusted Altman's Z Score to finding inflection points. Many of his techniques could work quite well for evaluating existing IPO's for example.

Again, I highly recommend this book.

John Dunbar
Sugar Land, TX

Dr. Nugent's book is a must to read, if you plan to win in business world, especially for people in telecommunications industry. I have been enjoying listening to him in many occassions. Dr. Nugent has provided training and consulting to major telecoms companies such as Ericsson using the tools in his book. This book summarizes all the necessary business tools based on his knowledge and management experience for business and financial analysis. We shall benefit a lot from reading the excellent book.

Frank Pan, MBA MS MS.Ed.
Ericsson Inc.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the author for bringing such a great piece of work to the market. I can't think of a better time to read this book!. I have read this book and am very impressed with the concepts, content organization, clarity and flow.

I have spent two years in the business school while obtaining 50 credit hours and reading 20 books!. I wish we had a course with this book!!. The essence of the tools needed for a successful business is gifted in this book. I would recommend this book for any one who would like to improve their business understanding or dealing with competition. Again I would like to thank and congratulate the author. They say big things come in small packages. Considering the price of this book, it's a great investment. Good luck.

You should know I'm biased. Mr. Cohen is my personal financial consultant. Over the past three years while many of my friends were losing a fortune in the market, my portfolio grew substantially thanks to the principles discussed in this book. If you can't have Jeff as your personal advisor, the next best thing to do is read his book and see how he does it. - Wm.G.Hayden,M.D.

If you were like most investors, you would leap at the opportunity to earn consistent double-digit stock market returns with greatly reduced risk. This excellent book on Put Options introduces you to an innovative, proven program designed to do just that--produce consistent and regular stock market returns while minimizing the risk of losing those returns during a down market.
The secret, as described in detail in the book, is in implementing a low-maintenance, easy-to-follow program of selling put options on quality stocks while hedging those investments by buying puts on the overall market. Far easier to implement and track than it sounds, this strategy is frequently used by institutional investors, whose reputations and careers depend on garnering decent returns without assuming unnecessary risk.
Put Options explains this proven technique in terms that virtually any investor can understand and implement. The rare investment book that supports its claims by providing the actual results of actual trades using actual household-name stocks, Put Options provides a step-by-step template on how you can use author Jeffrey Cohen's SafetyNet program.
This book is for the individual small investor that makes his own investment decisions. The existing base of such investors is huge, and growing rapidly, as evident by the subscriber growth rates of the online brokers. The reasons for these investors making their own decisions and thus controlling the performance of their portfolios is quite clear when you consider the following scenario:
The savvy investor is no longer content making a 2% annual return in a passbook savings account or 4% on a Bank Certificate of Deposit. Some mutual funds may do a little better than this but their performance is not always consistent.

Today, everyone wants his or her money put to hard work, aggressively generating more money. Since the stock market outperforms all other investments over time, people are increasing turning to the stock market and the options market, where much higher rates of return can be made with relative small increase in risk to capital.

Before the later part of 1997, it was difficult for the small investor to become actively involved in the stock market. The commission fees charged by the full service brokers were high. Research into companies and analysis of stocks were difficult, obtaining timely information was nearly impossible for the average person. It used to be that stock and option investing was considered the domain of professional money managers and the wealthy elite. The Internet has changed all that by providing a wealth of financial information and online brokerage firms. There are hundreds of Internet sites that provide free instant access to stock quotes, stock charts, company profiles, late breaking company news, detailed technical analysis, and even specific stock and options recommendations.

With computers and Internet connection available to everyone inexpensively, the small investor has opportunity like never before! These days, virtually everyone knows about the stock market. The number of mutual funds has grown 50 folds since the 1970's... 401(K) plans have flourished ... kids these days get stocks as birthday and graduation presents... there is 24 hour stock coverage on TV... online trading accounts are everywhere...

