Where Are the Customers' Yachts?

Author: Fred Schwed, Jr.
Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 9780471770893
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
"Once I picked it up I did not put it down until I finished. . . . What Schwed has done is capture fully-in deceptively clean language-the lunacy at the heart of the investment business." -- From the Foreword by Michael Lewis, Bestselling author of Liar's Poker ". . . one of the funniest books ever written about Wall Street." -- Jane Bryant Quinn, The Washington Post "How great to have a reissue of a hilarious classic that proves the more things change the more they stay the same. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." -- Michael Bloomberg "It's amazing how well Schwed's book is holding up after fifty-five years. About the only thing that's changed on Wall Street is that computers have replaced pencils and graph paper. Otherwise, the basics are the same. The investor's need to believe somebody is matched by the financial advisor's need to make a nice living. If one of them has to be disappointed, it's bound to be the former." -- John Rothchild, Author, A Fool and His Money, Financial Columnist, Time magazine Humorous and entertaining, this book exposes the folly and hypocrisy of Wall Street. The title refers to a story about a visitor to New York who admired the yachts of the bankers and brokers. Naively, he asked where all the customers' yachts were? Of course, none of the customers could afford yachts, even though they dutifully followed the advice of their bankers and brokers. Full of wise contrarian advice and offering a true look at the world of investing, in which brokers get rich while their customers go broke, this book continues to open the eyes of investors to the reality of Wall Street.

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Author: Edgar Lawrence Smith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bonds
Languages : en
Pages : 152

Book Description

Pound Foolish

Author: Helaine Olen
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101575301
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 358

Book Description
If you’ve ever bought a personal finance book, watched a TV show about stock picking, listened to a radio show about getting out of debt, or attended a seminar to help you plan for your retirement, you’ve probably heard some version of these quotes: “What’s keeping you from being rich? In most cases, it is simply a lack of belief.” —SUZE ORMAN, The Courage to Be Rich “Are you latte-ing away your financial future?” —DAVID BACH, Smart Women Finish Rich “I know you’re capable of picking winning stocks and holding on to them.” —JIM CRAMER, Mad Money They’re common refrains among personal finance gurus. There’s just one problem: those and many similar statements are false. For the past few decades, Americans have spent billions of dollars on personal finance products. As salaries have stagnated and companies have cut back on benefits, we’ve taken matters into our own hands, embracing the can-do attitude that if we’re smart enough, we can overcome even daunting financial obstacles. But that’s not true. In this meticulously reported and shocking book, journalist and former financial columnist Helaine Olen goes behind the curtain of the personal finance industry to expose the myths, contradictions, and outright lies it has perpetuated. She shows how an industry that started as a response to the Great Depression morphed into a behemoth that thrives by selling us products and services that offer little if any help. Olen calls out some of the biggest names in the business, revealing how even the most respected gurus have engaged in dubious, even deceitful, practices—from accepting payments from banks and corporations in exchange for promoting certain products to blaming the victims of economic catastrophe for their own financial misfortune. Pound Foolish also disproves many myths about spending and saving, including: Small pleasures can bankrupt you: Gurus popularized the idea that cutting out lattes and other small expenditures could make us millionaires. But reducing our caffeine consumption will not offset our biggest expenses: housing, education, health care, and retirement. Disciplined investing will make you rich: Gurus also love to show how steady investing can turn modest savings into a huge nest egg at retirement. But these calculations assume a healthy market and a lifetime without any setbacks—two conditions that have no connection to the real world. Women need extra help managing money: Product pushers often target women, whose alleged financial ignorance supposedly leaves them especially at risk. In reality, women and men are both terrible at handling finances. Financial literacy classes will prevent future economic crises: Experts like to claim mandatory sessions on personal finance in school will cure many of our money ills. Not only is there little evidence this is true, the entire movement is largely funded and promoted by the financial services sector. Weaving together original reporting, interviews with experts, and studies from disciplines ranging from behavioral economics to retirement planning, Pound Foolish is a compassionate and compelling book that will change the way we think and talk about our money.

The Art Of Speculation

Author: Philip L. Carret
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1786256746
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 401

Book Description
Philip L. Carret (1896-1998) was a famed investor and founder of The Pioneer Fund (Fidelity Mutual Trust), one of the first Mutual Funds in the United States. A former Barron’s reporter and WWI aviator, Carret launched the Mutual Trust in 1928 after managing money for his friends and family. The initial effort evolved into Pioneer Investments. He ran the fund for 55 years, during which an investment of $10,000 became $8 million. Warren Buffett said of him that he had “the best long term investment record of anyone I know” He is most famous for the long successful track record he achieved investing in Common Stocks and for being one of Warren Buffett’s role models. This book comprises a series of articles written for Barron’s and published in book form in 1930.—Print Ed.

