Safely Prosperous or Really Rich: Choosing Your Personal Financial Heaven

Mr. Ruff's new book, Safely Prosperous or Really Rich was fun to read. As a professional pension trustee, I intend to recommend this book to the participants in the plans I serve, and also recommend it to the listeners of my weekly radio show. If you are trying to figure out what kind of money person you are, this book will tell you. Again, great book.

This is an investment book that doesn't pull punches, and it's written for Main Street, not Wall Street in language any alert person can understand. All of us have dads, moms, friends, children, grandkids, nieces and nephews whose finances we worry about. If they take Ruff's advice, they may never lack for money. Ruff tells you flat out: how wealthy people really get that way; how people can worship money until it becomes their God; how Ruff's cautionary life lessons can help you. My friend Art Linkletter, of Kids Say the Darndest Things fame, put it this way to me: "Howard Ruff has extraordinarily practical investment insights and his complete honesty about his own mistakes make this an invaluable financial resource. I loved it."

As a retired professor of economics and finance I was most favorably impresed by Safely Prosperous or Really Rich. The strategies outlined in it are excellent. Ruff's ability to express himself in a way that almost anyone can understand is one unique characteristic of this book. Another is his willingness to explore mistakes that he has made in order to help others avoid making them. Only someone with considerable self-confoidence would do that. Roger M. Clites, Johnson City, Tennessee

Do you have trouble staying awake when you read a financial book? Well - I read this one all night long and couldn't put it down until I had underlined more than half of it!! And now my husband is having the same problem! Mr. Ruff has written a financial book that is not only an easy read but very entertaining as well! It is NOT a "get rich quick and here's how you do it" kind of a book, which is what I expected. His clear cut and brutal honesty about the mistakes he has made in his own financial life are a breath of fresh air!! We all know that wealthy people have had hiccups and have made possibly "career ending" mistakes along the way - although how many are willing to talk about those mistakes openly and let us learn from them? I was amazed at how candidly he spoke of the lessons learned and dollars lost through his failures and what he changed to be more successful the next time. I am grateful for his teaching me how to avoid those same pitfalls. As a 30 something, it has been hard to decide how and when to invest, buy, sell, and trade so that my family will have a secure and comfortable future. Mr. Ruff has given direct answers to all of my questions and concerns and offered two distinct paths to attain that security. We have worked very hard for our money and don't have a lot of it to lose in risky ventures. I have always leaned towards a safe and risk-less approach when it comes to investing because I have seen so many bad business ventures and failed stock market attempts by those around me. However, I now feel after reading his book that I have the knowledge I need to earn more, save more & spend less(by delaying gradification and not trying to keep up with the Joneses)and invest intellegently and confidently by knowing the calculated risk involved in each type of venture. Whole hearted honesty is what rang true for me in this book. This book is also great for the entrepreneur ready to market and gather investors! I will be buying several copies of this book for Christmas gifts - but I think they'll be getting them a few months early!! This book is an easy read with life changing information! Thank you Mr. Ruff!!

Howard Ruff is back! Staking a claim for time-tested and down home values, this book is filled with "old fogy" wisdom that both teaches and entertains. It's an easy read, full of real life examples that readers will long remember. "Oh", laments Howard, "to be 72 again"! Old-timers faithful to Howard will realize immediately that he has not lost a step. The book uses the "heaven" metaphor to good advantage (heaven being that place where one enjoys peace of mind) Financial affairs under control with minimum risk bring peace of mind. Financial affairs out of control bring stress, and strike at the stability of families. (hell being a state of constant worry) The first book, addressed to the largest reading audience, teaches how to avoid debt and achieve the safe heaven of prosperity without risk. The second book, addressed to the wealthier set, lays out a track to enlarge, protect, and pass on assets in the family treasury to future generations. I consider the book a must-read, especially for the younger set. It is said that those who understand interest collect it, and those who do not, pay it. Howard's book will help many readers resolve to make the tough decisions that will put them on the heavenly side of that equation.