Robert Allen has been a mentor of mine for several years and he is a supremely intelligent man. His book Creating Wealth contains a 'wealth' (pardon the pun!) of information and strategies on how one can change their thoughts, take action steps, implement them and create a stream of residual income for life. It is a must read for anyone looking to change their financial future and build wealth for themselves and their families.

Robert G. Allen's book Creating Wealth was very helpful to me. My wife and I have had a lifetime of real estate experience, owning, managing, selling, and buying real estate of all kinds throughout the country.

We have, in fact, written our own book based on our successful experience, SELLING FAST: We Sold Our House In One Day And You Can Too. We have followed Allen over the years. His writing is lucid, his concepts accurate from our experience, which spans 42 years. I was president/CEO of a large mutual insurer which held millions of dollars in property and securities. That experience and running our own duplex, apartments, and rental houses over the years made us wealthy. Though I made a fantastic salary as company president, nothing was as remunerative as working with our own real estate. I was especially impressed with Allen's Chapter 16 in Creating Wealth: "How the Rich Pay Lower Taxes."

He uses simple, very understandable words and examples, with diagrams that teach. For example, he likens income and the tax burden to a tank of water, with a tax facet near the top and different sections for spendable income and taxes and a business expense faucet.

Anyone experienced in real estate must understand what is deductible and what is not. Allen makes this clear. This is not to say that each owner of real estate is out to take the U.S. government and the IRS for a ride. Quite the contrary--there are legal deductible business expenses that can and should be utilized. I take exception to the review by KAZU, who claims to be a CPA, that denigrates Allen for publicizing these things. Nothing in his book persuades people to break the law. Rather, it suggests that in order to grow your wealth you must use every legal way to preserve and grow your real estate income. I give this book five stars for excellence.

Very good book. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their financial literacy. When you know how to make money then make that money work for you easily, it will never matter what the economy is doing or where your at or with who, you will always know you will live a life of luxury.

Allen's book provides a pragmatic perspective on real estate. Much better than Carlton Sheets and other books on Real Estate Investment. There are a gizillion books on Real Estate and building financial wealth, however most of them are filled with common-sense cliches and psychological mumbo jumbo. If you want to gain real wealth,you must read these books:
1.The 12 Month Millionaire (http://www.12monthmillionairebook.net.tc/ )
2. Trump:How to get Rich (Amazon.com)
3.The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich (Amazon.com)
4.Creating Wealth (Amazon.com)
--Matthew

I read this book cover to cover.



The book is broken into 5 parts: Foundation (the hook), Creating Wealth (the scheme), Concentration (the early stages), Perpetuating Wealth (the maturing stages), and Real Wealth (the later stages).



The Foundation starts off with some very cheesy motivational advice ("Bob Allen, you're great! You are a unique new kind of person ..."). To each his own, I guess. Then a sample of how different people would invest a $100,000 windfall. Of course every one is an idiot for 1) diversifying, 2) paying down debt, 3) investing in stocks, or 4) taking a vacation. He does make a very good argument for leveraging your debt to create wealth. That is the gem of this book.



The second part says buy 2 rental houses per year for 10 years. There's no discussion of other real estate options, just single family homes at below median price. He lays out his plan for 1) leveraging up to create wealth, 2) then jettisoning debt, diversifying, and creating a tax shelter. It's frustrating, though, because he just critized paying down debt and diversify and doesn't really explain the whys and whens. He actually suggests selling properties (and paying capital gains tax) to pay down debt, then immediately buying properties to create a tax shelter. Is he a fool? I can't tell. Though he referenced future chapters, there was no explanation for this bizarre suggesting in the referenced chapters. In fact, there is a big disconnect between the sections in the book. Many of my main questions went unanswered.



The next section, Concentrating, is the best. It describes some of the ins and outs of buying and owning properties. However, one gets the impression that his success is more due to being a good negotiator than to having a fool-proof system.



The Perpetuating Wealth section talks about discounted mortgages, gold coins, diversifying, legal structures, and taxes. These chapters are very disjoined and hit or miss. While discounted mortgages is quite interesting, he shows his limits in a discussion of ratios. He uses a Debt-to-Assets ratio and a Equity-to-Debt ratio to grade loans. Hello? These ratios contain equivalent information. Is he really using these to make decisions? His third ratio, Discount-to-Debt is followed by an example saying a $1000 discount may not be a bargain because costs in a default could exceed $1000. But the ratio isn't what gives one this information.



The legal structures chapter gives little useful information and taxes just doesn't get the job done. It has a pretty bad plumbing analogy for taxes. The final diagram has 3 buckets, 6 spigots, a filter, a manual pump, a few hoses spraying $$$, and some $$$ sprinkling on a piggy bank and a family. Now I get it.



The final 2 chapters are one saying education is useful and the other with nothing but 6 pages of quotes.

I read this book cover to cover.

The book is broken into 5 parts: Foundation (the hook), Creating Wealth (the scheme), Concentration (the early stages), Perpetuating Wealth (the maturing stages), and Real Wealth (the later stages).

