Start Late, Finish Rich

December 20, 2004
The seventh book in seven years of the Finish Rich series (two million in print) is aimed at older readers who have neglected their savings. It reads like an infomercial script, brassily positive and unrelentingly motivational. Anyone can finish rich, says Bach (Automatic Millionaire
, etc.), if they are willing to "spend less, save more, and make more." The bulk of the book describes a variety of tactics and strategies (many covered in his previous books) for accomplishing these three tasks. Readers of financial help books will have heard many of Bach's ideas before, but he does deliver a lion's share of solid advice in an entertaining format, and, for good measure, he throws in an occasional counterintuitive gem, such as why paying off credit card debt can be "a huge mistake." He also anticipates and overcomes common objections ("dealing with debt doesn't mean putting the rest of your life on hold"), although anyone impolite enough to push back too hard is dismissed: "I have a term for negative people who seem to enjoy raining on other people's parades. I call them 'dream stealers,' and I try to avoid them." Agent, Jan Miller.

December 15, 2004
Bach (author of " The Automatic Millionaire," 2003, and " Smart Women Finish Rich," 1999) wants readers to understand that starting late doesn't mean self-flagellation. However, it does demand specific activities, like spending less, saving more, making more, and giving and living more. Inside each chapter, positioned in memorable fashion, are his commandments. The "double latte" factor, for instance, asks about taking control of the smaller daily expenditures, whether it is an everyday Starbucks vente or a weekly Wal-Mart "fix." He talks to the safe-and-steady philosophy of investment, with warnings about trying to time the market. The common thread is his sage insistence of living well during life, not just during retirement. His conclusion is that the "happiest people are those who've lived meaningful lives." (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

January 15, 2005
Start saving and stop spending -advice as familiar as Ben Franklin's "a penny saved is a penny earned." But best-selling author Bach ("The Automatic Millionaire") makes it sound so much nattier when he coaches readers to calculate their double-latte factor -those little indulgences that, when curbed, can froth into huge savings down the road. Bach hammers home a number of well-worn yet worthy principles, like buying a home instead of renting, cutting expenses, asking for a raise, and paying off those pesky credit card debts, all the while saving, saving, saving. From offering advice on supplementing day jobs with pursuits like small home businesses or e-bay to analyzing how real estate, direct selling, and franchising can contribute to financial success, Bach's enthusiasm is infectious. And after all the practical advice, he does not neglect the more humane elements of financial planning -giving to worthy causes and living richly and fully. This book will be appreciated in public library business collections by the latte-sipping set, who will be glad to learn that it's never too late to take control of one's financial futures. -Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin Libs., Whitewater

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