Product Description
FROM THE BACK COVER: Are you caught up in the financial thinking of the last century? That's when we learned to buy a home and pay it off as quickly as possible. It made sense in the conditions that existed back then. It doesn't make sense today. How would you like to: 1) Safely leverage and compound assets you didn't realize you had? 2) Become your own bank and build family wealth? 3) Pile up stock market gains, but never take the losses? 4) Lock-in a rich, secure and carefree retirement? 5) Transform the IRS into your wealth-building partner? 6) Create real wealth, empowering you to help others? 7) Get to your existing retirement funds with little or no taxes? 8) Leave a fortune to your heirs? STOP SITTING ON YOUR ASSETS make these strategies crystal clear -- and you can apply them with security and ease. If you own a home, you owe it to yourself to know about today's new reality: You are sitting on a potential fortune that can safely and confidently be put to work to build a massively abundant financial future. A future so rich that -- before STOP SITTING ON YOUR ASSETS -- could have only existed in your dreams.
Customer Reviews:
don't waste your money on this book or its strategy.......2007-10-05
First of all, the author has enough material for a magazine article at best and she has padded and stretched it into a book. That makes for an annoying read.
Secondly, her math is deceitful. She says to borrow the equity from your home at 8% and put that money to work getting an 8% return and you will end up with a huge pile of money. What about the payments? Oh, yeah. She subtracts those as a lump sum at the end from your pile of money. Everyone knows the payments have to made every month so if you're borrowing at 8% and getting an 8% return you're simply going to break even. If you're as smart as a fifth grader you know that math calculations have to be performed in the correct order or you'll get the wrong answer. She also gives an example of someone who could pay cash for a house but takes out a mortgage anyway and invests the money. She conveniently ignores the fact that the person could simply pay cash for the house and then invest what they would have made in payments each month and that money would grow to almost the same amount as her "safety fund"
The third problem with this strategy is that the only way to get this 8% tax free, totally safe return is to buy a questionable insurance product that she or her friends will be happy to sell you. Then you'll have the IRS looking over your shoulder.
I'm not a big fan of a mortgage free house for a number of reasons but if you're going to harvest equity and invest it, you'd better know what you're doing. For the average person it's way too risky.
Start saving some money by NOT buying this book.
This book has been done before, called Missed Fortune 101.......2007-09-22
Sad to see people trying to ride the coattails of another book and rip it off so blatantly. The orignal book called Missed Fortune 101 introduces the world to these strategies. Well Stop Sitting comes in and basically changes a word here and a word there to try and be different. For example Missed Fortune 101 talks about "going down the highway of life with one foot on the gas and one on the brake" Ms. Snow talks about going down the highway with 4 flat tires and a broken windshield...Come on!
Read Missed Fortune 101 Missed Fortune 101: A Starter Kit to Becoming a Millionaireto read the real story first, Read Stop Sitting for a rehash, if you like that kind of stuff...
I know I'm gonna write a book called Elbib and have it start out with a guy named Aaron and a girl named Emily who live in the jungle, then get kicked out of the jungle for eating the forbidden vegetable...
Looking for answers.......2007-08-19
I, too, was in awe after reading this book. The ideas are presented in a simple, easy to understand way, and it seems to me to be very logical. I'm no financial genius, rather a former math teacher and the numbers seem to work on paper. But, really, after the awe has worn off and reality hits, what's the catch? This seems too easy. If this idea has been in existance for several years, then why hasn't it caught on with the "masses?" Why don't more financial advisors recommend this? Is there something I'm missing or does it really work that simply and just nobody knows about it? Somebody....give me the real scoop!
Very, Very dangerous book.......2007-08-02
As I began to read this book, my first challenge was to get over the unearned arrogance of the author. Marion Snow may have a "scientific mind" and have a little experience in the mortgage industry selling people mortgages, but she is no financial planner.
The book is absolutely full of errors and misrepresentations of how some very complex financial products work. She literally demonizes financial planning professionals who have spent years of their lives helping clients and studying the ever changing landscape of both financial planning, estate planning, as well as the Internal Revenue Code.
Some of her VERY dangerous errors are as follows:
First, nearly all of her calculations discuss saving taxes at a 30 or 33% tax rate. While this sounds good, the average American is nowhere near the 33% tax bracket. The 33% tax bracket does not begin for most married Americans until they have over $195,000 of annual income.
Secondly, the insurance products that she describe do not function as she indicates. On page 110, she casually mentions that her insurance strategy will work as "long as you are careful not to deplete your cash value." She does not mention that the "tax advantaged policy loans" she advocates are 1)charged interest by the insurance company, and 2) taxable if the policy lapses in later years. Additionally, she neglects to mention that Universal life policies have increasing costs which will cause them to lapse using her strategy.
Third, all of her calculations are "assumed and hypothetical." They do not address real numbers. About halfway though the book she indicates she "got her insurance license" just to verify her findings. Unfortunately, an insurance license is viewed by most credentialed financial planners with the same reverence that training wheels are viewed by Olympic bicycle racers...
