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Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read
Review: I first became aware of Mr. Lucia and his "BrainTrust" (Rick Plum, Rob Butterfield, Jr., and John Dean) when his long-running (14 year) San Diego-based radio show went national and became syndicated with Business Talk Radio at the end of 2000; I thank the day I stumbled upon this sage. The show has become increasingly popular and now airs in around 60 markets. Once limited to the greater San Diego area, this show is now educating people all across the country. This book continues the process of finally bringing Ray Lucia to an even broader audience. Lucia's show and this book avoid the ridiculous "buy, sell, hold" approach that permeates the work of so many other financial gurus. This is not a "get rich quick" or "doom and gloom" book. Lucia does not pretend to know what direction markets or any individual security is going in the short-term. He sticks to what he knows (and what you need to know). This book is about much more than asset allocation and diversification. It is solid advice based on the prestigious 30-year career of Lucia and his highly competent associates.
If you want books that teach you how to learn how to do a solid fundamental analysis of securities, I recommend the classics by Benjamin Graham, by Peter Lynch, by Philip Fisher, by Louis Engel and about Warren Buffett. If you want a book that takes a refreshing approach and truly carves out a niche by focusing on financial planning, Lucia's book is the book for you. In many ways, Lucia's book is a more relevant read than any of the above mentioned authors. Believers in an efficient market understand the other authors can only take you so far. Lucia takes you several steps further by sharing financial planning strategies that will work for everybody. This is what is lacking in the vast majority of financial literature. Authors spend too much time trying to tell you how to find the next Microsoft. In the process, they neglect powerful basic and advanced personal finance strategies and investment tools. This is what truly reduces risk and adds value to one's portfolio over time. The vast majority of investors will get more from Lucia's book than any other book they read in their lifetime. I enthusiastically recommend Lucia as must reading for any investor in any stage of his/her life. This is a great book for a grandfather to buy to read and pass on to his daughter, who can then pass it on to her son. People just starting out will greatly benefit from this book in that it will tell them as much about what not to do, as what to do. More sophisticated and astute investors will benefit from Lucia's empirical study based recommendations on how to allocate and balance one's portfolio. I have acquired more practical knowledge from Mr. Lucia than I have through my undergraduate studies, graduate studies, and other studies combined. It is a rare and refreshing treat to find someone in this field who not only has such a vast body of knowledge that he is willing to share, but is able to communicate it in such an articulate manner. Lucia not only recommends the right things, but he does things the right way. Lucia is altruistic and passionate. In terms of financial planning savvy, Lucia is by far the best of the financial gurus. In terms of the intangibles, in his words you will find a motivator who cares deeply about his family, his work, and sharing his vast body of knowledge with people from all walks of life so as one of his mottos goes, "You will be successful in your money, your business, and your life." Lucia may not (yet) get the press and hype of some of the other financial gurus that have television shows, radio shows, and books. However, if you read his book, you will see he is the premier guru in the country. If you don't agree with this comment after reading his book, I recommend you read his book twice and then listen to his radio show.
Rating:
Summary: Great tool for retirement
Review: I really enjoyed reading Ray's book, and it helped me to understand the "Buckets" philosophy he talks about on the radio. It's a great retirement strategy, although you do have to be somewhat disciplined at saving to make it all work properly. It also requires you to take money from only about 5% of your portfolio each year, which some people may or may not be able to do, so if you're used to taking huge chunks of cash from your savings each year you might not be able to follow it. It seems rather foolproof (which I like), and while it doesn't promise huge returns on your money (it's very conservative), it does make sure that you never run out of money even if we run into another "bad run" in the stock market. I wish I read it two years ago, but that's the breaks. I also enjoy his radio show, he's much better than that boring Ramsey guy that follows him. Maybe I'll get the nerve to call in one day and ask a question to the Braintrust!
Rating:
Summary: Great tool for retirement
Review: I really enjoyed reading Ray's book, and it helped me to understand the "Buckets" philosophy he talks about on the radio. It's a great retirement strategy, although you do have to be somewhat disciplined at saving to make it all work properly. It also requires you to take money from only about 5% of your portfolio each year, which some people may or may not be able to do, so if you're used to taking huge chunks of cash from your savings each year you might not be able to follow it. It seems rather foolproof (which I like), and while it doesn't promise huge returns on your money (it's very conservative), it does make sure that you never run out of money even if we run into another "bad run" in the stock market. I wish I read it two years ago, but that's the breaks. I also enjoy his radio show, he's much better than that boring Ramsey guy that follows him. Maybe I'll get the nerve to call in one day and ask a question to the Braintrust!
Rating:
Summary: Great tool for retirement
Review: I really enjoyed reading Ray's book, and it helped me to understand the "Buckets" philosophy he talks about on the radio. It's a great retirement strategy, although you do have to be somewhat disciplined at saving to make it all work properly. It also requires you to take money from only about 5% of your portfolio each year, which some people may or may not be able to do, so if you're used to taking huge chunks of cash from your savings each year you might not be able to follow it. It seems rather foolproof (which I like), and while it doesn't promise huge returns on your money (it's very conservative), it does make sure that you never run out of money even if we run into another "bad run" in the stock market. I wish I read it two years ago, but that's the breaks. I also enjoy his radio show, he's much better than that boring Ramsey guy that follows him. Maybe I'll get the nerve to call in one day and ask a question to the Braintrust!
Rating: 
Summary: Easy to understand
Review: This is not really a book about how to amass your retirement savings, but rather what to do with it when you are retired. The system is simple. You have 3 buckets. In bucket number 1 you put your money for the next 5-7 years. Bucket number 2 is for the next 5-7 year period after that. And finally, bucket number 3 is for the money you will not need for 10-14 years. The book then discusses the proper investment choices for each bucket, how to rebalance them when necessary. The plan makes sense and seems simple. The only part I was not entirely clear on is when to move items from bucket 3 to bucket 2. Maybe I missed it. In any case, the book was a good read and I plan on reading it again when I get closer to retirement. I'm looking forward to Ray's next book (the radio show is good too).
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