What You Need to Know Before You Invest [Paperback]

Rod Davis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764124935 | ISBN-13: 978-0764124938 | Publication Date: July 1, 2003 | Edition: 3

Updated to help readers cope with the unusual number of uncertainties that characterize today’s financial markets, this book is a financial primer that will be of special value to first-time investors, but also enlightening to everybody who currently has a personal investment portfolio. The author provides sound fundamental information in clear language that non-experts can understand. Separate chapters give practical advice on how to select a broker and open a brokerage account, and describe how the stock market operates. Readers learn how to cut through the jargon that fills annual reports and other financial statements. They will find clear explanations of mutual funds, stock options, an investor’s legal rights, the tax consequences of investing, market analysis, technical analysis, and much more. Here is information that every potential investor should have before opening an account.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Updated to help you cope with the uncertainties of today?s financial markets, this book is a valuable financial primer for first-time investors but it will also prove enlightening if you already have a personal investment portfolio. You will learn in detail how the stock market operates, and how to cut through the jargon that fills annual reports and other financial statements. You will also find easy-to-understand explanations of mutual funds, stock options, your legal rights as an investor, the tax consequences of investing, market analysis, technical analysis, and much more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 3 edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764124935
• ISBN-13: 978-0764124938
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It all fits together like never before!, July 7, 2002

By 

Shawn Smith (Parsippany, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What You Need to Know Before You Invest: An Introduction to the Stock Market and Other Investments (Paperback)

Sallie Mae, Freddie Mac, Investment grade, junk bonds, Moody's, averages, indexes, up-tick, supply and demand, coupons, convertibles, mutual funds, inflation, corporate structure, IPO's, OTC, volatility, types of trades, derivatives, financial statements, etc.

This book has everything. It is perfect for somebody who has started to dabble in stocks and is looking to become a little more sophisticated.

I will read this book multiple times and keep it as a desk reference. Everything is so organized right where you need it! It even gives you a few sentences of background to give you a feel for why things are the way they are. It explains where things got their names from. It is a GOOD BOOK.

I would not recommend this book for a total novice. It might be a little too much. But for somebody who has seen all these terms banging around for a while, this clears stuff up so much.

The organization is amazing. It just all fits together like never before.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I made money, December 11, 2000

By 

Beth (Orange County, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What You Need to Know Before You Invest: An Introduction to the Stock Market and Other Investments (Paperback)

I used this book in a college class I took on stock market investing. It not only taught me how the market works, but how to make good decisions when I invested. It has helped me to make money in the stock market. I was able to avoid the high tech selloff as a result of my understanding of fundamental analysis. My portfolio returns last year were much better than the market average. Thank you, Mr. Davis.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful but a little hard to read, August 2, 2008

By 

PenName - See all my reviews

This review is from: What You Need to Know Before You Invest (Paperback)

I like the way this book is organized and I like the amount of information in it.

However, I find it difficult to read, maybe its the nature of this subject matter?

As someone who knows nothing about investing, I feel like the language assumed I understood the basic investing vocabulary.

I'm going to get a "for dummies" book first before I try this one again.