A Fool and His Money

Author: John Rothchild
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9780471251385
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
"There is one thing that can be said about A Fool and His Moneythat cannot be said about any other colume of investment advice:You will never make a penny from the information in this book. Nowork on the subject of personal finance has even tried to make thisclaim before. That is because works on the subject of personalfinance are all lying. John Rothchild is the only fully honestauthor in the genre."--from the Foreword by P. J. O'Rourke. A veritable gold mine of comic insight into the predicament of anaverage investor's avid pursuit of wealth, A Fool and His Money isJohn Rothchild's critically acclaimed personal account of a yeardevoted to investing his money in the markets. The entireinvestment world--its characters, institutions, customs, andmyths-passes under Rothchild's sharp and profoundly humorousscrutiny. Acclaim for A Fool and His Money "What makes this book so good is that Rothchild can explain thingslike naked puts . . . and leave the reader both edified andlaughing. . . . Witty, fast-paced, and educational."--TheWashington Post. "You'll relish John Rothchild's comic tale. . . . The book nearsguaranteed delight."--Newsday. "A Fool and His Money may be the funniest book about investing everwritten. It's a reader's capital gain."--New York Post. You set aside some money, quit your job, devote yourself entirelyto studying the markets, and start to invest. Then, through hardwork and your own magical intuition, you become so wealthy yourmajor concern is finding a fashionable hobby to soak up yourabundant leisure time. All in about a year. Now, thanks to this hugely entertaining and informative book, youcan live out the fantasy without risking your money, your job--oryour sanity. Since its acclaimed debut a decade ago, A Fool and His Money hasbecome a treasured investment classic. It's the comic, firsthandaccount of a first-time investor who sets out to make his wildestmoney dreams come true. In a surge of optimism and enterprise, financial writer JohnRothchild drops everything to devote an entire year to learning howto invest a modest sum of money. Motivated by a sincere desire toget rich, he undertakes his mission by systematically studying asmuch as he can about the markets and how they really operate. Hefearlessly asks the most basic questions, observes theprofessionals at work, studies the newsletters, makes investments,and reports back on everything--including his own highly personaland often hilarious reactions. With Rothchild as your guide through the marketplace, you will: * Eavesdrop as his broker explains in fluent double-talk why heshould buy a certain "hot stock" * Share in his buyer's remorse as Rothchild purchases an unknowntechnology company stock that puts him on an emotional rollercoaster * Be humbled as he enters the almighty Federal Reserve Bank andstruggles to understand its omnipotent power over his personalfinances * Witness the excitement and confusion of the Commodities Exchangeand find out what pork bellies really are * Hear firsthand the enigmatic and undoubtedly wise words ofvarious wizards of Wall Street * Sympathize with Rothchild as he explains his transactions to hisloved ones * Blush as he shamelessly attempts to deceive them. In a gesture of pure magnanimity, Rothchild also includes thehard-won bits of wisdom he calls his "25 Useful Tips"--whichinclude such sage advice as "Never buy anything from a broker at anairport"--and his handy "Fool's Glossary," which clarifies many ofthe technical terms used in the book. Clever, funny, and informative, A Fool and His Money will rewardinvestors at all levels of experience with a revelation on everypage.

The Clash of the Cultures

Author: John C. Bogle
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118238214
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 391

Book Description
Recommended Reading by Warren Buffet in his March 2013 Letter to Shareholders How speculation has come to dominate investment—a hard-hitting look from the creator of the first index fund. Over the course of his sixty-year career in the mutual fund industry, Vanguard Group founder John C. Bogle has witnessed a massive shift in the culture of the financial sector. The prudent, value-adding culture of long-term investment has been crowded out by an aggressive, value-destroying culture of short-term speculation. Mr. Bogle has not been merely an eye-witness to these changes, but one of the financial sector’s most active participants. In The Clash of the Cultures, he urges a return to the common sense principles of long-term investing. Provocative and refreshingly candid, this book discusses Mr. Bogle's views on the changing culture in the mutual fund industry, how speculation has invaded our national retirement system, the failure of our institutional money managers to effectively participate in corporate governance, and the need for a federal standard of fiduciary duty. Mr. Bogle recounts the history of the index mutual fund, how he created it, and how exchange-traded index funds have altered its original concept of long-term investing. He also presents a first-hand history of Wellington Fund, a real-world case study on the success of investment and the failure of speculation. The book concludes with ten simple rules that will help investors meet their financial goals. Here, he presents a common sense strategy that "may not be the best strategy ever devised. But the number of strategies that are worse is infinite." The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation completes the trilogy of best-selling books, beginning with Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years (2001) and Don't Count on It! (2011)

