How to Be Your Own Stockbroker

Written before the days of day traders and E*Trade, this book provides advice and opinions that are still right on the money. Schwab has produced a down-to-earth, easy to read book that ranges over a wide variety of investments. Schwab also gives some insight into some of the legal and financial battles that he endured along the way. An interesting read.

Purchased book a few years back and still reference it today. It helped me understand how fickle the market is and, more importantly, helped me understand my own tolerance for risk and how to approach that. Definite bias towards brokerage firms and mutual funds, but with good reasoning. Very good anicdotal stories for examples. I recommend it (and have loaned it) to all my friends as they get started. My book is very dog-eared now.

A good read for those who want to begin investing in stocks. This book is obviously bias to discount brokerage firms. But, as Charles points out, there are number of advantages to investing through these firms. An investor can rely on his own instinct and education when making investment decisions. Also an investor isn't pressured by a broker, who's main concern is his commision. Charles also explains how emotionally driven the stock market is. He includes a number of his personal experiences which makes the book delightfully readable. In conclusion, this is an excellent first book for those who want to become their own personal stock broker.

I read this book when I started investing. I found several ideas and concepts aplicable to the market conditions in Brazil. Based on my personal experience I would say they might be aplicable everywhere. I would recommend reading this book as an introduction. The evolution of the market conditions, like globalization, the advances of the technology and communications, the speed that the news are broadcasted, the strategic scenario for the companies all have changed significantly after the book has been writen. So the framework of ideas proposed in the book for the investor should be adjusted to this new environment. This means catching up with additional concepts and reading !