Rating:  Summary: Some good advice, some treacherous waters Review: Robert Allen is definitely selling plenty of books... and he takes the liberty of presenting perhaps the best synopsis I have ever seen on how he turns his book sales into an absolutely amazing income machine. Think "bundling"... This information, while somewhat inaccessible to many, is nonetheless very interesting and worth the price of the paperback alone."Multiple Streams" is actually a wonderful concept, as borne out by clients, friends, etc. I know who have set up several businesses, investments and ventures. I do recommend this book, but have at least a few grains of salt handy. I claim no expertise in the world of financial wizardry, but I know sensible thinking when I see it. There is sensible thinking in this book, and there is also perilous advice. The initial chapters are very sound and make sense. The whole presentation Mr. Allen makes about money itself (valuing, etc) is good and even a bit inspiring. The best advice I found in this book lies in the section about initial investing. Allen's suggestion (exhortation, actually) that a person without an investment should drop the book and immediately set up a small monthly payment into an index fund is wonderful. It may not be quite as easy as portrayed (I, for one, will absolutely verify every potential investment my money, regardless of the paltry sum, will be placed in) but it is a simple way to get started. This book was copywritten in 2000, and we all know what the stock market (particularly tech stocks) has done. Still, the fundamental advice Allen gives, that the stock market will provide solid returns over time (20 years for example) appears to be still quite sound. Nonetheless, after the first chapter on investing (the index fund approach) the book gets into some downright scary, risky stuff about margins, etc. To be fair to the author, he proposes that investing in high risk stock should only be attempted after successfully establishing survival funds, conservative investments and moderate risk investments. This I cannot, and do not, take issue with. The danger lies in people leaping immediately into the high risk area. After all, Allen is close to, if not in fact, a "get rich quick" guru. When contemplating the ideas set forth in "Multiple Streams" consider the source. The real estate advice is generally very good and well written. I take exception to the apparent simplicity with which the art of obtaining good leads and executing a good deal is presented. I am, again, not an expert, having bought and sold only a few homes, but I know where a lot of work... grunt work, hard and strenuous, must be applied, and it is here. Real estate is a potentially fabulous investment... then again, there are hundreds of thousands of foreclosures and a great number of lawsuits for improper maintenance, poor management, etc. That should tell us all something. I do not disagree with Allen's premise that real estate is a fundamental base of wealth. I only caution that research is done and hard work is expected. Finally, the sections on taxes and financial security are spotty. There is enough good information therein to make the read worthwhile, but every time I hear one of those radio advertisements by a shouting salesman for a seminar on "Nevada Corporate Licensing" I flip to another channel... Focus on the basics. Leave the gambling to the people in Vegas. Do what you love. Live with integrity. This book addresses some of that, but use discernment. For those of us made nervous by the overwhelmingly negative media barrage about "the economy" these past few years, this book contains some hopeful ideas.
Rating:  Summary: Use with caution Review: The major problem I have with this book is that it sounds like a cheap informercial and personally I don't have too much faith on what informercials promise because, like this book, they make exaggerated claims and hard-sell you. The first few chapters of the book are very inspirational (from the hard-selling) but true. I still practice these techniques such as saving frugally, not using my credit card (reduce your spending by 20% according to studies), and budgeting all my expenses. That last is probably the most important of all because by keeping track of everything you spend, you will be less likely to spend. However, some streams mentioned should be followed with caution. One way of creating a stream is by buying the "Dogs of the Dow", selected companies in the index. Although they have beaten the dow by 3% each year, this is easily evaporated by the taxes and commissions you pay since the "Dogs" must be updated each year. Another stream mentioned was multi-level marketing. If you go to the FTC website, they actually have a warning on MLM companies. In any case, in the hands of someone intelligent, this is a worthy book of ideas.
Rating:  Summary: Multiple Streams of Income Review: This book inspired me to rethink how I have been living my life. I had never considered the difference between a "linear" (single) income stream (my job) and multiple streams of income. In this day and age were companies are downsizing and people are finding themselves out of work - the thought of having multiple streams of income makes incredible sense. This book (tapes) is filled with remarkable information. Robert G. Allen, the author, believes that each dollar bill should be looked at as a "money seed" that can be used to invest and grow more money. Savings accounts, IRA's, etc. earn interest for you 24 hours a day - even when you sleep - creating "Multiple Streams of Income". Cutting up credit cards will save you 20% interest. Mr. Allen believes that by giving 10% of your income away you will multiply your income. On a dollar a day a person could become a milionaire and many more ideas that kick your mind into a new thought pattern about the way you make, spend, and save money.