Global Investing

Author: Roger G. Ibbotson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780070316836
Category : Investments, Foreign
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Provides data and analysis on US and international investment opportunities. Covers more than 40 countries, listing return data on all major asset categories and relating these returns to factors such as risk, marketability, taxation, and information costs. Numerous graphs, charts, and tables permit a quick comparison of investment choices. Information is also included on capital market wealth, inflation rates, asset allocation, venture capital, currencies and exchange rates, derivative securities, and future trends. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Why the Best-Laid Investment Plans Usually Go Wrong

Author: Harry Browne
Publisher: Fireside
ISBN: 9780671672928
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 563

Book Description
Teaches investors how to understand their own financial problems while establishing diversified and balanced permanent portfolios and decide what to hold or risk in their variable portfolios

Tap Dancing to Work

Author: Carol J. Loomis
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101601507
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 573

Book Description
Warren Buffett built Berkshire Hathaway into something remarkable— and Fortune journalist Carol Loomis had a front-row seat for it all. When Carol Loomis first mentioned a little-known Omaha hedge fund manager in a 1966 Fortune article, she didn’t dream that Warren Buffett would one day be considered the world’s greatest investor—nor that she and Buffett would quickly become close personal friends. As Buffett’s fortune and reputation grew over time, Loomis used her unique insight into Buffett’s thinking to chronicle his work for Fortune, writing and proposing scores of stories that tracked his many accomplishments—and also his occasional mistakes. Now Loomis has collected and updated the best Buffett articles Fortune published between 1966 and 2012, including thirteen cover stories and a dozen pieces authored by Buffett himself. Loomis has provided commentary about each major article that supplies context and her own informed point of view. Readers will gain fresh insights into Buffett’s investment strategies and his thinking on management, philanthropy, public policy, and even parenting. Some of the highlights include: The 1966 A. W. Jones story in which Fortune first mentioned Buffett. The first piece Buffett wrote for the magazine, 1977’s “How Inf lation Swindles the Equity Investor.” Andrew Tobias’s 1983 article “Letters from Chairman Buffett,” the first review of his Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters. Buffett’s stunningly prescient 2003 piece about derivatives, “Avoiding a Mega-Catastrophe.” His unconventional thoughts on inheritance and philanthropy, including his intention to leave his kids “enough money so they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.” Bill Gates’s 1996 article describing his early impressions of Buffett as they struck up their close friendship. Scores of Buffett books have been written, but none can claim this work’s combination of trust between two friends, the writer’s deep understanding of Buffett’s world, and a very long-term perspective.

License To Steal

Author: Anonymous
Publisher: HarperBusiness
ISBN: 9780887309922
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 288

Book Description
Stockbroker to young trainee: "Remember, when clients send in that money, it's not theirs anymore. It's ours...We're never giving it back to them." Welcome to Wall Street. The longest bull market in history has driven more people to invest in stocks than ever before--and has given rise to unprecedented levels of greed within the brokerage industry that "serves" those investors. In License to Steal, Timothy Harper and his Anonymous coauthor have succeeded in piercing the financial industry's code of silence. In a gripping and fast-paced narrative, they show readers how successful brokers on the "Street Without Shame" peddle worthless stocks, take questionable companies public, manipulate share prices, generate bogus commissions, and raid clients' accounts for their own use. Anonymous and Harper tell a wild, raucous, true story of outrageous acts committed by a handful of rogue brokers--as well as the off-hand, everyday deceptions that are routine in the securities business--and the high life as it is lived by the young and rich in the canyons of Wall Street. The book recounts the rise of a young, successful stockbroker, first as a smart, eager operator willing to do whatever it takes to make it. Always keeping just within the law, he watches his colleagues in the brokerage business cross over daily into unscrupulous conduct, lining their own pockets at the expense of their clients. Unwilling to join them, unable to endure the pressure of their corrupting influence, he eventually quits Wall Street. A mesmerizing story of personal redemption, License to Steal is also a searing indictment of a corrupt and brutalizing system and a warning to the millions of American investors who trust and rely on stockbrokers for guidance on their own investments.