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Taking Charge with Value Investing: How to Choose the Best Investments According to Price, Performance, & Valuation to Build a Winning Portfolio
When to buy them. How long to hold them. When to sell them. “This book will be welcomed by anyone looking to break free from their financial advisor and manage their own savings.”
―DAVID JACKSON, founder and CEO, Seeking Alpha® “The world is an uncertain place. This uncertainty impacts the financial markets as much, if not more, than any other space. But don’t be afraid! Brian Nichols provides a personal, experience-based, and highly accessible framework for taking your investment portfolio into your own hands. There’s nothing pretentious or complicated about Brian’s approach. It’s straightforward common sense on how to invest in the stock market.”
―ROCCO PENDOLA, Director of Social Media at TheStreet.com and cofounder of the Options Investing Newsletter “For investors who want discipline, or who want to escape the addiction of day trading, this book is for you.”
―GARY ANDERSON, author of Will Rogers and “Business Insider” Contributor “I am pleased and honored to publish Brian Nichols’ articles on Market Playground and interview him on my radio program. With his new book, Brian brings his vast array of investing knowledge to the masses!”
―DEMIAN RUSSIAN, Editor-in-Chief, Market Playground There’s more to investing than “Buy low, sell high.” Every financial quarter, more than 1.5 mil¬lion investors turn to Brian Nichols’ acclaimed “Seeking Alpha” columns for his insider tips on value investing. No matter what’s going on in the market, he’s got an uncanny knack for spotting the hottest stocks, the latest trends, and the greatest opportunities. Now―due to popular demand―he’s distilled his best-kept secrets into one comprehensive, easy-to-use guide for “seeking alpha” and maximizing profits in any market. You’ll learn how
―DAVID JACKSON, founder and CEO, Seeking Alpha® “The world is an uncertain place. This uncertainty impacts the financial markets as much, if not more, than any other space. But don’t be afraid! Brian Nichols provides a personal, experience-based, and highly accessible framework for taking your investment portfolio into your own hands. There’s nothing pretentious or complicated about Brian’s approach. It’s straightforward common sense on how to invest in the stock market.”
―ROCCO PENDOLA, Director of Social Media at TheStreet.com and cofounder of the Options Investing Newsletter “For investors who want discipline, or who want to escape the addiction of day trading, this book is for you.”
―GARY ANDERSON, author of Will Rogers and “Business Insider” Contributor “I am pleased and honored to publish Brian Nichols’ articles on Market Playground and interview him on my radio program. With his new book, Brian brings his vast array of investing knowledge to the masses!”
―DEMIAN RUSSIAN, Editor-in-Chief, Market Playground There’s more to investing than “Buy low, sell high.” Every financial quarter, more than 1.5 mil¬lion investors turn to Brian Nichols’ acclaimed “Seeking Alpha” columns for his insider tips on value investing. No matter what’s going on in the market, he’s got an uncanny knack for spotting the hottest stocks, the latest trends, and the greatest opportunities. Now―due to popular demand―he’s distilled his best-kept secrets into one comprehensive, easy-to-use guide for “seeking alpha” and maximizing profits in any market. You’ll learn how
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
6 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
About the author
Brian Nichols
13 books10 followersBrian Christopher Nichols was born in Nashville, TN and was raised in a small town outside of the "Music City". He now lives near Cincinnati, OH with his wife, son, and three cats. Nichols enjoys reading, writing, watching movies, and Alabama football.
Nichols is a McGraw-Hill author of the book, "Taking Charge With Value Investing: How to Choose the Best Investments According to Price, Performance, & Valuation to Build a Winning Portfolio (McGraw-Hill, 2013)" and "5 Simple Steps to Find the Next Top-Performing Stock: How to Identify Investments that Can Double Quickly for Personal Success (2014)".
Nichols began his career as an investor while still in high school. Over a course of many years his psychological approach combined with a common sense fundamental philosophy became famous to the three million people who have read his column on Seeking Alpha. Nichols is known as one of the industry's best at choosing stocks and at educating people in an easy-to-understand format.
Prior to his writing career, Brian worked for the Department of Corrections as a counselor to inmates serving long-term sentences for drug related offenses. Brian's experience and education in psychology give him a unique perspective into the stock market, and has allowed him to experience success and achieve wealth in a flat market.
Currently, Nichols is a columnist/analyst at The Motley Fool
Nichols is a McGraw-Hill author of the book, "Taking Charge With Value Investing: How to Choose the Best Investments According to Price, Performance, & Valuation to Build a Winning Portfolio (McGraw-Hill, 2013)" and "5 Simple Steps to Find the Next Top-Performing Stock: How to Identify Investments that Can Double Quickly for Personal Success (2014)".
