Buy High, Sell Higher: Why Buy-And-Hold Is Dead And Other Investing Lessons from CNBC's "The Liquidator"

by Joe Terranova

Whether you're a professional investor or just want to trade like one, Buy High, Sell Higher will show you how to pick winners, maximize gains and minimize losses...In this book, you'll learn how a stock's price is just the beginning of the story, and that other indicators like moving averages and volume can help you to spot stocks that have momentum. You'll also learn how to determine the optimal moment to buy a stock, when to sell it, how to protect yourself against sudden reversals in the market, and how to capitalize on moments when other investors are retreating.

What's the best month to buy tech stocks? To sell an energy asset? And what is the one-day of the year that you should never, ever trade on? Answers to these and other questions are just some of the insights that Joe Terranova shares in Buy High, Sell Higher.

Terranova is a series regular on CNBC's Fast Money and the Chief Market Strategist for Virtus Investment Partners, a firm with over $25 billion in assets under management. Prior to joining Virtus, he spent 18 years at MBF Clearing Corp., where he was the director of trading and managed more than 300 traders. And as viewers of CNBC's Fast Money know, Joe is a master at demystifying the forces that drive today's markets. So why not let him show you how to use telltale signs to spot investments that are poised for lift-off.

Genres: Finance

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Aiman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contrarian with easy-to-follow theory. Im enjoying every bit of this book except for some part where it does not apply to my country local market. Anyway, good book.

[Faith Olivia]

I appreciate the author’s boldness in going against the Warren Buffets and proposing a wise, thoughtful approach for investing into the stock market— his strategies are implementable and sensible for a clueless “buy and dont think about it again” stock purchaser like me.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspired me to buy a medium moleskin notebook so I can plan out my buys and sells prior to making trades. A lot of good insight into risk management while investing. Highly recommend.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something to be said for momentum. Nothing succeeds like success, right?

[Alberto Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like watching Fast Money and, as a result, I also enjoy Joe's comments during the show. I think that he really enjoys sharing what he knows with the viewers.

[Raphael Bernardo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gets good for a few chapters in the middle. Investing advice with quotes about Buffet are completely off. Ex. He'll say something like Buffet says buy when everybody is fearful. 'So when Buffet became fearful of the economy I saw an opportunity and BOUGHT'. Very scary and irresponsible how he encourages the average person to put money in stocks, or commodities, or index funds, 'depending on the current market'. He says to be careful, but he reads like shitty version of Cramer.

Many sentences start with.....Many people thought this would happen, so I did X. That wouldn't be too bad but if the book weren't flawed with no numbers at all of how much he earned. It's hard to trust him. His only merit is he made a few big decisions, and worked with Fisher, but still no numbers so we don't know how daring his trades really were. Doesn't help that today he's a commentator and isn't even allowed to trade.

There are two or three chapters that are great. He does know trading, and it was great hearing him talk about trading psychology...If this book were those few chapters he'd get a 3, but it wasn't and the rest of the book cancels it out... overall Cramer is like Buffet compared to this guy.

'Buy High Sell Higher' made me expect something anti Value investing like William O'Neil's classic How to Make Money in Stocks. Everybody I talk to says they are opposing everybody else by being of the few growth investors..'just like Buffet' they always add. So I expected somebody daring who goes against the flow. After the first few chapters I heard a guy giving advice out of his ass, explaining things like we're 4 years old and then showing off by saying complex terms. So I read the rest of the book just so I could write this review. Don't waste your time. If you're willing to spend the time it takes to read this book I'd recommend spending the same amount of time on any few chapters on the Intelligent Investor by Ben Graham.

[Kirk G. Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book mainly due to the fact it was autographed and on sale. But with that said the title did intrigue me especially in the bull markets that have been in place since the end of the recession in 2009. As of the writing of this review the markets are still high and I think anyone's guess is as good as the next to where it will go. I enjoy Mr. Terranova on CNBC when he talks so I did not think there would be no good reason not to read the book. And he does put some very interesting concepts on buying equities when their price is high and how to take advantage of that when you buy and sell. By nature I am more inclined to follow Warren Buffett and buy low and sell high or buy low and hold while the company continues to improve, this book does provide an alternative to that approach. I think what the book states has merit but the concept is still a little outside of my comfort zone. Overall the book is adequate for what it is about but there is no real secret exposed.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is one of the vaguest investing books I have ever read. I think the bottom line is to have a plan that you are capable of emotionally sticking with. I do like his hard stance on being very distrustful of anything dropping through the 200 day average. Looking back I could have avoided some of my biggest mistakes on that advice. I have already reaped the financial and emotional return of implementing this. I am also trying to implement the trading journal and becoming much more methodical about the trades I make.

[David C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definite Easy read. Applying what you learn from this book can't help you really become a better investor; if you're trading off ideas/strategies you first read about in this book, I hope it's a paper account and you plan on studying up some more before you waste your money. All the "take-away" ideas/methods/strats, what have you, Terranova gives, can more easily be picked up and learned from the latest Market Wizards by Schwager.

[Terry Koressel · Rating 1 out of 5]

As far as investment books is concerned....not my style. I finished the book only because I have a long existing "phobia" against reading a book only 1/2 way. You'll not find specific investment advice. I don't often criticize authors, but I could not escape the underlying feeling that the author is "full of himself". A big turnoff for me.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read and it was good in delievering investment principles. I like investing and recommend using this book if you do too. If you are a new investor, however, this is not suitable and suggest other books.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info. Very straight-forward approach to investing. Anyone with some background in finance and investing could easily pick up the tips that are listed by the author. Excellent quick read and a lot of good advice to put into practice from a successful investor on Wall-Street.

[Bill Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good companion to all of the William O'Niel How to stock books. Same philosophy. But Joe makes it not like a text book.

[Ajay MToronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like reading these books not so much for how to trade but if there is some insight into hedge fund mindset etc.

[Zachary Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Chris Henthorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Joe Terranova's advice in this book, it just makes sense.