Fourth, her mortage strategies advocate taking illegal tax deductions - the tax deductions she describes are not allowable to the degree the advocates, in the tax brackets she uses as examples. The deductions "phase out" well before a taxpayer can use them to the degree she illustrates. Simply put - the numbers are INCORRECT.
Ms. Snow should spend a few years in school and learn what she is talking about - and a few more years working with real world financial clients -before being arrogant enough to throw stones at those who do.
She is flat wrong in many areas and will hurt a great many people who take her cutesy approach to financial planning seriously.
Jon - CFP, ChFC
What's wrong with Stop Sitting on Your Assets.......2007-07-29
This book uses fuzzy math to reach predetermined conclusions.
No only is the math flawed, but what's worse is that the book ignores the tax code and 264(a)3 specifically (which dramatically affects the concepts discussed in his books).
There is no such thing as a tax free, money management free, expense free "side fund" as she discusses in this book.
It is clear that the author does not understand how money grows in the real world and does not understand life insurance (which is ironic since the book is about building wealth using indexed equity life insurance).
Of all the books in the marketplace which discuss Equity Harvesting, this is by far the worst one.
Book Description
Leadership expert John Maxwell believes attitude is one thing that can make all the difference in your life---and now shows you how you can make it your best asset.
Customer Reviews:
The Difference Maker:Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset.......2007-10-06
Excellent easy to follow. Well worth the purchase. I use it as a guide and reinforcement to be more positive.
Making The Difference.......2007-10-04
This book taught me that it is the 1% that seperates us from the less fortunate. Not only just saying change your attitude but an easy step by step process for having a correct perspective on doing so. I have read it 6 times and discover something new and wonderful each time.
-Timothy KendrickPTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door
Challenge to Grow.......2007-09-14
Everyone should read this book. However, if you or someone you know is experiencing a sustained period of adversity, reading it is even more critical. It not only inspires but also equips readers with the techniques to get through tough times.
My manager gave this book to everyone in his district because market and external forces were creating a difficult working environment. This book helped many of us get through that time and still reach our goals.
Great Book!.......2007-09-11
Any time I read a book and see myself in it I enjoy it more. When I read this one I understood myself better, those around me better and most of all, why I just can't give up. As an entrepreneur I know that many try and fail and never try again. Others, with the right attitude, try and try and try and may fail but refuse to give up. This is a great book for all members of the family.
I recently attended a John Maxwell conference and heard him discuss some of the points in his new book, "Talent is Never Enough". That is the next book I will read! The folks at Amazon are wise to offer these two books together.
Maxwell is the consumate leadership guru.
Maxwell's Best Book Yet.......2007-07-12
John Maxwell follows his own advice. He has refined, reformed and repackaged his career and professional life --- after beginning well, he's continually gotten better. It's a focus thing! This book is the best Maxwell volume yet; zeroing in on the key factor that holds us back and prevents our growth.
John Maxwell is right: attitude is definitely 'the difference maker.' But instead of merely saying so, Maxwell shows you how to discover the basics of your own personality (you may be surprised!) and then move forward, changing your perspective in order to achieve better results.
This book is a bargain at twice the price: buy one for yourself and every member of your leadership team. Read it together: you'll learn a lot!
Dr. David Frisbie
The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Author of Happily Remarried: *Making Decisions Together *Blending Families Successfully* Building a Love That Will Last
Book Description
Strategies that are effective and legal for putting one’s assets safely out of reach
In today’s increasingly litigious world, the shielding of assets has become a prominent issue for financial planners, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals. Asset Protection details methods that are both legally and morally legitimate for protecting one’s assets from creditors, lawsuits, and scams.
Bringing economic common sense and legitimacy to an area that is drowning in gimmickry, two of today’s top lawyers examine the fundamental issues in this growing area, avoiding dense legalese to make the book accessible to anyone. Asset Protection covers everything readers want to know about:
- Establishing an effective asset protection program
- Today’s most popular, established strategies
- Newer strategies that are still being resolved by the courts
Customer Reviews:
OUTSTANDING TREATISE!!!!.......2007-09-11
BUY IT. READ IT. THEN READ IT AGAIN. AND AGAIN. EACH TIME YOU READ IT YOU WILL PICK UP YET ANOTHER USEFUL NUGGET OF INFORMATION. THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS 'BIBLE' IS THAT IT IS USEFUL FOR THOSE WISHING TO PROTECT ASSETS FROM FUTURE CREDITORS, AND JUST AS USEFUL FOR THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE, TRYING TO SEIZE ASSETS AS WELL. A VERY POWERFUL, DETAILED AND GENEROUS BOOK. NOT YOUR TYPICAL A/P BOOK. THE 'RIGHT' WAY TO SAFELY PROTECT YOUR ASSETS.
Asset protection.......2007-05-12
This well-written book does a great job of dispelling a lot of the mis-information that currently abounds in the market place.
