Where Are The Customers Yachts

"Once I picked it up I did not put it down until I finished. . . . What Schwed has done is capture fully-in deceptively clean language-the lunacy at the heart of the investment business." -- From the Foreword by Michael Lewis, Bestselling author of Liar's Poker ". . . one of the funniest books ever written about Wall Street." -- Jane Bryant Quinn, The Washington Post "How great to have a reissue of a hilarious classic that proves the more things change the more they stay the same. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." -- Michael Bloomberg "It's amazing how well Schwed's book is holding up after fifty-five years. About the only thing that's changed on Wall Street is that computers have replaced pencils and graph paper. Otherwise, the basics are the same. The investor's need to believe somebody is matched by the financial advisor's need to make a nice living. If one of them has to be disappointed, it's bound to be the former." -- John Rothchild, Author, A Fool and His Money, Financial Columnist, Time magazine Humorous and entertaining, this book exposes the folly and hypocrisy of Wall Street. The title refers to a story about a visitor to New York who admired the yachts of the bankers and brokers. Naively, he asked where all the customers' yachts were? Of course, none of the customers could afford yachts, even though they dutifully followed the advice of their bankers and brokers. Full of wise contrarian advice and offering a true look at the world of investing, in which brokers get rich while their customers go broke, this book continues to open the eyes of investors to the reality of Wall Street.

"The title of this 1955 book refers to a story about a visitor to New York who admired the yachts of the bankers and brokers. Naively, he asked where all the customers' yachts were. Of course, none of the customers could afford yachts, even though they dutifully followed the advice of their bankers and brokers. Full of wise contrarian advice and offering a true look at the world of investing, Where are the Customers' Yachts? continues to open the eyes of investors to the reality of Wall Street today. Leo Gough's interpretation of Where are the Customers' Yachts? illustrates the timeless nature of Fred Schwed's insights. Bringing them to life through 52 modern case studies, this brilliant interpretation is an entertaining accompaniment to one of the most eye-opening books on investment ever written."--Publisher description.

Edgar Lawrence Smith, (1882-1971) was an economist, investment manager and author of the influential book “Common Stocks as Long Term Investments”, which promoted the then-surprising idea that stocks excel bonds in long-term yield. . He worked in banking and other financial endeavors in the years after college, then signed on in 1922 as an adviser to the brokerage firm Low, Dixon & Company. While there, he later recounted in his Harvard class’s 50th reunion yearbook, “I tried to write a pamphlet on why bonds were the best form of long term investment. But supporting evidence for this thesis could not be found.” This discovery led to the 1924 publication of “Common Stocks as Long Term Investments.” The book was widely reviewed and praised, and became a key intellectual support for the 1920s stock market boom. Its success enabled Smith to launch a mutual fund firm, “Investment Managers Company.” It also garnered him an invitation from the economist John Maynard Keynes, who had favorably reviewed the book in “The Nation”, to join the Royal Economic Society. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 brought a turn in Smith’s fortunes.—Print Ed.

Wall Street is where poker and modern finance?and the theory behind these "games"?clash head on. In both worlds, real risk means real money is made or lost in a heart beat, and neither camp is always rational with the risk it takes. As a result, business and financial professionals who want to use poker insights to improve their job performance will find this entertaining book a "must read." So will poker players searching for an edge in applying the insights of risk-takers on Wall Street.

