Rating: 
Summary: Opportunistic Without Complete Accuracy
Review: A must-read for anyone with an IRA or long term investments - this book is like a fireside chat with a favorite uncle in the stock business who tells you what to watch for and watch out for. Lots of information in an informal, easy to read format.
Rating: 
Summary: Kudos to the authors
Review: As a former broker and current investor, Brokerage Fraud is a compelling read. The authors pulled no punches and gave an honest & informative investigative report on brokers. An investor who is serious about his/her investments should immediately read this book. Wall Street is not perfect nor are its brokers; however there should be no excuse for an investor not to inform himself with the ammunition that this book provides. Ask your broker questions, don't be shy - a good honest broker has nothing to fear. Kudos to the authors of this book for showing the public how business should be conducted.
Rating:
Summary: Review of 'Brokerage Fraud'
Review: Brokerage Fraud is very well written and provides an excellent overview of the problems the investing public may encounter when dealing with securities industry. I was surprised how much I learned, and especially considering that I had been previously employed in the securities industry and have practiced securities law for many years.
Rating:
Summary: Brokerage Fraud -- Required reading for the investor
Review: Had "Brokerage Fraud" been available to my wife and I eight years ago, it may very well have saved us the fortune we lost to a mercenary industry that promotes itself as caring and responsible, when in fact it cares mostly for itself. "Brokerage Fraud" might have been subtitled, "What You Don't Know About The Stock Brokerage Industry Could Wreck Your Dreams." Think of this book as your insurance policy against a devastating financial reversal that could snatch away your home, your business, your childrens' educations, and/or your life savings. "Brokerage Fraud" is frank and friendly, organized, comprehensive, easy to digest -- and quite unique, too, because the distinguished authors tell all about an autonomous, all-powerful institution that routinely sheers the uninitiated. My wife and I learned at great cost that the stock brokerage industry profits hugely at the expense of those who trust it too much and know it too little. This important, well-crafted book levels the playing field by giving individual investors the information and the strategies they require to prosper in what's essentially an insider environment. If you only read one investment book, this is it, and we can't recommend it too highly.
Rating:
Summary: Brokerage Fraud -- Required reading for the investor
Review: Had "Brokerage Fraud" been available to my wife and I eight years ago, it may very well have saved us the fortune we lost to a mercenary industry that promotes itself as caring and responsible, when in fact it cares mostly for itself. "Brokerage Fraud" might have been subtitled, "What You Don't Know About The Stock Brokerage Industry Could Wreck Your Dreams." Think of this book as your insurance policy against a devastating financial reversal that could snatch away your home, your business, your childrens' educations, and/or your life savings. "Brokerage Fraud" is frank and friendly, organized, comprehensive, easy to digest -- and quite unique, too, because the distinguished authors tell all about an autonomous, all-powerful institution that routinely sheers the uninitiated. My wife and I learned at great cost that the stock brokerage industry profits hugely at the expense of those who trust it too much and know it too little. This important, well-crafted book levels the playing field by giving individual investors the information and the strategies they require to prosper in what's essentially an insider environment. If you only read one investment book, this is it, and we can't recommend it too highly.
Rating:
Summary: A definite "must read" for all investors
Review: I can't imagine how I ever lived without this book. I've ordered additional copies for friends and relatives for Christmas. Everyone who invests in the market should make this a "must read".
Rating:
Summary: Informative, entertaining, and humorous!
Review: I would recommend this book not only to those persons with little or no experience in the investment world, but to those with some knowledge of and experience in the industry! I am an attorney and an investor. Yet, I must say that each chapter of 'Brokerage Fraud' brought new information and insight that is invaluable. Readers of this book will find it informative, entertaining, and at times quite humorous. This book will also arm you with enough information to make intelligent decisions about your money and with whom to place it.
You might even want to send this book to your current broker! Frank E. Needham
Rating:
Summary: Shows you the games many broker play to take your money
Review: In many things it is better to say "Know thyself" but if you have a brokerage account it is best to say "Know others before thyself." This is a wonderfully concise and insightful book. The authors are able to convey their in-depth knowledge in an understandable and direct manner. They describe what to look for, how to detect it, and what action to take if you suspect brokerage misconduct. This book will educate as well as hold your interest.
Rating:
Summary: Shows you the games many broker play to take your money
Review: So, you think you broker is honest, maybe not! The book explains that yes brokers are concerned about making you money, but they are more concered about making money off of you first. The book explains how investment firms pressure their
stock brokers (aka financial analysts, money managers)
into creating as many "hidden" charges off your account as possible. One big think the book points out is to watch for excessive
trading and the "hidden" cost of spreads and mark ups and mark downs. One really good point was about the use of margin.
Most brokers do not explain to their clients the costs and
risks associated with the use of magin( borrowing money to buy
more stocks.) One hidden cost of margin involves Flat Fee accounts where the money you borrow (and pay a good rate of intrest on) increases
the amount of assets in you flat fee acount, so you pay that
1 or 2% flat fee on the margin too. Another key point in the book is ask you broker to tell you
what all you expenses total to as a percent of your assets.
You may be suprised how much they reall charge you. You may not be so happy with your broker when you realize, yes
they made you a 15% return this year, but the market average(at same risk at you assets) returned 25% for the year. And your broker only got your broker did not have you invested
in those assets that would have given you higher return becuasse
he got a bigger commission ( or hidden costs) on the assets that made you less money. Many many games revealed about your "honest" broker. The book has a little fluff so it could be a bit shorter, but the book is full of the many tricks your broker maybe using on you. So for starters:
Stop your broker from usng high risk high commision product
(lke futures).
Stop your broker from using margin ( borrowed money).
Stop your borker from trading too much with too little reutrn. Books gives a current and accurate picture of brokers,
on Jan 13,2004 a story on the front of the NY Times and
the Wall Street Journal stated Morgan Stanley was finded
for getting kick backs from sell certain mutual funds.
And in Sept 2003 Morgan Stanley was fined for holding
contests to see who sold the most of Morgan Stanley Products.
Rating:
Summary: Kudos
Review: Tracy Pride Stoneman and Douglas Schulz were way out ahead of the Wall Street fraud/conflict of interest cases at the big brokerage firms. This book basically tells you what you should look for in brokers (and in most cases, the brokers don't want you to know). It really goes back to the old credo "buyer beware". As in selecting any service, you must perform due dillegence in researching and selecting a good broker and the products that are right for your investment goals and strategies. This book tells you how to do this in simple straightforward langauge. Great information here! Excellent on-line trading information and what to do and expect if you do have problems. Information is power and this book is definitley a POWER BOOSTER!
| 
