2 comments about ITIL V3 Process Map (11x17) (V3).

1. The idea of a 1 page overview is great - highly recommended. The problem is that there is so much information in the 5 ITIL v3 volumes that it is hard to capture on 1 page. Good try.



2. This poster gives you a "30.000 ft." overview of the existing relationships between each one of the books, processes and functions included in ITIL v3. Unfortunately the poster's paper is not of good quality and the courier damaged it during shipping and delivery.

3 comments about Hedge Fund of Funds Investing: An Investor's Guide.

1. This is an exceptional book that does a great job of explaining the history, charter, rationale, mechanics and investing strategies of Fund of Funds. As hedge funds have exploded in popularity, they have become the investment world's "cocktail conversation" of choice, but most investors do not understand how these funds operate or even how they can be accessed and utilized as an investment option. Funds of Funds (FOFs) allow access to hedge funds - but similarly to hedge funds, these investment vehicles are misunderstood by many and remain shrouded to most investors. Joseph Nicholas's third book, Hedge Fund of Funds Investing, explains these alternative asset management firms in a clear and concise manner. I have read Mr. Nicholas's other books - this is his best work yet with thorough explanations and an easy, concise and powerful writing style.

   Nicholas does a great job describing the evolution of FOFs and how they offer strategic, access and diversification advantages over investing in individual Hedge Funds. His descriptions of the FOFs mechanics and their multiple tiered structures illustrate clearly what goes on "under the kimono" of this somewhat secretive area of the alternative investment world. He illuminates how lockups, fees, redemptions and other restraints affect investment and fund selection - all imperatives that many investors may not readily understand.

   Most importantly, as Nicholas has superior access to the data obtained through his firm, Hedge Fund Research, he is able to paint a very thorough picture of FOFs return over the years and how manager selection affects those returns. As an investor in hedge funds himself, Mr. Nicholas has developed impressive screening methodologies and describes these in detail in this book, both through direct explanation and case study.

   This is a great book for anyone who has even a little uncertainty about the operations and/or the investment selection of FOFs. As a recent Wharton MBA myself, I know that many of these topics are not covered in classical investment training - it's just too recent of a trend. But FOFs are an explosive trend - with nearly 1/3 of all hedge fund investments - and one that all investors need to understand. Mr. Nicholas's book does an outstanding job in providing this background on the fundamentals of FOF investing.




2. Joseph G. Nicholas' book is not for the faint of heart or the light of wallet. If your idea of a strong investment is a 401K plan and a few blue chip stocks handed down from your dear departed grandmother, this probably isn't the book for you. However, for those interested in how the very rich get very richer, as well as those charged with the weighty responsibility of protecting institutional and private assets, this book could be worth its weight in gold or stock certificates. Nicholas writes at a level that makes his information just comprehensible to those with minimal investment knowledge, while still very useful to insiders who know the menu of every deli within a two-mile radius of Wall Street. His in-depth historical analysis explains the current strong interest in hedge funds of funds investing, and his case studies will teach you the all-important matter of how to select the right fund of fund manager we strongly recommends this book to anyone who wants or needs to learn more about investing at the most elite levels.



3. very presentation, easy to read and understand. Excellent for starters and must have for professionals.

No comments about Fundamentals of Organizational Communication: Knowledge, Sensitivity, Skills, and Values (5th Edition).

5 comments about The Real Estate Coach (Instant Success).

1. Reading the Real Estate Coach is a MUST if you are thinking of investing in Real Estate.
   
   It is so easy to read and contains very useful strategies to help you make smart investments.
   
   I definitely recommend this book.



2. The Real Estate Coach: A Story of Real Estate Investing Success, by Bradley J. Sugars
   
   "Remember this fact: How happy would you be if your grandmother had bought 10 properties 80 years ago in downtown Los Angeles, London, Sydney or Tokyo?"
   
   "Investing is about your future- your family's future- it's not about tomorrow. Making money tomorrow is what your job or business is for; investing is about 3, 5 or even 10 years from now."
   
   "Keep this one principle in mind: you don't have to be rich to invest, but you have to invest to be rich."
   
   This book will give someone who is thinking about investing in real estate the push they need. It's a cute - quick story about a middle aged couple who are seemingly well off, yet want to build assets and net worth for their future and happen to be introduced to a real estate "coach" or mentor who explains the benefits and strategies involved with investing in real estate.
   
   A particularly interesting concept was the "Property Wealth Wheel" which is simply a way of looking at or bunching different types of properties together so the quick profit from a flip will fund further property purchases and the cash flow from some properties will help cover others that don't have cash flow but are expected to appreciate at a faster rate.
   
   By Kevin Kingston, Author of, A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate: A True Story...