"There is one thing that can be said about A Fool and His Moneythat cannot be said about any other colume of investment advice:You will never make a penny from the information in this book. Nowork on the subject of personal finance has even tried to make thisclaim before. That is because works on the subject of personalfinance are all lying. John Rothchild is the only fully honestauthor in the genre."--from the Foreword by P. J. O'Rourke. A veritable gold mine of comic insight into the predicament of anaverage investor's avid pursuit of wealth, A Fool and His Money isJohn Rothchild's critically acclaimed personal account of a yeardevoted to investing his money in the markets. The entireinvestment world--its characters, institutions, customs, andmyths-passes under Rothchild's sharp and profoundly humorousscrutiny. Acclaim for A Fool and His Money "What makes this book so good is that Rothchild can explain thingslike naked puts . . . and leave the reader both edified andlaughing. . . . Witty, fast-paced, and educational."--TheWashington Post. "You'll relish John Rothchild's comic tale. . . . The book nearsguaranteed delight."--Newsday. "A Fool and His Money may be the funniest book about investing everwritten. It's a reader's capital gain."--New York Post. You set aside some money, quit your job, devote yourself entirelyto studying the markets, and start to invest. Then, through hardwork and your own magical intuition, you become so wealthy yourmajor concern is finding a fashionable hobby to soak up yourabundant leisure time. All in about a year. Now, thanks to this hugely entertaining and informative book, youcan live out the fantasy without risking your money, your job--oryour sanity. Since its acclaimed debut a decade ago, A Fool and His Money hasbecome a treasured investment classic. It's the comic, firsthandaccount of a first-time investor who sets out to make his wildestmoney dreams come true. In a surge of optimism and enterprise, financial writer JohnRothchild drops everything to devote an entire year to learning howto invest a modest sum of money. Motivated by a sincere desire toget rich, he undertakes his mission by systematically studying asmuch as he can about the markets and how they really operate. Hefearlessly asks the most basic questions, observes theprofessionals at work, studies the newsletters, makes investments,and reports back on everything--including his own highly personaland often hilarious reactions. With Rothchild as your guide through the marketplace, you will: * Eavesdrop as his broker explains in fluent double-talk why heshould buy a certain "hot stock" * Share in his buyer's remorse as Rothchild purchases an unknowntechnology company stock that puts him on an emotional rollercoaster * Be humbled as he enters the almighty Federal Reserve Bank andstruggles to understand its omnipotent power over his personalfinances * Witness the excitement and confusion of the Commodities Exchangeand find out what pork bellies really are * Hear firsthand the enigmatic and undoubtedly wise words ofvarious wizards of Wall Street * Sympathize with Rothchild as he explains his transactions to hisloved ones * Blush as he shamelessly attempts to deceive them. In a gesture of pure magnanimity, Rothchild also includes thehard-won bits of wisdom he calls his "25 Useful Tips"--whichinclude such sage advice as "Never buy anything from a broker at anairport"--and his handy "Fool's Glossary," which clarifies many ofthe technical terms used in the book. Clever, funny, and informative, A Fool and His Money will rewardinvestors at all levels of experience with a revelation on everypage.

An indispensable guide for any recent graduate that provides simple, easy-to-follow rules for making smart personal finance choices during the first decade of one's career. Having graduated from college with a degree, even the luckiest newly minted professionals—those who are able to quickly find a full-time job and support themselves—are often burdened with thousands of dollars in student loan debt. Many of these young professionals grow up hearing that they should not invest until their debt is paid off. Others fall too readily for investment scams or the siren call of instant entrepreneurship. Still others don't invest at all. From financial expert Michael C. Taylor comes a proposed means by which to not only pull oneself out of debt but to start building wealth from the first day on the job: adoption of modesty, skepticism, and optimism. The Financial Rules for New College Graduates explains that by embodying modesty, the opposite of status-seeking ostentation; skepticism, the ability to recognize scams, false promises, and the hyperbole and short-sightedness of financial media; and optimism, the belief that financial security can be yours with little to no risk, anyone can attain financial security. The early chapters address the role of interest rates, compound interest, and discounted cashflows, while the remaining chapters explore each of the most consequential personal finance choices that recent graduates will make in the first ten years of their career.

A simple guide to a smarter strategy for the individual investor A Wealth of Common Sense sheds a refreshing light on investing, and shows you how a simplicity-based framework can lead to better investment decisions. The financial market is a complex system, but that doesn't mean it requires a complex strategy; in fact, this false premise is the driving force behind many investors' market "mistakes." Information is important, but understanding and perspective are the keys to better decision-making. This book describes the proper way to view the markets and your portfolio, and show you the simple strategies that make investing more profitable, less confusing, and less time-consuming. Without the burden of short-term performance benchmarks, individual investors have the advantage of focusing on the long view, and the freedom to construct the kind of portfolio that will serve their investment goals best. This book proves how complex strategies essentially waste these advantages, and provides an alternative game plan for those ready to simplify. Complexity is often used as a mechanism for talking investors into unnecessary purchases, when all most need is a deeper understanding of conventional options. This book explains which issues you actually should pay attention to, and which ones are simply used for an illusion of intelligence and control. Keep up with—or beat—professional money managers Exploit stock market volatility to your utmost advantage Learn where advisors and consultants fit into smart strategy Build a portfolio that makes sense for your particular situation You don't have to outsmart the market if you can simply outperform it. Cut through the confusion and noise and focus on what actually matters. A Wealth of Common Sense clears the air, and gives you the insight you need to become a smarter, more successful investor.

A NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER The legendary investor shows how to identify and master the cycles that govern the markets. We all know markets rise and fall, but when should you pull out, and when should you stay in? The answer is never black or white, but is best reached through a keen understanding of the reasons behind the rhythm of cycles. Confidence about where we are in a cycle comes when you learn the patterns of ups and downs that influence not just economics, markets, and companies, but also human psychology and the investing behaviors that result. If you study past cycles, understand their origins and remain alert for the next one, you will become keenly attuned to the investment environment as it changes. You’ll be aware and prepared while others get blindsided by unexpected events or fall victim to emotions like fear and greed. By following Marks’s insights—drawn in part from his iconic memos over the years to Oaktree’s clients—you can master these recurring patterns to have the opportunity to improve your results.