The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

This invaluable little book highlights the real mistakes that students make in the exam - and shows how to avoid them. Based on analysis of thousands of exam scripts, each unit targets a key problem area. Clear explanations and exercises help students to use the language accurately. Regular tests offer students a further opportunity to check and consolidate what they have learnt. .• Highlights common mistakes that learners really make. .• Based on analysis of thousands of exam scripts. .• Short, snappy explanations focus on key problem areas. .• Includes exam-style exercises. .

Stepping Lightly Around the Pitfalls of Estate Planning… Estate planning is one of those unpleasant but really important tasks. Unfortunately, the process is not only hard to get started, it is then easy to make mistakes. Even the most careful and well-intentioned person can slip up along the way. Avoid the pitfalls! The 50 Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes outlines the major mistakes and their consequences in an entertaining way-and then proceeds to tell you exactly how to avoid these mistakes. Delivering practical and helpful information in a light tone, the authors help to make these sometimes difficult conversations a little easier. The book's fifty concise chapters are filled with real-life examples, organized under four key areas of mistakes: The biggest mistake of not planning at all Failing to plan for the possibility of mental incompetency Mistakes made during the estate planning process itself And common mistakes made by executors Written by personal finance and estate planning experts, Jean Blacklock and Sarah Kruger, The 50 Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes and How To Avoid Them is an essential guide for Canadians interested in planning their estates effectively, with minimal stress on their loved ones.

Identify mistakes standing in the way of investment success With so much at stake in investing and wealth management, investors cannot afford to keep repeating actions that could have serious negative consequences for their financial goals. The Five Mistakes Every Investor Makes and How to Avoid Them focuses on what investors do wrong so often so they can set themselves on the right path to success. In this comprehensive reference, readers learn to navigate the ever-changing variables and market dilemmas that often make investing a risky and daunting endeavor. Well-known and respected author Peter Mallouk shares useful investment techniques, discusses the importance of disciplined investment management, and pinpoints common, avoidable mistakes made by professional and everyday investors alike. Designed to provide a workable, sensible framework for investors, The Five Mistakes Every Investor Makes and How to Avoid Them encourages investors to refrain from certain negative actions, such as fighting the market, misunderstanding performance, and letting one's biases and emotions get in the way of investing success. Details the major mistakes made by professional and everyday investors Highlights the strategies and mindset necessary for navigating ever-changing variables and market dilemmas Includes useful investment techniques and discusses the importance of discipline in investment management A reliable resource for investors who want to make more informed choices, this book steers readers away from past investment errors and guides them in the right direction.

A different way of discovering and developing the best business ideas Jack Welch once said, «Someone, somewhere has a better idea.» In this myth-busting book, the authors reveal that great business ideas do not spring from innate creativity, or necessarily from the brilliant minds of people. Rather, great ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for great ideas all around them, all the time. Too often, people fall into the trap of thinking that the only worthwhile idea is a thoroughly original one. Idea Hunters know better. They understand that valuable ideas are already out there, waiting to be found – and not just in the usual places. Shows how to expand your capacity to find and develop winning business ideas Explains why ideas are a critical asset for every manager and professional, not just for those who do «creative» Reveals how to seek out and select the ideas that best serve your purposes and goals and define who you are, as a professional Offers practical tips on how to master the everyday habits of an Idea Hunter, which include cultivating great conversations The book is filled with illustrative accounts of successful Idea Hunters and stories from thriving «idea» companies. Warren Buffet, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Mary Kay Ash, Twitter, and Pixar Animation Studios are among the many profiled.

The Investing Rip-Off How can you tell whether an advisor is conflicted or looking out for your best interests? What questions should you ask when making important investment decisions? How can you select investments that avoid needless expenses and risk? As investors, many of us have put our faith in the financial services industry when it comes to the stewardship of our wealth. Unfortunately, the industry has consistently failed us on this front. The financial services industry—including banks, brokerages, and insurance companies—is unique among all others. Through effective advertising and marketing, it's been able to evade being painted with the brush other underperforming industries have, and in most cases, their well-designed sales pitch has allowed them to effectively prey on the emotional desires of investors. Based on author David Loeper's nearly twenty-five years of experience with this industry's inner workings, Stop the Investing Rip-off reveals the real costs of the investments we make, details the false and misleading information sold to us, and discusses the devastating effects they can have on personal wealth. With this book as your guide, you'll gain invaluable insights into the major segments of the financial services industry, how they spin their offerings, and the questions you need to ask before committing any money to a financial product or service you may be interested in. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Stop the Investing Rip-off sheds much-needed light on the often-unseen aspects of the financial services industry—exposing what?only insiders know—and shows you how to avoid the conflicts of interest that could compromise your financial well-being.

