Rating: 
Summary: Best beginner's financial management book available.
Review: Simply stated, this is the clearest and most well written book that I have read so far on this topic. Although Orman sometimes diverts into the realm of psychology (understanding and conquering your fear of money), she effectively harnesses her years as a money manager and financial planner to give extremely good advice. Salted with anecdotes, and seasoned with true stories and examples, this book breaks down the weighty issues of financial planning into easy to accomplish steps. Orman, covers everything from dealing with fear of money, to getting out of credit card debt, to wills and trusts, and planning for retirement. She also dispels some myths about wills, and gives some straightforward advice in preserving your estate if you should die. She gives concrete examples of what has happened to people who believed that wills covered everything, before the lawyers and probate courts got finished. This book has the best explanation (in layman's terms) between the differences, pros and cons of 401k, Roth IRA, and Traditional IRAs. Although Susie often diverts into realm of psychobabble, she draws real life stories with impact. An enlightening, worthwhile read. NOTE: Amazon was having server problems as I posted this review, that is why it is duplicated. They have not responded to my request to remove the duplicated reviews yet.
Rating: 
Summary: Some excellent advice
Review: The nine steps to finantial freedom starts by taking a look at how you developed your attitudes to money as a child and how that has influenced you in your finantial decisions as an adult. Sometimes these lessons take a while to sink in, as they did for me. My impression of Orman's methods has improved since I've been implementing the ideas, mostly about attitude, to my money. Suzy Orman's writing is easy to follow and understand, and is written in a truly sympathatic way. You really get the impression she wants to help everyone overcome finantial difficulties. Her advise on handling money is quite similar to what you'll normally find; Pay off Debt, how Debt strangles you, how to invest and protect your money, the difference is in your attitude to approaching your money. At first, I did have some frustration in that this book seems very difficult to implement for someone in the lower incomes(as a this review mentioned before editing), however, I've changed my mind on that. Yes, some of the ideas on investing will be difficult or impossible for someone who is supporting a family on less than 25K a year, but the methods slowly build. When you learn to handle your money better, and learn to make the changes in your attutude, the changes in your income are easier to make. Simple things like never using your coin change to buy things, and always saving your coins adds up and before you know it you'll be taking buckets of coins to your savings account, and never really missing that money. Budgeting becomes easier because after a while you realise it's all a matter of choice. Instead of thinking "I only have this much for groceries and bills" and feeling bad about not having enough, your attitude can change to a point where you learn to see the oppourtunities all around you and take advantage of them. As you do this, your income can improve and you'll find that instead of thinking of budget *limits* you're instead thinking of choices about what you really want to put your money into, and it's not hard to go without some luxuries(like new cars, keeping a decent used car which is paid off enables you to make better choices with the money that isn't going to a car payment). You may also want to watch Suzie Orman's TV show in which she uses the principles in her books to answer real-life questions on many challenging situations.
Rating:
Summary: Suze Orman is a wonderful teacher!
Review: 9 STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM has changed my relationship with my money. Securing financial freedom, says Orman, is more dependent on one's attitude toward money than on the amount of money one has. Orman claims that one can be rich at any income level and that, ironically, there are many hugely successful people who are not financially free. What I have found most helpful about 9 STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM is the recommendation to look back at one's childhood to find the roots of one's relationship with money. Suze says that the source of our present attitude toward money can be found in our childhood. I don't know why this hadn't occurred to me before. I suppose I had just thought that my attitude toward money was just inborn. Considering her current state of financial success, I found it surprising and inspiring to know that Suze grew up in a family that chanted the motto, "there is no money!" Suze learned to change her programming. And she is teaching me to do the same. This is one phenomenal woman! I highly recommend 9 STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM.
Rating:
Summary: This is my first Suze Orman book!
Review: I first discovered Suze Orman on PBS. I listened to her approach to financial advice and questions and was ultimately impressed at the level of compassion that she had for her guests and for her clients. I realized during that show that there was something special about this woman. She has a level of charisma and self confidence that permeates everything she does. So when I set out to learn more about her I discovered this book "9 steps". Once again I found her information was genuine and sincere. She has a lot of wonderful stories that concretely tie her steps into real world examples. I have been involved with futures and commodities, as an investor, broker, and author for 11 years. In all that time I have rarely seen such a knowledgeable, compassionate, financial advisor that can speak in layperson's terms. Ms.Orman succeeds in that respect an this book is worth owning.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent choice when you don't know where to start
Review: I had this book (in audio format) on the bookshelf for months and finally pulled it out the other day. If only I had know what I was missing! Like a lot of people just starting into their 30's, my husband and I learned a lot of bad money habits growing up and have had a hard time getting past them. Suze's book has helped to give us a starting place and some realistic ways to handle our money and save for our futures.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST book I have read in a LONG TIME!
Review: Suze is so real and down-to-earth. I feel that she reaches out to you and can help you through any financial problem/question/idea you may have. She helps you to be real with money and all that goes along with it in life. I am giving this book to EVERYONE I KNOW for Christmas this year. It is filled with so much good information that it would be sad to pass it up.
Rating: 
Summary: College Student....
Review: read the book...liked it....but unfortunetly is was aimed more towards the middle aged consumer...Found the information in this book very redundant.... Most of which was taught in my Finance classes last year.... But for those in their fifties and forties who may not be "financially saavy" i feel this book would be very beneficial to them....
Rating:
Summary: Put in your toolbox for either a tune-up, or an overhaul
Review: Suze's book is a great resource if you're just starting out -- many of the chapters deal with the basics of investing -- or simply need to fine-tune a plan you already have in place. What prompted my purchase was an investigation into life insurance. When my husband changed jobs, we ended up having to buy our own life insurance. I had no idea how much we needed, how much we should be paying or, even more basically, if we needed it at all. Suze's book helped answer all my questions, and even listed companies to call for quotes. Even more valuable was a list of questions for me to pose to the insurance companies. Not only does she help you find insurance, she helps you find the right type of insurance. Then there was long term care insurance, and long term disability insurance. Again, with the help of her lists of questions to ask about the policies, my mom and I shopped for long term care insurance for her, and I've shopped -- and am about to buy -- long term disability insurance for my husband. I do have one quibble with the book, however. She scared the daylights out of me when she addressed trusts. I came out of the chapter thinking EVERYBODY needed a trust. After doing some further reading and calling an estate planning attorney friend, I was calmed -- turns out we don't really need one at this point. I might have docked a half-star for the panic the chapter put me in, but otherwise, a terrific book, and a great tool.
Rating: 
Summary: 9 Steps To Giving Suze Your Money
Review: This woman is terrible. Try Bogle's book or Get Clark Smart: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rich from America's Money-Saving Expert.
Rating:
Summary: Though My Goals Diverge
Review: This is a terrific book to get a grip on one's finances. My goals are more ambitious than the basic investing of this book but several of the techniques in this book have helped me. And I believe that we all need to understand money far more than we are taught to by schools and our parents. This book is a terrific primer for financial vision.
| 
