Rating: 
Summary: Worth the time and money
Review: As a financial professional, I am acutely aware of Harry Dent and his 'new' economic analysis framework. In The Roaring 2000s Investor, Harry makes his case for demographic driven financial markets: the Baby boomers, who are now reaching their peak spending years, will drive the market onward and upward for the better part of this decade (2000-2009). He goes on to identify his strategies for: 1. Outperforming the stock market; 2. Identifying which sectors should perform best in the coming decade; 3. Selecting a competent financial advisor; What I found most useful was the common sense, logical approach Harry takes when presenting his case. Truly, real wealth is built not by aggressive trading but through the identification of long-term trends and investing accordingly. Harry also makes a strong case for a number of sectors that should outperform during the baby boomers reign. Other tidbits I found useful include: 1. The use of long-term data to drive nearer term investment results; 2. The use of different portfolio strategies for different times of your life; 3. The risk of modest portfolio underperformance; 4. Why today's hot stocks and funds become tomorrow's dogs. I cannot guarantee you that following Harry's recommendations will make you "the Millionaire next Door." However, as a one-time Wall Street professional, I believe he will give you enough perspective on upcoming demographic trends to give you a realistic chance of realizing financial independence. Side note: I have also read Harry's prior book, The Roaring 2000s. The 2000's Investor is a certain reiteration of Harry's economic views and analysis previously laid out in The Roaring 2000s, which was published in 1999 (one year prior to the 2000s Investor). The themes are the same but I believe Harry gives us more application in this newest version. Therefore, read this book and spare yourself the time of the other.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the time and money
Review: As a financial professional, I am acutely aware of Harry Dent and his `new' economic analysis framework. In The Roaring 2000s Investor, Harry makes his case for demographic driven financial markets: the Baby boomers, who are now reaching their peak spending years, will drive the market onward and upward for the better part of this decade (2000-2009). He goes on to identify his strategies for: 1. Outperforming the stock market; 2. Identifying which sectors should perform best in the coming decade; 3. Selecting a competent financial advisor; What I found most useful was the common sense, logical approach Harry takes when presenting his case. Truly, real wealth is built not by aggressive trading but through the identification of long-term trends and investing accordingly. Harry also makes a strong case for a number of sectors that should outperform during the baby boomers reign. Other tidbits I found useful include: 1. The use of long-term data to drive nearer term investment results; 2. The use of different portfolio strategies for different times of your life; 3. The risk of modest portfolio underperformance; 4. Why today's hot stocks and funds become tomorrow's dogs. I cannot guarantee you that following Harry's recommendations will make you "the Millionaire next Door." However, as a one-time Wall Street professional, I believe he will give you enough perspective on upcoming demographic trends to give you a realistic chance of realizing financial independence. Side note: I have also read Harry's prior book, The Roaring 2000s. The 2000's Investor is a certain reiteration of Harry's economic views and analysis previously laid out in The Roaring 2000s, which was published in 1999 (one year prior to the 2000s Investor). The themes are the same but I believe Harry gives us more application in this newest version. Therefore, read this book and spare yourself the time of the other.
Rating:
Summary: Buy This Book!
Review: As an investment professional who constantly reviews risk management techniques with clients and financial consultants, I find this book to be incredibly insightful, practical, and user friendly. Mr. Dent's predictions in the 1980's were right on the mark, and I fully anticipate his forecast for the early 2000's to be just as accurate.
Rating:
Summary: One More Level of Detail on The Roaring 2000's Argument
Review: As my publisher loves to say, you have to connect the dots for people. That is precisely what Dent has done in this sequal to The Roaring 2000's. Specifically, he shows how how large and small cap stocks have fared in various demographic environments, and then concludes that it is big stocks until 2008 in the U.S. He further elucidates on foreign stocks by showing the demographic pattern by country, to give guidance on where to go for international diversification. Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, and China all look very interesting here. You also get a sense of where to go in Europe (avoid France). Dent also provides his own philosophy about investing, get some help and keep it simple. Those who want to be day traders will be quite upset with this book, but for most people this is good advice. He also reminds us to rotate our holdings among the faster growing sectors of the S&P 500 to beat the benchmark. I would need to see more years of evidence to conclude that the argument is rock sound in this book, but it certainly adds a totally different perspective to the continuing issues of asset allocation. I see relatively little potential harm in the advice, as long as you stay flexible and run out of stocks should the scenarios not be developing as Dent forecasts. I know of few things that can be accurately forecast solely from demographics, so I remain skeptical about an investment approach totally based on it. I am equally skeptial of an investment approach that ignores demographics. The book is well worth your while, and you will enjoy the things you learn. If you have never read Dent before, you can start with this book and be all right. If you have read lots of Dent, the benefit is in the new details.
Rating: 
Summary: Prepare your Financial Plan ASAP...
Review: Dent offers a very interesting approach to building a diversified portfolio for the emerging new economy. He also strongly encourages the preparation of a Financial Plan: whoever you are, whatever you do and in whichever age category you belong...Just Do It is the message!In other words be prepared...
Rating: 
Summary: Try to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Review: Despite the author's wrongheaded notions about the origin of inflation (for the record, inflation is caused by hyperactive government printing presses--NOT by the emergence of new technologies) and the advice to seek therapy for our "inevitable" midlife crises, Dent presents a useful analysis of upcoming demographic trends and their likely implications for the financial markets over the next decades. He does seem, though, to ignore the likelihood that the rapid advances in technology over the past twenty years will eventually change the spending habits (as a function of age) of the populace.
Rating:
Summary: Got Hope?
Review: Harry Dent is a bull. Hands down, gotta-own-stocks, Katie-bar-the-door bull. If you need a shot of confidence in your battered portfolio this book will give it to you. Dent has the economic research, the demographic data, market insights, and statistical modelling to build a very persuasive case for equities over the next 6 1/2 years, until 2009. Be careful of the sectors you are in and keep an eye on your allocation, he warns. The markets will shift dramtically down the road. I read his book today and will be changing my asset allocation tomorrow. Harry S. Dent makes a strong case to be bullish. I would have liked to read a more current introduction from him in light of market and economic developments over the past two years, but his basic story has remained, largely, unchanged. 4 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: Practical
Review: Harry Dent is truly a visionary, i believe there is substantial credibility in his forcasts using a truly unique formula, and based on his track record for predictions, there maybe lots of useful information to profit by!
Rating: 
Summary: A poor sequel
Review: Harry Dent's latest is rather a poor sequel. He brushes over issues covered in his prior books and sheds a bit more light on the international investment arena. One chapter turned out quite preachy where Dent, while describing the importance of having the financial freedom to do the things we like, preaches forever on the goodness of giving. And to top it all off, Dent presents and pretends to prove the statement that changes in tax laws have no effect on the desire to innovate! Skip this book and buy one of his prior ones instead!
Rating:
Summary: Use the strategies in this book
Review: Harry S. Dent is an optimistic visionary that uses simple techniques to explain historical data and how it relates to potential future events. He mistrusts modern economists ,who he believes are over-analytical, and contrives a simple plan to assist all laymen (or the "average Joe" like myself). There is a bit of fluff regarding tax planning and obtaining a financial advisor which is more suitable for those with substantial capital (not in that group, YET). Read this book and start a mutual fund with some of your savings and have faith and prosper! I personally have started a global technology fund, if any of you were interested.
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