The questions every investor should ask before parting with their hard-earned cash This book serves as an advocate of the consumer and brings to light what insiders know about the side of the sales pitches that consumers don't, but need to hear. Stop the Investing Rip-Off reveals the questions every investor should ask during a financial sales pitch before they pull the trigger and buy the next mutual fund, stock, advisory service, or other investment product. Based on David Loeper's nearly twenty-five years of experience of seeing the inner workings of the industry, this updated edition of his classic book offers new strategies based on the performance of the stock market over the past two years. Sheds light on the oft unseen deceit of the financial services industry An updated and revised edition of the bestselling Stop the Investing Rip-Off Written by David Loeper who is regularly quoted in Kiplinger's Money and Investment News and regularity contributes to Forbes Intelligent Investing Stop the Investing Rip-Off, Revised and Updated is filled with advice for investors who want to avoid becoming victims of smooth talking salespeople and the effective advertising and marketing campaigns designed to evade reality and prey on your emotional desires.

Essential information for anyone with property Real Estate Dangers and How to Avoid Them is a must-read guide for anyone thinking of buying or selling property, or becoming a landlord. Whether you’re looking for your dream home, to sell a property, or to invest, flip or rent out an existing investment, this book is packed with the insider information you need to avoid getting ripped off. By shining a light on the flawed and unnecessary aspects of the real estate industry, this book will help you make smarter decisions based on knowledge rather than “advice,” saving you time, money and headache. Stories of those who have seen the dangers highlight the ways in which this outdated system takes advantage of first-timers and experienced investors alike—and expert guidance shows you how to steer clear of the traps and pitfalls lurking around every transaction. Nearly everyone will have their hands in real estate at some point, and the real estate industry can be intimidating—after all, you rarely make financial transactions this large. But the truth is that the industry can be quite simple and can go quite smoothly, if you eliminate the distractions and focus on making smart decisions. This book shows you the real truth about the industry, helping you: Avoid the traps that rip off buyers and sellers Make smart decisions, minimise financial risk and let the system work for you Identify unnecessary add-ons and bogus charges Learn the tricks of the trade so you can save your money Become a smarter landlord and attract quality tenants. With clear, no-nonsense advice for buyers, sellers, landlords, and flippers, Real Estate Dangers and How to Avoid Them arms you with the knowledge you need to succeed in the property business.

Praise for Last Chance to Get It Right! «Tom Moore is one of the capable professionals who made me look good in the last thirty years of my forty-five year career at A.G. Edwards & Sons. He has put together a primer which should help both new and veteran investors understand financial markets and alternatives, and gain a direction and common-sense approach to their estate planning.» -Benjamin F. Edwards III, Chairman Emeritus A. G. Edwards & Sons «Tom Moore's grasp of the problems of retirement planning is superb; his methods of solving those problems unrivalled.» -Richard Austin, past president of Templeton Funds Annuity Company currently a Retirement Income Planning Consultant «Tom has spelled out in plain English, just what it takes to create and implement a successful retirement plan. Boomers and non-boomers alike, will find his step-by-step road map very helpful.» -M. Ellen Simmons, JD, CPA Between Social Security uncertainty and uneasiness in the stock market, Americans today face a more uncertain financial future than at any time in decades. Ironically, our response to this growing emergency is to spend more, save less, and put off necessary preparations until tomorrow. Buckle up, because tomorrow has arrived. Last Chance to Get It Right! outlines a step-by-step program designed to help you: * Increase the size of your nest egg-for a long, enjoyable retirement * Slash your income tax bill-both today and throughout your life * Reduce your estate taxes-to preserve the assets you fought so hard to build Are you truly prepared for the financial future facing you and your family? Let Last Chance to Get It Right! give you the knowledge and tools you need to stop making financial mistakes today-and put more money in your pocket tomorrow.

A do-it-yourself guide to investing like the renowned Harvard and Yale endowments. The Ivy Portfolio shows step-by-step how to track and mimic the investment strategies of the highly successful Harvard and Yale endowments. Using the endowment Policy Portfolios as a guide, the authors illustrate how an investor can develop a strategic asset allocation using an ETF-based investment approach. The Ivy Portfolio also reveals a novel method for investors to reduce their risk through a tactical asset allocation strategy to protect them from bear markets. The book will also showcase a method to follow the smart money and piggyback the top hedge funds and their stock-picking abilities. With readable, straightforward advice, The Ivy Portfolio will show investors exactly how this can be accomplished—and allow them to achieve an unparalleled level of investment success in the process. With all of the uncertainty in the markets today, The Ivy Portfolio helps the reader answer the most often asked question in investing today – «What do I do»?