Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk
by Peter L. Bernstein
from Wiley
With the stock market breaking records almost daily, leaving longtime market analysts shaking their heads and revising their forecasts, a study of the concept of risk seems quite timely. Peter Bernstein has written a comprehensive history of man's efforts to understand risk and probability, beginning with early gamblers in ancient Greece, continuing through the 17th-century French mathematicians Pascal and Fermat and up to modern chaos theory. Along the way he demonstrates that understanding risk underlies everything from game theory to bridge-building to winemaking.
A Business Week, New York Times Business, and USA Today Bestseller
"Ambitious and readable . . . an engaging introduction to the oddsmakers, whom Bernstein regards as true humanists helping to release mankind from the choke holds of superstition and fatalism." -The New York Times
"An extraordinarily entertaining and informative book." -The Wall Street Journal
"A lively panoramic book . . . Against the Gods sets up an ambitious premise and then delivers on it." -Business Week
"Deserves to be, and surely will be, widely read." -The Economist
"[A] challenging book, one that may change forever the way people think about the world." -Worth
"No one else could have written a book of such central importance with so much charm and excitement." -Robert Heilbroner author, The Worldly Philosophers
"With his wonderful knowledge of the history and current manifestations of risk, Peter Bernstein brings us Against the Gods. Nothing like it will come out of the financial world this year or ever. I speak carefully: no one should miss it." -John Kenneth Galbraith Professor of Economics Emeritus, Harvard University
In this unique exploration of the role of risk in our society, Peter Bernstein argues that the notion of bringing risk under control is one of the central ideas that distinguishes modern times from the distant past. Against the Gods chronicles the remarkable intellectual adventure that liberated humanity from oracles and soothsayers by means of the powerful tools of risk management that are available to us today.
"An extremely readable history of risk." -Barron's
"Fascinating . . . this challenging volume will help you understand the uncertainties that every investor must face." -Money
"A singular achievement." -Times Literary Supplement
"There's a growing market for savants who can render the recondite intelligibly-witness Stephen Jay Gould (natural history), Oliver Sacks (disease), Richard Dawkins (heredity), James Gleick (physics), Paul Krugman (economics)-and Bernstein would mingle well in their company." -The Australian
Trading Options For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))
by George A. Fontanills
from For Dummies
Thinking of trading options, but not sure where to start? Trading Options For Dummies starts you from the beginning with clear, step-by-step advice on how to use top option strategies to reduce your risk while boosting your income and enlarging your retirement portfolio with index, equity, and ETF options.
This plain-English guide explains the common types of options and helps you choose the right ones for your investing needs. You find out how to weigh option costs and benefits, combine options to reduce risk, and build a strategy that allows you to gain no matter what the market may bring. You’ll learn the basics of market and sector analysis and what to look for when trying out a new option strategy. You’ll also find what you need to know about options contract specifications and mechanics. Discover how to:
- Understand option contracts and orders
- Determine and manage your risk
- Guard your assets using options
- Trade options on securities exchanges
- Protect your rights and satisfy your contract obligations
- Target sectors using technical analysis
- Minimize potential losses and optimize rewards
- Map out your plan of attack
- Limit your downside when trading the trend
- Combine options to limit your position risk
- Benefit from exchange traded funds
- Key in on volatility for trading opportunities
- Capitalize on sideways movements
Trading options is serious business. Trading Options For Dummies gives you the expert help you need to succeed.
The Essentials of Risk Management
by Michel Crouhy
from McGraw-Hill
Risk management is no longer confined solely to risk management specialists. Stakeholders ranging from employees to investors must understand how to quantify the tradeoffs of risk against the potential return. The failure to understand the essential nature of risk can have devastating consequences.
Globally renowned risk and corporate governance experts Michel Crouhy, Dan Galai, and Robert Mark have updated and streamlined their bestselling professional reference Risk Management to introduce you to the world of risk management without requiring you to know the intricate formulas and mathematical details.