The Foundation starts off with some very cheesy motivational advice ("Bob Allen, you're great! You are a unique new kind of person ..."). To each his own, I guess. Then a sample of how different people would invest a $100,000 windfall. Of course every one is an idiot for 1) diversifying, 2) paying down debt, 3) investing in stocks, or 4) taking a vacation. He does make a very good argument for leveraging your debt to create wealth. That is the gem of this book.

The second part says buy 2 rental houses per year for 10 years. There's no discussion of other real estate options, just single family homes at below median price. He lays out his plan for 1) leveraging up to create wealth, 2) then jettisoning debt, diversifying, and creating a tax shelter. It's frustrating, though, because he just critized paying down debt and diversify and doesn't really explain the whys and whens. He actually suggests selling properties (and paying capital gains tax) to pay down debt, then immediately buying properties to create a tax shelter. Is he a fool? I can't tell. Though he referenced future chapters, there was no explanation for this bizarre suggesting in the referenced chapters. In fact, there is a big disconnect between the sections in the book. Many of my main questions went unanswered.

The next section, Concentrating, is the best. It describes some of the ins and outs of buying and owning properties. However, one gets the impression that his success is more due to being a good negotiator than to having a fool-proof system.

The Perpetuating Wealth section talks about discounted mortgages, gold coins, diversifying, legal structures, and taxes. These chapters are very disjoined and hit or miss. While discounted mortgages is quite interesting, he shows his limits in a discussion of ratios. He uses a Debt-to-Assets ratio and a Equity-to-Debt ratio to grade loans. Hello? These ratios contain equivalent information. Is he really using these to make decisions? His third ratio, Discount-to-Debt is followed by an example saying a $1000 discount may not be a bargain because costs in a default could exceed $1000. But the ratio isn't what gives one this information.

The legal structures chapter gives little useful information and taxes just doesn't get the job done. It has a pretty bad plumbing analogy for taxes. The final diagram has 3 buckets, 6 spigots, a filter, a manual pump, a few hoses spraying $$$, and some $$$ sprinkling on a piggy bank and a family. Now I get it.

The final 2 chapters are one saying education is useful and the other with nothing but 6 pages of quotes.

I read this book cover to cover.

The book is broken into 5 parts: Foundation (the hook), Creating Wealth (the scheme), Concentration (the early stages), Perpetuating Wealth (the maturing stages), and Real Wealth (the later stages).

The Foundation starts off with some very cheesy motivational advice ("Bob Allen, you're great! You are a unique new kind of person ..."). To each his own, I guess. Then a sample of how different people would invest a $100,000 windfall. Of course every one is an idiot for 1) diversifying, 2) paying down debt, 3) investing in stocks, or 4) taking a vacation. He does make a very good argument for leveraging your debt to create wealth. That is the gem of this book.

The second part says buy 2 rental houses per year for 10 years. There's no discussion of other real estate options, just single family homes at below median price. He lays out his plan for 1) leveraging up to create wealth, 2) then jettisoning debt, diversifying, and creating a tax shelter. It's frustrating, though, because he just critized paying down debt and diversify and doesn't really explain the whys and whens. He actually suggests selling properties (and paying capital gains tax) to pay down debt, then immediately buying properties to create a tax shelter. Is he a fool? I can't tell. Though he referenced future chapters, there was no explanation for this bizarre suggesting in the referenced chapters. In fact, there is a big disconnect between the sections in the book. Many of my main questions went unanswered.

The next section, Concentrating, is the best. It describes some of the ins and outs of buying and owning properties. However, one gets the impression that his success is more due to being a good negotiator than to having a fool-proof system.

The Perpetuating Wealth section talks about discounted mortgages, gold coins, diversifying, legal structures, and taxes. These chapters are very disjoined and hit or miss. While discounted mortgages is quite interesting, he shows his limits in a discussion of ratios. He uses a Debt-to-Assets ratio and a Equity-to-Debt ratio to grade loans. Hello? These ratios contain equivalent information. Is he really using these to make decisions? His third ratio, Discount-to-Debt is followed by an example saying a $1000 discount may not be a bargain because costs in a default could exceed $1000. But the ratio isn't what gives one this information.

The legal structures chapter gives little useful information and taxes just doesn't get the job done. It has a pretty bad plumbing analogy for taxes. The final diagram has 3 buckets, 6 spigots, a filter, a manual pump, a few hoses spraying $$$, and some $$$ sprinkling on a piggy bank and a family. Now I get it.

The final 2 chapters are one saying education is useful and the other with nothing but 6 pages of quotes.

A very informative book that spells out the steps necessary to obtaining wealth legally and in a period of time almost anyone can achieve. A must read for those seeking the secrets to wealth.

With Creating Wealth, Robert Allen made a tremendous impact on my life because it reinforced my belief that I can do it. The book is charged with positivity and packed with great ideas. I found it extremely inspirational. Inspirational enough for me to participate in Robert Allen's 1987 Challenge Experience. Great books like this are just as informative and inspiring today as they were 20 years ago. I love this book.

