Die Broke : A Radical Four-Part Financial Plan

Rating:
Summary: Some good insight, but overall seems too drastic
Review: The authors have plenty of good ideas but I just don't buy their thesis completely. The "pay cash" and "don't retire" ideas have lots of merit, "die broke" definitely made me think about our estate plan, but I definitely question the "quit now" mentality. As a manager I see the "free agent" attitude the authors describe in the Gen-X crowd and I cannot for the life of me want to promote that attitude. I would hope when people spend 40+ hours a week someplace they would enjoy what they do and want to be part of a team effort there, not just struggling through it and seeing it as the part of their life that is solely for producing money. We all know careers and jobs are not guaranteed any more, but this "looking out for number one" attitude you see so much these days does not help the corporate work environment. I know my company may boot me whenever they feel like it, but that doesn't mean I have to act with that same callous attitude to my peers or subordinates. Then to have some bestselling book promote this selfish attitude in the workplace really scares me.

Rating:
Summary: Take with a few grains of salt
Review: This is a wake-up call on how the changes in life in America have not been matched by appropiote changes in our financial planning techniques. A number of the ideas and programs are extremely useful for adapting to the economic climite of the 21st century. A very good read for anyone still trying to make their way in the economic jungle, which I suppose is everyone other than Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. However, Pollard does make a mistake common to self-help authors by insisting that you must do EVERYTHING he recommends if you are to have any sucess with the program at all. I don't believe this "one size fits all" philosphpy does the reader any kindness or any help. I think it has a great selection of useful "how to" topics but one must pick and choose among them to find a system customized to your needs and desires. Other than that, it is a very excellent work.