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How the Stock Market Works  By  cover art

How the Stock Market Works

By: Ramon P. DeGennaro,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Ramon P. DeGennaro
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Publisher's summary

This course is an introduction to the stock market and stock investing for novices and experienced investors alike. Professor DeGennaro uses simple analogies to explain the origin of stocks and other securities, as well as their relative risks. He stresses the danger of trying to beat the market by trying to pick winners, predict price trends, or otherwise find opportunities that other investors have missed. Far better, he counsels, to own a well-diversified portfolio of individual stocks or stock funds, which tend to grow as the economy grows. He offers detailed guidance on how to pursue this course.

Among the topics covered in these 18 lectures are how to open a brokerage account and choose a financial advisor; the essentials of mutual funds, including index funds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs); how to trade individual stocks, including how to use options; the relative advantages of traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k) plans; how to minimize transaction costs and use tax laws for your benefit; the dangers of frequent trading; and the basics of corporate balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.

For anyone who owns stocks or is thinking of entering the market, this course provides indispensable advice. If you entrust the management of your assets to a financial advisor, this course will give you the background you need to communicate more knowledgeably with him or her and be an informed participant in your own financial well-being.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2014 The Great Courses (P)2014 The Teaching Company, LLC

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Thanks to the ever-changing nature of the economy, beginners and seasoned investment professionals alike have to stay on top of their game, always looking for the little bit of knowledge that will help them remain one step ahead of the curve. Whether you’re bearish or bullish, with a large portfolio or a limited budget, these investment-focused audiobooks can provide the perspectives and lessons you need to challenge yourself and grow.

What listeners say about How the Stock Market Works

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Bad analogies and useless anecdotes

What disappointed you about How the Stock Market Works?

Bad analogies and useless anecdotes made this lecture series feel like it was trying to fill time. Since it was already one of the shorter Great Courses lectures, I felt myself getting irritated every time the narrator went off on some long tangent that added nothing to my understanding of the subject material. In the end, I felt as though I learned little more than I had picked up by talking to the investment adviser at my bank that handles my IRA. I think the first half of the course is intended for people with absolutely no understanding of business or investing.

Would you ever listen to anything by The Great Courses again?

Yes. This is my 6th Great Courses purchase, and it is the only one so far that I found unsatisfying.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Professor Ramon P. DeGennaro?

Since the narrator is the professor that actually teaches the course, I don't think a narrator change could help.

What character would you cut from How the Stock Market Works?

I would cut the useless analogies and anecdotes, such as (paraphrasing):

Some people think it's unfair to factor in the performance of the stock market during its early years when calculating the average market returns. If you wanted to determine your average weight, you wouldn't start from the day you were born. (A couple more minutes of different methods you could use to measure your average weight.) ...And so using the average returns over the life of the market may not be the best way of measuring current performance.

or

I had a student who was bored in class. When I asked him what he did for a living, he said he flew jets off an aircraft carrier. (A couple of minutes of describing whats involved in flying jets off an aircraft carrier.) ...So I'm willing to bet that he would be more comfortable with a higher risk portfolio than some of my other more conservative students.

Any additional comments?

Too much filler material, and very little useful advice. I'll admit that SOME of the advice and insight the professor offered was very helpful, but overall the course felt diluted and, at times, condescending. For example, he explains how a corporation works by describing them as "a bag of goodies." It certainly didn't feel like a college level course, and I thought the material was pretty elementary even for laypersons.

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91 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Must read for everyone outside of the industry

What did you love best about How the Stock Market Works?

This book breaks down the structure of the stock market, dispels most of the myths and traps, and gives you a solid recommendation on how to manage your own stock portfolio.

Specifically this book does an amazing job discussing how money managers try to tell you they've beat the market average and so you should bring your business to them. Very few people, if any, have beaten the market consecutively over any larger span of time. Your best bet is an index fund and to avoid fees and transactional charges.

What does Professor Ramon P. DeGennaro bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is very enthusiastic and knows the material so well it just flows out of him. It's very easy to follow him and it gave me a ton of confidence and ability to shut out all the noise of the industry.

Any additional comments?

Like I said this book should be a mandatory read for every graduating high school kid and should absolutely be on your reading list.

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48 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great overview on how the stock market works

I've been investing for over 25 years. This is a great course on how the markets and investing works.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Info Ringed with Opinions

In between telling you how the stock market works, he spends quite a lot of energy trying to convince you it is fair, needs deregulation, and a host of other opinions with loose definitions. Other than that, it was a great resource for learning how it all works. And even a bonus about how you might want to invest as a casual.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Very basic

Misleading title, should be Basics of Investing. probably good for someone who knows nothing about investing.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

MAKING THE SIMPLE COMPLEX

I have been trading stocks for a number of years; but felt the need for some formal education, hence i bought this book.

I have gone through the first 4 chapters - but I don't plant to listen to the rest.

Typical of educational instituttions they make the simple complex instead of making the complex simple.
- Too much waffle and time taken stating the obvious which could be said in much simpler and clear ways.
- Instead of spending time clarifying the deceptions that are rampant on the stock market; the author takes ages stating the flaming obvious.


I would not recommend this to others.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another great course. Broad overview of investing

Basically the Cliff notes from my MBA financial investing course. Basic information everyone should know.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

terrible

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The production quality is so low. I don't normally complain, but it really is poorly done. Why have a professional voice actor be so annoying.

What could The Great Courses have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Fired this guy

Any additional comments?

I only gave it 3 stars becuase i want audible to still rocommend books about stocks.

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well Informed!!!

I love this lecture, and I'm glad The Great Courses provided for everyone no matter if you are novices or advanced to sophisticated investors. I yearn for this kind of information to be more educated investor. I'm happy to spend my credit on this.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Very informative.

Much of what it taught me was new, the information was extremely valuable and I would certainly review it again and recommend it to many other people.

The information is easy to digest, the tips are backed by studies and facts and he offers many ways to continue educating yourself.

I wouldn't say I feel like an expert on the stock market, but I'm less intimidated and know a few things I'd definitely want to look at when I'm in a position to invest.

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11 people found this helpful