The Big Money: Seven Steps to Picking Great Stocks and Finding Financial Security (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: stock picking, tech investing, bear markets, Seven Steps, Wall Street, Home Depot (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A highly readable guide to investing in general and picking growth stocks in particular." -- Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street, July 2006

"Kobrick's insight, honed from three decades as a leading mutual fund manager, makes his stories worth a good listen." -- Kerry Hannon, USA Today, May 8, 2006

"One of the great masters of the market offers up the lessons of a lifetime....reads like a novel." -- Equities Magazine, Summer 2006 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"One of the best stock pickers I have ever met. . . .This book breaks new ground and will help investors improve their skills."-- Peter Lynch

"One of the great masters of the market, Fred Kobrick, offers up the lessons of a lifetime."-- Henry Scammell, Equities

"In The Big Money, Frederick Kobrick's confidence and insight, honed from more than three decades as a leading mutual fund manager and investor, make his stories worth a good listen. . . . His results speak for themselves."-- Kerry Hannon, USA Today

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743258711
• ISBN-13: 978-0743258715
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #677,733 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sane advise on Investing, April 7, 2006

By	Sreeram Ramakrishnan (Yorktown Heights, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Big Money: Seven Steps to Picking Great Stocks and Finding Financial Security (Hardcover)

Typical of books in the sub-genre, the author focuses on knowing the company one wants to invest in, the quality of management, importance of patience, disciplined buy and sell points, etc. The ideas themselves are not necessarily anything revolutionary, but it is hard to argue against them (the paradigm used to discuss the philosophies are well encapsulated in a framework called BASM). These are essentially time-tested investment "philosophies", but it is refreshing to see them abstracted in a novel way. Traders and readers looking for specific techniques to pick stocks will be severely disappointed with this book. Using oft-repeated examples of MSFT, KO, HD, etc., the author does make a compelling case for his investment "paradigm", albiet not entirely a new one. If you are a beginner in the investing scenario, this is certainly a very sane non-sensational book to read. An excellent read. Not necessarily a must-have for experienced investors, but will help summarize some well established investment thoughts. Certainly not one for the traders.

The author uses a very easy to understand writing style, often in first person account, and the generous use of charts with notes highlights some of the discussions in the chapters.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Focus on Fundamentals, April 17, 2006

By	Gene Tremblay (Jackson, Wy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Big Money: Seven Steps to Picking Great Stocks and Finding Financial Security (Hardcover)

A fascinating book that is equally useful to the individual investor and the professinoal. The book's system of focus on fundamentals [BASM and Seven Steps] is refreshing in these days of concensus investing and short term trading. The war stories about important companies are both entertaining and informative. The investment returns available from these well known companies challanges the investor to be both selective and patient. The book does a good job laying-out a way [BASM and Seven Steps] that is instructive to the individual and a great reminder for the professional. I read it twice and recommend that anyone interested in investing does the same. It will help you avoid many of the fads and mistakes being made today.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lessons to make BIG money!, April 13, 2006

By	Jay A (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Money: Seven Steps to Picking Great Stocks and Finding Financial Security (Hardcover)

Don't under estimate the value of a great story and a great storyteller. In Big Money, Fred Kobrick accomplishes both. He draws you in by giving you insight into his stock picking paridigm- BASM, and shares with us how we can take this approach and benefit financially in a BIG, BIG way. He does this via his entertaining stories of the companies he's invested in and their universal lessons. While I consider myself somewhat sophisticated about looking at companies and their performance, Mr. Kobrick enables me to apply business model, assumptions, strategy and management analysis (BASM) to structure my buying, holding and selling stocks. As I couple BASM with the Seven Steps, I have increased my confidence in my stock picking and decision making. I now have the framework to stay focused on the pivotal and most salient points instead of being overwhelmed with data. I will use this book as a reference guide and refresher as the stock market treats us all to its inevitable roller coaster ride. Well done Fred!