The Big Short: by Michael Lewis


aBookaDay - 2016
    If you have not yet bought the original copy, make sure to purchase it before buying this unofficial summary from aBookaDay. SPECIAL OFFER $2.99 (Regularly priced: $3.99) OVERVIEW This review of The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis provides a chapter by chapter detailed summary followed by an analysis and critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the book. The main theme explored in the book is how corruption and greed in Wall Street caused the crash of the subprime mortgage market in 2008. Despite being completely preventable, the big firms in Wall Street chose to ignore the oncoming fall in favor of making money. Michael Lewis introduces characters—men outside of the Wall Street machine—who foresaw the crisis and, through several different techniques, were able to predict how and when the market would fall. Lewis portrays these men—Steve Eisman, Mike Burry, Charlie Ledley, and Jamie Mai—as the underdogs, who were able to understand and act upon the obvious weaknesses in the subprime market. Lewis’s overall point is to demonstrate how the Wall Street firms were manipulating the market. They used loans to cash in on the desperation of middle-to-lower class Americans, and then ultimately relied on the government to bail them out when the loans were defaulted. Using anecdotes and interviews from the men who were involved first-hand, the author makes the case that Wall Street, and how they conducted business in regards to the subprime mortgage market, is truly corrupt beyond repair, and the men he profiles in this novel were trying to make the best out of a bad situation. By having the words from the sources themselves, this demonstrates Lewis’s search for the truth behind what actually happened. Ultimately, we as an audience can not be sure if the intentions of these underdogs were truly good, but Lewis does an admirable job presenting as many sides to the story as possible. The central thesis of the work is that the subprime mortgage crisis was caused by Wall Street firms pushing fraudulent loans upon middle-to-lower class Americans that they would essentially not be able to afford. Several people outside of Wall Street were able to predict a crash in the market when these loans would be defaulted on, and bought insurance to bet against the market (essentially, buying short). Over a time period from roughly 2005-2008, the market crashed and huge banks and firms lost billions of dollars, filed for bankruptcy, or were bailed out by the government. These men, the characters of Lewis’s novel, were able to bet against the loans and made huge amounts of money, but it was not quite an easy journey. Michael Lewis is a non-fiction author and financial journalist. He has written several novels—notably Liar’s Poker in 1989, Moneyball in 2003, and The Blind Side in 2006. Born in New Orleans, he attended Princeton University, receiving a BA degree in Art History. After attending London School of Economics and receiving his masters there, he was hired by Salomon Brothers where he experienced much about what he wrote about in Liar’s Poker. He is currently married, with three children and lives in Berkeley, California. SUMMARY PROLOGUE: POLTERGEIST Michael Lewis begins his tale of the remarkable—and strange—men who predicted the immense fall of the housing market by immediately exposing himself as the exact opposite type of person from them. He explains to the reader that he has no background in accounting, business, or money managing.

The Lies About Money: Achieving Financial Security and True Wealth by Avoiding the Lies Others Tell Us-- And the Lies We Tell Ourselves


Ric Edelman - 2007
    Now, Ric reveals the deceptive and manipulative business practices occurring in your retail mutual funds—practices that are causing you to suffer higher fees, greater risks, and lower returns than you realize. In The Lies About Money, he offers you a detailed yet easy-to-follow plan that lets you take back control of your investments—and your financial future. Here, Ric shares his most valuable lessons gained through two decades of working directly with individuals and families. He reveals the lies that have infiltrated your retail mutual funds and retirement accounts and teaches you how to invest your money in your employer retirement plan; how to save for college; and for those who are retired, how to generate more income without sacrificing security. He shows you that proper money management has nothing to do with “hot tips” and everything to do with scientific analysis, bolstered by solid academic research and historical data. Along the way, Ric shows you the secrets to investment success—a long-term focus, the importance of diversification, and the crucial need for (and methods of) portfolio rebalancing. With insight and strategies that will change people's lives, The Lies About Money offers the truth that everyone is looking for.

Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide


Stephen Fishman - 2005
    This edition covers updates on the laws, numbers, and planning strategies. Illustrations.

The Banker's Code


George Antone - 2012
    It's a story that chronicles the most powerful wealth-building strategies known to man, lessons that are the basis of banking. You'll be introduced to a whole new way of building wealth that some of the wealthiest families in the world have used, and are still using. Be the banker! Praise: "George Antone is the one financial author that has the unique ability to sift through massive technical information and present the reader with lapidary nuggets of wealth-building wisdom." Mark Peters Stone Water Wealth Management "The Banker's Code provides unparalleled insights in regards to money and finances which creates an amazing formula for building wealth." Willie Hooks Million Dollar Coaching "Great Book! Easily read and understood. In this book you’ll discover the world’s most powerful time tested investment model neatly wrapped inside a touching story. I’ve used these proven strategies to create great returns for more than 20 years." Mike Sanderson Private Lender "Wow! What a great book! Mr. Antone has explained the very complex financial concepts in use every day in the banking world in a way that we can all put to use in our own quest for wealth." Henry Dvorken An expert and one of the giants of the real estate note business