The Essentials of Risk Management is the first book to make even the most sophisticated risk management approaches simultaneously accessible to both risk and non risk professionals. It will help you to:
- Increase the transparency of your risk management program to satisfy shareholders, employees, regulators, and other important constituencies
- Keep on top of the continuing evolution of best-practice risk policies and methodologies and associated risk infrastructures
- Implement and efficiently communicate an organization-wide Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) approach that encompasses market, credit, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory, business, strategic and reputation risks
- Navigate thorny areas including risk policies, risk methodologies, economic capital, regulatory capital, performance measurement, asset-liability management, and more
- Efficiently allocate limited corporate resources to comply with the new generation of risk regulation and corporate governance regulation
As a non-risk professional or board member, you are being called on more than ever before to make sophisticated assessments of your organization's risk exposures as well as play a critical role in its formal risk management process. The Essentials of Risk Management tells you what you need to know to succeed in this challenging new environment.
Pass the 6: A Training Guide for the NASD Series 6 Exam (First Books Training Library)
by Robert Walker
from Firstbooks.com
Do the terms collaterized mortgage obligation, subordinated debenture, and pass-through certificate give you a headache? Do you need to take the Series 6 exam? If you can answer yes to both of these questions, then you've come to the right place. Robert Walker, a professional trainer who specializes in the NASD/NASAA Series 6, 63, 65/66, and 7 exams, has written this book for those who are about to brave the Series 6 examination. Armed with an M.F.A. in writing and a B.A. in English, Walker has managed to translate Securities-ese into plain English, with a liberal dash of humor. This must-have book guides you through the intricacies of the Series 6 exam. Walker takes the exam apart piece by piece, and explains terms and concepts with a sense of humor and ease not found in other exam guides. He shows you, step-by-step, how not to be misled by the questions. Pass the 6 includes two complete 100-question practice finals, a handy glossary, a final checklist/studysheet, and even a bonus section on trusts, estates, and gifts, along with its own set of questions. Plus you'll find that Robert directs you to his web site, where he offers updates, downloads, and other helpful information. Once you've finished this book, you will be able to take the test with confidence!
A Trader's Money Management System: How to Ensure Profit and Avoid the Risk of Ruin (Wiley Trading)
by Bennett A. McDowell
from Wiley
Money management may very well be the most important piece of the trading puzzle. In A Trader's Money Management System, expert Bennett McDowell provides time-tested techniques that can turn a losing trader into a winning oneand take the winning trader to an entirely new level. In revealing his personal approach to staying out of trouble in the financial markets and maximizing profits, he offers comprehensive insights into:
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The psychology of risk control as well as the finer aspects of setting stop-loss exits
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The value of managing trade size and consistent record keeping
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The process of putting together your own personal money management system
Unlike other books that focus on the complex mathematical theories behind money management, this book presents its system in straightforward, easy-to-understand terms that will allow you to quickly see how these concepts workand immediately benefit from the value of effectively managing risk.
Life and Health Insurance License Exam Cram
by Bisys Educational Services
from Pearson Education
If you are studying for your life and health insurance licensing exam, we have the ultimate study tool for you. Life and Health Insurance License Exam Cram is a great resource to help you learn the concepts, laws, rate calculations and state and federal regulations that will be covered on the exam. You'll also receive a CD that includes a fully-customizable test engine, detailed score report and state-specific law supplement. No matter where you are taking your exam or which area you need to focus on during your studying, Life and Health Insurance License Exam Cram is your smartest way to get certified.
Principles of Risk Management and Insurance (10th Edition) (Principles of Risk Management and Insurance)
by George E. Rejda
from Addison Wesley
Principles of Risk Management and Insurance focuses primarily on the consumers of insurance, and the text blends basic risk management and insurance principles with consumer considerations. Praised for its depth and breadth of coverage, the Tenth Edition provides even more flexibility in its organization by giving an overview of the insurance industry first, before discussing specific plans.