With Creating Wealth, Robert Allen made a tremendous impact on my life because it reinforced my belief that I can do it. The book is charged with positivity and packed with great ideas. I found it extremely inspirational. Inspirational enough for me to participate in Robert Allen's 1987 Challenge Experience. Great books like this are just as informative and inspiring today as they were 20 years ago. I love this book.

This is a great book on how to make and keep money. Highly recommended.

As a beginner real estate investor, this book is very informatove. Mr Allen starts off with some much needed "fluff" in Parts 1 and 2. It is always a good idea to lay the foundation of your investment philosophy. Part 3 is by far the bread and butter of the book. He still refers to "nothing down" deals and he adds to this formula using the "cookie cutter" method(Ch.6). His tips on locating motivated sellers and developing a formaula to weed out prospective properties is priceless (p90). The book is intriguing until you hit Part 4. Robert's strong point is real estate which is evident from the material in Part 4. His chapters on discounted mortgages, numismatics, lower taxes, financial counseling, etc. does not seem to gel with the 1st 3 parts. This part strays from his own advice which is to stick to one investment and throw yourself into it (p20). The only redeeming chapter in part 4 is protecting your assets using various entities like LLC's or LP's. This is extremely good advice for the beggining investor. Creating Wealth is a very good book and gives good motivation to begin or continue building real estate investments.

This is a great book on how to make and keep money. Highly recommended.

As a beginner real estate investor, this book is very informatove. Mr Allen starts off with some much needed "fluff" in Parts 1 and 2. It is always a good idea to lay the foundation of your investment philosophy. Part 3 is by far the bread and butter of the book. He still refers to "nothing down" deals and he adds to this formula using the "cookie cutter" method(Ch.6). His tips on locating motivated sellers and developing a formaula to weed out prospective properties is priceless (p90). The book is intriguing until you hit Part 4. Robert's strong point is real estate which is evident from the material in Part 4. His chapters on discounted mortgages, numismatics, lower taxes, financial counseling, etc. does not seem to gel with the 1st 3 parts. This part strays from his own advice which is to stick to one investment and throw yourself into it (p20). The only redeeming chapter in part 4 is protecting your assets using various entities like LLC's or LP's. This is extremely good advice for the beggining investor. Creating Wealth is a very good book and gives good motivation to begin or continue building real estate investments.

There was lots of good information concerning several areas of investing. Double check with an attorney to make sure some of the information pretains to you and the area you live in.

You cannot learn from a better person than Robert Allen. Not only is his book awesome, he is awesome. My husband and I had the privilege of attending Robert Allen's Enlightened Wealth seminar and we had much one on one communication with him. He is a sincere loving person who truly wants to help you .... all of you.... be successful. Creating Wealth will change your life if you let it.

There was lots of good information concerning several areas of investing. Double check with an attorney to make sure some of the information pretains to you and the area you live in.

You cannot learn from a better person than Robert Allen. Not only is his book awesome, he is awesome. My husband and I had the privilege of attending Robert Allen's Enlightened Wealth seminar and we had much one on one communication with him. He is a sincere loving person who truly wants to help you .... all of you.... be successful. Creating Wealth will change your life if you let it.

Really got me thinking and was filled with very useful, helpful, informative, but easy and simple to understand tricks. One of my favorites. A+

Many books on investing try to pump you up, motivate you, but they don't tell you exactly how to make money. But this book, and all of Robert Allen's, tell you how to calculate each possible deal ahead of time as well as why so you can come out ahead; or on the other hand, what would cause you to lose money. That is, his books are specific rather than just vague wild dreams. And what could be more motivating than having the workable techniques in your hands! This is his very best book yet, in my opinion--the actual formulas, the numbers, that he uses himself. It is great. This is that most vtial thing, the arithmetic itself.

Robert G. Allen is a notorious and relentless internet spammer. If you should happen to somehow end up on one of his email lists like I did, he will send you several junk emails a day. Unsubscribing doesn't work, and trying to block the sender's domain is useless because the emails are sent from a different domain every time. The funny part is that the emails aren't even coded properly. They always show up as just a bunch of html code. Would you really take internet money-making advice from a guy who can't even code html properly? Anyway, his spamming practices are completely illegal and it's only a matter of time before the law catches up with him. But that shouldn't come as any surprise considering that mister Allen has been in trouble with the law before. He's had several run-ins with the IRS, lawsuits against him, and a chapter 7 bankruptcy. I would also stay away from his Nothing Down real estate methods. Many of those practices are illegal, and the president of the Nothing Down club in Atlanta wound up in federal prison because of it. For more info on Allen, visit johntreed dottcomm, click on Real Estate Investing, then click Real Estate Guru Ratings. Bottom line, don't trust this guy and don't buy his books. And if you're reading this Mr. Allen, take me off your @%#&*$ mailing list!!!