In spite of theoretical benefits, Markowitz mean-variance (MV) optimized portfolios often fail to meet practical investment goals of marketability, usability, and performance, prompting many investors to seek simpler alternatives. Financial experts Richard and Robert Michaud demonstrate that the limitations of MV optimization are not the result of conceptual flaws in Markowitz theory but unrealistic representation of investment information. What is missing is a realistic treatment of estimation error in the optimization and rebalancing process. The text provides a non-technical review of classical Markowitz optimization and traditional objections. The authors demonstrate that in practice the single most important limitation of MV optimization is oversensitivity to estimation error. Portfolio optimization requires a modern statistical perspective. Efficient Asset Management, Second Edition uses Monte Carlo resampling to address information uncertainty and define Resampled Efficiency (RE) technology. RE optimized portfolios represent a new definition of portfolio optimality that is more investment intuitive, robust, and provably investment effective. RE rebalancing provides the first rigorous portfolio trading, monitoring, and asset importance rules, avoiding widespread ad hoc methods in current practice. The Second Edition resolves several open issues and misunderstandings that have emerged since the original edition. The new edition includes new proofs of effectiveness, substantial revisions of statistical estimation, extensive discussion of long-short optimization, and new tools for dealing with estimation error in applications and enhancing computational efficiency. RE optimization is shown to be a Bayesian-based generalization and enhancement of Markowitz’s solution. RE technology corrects many current practices that may adversely impact the investment value of trillions of dollars under current asset management. RE optimization technology may also be useful in other financial optimizations and more generally in multivariate estimation contexts of information uncertainty with Bayesian linear constraints. Michaud and Michaud’s new book includes numerous additional proposals to enhance investment value including Stein and Bayesian methods for improved input estimation, the use of portfolio priors, and an economic perspective for asset-liability optimization. Applications include investment policy, asset allocation, and equity portfolio optimization. A simple global asset allocation problem illustrates portfolio optimization techniques. A final chapter includes practical advice for avoiding simple portfolio design errors. With its important implications for investment practice, Efficient Asset Management ’s highly intuitive yet rigorous approach to defining optimal portfolios will appeal to investment management executives, consultants, brokers, and anyone seeking to stay abreast of current investment technology. Through practical examples and illustrations, Michaud and Michaud update the practice of optimization for modern investment management. This edition includes a CD that contains a demo of the patented, internet-based optimization software created by the authors at their consulting firm, New Frontier Advisors. Author:  Richard O. Michaud, Robert O. Michaud Hardcover: 144 pages Company:  Oxford University Press, USA (2008-03-03) ISBN:  0195331915 List Price:  $39.95 Amazon Price:  $31.85 Used Price:  $30.21

Traders and investors spend fortunes in time and money trying to gauge the real value of individual stocks. The Streetsmart Guide to Valuing a Stock introduces proven techniques for analyzing a stock’s value, spotting undervalued and overvalued stocks, and understanding the impact of interest rate changes and earnings reports on stock prices. New topics include: Finance theory in the stock valuation process Short-term stock price versus long-term value Use of valuation models to uncover misstatements and outright fraud Author:  Gary Gray, Patrick Cusatis, J. Woolridge Hardcover: 288 pages Company:  McGraw-Hill (2003-09-19) ISBN:  0071416668 List Price:  $34.95 Amazon Price:  $19.89 Used Price:  $14.97

Based on prudent long-term principles, this book has been specially prepared to help and guide those with a substantial sum to invest, or those with a continuous surplus income who are considering investing in quoted securities. Author:  John White Paperback: 241 pages Company:  How to Books (2003-04-30) ISBN:  1857038479 List Price:  $20.00 Amazon Price:  $20.00 Used Price:  $10.00

A pioneering classic in Dow Theory. “If you are a serious student of investing, you owe it to yourself to ‘go back to the future’ and read this book.” –Charles B. Carlson, Editor of “Dow Theory Forecast”. The Dow Theory is consistently one of the best strategies for understanding and predicting the stock market, and when it is applied as a method of predictable forecast, it is known as the “barometer.” This finance classic offers tips and trends that William Hamilton observed over the years in the market, offering a view of market behavior that remains perpetually current. Hamilton, a contemporary of Charles H. Dow, presents a clear and in-depth discussion of the Dow Theory and its explanation of averages and affinity for predictable cycles of panic and prosperity. Provides an analysis of the stock market and its history since 1897. * This book is a springboard upon which current Dow Theory has thrived. * New foreword by Charles Carlson. The late William P. Hamilton originally published The Stock Market Barometer in 1922. Hamilton spent a career in financial journalism and became an editor of The Wall Street Journal. Author:  Marketplace Books Paperback: 368 pages Company:  Wiley (1998-03-03) ISBN:  0471247642 List Price:  $19.95 Amazon Price:  $5.85 Used Price:  $3.56