My point is this: we have become a generation of stock investors. We are raising our children to be stock investors. And with savings interest rates hovering around 1%¾there are trillions of dollars in cash still waiting on the sidelines¾with no place to go except right back into the stock market. All it will take is more good news from sectors recovering from over growth and the recent pullbacks.

The most important of all is the fact that investor expectation of reasonable return on investment has been moderated after the recent stock market bubble burst... and a 20% to 30% per year return on a sustainable basis is very attractive and acceptable. In my opinion, anyone who has a portfolio or manages investor or corporate funds is a potential reader [of the Put Options book] and user [of the SafetyNet program] by Jeffery Cohn.

Put Options will change the way you invest by literally changing the way you view investment. It shows you how to invest in today's best blue chip and technology stocks in such a way as to profit when they do well while protecting yourself when they do poorly. Packed with facts, figures, and actual examples of SafetyNet program in action, it unquestionably supports the bottom-line premise that writing options can, if done correctly, be far safer than owning shares of stock--and then shows you exactly how to do it.

Cohen's book is a compelling analysis of selling put options and covering the risk with the purchase of index puts. He compares this strategy with the purchase of long stocks and describes how the strategy reduces risk. Overall a solid description of a well developed strategy. Not some get-rich-quick scheme!

I found Robert Reby's book easy to read and well organized, with helpful hints before each chapter. I think it's very helpful for those, like me, who plan to retire once and on time! After reading it from cover to cover, I feel like I've got the information I need to go down the right road.

Written by certified financial planner Robert J. Reby, Retire Without Worry: Simple, Straightforward Answers To Serious Financial Questions is a no-nonsense, "reader friendly" guidebook to diverse money matters ranging from stocks, bonds and funds; to the ABC's of retirement planning, estate planning, taking care of taxes and so much more. An easy-to-follow guide written especially for lay readers in need of sound basic advice, Retire Without Worry is especially recommended reading for members of the baby boom generation who are now finding themselves on the brink of their retirement years and needing to address the pending financial and money management issues and concerns that they will all to soon be called upon to address for themselves and their loved ones.

As a father of two college bound children I need to plan for their future as well as my own and my wife's. Regardless of daily social security and tax law changes I needed a starting place to begin to learn about retirement, investment and tax planning. With this book, I was not disappointed. The information was updated and informative -- simply explaining the differences in college savings plans or different types of IRAs or other investment tools. I am well on the way to controlling my savings...and retiring without worry.

This book is different from many other books on investing.
I have seen a lot of books which cover basic terminology but don't
give many ideas on strategy. I don't recommend it as a first
book on investing - the author explains some terminology but
generally assumes the readers know the basics. If you have
the basics down but you are not sure what to do with your
knowledge, this book is very useful. It deals with such material as
use of puts and calls as part of a conservative

investment strategy, differences in investment strategies needed
in taxable and non taxable accounts and effective use of different investment
vehicles - stocks, mutal funds, EFTs etc.
Definitely worth space on your bookshelf.

The title of this book attracted me immediately because of my concerns about my financial security in the current market. I hoped that it would give me practical tips that I would be able to put into practice. I was not disappointed. The book explained in a language that I, a not very sophisticated investor, could understand.

Practical, levelheaded strategies and advice that obviously come from experience. Not full of polemics like many investment books...every paragraph adds to the reader's understanding toward direct application. You could read many of the popular investment books and never run into the techniques she presents which are an essential part of any portfolio manager's arsenal. While the book's title might seem to be for fearful investors, the book is actually focused on returns, and the techniques should allow an investor to make more aggressive moves in line with their goals when one has some control over the risks, through hedging, negative correlations within the portfolio, appropriate investment vehicles, and using options for controlled profit-taking and safer entries and exits even when entering into more volatile positions for which the risk could otherwise be prohibitive.