Basic Concepts in Risk Management and Insurance: Risk in Our Society; Insurance and Risk; Introduction to Risk Management; Advanced Topics in Risk Management; The Private Insurance Industry: Types of Insurers and Marketing Systems; Insurance Company Operations; Financial Operations of Insurers; Government Regulation of Insurance; Legal Principles in Risk and Insurance: Fundamental Legal Principles; Analysis of Insurance Contracts; Life and Health Risks: Life Insurance; Life Insurance Contractual Provisions; Buying Life Insurance; Annuities and Individual Retirement Accounts; Individual Health Insurance Coverages; Employee Benefits: Group Health Insurance; Employee Benefits: Retirement Plans; Social Insurance; Personal Property and Liability Risks: The Liability Risk; Homeowners Insurance, Section I; Homeowners Insurance, Section II; Auto Insurance; Auto Insurance and Society; Other Property and Liability Insurance Coverages; Commercial Property and Liability Risks: Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Liability Insurance; Crime Insurance and Surety Bonds. For all readers interested in risk management and insurance.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Social Security and Medicare, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to)
by MBA, Lita Epstein
from Alpha
Get it while you can Â…
Complex, ever-changing, and controversial, the future of our current system of Social Security and Medicare is uncertain. This indispensable guide explains the proposed changes and current status of these important social programs. Completely revised to incorporate changes to compensation scales and survivor benefits, and with an expanded section on Medicare and the new drug programs, this book is the most up-to-date overview of Social Security and Medicare currently available.
• Revised and updated with the latest 2006 statistics on income scales and cost of living; such Social Security Benefits as survivor benefits and disability payments; tax codes; and more
• Completely new chapters on Medicare, the Medicare Drug Programs, and the current political climate and proposed changes
• Completely revised section on resources
Insurance for Dummies
by Jack Hungelmann
from For Dummies
Insurance For Dummies introduces readers to the basics — as well as the more complicated issues — of every kind of insurance. Packed with expert advice and step-by-step guidance, it shows you how to find the right amount of protection at the best possible price, for your life, health, car, home, and anything else you can think of.
Thinking about insurance makes many people cringe with fear; this handy guide makes insurance make sense. It demystifies complicated policies and points out all the traps and pitfalls you need to avoid when buying coverage. Whether you’re a homeowner or a small business owner or you just need a basic policy for your car, you’ll find all the advice you need on:
- Managing your risk
- Reducing your liability
- Insuring a home business
- Buying an umbrella policy
- Dealing with insurers and filing claims
- Assessing your life insurance needs
- Decidin g between group and individual policies
Author Jack Hungelmann uses his twenty-five years of experience in the insurance industry to make buying insurance as simple as possible — even for those who’ve never bought a policy in their lives. Armed with the kind of straightforward, commonsense knowledge and advice you’ll find here, you’ll be able to handle any insurance question that comes up. Keep it on your reference shelf for quick-and-easy answers for all your insurance-related questions:
- Everything you should know about auto insurance
- Choosing cost-effective deductibles
- Picking the right property coverage for your home
- Estimating the value of your assets
- Insuring valuable portable items and collectibles
- Special advice on insuring condos and townhouses
- Getting the most coverage at the best price
- Filing claims and getting back the most
- Plus, online insurance resources
Economics of Health and Health Care (5th Edition)
by Sherman Folland
from Prentice Hall
This clear, step-by-step best-selling introduction to the economics of health and health care thoroughly develops and explains economic ideas and models to reflect the full spectrum of the most current health economics literature. This book uses core economic themes as basic as supply and demand, as venerable as technology or labor issues, and as modern as the economics of information. Chapter topics include health care, health capital, information, health insurance markets, managed care, nonprofit firms, hospitals, physicians and labor, the pharmaceutical industry, government intervention and regulation, and epidemiology and economics. Useful as a reference work for health service researchers, government specialists, and physicians and others in the health care field.
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