Navigating the markets these days is an interesting process. If you still have a thriving financial practice or capital to invest after the August 2007 to mid-2009 market fall out, great for you. However, I would make a bet that you took a sizable hit to either your clients or your own personal portfolio. Thus, I am creating this post containing a book list because I believe there are always ways that we can be better investors and better financial professionals.
For those of you interested to know, the process to become a financial advisor is down right challenging. It is full of hurdles that happen well before you ever solicit any type of securities products. First, there is the process of making the decision that your heart is truly in this career decision. Because if it ain’t, you will fail. Then, there is research and reading to both see if you have the skills necessary and where you need improvement. And trust me, as a rookie seeing Wall Street and the industry from the outside, very few go into this business without needing improvement. Or maybe you could be the investor looking for the right financial professional. I guarantee in any market that there is at least several firms and hundreds of professionals that can meet your needs.
So- have said that, I decided to write this post about some of the books that have helped me become much better educated about not only the markets but the business of the money culture. In fact, almost all of these were recommendations from the dozens of financial professionals and investors I have spoken with over the past many months. In many ways these financial related books helped me understand the business, give specific information about how to start, expand and some really fascinating and sometimes hilarious stories along the way.
In addition, if you have very little interest in working in this industry but want some information to help you make better financial decisions and/or learn about the shenanigans that goes on at times, I have divided this book list into two categories. One category for the Financial Advisor and one for interested individual investors looking for a good read. And probably the best part is that I have linked each of these books to Amazon.com so you can read reviews and buy new or used copies. I highly recommend Amazon to purchase used books as many of their sellers are reliable and you just can’t beat the price. I have given a small and very short summary about a few of the books I really enjoyed as well.
Click continue reading if on the home page. Thank you.
Top Books for the interested individual Investors:
“The Craft of Advice : Essays 1995-1998 ” By Nick Murray
A collection of interesting articles that Nick has written for a variety of publications. Many of them fascinating and short enough to read in one sitting.
“How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times and Bad, Fourth Edition” by William O’Neil (CANSLIM method of investing)
Very good book which revolves around William’s CANSLIM system of investing. Highly intelligent writing with an easy to understand step-by-step approach to investing. If you follow his guidance you will be on the right path to personal investing.
“Sex and Money” (The inner world of Wall Street in the 80’s) by John Spooner
John Spooner finds a way to make his points through some of the best stories a stock broker can have. This is one very funny and fascinating book about the world of top brokers in the 1980’s. I promise you will enjoy reading this book.
Full of wit and insight from the investing master himself. Great read that you could knock out in just a few nights.
“Liar’s Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street” by Michael Lewis
One of my favorites about the inside of Solomon Brothers in the 1980’s. Great detail about the insider life of some of the most powerful bond traders and rich egocentric people that make it all happen.
“The Money Culture ” by Michael Lewis
A superb book about the culture of money. Interesting to read and understand how high-net-worth individuals think.
“Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle” by John Rolfe
“Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity ” by Michael Lewis
Very fascinating book about the ins and outs of how we got to the market fall out of 2007 and 2009. You can finally understand all that sub-prime mortgage CDO fiasco.
The Quants: How a New Breed of Math Whizzes Conquered Wall Street and Nearly Destroyed It by Scott Patterson
This book is one of those new financial books and my current reading material. Incredible book about the gigantic hedge fund puppeteers with billions under their control. From start to finish this book sheds light on the big players in today’s money making (machine) game.
Top Books for the Financial Advisor:
“The Excellent Investment Advisor” by Nick Murray
Building Your Multi-Million Dollar Practice: 8 Success Strategies of Top Producing Advisor by Peter Vessenes, Katherine Vessenes
Cold Calling Techniques: That Really Work
“Gathering Assets: The Best of Nick Murray”
“Attract and Retain the Affluent Investor: Winning Tactics for Today’s Financial Advisor” by Stephen Gresham
Excellent book featuring the ins and outs of what to say and how to be a better (and wealthier) financial advisor.
“Best Practices for Financial Advisors (Bloomberg Professional Library) ” Mary Rowland, Michael R. Bloomberg
Conclusion:
There you have it. Some of the books that I believe will give you hours of great reading and volumes of financial knowledge. I guarantee that these books will benefit your success as a financial advisor or investor.
So good luck with your reading and investing.
***This blog post is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any security or other product. Information contained in this communication is not an official confirmation of any transaction or an official statement from Adam Faragalli. Adam Faragalli receives no compensation for this blog and has not affiliated with any authors, publications or companies cited above. Adam urges everyone to understand the risks involved with investing and can not be held responsible for any losses accrued from investment advice cited.
Best regards and enjoy all your new found financial knowledge.
Adam Faragalli
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Investing is my way of earning money both online and offiline, right now i am into venture capital.`.’
The market is a great place to do that, if you have the risk capital to do so. I am working on building my investing portfolio.
Hey nice Blog, Keep up the good work. I found it while searching on Google If you want to learn more about making money or want a free google adsense website send me an email 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and for commenting Andrew. Also, I would take you up on your offer but I offer this site (and most all my sites) free of advertising, for the time being. But thanks for the offer.
Hey nice Blog, Keep up the good work. I found it while searching on Bing If you want to learn more about making money or want a free google adsense website send me an email 🙂
Another book worth adding to your list is “Who’s Watching Your Money?”. Yes, I did write it, but it’s an important book for those investors out there that are considering hiring a financial advisor or planner to manage their financial future. It’s the first book of it’s kind that explains the advisor industry and what to look for when interviewing prospective professionals. When your financial future depends on the professional you hire, having a better understanding of the industry and how advisors/planners are trained, is a very good thing. Thanks for the consideration.
Thanks Jack for stopping by and commenting. I just looked your book up on Amazon and read what it allowed me to see online. Good stuff. My career as a financial advisor is just starting. The process that lead me to this industry also lead me to interview at literally every firm and most big banks. I eventually had it down to Morgan Stanley (Smith Barney), Wells Fargo Advisors, Waddell and Reed and Capital Finance Group/Mass Mutual. Do you know, from my experience, the only company (and branch manager) that said they put their clients first was Capital Financial Group/Mass Mutual. All the other ones were more interested in what I can bring to the table, how many 250k households I can get, etc. It’s not to say CFG does not want that, but from the first few minutes the principal said its all about the relationship here.
I am working quite hard to be the best advisor I can be. Training, seminars, passing all state required licences, and looking out for my clients best interests. (not my commission) Also read everyone of those books, that did not hurt too. Thanks again Jack. Let me know if you are ever around Nashville, TN, I’ll buy you a drink.
Keeping your content fresh what makes articles interesting.
investing could earn you lots of money if you properly invest your money,;;
[…] every branch manager and advisor that would give me their time in Nashville. Please read Financial and Investors Book List for Advisors or Investors on more about those […]
Thanks for the info. Also I had a quick question- where can I get your WP theme?
Good article and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?