Business-plan

This book is very readable. The authors use anecdotes to illustrate many of the points they make, enabling the ordinary person to visualize by thinking, "I've been there!" Although the book is primarily focused on readers in their 40s and 50s, there is much good information for older readers, and this is an excellent resource for those younger readers which the authors don't even seem to know exist (such as myself, at 32). Whatever your age, if you're just starting to look at retirement, this is the book for you.

Written for investing novices, this book explains and clarifies the details of investing in a 401(k) plan. It was very useful when I set up my 401(k) account for the first time, and has subsequently come in handy as a reference guide when questions arose.

My only small complaint is that at times the material was "dumbed down" a little too much, and the author used generalizations rather than delve into some of the specifics of investing for retirement.

I usually throw away the material from my human resource department about benefits because it's so difficult to understand. On the other hand, this book really helped me to decide how much money I should be contributing to my 401(k) plan and how to choose my allocations. This is a useful book for all employees with 401(k) plans.

Vern Hayden, CFP, is a frequent guest on CNBC. Unlike most guests he consistently provides useful down-to-earth advice to viewers. He has come to the realization that blind buy-and-hold investing is no longer a valid approach. He now believes "that radical market fluctuations sometimes demand radical action...there are not only times when you shouldn't buy and hold funds, but also times when you'll need to adjust your allocation." It's refreshing to hear the "truth" about buy and hold from an investment professional rather than get the party line from the always-bullish Wall Street crowd.

Hayden's book, his first, hits the nail on the head and clearly delineates a ten-step investing plan, each of which is explained in a separate chapter. His ten principles include:
-Don't Lose Your Principal
-Set Your Own Benchmark
-Buy and Watch Your Portfolio
-Have an Investing Defense and Offense
-Consider Risk And Return
-Keep Learning
-Avoid Sector Funds
-Track Your Performance
-Be a Professional or Get One

He methodically leads the reader through the key steps needed to become a successful investor. Hayden supplements his advice with appropriate exhibits to emphasis his key points.

In conclusion, Hayden has written a comprehensive, step-by-step investing approach that can greatly benefit serious investors - if they not only read his book but also actually do what he says. Over the past 40 years I've read over 500 books on investing, and this one makes my "top 10" list for its practical advice. I urge you to read this book and benefit from the wisdom of a "true" Wall Street" professional.

This is a good book for learning both do it yourself asset allocation and for setting reasonable goals for one's portfolio. Hayden stresses knowing your risk tolerance first rather than looking for returns first. As Will Rogers said: "I'm more concerned with the return of my money than the return on my money."

This book presents a view that is difficult to find in print It's easy these days to find books that advocate the wisdom of investing/saving for retirement. Purveyors of investment vehicles often make us feel guilty for not saving every last cent of our disposable income.

The view that this author presents is rarely expressed -- namely that we can live on less than we think and that there are ways that we need to prepare for retirement besides focusing on money. I welcome this refreshing view.

Warner wants us to think about the "whole person" and not just about money. Now I find myself asking whether I've planned adequately for friends, family, activities, and interests.

This book makes me think of a good friend of mine who retired two years ago. She and her husband hadn't planned enough in terms of the "whole person." They're thinking about moving back. If they had read this book, I wonder whether they would have moved in the first place.

I read someones comments, that there is "too much deperveration" in this book. I think they need to re-read it. The whole point is NOT to have too little, but to have what's right. This book confirms my long held belief that you can save "too much" and miss what's good for the now. On the other hand, chances are you will live a good while, so you cannot neglict that either. This book shows how to do both. The mindset of many people is just plain wrong, and this book, even if you don't agree with it, shows another way of thinking. Based on the retired people I know, it rings VERY true. Health, Friends, Family are first, the money part can be managed. You should read this book. It's very good.

As a former Certified Financial Planner, I recommended this book to many of my clients who are seriously planning their retirements. Warner has done a great job putting things in the proper perspective with a book that is an "easy read". While adequate money is important to a satisfactory retirement (and helping clients build a satisfactory net worth was how I made my living), I do find, as has Warner, that there are more important things such as health, friends, and a purpose (i.e., reasons to get up in the morning) when it comes to planning out one's retirement. I frequently ask clients what they plan to do when they retire. When they say "go fishing" or "play golf", I then ask them what they plan to do the second week/month/year. And I keep asking the question until they realize that its a serious one. Warner takes it further with discussion and clear examples. In short, a must read for anyone approaching retirement.

"Get a job in 30 days or less" is full of useful advice on various parts of a comprehensive job search, but if you thought this was a day-by-day guide to finding a job, forget it. The book has a very clever marketing title, but from a practical stand-point it is NOT a day-by-day list of 'things to do'. Firsty, it will take you several days just to read and work through the exercises in the 'Introduction' and 'Getting Ready' section. And to successfully land a job these exercises need to be worked through in depth. Unless you are a speed-reader and have NOTHING else going on in your life, you probably will not reach 'Week 1 - Day 1' until week 2. The authors provide you with lots of information for every day (including Sunday!) of week 1, for the following 3 weeks you are left pretty much on your own.
In summary, yes, the book has useful tips, however it works better as a reference book (there are sections on 'dealing w/headhunters', 'networking') than a day-by-day list of things to do to land that dream job. Maybe the title sells the book, but the editor or whoever came up with the title is doing a disservice to the reader. (The publisher is McGraw-Hill)
Good luck with the job hunt!