The Successful Investor: What 80 Million People Need to Know to Invest Profitably and Avoid Big Losses (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Why start here-with directions on how to tell if the stock market as a whole is going up or coming down?..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BUSINESSWEEK, USA TODAY, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BUSINESS BESTSELLER HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN STOCKS!

Simple-to-follow strategies for making--and keeping--profits in today's perilous stock market

More than 80 million investors lost 50 to 80 percent of their savings in the recent stock market crash. Investor's Business Daily publisher William J. O'Neil, however, was one of the first to see--and warn investors about--the dangers inherent in what had been, up to that point, a historic bull market run. Those who followed his counsel were able to sidestep devastating losses and emerge with their sizable bull market profits largely intact.

In The Successful Investor, O'Neil steps up to tell all investors how they can make money and, more important, avoid losses in up markets, down markets, and everything in between. Showing how mistakes made in the recent market collapse were amazingly similar to those made in previous down cycles, O'Neil reveals simple steps investors can follow to avoid costly mistakes and:

• Buy only the best stocks at only the best times
• Follow a market-tested 3-to-1 Profit-and-Loss Percentage Plan
• Know when to sell for the biggest possible profit
• Recognize chart patterns that presage enormous market moves
• Manage a portfolio over time to maximize its returns

William O'Neil has succeeded in virtually every market environment by following a stable, nonemotional investment plan. In his latest book, O'Neil explains how anyone can follow that plan to become a profitable long-term investor, regardless of market tides or turns.

The Successful Investor will bring reason and welcome relief to all investors buffeted and bewildered by the perils and uncertainty of today's stock market.

From the Back Cover

Commonsense Strategies for Making--and Keeping--Money In Today's High-Risk, High-Reward Stock Market

In today's fast-paced, every-investor-for-himself financial marketplace, it's sometimes hard to tell whose advice you can trust. Still, each day, smart investors around the world choose to trust William J. O'Neil, publisher of Investor's Business Daily and author of the million-plus bestseller How to Make Money in Stocks?

Why? Because Bill O'Neil knows better than most how to win on Wall Street--and is legendary for sharing his secrets with anyone who will listen.

In The Successful Investor, O'Neil outlines how independent investors can move with the market instead of against it, and increase their profits by relying on sound, time-tested rules instead of hot tips and irrational greed. Let The Successful Investor show you how to:

• Buy only the best stocks at only the best times
• Recognize chart patterns that presage enormous stock moves, both up and down
• Manage your portfolio over time to maximize its returns

Bill O'Neil will be the first to admit that he has no inside knowledge about what will happen in tomorrow's market. What he does know how to do is profit if the market goes up, and keep from losing those profits when the markets head south. In The Successful Investor, O'Neil reveals what his decades in the market have taught him, and outlines a stable, nonemotional investment plan designed to comfort and protect investors buffeted and bewildered by the today's tumultuous stock market.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007142959X
• ISBN-13: 978-0071429597
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but 1 star below "How to make money.....", November 10, 2003

By A Customer

I'm a professional investor who has studied every conceivable investment theory imaginable. I use my own research and invest 10% of my portfolio in each position up to a maximum of 10 positions and a minimum of 0 positions (100% cash at times). I do extensive research every January and narrow the field of stocks to 100 - 150 companies. I value them using EPS estimates from I/B/E/S, Book Value Growth, Cash Flow Growth, EPS Growth, ROE, debt, etc (basic Buffett stuff). From this, I set my target buy point and wait. I look to buy stable companies at bargain prices before they resume their upward trend. When one of the 100-150 companies hits my chosen buy price I reexamine EPS estimates, technical, and sentiment data and then invest 10% of my portfolio in the company (must have guts here and EPS estimates help tremendously). I have averaged over 50%/year since 1998 with an average of 52% in money market the entire time. My worst year was 2001 at +41% (had over 60% in cash that year). I'm considering writing a book about my methods if there is enough interest. The point I'm trying to make is that you ABSOLUTELY need to AUTOMATE your investment strategy. Without a doubt, O'Neil can do this for you. For proof, goto www.aaii.com and look in the stock screen section. He is up 700% since Jan 1998. O'Neil has a great system of investing and I think it will work well for those who diligently apply his techniques. I would take it one step further though and apply EPS estimate revision data in addition to the quarterly reported EPS growth hurdles he outlines in the book (for EPS estimates goto Zacks.com, Multex.com, Yahoo finance and look for estimate trends).

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book serves relatively little purpose, August 4, 2006

By	bixodoido (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

If you've ever read Bill O'Neil's "How to Make Money in Stocks" you've already been exposed to every single bit of information in this book. There really is nothing new, sadly--in fact, this book is more or less just a condensed version of the earlier book, with a few things updated. Since O'Neil claims his method has worked for 50 years and will continue to work forever, though, there really was no need to update.

On the other hand, this book was a decent refresher course for me. Repetition is good, though you could acheive the same result from reading "How to Make Money in Stocks" again. Like that book, this one is more or less a plug for IBD--it explains the premise behind the IBD way of investing but tells you over and over that you won't be able to apply O'Neil's precepts without a subscription to the site or the paper. It's also tiresome that O'Neil thinks his is the ONLY method of investing that works (he even insists that, when choosing a broker, you find one that has attended IBD's paid workshops and subscribes to their paper).

To really understand the IBD philosophy you must read one of his books. I see no reason why it should be this one, though, and can't help think this recycled material was just brought to market in order to capitalize on the success of the first book. I really like the IBD way of investing, and use it often, but I would recommend "How to Make Money in Stocks" over this book any day. In fact, if you have that book you don't even need this one.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I agree--read this book along with IBD -Be wary........., June 15, 2004

By	John B. Collins (Denver, Co) - See all my reviews

I have to agree with the previous reviewer who said that all you really need is IBD along with this book. By contrast, I found the review by an obvious book peddler indicating that he has "averaged 50% gains per year" and "is considering writing a book if there is enough interest" laughable.

Where do you suppose this guy is going to get his information? That's right. From O'Niels book and IBD! You can do the same yourself.

Be wary of certain reviewers who are trying to peddle books. On the other hand, I highly recommend O'Niels books and IBD.