Well researched.......2007-03-01
Jay Adkisson is my voice of reason in the field. This is heavily researched brain food for asset protection. The rule of law is constantly massaged and altered as the courts challenge provisions, and I always feel safest turning to Jay for his interpretation. In particular the Albright 291 Rptr. 538 ruling in Colorado has alot of LLC attorneys spooked. I'm sure we'll be hearing from Jay soon on this one.
Above the Norm.......2007-01-17
Asset protection is a good practical sense guide on the areas of trust, business entities and a dose of reality. If your at a point where the accumulated assets is worth protecting for yourself, spouse, kids and family then this is the book to read. Its not too technical but down to earth business sense. I find this book is geared to people that have some familarity with the business environment. If you know why you want to protect your assets then this book is the next step.
No Surprises Here.......2006-05-30
Adkisson and Riser are beacons in the darkness that is labeled asset protection. This book, and the attitudes it sets forth towards asset protection (when that term may be discretely used) are the de facto standard of care and woe be to the professional who believes otherwise. I say there are no surprises because the book is the embodiment of the professional, real life anti-scam viewpoint in this area Jay Adkisson has come to represent. Do not ignore the fact most of these five star reviews are by attorneys like myself who see the aftermath of so-called asset protection, off-shore entities and third world trusts. Don't miss it.
Book Description
Sound, sensible advice from a hero to frustrated investors everywhere
William Bernstein's The Four Pillars of Investing gives investors the tools they need to construct top-returning portfolios--without the help of a financial adviser. In a relaxed, nonthreatening style, Dr. Bernstein provides a distinctive blend of market history, investing theory, and behavioral finance, one designed to help every investor become more self-sufficient and make better-informed investment decisions. The 4 Pillars of Investing explains how any investor can build a solid foundation for investing by focusing on four essential lessons, each building upon the other. Containing all of the tools needed to achieve investing success, without the help of a financial advisor, it presents:
- Practical investing advice based on fascinating history lessons from the market
- Exercises to determine risk tolerance as an investor
- An easy-to-understand explanation of risk and reward in the capital markets
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read!.......2007-09-24
One of the best books I have ever read on investing. I have been recommending it to everyone I know.
Can't give this book enough stars.......2007-08-23
I wish every investor would read this book. Well, maybe not because I feel like I have a leg up on every other investor who believes he can time the market, get rich quick, or knows where the market is heading (well, after reading this book you'll see where the market is heading over the long term, and long term does not mean 6 months). This is by far the best book I've ever read, I cannot express enough how this book has open my eyes to investing, trading, saving for retirement, planning for the future, etc. Anybody who is at all interested in any sorts of financials, saving money for retirement, day trading, investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. this is the first book you should read. I would then recommend reading...
Common Sense on Mutual Funds
A Random Walk Down Wallstreet
The Future for Investors
The Intelligent Investor
The Smartest Investment Book You'll Ever Read
The Boglehead's Guide to Investing
Essential Reading for Investors.......2007-06-14
The title led me to believe this recommended book would be a boring waste of time, but I found it to be a summary of many books I'd already read.
Many of the books it recommends as further reading I've already digested and I'll say this book does a good job of summarizing the major points of those books.
I'm a believer that it is hard to beat the indicies over time and don't try anymore.
Fabulous overview of investing fundamentals.......2007-04-13
I'm a beginning investor who was tired of piecemeal advice. This book saved me a lot of headaches. It taught me the basic fundamentals of investing, so I was able to reconcile the often conflicting advice I received from other people. Bernstein uses many fascinating historical examples to illustrate these basic principles. Although there's no formula for becoming rich, he shows the average investor how to make wise decisions for strategic portfolio growth. Overall, I found this book very useful.
Get this book NOW!.......2007-03-24
If you are even slightly considering purchasing this book, get it NOW. It was a very fast read (I finished it in 3 days) due to the writer's natural style, and it will open your eyes to things like actively managed funds vs. index funds, fees associated with mutual funds, and the importance of asset allocation and diversification. I completely changed my long-term investment strategy after reading this book and I already feel like I am doing better than I had been for the past few years as far as increasing my portfolio's return while lowering its risk. Like I said, get this book now. I am getting a few copies for friends that deserve to make more money over the long term and I don't want to see make the same mistakes I did like paying for actively managed mutual funds with high fees that don't even perform well as the market!
Book Description
This is the landmark book that changed the way exceptional families think about their heritage, their wealth, and their legacy to future generations - now revised and expanded. "A masterpiece. No one is more astute than Jay Hughes about the topics of family wealth and family life." - Charles W. Collier, Senior Philanthropic Adviser, Harvard Univesity.
Customer Reviews:
Great Treatment of Family Wealth Topics.......2007-09-28
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great treatment of key issues facing families transitioning significant wealth across generations.
This is not a tedious discussion of dry, technical strategies requiring an LLM in taxation to understand. Rather, it is an analysis of ways to maximize the long-term positive impacts of wealth on a family while minimizing the negative ones.