Rating:  Summary: There is no other quite like it! Review: This is truly an unique book, there is no other quite like it in the marketplace. Personally, I appreciate this book a lot more after reading Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad series - Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Cashflow Quadrant, Guide to Investing, etc. - (which teach you how to become rich via passive incomes & building businesses) which is exactly the same theme that is presented in this book. I highly recommended using this book IN CONJUNCTION with other books to get the full impact of it. Mr Allen's book, due to its size, has condensed a lot of concepts which you might want to study more from other books. This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in learning how to become rich. (Personal Note: There's a reading list at the end of Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant which is an excellent resource for people who might be interested in learning more about the concepts that are presented in this book.) Mr. Allen, Thank you.
Rating:  Summary: Multiple Strams of Income Review: WOW! What can I say? This is the best Book I have read on this subject, and I've read lots of them! I am a single mom with 2 boys, no child support. In following some of the great advice on Robert's book, I have made more money this month than I've ever made before and this is just the begining...!! One happy Mom, two happy kids! All thanks to Robert G. Allen. This is not a book, this is a WAY OF LIFE! Monica Zaidenweber
Rating:  Summary: A Good Read! Review: Aimed at those with little or no business or investment knowledge, this book explains how to earn money in addition to your salary and how to plug leaks in your cash flow. Robert G. Allen crams in an enormous amount of information and the book design accommodates boxed quotes, sidebars and graphs that help simplify complex investment and other financial information. We from getAbstract recommend this book to anyone in need of a crash course in financial security, who doesn't mind a "Gee-whiz" approach.
Rating:  Summary: Excellent "map" to travel the Road to Wealth Review: Robert G. Allen has proven again and again to be extremely effective in teaching complex subjects! The book explains and practically show the readers how to generate Multiple streams of income in our lives. I've attended his seminars and now working very closely with his Success Team. He does not write theoratical stuffs -- The contents of MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME are practical and he has done it over and over again! He also has taught many millionaires his success secrets. Extremely powerful book! MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO DESIRE FINANCIAL FREEDOM...
Rating:  Summary: Residual Income - future income off past efforts Review: J. Paul Getty said it many years ago; "I would rather earn 1% off the efforts of 100 people than 100% off the efforts of myself."Michael Gerber says pretty much the same thing in his excellent book "The E-Myth"Network marketing as espoused in Multiple Streams of Income by Robert G. Allen offers you the opportunity to not only earn off the efforts of man other people, but create an income stream that will last your life and your heirs as well.Tax leins are another powerful strategy recommended by Bob Allen, only because they work. No tax leins may not be available in your state. But so what? You can buy tax liens through the mail or travel to other states. The up to 50% yields make tax liens worth your time to invest in.My only two gripes with Bob Allen are the reommendations for universal life policies and options trading. There are better tax deffered plans than a universal life policy and options are tricky.I believe that for the aerage person, network marketing, mutual funds, tax leins, discounted mortgages and real estate offer the best return with little or no risk involved. Leave the stock market to the gamblers.If you lke this book, I suggest you also read the 16% Solution, The E-Myth and Turner, Turner, Turner: The King of Network Marketing.
Rating:  Summary: Not good for experts, dangerous for novices Review: I put off pesonally buying this book for months, because when I reviewed it's contents, I realized I had other books which covered in detail individual chapters in MSoI. However, based upon the recommendations of several friends I hold in very high regard, I went ahead and added it to my collection. Mr. Allen states that if you're only getting paid once for every hour you work, well, you're doing something wrong. The basis of this book is to provide you with an introduction to the basics of financial planning, then introduce you to multiple ways of bringing in money to your life, with residual income streams. For those who have experience with Network Marketing, the stock market, options, real estate, and tax liens, this book is a nice, basic refresher course, and nothing more. Maybe a good advertisement to his website, where he can direct you to the fact he is a representative in USANA (a network marketing company) and get you on his mailing list.... but a basic refresher nonetheless. For those of you who are novices, don't waste your money. At best the book is too basic, at worst it's downright dangerous. Mr. Allen protrays saving a dollar a day and turning it into millions with the same tone as making option calls which could cost you THOUSANDS of dollars if you don't know what you're doing and can't afford to loose the money. If you're dead-set on spending the money for this hardcover book, PLEASE take the book as an outline for yoru future income streams, and when you decide on which streams you want to focus on, go buy other, much more detailed books before you take any specific action!!
Rating:  Summary: There is something rotten un Utah Review: Robert allen's book inspired me and all, at least until I started doing a little homework and a background check. It seems Mr. Allen has filed for bankruptcy twice and a member of his Atlanta real estate club was sent to jail for trying his nothing down techniques. Although some of his chapters are good, such as covered calls and mutual funds/stocks, it is nothing you can't get from 15 minutes on the internet. He also keeps shamelessly plugging away for his website, coopers covered calls, and his conferences/phone calls, etc... It is bogus, go read one up on wall street or buffettology to really make some money
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