3. An easy read with several key tips for the novice investor and many tips and principles are in bold text for you if you if would like to recall at a later date. I would definitely recommend reading this book.
   
   I gave 4 stars because I would have liked more explanation or analysis with financial discussions, especially since getting the financial analysis right is key. For instance, there are tax rules associated with property investing and it's not clear what some of these inherent rules are which were used in financial analysis. For instance on page 35, it calculated a $1,615 after tax cash flow. I guess one must assume that even though you don't pay any federal income taxes on your investment property you can actually get a refund back from the government. If this is true, it's a pretty important point and should be considered being clarified and highlighted.
   
   In addition on page 35 it says "let's assume it grows at just 5 percent". Then the lower table used an analysis of 6%. I think this might be a typo, but if not this too is not clear to the reader why there is a difference between the figures.
   
   Also, he mentions to buy income producing properties with an interest only loan. However, it's not clear if one should do this all the time. For instance when you know the rates are going up do you still keep it in an interest only loan? When do you pay it off or refinance to a fixed, if ever?
   
   Also, the financial cost of real estate agent fees were not calculated, and I suspect may make a difference between a buy, hold, or sell decision. There might be a reason for this but again it's not clear.
   
   Overall it's a great book for beginners such as myself, and I would recommend this book along with a follow-on book which can go into detail on the financial aspects of real estate investing.



4. This has to be the best overall guide to real estate investment I have read yet. Brad Sugars puts concepts into place that seem (and are) simple compared to many other books of this type. Through his explanation of Wealth Wheels, Brad makes sense out of many of the other books you might read on Real Estate Investment. Use this book to craft your investment strategy, and the techniques described by other writers will become much clearer. A must read for any current or potential investor!



5. This book will be very beneficial to the beginner who has always heard about "someone else" making money by investing in real estate. The primary focus of the book is residential and it is told in story form as a young couple learns step-by-step from a pro.
   The importance of sticking to your own disciplined rules is stressed throughout. Also many strategies are shared to help each individual gain clarity in their goals. Other topics covered involve how to evaluate the numbers, renovations, and building a team of resource professionals with which to network.

No comments about Principles of Economics, 3rd Edition.

3 comments about The Book of Investing Wisdom: Classic Writings by Great Stock-Pickers and Legends of Wall Street (Book of Business Wisdom).

1. Well conceived and organized with keen insight into how some of the best investors attained their success through intelligent financial investments.



2. Krass' style creates an easy to follow, easy to understand narrative of some of the best business minds and their approach to financial investing.



3. An exceptional collection of essays by 46 great names business such as Pickens, Baruch, Moody, Buffet, Lynch, Forbes, Soros, and Trump. Key themes include: basic of analysis; attitude and philosophy; strategy; cycles; views from the inside; and more. Each essay includes a biographical sketch of the writer.

   This collection of essays proves to be interesting, entertaining, and filled with informative thoughts. This is not a 'how to get-rich-quick in the stock market book'; it is more of a solid, conservative investment for your reading portfolio. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and the Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.

No comments about Student Supplement to Financial Accounting 5th Edition.

No comments about Executing for Results (Lessons Learned) (Lessons Learned) (Lessons Learned).

5 comments about When You Have to File for Bankruptcy: Step-by-step Instructions to Take Control of Your Financial Future.

1. Rating: 4.7/5.0
   
   "When you have to file for Bankruptcy" is in simple words - a great guide. Matt Pelc has written this book with experienced insight and has superbly covered the bankruptcy process. The bankruptcy process is a long and trying process. The person reading this book for the first time might be overwhelmed by the information and process detailed in the book but Matt Pelc is very good at nudging us to understand the procedure of bankruptcy and guiding the reader to clearly understand the course of action needed.
   
   The book includes many examples to help the reader clearly understand what Matt Pelc is trying to explain. The case studies are a great resource to further comprehend the bankruptcy process. I especially like the part where Matt Pelc discusses how we can ensure we do not land in the same situation a few years later by guiding us as to where to cut expenses and what to watch out for.
   
   The book has some dry spells but the bankruptcy procedure, itself, is a long drawn out process. Matt Pelc, as simply as possible, details the entire bankruptcy, explaining the law, the various forms that need to be filled, the obstacles involved while strongly urging the services of a lawyer.