In the foreward of the third edition of "Sound Mind Investing", Larry Burkett writes "...I endorse the integrity and honesty of Austin Pryor. Obviously you, the reader, must evaluate his advice yourself. No one individual has the right advice for everyone, and anyone can, and will, be wrong in the changing economy we live in. But if you will spend the time to read carefully the counsel Austin provides in this book, you will find it both time and money well spent."

I agree wholeheartedly. After having read numerous introductory texts on money-management from a Christian perspective, this book is the most comprehensive and readable text of the lot.

Austin's book is divided into 6 Sections:

1) Getting Debt-free. The author considers this the first level of financial fitness, an equivalent of laying a proper foundation upon which to build. At this early point in the text, he discusses the importance of tithing in your plan. Austin writes "we are not commanded to give generously. Rather, our giving is a test of sincerity of our love and our willingness to trust in God's utter faithfulness" (based upon 2Cor 8:8,9:8). Austin goes on to say "When you pray about your giving, may I encourage you to give to the full measure of your gratitude and cheerfulness. And continue to ask God to enlarge your heart toward Him so you can eagerly embrace the sacrifice needed to give all the more."
In addition, budgeting as well as the dangers associated with the misuse of credit cards are discussed.

2) Saving for Future Needs. This includes the principles of saving money in a secure, low-risk emergency fund (financial planners recommend 3 to 6 months living expenses; Austin recommends $10,000) as well as in an accumulation fund for big-ticket items that you anticipate purchasing within 1 to 5 years. He also includes advice on preparing to help your children to finance their college or technical education. He believes that, if parents have the financial means, they should consider helping with the expenses of a college education for their children. Emphasis is given to the benefits of investing for your children's education as early as possible. Powerful examples are given. Note that Austin believes that children should be responsible for a portion of their educational expenses as well. Advice on where to invest this money is given, including but not limited to Ed IRAs and 529 plans.

3) Investing Your Surplus. Once you are debt-free and have adequate savings in an emergency fund, the author believes you can then begin to take educated risks by investing your surplus in mutual funds. This section is a primer on investment basics and mutual funds.

4) Diversifying for Safety. Austin is a strong proponent of building an age-appropriate,diversified portfolio through mutual fund investing. For the typical investor, he advocates "dollar-cost-averaging" or "value-averaging" strategies versus market-timing strategies, although he does admit venturing into market-timing strategies in his personal investment approach (He did this professionally in the past, but does not recommend market-timing for the average investor. Reasons are given). This book includes a short quiz that enables the reader to see what their personal tolerance is for investment risk. Once you determine your tolerance level, Austin leads you through determining your appropriate portfolio mix and shows you how your mix should change as you go through the various financial stages of your life.

5) Retirement Countdown. Austin wants his readers to have a realistic view of their needs for retirement. He discusses how to properly lower your investment risk as retirement approaches.

6) Investing that Glorifies God. The book ends with a section entitled "Investing that Glorifies God, a Biblical Blueprint for Building Your Financial House on Solid Rock". This section is priceless. Austin essentially reminds the reader of the importance of an eternal perspective, and that our investing should glorify God by acknowledging His sovereignty, valuing His majesty, building His Kingdom, upholding His righteousness, seeking His wisdom, and enjoying His blessing.

Please consider the counsel given in this book. I have and it has changed my financial life.

This is an awesome book! It is helpful for the beginner as well as someone who already has a "foundational" knowledge of finance. It is easy to read and understand and yet gives you a wealth of information. I read it cover to cover and even now often find myself using it as reference for making financial decisions. A must have for anyone interested in getting their financial house in order in a manner that is honoring to God. Worth every penny and more!

After trying to invest on my own,with mixed results; I've come to have a real admiration for the years of solid experience and great insight in Sound Mind Investing. The market perspective, great research and wonderful world view rate this book tops for me.

I also agree its a shame this book is out of print. Learning the basics of earning, saving and spending should be as essential as learning your ABC's. How can schools attempt to
prepare students for life as adults without a basic knowledge of
money. This book provides in a very basic, easy to read format the basics of saving, spending and accumulating wealth. Without
this knowledge the average persons spends an entire life making
financial mistakes while they chase an illusory dream of financial independence.

