The Forever Portfolio: How to Pick Stocks That You Can Hold for the Long Run

by James Altucher

How to find companies with high long-term value by understanding key trendsWarren Buffett once said that his favorite holding period for a stock is “forever.” Now James Altucher shows how to find “forever” stocks—ones you can safely buy and hold for at least twenty years. These companies will profit from broad demographic trends and can ride out any short-term market fluctuations. For instance, Altucher says it’s smart to invest 33 billion dollars are spent each year on services for the obeseDirty Developing countries are finding it much harder to deliver clean water to their growing populations, and companies that sell clean water treatment technologies will The rich are recession-proof, and the stocks of luxury producers make a great hedge against any slowdown in the global economyThe Forever Portfolio shows investors how to build a strong, consistent, long-term portfolio, diversified enough to withstand the various cycles of the market.

Genres: Business

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 13, 2008

About the author

James Altucher is a writer, successful entrepreneur, chess master, and investor.

He has founded over 20 companies and sold some of them for large exits. He has also run venture capital funds, hedge funds, angel funds, and currently sits on the boards of many companies.

He has written and been profiled in most major national media publications like the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, CNBC, Forbes, and Business Week.

His blog, which began by detailing Altucher's precipitous fall from wealth and success to absolute rock bottom and then back to wealth, has attracted more than 10 million readers since its launch in 2010, and in 2011 inspired a comic book.

Reviews

[Marin Mestrovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book. I'll like the idea of investing in demographic trends and businesses that will probably be here in 50 years. Even though we are living in unpredictable times and corporations are getting disrupted faster than ever before. If you invested in portfolio of the book in the time when book was publish you would make yourself nice return by the time I write this review 2016. James is bright and backdoor ideas are awesome. I wish there was more about evaluation of the share price and how he personally analyzes the real worth of the share.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm...James is a brilliant guy and a highly entertaining writer. But the book feels a bit like it was conceived and mostly written before the current stock market turmoil and I'm not sure whether the couple of passages nodding towards what a mess we're in really keep the book relevant. I wonder how well this book will age. Still worth reading by serious and even semi-serious investors just to hear about James' various experiences and strategies even if not all his advice is golden.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

With wit and charm, James Altucher explains how to pick stocks for the long-term and not worry about bumps in the road. His three themes, which he summarizes at the end, are to focus on strong demographic trends (baby boomers), follow in the footsteps of investors (Buffet & others), and that investment, career, and life decisions go hand-in-hand (stick to what makes sense). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will use it as guide for investing for years to come.

[alyx · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s a LOT of great tips in this book if you are looking into a long-term investment portfolio and I’m implementing all his tips. He just lost me when he said he didn’t like animals so I’m giving it 2 stars.

[Carey McNabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

-> Focus on strong demographic trends in the future.
-> Follow / piggyback off of institutional and/or exceptional investors.
-> Focus on financially sound companies.

[Matt Speer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not get much from reading this book. Back to the library it goes.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about picking stocks that will last forever (you could say this is the same theory behind Warren Buffet's investing methods). Thought this book was a great tool for people who want to build retirement and long-term investments, not the get-rich-quick shmarmy crap that is sold daily on CNBC. ~NR

[John]

recommended on the Freakonomics blog at NY Times

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t convinced by The Forever Portfolio’s investment suggestions but the book is so full of creative ideas, enthusiasm & interesting anecdotes that I want to read more by James Altucher.

[Frank Donoghue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always looking for undiscovered investing classics. This isn't one. Just outdated (published in 2008, before the Great Recession).

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was stale the minute it was published. Good ideas and entertaining writing style, but the content would be better served through a blog.