While this book would be a helpful read for anyone concerned about leaving heirs more than just money, I think families with estates over $5MM would find some of the advice most directly applicable to the challenges they face.
Family Wealth - Keeping it in the Family.......2007-02-16
As an advisor, preparing for my first Family Meeting, I found this more helpful than most other books on Family Governance. I really liked the way in which it talks about not just financial capital, and social capital, but human & intellectual capital as well. It resonated well with me and with my Family Office clients. It gives more of a structure for developing the governance model than other books I've seen.
Immensely valuable for members of a family business.......2007-01-03
Chapter 1 applied most directly to my situation, and this chapter alone makes the book worth having on my shelf. Hughes' perspective, from both his own family and his experience advising other families, gives the book authority.
Often family wealth seems to be treated as a "dirty little secret" where money concerns trump people concerns. Hughes provides a framework where financial, human, and intellectual assets can all be considered. He shows that family wealth can be a path towards growth of individuals, families, and their wealth, through investments, philanthropy, and professional development.
Bravo!
Hands on, long term familiy peace.......2006-08-19
I profound and comprehensive book on long term principles and practices to preserve family wealth (human an financial).
A must reading for medium family businesses.
Addresses issues of significant importance in the wealth management process.......2006-08-18
As principal of a financial planning and wealth management firm, I highly recommend this book for families who have acquired wealth and want their children and future generations to be concerned about their human, intellectual and social development in addition to the growth of their financial resources.
Family Wealth does a good job of addressing issues of importance to wealthy families such as the need to create and establish mission statements, plan for family governance and how to create a mutually rewarding relationship with trustees and financial advisors.
As someone with practical experience in planning and/or supervising all aspects of a client's financial planning needs with the goal of protecting and enhancing retirement assets and estates, I especially like the emphasis by Hughes on the need for long-term thinking and how personal and intellectual development is just as important as financial decisions in the family organization.
This book has added a new dimension to our multi-disciplined practice. Along with our principal specialty, retirement income and retirement plan distribution strategies, we now help our clients think of ways to use their financial capital to nurture and enhance their human and intellectual capital.
Book Description
“Bernstein has become a guru to a peculiarly ’90s group: well-educated, Internet-powered people intent on investing well—and with minimal ‘help’ from professional Wall Street.”--Robert Barker, BusinessWeek
William Bernstein is one of today’s most unlikely financial heroes. A practicing neurologist, he used his self-taught investment knowledge and research to build a popular investor’s website. Now, in the plain-spoken The Intelligent Asset Allocator, he shows independent investors how to build a diversified portfolio—without the help of a financial advisor. A breath of fresh air for investors tired of overly technical investment tomes, this book will help investors:
• Learn the risk/reward characteristics of various investment types
• Understand and apply portfolio theory for an improved risk/reward ratio
• Sharpen their focus, and take control of their investment programs William Bernstein (North Bend, OR) runs a website—www.efficientfrontier.com—known for its quarterly journal of asset allocation and portfolio theory, Efficient Frontier.
Customer Reviews:
A classic book on investing.......2007-07-07
Anyone who is serious about investing in marketable securities should read this book and keep it handy as a reference guide.The author is a brillant student of the market and passive investing techniques.All of the supporting data in the book has been developed by the author and his assistant. I would recommend this book for the investor.
Another book for the beginner and the experienced invesror as well How to Make Money in the Stock Market-Buy 2,500 Different Stocks-Pay no Commission
Jewel for long term contrarian investing from a US perspective.......2007-04-19
This book is for investors with a time scale of decades. So think about saving for a comfortable retirement. It argues from a point of view of an US American investor (types of asset classes and their behavior in time, all in US dollars, US tax laws, US investing instruments) but the described principles are general and also well suited for residents of other countries.
Bernstein has the ability of a very clear and down to the earth way of thinking. Even more important his prose is as clear as his thoughts. He takes you by the hand and leads you through quite difficult terrain. But as long as you hold his hand everything is clear and makes a simple impression.
His advice is solid and can be employed easily in practical investing. He even has advice for somebody with only thirty minutes of time for investments a year (Put it into the four asset types: domestic small caps, domestic large caps, foreign stocks and bonds of up to five years of duration. Split your assets in equal proportion to those types. Try to aggressively save fees maybe with Vanguard funds. Adjust the portions of those four asset types once a year to their original proportions.) Clearly this is good advice. If you read this book you also learn a lot of why this is effective. But if you do not know more than this advice: Will you follow it through thick and thin? Just imagine one asset type gets out of favor and loses a lot of value for a few years in a row. Then you have to pour yearly a lot of fresh and good money in exactly that asset type (Bernstein is a moderate contrarian). It is hard to believe that anyone has that strength without a well developed own opinion on that matter. Yes it is exactly the opposite of a stop loss. It is buy more of the losing types and sell the winning ones. The hope is to buy low and sell high.
So enjoy the ease of reading and Bernstein's brilliant simplicity, but don't be fooled by it. You will have to work hard to gain your own standpoint. And you have to invest actual money for a few years to get to know yourself.