2. If it were possible to actually want to read a book on filing for bankruptcy, When You Have to File for Bankruptcy would be the one to choose. Author Matt Pelc clearly and compassionately navigates the bewildering world of bankruptcy through a well-balanced combination of surprisingly engaging anecdotes, concisely stated facts, and precisely the kind of no-nonsense inspiration that someone who is considering declaring bankruptcy would need.
   In addition to being a pragmatic how-to guide, When You Have to File for Bankruptcy also contains up-to-date resources outlining the recent and often confusing changes in the complex world of bankruptcy law. Whil Pelc strongly advises the reader to enlist the help of a qualified attorney, those determined to go it alone will find this book an invaluable resource.
   The book moves at a pace that is manageable without offending the average person's intellect, and offers the added (albeit unnecessary) benefit of mildly amusing photographs and a vaguely pertinent quote at the start of each chapter. Pelc starts the book off with guidelines designed to help the reader to decide whether or not to actually declare bankruptcy, and then moves on through the various steps involved in necessarily painstaking detail. While Pelc's style does not distinguish itself for its literary merit, it does accomplish the task of making the entire bankruptcy process accessible in layman's terms.



3. "When You Have to File For Bankruptcy," by Matt Pelc, is a helpful, easy read. It's a book that pertains to a variety of readers-- from those of us who are simply in credit card debt to those who are in complete financial disparity. The greatest part of this book is how it caters to its readers. A reader has easy access to the chapter he or she needs and can go straight to filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy if they wish.The book is simple and concise for a few reasons. It is set up to take you through the steps of evaluating your debt, considering filing, actually filing and recovering from filing. It explains confusing legal terms and ideas like the difference between chapters 7 and 13. I also found some very helpful tools in the book, like a Web site to retrieve your free credit report. Pelc uses the "Johnson" family and others as sample people filing for bankruptcy to make it simpler. He shows their fake income and fake debt that can be complicated and relative to everyday debtors. In my opinion, the best part of the book is the chapter that describes the different types of bankruptcy in layman's terms. Pelc does a good job of making an unfamiliar and unpleasant subject easier to deal with. He also does a good job of letting the reader know that bankruptcy is common-- in 2007 over 800,000 people declared bankruptcy. The last part of the book was wordy and possibly could've been a single chapter on rebuilding credit and recovering. Overall I give the book four out of 5 stars because I found it very helpful and easy to read.



4. Bankruptcy is considered one of the more frightening words in the English language, implying financial ruin and personal failure to an extent that few people would dare to approach it unless they had no other hope. Matt Pelc's "When You Have to File for Bankruptcy" does a remarkable job of taking that fear away from its readers, working past the mythos of the process and providing some genuinely practical advice.
   
   Pelc's book is a step-by-step analysis of the bankruptcy proceedings, beginning with a look at how you found yourself in this situation and asking if this is the right course of action. If it is, he then takes you through the paperwork you will need to collect before speaking to an attorney and the extensive forms a case requires. He encourages that you have access to the Internet while reading, and there are several helpful links available if you want to use his book as the manual for your own filing.
   
   The most noticeable aspect of this book is the almost comforting tone Pelc takes. He seems aware that anyone who picks up this book is likely in serious financial trouble, repeatedly assuring them that he is not going to point any fingers at them for being in the situation. He also doesn't try to overwhelm with the steps for rebuilding your life after the case is complete, breaking it into sections and offering simple suggestions such as changing your grocery habits and charting your daily expenses. Alternatives to bankruptcy are suggested, but he makes sure to point out that nothing is a cure-all and the problems cannot simply disappear by shuffling your assets around.
   
   No one ever wants to go through the bankruptcy procedure, but if you find yourself in a bind "When You Have to File for Bankruptcy" serves as an invaluable reference to get it started. It educates you without making you feel stupid and makes a very conscious effort to separate the process from the natural tension and fear it produces.



5. In today's consumer, debt-based economy, more than ever, working Americans are having difficulty managing the turbulent financial atmosphere with its rising gas and utility costs, and foreclosure rates at an all-time high. This book can help to find the correct avenues for those in financial distress. It consistently offers positive encouragement for facing matters and taking steps to rectify one's financial situation. Author Matt Pelc points out that often filing for bankruptcy is the result of a separate stress-inducing, life-changing event, and bankruptcy is not a cause for shame or blame. When you have to file for bankruptcy explains the ins-and-outs, pros and cons, and alternative means of declaring bankruptcy.
   Author Pelc, writing with years of experience working for bankruptcy trustee's offices, strongly suggests bankruptcy should not be undertaken without a specialist attorney and his text is in no way a self-filing guide for debtors. His book does help to answer the reader's initial questions and explores in detail the revisions, changes and consequences of the 2005 bankruptcy bill, the BAPCPA (Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act of 2005).
   The text, in clear, concise language, provides a framework for the emotionally difficult process of bankruptcy and guides the reader from the initial decision to file through to the methods to manage finances after discharge.
   Successfully staying positive about a difficult situation, When you have to file for bankruptcy will certainly make the process less intimidating for filers. Additional encouragement is provided by the case studies highlighting real world advice from consumers who have experienced the process of bankruptcy and from persons in the bankruptcy profession.

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