Buying Stocks Without A Broker

Rating:
Summary: Helpful, But in Need of Updating
Review: I first purchased this book years ago, and I have to admit at the time it was a revelation. I was trying to buy stocks and usually failed to do so simply because I did not want to pay broker fees and I was rarely in a position to buy 100 shares at a time (if you bought less, the stock price and the broker fee both usually went up). Back then, the book was a great aid. I still own a stock list in the book that I purchased thanks to this book.

But in many ways, this book has lost a lot of relevance. Now one can go online and purchase stocks in any amount with fees of as little as $3.00. And the fact that the book has not been updated since 1996 weighs heavily against recommending it be purchased by anyone today. Perhaps Carlson has not bothered to further update because of the ease with which stocks may eb purchased on-line.

Still, for someone who is a long term investor, it provides some choices as far as investing without involving a broker. And it is definitely an option if you have no desire to use the internet to make stock purchases. Just be aware that your options are limited; most companies do not offer direct purchase of their stock or Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs) to the public at large.

Rating:
Summary: Truly a walk in the park.
Review: This book did it all, I learned more about stocks and purchases from this one book than any other. The information in this book takes you from the first step all the way to purchases. This book is the credit for my recent stock portfolio. And for that I Thank the author for a job very well done. I am an inexperienced investor who needed a mentor and teacher, this book/author filled that need. Outstanding, I read it cover to cover several times.

Rating:
Summary: excellent resource book for the small investor
Review: This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to manage his own stock investments in America's best-known companies. All the difficult-to-get information like 800 numbers, addresses, stock symbols, minimum investment amounts, etc, etc is provided in an easy-to-read format along with model portfolios for the beginner and the more experienced investor. A "must read" for anyone who wants to partake in the growth of this country for lttle or no brokerage costs

Rating:
Summary: Helpful for the novice investor
Review: This book was written before the likes of Ameritrade and E-Trade came along, and therefore is rather dated. The fees associated with most plans today and their minimum investments make DRIPs less attractive today then they were five years ago. However, for those who want to buy stock in companies and hold for ten or 20 years, they are worthwhile. Carlson writes in easy-to-understand language that a person not well-versed in Wall Street can grasp. Plenty of information on the company's listed along with telephone numbers and websites. Different kinds of portfloios are profiled so the investor can see what they can do with whatever funds they have to invest. The pros and cons of this kind of investing are listed so a person can decide if it is for them. It is a worthwhile read.