Easy-to-follow guidelines from a pro for simplifying your investments, protecting yourself from the investment sharks and achieving financial freedomDrawing on his years as an investor for leading banks in the U.S. and Asia, Philip Cheng delivers down-to-earth strategies guaranteed to make you "shark-proof" while you optimize investment returns. Statistics show that only 20% of small investors ever come close to achieving their investment goals. The other 80% get eaten alive by "investment sharks"--investment advisors, fund managers and other hucksters out to line their pockets with your hard-earned cash. Motivated by a sense of fair play, Cheng resolved to write an investor's survival guide in which he'd share everything he's learned in his years as a successful professional investor. The result is Taming the Money Sharks. The easy-to-follow guidelines you'll find in this book will help you navigate the shark-infested waters of the investment world, all the way to the financial freedom you dream of and deserve.* A must-have survival guide for novice investors, and a source of fresh thinking and innovative strategies for experienced investors* Features many illustrations, summaries, charts, real-world examples along with other powerful tools to help you avoid common mistakes and win at the investment game* Lays out 8 proven strategies for investing systematically and surviving and thriving in the shark-infested waters of the stock market

Acknowledgments xiiiPreface xvAuthor's Disclaimer xixChapter 1 Stop the BleedingShould You Continue to Invest by Striking While the Iron Is Hot? 1A. Chasing a Hot Stock 3B. Chasing a Hot Trend 8C. Maxim No. 1: Don't Rush into Buying, and Avoid Further Bleeding 11Chapter 2 Select an Industry to Increase Probability of Profitable InvestmentsApply Expertise from Work or Personal Interest 19A. Basic Knowledge 20B. Choosing an Industry to Invest In 25C. Industry Characteristics 41D. Maxim No. 2: Profit from One Chosen Industry or a Selected Few Industries 44Chapter 3 Wise Use of Information ResourcesShould You Follow Hot Tips? 49A. Listen to a Friend or Relative 50B. Listen to a Stock Guru 54C. Listen to a Stock Analyst 56D. Listen to an Investment Advisor 59E. Listen to a Large Investor (Possible Shark) 61F. Maxim No. 3: Reference External Inputs but Stay Focused 65Chapter 4 Decide on Company Values and Buy-Sell PricesShould You Trust a Company with Your Money? 73A. Relevant Company Historical Facts 74B. Most Basic Financials 84C. Five Key Indicators 86D. Don't Be Blind to a Company's Personality 98E. Deciding on Buy-Sell Prices 100F. Maxim No. 4: Trust but Verify 103Chapter 5 Simple and Effective Portfolio StrategiesDo You Want a Windfall Profit or a Systematic Win? 111A. Portfolio Planning Guidelines 112B. Core versus Satellite Portfolio 115C. Portfolio Risk Management 122D. Maxim No. 5: Manage and Accept Portfolio Risks 132Chapter 6 Capitalize on Policy DirectionsAre Policies Your Friends? 145A. Are Policies Fair? 146B. Policy Directions 147C. Maxim No. 6: Profit from Policies and Trends 153Chapter 7 Loving an Investment or Loving to Make MoneyFalling in Love 157A. Is "Love" Forever? 158B. All-or-Nothing Thinking 160C. Love a Person? Invest for Love? 162D. Maxim No. 7: Emotions and Investment Don't Mix 166Chapter 8 Fully Enjoy Your Profits from Stocks Rich and Healthy or Rich with Pain 171A. Manage Your Investment Lifestyle and Health Simultaneously 172B. Swap Poor Health for Big Money 173C. Investment Emotions That Are Detrimental to Our Health 175D. Investment Flowchart 179E. Maxim No. 8: Maintain Health and Wealth 180Appendix A: Basic Technical Analysis 183Appendix B: Deciding on Buy Prices 189Appendix C: Deciding on Sell Prices 195Appendix D: Strategy for Investing in High-Dividend (HD) Stocks 201About the Author 207Index 209