Thieves of Bay Street: How Banks, Brokerages and the Wealthy Steal Billions from Canadians


Bruce Livesey - 2012
    Though no large financial institution has recently gone bust in this country, white-collar criminals, scam artists, Ponzi schemers and organized crime, from the Hells Angels to the Russian mafia, know that Canada is the place in the Western world to rip off investors. And the fraudsters do so with little fear of being caught and punished. Thieves of Bay Street investigates Canada's biggest financial scandals of recent years. Readers will learn what banks do with investors' money and what happens when they lose it. They will meet the bogus investment gurus, the brokers who lose money with both reckless abandon and impunity, the bankers who squander money in toxic investments, the lawyers who protect them and the regulators who do nothing to keep them from doing it again. And most importantly, they'll meet the victims who are demanding that our vaunted banking sector finally come clean on its dirtiest secret.

Money School: Become financially independent and reclaim your life


Lacey Filipich - 2020
    . . when we’re old. How arse-about is that?But there is an alternative to working your butt off for decades and retiring when you’re worn out: it’s called financial independence, and it means being able to cover life’s essentials and afford the luxuries you want without having to turn up to a job each day.Imagine: the freedom and flexibility to work if, when and where you like, go travelling, spend time with family or start that business you’ve been dreaming of. And with enough time and a way to earn, it’s achievable for most people through the power of passive income.Lacey Filipich knows because she’s done it herself – and has been teaching the strategies and steps for financial independence for a decade through her education company, Money School. Now, she’ll teach you all her tried-and-true lessons for redesigning your personal finances to create the life you really want.From maximising your income and cutting costs without big sacrifice, to property, shares and retirement funds, Money School explains exactly how to build a passive income that will completely change your life.Take control of how you spend your time and money to make them work for you – and get on the fast track to being financially independent and time rich.

The 1 Hour Trade: Make Money With One Simple Strategy, One Hour Daily


Brian P. Anderson - 2014
    But it's not a 'get rich quick' strategy that will get you there. The secret is to adopt a laser beam focus on ONE specific strategy until you've mastered it. In "The 1 Hour Trade," you'll get a detailed, step-by-step blueprint that works. Unlike other trading books giving you investment theory, you'll be taught a successful strategy in its entirety, including the specific scanning parameters for locating the trades, the exact analysis decisions you'll need to qualify the trade, and the specific steps to take to execute the trade and come out with a profit. This Book Is Not a "Black Box" Automated Trading System You will need to use your brain, and work hard practicing the analysis process in order to be successful. But if you follow the strategy, and maintain discipline & patience, the setup taught in this book will make you a better, profitable trader. "The 1 Hour Trade" details a short term investment system for getting into stocks making big price gains. The best part? It can be done in as little as an hour after the market opens each morning. You'll learn how to: Scan in real time for stocks poised for huge intraday gains Analyze chart history to identify whether a setup is likely to succeed or not Identify areas that allow for optimal exits in order to maximize profit "Listen" to what the price action and volume are saying about what's likely to unfold You can be a successful trader! Follow this guide and you will learn a proven system for generating profits in the market. Ready to Get Started? Scroll to the top of the page and select the 'buy button'.

The Smartest Portfolio You'll Ever Own: A Do-It-Yourself Breakthrough Strategy


Daniel R. Solin - 2011
    Readers can maintain complete control over their money-and not sacrifice precious points to an advisor or broker.Using a strategy that minimizes volatility and maximizes returns, Solin makes investing according to the principles of the most sophisticated financial models accessible to individuals in a way that has never been possible before.As readers have come to expect from Solin, implementing this plan is as simple as one, two, three: open an account with a discount broker; determine the appropriate asset allocation using the simple questionnaire in the book or online; input pre-determined ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and the allocations for the level of the investor's individual risk profile.This is the only book that provides the information and practical guidance that readers need to achieve the very best results with the minimum risk,on their own.

Good Stocks Cheap: Value Investing with Confidence for a Lifetime of Stock Market Outperformance: Value Investing with Confidence for a Lifetime of Stock Market Outperformance (Business Books)


Kenneth Jeffrey Marshall - 2017
    But company values stay relatively steady. This insight is the basis of value investing, the capital management strategy that performs best over the long term. With Good Stocks Cheap, you can get started in value investing right now. Longtime outperforming value investor, professor, and international speaker Kenneth Jeffrey Marshall provides step-by-step guidance for creating your own value investing success story. You’ll learn how to: •Master any company with fundamental analysis•Distinguish between a company’s stock price from its worth•Measure your own investment performance honestly•Identify the right price at which to buy stock in a winning company•Hold quality stocks fearlessly during market swings•Secure the fortitude necessary to make the right choices and take the right actions Marshall leaves no stone unturned. He covers all the fundamental terms, concepts, and skills that make value investing so effective. He does so in a way that’s modern and engaging, making the strategy accessible to any motivated person regardless of education, experience, or profession. His plain explanations and simple examples welcome both investing newcomers and veterans. Good Stocks Cheap is your way forward because the Value Investing Model turns market gyrations into opportunities. It works in bubbles by showing which companies are likely to excel over time, and in downturns by revealing which of these leading businesses are the most underpriced. Build a powerful portfolio poised to deliver outstanding outcomes over a lifetime. Put the strength of value investing to work for you with Good Stocks Cheap.

