I really loved the original Motley Fool investing guide.

I read it in high school, and it opened up worlds for me. Since I grew up in a family where no one had savings and many didn't even have a checking account, I wouldn't have been exposed to any of the ideas in that book otherwise. I actually read it doing a report on "internet companies."

Although I didn't have any money for investing or anything like that, when I did have options I knew what to do. I always put in what my company matches into my 401k, and I knew how to choose the lowest fee options in that account. I also started 529ks for both my kids when they were born - and I've always had them put half of any money they get as a gift into that account, plus 10% of any money they earned.

The main reason that even not living a PF focused life we had relatively small debts was mainly thanks to that book.

Also online, Investopedia is a great place to have any finance concept explained quickly.

I've been thinking about some of the posts here for a while and I realized that if I broaden my definition of "financial", that yes, the bible has influenced my financial decisions. I donate money to help the poor and weak, I make (or try to make) socially just expenditures, and I don't make money my priority. These things seems second nature so I don't really think of them as "financial guidance" but after some reflection, they are.

Yet if I think about capital allocation and the technical aspects of financial decisions, well, that's a different perspective.

"The Richest Man In Babylon" is definitely one of the best books on money management I've ever come across. It's simple to understand (if you ignore the old English style of grammar and spelling).

For example, it's been a timeless maxim to "Pay Yourself First" every time you receive your income in order to have a capital to invest, but many people simply do not do it.

This book narrates many ideas in the form of short stories and it appealed to my taste, at least. (:

P.s. You should check out the chapter entitled "Seven Cures for a Lean Purse"

As an Investment Advisor and self confessed Stock Market junkie before starting my investment business in Clifton VA called Goldberg Financial, LLC I have probably read 50 books on stock investing strategies. Of them I think 3 could have been more than enough and these three are the top ones if you want to know how to invest in stocks:

Jim Cramers: Sane Investing in an Insane World
Tom Bulkowski's Charting Patterns Book
HS Dent: The Great Crash Ahead

Each book focuses on a different and important aspect of investing.

Cramer's book is fundamental focused. As great as Warren Buffet and Benjamin Graham were with value investing unless you like to buy and hold stocks for 2-3 years and do constant weekly in depth business research on them, this is a better choice. Focuses on PE ratios, market rotations, and things that ACTUALLY move stocks.

Charting Patterns is great because if you don't understand the importance of stock chart patterns then you will NEVER be successful with investing endeavors. Even a basic understanding is necessary in my opinion.

HS Dent is an economic financial forecaster forecasting very long term financial trends based on demographics. The book is incredible. He forecasted the stock rally into 2000, the housing bubble, and the stock market crashes decades out based on demographic spending habits. Truly incredible work.

Michael Goldberg
Goldberg Financial, LLC
in Clifton VA
You can follow my blog here: http://financeinlife.blogspot.com/2012/ ... watch.html

Jim Cramer wouldn't know a stock pick from a toothpick.

Stock charts are meaningless for anything but entertainment and lining bird cages. I would run as fast as I could from anyone who said he made decisions based on them!

HS Dent is an interesting character and I really enjoyed his book (The Great Recession Ahead), at least until I got bored with the very dull statistics dribble (and I love statistics!). Personally I think there is a lot to be said for his approach. It is based on data and on economic/sociological fundamentals. Unfortunately, although he did make a couple of correct calls, his track record going back 30+ years is not quite 50/50. And he missed 2008 entirely. It is hard to give much credit to anyone who missed that big event while claiming success on much more minor corrections. But I agree, it is a good book and he makes some points worth thinking about.

I read "Your money or your life" one time, and "Rich dad poor dad" 4 times.

I like Robert Kiyosaki books, it's a life perspective that shows you how a well structured financial education can make you live a happier life, no matter how much money you make.

Yeah...that's until you file bankruptcy like Kiyosaki did.

Some of my favorites include...


Think and Grow Rich
Anything by Suze Orman
The Four Hour Work Week
The Go-Giver
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
The Millionaire Next Door
Almost anything by Warren Buffet. Loved reading his biography. Such an interesting character.