I have been a student of personal finance for many years (Charles Givens, and others) spent over a thousand dollars on what is good information, too. However, the biggest bang for the buck has to be Uncommon Cents. What they do in 114 pages is concise, entertaining, loaded with cartoons, and right on! The plan to get out of debt works, a personal testimonial, and the financial myths timeless. Highly recommended reading!

This is a must read book. It explains in such a simple format as to how to control your expeditures and curb instant gratification. I first bought it in 1990, and now I have bought a number of copies as presents for friends - and even my accountant. I highly endorse this publication. It is the best financial planning advice.

This is a holiday gift to open more than once. Beautiful! Useful! Fuses text and illustrations in a way that enriches both!

This book is an absolutely wonderful guide to lower Manhattan. It takes the reader into the exclusive, upper-echelons of Wall Street that few rarely glimpse. Giving a concise, yet very well written history of the architecture as well as the firms of Wall Street, this book is really a treat for everyone. I highly recommend it.

This book is a pleasure to read and to keep around for others to enjoy. I keep it on my desk at work so that my visitors can enjoy the incredible photography. The book also gives a unique insight in to the history of the many firms on Wall Street and how consolidation has led to our current list of players. Many find it interesting to see how certain firms came to be what they are today.

One example of an interesting foreshadow is that the author has included a picture of the Banker's Trust building reflecting off of a Deutsche Bank conference room table. The two frims merged several years after the photo was taken.

Since buying this book I now enjoy walking around lower Manhattan. While before I was caught up in the rat race, I know see the beauty of the arcitecture and can better appreciate the history of Wall Street. This book is full of insightful anecdotes which lead to interesting stories for me to share.

This book is a must for anyone who works in the finacial world for its insight and to keep around for others to enjoy.

I was happily surprised when I saw one of the authors books on Nantucket while on vacation there. I bought the book and was again happily surprised at its combination of photography and narration. I would rate Nantucket Island five stars as well.

An easy read with lots of valuable strategies for prospect and client marketing. You can't miss with these unique and easy to implement ideas. I was able to take four ideas and implement them right away.

After reading this book you will definately increase your business. My business is up 50% already this year. It's an easy read with valuable tips that you wish you had when you first started your business.
All the Red Zone books are in my office and required reading for all my new reps.

This is a must read for anyone in the financial services industry, whether you've just started out or you are a veteran planner. I have 15 years experience in financial services and when I read this book (which by the way, took me half the flight from Florida to the Northeast), I clearly recognized multiple proven strategies that I have obviously been overlooking. This book will show you tangible ways to solidify client relationships and ultimately grow your practice. The ideas I gained are easy to implement and are already helping my practice grow!

Like his other books, Franses provides an nice applied treatment of non-linear time series models that are in this case applicable to finance. It includes extensive coverage of regime switching models. It includes data drawn from several financial markets including Tokyo, London and Frankfurt.

The major distinction of the book from Granger&Terasvirta's earlier work is its focus on financial applications of regime switching (RS) models and the author's separate treatment of RS in returns(means) and volatilities(variances) by putting them in different chapters. Another welcome feature is the availability of accompanying procedures in Gauss downloadable from the author's website. I would have expected a lengthier treatment of Markov RS models but I guess either the authors leave this to Tsay's new book or quote Hamilton as classical reference source.

The major distinction of the book from Granger&Terasvirta's earlier work is its focus on financial applications of regime switching (RS) models and the author's strategy of separate treatment of RS of returns(means) and volatilities(variances) by putting them in different chapters. Another wellcome feature is the availability of accompanying procedures in Gauss downloadable from the author's website. I would have expected a lengthier treatment of Markov RS models but I guess either the authors leave this to Tsay's new book or quote Hamilton as classical reference source.