Nichols began his career as an investor while still in high school. Over a course of many years his psychological approach combined with a common sense fundamental philosophy became famous to the three million people who have read his column on Seeking Alpha. Nichols is known as one of the industry's best at choosing stocks and at educating people in an easy-to-understand format.
Prior to his writing career, Brian worked for the Department of Corrections as a counselor to inmates serving long-term sentences for drug related offenses. Brian's experience and education in psychology give him a unique perspective into the stock market, and has allowed him to experience success and achieve wealth in a flat market.
Currently, Nichols is a columnist/analyst at The Motley Fool
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 4, 2013
A Great, Simple Guide to Value Investing
In a nutshell: In a turbulent age, value wins out. A clear, concise guide to using value investing to take control of your financial future.
As someone who has studied the basics of value investing before, as someone who has done the Buffetology workbook, has read Peter Lynch’s One up on Wall Street, and has regularly browsed website explaining the basics of investing, including how to read a balance sheet,I was pleasantly surprised that I did not learn too much that was new from this book.
Surprised you ask? Pleasantly?
The truth is that value investing should be simple, and to the brainier population, it should even be a little boring.
A book about value investing should be a wholesome, nutritious, and a little dry.
Nichols makes the point in early chapters that the act of finding value in stocks can be a lot like looking for bargains at a garage sale. What is most needed is good research, patience, and an understanding of your own mental process.
What I loved about this book is the way each chapter was prefaced with quotations from value investing gurus like Peter Lynch, Warren Buffett, and Benjamin Franklin. Popular books shouldn’t have overly thorough attribution--and certainly there is not much new under the sun when it comes to value investing (after all, it makes its reputation by not being trendy)--but I felt these quotations served a very important kind of attribution function. The gurus behind the guru.
One of the more interesting points made by the book--the value-added if you will--is that value investing is important now more than ever. This argument has to do with the current investing climate, a climate where investors can expect flat or "negative" markets, companies with lots of cash bracing for the worst, and what other authors have called “market perturbations”. In other words, we are now living in a world of constant turbulence and uncertainty. Thus, now is a time to look beyond irrational optimism and pessimism and to believe in “value”.
Since I’ve read quite a lot on political economics, I kept hoping that Mr. Nichols might try to say more about why these events were occurring, why market perturbations and even a depression might be expected, but alas, it was probably good that he didn’t go too deep into the subject, instead chiding readers to study the 2008 recession and the various government and other responses to it.
Why only four stars? It’s harsh to say so, but I still think Peter Lynch’s book One Up on Wall Street is the best book written on value investing. That’s a harsh standard of comparison. But even against this harsh standard Nichol’s book holds up very well. And that's quite an accomplishment.
In a nutshell: In a turbulent age, value wins out. A clear, concise guide to using value investing to take control of your financial future.
As someone who has studied the basics of value investing before, as someone who has done the Buffetology workbook, has read Peter Lynch’s One up on Wall Street, and has regularly browsed website explaining the basics of investing, including how to read a balance sheet,I was pleasantly surprised that I did not learn too much that was new from this book.
Surprised you ask? Pleasantly?
The truth is that value investing should be simple, and to the brainier population, it should even be a little boring.
A book about value investing should be a wholesome, nutritious, and a little dry.
Nichols makes the point in early chapters that the act of finding value in stocks can be a lot like looking for bargains at a garage sale. What is most needed is good research, patience, and an understanding of your own mental process.
What I loved about this book is the way each chapter was prefaced with quotations from value investing gurus like Peter Lynch, Warren Buffett, and Benjamin Franklin. Popular books shouldn’t have overly thorough attribution--and certainly there is not much new under the sun when it comes to value investing (after all, it makes its reputation by not being trendy)--but I felt these quotations served a very important kind of attribution function. The gurus behind the guru.
One of the more interesting points made by the book--the value-added if you will--is that value investing is important now more than ever. This argument has to do with the current investing climate, a climate where investors can expect flat or "negative" markets, companies with lots of cash bracing for the worst, and what other authors have called “market perturbations”. In other words, we are now living in a world of constant turbulence and uncertainty. Thus, now is a time to look beyond irrational optimism and pessimism and to believe in “value”.
Since I’ve read quite a lot on political economics, I kept hoping that Mr. Nichols might try to say more about why these events were occurring, why market perturbations and even a depression might be expected, but alas, it was probably good that he didn’t go too deep into the subject, instead chiding readers to study the 2008 recession and the various government and other responses to it.
