Get Rich Slowly: Building Your Financial Future Through Common Sense [Paperback]

William T. Spitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

The first investment book to approach the art of accumulating wealth from a mature and realistic perspective

In refreshing contrast to the usual get-rich-quick schemes, Get Rich Slowly outlines an intelligent, careful, five-step financial strategy that anyone can use to create his or her own personal fortune. Using simple graphics and easy-to-follow advice, respected investments financial expert William Spitz shows how to quickly plot out the best financial strategy for each person's needs, including risk, goals, variety of investments, and needs for future expenses. For young or old, novice or experienced, wealthy or of modest means, Get Rich Slowly is a sensible, foolproof program for financial freedom and stability.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Patience and careful planning are the basic counsel of this thorough and readable financial guide by a Vanderbilt University treasurer and money-management lecturer. The author analyzes financial markets and instruments in terms of an individual investor's objectives (e.g., retirement, a child's education) and tolerance for varying degrees of risk-vs.-return in stocks, bonds, real estate partnerships, etc., from which a balanced portfolio may be compiled for maximum return over time. Among the many aspects of personal finance detailed here, Spitz explains how compounded income from a selection of mutual funds can build a fortune and how, with greater risk, various industrial situations can reward (or penalize) more direct investment in stocks "to beat the market."
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Spitz (treasurer, Vanderbilt Univ.) proposes that an investor should seek to balance the effect of economic conditions on investments and identify a level of risk that is comfortable. Though he allows for the inclusion of other assets in an individual's financial plan, he emphasizes the securities market. His advice is levelheaded and conservative, but building wealth over an entire lifetime includes a wider scope of financial decisions than choosing appropriate stocks and bonds. Libraries should look elsewhere for titles on personal financial planning that cover a wider range of choices.
- Joseph Barth, U.S. Military Acad. Lib., West Point, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Arco Pub (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028608453
• ISBN-13: 978-0028608457
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,068,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "No Silver Bullet" investment strategy., July 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Get Rich Slowly: Building Your Financial Future Through Common Sense (Hardcover)

Spitz, Treasurer of Vanderbilt University, spells out in simple terms, how to invest in 5 or 6 classes of mutual funds to match the level of risk for your stage of life. He shows how to analyse your level of risk and makes a few assumptions about future growth potential and creates a plan for financial security that the reader can follow and practise without the need for stock brokers or other expensive financial advisors. Easy to read and understand.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely helpful book, January 18, 2002

By 

R. NEUBERT - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Get Rich Slowly: Building Your Financial Future Through Common Sense (Hardcover)

I met the author twice when he spoke to a small group. I liked Bill's thought process and bought the book about eight years ago. I still have it, well marked and well used. Bill explained his purpose in writing the book as showing individual investors how to apply the same principles of investing and investment management that he applied as Treasurer of Vanderbilt. There he selected and provided oversight over a number of portfolio managers who managed portions of the Vanderbilt endowment. Bill shows how an individual can do the same thing by investing in a diversified group of mutual funds.

Bill carefully explains the elements of an investment portfolio (U.S. stocks, small cap stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) and suggests several allocations between the elements. One unique aspect of his advice is that every portfolio should have a real estate component. His discussion convinced me and real estate investment trusts are now an important part of my retirement portfolio.

This is a well written quide for the individual investor who seeks a well thought out plan for investing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, unemotional Approach, October 7, 2005

By 

Craig M. Benoit (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Get Rich Slowly: Building Your Financial Future Through Common Sense (Hardcover)

Mr. Spitz provides a no nonsense, intelligent approach to retirement investing. He uses historical data and his vast experience to support his staightforward, "anybody can do it" philosophy. Most importantly, he teaches the average investor how to avoid the extraneous and useless information that plagues all do-it-yourself investors. With his approach, a plan is always set in place, removing the need for "thinking" about your retirement. Every person in charge of his own retirement should read this book.