The Smart Investor's Survival Guide: The Nine Laws of Successful Investing in a Volatile Market (Paperback)

by Charles Carlson (Author) "C'MON, ADMIT IT..." (more)
Key Phrases: volatile market periods, stormy markets, rocky markets, Wall Street, Dow Theory, Nasdaq Composite (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For today’s shell-shocked individual investors, financial expert Charles B. Carlson offers hands-on advice on how to survive — and thrive — in a wildly fluctuating market.

The economic recession of the past year, followed by the tragedy of September 11, sent a ripple of panic through investors in 2001. The market shed trillions of dollars in wealth, and hundreds of thousands of individual investors suffered substantial financial losses. The volatility we experienced last year was more than a fluke, argues investment expert Charles B. Carlson. With the ongoing changes in the economy, including changes in corporate reporting laws, instant availability of financial information, and the ability to buy and sell stocks with the touch of a keystroke, volatility is here to stay.
But volatility isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, Carlson argues, if you know how to weather today stormy markets, investing in them can be very profitable.
In The Smart Investor’s Survival Guide, Carlson shows investors how to make volatility work to their advantage. First, he argues, it is critical that investors match their investment style — growth, value, buy and hold — to the kinds of stocks they pick. For long-term investors, Carlson recommends that a portion of their portfolio be invested in what he calls the calm eye of the storm, “easy hold” stocks that have consistent, steady growth, and very low volatility. Even in the terrible market downturn of 2000, when the Nasdaq lost 39 percent of its value and stocks like Lucent and Cisco saw their share price drop by 80 percent or more, a number of investment sectors actually gained in value. The Dow Jones index, minus its technology stocks, broke even. In other words, even in the worst markets, not every stock or sector goes down.
Through what he calls the nine essential laws of successful investing in a volatile market, Carlson reveals:
• How to diversify the portfolios across stock sectors and investment vehicles

• The critical importance of matching one’s investment style — value, growth, buy and hold — to the kinds of stocks one invests in

• The importance of “easy hold” — no-brainer stocks — in a portfolio, stocks that will grow 10 to12 percent a year with minimal
volatility.

Written by one of the most trusted names in the financial community, The Smart Investor’s Survival Guide shows investors how to master today’s turbulent markets, and profit from them.

From the Inside Flap
For today?s shell-shocked individual investors, financial expert Charles B. Carlson offers hands-on advice on how to survive ? and thrive ? in a wildly fluctuating market.

The economic recession of the past year, followed by the tragedy of September 11, sent a ripple of panic through investors in 2001. The market shed trillions of dollars in wealth, and hundreds of thousands of individual investors suffered substantial financial losses. The volatility we experienced last year was more than a fluke, argues investment expert Charles B. Carlson. With the ongoing changes in the economy, including changes in corporate reporting laws, instant availability of financial information, and the ability to buy and sell stocks with the touch of a keystroke, volatility is here to stay.
But volatility isn?t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, Carlson argues, if you know how to weather today stormy markets, investing in them can be very profitable.
In The Smart Investor?s Survival Guide, Carlson shows investors how to make volatility work to their advantage. First, he argues, it is critical that investors match their investment style ? growth, value, buy and hold ? to the kinds of stocks they pick. For long-term investors, Carlson recommends that a portion of their portfolio be invested in what he calls the calm eye of the storm, ?easy hold? stocks that have consistent, steady growth, and very low volatility. Even in the terrible market downturn of 2000, when the Nasdaq lost 39 percent of its value and stocks like Lucent and Cisco saw their share price drop by 80 percent or more, a number of investment sectors actually gained in value. The Dow Jones index, minus its technology stocks, broke even. In other words, even in the worst markets, not every stock or sector goes down.
Through what he calls the nine essential laws of successful investing in a volatile market, Carlson reveals:
? How to diversify the portfolios across stock sectors and investment vehicles

? The critical importance of matching one?s investment style ? value, growth, buy and hold ? to the kinds of stocks one invests in

? The importance of ?easy hold? ? no-brainer stocks ? in a portfolio, stocks that will grow 10 to12 percent a year with minimal
volatility.

Written by one of the most trusted names in the financial community, The Smart Investor?s Survival Guide shows investors how to master today?s turbulent markets, and profit from them.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Business (March 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385503873
• ISBN-13: 978-0385503877
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,380,698 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a compass to guide us through these markets!, March 25, 2002

By	Marcy Grey (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

Chuck Carlson knows how to weather these stormy markets. He explains why even the most appealing stocks may not be right for everyone's portfolio and shows in clear, well-written ways -- how to buy and hold and build a portfolio that will make profits in the up markets as well as these downturns we have all been hurt by.

Some of this book's strategies presented coincided with my own: start investing ASAP, dont confuse investing with trading, buy only stocks and stock mutual funds, invest every month, buy and hold. The book also warns you about the common mistakes investors make and how to avoid them. Ultimately, he shows through many examples that slow and steady wins the race....this book was a great investment...Im even buying copies for my friends in my investment club.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for the post 9/11 and post Enron investor!, March 25, 2002

By	James Reuben (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

As we have all sadly found out in the past 18 months, volatility is here to stay and the depressed markets of the past year have sent all of us personal investors into a tailspin.

Carlson's newest book argues that these markets are not a fluke but that the ongoing changes in the economy, including corporate layoffs and the instant access to information, is going to keep the market see-sawing for years to come.

His basic buy and hold strategy (then at the right time, buy some more) is not sexy but sound. Especially useful are Carlson's chapters on using asset and time diversification to ride out the downturns and his list of easy hold stocks that reduce the effects of volatility on your overall portfolio.

Bottom line: If you are tired of the talking heads on CNBC. If you feel like you need a sound investing plan that will provide security and profit for the long-term.....buy this book!