finance and investing

The reason I give this book two stars is that it emphasizes the potential rewards of risk without emphasizing a responsible, balanced approach. Other publications, such as the bestseller, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and excerpts from The Millionaire Next Door communicated more clearly that what separates the financially independent individuals from those who are trapped in the paycheck-to-paycheck rat race world is that the former are made up of compulsive savers and investors while the latter are made up of compulsive spenders who entrap themselves by spending increases that correlate with pay raises.

Author Robert Kiyosaki at least hit the nail on the head when he said that the road to financial success is to increase your ability to build interest income, a goal well highlighted in Dominguez and Robin's Your Money or Your Life, by building assets and reducing liabilities. In fact, his terms made investing in the stock market appear a whole lot more attractive an option than what this book, with its bits and pieces of anecdotal evidence, could ever begin to express.

Sorry, still 2 stars. The way that the chapters were laid out did not strike me as being overtures of a road to victory for every person. Why? Because, unlike other reliable sources, such as Kiyosaki's works, it does not go deeply enough into the process of thinking about what defines financial intelligence and what the financially intelligent thing to do would be for a given situation.

With the quick jump to placing a seemingly blind faith in investing the stock market and with the few stories of how several became "successful" with his strategies (and they may be financially sound), this book resonated the pitches of a snake oil salesman.

Ric Edelman is, perhaps, an intelligent man, but don't confuse this "Yadda, Yadda, Yadda" with "Yabba Dabba Doo"!

I've noticed that several people are comparing this book to The Millionaire Next Door and making it as a either/or deal.I ve read The Millionare Next Door as well as this book and I believe they compliment each other, even though they also contradict each other. Who says that anyone has a corner on truth or that there is only one way to become financially successful? The Millionaire Next Door beats the frugality concept to death and shows how ordinary people can become successful via frugal living.Ordinary People/Extraordinary Wealth also shows how ordinary people achieve extraordinary wealth only with a slightly different method.Edelman, and his successful clients, recommend not paying off your mortgage early (I did but took out a home equity line of credit later) I didn't initially agee with Edelaman on this, but I do now.A paid off mortgage may make you feel good but it ds you no good. It's like money in a shoebox generating nothing.Some people also compared Edelmans book with the poular Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, another great book. Kiyosaki emphasizes that a house is not an asset and that money is better used to invest in real assets as opposed to paying off a non asset---mortgage. In this regard, Edelman and Kiyosaki are very similiar.To me it makes more sense to invest in assets like rental properties and equities than to pay off your mortgage to be debt free (you are also cash flow free). Although I wouldn't have said that 10 years ago--live and learn!All three books: The Millionaire Next Door, Rich Dad Poor Dad and Ordinary People Exxtraordinary income make great, highly instructional and profitable reading.These books deliver only if you follow through on the advice given.If you are new to Edelman, I highly recommend that you read The Truth About Money first, then move on to Ordinary People Extraordinary Wealth.

This book provides a good survey of where to start thinking about your investment possibilities, and offers some good advice on what to do and what not to do. The most valuable part of the book is the personal experiences shared by the financially successful individuals at the end of each chapter. I agree with another reviewer that this booked was basically a sales brochure, however, it offers some good advice. Recommended if you have no clue what you're doing but know you have to do something ASAP.