Poor Richard's Retirement: Retirement for Everyday Americans


Aaron Clarey - 2017
    Never started a 401k or IRA? Don’t worry. And are you so far behind in your personal finances you’re worried you’ll never be able to retire? It’s all good. Because whether you know it or not, the entire US retirement system is horribly flawed and was doomed to fail anyway. And that’s why every American needs to read “Poor Richard’s Retirement.” “Poor Richard’s Retirement” is a revolutionary retirement system because, unlike today’s conventional retirement planning, it works. It puts retirement easily within the reach of your everyday man. Whether you have student loans, a mortgage, are behind in your retirement planning, or have no retirement savings at all, “Poor Richard’s Retirement” bypasses it all by showing you how little you truly need to retire. And it does so through the simple truth that happiness is not found in $400 yoga pants, luxury SUV’s, McMansions, or whatever lies they’re selling you on TV, but through love of family, friends, and your fellow man. All of which are free. Make retirement infinitely easier and life happier. Buy “Poor Richard’s Retirement” today. Nobody in America has saved enough for retirement…until now.

Blockchain for Everyone: How I Learned the Secrets of the New Millionaire Class (And You Can, Too)


John Hargrave - 2019
    When John Hargrave first invested in cryptocurrency, the price of a single bitcoin was about $125; a few years later, that same bitcoin was worth $20,000. He wasn’t alone: this flood of new money is like the early days of the Internet, creating a new breed of “blockchain billionaires.” Sir John has unlocked their secrets. In Blockchain for Everyone, Sir John reveals the formula for investing in bitcoin and blockchain, using real-life stories, easy-to-understand examples, and a healthy helping of humor. Packed with illustrations, Blockchain for Everyone explains how (and when) to buy bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other blockchain assets, with step-by-step instructions. Blockchain for Everyone is the first blockchain investing book written for the layperson: a guide that helps everyone understand how to build wealth wisely. It’s the new investing manifesto!

Everyone Believes It; Most Will Be Wrong: Motley Thoughts on Investing and the Economy


Morgan Housel - 2011
    Why are experts so bad at making predictions? Why do rich people take outsized risks to reach for money they don't need? Is America's manufacturing base really dwindling? What did we learn about risk after 9/11? Those questions and many more are tackled in these 21 irreverent and contrarian essays, which will have readers thinking differently about the conventional wisdom.

Real Estate Investing: How to Flip a House as a Real Estate Investor


William Johnson - 2012
    Topics covered include Investor Objectives, Building Your Team, Finding Wholesale Buyers, Finding Motivated Sellers, Finding Wholesale Properties, Deal Analysis, Negotiating With Sellers and Buyers, Making Offers, Contract Clauses, Marketing Your Deals, and Closings and Getting Paid. If you want to flip a house or see yourself flipping properties for a living, this ebook will teach you the basics of how to wholesale a house, also known as flipping houses. For the price it's a no-brainer, get it today and get started.

Who Gets What: Fair Compensation after Tragedy and Financial Upheaval


Kenneth R. Feinberg - 2012
    What they had in common was their aftermath -- each required compensation for lives lost, bodies maimed, livelihoods wrecked, economies and ecosystems upended. In each instance, an objective third party had to step up and dole out allocated funds: in each instance, Presidents, Attorneys General, and other public officials have asked Kenneth R. Feinberg to get the job done. In Who Gets What?, Feinberg reveals the deep thought that must go into each decision, not to mention the most important question that arises after a tragedy: why compensate at all? The result is a remarkably accessible discussion of the practical and philosophical problems of using money as a way to address wrongs and reflect individual worth.

Bye Bye Banks?: How Retail Banks are Being Displaced, Diminished and Disintermediated by Tech Startups - and What They Can Do to Survive.


James Haycock - 2015
    Now the retail banking business model looks set to be transformed too. In Bye Bye Banks? James Haycock and Shane Richmond describe these startups, and to which areas of the banking industry they are laying siege. It shows that this assault is already well underway and that many incumbents are poised to be displaced, diminished and disintermediated. It draws on extensive research and on-and-off the record interviews with senior executives in some of the biggest banks. Haycock and Richmond conclude with the recommendation that traditional banks need to reinvent themselves by launching a ‘Beta Bank’: a lean, stand-alone organisation fit for the future for which they provide a ten-point operating model. This short book is a bold, urgent and timely analysis of the forces shaping the future of financial services. Its message to industry leaders in the sector could not be more simple: adapt or prepare to be disrupted. “This work accurately and concisely captures the effects of the disruption brought to the banking industry by the digital revolution. The comments by other banking and innovation professionals about their own experiences are particularly intriguing.” - Alessandro Hatami, former Innovation Executive at Lloyds Banking Group “James Haycock is a key voice for how the banking industry should and will change.” - Tom Hopkins, Product Innovation Director, Experian Consumer Services “If you are an incumbent retail bank, read it, get on with it, make it happen.” - Lee Sankey, former Group Design Director, Barclays