1 comments about Handbook of Corporate Finance, Volume 1: Empirical Corporate Finance (Handbook of Corporate Finance) (Handbooks in Finance).

1. One of the most impressive things about this book, the first in its series, is the storied gathering of advisory editors, that helped put it together. Robert Merton, William Sharpe, Harry Markowitz, Paul Samuelson. All Nobel Laureates in Economics. And all still active in research.
   
   Given this, they have amassed an interesting and varied collection of papers by others, in this volume. Likely, there is something here of interest to you.
   
   Take the issue of IPO underpricing, which is something of personal interest to me. It refers to the oft-noted phenomenon of the jump in the first day's closing price, compared to the opening price. In the US, this was especially prevalent during the dot com years. But it still happens, and by no means confined to the US. As in last week, in China, with several major IPOs. One chapter discusses the various explanations put forth. Like the presence of irrational investors who bid up the price from the IPO starting value. Certainly, the recent behaviour of the Chinese capital markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong give this some plausibility. The chapter surveys IPO performance across several countries. Sadly and ironically, the one major country not looked at is China. Perhaps because as a major occurrence, this is still very new over there. Anyhow, the explanations are worth contemplating. Especially if you are a Chinese regulator!

No comments about Database Marketing: Analyzing and Managing Customers (International Series in Quantitative Marketing) (International Series in Quantitative Marketing).

5 comments about DayTrading into the Millennium.

1. This is a five star must read for people who have been actively trading for less than a year. It is a real blueprint for learning the dos and don'ts of this profession.

   There are other excellent books on the subject, but this one is the easiest to understand and absorb.




2. I will begin by saying that just a few days ago, I was sitting here reading these book reviews just like you. This book is hyped everywhere so I decided to buy it. Unfortunately, I thought that if it sells for $60+, there must be some kind of demand for it. Well I received the book today and I already finished reading the whole thing! The book is EXTREMELY short (the print is large too) and each chapter is about 3 pages long. I don't want to bash this book, because it is a good overview for an absolute beginner. However, if you're already a fairly experienced daytrader looking to learn more, this book is not for you. The book isn't even really for daytraders.. it is just a basic overview of trading stocks in general. If you just opened up a trading account yesterday, you might find the book useful, but I'm returning it.



3. IN MY OPINION, WHICH IS WORTH LITTLE MORE THAN THE SERVER THAT THIS MUMBO-JUMBO IS SAVED ON, THIS IS A FANTASTIC BOOK FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE TRADERS, AND A WASTE OF TIME FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO DECIDED TO TAKE THE EASY ROUTE TO TRADING SUCCESS (WHICH IS TAKING A BASEBALL BAT UPSIDE THE HEAD ABOUT FIFTY TIMES BEFORE I FIGURED WHAT I WAS DOING RIGHT AND WRONG IN THE MARKETS.

   I HAVE BEEN TRADING FOR A WHILE, AND FOUND THAT MUCH OF THE INFO IN THIS BOOK I HAD ALREADY LEARNED BY LOSING MY *SS IN THE MARKET (OOPS)...BUT HEY, WHAT'S AN EXTRA SIXTY BUCKS FOR A BOOK AT THIS STAGE :-)

   IF I HAD READ THIS BOOK A YEAR AGO, I WOULD HAVE SAVED MYSELF A NEW BMW (AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A 318I, BUT RATHER THE BIG BOAT 735...YEAH, YOU KNOW THE ONE!)

   ANYHOW, I DIGRESS. THE POINT IS THAT THIS IS A VERY GOOD FIRST YEAR BOOK ON INVESTING AND ACTIVE TRADING, AND OF LITTLE USE FOR THE WAR-BATTERED TRADER.

   IF YOU NOT YET A SEASONED VETERAN, BUY THE BOOK AND READ IT TEN TIMES. IF YOU ARE ON YOUR SECOND TOUR, SKIP THIS ONE AND READ BOTH OF JACK SCHWAGER'S BOOKS.

   HOPE THESE WORDS FROM A SARCASTIC OLD PISSER LIKE ME HELPS.

   DFD

   PS- I'M UP FOR THE YEAR, SO DON'T THINK THAT THIS OLD CODGER DOESN'T KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GAME!




4. I found this book to be extremely light on useful information. 230 very small pages with big margins, and very few pages per chapter to use up even more space. The author, many times, will start to talk about something that makes you think, "Now this should be interesting", only to change the subject just at the point where the information could get useful. Very frustrating. Before buying any book I would seek an independent review, where you can at least be sure that the reviewer is not the writer himself.



5. I found this book to be a great introductory book into the world of Daytrading. And that is probably all you will ever get out of any book on Daytrading, just a few bits and pieces of useful information that you can use. Unfortunately for us, like most trading books, especially Daytrading books, it is overpriced.