Morningstar’s independent analysis and exclusive tools can help you find the best companies at the best prices—500 of them are included in this reliable resource. The Morningstar Rating for stocks helps you spot companies that are undervalued. Our Consider Buying/Consider Selling prices provide the benchmarks you need to make informed buying and selling decisions. With purchase of this book, you’ll also receive access to fifty free stock reports anytime in 2008. Choose from 1,900 stocks. Author:  Morningstar Inc., Pat Dorsey Paperback: 576 pages Company:  Wiley (2008-02-08) ISBN:  0470121300 List Price:  $39.95 Amazon Price:  $21.31 Used Price:  $6.98

Investing is all about common sense. Owning a diversified portfolio of stocks and holding it for the long term is a winner’s game. Trying to beat the stock market is theoretically a zero-sum game (for every winner, there must be a loser), but after the substantial costs of investing are deducted, it becomes a loser’s game. Common sense tells us—and history confirms—that the simplest and most efficient investment strategy is to buy and hold all of the nation’s publicly held businesses at very low cost. The classic index fund that owns this market portfolio is the only investment that guarantees you with your fair share of stock market returns. To learn how to make index investing work for you, there’s no better mentor than legendary mutual fund industry veteran John C. Bogle. Over the course of his long career, Bogle—founder of the Vanguard Group and creator of the world’s first index mutual fund—has relied primarily on index investing to help Vanguard’s clients build substantial wealth. Now, with The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, he wants to help you do the same. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing will show you how to incorporate this proven investment strategy into your portfolio. It will also change the very way you think about investing. Successful investing is not easy. (It requires discipline and patience.) But it is simple. For it’s all about common sense. With The Little Book of Common Sense Investing as your guide, you’ll discover how to make investing a winner’s game: Why business reality—dividend yields and earnings growth—is more important than market expectations How to overcome the powerful impact of investment costs, taxes, and inflation How the magic of compounding returns is overwhelmed by the tyranny of compounding costs What expert investors and brilliant academics—from Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham to Paul Samuelson and Burton Malkiel—have to say about index investing And much more You’ll also find warnings about investment fads and fashions, including the recent stampede into exchange traded funds and the rise of indexing gimmickry. The real formula for investment success is to own the entire market, while significantly minimizing the costs of financial intermediation. That’s what index investing is all about. And that’s what this book is all about. JOHN C. BOGLE is founder of the Vanguard Group, Inc., and President of its Bogle Financial Markets Research Center. He created Vanguard in 1974 and served as chairman and chief executive officer until 1996 and senior chairman until 2000. In 1999, Fortune magazine named Mr. Bogle as one of the four “Investment Giants” of the twentieth century; in 2004, Time named him one of the world’s 100 most powerful and influential people, and Institutional Investor presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Author:  John C. Bogle Hardcover: 216 pages Company:  Wiley (2007-03-05) ISBN:  0470102101 List Price:  $19.95 Amazon Price:  $9.99 Used Price:  $8.35

Anyone can learn to invest wisely with this bestselling investment system! Through every type of market, William J. O’Neil’s national bestseller, How to Make Money in Stocks , has shown over 2 million investors the secrets to building wealth. O’Neil’s powerful CAN SLIM® Investing System—a proven 7-step process for minimizing risk and maximizing gains—has influenced generations of investors. Based on a major study of market winners from 1880 to 2009, this expanded edition gives you: Proven techniques for finding winning stocks before they make big price gains Tips on picking the best stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs to maximize your gains 100 new charts to help you spot today’s most profitable trends PLUS: Strategies to help you avoid the 21 most common investor mistakes! “I dedicated the 2004 Stock Trader’s Almanac to Bill O’Neil: ‘His foresight, innovation, and disciplined approach to stock market investing will influence investors and traders for generations to come.’” —Yale Hirsch, publisher and editor, Stock Trader’s Almanac and author of Let’s Change the World Inc. “ Investor’s Business Daily has provided a quarter-century of great financial journalism and investing strategies.” —David Callaway, editor-in-chief, MarketWatch “ How to Make Money in Stocks is a classic. Any investor serious about making money in the market ought to read it.” —Larry Kudlow, host, CNBC’s “The Kudlow Report” Author:  William O’Neil Paperback: 464 pages Company:  McGraw-Hill (2009-05-18) ISBN:  0071614133 List Price:  $16.95 Amazon Price:  $10.16 Used Price:  $10.19

A must-read for accountants and professionals with a business valuation accreditation or certification, pension actuaries, ERISA lawyers, Financial Valuation of Employee Stock Ownership Plan Shares identifies, explains, and explores the ins and outs of ESOPs, with a focus on what benefits a company/shareholder/plan participant would receive by transacting shares of stock with an ESOP, the formula for an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, stock incentives and their attractiveness to employees, the nature and function of ERISA, Department of Labor, and IRS. It includes training material, the full text of Department of Labor–proposed regulations, details of important court cases, various examples and illustrations to be used as reference and research tools for the experienced and trained valuation professional, and more. Author:  Larry R. Cook Hardcover: 272 pages Company:  Wiley (2005-06-14) ISBN:  0471678473 List Price:  $130.00 Amazon Price:  $99.31 Used Price:  $98.00