You Have More Than You Think : The Motley Fool Investment Guide To Investing What You Have

Rating:
Summary: Novice to "Fool"
Review: I did this backwards, reading the other two volumes in the "trilogy" (TMF Investment Guide & TMF Rule Breakers, Rule Makers) prior to this, the beginning volume. I realized this was the "basics" but wanted to complete the set. Boy, am I glad I took the time! This is the most easy to read volume on the fundamentals of money management, and basic investment, not to mention very lighthearted. I intend to buy this, a primer in finances, for both my teenage children, and, a couple of friends at work who I know will benefit tremendously from this, if only they take the time out to read it! I will certainly urge them to do so. Great job Gardner brothers. Keep up the enlightening work. O' yes, I have put all the investment strategies to work, and am enjoying much success. I started late in life, if only I had been able to understand this when I was twenty! Don't wait!

Rating:
Summary: Good Advice - Irritating Tone
Review: I tried to listen to this audio book and couldn't. While the advice in it is good - I've subscribed to the e-mail newsletter in the past - the arrogant tone of the reader is too much for me. Gladly David Gardner reminds you that the recommendations that he is giving you are simple and any Fool should be able to do them and become rich. But after being reminded of this time after time in the introduction you wonder what they REALLY mean by calling themselves Fools. You are talked down to and some start to wonder why would you submit yourself to such irritating drone.

My advice: Don't be a Fool, buy the book, skip the arrogance, and go straight to the financial advice.

Rating:
Summary: Good Advice - Irritating Tone
Review: I tried to listen to this audio book and couldn't. While the advice in it is good - I've subscribed to the e-mail newsletter in the past - the arrogant tone of the reader is too much for me. Gladly David Gardner reminds you that the recommendations that he is giving you are simple and any Fool should be able to do them and become rich. But after being reminded of this time after time in the introduction you wonder what they REALLY mean by calling themselves Fools. You are talked down to and some start to wonder why would you submit yourself to such irritating drone.

My advice: Don't be a Fool, buy the book, skip the arrogance, and go straight to the financial advice.

Rating:
Summary: an nurturing approach to gaining control of your finances
Review: I've read the other Fool books -- this one is much more basic and covers much more than just stock picking methods. If you believe that your financial advisor is a real expert, or you have credit card debt, or you don't know how to get the best price on a car, this is a must read. I knew all the basic stuff until I got to stocks which I'm far from an expert in. What I like about the Fool books (besides the humor and light tone which is always appreciated) is that they explain in plain English the meaning behind the numbers. Want to know what a dividend percentage yield really MEANS? You get the idea. Their basic Dow 4 strategy seems a bit oversimplified, but the point is that we should all realize that WE have all the information we need to make well-informed decisions for ourselves and do not need to rely on others. That idea alone (and a common theme running through the books) is worth the price of admission.

Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment! But Average Investment Advice
Review: Investment books are rarely entertaining. The Gardners and Andy Tobias are the exceptions. If you can't bear to read about investing and know nothing, you should give this book a try. You may find it to your taste.

The weakness of the book is a bias towards encouraging you to be out of debt and into common stocks, based on formulas and your professional knowledge. If the financial markets were at an average or below average price level, that would be all right. But the financial markets are at an all-time high, so future returns should be below par.

There is a historical ratio between household wealth in stocks and housing that favors buying housing right now rather than stocks. Few will be able to buy a home without a mortgage.

The most frequent path to major wealth in this country has been to found one's own business. Few can do this without incurring reasonable debt to finance receivables and other needed investments. The Gardners don't really address this investment opportunity.

The formula the Gardners propose for buying high yield stocks in the Dow has had to be revised every few years to be a good way to invest. This formula probably won't work well in the future either, because too many people follow the formula. Markets are bested by only a small percentage of all investors over time, and this rule is no exception going forward.

The advice about avoiding credit card debt, saving wherever you can, and so forth is quite good. You'd find it in any decent investment book.

If you decide you want to go into the stock market, I suggest you also read John Bogle's book, Common Sense About Mutual Funds, to round out the perspective that the Gardners provide here before buying stocks. Be sure to consider first how much you want to do with housing and starting your own business. Good luck with your investing.

Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment! But Average Investment Advice
Review: Investment books are rarely entertaining. The Gardners and Andy Tobias are the exceptions. If you can't bear to read about investing and know nothing, you should give this book a try. You may find it to your taste.

The weakness of the book is a bias towards encouraging you to be out of debt and into common stocks, based on formulas and your professional knowledge. If the financial markets were at an average or below average price level, that would be all right. But the financial markets are at an all-time high, so future returns should be below par.

There is a historical ratio between household wealth in stocks and housing that favors buying housing right now rather than stocks. Few will be able to buy a home without a mortgage.

The most frequent path to major wealth in this country has been to found one's own business. Few can do this without incurring reasonable debt to finance receivables and other needed investments. The Gardners don't really address this investment opportunity.

The formula the Gardners propose for buying high yield stocks in the Dow has had to be revised every few years to be a good way to invest. This formula probably won't work well in the future either, because too many people follow the formula. Markets are bested by only a small percentage of all investors over time, and this rule is no exception going forward.

The advice about avoiding credit card debt, saving wherever you can, and so forth is quite good. You'd find it in any decent investment book.

If you decide you want to go into the stock market, I suggest you also read John Bogle's book, Common Sense About Mutual Funds, to round out the perspective that the Gardners provide here before buying stocks. Be sure to consider first how much you want to do with housing and starting your own business. Good luck with your investing.

Rating:
Summary: A humorous financial guide that will make you laugh out loud
Review: The reason I said that every woman should read this book is because women are so uneasy, uneducated and uninformed about HANDLING THEIR MONEY. In an artful, informative, lively, funny and beautifully written style, the awesome and overwhleming aspects of the Stock Market become clear. In a step by step approach, intelligently presented, the content of this book becomes a primer for implementing and creating a sane and personal approach to money managemnent. I, for one, am deeply grateful. This book has been a major force in my gaining confidence to optimistically manage and profit with my money. THANK YOU BROTHERS!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: "Great book on investing-too many snide remarks"
Review: These two Foolish brothers are a Godsend. They are doing a great service for anyone interested in investing, or building a strong financial future in general. It seems that nowdays there are so many 'shisters' out there, so willing to take the last crumb of food from our lips, that it's frightening. From what I've seen on the Fools website, Dave and Tom are both Foolishly excited about us (jr. Fools) becoming financially educated. This book is waaay to full of puns and cynicism. If you can get through the funny business, however, you will find a gem of a book. Sometimes their humor is actually laughable. Advanced investors may find this treatise on investing somewhat simplified, but that's the way it should be. Why confuse a bunch of simple Fools! Good book with a happy ending!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent primer on personal finance and investing.
Review: To the Atlanta reviewer who opined that the Motleys are just exploiting the financial ignorance of the American public......HUH? Tom and David write a beginner's guide to personal financial stability, regular financial planning, and PERSONAL control of one's investments. It is designed to prevent the professional financial world from exploiting the ignorance of the public by convincing them that investing and financial planning and the stock market are too complicated for "outsiders." Though it is written in simple terms, is admittedly repetitive, and may be too basic for some, it is ideal for beginners. From consumer debt and credit card use to major family purchases to equity investing, it drives home the point that YOU CAN DO IT financially. I gave this as a gift to a couple of graduating high school senior honor students. They read it like a novel in a couple of days and said it was the best educational experience they ever had. Don't be fooled- though simply stated, the principles in this book are worth reviewing by money managers of ANY educational level. I have a business degree and a doctorate- I loved it!