1 comments about Project Management Workbook to Accompany Project Management: A System Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling.

1. I had purchased this workbook intending to use it to help study for the PMP Exam. Although the workbook does contain over 300 pages of sample questions that might be helpful in studying for the exam, it does NOT include answers to any of the questions. Therefore, there is no way to verify that you've answered the questions correctly, which made the workbook of very little value to me. I decided to return it to Amazon unused.

No comments about MONEY For Your Used Clothing.

No comments about Asset-Backed Credit Derivatives.

1 comments about The Performance Manager: Proven Strategies for Turning Information into Higher Business Performance.

1. . . . Not in the sense that you must read this book, in the sense that it's the only reason to read it.

5 comments about Lessons in Leadership and Life: Secrets of Eleven Wise Men.

1. This book is full of wonderful advice on how to take control of your professional life. It's appropriate for anyone who's ever thought of working for themselves or simply becoming more financially secure and independent. Buxton and his "wise men" offer real insight to the thought process every entrepreneur must go through to break away from corporate dependence. I will read this many times and pick from it the great lessons that fit into my professional - and personal - life.



2. The eleven diverse life experiences told in this book shed light on the importance of what must be done to built ones skills and ones business. I could relate to the story's fictional character that ends one job and looks to a new future. I have found this very useful and a rewarding read. I suggest sharing the books "experiences" with your associates and partners as I have.



3. All of us thirtysomething folks working hard to get ahead in the business world (whatever that means, exactly) know at a gut level that in this turbulent post modern economy, we must be the conscious captains of our own careers, not depending on "the system" to recognize-and reward-our talents. Knowing this, why do so few of us take control of our business lives? Maybe it's because we don't know how.

   Enter Dick Buxton's new book, "Lessons in Leadership and Life: Secrets of Eleven Wise Men." Through the fictional character of Ken Wilson, the author tells the story of a young man living everyone's professional nightmare. Suddenly out of a job with a company he had relied on to take care of him and faced with the immediate financial pressures of a mortgage and household, he must figure out what to do next.

   What makes this book a page-turner is the secret fear we feel that we are reading a quite possible version of our own future: What if one fine unexpected day, that faithful paycheck stops and our comfortable lives are torn asunder? You want to find out what happens to Ken Wilson because you wonder what would happen to you.

   Author Buxton spins a believable tale of his main character's saga, making him neither heroic nor perfect. As any real person would, Ken Wilson makes many mistakes and missteps on his journey to a life more productive, fulfilling and secure than the one interrupted by events beyond his control. Through the help of several "wise men" mentors, he learns key lessons about himself and subsequently sees new doors open to him. It is the story of a professional and personal epiphany, a kind of business person's Celestine Prophecy.

   The non-fiction second half of the book contains focused biographies of eleven of Buxton's wise men, which provide real-world validation of the principles and practices advanced in the first half of the book. A notable common thread in the lives of these men is the perpetual cycle of seeking mentoring and later returning the gift by becoming a mentor to others. The reader is also struck by that fact that these men have achieved the rarest of life accomplishments-they are both successful and happy.

   While this book has something to offer everyone, it is especially relevant to those in their 30's and 40's-those of us in the uncomfortable spot of facing changing business futures while carrying fixed responsibilities. Upon finishing the book, you can't help but sleep better feeling that Ken Wilson's triumph over his mid-career nightmare belongs--perhaps just a little--to you too.




4. If you have made it to this page, you MUST buy and read this book.

   Lessons in Leadership and Life is a unique book. In the first half, Mr. Buxton weaves a tale of a down-and-out executive trying to search for a new purpose in his life after a corporate layoff. As his mentors help him, we get to hear the insightful advice.

   In the second half of the book, Mr. Buxton outlines characteristics of his own mentors and business associates.

   Through reading this book, I became more confident in my own ability to leave the corporate world and strike out on my own. Just this month, I launched a new business. With the help of Mr. Buxton, his mentors, and my own advisors, I'm ready to give it a go in my quest for independence.




5. When my father handed me another self-help book I groaned but reluctantly accepted. To my surprise, the book immediately set itself apart from the rest of the stack on my nighstand right from the first page. This book is an excellent read for anyone, regardless of age or position, who wants to discover more about themselves by answering those tough life questions that we so easily avoid. Once the self-analysis ignition is lit, Dick C. Buxton offers inspiration for the reader through the highly interesting and motivating life stories of 'Eleven Wise Men'. Not only could I relate to these men, it felt as though they where speaking directly to me; guiding the direction of my path with life lessons and challenging me to elevate my goals. I am grateful that this book came to me during a stressful and confusing transitional period. It illuminated the problem areas that I had to deal with before I could move on in my journey. Thanks for the light Mr. Buxton!

4 comments about The Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Living Trust: A Step-by-step Plan to Protect Your Assets, Limit Your Taxes, and Ensure Your Wishes Are Fulfilled.

