The 12 Investment Myths: Why Individual Investors Are Failing Miserably and How You Can Avoid Being One of Them [Hardcover]

Jack Calhoun Jr (Author), Zuzana Urbanek (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2009

Over time, the stock market creates great wealth for investors. And yet, most investors do not become wealthy by investing in the stock market, instead having experiences that range from inadequate to disastrous.So why the disconnect?The answer is found in a set of widely held, mistaken beliefs about what it takes to be a successful investor. At first glance, these investment myths seem grounded in logic. In reality, though, these beliefs provide investors with perfect blueprints for investment failure by encouraging in them an emotion-driven, trading-intensive mentality. These myths are propagated by Wall Street, which reaps huge profits from this behavior and by the financial media that is starving for sensationalistic content.As an independent investment advisor, Jack Calhoun has spent much of the past 15 years educating investors about the dangers of these mistaken ideas. In (i)The 12 Investment Myths(/i), he explores and debunks these myths one-by-one and in the process sets investors on a path to harness the tremendous wealth-creation machine that is the stock market.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack J. Calhoun, Jr. is the Managing Principal of Capital Directions, LLC, one of Atlanta's largest independent investment advisory firms. He has written extensively on the fundamentals of investment success (featured in The Wall street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, etc.) and is a frequent speaker on investment-related topics to professional associations and investment clubs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Robert Reed Publishers (April 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934759198
• ISBN-13: 978-1934759196
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended to both new investors and for experienced investors who are paying too much and receiving too little., April 20, 2009

By 

R. Dunn (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 12 Investment Myths: Why Individual Investors Are Failing Miserably and How You Can Avoid Being One of Them (Hardcover)

In this informative and entertaining read, the author - managing principle of a large Atlanta investment firm - investigates why investors consistently make decisions that undermine their ability to accumulate long term wealth. He lays out a series of "myths" widely propagated by Wall Street and the business media that encourage self-destructive behavior and results in investors sacrificing a large portion of their potential returns. Especially timely was the author's analysis of the relative merits of full service brokerage firms vis-à-vis fee-only advisors.

Readers will find Calhoun's investment principles compelling. Highly recommended to both new investors and for experienced investors who are paying too much and receiving too little.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT ADVICE FOR THE NON-FINANCIAL MIND, April 16, 2009

By 

Trisha Addicks - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 12 Investment Myths: Why Individual Investors Are Failing Miserably and How You Can Avoid Being One of Them (Hardcover)

I am a left (or is it right?) brained person who normally loses interest in anything financial about four seconds into reading. Not so with this book-the humor and stories that weave through the book kept my interest. Also, the author gives very sound advice for uncertain times-definitely a book to read and keep on your nightstand for referring back as the markets change daily!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keys to Avoiding the Pitfalls and Fallacies in Today's Investment Market Environment, March 22, 2009

By 

Richard R. Blake (Bridgman, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The 12 Investment Myths: Why Individual Investors Are Failing Miserably and How You Can Avoid Being One of Them (Hardcover)

Jack J. Calhoun Jr. exposes twelve investment myths prevalent in today's volatile market environment. In layman's language Calhoun explains why individual investors are failing in the stock market. His book "the 12 Investment Myths" helps the reader set a course so that they can avoid the trap of falling for these myths.

Each chapter discusses one of these popular myths of investing. Calhoun talks about the issues involved and offers alternative solutions, which helps the reader avoid being deluded by the myth.

Jack objectively discusses brokerage houses, sales charges and fees, expense ratios, turnover ratios, and index funds. He explains commodities, derivatives, and options. He gives details on the importance of a sound investment philosophy and why it is crucial to find a wealth management firm that exhibits expertise in investment counsel and investment planning. He introduces the concepts of relationship management and a professional team.

I learned a valuable lesson from Jack's illustration of an ironic telephone interview with a young finance reporter from the Wall Street Journal and the way he addressed the myth "the media is a good source of investment advice."

Jack concisely summarized the four principles of investment success: Diversify effectively, control costs and taxes, control your emotions, and be patient.

"The 12 Investment Myths" submits important advice, wise counsel and is committed to help the investor recognize popular fallacies of investing. Jack's writing is stimulating, engaging, and informational. This is an important and timely book. Relevant reading.