We look at the impact inflation has on our money. We then start to examine how diversification through combining assets, in this case a simple stock and bond mix, works to mitigate the extreme drawdowns of risky asset classes. But we go beyond a limited stock/bond portfolio to consider a more global allocation that also takes into account real assets. We track 13 assets and their returns since 1973, with particular attention to a number of well-known portfolios, like Ray Dalio’s All Weather portfolio, the Endowment portfolio, Warren Buffett’s suggestion, and others. And what we find is that, with a few notable exceptions, many of the allocations have similar exposures. And yet, while we are all busy paying close attention to our portfolio’s particular allocation of assets, the greatest impact on our portfolios may be something we fail to notice altogether...

    The way we think about leadership, for instance, has shifted radically from the genius of great entrepreneurs like Rockefeller, Carnegie and Ford, through leadership as a science, leadership that releases human potential, the leader as strategist and warrior, customer champion, globalist and shareholder advocate, to, more recently, leadership as stewardship of the environment. Hundreds of models have been developed to track, measure and forecast business solutions, but as fashions shift how can we apply them in real organizations that have to succeed outside the classroom? 10 Management Models is taken from the book, 100+ Management Models by the same authors.

    Used correctly, it is better described as a personal bank on steroids, and a financial bunker for tough times. To be clear, this book is not about the typical garbage peddled by most insurance agents. Rather, an alternative to the risky investment strategies taught by Wall Street.It details a highly efficient form of cash value life insurance designed to supercharge your savings and stockpile wealth. A product so powerful it’s responsible for the success of Walt Disney, JC Penney, Ray Kroc, and thousands of others. Here's what you'll discover:•How the wealthy use this vehicle to create more wealth, take less risk, and create predictable income down the road•Why banks and corporations place billions of dollars in this powerful vehicle•How I earned over 300 percent returns leveraging my life insurance policies•How you can create a safe, predictable foundation to enhance every financial decision you make•How to win with taxes and keep more of the money you makeWhile the information compiled into this book is valuable, you'll also find three case studies that show you exactly how it works. You'll be able to visually see how it grows, how it's accessed, as well as the future income that can be taken.______________Influencers of this book are Nelson Nash, his book "Becoming Your Own Banker: Unlock the Infinite Banking Concept"; Pamela Yellen, her book "Bank on Yourself"; Dwayne Burnell, his book "Financial Independence in the 21st Century - Life Insurance * Utilize the Infinite Banking Concept * Compliment Your 401K - Retirement Planning With Permanent Whole Life versus Term or Universal - Create Financial Peace"; and my Father Dan Thompson, and his book "The Banking Effect: Acquiring wealth through your own Private Banking System."I was introduced to these financial strategies at a young age, and this is book represents the effort and energy on both the part of everyone of my mentors, these authors here, as well as my own diligence in learning about and implementing these very same strategies into my personal finances.This book is designed to simplify some of the concepts surrounding cash value life insurance, such as Infinite Banking and Bank on Yourself, and make them easier to understand, stripping them down to the core benefits of cash value life insurance.

    But it doesn’t have to be! Personal Finance 101 will provide you with all the skills you need to make good financial decisions and grow your personal wealth. Full of must-have advice and organized in an easy-to-read format, this book provides a wealth of knowledge on personal finance basics including: -Choosing your bank (and why it matters) -Building an emergency fund -Salary and benefit packages -Where your money is going (and how to keep more of it) -Refinancing or consolidating student loans -Health and property insurance -Building credit responsibly -How to get a mortgage Use this guide and make the most of the money you have, plan for future purchases like a house or a vacation, save for retirement, or simply become more financially responsible. Perfect for finance beginners or those looking to refresh their knowledge, Personal Finance 101 is the one-stop shop for all of your personal finance questions!