1. I was a bit skeptical about the title of this book, The Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Living Trust because when it comes to something as specific as estate planning, wealth preservation and minimizing the "death tax" - I want to enlist expert help. The fact is that even though I have an advanced degree and know a little about estate planning, I don't know what I don't know.
   
   It's kind of like dentistry, while I know enough to brush and floss I don't want to drill my own cavities.
   
   Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by Steven Fisher's book. It truly is an authoritative work that may very well provide all the necessary guidance for a driven, detail-oriented individual to create their own simple living trust. However, I'm NOT that individual but the book was still useful.
   
   Going into the book I had a vague concept of what a trust was, but Fisher provides an exhaustive look at the dozens of different types of trusts that are currently available under the law. He clearly defines each type while also listing the specific circumstances under which each trust might be best applied.
   
   For instance, he distinguishes between a Dynasty Trust, which is a way to legally skirt the "rule against perpetuities" (you'll have to read the book for that definition); a Charitable Trust that allows a direct bequeath to a worthy cause; a Special Needs trust for individuals who are developmentally disabled or mentally ill; as well as a Pet Trust, which is a legal instrument that ensures a beloved pet is cared for the remainder of its days after the owner passes.
   
   Those only scratch the surface of Fisher's expertise.
   
   Additionally, I thought that chapter five was very interesting because that was where he discusses the different types of assets that should be included within a trust, and those that should not, as well as a meaningful explanation of why that's the case of each asset class.
   
   The only portion of the book that puzzled me, was a few pages at the end of chapter eight about funding a child's education using a state 529 plan and/or a federal Coverdell account. These topics seemed to pop up out of nowhere and weren't adequately tied into the premise of the book - I would have liked to know if those assets are even eligible for inclusion within a trust since both my daughters have those educational accounts.
   
   Regardless, the book as a whole is an excellent resource, and it also has an outstanding appendix that contains an extremely useful glossary and actual samples of various trusts for review. So whether you're up to the challenge of creating your own trust, or you want to "trust" the expertise of a lawyer this is a useful tool deserving a place on your bookshelf.



2. No matter what financial situation you are in today, or the size of your portfolio, this book provides all kinds of essential information to help you protect your interests and assets so they can be passed down to family members or favorite charities.
   
   Examples are sprinkled throughout many chapters to give the reader a better understanding of complex terms and legal situations.
   
   There are interesting historical facts regarding how living trusts evolved as well as the origins of probate court.
   
   The example forms located in the appendix of the book, was a feature I found particularly valuable. Form topics ranged from, a revocable living trust, to a health care power of attorney and advanced health care directive. The latter can be used to ensure your final medical wishes are carried out with minimal controversy.
   
   The subject matter is displayed in very simple to understand terms and the book can be used by anyone who is trying to determine if the living trust is the right tool for them, based on their individual needs.
   
   I liked this book because it not only presented an array of information on such important topics as related tax issues and types of available trusts, but it also explained the pros and cons of going the route of the living trust.
   
   The book also touches on two other unique items including same-sex partners and the division of assets, as well as what steps you should take if you are ever charged with administering a living trust.



3. The Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Living Trust is an excellent resource for anyone considering creating a living trust. It delineates which individuals would benefit from having such an instrument as part of their estate plan. The book thoughtfully explains both the why and the how-to of the living trust as well as alternative options to safeguarding your estate. It describes how to reduce taxes on the estate as well as create a simpler, quicker transfer of wealth to your intended heirs. Sample forms are included for ease of creating the trust yourself, if you so desire. Mr. Fisher even walks the reader through the process of settling a living trust for the future trustee.
   
   This book rates five out of five stars for taking complicated subject matter and making it very easy to understand. I consider it a must-have for anyone with an estate to leave for their heirs.



4. Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
   
   Steven D. Fisher has expertly written about the need to creating your own living trust with great insight. With the amount of in-depth information covered, this book is appropriately called a "Guide to creating your own Living Trust".
   
   Steven D. Fisher has elaborated every factor involved in creating a living trust. He has comprehensively explained aspects such as the types of trusts, the need for a will and what type, how to make it easier for the trustees and heirs, the types of laws relating to living trusts and more. The sample forms he has provided are especially helpful.
   
   I liked the guidance and advice he presented from the trustee's point of view. I especially like the warning about scams involving living trusts, which I didn't even know existed.
   
   I felt I had to read some parts in the book a few times before I fully understood some aspects he was trying to explain but this could be because there are a lot of legalities involved in the process of creating a living trust to start with.
   
   Overall, "The Complete Guide to creating your own Living Trust" enriches the reader's knowledge about living trusts by expansively covering all the aspects and issues related to it.

No comments about The Motley Fool Investment Guide (Completely Revised and Expanded) (How the Fool Beats Wall Street's Wise Men and How You Can Too).