Customer Reviews

Buying Stocks Without a Broker

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first purchased this book years ago, and I have to admit at the time it was a revelation. I was trying to buy stocks and usually failed to do so simply because I did not want to pay broker fees and I was rarely in a position to buy 100 shares at a time (if you bought less, the stock price and the broker fee both usually went up). Back then, the book was a great aid. I still own a stock list in the book that I purchased thanks to this book.

But in many ways, this book has lost a lot of relevance. Now one can go online and purchase stocks in any amount with fees of as little as $3.00. And the fact that the book has not been updated since 1996 weighs heavily against recommending it be purchased by anyone today. Perhaps Carlson has not bothered to further update because of the ease with which stocks may eb purchased on-line.

Still, for someone who is a long term investor, it provides some choices as far as investing without involving a broker. And it is definitely an option if you have no desire to use the internet to make stock purchases. Just be aware that your options are limited; most companies do not offer direct purchase of their stock or Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs) to the public at large.

This is a well written book about "Dividend Reinvestment Plan", and basically all what you need to start your DRIP investment. The book has a directory and ratings of about 900 companies that offer DRIPs. However, you will need to learn the basics of stock market and investment before you read this book.

This book was written before the likes of Ameritrade and E-Trade came along, and therefore is rather dated. The fees associated with most plans today and their minimum investments make DRIPs less attractive today then they were five years ago. However, for those who want to buy stock in companies and hold for ten or 20 years, they are worthwhile. Carlson writes in easy-to-understand language that a person not well-versed in Wall Street can grasp. Plenty of information on the company's listed along with telephone numbers and websites. Different kinds of portfloios are profiled so the investor can see what they can do with whatever funds they have to invest. The pros and cons of this kind of investing are listed so a person can decide if it is for them. It is a worthwhile read.

This book did it all, I learned more about stocks and purchases from this one book than any other. The information in this book takes you from the first step all the way to purchases. This book is the credit for my recent stock portfolio. And for that I Thank the author for a job very well done. I am an inexperienced investor who needed a mentor and teacher, this book/author filled that need. Outstanding, I read it cover to cover several times.

This book explains, in detail, the biggest investment secret on Wall Street- Dividend Reinvestment plans. Imagine- buying stocks without brokerage fees! This book tells you how- exactally how. Buying Stocks Without a Broker is a must for every small investor's library. This book can help you get into the stock market with a MIMIMUM of capital, as it describes companys, like IBM, with investment requirments as small as $10.00 per investment. A warning though; as some company's programs change, information in this book becomes inaccurate. Always first check with the company of interest as phone numbers and contacts are included in the book.

This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to manage his own stock investments in America's best-known companies. All the difficult-to-get information like 800 numbers, addresses, stock symbols, minimum investment amounts, etc, etc is provided in an easy-to-read format along with model portfolios for the beginner and the more experienced investor. A "must read" for anyone who wants to partake in the growth of this country for lttle or no brokerage costs

This is book is great for the small or large investor. The savings in broker commissions more than pay for the book. I highly recommend this book

Basically lists a bunch of DRIP programs. DRIPs arent really worth it in my opinion. Most of the programs seem to have too many fees attached to them. Save your money and research DRIPs online instead of this book. You'll probably get more updated info too.

As an investor, I feel that the information provided in this book was well thought out by the author. He gives a lot of excellent advice for new and experienced investors. I highly recommend all investors read it. Once I started reading, it was hard to put down.

I bought the book hoping to learn a few more things about DRIP investing, and did not learn a thing! I am sure that the book was good when it was written (especially the first edition), but there is simply TOO much free information available today.

I gave the book a sympathetic 2 stars because Carlson is (or was) the DRIP guru.