Why only four stars? It’s harsh to say so, but I still think Peter Lynch’s book One Up on Wall Street is the best book written on value investing. That’s a harsh standard of comparison. But even against this harsh standard Nichol’s book holds up very well. And that's quite an accomplishment.
February 22, 2013
Without a doubt, the very best financial book that I have ever read. Anyone who can explain the complex nature of investing in a simple manner is very talented in my eyes, and this author is very talented, a beautiful writer. I highly suggest this book for anyone and everyone who may desire to manage their own money. However, the appeal of this book lies in the fact that regardless of your experience level, you are sure to learn something. The first two Parts are somewhat basic and are compiled with various short stories and such to explain investing methods (ie yard selling to explain value investing). Parts 3 & 4 are hard to put down, once you begin reading you will find amazement at the author's conviction. It is written more like a psychological journal (made easy) rather than a boring financial book with numbers. I suggest this book to everyone, I could not stop reading it.
October 6, 2013
I read this book twice in quick succession. Reason...I wanted to confirm I have not made mistake wasting my Rupees on this book. For starter this book needs serious proof reading and editing by publisher. The author is columnist in Seeking Alpha and you see the quality of writing like 1000 word artcles. Also the reason for the doubt may be because...I have read security analysis & Intelligent investor by Ben Graham 3 times, Margin of safety by Seth Klarman twice, one up on wall street 3 times,Common stock Uncommon profits by Phil Phisher, I have read more than 100 books on investing related matters. And when I compared this book against those books I felt it doesnot stand up. And that is true. This book will never become an Investing Classic. The mthod are simple and lack rigor.
But it can make you serious money despite some serious flaws. It hit me when I read it second time. I realised what value this book contains for serious active investor especially a small guy who wants to multiply his savings in the market.
I like two things most about this book and one that I have either used again and again or will use from now on because I did not know. One is quick and heuristic way to short list 'potential' value buys for detailed research and analysis. Although I use screeners and then use residual earnings or DFCF methods to value the stocks. When I carefully pondered over his method then it hit me hard like tornado and I wondered how I missed this myself. Why I did not compare EPS growth & PE with price performance the way Brian does to predict possble market reaction. It does make a sense if you carefully think about what he is saying and apply your finance knowledge. Simple... yes, but dumb...definitely not.
Second is his commentary on market psychology and how to exploit it to make money in the market. Especially his tips on identifying perfect buying and selling points is something which I will benefit from till I keep investing in remaining life time. No doubts about it. After reading his book I realise why some of my stocks went up and why some of the good and cheap ones fell immediately after I bought them even though they were relatively cheap as per DFCF model.
Brian proposes investment method that is suitable for opportunistic value investors who can pull the trigger (Buy or Sell) without any emotion or attachment when certain price points are reached. He has given Google example wheere he made 100% money in 3 years by this rational trading Vis a Vis buy and hold method which would have given him just 25%. I am mostly Buy and forget (the market) guy and I am not sure if I will use his more active style but his methods can be used to buy and sell at right moment to enhance the gains. For really active (restless) investors with 1 to 2 year horizon Brian's method can make you little more money if you are comfortable with more churn in your portfolio and confident you can find good value buys again and again and again in the market.
Finally I concluded that this book was a good buy on my part. And I have no hesitation in suggetsing it to both novice and serious investors who are willing to listen to different viewpoints and styles to learn.
But I wish editing was little better for this price.
But it can make you serious money despite some serious flaws. It hit me when I read it second time. I realised what value this book contains for serious active investor especially a small guy who wants to multiply his savings in the market.
I like two things most about this book and one that I have either used again and again or will use from now on because I did not know. One is quick and heuristic way to short list 'potential' value buys for detailed research and analysis. Although I use screeners and then use residual earnings or DFCF methods to value the stocks. When I carefully pondered over his method then it hit me hard like tornado and I wondered how I missed this myself. Why I did not compare EPS growth & PE with price performance the way Brian does to predict possble market reaction. It does make a sense if you carefully think about what he is saying and apply your finance knowledge. Simple... yes, but dumb...definitely not.
Second is his commentary on market psychology and how to exploit it to make money in the market. Especially his tips on identifying perfect buying and selling points is something which I will benefit from till I keep investing in remaining life time. No doubts about it. After reading his book I realise why some of my stocks went up and why some of the good and cheap ones fell immediately after I bought them even though they were relatively cheap as per DFCF model.