For further reading this book has an excellent bibliography and the author runs a great website. I highly do recommend this book.
Fianance........2007-04-01
This is a great book. Don't make it your 1st finance book, but a great follow up to a "Random walk down Wall Street"
Clearly explains the theory, its background, and use........2007-03-26
This is one of 3 books that I have on the subject .... and it complements those books each of which has its own particular bias.
The book is well worth buying, reading (with a few different color highlighters), and keeping it on the shelf for reference (.. in other words to keep one going back onto "track").
There is a bias towards using index funds; and this bias does use all the conventional wisdom -- wisdom that everyone else will be trying to employ. Therefore, there is a lack of ways to "jump-start" a portfolio -- ways that must be obtained from other books and newsletters.
Efficient Frontier - Now I understand.......2007-01-31
This book can "turn on the lightbulb" for all types about what the Efficient Frontier really means! This is the best investment book I have read that attempts to focus the individual on risk - the most important facet of investing.
Book Description
From cyberspace to crawl spaces, new innovations in information gathering have left the private life of the average person open to scrutiny, and worse, exploitation. In this thoroughly revised update of his immensely popular guide How to Be Invisible, J.J. Luna shows you how to protect yourself from these information predators by securing your vehicle and real estate ownership, your bank accounts, your business dealings, your computer files, your home address, and more.J.J. Luna, a highly trained and experienced security consultant, shows you how to achieve the privacy you crave and deserve, whether you just want to shield yourself from casual scrutiny or take your life savings with you and disappearing without a trace. Whatever your needs, Luna reveals the shocking secrets that private detectives and other seekers of personal information use to uncover information and then shows how to make a serious commitment to safeguarding yourself.There is a prevailing sense in our society that true privacy is a thing of the past. Filled with vivid real life stories drawn from the headlines and from Luna's own consulting experience, How to Be Invisible, Revised Edition is a critical antidote to the privacy concerns that continue only to grow in magnitude as new and more efficient ways of undermining our personal security are made available. Privacy is a commonly-lamented casualty of the Information Age and of the world's changing climate-but that doesn't mean you have to stand for it.
Customer Reviews:
Good ideas but difficult to implement.......2007-09-01
Before you even read this book, you need to bear in mind that the author lived in the Canary Islands under Franco's fascist rule, and developed his lifestyle as a response to that.
This book is fairly good but a little paranoia-inducing, and covers the idea of creating a high level of personal security and protecting your privacy. It's a good idea, whether you're running from crazy killers or trying to avoid bill collectors or just don't want everyone in the world to know where you live. However, for many readers who are immediately spurred to take action, the suggestions are a bit unfeasible. If you have been using your home address for years and suddenly switch to a ghost address (private box or other non-residential address), how are you going to expunge your residential from all your old records? Luna recommends renting over buying, in that it is easier to suddenly vacate the premises if necessary, and so he would probably recommend moving somewhere else and never using that address on any official records, but clearly, that is not feasible for most people.
Much of what he recommends is common sense, like using a cross-cut shredder to dispose of all documents, which would seem intuitively obvious but not enough people do it. Readers of the book should use it as a guideline and follow his suggestions until they feel more comfortable about their level of personal security.
some useful information.......2007-06-14
At least this author doesn't rant against the government and tell the reader not to pay taxes. It is a more reasonable book than the last one I read. Some of the information is obvious, like not receiving mail at your home. Some of it is interesting - he recommends LLCs repeatedly, and just coincidentally happens to have someone in New Mexico who can hook you up. I don't know how useful his information is for the ordinary person who needs to hide from an abusive spouse, for instance. I still think that The Gift of Fear is the best book on that subject.
Ah that balancing act between freedom and law-abiding citizenship!.......2007-06-13
Luna (as does anyone who writes a book on how to maintain your privacy in an age of vanishing private spaces), has to walk a tightrope between being a responsible citizen, who abides by our laws, vs. establishing one's personal space, inviolable and free from intrusion. Although Luna's expositions of the various strategies to establish "invisibility" in the key areas of privacy ( residence, finances, activities, conversations, travel, and personal liaisons) requires significant effort and time investment, his thoughtful and straight discussion about each area, and how his strategies have evolved, makes it clear that he knows his territory, and that his recommendations are products of a smart, pragmatic, methodical, yet prudent man, one who is neither cowed by the myriad "authorities" who endlessly demand and document, and sell, our private information to others, nor (on the other hand) influenced by any "anti-government" axe to grind, or fanaticism. Thus, I felt I could trust his advice. In fact, Luna truly presents an inspiring model to follow: he is clearly living a life both private and peaceful, while maintaining a stance of quiet tough "standing up for" himself, and sharing with his readers his "spunk" and "attitude" as to how to still find "liberty and the pursuit of happiness", free from prying eyes and big brother, in our America. Highly recommended book! Thank you Mr.Luna, you mysterious shade-sporting guy
Keep your money and your privacy........2007-06-06
This book is awesome. I have only tried a few of his methods from his book. It is well written and easy to understand. His website gives you additional information and resource tools.
how to be invisible.......2007-06-05
This book is only for someone who is running from the law, or from the government for some reason. I did not find it helpful for me. The ideas in this book are unreasonable unless for some reason you are wanted and people are really looking for you. I should have been titled how to run from the law.
Book Description
The dollar is in trouble. It has fallen against other currencies for the past three years, and now its orderly retreat could well become a rout. This spells potential disaster for the American economy—and potential riches for a few smart investors. In The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It, financial gurus James Turk and John Rubino show how the dollar arrived at this precipice, why it will plunge, and how you can profit from the resulting financial crisis.
The U.S. today is the world’s biggest debtor nation, printing money with abandon to sustain the illusion of prosperity. The federal government owes $7 trillion and its debt is soaring. As a society, we owe more than $37 trillion, or about $500,000 per family of four. Our trade deficit with other countries is staggering, and to finance this mountain of debt we’re flooding the world with dollars. The inevitable result: The dollar will decline until it is displaced as the world’s dominant currency. Precious metals will soar in value, and gold will reclaim its monetary role at the center of the global financial system.
Traditionally a haven during times of uncertainty, gold has risen dramatically since 2001. By the fall of 2004 it was up by nearly 50
%, at over $400 an ounce. But this is just the beginning.
James Turk, a leading gold authority and the founder of GoldMoney.com, and veteran financial writer John Rubino, show readers how to capitalize on gold’s dramatic climb. In The Coming Collapse of the Dollar, Turk and Rubino reveal which stocks and bonds will falter as the dollar declines and why that decline is virtually inevitable. They offer strategies for using gold coins, gold stocks, gold-based digital currencies, and other hard assets to create a profitable portfolio. And they explain how to make the most of your gold and other precious metal holdings, identifying the opportunities and pitfalls of buying gold mining stocks and the mutual funds that invest in them.
America’s debt binge has put its economy at grave risk. The value of the dollar is falling; many stocks are once again wildly overvalued; and bonds, tied to an ever-diminishing dollar, are a disaster waiting to happen. By investing in gold and other hard assets, Turk and Rubino explain how you can protect yourself from these dangers.
The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It is a must read for every investor, whatever the size of his or her portfolio.
For more information, visit
www.dollarcollapse.com.
Customer Reviews:
Ignore this book at your peril.......2007-01-11
Our financial survival and prosperity depend on properly structuring our investment portfolios. Can you afford to idly stand by and witness evaporation of the purchasing power of your dollar-denominated paper assets? It is still time to protect the remainder of your assets by converting much of it to the wealth of ages, gold. Gold is wealth in itself, independent of debt and empty promises. This is no idle speculation, this is a concrete actionable set of plans suitable for different individual situations. You could spend 20+ times more on a financial consultant and still not receive this vital advice. Do yourself a favor: buy, read and act upon this book. Then share the message with your loved ones.
Read it!.......2007-01-07
Another great practical book on economics and investing for the common man. I learned so much about how things are now in America from this book. I recommend it heartily to anyone who wants to know more about gold, fiat money, the mess this country is in, and the doom that awaits us.
Coming collapse of the $.......2007-01-06
awesome book...I read it right after "Hot Commodities" by Jim Rogers...awesome book as well...US has alot of problems with the greenback and its possible demise as the worlds reserve currency...Jim has been talking about this as well for some time and is certain that the US will lose this status as the govt. busily prints money at will....devaluing the $ and killing its value, creating the real inflation problem...the book is very comprehensive in its argument and insightful in its recommendations...fast read!
Good Introductory Text.......2006-11-11
Overall, the author presents the case for a dollar collapse in moderate detail. Using gold as a protection mechanism is also well laid out. For the novice in this field of investment, which seeks to understand major economically destructive change before it occurs, this book does lay out the potential dollar problems nicely. For the more advanced student, there is not much new information here.
Book review of the coming collapse of the Dollar..........2006-11-10
It was quite informative but since we are in late 2006 it was a little outdated as they are comparing Gold prices from 2 years prior. But it was right on the money because as of their writing this Gold did rocket up to $600/oz from $300/oz so they were correct in their analysis. Very good read. I recommend it.
Book Description
Financial experts agree: Asset allocation is the key strategies for maintaining a consistent yet superior rate of investment return. Now, Roger Gibson's Asset Allocation - the bestselling reference book on this popular subject for a decade has been updated to keep pace with the latest developments and findings. This Third Edition provides step-by-step strategies for implementing asset allocation in a high return/low risk portfolio, educating financial planning clients on the solid logic behind asset allocation, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Asset Allocation: Balancing Financial Risk.......2007-07-11
Good overview. Perhaps a little technical. Graph oriented. Author does a good job of explaining his view point and backing it up with historical data.
asset allocation by gibson.......2007-05-24
The book was in excellent condition and was received in about five days.
Most solid advice on asset allocation ever.......2007-01-28
I had to read this book when I was taking a course to get a CIMA designation. I thought the book would be dullsville. But to the contrary, his strategies when tested are nothing short of amazing. To move away from the simple stock bond mix that every other book pimps out, is brave, but more importantly, he is right. Since reading the book I have obtained as many of his writings as possible. If you take the advice in this book and implement it, it will create a low stress, high return strategy. Good near term and long term advice. I will look to by more of this book to give to others. BEST BOOK ON ASSET ALLOCATION I HAVE EVER READ.
Gibson's Asset Allocation.......2006-08-23
Among the many books on this subject, this is one of the best. Unlike most of the other authors, Gibson does not limit himself to list the different asset classes and then provide recommended allocations. He goes one step further and describes in very practical terms the different issues that one faces when developing a portfolio and how to resolve them. In my view, Gibson ranks next to Bernstein and Malkiel. A good buy!
Asset allocation practically eliminates all risk while increasing returns........2005-07-01
This book informs the current political struggle to reform the Social Security program. In the case of a foreign invasion or some other calamity, it's true that one's private investments would be insecure, but so would one's "investments" in government bonds, so such cases are irrelevant.
In all relevant circumstances, private investments, if one adheres to even a primitive asset allocation strategy, are 100-percent safe. Mr. Gibson explains why.
He also cites studies concluding that the most significant variable in differences among institutional investor performance is emphasis on stock-picking and market-timing versus asset allocation. Those who emphasize asset allocation perform better than those who emphasize stock-picking and market-timing. A good companion to this book is "A Random Walk Down Wall Street", by Burton G. Malkiel.
Of course, Mr. Gibson introduces the reader to the theory and methods of asset allocation.
Book Description
Written by an elder law attorney with over 23 years¿ experience, this book will help anyone with a family member faced with a long-term stay in a nursing home who wishes to preserve at least some of their assets by qualifying for the Medicaid program. You don¿t have to be broke to qualify! For the first time ever, the inside secrets of high-priced estate planning and elder law attorneys are revealed. Includes a summary of all income and asset rules for both married and single individuals, together with numerous examples and several case studies, which take the reader through the same thought processes that an experienced elder law attorney would go through when analyzing a real-life client¿s situation. The book includes tips on: how to title your home so you do not lose it to the state; how to make transfers to family members that won¿t disqualify you from Medicaid; how annuities make assets ¿disappear¿; smart tricks for ¿spending down¿ your assets; what to change in your will to save thousands of dollars if your spouse ever needs nursing home care; avoiding the state¿s reimbursement claim following the nursing home resident¿s death; and much more. Completely up-to-date, the book includes the massive changes made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 as well as the December 2006 Tax Relief and Health Care Act amendments.
Customer Reviews:
Valuable information on a complex subject........2007-09-09
This book provides valuable information on a complex subject. Although it may not answer your specific questions, the information given allows you to make informed decision when consulting an estate planner or attorney. Informative easy to read book on a complex subject.
Pricey, but good........2007-08-10
The book had some good ideas to get you thinking and prepare you to talk to an elder law attorny. It was a little on the pricey side for the information that was in it.
There is no easy way to preserve your parents assets...........2007-06-02
This is a really grim but realistic assessment of the major attack on the middle class that congress has waged.
We baby boomers have elderly parents going into nursing homes.
Since Medicaid is only for indigent people without more than $2000 total in assets, our parents do not qualify to have the government pay for their care in nursing homes. But with the yearly cost of nursing homes around $70,000 per year or more, our parents can't pay for it out of their assets. We are really stuck.
Each year congress clamps down harder on us, narrowing the ways that we can try to hang onto our parents life savings when they need to go into nursing homes. They will need to have some money in the bank to pay for all the things not provided for them, such as haircuts, private nurses, televisions, clothing, etc.
In trying to qualify for Medicaid, parents gift children their life savings but this causes a five year waiting period before they can then qualify for Medicaid.
There is the new Personal Services Contract which states that caretaker children of their parents are entitled to a fair compensation for taking care of aging parents. This does not mean the usual cooking and housekeeping, but actually performing nursing duties around the clock. A court has ruled that the child who does this is entitled to the going wage for this type of work. Therefore, before this work is done for the parent, a Personal Services Contract must be prepared by a lawyer who specializes in Medicaid planning. The drawback is that all the taxes must be paid on this just as if it were any other type of employee paycheck.
This book does a very good job of briefly describing various methods that might preserve an elderly person's assets from being siezed by the government to pay for the nursing home. It gives some critical details that can actually make or break the application for Medicaid, such as exactly when to apply, neither too early or too late.
It is horribly depressing to see an elderly parent's life savings be eaten up by nursing home costs. If the nursing home doesn't get it the governmet will. You may be able to preserve at least some of it though with the help of a good eldercare lawyer. Don't be unprepared though. Read this book first, and good luck!
Valuable reference guide.......2007-04-26
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (4/07)
The question of how to protect your family assets is timely. It is an important consideration faced by the majority of American citizens. As a result of longer life expectancy, rising medical costs, and complicated governmental programs, more and more people are forced to spend all their money before they ever qualify to take advantage of Medicaid benefits. Heiser's book is a godsend as it guides the reader through the complex issues relating to Medicaid benefits, qualifications, and application strategies.
This amazing guidebook will help you discover the secrets of protecting your family assets in ways that will not disqualify you from Medicaid benefits. The contents include a comprehensive working definition of Medicaid, what is provided, and how to apply for the program. Medical and income qualifications are covered in detail. Strategies for transferring assets, setting up trusts, and planning annuities are all addressed.
I personally found the Case Studies to be helpful. These examples gave several possible scenarios which offered me ideas for integrating these applications to planning an approach to finding solutions in my own life situation.
The appendix contains important information on a Durable Power of Attorney, as well as valuable suggestions on obtaining a qualified attorney. A glossary, important statistical tables, some applicable federal laws, a list of resources and agencies available, and Medicaid questionnaires, all make this a valuable resource and reference guide.
J. Gabriel Heiser, an attorney, with over 23-years experience in the field of elder law and estate planning is well-qualified to author this book.
This is an important guide for retirement planning and for anyone with a family member in, or approaching, a long-term-care situation. It can also become a valuable resource and reference guide for professional financial and estate planners, attorneys, for people in the medical profession, social workers, and ministers.
I found the book to be crucial, timely, and important. "How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets" is a book that should be read by every American tax payer as well as by every recipient and future recipient of Medicaid benefits.
Book Review by Michael Sabbeth, Esq. .......2007-04-18
Book Review
How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets
By Gabriel Heiser, Esq.
Medicaid is a vast federal bureaucratic healthcare system that operates on the federal, state and local levels. The federal government delegates considerable rule making authority and discretion to the individual states, which, in turn, delegate to individual counties their own regulation-making power. Added to this percolating brew is the reality that individual nursing homes make their own rules and policies for dealing with Medicaid recipients.
Thus, legal practitioners, government officials and inquiring citizens are confronted with a regulation-intensive field of law and public health so labyrinthine that even Daedalus and Icarus would have to put attorneys on retainer to help them navigate through it.
Gabriel Heiser is an attorney in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in Medicaid qualification matters as a sub-set of his practice in elder law. He has written How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets, a straight-forward concise volume that clarifies and simplifies the processes of analyzing Medicaid qualification and payment issues and crafting strategies for dealing with them in a cost-effective way in real-life situations.
The book has a Table of Contents that is logically organized and indicates that the major components of the topic are thoroughly addressed. The Index illustrates the excellent organization of the book and makes it easy to reference back to specific concepts within the text.
One aspect that I liked particularly was Heiser's detailed references in the text to material previously covered. Instead of writing something generic such as, `as stated earlier' or `as I previously covered,' Heiser gives specific page numbers and topic headings. The book is, thus, highly user friendly for the lay person as well as for the knowledgeable practitioner.
The book also provides Medicaid contacts for each state; a list of resources and citations to relevant federal statutes. I found both refreshing and admirable Heiser's direct forthright addressing of the ethical dimension of a lawyer giving advice intended to reduce the financial burden imposed on an individual or on a family when qualifying for and receiving Medicaid benefits.
Anticipating critics, Heiser gives examples where profligacy and irresponsible behavior have been financially rewarded and where thrift and self-sacrifice have been punished. He ends the topic with a trenchant quote from Justice Learned Hand: "Anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury."
Heiser's book builds on the overall topic incrementally from basic concepts--what is Medicaid?--to rather sophisticated arcane aspects of Medicaid law. Heiser displays the enviable skill of breaking down into understandable segments esoteric concepts that do not trip easily off the tongue such as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance, irrevocable trusts, minimum monthly maintenance needs allowances and penalty dates.
Upon completing the book, the reader will not be sufficiently trained to walk into federal court and litigate a case, of course, but the reader will have a comprehensive grasp of the issues to guide future financial decisions and to ask more probing questions of legal counsel. As a disclaimer, Heiser emphasizes that obtaining the advice of an experienced elder law attorney in the client's home state is essential to successful Medicaid planning.
I end this review with two judgments. First, the book is not about Medicaid `secrets.' Rather, it is about the analysis and deductions made and implications offered by a skilled lawyer trying to make accessible the rules and laws imposed on a massive bureaucracy. If in this day and age the effort to describe the law to average citizens constitutes secrets, then there is much to lament. Second, the book does not show how to protect all assets from nursing home costs. It shows how to protect some assets and how to distribute some of those assets to family and recipients other than to the layers of government.
The book is easy to read. It is free of mind-numbing jargon and arrogant intellectual self-indulgence. It is meant to be a foundational primer to help people keep some of their assets should life's tempests require access to Medicaid nursing home benefits. It successfully achieves that goal.
Book reviewed by
Michael G. Sabbeth, Esq.
Denver, Colorado
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