    Here is Siegmund Warburg, who dropped a client in the heat of a takeover deal because the man wore monogrammed shirt cuffs, as well as the imperious J. P. Morgan, who, when faced with a federal antitrust suit, admonished Theodore Roosevelt to "send your man to my man and they can fix it up." And here are the men who usurped their power, from the go-getters of the 1920s to the masters of the universe of the 1980s. Glittering with perception and anecdote, The Death of the Banker is at once a panorama of twentieth-century finance and a guide to the new era of giant mutual funds on Wall Street."Chernow . . . delivers a sound, accessible account of the forces shaping capital, credit, currency, and securities markets on the eve of a new millennium. " --Kirkus Reviews

    . . the noblest and the most infamous in the world, the finest and most vulgar on earth.” The characterization of finance as deceitful, infamous, and vulgar still rings true today – particularly in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. But, what happened to the fairest, noblest, and finest profession that de la Vega saw?  De la Vega hit on an essential truth that has been forgotten: finance can be just as principled, life-affirming, and worthy as it can be fraught with questionable practices.  Today, finance is shrouded in mystery for outsiders, while many insiders are uneasy with the disrepute of their profession.  How can finance become more accessible and also recover its nobility? Harvard Business School professor Mihir Desai, in his “last lecture” to the graduating Harvard MBA class of 2015, took up the cause of restoring humanity to finance. With incisive wit and irony, his lecture drew upon a rich knowledge of literature, film, history, and philosophy to explain the inner workings of finance in a manner that has never been seen before. This book captures Desai’s lucid exploration of the ideas of finance as seen through the unusual prism of the humanities. Through this novel, creative approach, Desai shows that outsiders can access the underlying ideas easily and insiders can reacquaint themselves with the core humanity of their profession. The mix of finance and the humanities creates unusual pairings: Jane Austen and Anthony Trollope are guides to risk management; Jeff Koons becomes an advocate of leverage; and Mel Brooks’s The Producers teaches us about fiduciary responsibility. In Desai’s vision, the principles of finance also provide answers to critical questions in our lives. Among many surprising parallels, bankruptcy teaches us how to react to failure, the lessons of mergers apply to marriages, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model demonstrates the true value of relationships. THE WISDOM OF FINANCE is a wholly unique book, offering a refreshing new perspective on one of the world’s most complex and misunderstood professions.

     It’s the story about how a Chinese fishing village became a global economic powerhouse of innovation and technology. Just four decades ago Shenzhen was a backwater area, populated by fishermen and rice farmers. Today, it’s home to up to 20 million people and some of the world’s leading technology companies and most innovative tech startups. No other city better symbolizes the rise of modern China. And no other city challenges Silicon Valley more aggressively as the global hub for innovation and technology startups. In many ways, the Chinese city has already outsmarted the Valley. “Shenzhen has an energy of growth – the same energy I felt when I first came to Silicon Valley ten years ago. And it’s not just in technology. It’s this idea that whoever you are, whatever you’re into, you can come to China, and especially Shenzhen, and do it!” American entrepreneur Scotty Allen says in the book. Shenzhen Superstars is written for anyone who wants to be part of this raging growth story – no matter if you’re a tech buff, investor or just someone curious about knowing what’s driving the future. As a journalist for CNN, Forbes and other international media, Johan Nylander has witnessed the astonishing transformation of the south Chinese city. Its speed, energy and determination are just mind-blowing. His aim is to take you inside, to the very heart of what is shaping this vibrant city. KEY QUOTES FROM THE BOOK “In terms of hardware plus software innovation, Shenzhen is ahead of the curve.” – Jeffrey Towson, private equity investor and Peking University professor “The next ten years will be the era of robots and intelligent machines, and Shenzhen will play well to that.” – Jixun Foo, managing partner of GGV Capital “Shenzhen is just better than Silicon Valley in terms of hardware and software integration.” – Qin Li, CEO of startup Sennotech “If you’re not already in Shenzhen, you're crazy.” – Edith Yeung, general partner of 500 Startups

    and how to have more of it.Are you stymied by debt? Clueless about where your paychecks go?Journalist, podcaster and reformed money mess Frances Cook is here for you. Tales from a Financial Hot Mess is the story of Frances getting her money sh*t sorted. With no idea where she was going wrong and what to do about it, she took it upon herself to learn from the best – and soon found out that the fixes were right in front of her the whole time. (She just needed to wise up a bit.)Frances learned the hard way so you don’t have to.Dishing up a brilliant, often hilarious personal narrative, proven financial advice, handy how-tos (and please-don’ts) and many expert insights (from 22 actual experts), this book will guide you along the rocky path to financial freedom – however that might look for you.Tales from a Financial Hot Mess is the real deal – not another bulleted, tabled, graphed lecture from a financial advisor who’s never had issues with money. Read it and enjoy – who knows, you might learn a thing or two.What have you got to lose?

    Few can contribute to their home country social programs. They're often forced to fend for themselves when they retire. The Global Expatriate's Guide to Investing is the world's only book showing expats how to build wealth overseas with index funds. Written by bestselling author, Andrew Hallam, it's a guide for everyone, no matter where they are from.Warren Buffett says you should buy index funds. Nobel prize winners agree.But dangers lurk. Financial advisors overseas can be hungry wolves. They don't play by the same set of rules. They would rather earn whopping commissions than follow solid financial principles. The Global Expatriate's Guide To Investing shows how to avoid these jokers. It explains how to find an honest financial advisor: one that invests with index funds instead of commission paying windfalls.You don't want an advisor? Fair enough. Hallam shows three cutting edge index fund strategies. He compares costs and services of different brokerages, whether in the U.S. or offshore. And he shows every nationality how to invest in the best products for them. Some people want stability. Some want strong growth. Others want a dash of both.This book also answers the following questions:How much money do I need to retire?How much should I be saving each month?What investments will give me both strong returns, and safety?The Global Expatriate's Guide To Investing also profiles real expats and their stories. It shows the mistakes and successes that they want others to learn from. It's a humorous book. And it demonstrates how you can make the best of your hard-earned money.

    Written by Louis Navellier -- one of the most well-respected and successful growth investors of our day -- this book offers a fundamental understanding of how to get rich using the best in growth investing strategies. Navellier has made a living by picking top, actively traded stocks and capturing unparalleled profits from them in the process. Now, with The Little Book That Makes You Rich, he shows you how to find stocks that are poised for rapid price increases, regardless of overall stock market direction. Navellier also offers the statistical and quantitative measures needed to measure risk and reward along the path to profitable growth stock investing. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, The Little Book That Makes You Rich gives individual investors specific tools for selecting stocks based on the factors that years of research have proven to lead to growth stock profits. These factors include analysts' moves, profit margins expansion, and rapid sales growth. In addition to offering you tips for not paying too much for growth, the author also addresses essential issues that every growth investor must be aware of, including which signs will tell you when it's time to get rid of a stock and how to monitor a portfolio in order to maintain its overall quality. Accessible and engaging, The Little Book That Makes You Rich outlines an effective approach to building true wealth in today's markets. Louis Navellier (Reno, NV) has one of the most exceptional long-term track records of any financial newsletter editor in America. As a financial analyst and editor of investment newsletters since 1980, Navellier's recommendations (published in Emerging Growth) have gained over 4,806 percent in the last 22 years, as confirmed by a leading independent newsletter rating service, The Hulbert Financial Digest. Emerging Growth is one of Navellier's four services, which also includes his Blue Chip Growth service for large-cap stock investors, his Quantum Growth service for active traders seeking shorter-term gains, and his Global Growth service for active traders focused on high growth global stocks.

    As wildly successful young entrepreneur Cameron Johnson shows, you don't have to live that way. We've entered a new age of entrepreneurship, with the Web making it easier than ever to start and run your own company. As Johnson's remarkable story reveals, the entrepreneurial way of life is a great way to make sure you love what you do -- and it offers the potential to achieve extraordinary success by following your gut instincts and going for what you really want.What about the risks? Don't you need lots of money? Don't most start-ups fail? Johnson shares his essential secrets to entrepreneurial success that show you how he got into the life at very low risk, and, with very little money, took an idea that excited him and ran with it, achieving great success and satisfaction with businesses he loved. He didn't have an MBA; he didn't even have a college degree. But he had learned the simple yet vital secrets he reveals.Cameron Johnson is a seriously happy entrepreneur who started his first business when he was nine with $50 and a home computer. Before he'd turned twenty-one he'd started twelve successful businesses and was offered $10 million in venture capital to grow his hot Web company CertificateSwap.com -- praised by "Entrepreneur" magazine as one of the Web businesses helping the tech industry get its groove back -- even bigger. He has never taken out a loan or racked up any debt, and every one of his businesses has been highlyprofitable -- so profitable that he made his first million before graduating from high school, and he's put away enough cash so that he could retire today. But that's the last thing on earth he'd want to do; he's much too happy starting up new companies.Through the story of his own impressive career so far, in "You Call the Shots," Johnson takes you behind the scenes of entrepreneurial success and empowers you to hit the ground running with your own great business idea, no matter how young you are or how little money you have to invest.

    Allen are back following their mega-hit The One Minute Millionaire with new strategies to generate cash quickly. Right now, everyone needs trusted, proven, practical advice and techniques for making money fast. In Cash in a Flash, two of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country show readers how to use the skills and resources they already have to generate permanent and recurring streams of income—all in 90 days or less. Using their bestselling “two-books-in-one” formula, Hansen and Allen combine prescriptive information for developing the millionaire mindset and building wealth on left-hand pages, with the continuation of the inspiring fictional story of Michelle from The One Minute Millionaire on the right-hand pages. In this much-anticipated and timely sequel, Hansen and Allen provide a revolutionary approach to financial freedom—now.

    What makes Bitcoin so special? What sets Bitcoin apart from every other monetary asset that preceded it? What is a monetary asset in the first place? What is money? What is inflation? Who benefits from it? What is scarcity? Is Bitcoin's mining process wasteful? Is Bitcoin a religion or a rejection of religious beliefs? All of this and more, inside.

    Now the bestselling author of A Bull in China, Hot Commodities, and Adventure Capitalist shares a heartfelt, indispensable guide for his daughters (and all young investors) to find success and happiness. In A Gift to My Children, Jim Rogers offers advice with his trademark candor and confidence, but this time he adds paternal compassion, protectiveness, and love. Rogers reveals how to learn from his triumphs and mistakes in order to achieve a prosperous, well-lived life. For example:- Trust your own judgment: Rogers sensed China's true potential way back in the 1980s, at a time when most analysts were highly skeptical of its prospects for growth.- Focus on what you like: Rogers was five when he started collecting empty bottles at baseball games instead of playing.- Be persistent: Coming to Yale from rural Alabama, and in over his head, Rogers never stopped studying and wound up with a scholarship to Oxford.- See the world: In 1990, Rogers traveled through six continents by motorcycle, gaining a global perspective and learning how to evaluate prospects in rapidly developing countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China.- Nothing is really new: anything deemed "innovative" or "unprecedented" is usually just overhyped, as in the case of the Internet or TV, airplanes, and railroads before it- And not a bit off the subject, and very important: Boys will need you more than you'll need them!Wise and warm, accessible and inspiring, A Gift to My Children is a great gift for all those just starting to invest in their futures.

    Anchored by six megabanks—Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley—which together control assets amounting, astonishingly, to more than 60 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, these financial institutions (now more emphatically “too big to fail”) continue to hold the global economy hostage, threatening yet another financial meltdown with their excessive risk-taking and toxic “business as usual” practices. How did this come to be—and what is to be done? These are the central concerns of 13 Bankers, a brilliant, historically informed account of our troubled political economy. In 13 Bankers, Simon Johnson—one of the most prominent and frequently cited economists in America (former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT, and author of the controversial “The Quiet Coup” in The Atlantic)—and James Kwak give a wide-ranging, meticulous, and bracing account of recent U.S. financial history within the context of previous showdowns between American democracy and Big Finance: from Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Jackson, from Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They convincingly show why our future is imperiled by the ideology of finance (finance is good, unregulated finance is better, unfettered finance run amok is best) and by Wall Street’s political control of government policy pertaining to it. As the authors insist, the choice that America faces is stark: whether Washington will accede to the vested interests of an unbridled financial sector that runs up profits in good years and dumps its losses on taxpayers in lean years, or reform through stringent regulation the banking system as first and foremost an engine of economic growth. To restore health and balance to our economy, Johnson and Kwak make a radical yet feasible and focused proposal: reconfigure the megabanks to be “small enough to fail.” Lucid, authoritative, crucial for its timeliness, 13 Bankers is certain to be one of the most discussed and debated books of 2010.