Brian proposes investment method that is suitable for opportunistic value investors who can pull the trigger (Buy or Sell) without any emotion or attachment when certain price points are reached. He has given Google example wheere he made 100% money in 3 years by this rational trading Vis a Vis buy and hold method which would have given him just 25%. I am mostly Buy and forget (the market) guy and I am not sure if I will use his more active style but his methods can be used to buy and sell at right moment to enhance the gains. For really active (restless) investors with 1 to 2 year horizon Brian's method can make you little more money if you are comfortable with more churn in your portfolio and confident you can find good value buys again and again and again in the market.
Finally I concluded that this book was a good buy on my part. And I have no hesitation in suggetsing it to both novice and serious investors who are willing to listen to different viewpoints and styles to learn.
But I wish editing was little better for this price.
February 22, 2013
This is the best financial book available. I found the following review, which breaks it down precisely.
Nichols is a truly great writer. And this is the best book of its kind I have ever read!
Step by step, Nichols takes the independent investor through all the important things he ought to know, then analyses them in depth,and then weaves an excellent rational and psychological narrative of the Stock Market. I loved the way he introduces,explains and demystifies all technical terms for the layman. Parts 3 & 4 of the book are extremely penetrating – I suspect because of the writer's backround as a councelor in the Department of Corrections. Chapters like "Behavioural Selling" ,"Panic is your Best Friend",etc, go into the heart of how the Market behaves; while "Understanding the Way you Think", with sub-headings like "Identification" and "Overconfidence", reads almost like a treatise... on Analytical Psychology (of the ...trader)!
Two typical excerpts, that may stand as maxims: "The difference between fear and panic is actually quite simple: Fear is an emotion, and panic is an action."......."Eliminate emotion by preparing for the sale of a stock before you buy it."
This is a rare book, written in a style that has nothing in common with the usually dry manner in which such subjects are presented. I'm sure that, even if you fail to make any money by following Nichols's advice, you will most certainly fail to lose a lot! Buy it, and spread the word!
Nichols is a truly great writer. And this is the best book of its kind I have ever read!
Step by step, Nichols takes the independent investor through all the important things he ought to know, then analyses them in depth,and then weaves an excellent rational and psychological narrative of the Stock Market. I loved the way he introduces,explains and demystifies all technical terms for the layman. Parts 3 & 4 of the book are extremely penetrating – I suspect because of the writer's backround as a councelor in the Department of Corrections. Chapters like "Behavioural Selling" ,"Panic is your Best Friend",etc, go into the heart of how the Market behaves; while "Understanding the Way you Think", with sub-headings like "Identification" and "Overconfidence", reads almost like a treatise... on Analytical Psychology (of the ...trader)!
Two typical excerpts, that may stand as maxims: "The difference between fear and panic is actually quite simple: Fear is an emotion, and panic is an action."......."Eliminate emotion by preparing for the sale of a stock before you buy it."
This is a rare book, written in a style that has nothing in common with the usually dry manner in which such subjects are presented. I'm sure that, even if you fail to make any money by following Nichols's advice, you will most certainly fail to lose a lot! Buy it, and spread the word!
February 23, 2013
I've never read a financial book that uses common life activities to explain difficult concepts that then goes back and answers any and all questions that I might have had. It's almost as if Nichols was explaining the topic but then could read your mind and new what you were having trouble comprehending.
This is one of the best books of its genre. You will not find a better mix of information of investing in the stock market. You will not only learn the basics but also deep investment strategies and learn how the market thinks, acts, and how to make money when it does something illogical. I can not give enough praise for this book, you won't regret buying.
This is one of the best books of its genre. You will not find a better mix of information of investing in the stock market. You will not only learn the basics but also deep investment strategies and learn how the market thinks, acts, and how to make money when it does something illogical. I can not give enough praise for this book, you won't regret buying.
September 25, 2017
Sensible advice.
The book is very informative giving plenty of usable advice. Investing is considered to be gambling by many people and the book explains how that can be so but also provides methods to avoid being a gambler and become a true investor.
The book is very informative giving plenty of usable advice. Investing is considered to be gambling by many people and the book explains how that can be so but also provides methods to avoid being a gambler and become a true investor.
April 10, 2021
Great read. Love the difference intake on value investing. Everyone has a particular strategy that works for them personally. This book can give you a solid foundation.
December 22, 2017
Clear writing, well-organized and an articulate voice. This is a book worth owning to help you hone your investing skills with a particular focus on dividend-paying stocks. Every investor should have a diversified portfolio and including dividend-paying stocks is one of the cornerstones of a sound investment strategy. I learned a lot from this book and I had subsequently put in the time and effort to make some decisions around which dividend-paying (value) stocks to invest in and the return exceeded the cost of purchasing the book. In fact, I did not pay a dime for this book. It was a gift from my husband and what a worthwhile and considerate gift.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews