Personal finance Books

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Book SynopsisJonquil Lowe is an economist and Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance at The Open University, where she combines creating courses about personal finance, researching key issues such as access to financial services and the impact of macroeconomics changes on financial planning, and working as a consumer advocate on various industry bodies.  A former head of money research at the consumer organisation, Which?,  Jonquil holds a diploma in financial planning and is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments. She has been authoring books on personal finance for over 30 years. Current titles as author, co-author and/or editor include The Good Retirement Guide, published by Kogan Page; Essential Personal Finance: A Practical Guide for Employees and A Practical Guide to Financial Services: Knowledge, Opportunities and Inclusion, both published by Routledge.? Trade Review‘Be Your Own Financial Adviser is a really good introduction to financial planning. It also explains everything in English, unlike some professional financial advisers I can think of.' Isabel Berwick, Personal Finance Editor, The Independent Table of ContentsPART 1 PLANNING AND ADVICE  1 Financial planning  2 Do you need an adviser?  3 Avoiding scams  PART 2 PLANNING FOR PROTECTION  4 Protecting your income  5 Protecting your family  6 Health and care  PART 3 BUILDING AND MANAGING YOUR WEALTH  7 Somewhere to live  8 Building a pension  9 Retirement choices  10 Saving and investing  11 Managing your wealth  12 Passing it on 

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Book SynopsisCon artist Frank Abagnale, inspiration for the movie Catch Me If You Can, reveals the methods used to steal billions of dollars each year from unsuspecting citizens - and how to stop them.

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Book SynopsisDo you want to cut your bills without cutting back? Are you fed up with being ripped off? Do you want more money in your pocket without changing your lifestyle? With 100 Money Saving pages, this title provides advice on how to pay bills, ways to cut spending, which banks to use and how to choose the best deals on an even greater range of products.Trade ReviewThe greatest money-saving book ever written * The Motley Fool *Teaches you that being good with your money is neither dull nor evil * The Times *tremendously comprehensive * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisIn Start Late, Finish Rich, David Bach provides much-needed advice for all those who''ve asked themselves ''Why didn''t I start saving when I was younger?'' Whether you''re in your thirties, forties, fifties or sixties you still have the opportunity to put your life on the right track and stop worrying about the future. Using the Finish Rich wisdom that has already inspired millions of people, David Bach shows how you really can transform your finances with the right attitude and clear, step-by-step guidance. This positive, practical book is packed with a wealth of information on how to get out of debt, save more, earn more, and most importantly LIVE more! You''ve spent long enough working for money; now it''s time to make your money work for you.

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Book SynopsisBen Le Fort is an economist and writer. He is the founder and author of Making of a Millionaire, a newsletter published via Medium & Substack to his 80,000+ readers. He is dedicated to researching complex financial topics, providing his readers with digestible takeaways, and encouraging better personal finance habits. Ben's own investment journey has seen him go from paying off his student debt in 2015 to becoming a millionaire.

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Book SynopsisJohn Bogle puts our obsession with financial success in perspective Throughout his legendary career, John C. Bogle-founder of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group and creator of the first index mutual fund-has helped investors build wealth the right way and led a tireless campaign to restore common sense to the investment world.Trade Review“I highly recommend the book "Enough" by Vanguard's founder, Jack Bogle, who eloquently outlines many of the frustrations investors have.” (USA Today) "Vanguard Group founder Bogle expounds on the hidden costs of our current financial system (primarily driven by speculation and complexity) and suggests that a deeper understanding of what is truly “enough” will help foster more sustainable investing and better living." (Library Journal Best of 2008 Selection) “Why don’t people publish pamphlets any more. I’m not talking about the slim-jims handed out at trade shows, but rabble-rousing, world-changing works like Common Sense and The Communist Manifesto. John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, follows in the footsteps of the great pamphleteers…‘Central to the effective functioning of capitalism,’ he writes, ‘was the fundamental principle of trusting and being trusted’—and that is disappearing. The problem now: No one is satisfied with having ‘enough’ money or enough success. … If pamphlets were still the rage, 48 pages distilled from the contents of this book could be something as powerful to our age as anything written by Thomas Paine or Marx and Engels. In our more bookish time, though, Bogle has fleshed his ideas out to an interesting, 266-page overview of his life and his views.” (Barron’s) “’What have I created?’ [Bogle] asks in mock horror in his new book…his cry reflects a deeper personal dilemma, one that jags like a scar through this thoughtful meditation on the excess and greed that created the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. … I applaud his enthusiasm and don’t doubt his wisdom and sincerity. ‘Enough’ – with the period – is a worthy addition to the canon, a variation of his familiar sermon on thrift, simplicity, and the superiority of low-cost index funds.” —James Pressley, Bloomberg News “Jack Bogle’s passionate cry of Enough. contains a thought-provoking litany of life lessons regarding our individual roles in commerce and society. Employing a seamless mix of personal anecdotes, hard evidence, and all-too-often-underrated subjective admonitions, Bogle challenges each of us to aspire to become better members of our families, our professions, and our communities. Rarely do so few pages provoke so much thought. Read this book.” —David F. Swensen, Chief Investment Officer, Yale University "We live in a time that values achievement over character. When the two collide, character often takes a back seat and relationships of all kinds are shattered. Bogle observes that while the financial represents the worst of it, what we see today is not just a financial sector problem, but a societal problem. There is really just too much greed everywhere. … Enough is really about discovering what is really important in our lives. " —Michael McKinney, LeadingBlog "Bogle is a rarity - a true captain of industry who speaks about complex economic issues in a language comprehensible to the layperson." —Michael Smerconish, The Philadelphia Enquirer "Enough shines a light on Bogle's sense of despair over the state of the financial industry, and perhaps industry in general. … From CEOs who implode their companies and float away on golden parachutes, to financial companies who create instruments so complex they themselves have trouble understanding them, to mutual fund companies that market rosy returns while sugarcoating their fees, Bogle sees a lack of integrity and a willingness to play fast and loose with ethical rules in order to make a buck. (Or, maybe more accurate, 150 billion bucks.)" —Justin McHenry, BlogCritics Magazine "It's hard to imagine a better time to publish a book that advocates moderation, balance and integrity in the business world. In this wise meditation, Bogle, the folk-hero creator of the first index mutual fund and founder of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group, deplores ‘our worship of wealth and the growing corruption of our professional ethics but ultimately the subversion of our character and values.’ Directly in his sights: CEOs and hedge-fund managers who draw ‘obscene’ compensation. At this time of plunging portfolios, it is a relief to be told that ‘enough’ is within reach."(TIME Magazine) "I will simply say that it is one of the best business books ('life' books?) I have ever read, an easy All-time Top 10. And its timing is, well, read it yourself ..." —Tom Peters “This is an impressive message from a distinguished businessman. It will challenge all decision makers to consider the sufficiency and direction of their lives and work. What do we mean by Enough? Enough of what? Enough for what purpose? Feast here and reflect.” —Robert F. Bruner, Dean and Charles C. Abbott Professor of Business Administration, Darden Graduate School of Business “From one ‘battler’ to another: Thank you for putting in one little book the premise for an active, long life. A primer for those who will abjure complacency and just wanting more, who’d rather focus on the joy of trying to move some ball downfield.” —Ira Millstein, Senior Partner, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP “The balances one must create in investing, in running a business, and in life more generally are simply and clearly stated in Jack’s most recent book, Enough. Unfortunately there are not enough Jack Bogles around in today’s world of instant gratification. Enough. should be must reading for business students and corporate board members.” —David L. Sokol, Chairman, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company "Although Enough. is presented in a small volume, John Bogle's wisdom is writ large and profound. The messages are particularly meaningful as we all reel from the moral, economic and financial meltdown that confronts us today. —William H. Donaldson, Former Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission “[an] engaging, highly readable new book on what went wrong in financial markets in recent years. In the growing canon of "what went wrong" books, Bogle's offering holds a unique place. . . readers will value the common sense packed in these pages. —Jared Bernstein, Philadelphia Inquirer “Throughout his legendary career, John C. Bogle-founder of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group and creator of the first index mutual fund-has helped investors build wealth the right way and led a tireless campaign to restore common sense to the investment world. Along the way, he’s seen how destructive an obsession with financial success can be. Now, with Enough., he puts this dilemma in perspective. Inspired in large measure by the hundreds of lectures Bogle has delivered to professional groups and college students in recent years, Enough. seeks, paraphrasing Kurt Vonnegut, “to poison our minds with a little humanity.” Page by page, Bogle thoughtfully considers what “enough” actually means as it relates to money, business, and life. Reveals Bogle’s unparalleled insights on money and what we should consider as the true treasures in our lives Details the values we should emulate in our business and professional callings Contains thought-provoking life lessons regarding our individual roles in society Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this unique book examines what it truly means to have “enough” in world increasingly focused on status and score-keeping.” (Jack Canfield Review) “Enough. conveys an especially poignant message in this time of financial crisis. . . The book presents a collection of inspirational truths and values by which to live.” (The Journal of Investment Management) "In Enough, Bogle isn’t interested only in better investing. He’s moved by morals, which he finds sorely lacking in business and finance today."- Jane Bryant Quinn, author of Making the Most of Your Money Now "Enough.deals with how we got in this hole and how we get out. Nobody gets off the hook, including you and me…Real change starts with individuals, Bogle says. If each of us takes a part, that will be enough." —Terry Bibo, columnist, Journal Star "Enough. is a call for the return to core values or to what Bogle refers to as "the old-fashioned liberal humanitarianism that was the hallmark of the Age of Reason." The title has a double meaning: "Enough" as in fed up, and "enough" as a reflection on what people value and how they define success and satisfaction". The Street.com (June 2010) "John Bogle's fantastic book about measuring what counts in life." (Motley Fool)Table of ContentsForeword by William Jefferson Clinton vii Prologue by Tom Peters xi Author’s Note: A Crisis of Ethic Proportions xvii Introduction 1 MONEY CHAPTER 1 Too Much Cost, Not Enough Value 29 CHAPTER 2 Too Much Speculation, Not Enough Investment 49 CHAPTER 3 Too Much Complexity, Not Enough Simplicity 71 BUSINESS CHAPTER 4 Too Much Counting, Not Enough Trust 97 CHAPTER 5 Too Much Business Conduct, Not Enough Professional Conduct 120 CHAPTER 6 Too Much Salesmanship, Not Enough Stewardship 141 CHAPTER 7 Too Much Management, Not Enough Leadership 159 LIFE CHAPTER 8 Too Much Focus on Things, Not Enough Focus on Commitment 183 CHAPTER 9 Too Many Twenty-First- Century Values, Not Enough Eighteenth- Century Values 193 CHAPTER 10 Too Much “Success,” Not Enough Character 211 WRAPPING UP: WHAT’S ENOUGH? What’s Enough For Me? For You? For America? 229 Afterword: A Personal Note about My Career 249 Acknowledgments 253 Notes 257 Index 269

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Book SynopsisWhat does it take to become a millionaire - hard work, determination, a bit of luck? All of those help, but as entrepreneur and motivational speaker Keith Cameron Smith makes clear in this life-changing book, millionaire is first and foremost a state of mind.In The Top Ten Habits of Millionaires, Smith elborates ten key principles that animate the millionaire mindset - habits that can be learned and mastered by anyone who wants to improve their financial position, includingMillionaires think long term - Create a clear vision of the life you desire and focus on it.Millionaires talk about ideas, not things and people - Ask positive ''what if'' questions every day and bounce ideas off successful people who will be honest with youMillionaires embrace change - Be patient while change is unfolding and find the hidden benefitWhat you believe about money has everything to do with how much money you will make. Following Keith Cameron Smith''s smart and sensible advice will help readers achieve

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Book SynopsisUsing a combination of stories, empirical evidence and experience, Joe Wiggins gives all fund investorsactive and passivewhat they need to reassess their beliefs, understand their biases, and make better investment decisions.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xv About the Author xvii Legal Disclosure xix Introduction The Market Wants to Be Your Friend xxi Mistake #1 Market Timing 1 The Idiots 5 Why Is It So Hard to Beat the Market? 6 Efficient Markets 7 The Evidence (Research and Stuff) 8 The Media Get It Wrong, Over and Over Again 8 Economists Get It Wrong, Over and Over Again 9 Investment Managers Get It Wrong, Over and Over Again 14 Newsletters Get It Wrong, Over and Over Again 17 Your Buddy 18 Strategies That Don’t Sound Like Market Timing but Are Market Timing—Oh, and They Don’t Work Either 19 Asset-Class Rotation 19 Tactical Asset Allocation 20 Style Rotation 20 Sector Rotation 20 What Smart Investors Have to Say on Market Timing 20 Knowing All This, Why Would Anyone Market Time? 21 Corrections 22 Bear Markets: An Overview 26 Bear Markets Happen for Different Reasons, but the Outcome Is Always the Same 27 Bear Markets Are Not Predictable 28 When Bear Markets “Turn,” They Make People on the Sidelines Look Silly 30 The Market Is Volatile—Get Used to It 30 You Can’t Wait for Consumers to Feel Good 31 Learning to Accept the Bear Markets 33 Miscalculating the Risk of Market Timing 34 But What If I Am Perfect? 34 Lump-Sum Investing versus Dollar-Cost Averaging 36 Learning to Fly 40 Avoiding Mistake #1—Market Timing 41 Mistake #2 Active Trading 43 The History of Active Trading 44 Active Investment Managers Lose to Indexing 45 Newsletters Lose to Indexing 45 Active Mutual Funds Lose to Indexing 45 Survivor Bias (a.k.a. Mutual Fund Performance Is Even Worse Than the Data Suggests) 47 What About the Winners, Huh? What About the Winners?! 48 Hedge Funds Lose to Indexing 51 Endowments—Misperception of Performance 56 Venture Capital (Sounds Sexy but Usually a Dog) 57 The Taxman Cometh (a.k.a. Dear Goodness, It Gets Worse) 59 Portfolio Activity Hurts Performance 59 But Doesn’t Active Management Work in a Down Market? 60 Why Indexes Win 61 But Indexing Results in Average Returns 62 S&P 500, Here I Come! 62 Avoiding Mistake #2—Active Trading 64 Mistake #3 Misunderstanding Performance and Financial Information 65 Misunderstanding #1—Judging Performance in a Vacuum 65 Misunderstanding #2—Believing the Financial Media Exists to Help You Make Smart Decisions (a.k.a. the Media Is Killing You) 67 Misunderstanding #3—Believing That the Market Cares About Today 71 Misunderstanding #4—Believing an All-Time High Means the Market is Due for a Pullback 74 Misunderstanding #5—Believing Correlation Equals Causation 77 October Is The Worst Month to Invest 77 Sell in May and Go Away 78 Misunderstanding #6—Believing Financial News Is Actionable 79 Misunderstanding #7—Believing Republicans Are Better for the Market Than Democrats 80 Misunderstanding #8—Overestimating the Impact of a Manager 82 Misunderstanding #9—Believing Market Drops Are the Time to Get Defensive 83 Avoiding Mistake #3—Misunderstanding Performance and Financial Information 84 Mistake #4 Letting Yourself Get in the Way 85 Fear, Greed, and Herding 85 The Overconfidence Effect 89 Confirmation Bias 93 Anchoring 95 Loss Aversion 97 Mental Accounting 98 Recency Bias 100 Negativity Bias 103 The Gambler 105 Avoiding Mistake #4—Letting Yourself Get in the Way 106 Mistake #5 Working with the Wrong Advisor 107 Most Advisors Will Do Far More Harm Than Good 108 Advisor Selection Issue #1—Custody 108 Advisor Selection Issue #2—Conflict 113 Test #1—Independent Advisor or Broker? 114 Investment Advisor Defined 114 Broker Defined 114 So What’s the Difference? 115 Test #2—Pure Independent versus Independent and Broker 116 Test #3—Proprietary Funds versus No Proprietary Funds 117 A Final Thought on Conflicts 118 Advisor Selection Issue #3—Competence 119 Competence Check #1—Do the Advisor’s Credentials Meet Your Needs? 120 Competence Check #2—Is the Advisor Right for You? 120 Competence Check #3—Is the Advisor Following a Process That You Agree With? 120 A Final Thought on Advisors—Principles 121 Avoiding Mistake #5—Choosing the Wrong Advisor 122 Mistake #6 No Mistaking 125 Rule #1: Have a Clearly Defined Plan 125 Rule #2: Avoid Asset Classes That Diminish Results 127 Cash—The Illusion of Safety 127 The Illusion of Gold as a Way to Grow Wealth 129 Rule #3: Use Stocks and Bonds as the Core Building Blocks of Your Intelligently Constructed Portfolio 131 Rule #4: Take a Global Approach 138 Rule #5: Use Primarily Index-Based Positions 140 Rule #6: Don’t Blow Out Your Existing Holdings 140 Rule #7: Be Sure You Can Live with Your Allocation 142 Rule #8: Rebalance 143 Rule #9: Revisit the Plan 144 The Ultimate Rule: Don’t Mess It Up! 145 Portfolio Example 146 The “I Want to Beat the Market” Portfolio 146 The “I Need 7 Percent to Hit My Long-Term Retirement Goal” Portfolio 146 The “Get Me What I Need for the Rest of My Life with the Least Volatility Possible” Portfolio 147 The “I Have More Money Than I Will Ever Need and I Want It to Grow with Minimal Volatility” Portfolio 148 The “I Have More Money Than I Will Ever Need, Volatility Doesn’t Bother Me, and I Want It to Grow Along with the Market” Portfolio 148 A Path to Success: Intelligent Portfolio Construction 150 You’re the One 151 Conclusion Let’s Roll!! 153 References 155 Index 163

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Book 1: Taking Charge of Your Finances 5 Chapter 1: Assessing Where You Are Financially 7 Asking Some Preliminary Questions 8 Evaluating Your Relationship with Money 9 Recognizing emotional spending 9 Living for the moment 9 Checking Out Your Credit Reports 10 Getting copies of your credit reports 10 Knowing why your reports matter 11 Finding Out Your FICO Score 11 Comparing Spending and Income 12 Gathering the necessary materials 12 Categorizing your expenses 13 Figuring out the fritter factor 17 Totaling spending and earnings 17 Calculating your financial bottom line 18 Assessing Your Spending Habits 18 Cataloging What You Own 20 Adding Up What You Owe 22 Chapter 2: Improving Your Relationship with Money 25 Working with Your Partner to Achieve Financial Goals 26 Recognizing your financial strengths and weaknesses 26 Identifying long-term goals 28 Establishing savings goals 29 Finding peaceful solutions to differences 29 Pulling together with your spouse or partner 30 Talking money with your children 31 Believing in Yourself 33 Handling Setbacks 35 Asking for Help 37 Digging Out of Debt 38 Step 1: Acknowledge the problem 38 Step 2: Cut the cards 38 Step 3: Set a good budget and live within it 39 Step 4: Contact your creditors 39 Budgeting for the Future 39 Step 1: Categorize your expenses 40 Step 2: Estimate what you spend 41 Step 3: Calculate and adjust 41 Chapter 3: Building and Sticking to a Budget 43 Comparing Monthly Spending and Income 44 Tackling a Budget Deficit 49 Cutting expenses 49 Reducing debt before saving 49 Using other strategies 50 Paying the Important Stuff If You Can’t Pay Everything 52 Distinguishing between secured and unsecured debt 52 Knowing when to prioritize an unsecured debt 53 Examining a Budget Surplus 54 Finalizing and Sticking to Your Budget 54 Steeling your resolve 55 Checking your progress each month 55 Chapter 4: Cutting Spending and Boosting Income 59 Finding Ways to Spend Less 60 Looking for good deals 60 Spending less on your housing 60 Lowering your utility bills 61 Eating for less 62 Paying less for transportation 64 Having fun for less 65 Looking good for less 66 Dressing for less 66 Reducing your phone costs 67 Saving on prescription drugs 67 Inching down your insurance costs 68 Bringing in More Bucks 70 Earning more at your current job 71 Looking for a new job 71 Getting (and surviving) a second job 74 Considering freelancing 75 Chapter 5: Cleaning Up Your Credit Reports 77 Understanding the True Value of Good Credit 78 Reviewing Your Reports for Problems 81 Using the Law to Get Your Credit Record Clean and Keep It That Way 84 Identifying and Disputing Inaccurate Information 87 Understanding the dispute process 87 Correcting all your credit reports 88 Contacting the creditor 93 Adding Positive Information to Your Credit Report 94 Asking your landlord to report your rent payments 94 Adding your utility and cell-phone payments to your report 94 Opening new credit accounts 95 Adding a 100-word statement 95 Book 2: Managing Home and Personal Finances 97 Chapter 1: Running a Money-Smart Household 99 Reaching Out to Touch Someone 99 Saving on phone bills 100 Using email and texting to stay in touch 100 Rediscovering the joys of letter writing 100 Saving on Climate Control 101 Dressing for the weather 101 Keeping your cool when the weather’s not 101 Warming the house 104 Cutting Back on Electricity and Gas Use 106 Improving your appliance efficiency 107 Shedding some light on the subject 107 Trash Talk: Controlling Garbage Costs 108 Reducing what you throw away 108 Reusing household items in creative ways 109 Cutting Down on Water Use 110 Keeping a Ceiling on Housing Budgets 111 Saving money on rent 111 Saving money on home ownership 112 Cutting Transportation Costs 115 Finding a deal on a set of wheels 115 Using public transportation 117 Biking and walking 117 Finding bargains on airfare and rental cars 118 Opting to travel by train or bus 119 Purchasing Appliances 119 Keeping energy efficiency in mind 119 Shopping for scratch-and-dent and secondhand 120 Thinking twice about renting-to-own 120 Chapter 2: Selecting the Best Home Purchase Loan 121 Three Questions to Help You Pick the Right Mortgage 122 How long do you plan to keep your mortgage? 122 How much financial risk can you accept? 123 How much money do you need? 124 Fixed-Rate Mortgages: No Surprises 125 Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs) 127 How an ARM’s interest rate is determined 129 How often does the interest rate adjust? 132 What are the limits on rate adjustments? 132 Does the loan have negative amortization? 133 Fine-Tuning Your Thought Process 135 Finding funds 136 Making the 30-year versus 15-year mortgage decision 136 Getting a Loan When Rates Are High 137 Chapter 3: Handling a Mortgage Meltdown 139 Assessing the Damage from a Mortgage Meltdown 140 Understanding How Mortgages Differ from Other Loans 141 Spotting a foreclosure on the horizon 142 Counting to 90 142 Knowing Where to Turn for Help 143 Finding good help for free 143 Working with your mortgage servicer 144 Avoiding help that hurts 145 Considering Alternatives to Going Down with the Ship 146 What to do first 146 What to do for more serious problems 147 What to do to end matters 147 Managing a foreclosure 148 Strategic default: Stopping payments 149 Dealing with Deficiencies 151 Preparing for “Credit Winter” 152 Chapter 4: Keeping a Lid on Medical Costs 155 Saving on Medical Expenses 155 Keeping a close eye on bills 155 Looking into payment plans 156 Coordinating insurance benefits 156 Finding less-expensive prescriptions 156 Discovering What Makes a Great Health Insurance Plan 157 Deciding Between Individual and Group 158 Pricing 158 Underwriting 158 Benefit levels 159 Renewability 159 Coverage flexibility 159 Saving Money on Individual Coverage 160 Saving directly 160 Saving indirectly with self-care 163 Coping with Health Insurance Problems 164 Insuring the uninsurable 164 Staying insured through hard times 165 Insuring your kids when your policy no longer covers them 165 Evaluating insurance available through college 166 Understanding temporary health insurance 167 Continuing coverage following a divorce 168 Deciding on a conversion policy 169 Considering HIPAA instead 170 Taking Decisive Action 174 Reviewing bills with a fine-tooth comb 175 Making your plan pay what it should 175 Taking advantage of hospital discounts 176 Reducing your medical debt 177 Chapter 5: Using the Internet to Help Manage Your Finances 179 Giving Yourself an Online Financial Makeover 180 Using the Internet to Budget 181 Finding Online Resources to Track Your Income and Expenses 184 Using the Internet to Get Free Financial Advice 185 Finding Out What You’re Worth 186 Book 3: Dealing with Debt 189 Chapter 1: Tackling What You Owe 191 Taking Stock of Your Finances 192 Using a Budget to Get Out of Debt 193 Taking the Right Steps When You Have Too Much Debt 194 Handling Debt Collectors 195 Realizing your rights 196 Understanding why debt collectors behave as they do 197 Getting a Financial Education 198 The difference between good debt and bad debt 198 Distinguishing between types of credit 199 Seeing yourself through a creditor’s eyes 200 Building a better credit history 201 Chapter 2: Starting or Restarting Your Credit in Real Life 203 Debunking Misinformation about Banking and Credit 204 Why you need credit 205 Why credit is safe 206 Obtaining Credit: Starting Out on the Right Foot 207 Establishing a credit file without a Social Security number 208 Setting goals before you set out 209 Establishing a relationship with a financial institution 210 Using prepaid and reloadable cards 212 Fattening up your credit file 212 Avoiding high interest, fees, and scams 214 Overcoming Credit Fears and Mistakes 215 Qualifying for First-Time Cards and Lending 217 Getting a credit card 217 Using savings for credit 219 Considering Credit for Students and Military Members 220 Giving credit to students 220 Following military credit rules 222 Chapter 3: Consolidating Your Debts 225 Knowing When Debt Consolidation Makes Sense 225 Considering Your Options 226 Transferring balances 227 Getting a bank loan 229 Borrowing against your life insurance policy 233 Borrowing from your 401(k) retirement plan 234 Avoiding Dangerous Debt-Consolidation Possibilities 236 Chapter 4: Negotiating with Creditors and Getting Help 237 Getting Ready to Negotiate 238 Listing all your debts 239 Zeroing in on certain debts first 239 Reviewing your budget 240 Pulling together your financial information 241 Getting Down to Business: Contacting Creditors 243 Making the Agreement Official: Putting It in Writing 244 Knowing the Deal with Credit Counseling 246 Finding a Reputable Credit Counseling Agency 246 Differentiating the good from the bad 247 Locating agencies in your area 248 Knowing what to ask and what to expect 249 Working with a Credit Counselor 250 Sharing your financial situation 251 Whittling down your debt with a debt management plan 251 Avoiding Debt Settlement Firms 254 Being wary of false promises 254 Preventing worse financial problems 255 Getting Relief If You Get Ripped Off 255 Chapter 5: Considering Bankruptcy 257 Viewing Bankruptcy in a Historical Context 258 Debunking Bankruptcy Myths 260 “People who go bankrupt are sleazy deadbeats” 260 “Bankruptcy is the easy way out for folks who can pay their bills” 262 “Bankruptcy threatens the ethical foundations of our society” 262 “Honest folks pay a ‘tax’ to support people who are bankrupt” 263 Understanding What You Can Gain Through Bankruptcy 263 Stopping creditors in their tracks 265 Wiping out most of your debts 266 Catching up on back mortgage and car payments 267 Filing bankruptcy to pay some debts over time 267 Using bankruptcy to pay all your debts 267 Knowing What You Can Lose in Bankruptcy 268 Considering Alternatives to Bankruptcy 269 Introducing the Different Types of Personal Bankruptcy 270 Liquidations (Chapter 7) 271 Consumer reorganizations (Chapter 13) 271 Weighing the Consequences of Not Filing Bankruptcy 272 Claims secured by your car 272 Claims secured by your home 273 Student loans 273 Support obligations 273 Fines and restitution 273 Taxes 274 Lawsuits 274 Using the Statute of Limitations 274 Book 4: Saving and Investing 275 Chapter 1: Becoming a Saver 277 Eliminating Most of the Fat 278 Making lists of where you are now 278 Carving away the truly wasteful 279 Lowering Your Debt 280 Trimming Other Costs 282 Changing Your Perspective and Watching Your Savings Grow 283 Paying yourself first 283 Educating yourself about investing 284 Taking advantage of giveaways 287 Saving While in Debt 289 Chapter 2: Investing in Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds 291 Stock: Owning a Piece of the Rock 292 Understanding stock 292 Conducting business in stock exchanges 293 Brushing up: A quick stock glossary 294 Picking a stock investment strategy 296 Buying Bonds for Fixed Income 297 Understanding bonds 297 Sorting out different kinds of bonds 298 Interpreting bond ratings 299 Mutual Funds: The Power of Many 301 Understanding mutual funds 301 Defining different kinds of mutual funds 302 Doing It Your Way versus Using a Broker 302 Full-service brokers 303 Discount brokers 304 Online brokers 304 Avoiding Five Common Investing Mistakes 304 Investing before you’re ready 305 Investing without goals 305 Believing those “hot” tips 306 Not diversifying your portfolio 307 Selling too soon (or too late) 307 Chapter 3: Saving for Retirement 309 Targeting Your Retirement Date 310 Getting Your Hands on Your Money 311 Drawing on your Social Security 311 Tapping into other sources 316 Living the retirement life 317 Testing the waters in your gene pool 318 Developing Your Retirement Savings Plan 318 Cutting down on your expenses 318 Picturing your progress 320 Counting on compounding 324 Chapter 4: Saving for College 327 Doing the Numbers 328 Exploring Section 529 Plans 329 Checking Out Coverdell Accounts 329 But Wait! There’s More! 330 Maximizing Your Savings, Minimizing Your Tax 332 Checking Out the Cost of College 332 Tackling tuition 333 Accounting for housing 333 Factoring in books and supplies 335 Looking into the Costs of Various Types of Schools 336 Exploring career and vocational training schools 336 Taking community college and continuing education classes 336 Going for a four-year public education 337 Getting your education in private 337 Chapter 5: Working with an Online Broker 339 Finding the Best Broker for You 340 The nine main factors to consider 340 Gotchas to watch out for 342 Separating the Types of Brokerages 342 Paying the minimum with a deep discounter 343 Get more with a discounter 344 Full-service traditional 348 Avoiding Hidden Fees 350 Finding Out What Reviewers Think 351 Is Your Money Safe? Checking Out Your Broker 352 Cutting the Cord: Mobile Trading 354 Opening and Setting Up Your Account 355 The checklist of what you need to know 356 The checklist of what you need to have 356 Book 5: Protecting Your Money and Assets 357 Chapter 1: Combating Identity Theft 359 Keeping Thieves at Bay 360 Getting on the technology train 361 Looking out for phishing scams 361 Safeguarding your computer data 363 Keeping passwords secret 364 Protecting your mail 365 Storing financial data in your home 366 Putting your credit information on ice 366 Shielding your credit card number 367 Catching Identity Thieves in the Act 369 Watching for early-warning notices 370 Getting early warnings from the IRS 371 Handling a collections call 372 Detecting unauthorized charges 372 Being denied credit or account access 373 Noticing missing account statements 373 Taking Fast Action When Identity Theft Occurs 374 Communicating with the right people 374 Protecting your identity through the FACT Act 377 Sending out a fraud alert 379 Blocking fraudulent credit lines 380 Getting and Using Credit After Identity Theft 380 Closing and reopening your accounts 380 Altering your PINs and passwords 381 Changing your Social Security number and driver’s license number 382 Chapter 2: Online Banking 383 Online and Traditional Banks 383 Advantages of online banking 384 Online bank access 384 Accounting for Your Accounts 385 Savings account 385 Basic checking account 386 Interest-bearing checking account 386 MMDA or MMA 386 cd 386 Choosing an Online Bank That’s Right for You 387 Identifying your user profile 387 Noting the fees when you shop 388 Opening Your Online Bank Account 390 Chapter 3: Homeowner’s Insurance: Protecting Your Stuff 393 Introducing the Six Parts of a Homeowner’s Policy 394 Insuring your residence (Coverage A) 394 Insuring detached structures (Coverage B) 396 Insuring your belongings (Coverage C) 397 Insuring additional living expenses (Coverage D) 398 Insuring your personal liability (Coverage E) 399 Insuring guests’ medical bills (Coverage F) 401 Choosing the Right Homeowner’s Property Coverages 401 Understanding the causes-of-loss options 402 Introducing the six most common homeowner’s policies 403 Establishing Property Coverage Limits 404 Determining the replacement cost of your home 405 Guaranteeing you’ll have enough insurance to rebuild 407 Estimating the cost to replace belongings 408 Choosing your deductible 409 Documenting Your Claim 411 Chapter 4: Auto Insurance Basics 413 Managing Your Lawsuit Risks 413 Reviewing noninsurance strategies 414 Buying liability insurance 414 Insuring Your Personal Injuries 419 Understanding how uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage works 420 Saving money on medical coverage 423 Dealing with Damage to Your Vehicle 424 Choosing cost-effective deductibles 425 Knowing when to drop collision and comprehensive coverage 428 Evaluating Road Service and Car Rental Coverages 429 Chapter 5: Insuring Yourself: Life Insurance 431 Assessing the Need 431 Who doesn’t need life insurance 432 Who does need life insurance 432 Determining How Much Coverage You Need 433 Looking at a hypothetical family 433 Using the multiple of income method 434 Using the web to estimate needs 434 Speaking the Language 436 Understanding the Types of Life Insurance 437 Ideal use 437 Pricing 438 Agent commissions 438 Understanding the Variations of Permanent Life Insurance 439 Whole life 440 Universal life 441 Variable life 442 Cash value options when dropping permanent insurance 443 Understanding the Variations of Term Life Insurance 445 Annual renewable term (ART) 445 Fixed-rate level term 445 Decreasing term 447 Insurance from your mortgage company 447 Making Your Choice 448 Evaluating Life Insurance Sources 449 Considering an agent 450 Buying without an agent 452 Debunking Myths and Mistakes 454 Mistake: Trading cash value for death protection needs 454 Myth: Supplemental group life is cheaper 455 Mistake: Buying life insurance in pieces 455 Mistake: Accidental death/travel coverage 456 Mistake: Covering only one income 456 Mistake: Ignoring a stay-at-home parent’s value 456 Mistake: Covering children, not parents 457 Mistake: Decreasing term insurance 457 Mistake: Being unrealistic about how much life insurance you can afford 457 Mistake: Buying before you need it 458 Myth: It’s cheaper when you’re young 458 Book 6: Dealing with the Tax Man 459 Chapter 1: Tax Return Preparation Options and Tools 461 Preparing Your Own Return 462 Taking Advantage of IRS Publications 463 Perusing Tax-Preparation and Advice Guides 464 Using Software 464 Accessing Internet Tax Resources 465 Internal Revenue Service 466 Research 467 Tax preparation sites 468 Hiring Help 468 Deciding whether you really need a preparer 469 Unenrolled preparers 469 Enrolled agents (EAs) 470 Certified public accountants (CPAs) 470 Tax attorneys 471 Finding Tax Preparers and Advisors 473 Chapter 2: Getting and Staying Organized 475 Maintaining the Burden of Proof 476 Keeping Good Records 477 Ensuring a complete and accurate tax return 477 Setting up a record-keeping system 479 Tracking tax information on your computer 480 Deciding when to stash and when to trash 481 Reconstructing Missing Tax Records 481 Property received by inheritance or gift 482 Securities received by inheritance or gift 485 Improvements to a residence 485 Casualty losses 486 Business records 487 Using duplicate account statements 487 Understanding the Cohan Rule 488 Chapter 3: No Form Fits All (Or, What Kind of Taxpayer Are You?) 491 What Rendition of 1040 Shall You Play? 492 Form 1040 492 Form 1040-SR 493 Form 1040-NR 494 Choosing a Filing Status 494 Single 495 Married filing jointly 495 Married filing separately 496 Head of household 500 Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child 502 Counting your dependents 502 Deciding who is your dependent 503 Securing Social Security numbers for dependents 506 Filing for Children and Other Dependents 508 Defining Who Is a Qualifying Child 509 Age test 509 Relationship test 510 Residency test 510 Support test 510 Must You File? 511 When to file 513 If you don’t file 513 Where to file 514 How to file 514 Book 7: Retiring Comfortably 517 Chapter 1: Checking the Benefits of a 401(k) 519 Realizing What a 401(k) Does for You 520 Lowers how much tax you pay 520 Gets you matching funds from your employer 525 Makes room for a little something extra: Employer non-matching contribution 526 Allows you to save without tears 527 Vesting: When Your Employer’s Contribution Is Yours to Keep 527 Vesting of employer contributions 528 Making exceptions 529 Letting the Pros Work for You 530 Protecting Your Money 530 Meeting minimum standards 531 Avoiding losses in bankruptcy 532 Watching Out for Potential Pitfalls 532 Earning more may mean contributing less 532 Being at the mercy of your plan 533 Chapter 2: Retiring Your Way: IRAs 535 Looking at the Basics of Your IRA 535 Staying traditional 536 Touching on Roth IRAs 537 Benefiting from a spousal IRA 538 Starting an IRA for a child 538 Setting Up Your IRA 539 Deciding where to invest your money 540 Opening your account 541 Maintaining Your IRA 542 Moving Your IRA 542 Chapter 3: Paychecks from Your House: Reverse Mortgages 545 Grasping the Reverse Mortgage Basics 546 Considering common objections 547 Who can get a reverse mortgage? 548 How much money can you get and when? 549 When do you pay the money back? 551 What do you owe? 551 How is the loan repaid? 552 What’s the out-of-pocket cost of getting a reverse mortgage? 552 What are the other reverse mortgage costs? 553 What’s the total annual rate? 554 How do reverse mortgages affect your government-sponsored benefits? 555 Shopping for a Reverse Mortgage 555 Making major choices 556 Counseling 557 Deciding Whether You Want a Reverse Mortgage 557 Chapter 4: Determining How Much You Need for Retirement 559 Improving Your Chances of an Ideal Retirement 559 Deciding How Much of Your Salary to Put Aside 560 Making use of your salary deferral agreement 560 Measuring your plan’s maximums 561 Being highly paid means different rules 562 Estimating what your budget can afford 564 Building Your Nest (Egg) 566 If you’re retiring in the near future 566 If your retirement is farther off 569 Using a retirement calculator 570 Chapter 5: Managing Money in Retirement 573 Looking Forward to Retirement 574 Decisions, Decisions: What to Do with Your 401(k) Money 574 Being older can save you money 576 Foiling the dreaded early withdrawal penalty 577 Leaving money with your former employer 578 Making Withdrawals from Your IRA 579 Paying Uncle Sam His Due: Required Withdrawals 580 Developing a Strategy to Deal with the Tax Man 583 Which comes first: Plucking the chicken or emptying the nest egg? 583 Dealing with that darned company stock 584 Managing Your Investments in Retirement 585 Live long and prosper 585 Stay practical 586 Managing Risk 587 Balancing investments 587 Buying an annuity 588 Consolidating Your Accounts 590 Tending to Your Nest Egg 591 Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gently Down the Income Stream 592 Treating Your Home Like the Asset It Is 594 Adding up the expenses 594 Making use of your equity 595 Book 8: Planning Your Estate and Will 597 Chapter 1: The Fundamentals of Estate Planning 599 What Is an Estate? 600 The basics: Definitions and terminology 600 Property types 603 Types of property interest 604 Why You Need to Plan Your Estate 607 Why Your Estate-Planning Goals Differ from Your Neighbors’ 608 The Critical Path Method to Planning Your Estate 610 Getting Help with Your Estate Planning 613 Making sure that your team of advisors is “FAIL” safe 614 Working with Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) and other professionals 615 Knowing what to expect from your accountant for your estate planning 616 Working with your insurance agent 617 Working with your attorney 617 Chapter 2: Where There’s a Will 619 Planning for Your Will 620 Knowing the Different Types of Wills 621 Simple wills 621 Other types of wills 622 Choosing Your Will’s Contents 623 Opening clauses 624 Giving clauses 625 Ending clauses 627 Safeguarding Your Will 628 Changing, Amending, and Revoking Your Will 629 Why you may need to change your will 630 Ways to change your will 631 Protecting Your Loved Ones from Your Unloved Ones 632 Figuring Out Your Will Status 633 Testacy: You’ve nailed everything down 633 Intestacy: You die with zero “will power” 633 Partial intestacy: The vultures start circling 634 Chapter 3: The Limitations of Wills: What You Can and Can’t Do 635 Making Your Peace with Statutes That Affect Your Will 636 Identifying Statutes That Your Will Can Change 636 Abatement: There’s not enough in the cupboard for everyone 637 Ademption: Some property is missing 639 Antilapse: Someone dies before you do 640 Divorce: High noon in Splitsville 640 Simultaneous death: Sorry, but we have to talk about it 641 Living (And Dying) with the Laws That Your Will Can’t Change 642 Community property 642 Spousal elective shares 644 Homestead allowance: Keeping a house for kiddies and spouse 645 Homestead exemption: How the law protects your house from your creditors 645 Exempt property: How the law protects your personal property from creditors 646 Family allowance: Drawing from your estate to protect your family 646 Oops! Taking care of VIPs who aren’t in the will 647 Chapter 4: Estate Planning with Online Resources 649 Understanding Wills and Trusts 650 Where there’s an online will, there’s a way 650 Avoiding probate 651 Getting the Basics of Trusts 652 Trusting in Living Trust to Avoid Probate 654 Joint Tenancy and Beneficiary Arrangements 655 Not all heirs are created equal 656 Don’t keep your estate plans hush-hush 657 Customizing Estate Planning for All Ages 657 Under 30 and loving it 658 Grooving in your midlife 659 Retired and enjoying the good life 660 Selecting an Estate Planner 661 Preparing to Meet Your Estate Planner 662 Index 663

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Stock Investing 5 Chapter 1: Introducing the World of Stock Investing 7 Chapter 2: Assessing Your Current Financial Situation and Goals 15 Chapter 3: Defining Different Approaches to Stock Investing 33 Chapter 4: Understanding Risk and Volatility 45 Part 2: Doing Some Digging Before You Buy Stocks 65 Chapter 5: Gathering Information on Investments 67 Chapter 6: Choosing Winning Stocks with Basic Accounting 91 Chapter 7: Deciphering Company Documents to Pick Stocks 111 Chapter 8: Working with Brokers 125 Part 3: Understanding Essential Stock Strategies and Tactics 139 Chapter 9: Investing in Stocks for Long-Term Growth 141 Chapter 10: Investing in Stocks for Income and Cash Flow 153 Chapter 11: Exploring Exchange-Traded Funds 171 Chapter 12: Surveying Emerging Sector and Industry Opportunities 181 Chapter 13: Looking at Brokerage Orders and Trading Techniques 195 Chapter 14: Handling Taxes on Stock Investments 213 Part 4: The Part of Tens 227 Chapter 15: Ten Hallmarks of a Great Stock 229 Chapter 16: Ten Investment Strategies That Work Well with Stocks 239 Index 247

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Book SynopsisFrom two leaders of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, a bold, contrarian guide to retiring at any age, with a reproducible formula to financial independence.A bull***t-free guide to growing your wealth, retiring early, and living life on your own terms.Kristy Shen retired with a million dollars at the age of thirty-one, and she did it without hitting a home run on the stock market, starting the next Snapchat in her garage, or investing in hot real estate. Learn how to cut down on spending without decreasing your quality of life, build a million-dollar portfolio, fortify your investments to survive bear markets and black-swan events, and use the 4 percent rule and the Yield Shield - so you can quit the rat race forever. Not everyone can become an entrepreneur or a real estate baron; the rest of us need Shen's mathematically proven approach to retire decades before sixty-five.

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Book SynopsisIntroducing the new 'How To...' series from #Merky Books: unlock your potential with our short, practical pocket-sized guides._______________________________________________________How To Save It: Fix Your FinancesFixing your finances starts with facing your finances.This indispensable guide will help you confront the awkwardness of having conversations about your money and what to do with it.In seven accessible chapters' financial wellness guru Bola Sol, will guide you through all your money essentials - from saving, to budgeting, dealing with your debt, building your credit, and taking your first steps to investingPacked with practical tips and straightforward advice, this is the book that will change your relationship with money for the better.Written by Bola SolForeword Moneybox_______________________________________________________Designed to inspire and encourage readers to unlock their potential and provoke change, the How To series offers a new model in publishing, helping to break down knowledge barriers and uplift the next generation.Creatively presented and packed with clear, step-by-step, practical advice, this series is essential reading for anyone seeking guidance to thrive in the modern world. Curate your bookshelf with these collectible titles.

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Book SynopsisThe Complete Guide to Financial Well-Being equips you with the tools and insights needed to achieve lasting financial stability and peace of mind. Written by Eric Butow and Marc Butler, a seasoned expert in finance, this comprehensive guide offers practical advice and actionable steps for managing your finances effectively.Key Features: Understand the holistic concept of financial wellness Set meaningful financial goals aligned with your values Learn budgeting strategies for financial stability Manage debt effectively and build healthy credit habits Explore saving and investment options for the future Protect yourself against financial risks with insurance and estate planning Navigate life transitions such as merging finances in relationships and planning for retirement Develop habits of financially successful people Whether you''re just starting your financial journey or looking to enhance your financial well-being, The Complete Guide to Financial Well-Being is your comprehensive resource for achieving financial freedom and security.

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Book Synopsis'Lively, intelligent and packed with revelations, Share Power explains how even the smallest of investors can make themselves heard. A copy of this book should be on the desk of anyone with a pension.' Allister Heath, Editor, The Sunday TelegraphIn this scintillating book, award-winning financial commentator Merryn Somerset Webb reveals a much-overlooked fact; every share we own comes with a vote. What few people know is that we can use these votes to influence company decisions - on everything from executive pay to corporate strategy.Delving deep into the world of corporate capitalism - from the privatisation of state-owned companies in the 1980s, to the financial crash of 2008 and the growth of the modern multinational - Share Power shows us how capitalism went wrong and how, with six simple recommendations, every one of us now has the power to make it work for us.

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Book Synopsis'Matt Allwright is my idol. As a comic I'm supposed to say something funny about this book, but actually it's legit useful, helpful advice, written compassionately and clearly. I can absolutely see this becoming my consumer bible. Wonderful stuff!' - JOE LYCETT'Every scam, rogue trader or poor excuse for shoddy service...Watchdog's seen them all. And leading the troops is the consumer superhero who has faced and fought every dodgepot going. Our Matt always has your back, whether he's wearing his cape or not.' - STEPH MCGOVERN'Finally! A book that puts all the info in one place AND makes it funny. Matt is the best at this - making difficult stuff easy to swallow so that we can fight our own corners when he isn't there to fight them for us.' - GABY ROSLINKeep your money in your pocket.In Watchdog: The Consumer Survival Guide, Matt Allwright will help you to help yourself amid the minefield of modern consumer rights and fraudsters, offering practical advice on how to sidestep pitfalls in all areas of life. Each chapter is built around relatable hurdles we all face - renting a flat, buying a car, securing our online data, booking a dream holiday and much more.Packed with useful tips, myth busters and case studies, Watchdog: The Consumer Survival Guide will leave you feeling empowered and save you some pennies along the way.

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to be 'bad' at money? Money is not a maths problem. Spending, saving, splitting the bill or asking for a pay rise - these are moments dominated by our own hang-ups, habits, anxiety and ambitions. Money features in our friendships, family life, our choice of late-night treat and who we date. And yet it's so often hidden behind shame and silence. We need to start talking about it. Funny, frank, and filled with insights, practical advice and conversations with everyone from company CEOs to debt advisors to housemates, Open Up is the book that will transform your relationship to money. It shows how talking can change your life, relationships and bank balance, and influence bigger issues like pay gaps or the living wage. This book strips away the awkwardness to help you gain knowledge, take control of your finances and finally get 'good' with money.Trade ReviewSuch a refreshing read - tackling the benefits of exploring our financial beliefs and habits, it's all you need to revamp your fiscal fortitude * Stylist Loves *Empowering, educational and very entertaining * Elle *Alex writes about money in a completely honest, courageous and original way. No subject is too taboo. She's also funny as hell. -- Gillian Orr, Content Director * Refinery 29 *Drugs, dating, shame, secrets, motherhood and mental health...Alex Holder's EXCELLENT new book about money is not like any other book about money. -- Terri White, editor-in-chief * Empire magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe first quarter of the new century has seen developments in technology, monetary policy and the management of large companies that have transformed personal savings and investment around the world. Love it, loathe it, or just not interested in it, this innovation has changed not only the nature of money, but our understanding of what it means to invest - whether we want to safeguard our pensions, experiment with personal trading platforms or simply understand how the markets really work. How to Invest aims to help investors navigate this new world, offering a principles-based, keep-it-simple approach to help them make investment decisions and have investment conversations that will make the most of their money.Trade ReviewPeter Stanyer and his colleagues have made an outstanding book even better. The authors have created an insightful survey of the current state of investing. Whatever your focus, there is something to enjoy in this new, up-to-date compendium -- Elroy Dimson, Co-author of The Triumph of the Optimists, Professor of Finance, Cambridge Judge Business SchoolIn times of economic uncertainty, it's all too easy to follow the latest new thing in investing rather than sticking with the tried and true. Peter Stanyer and his co-authors continue to add value by encouraging us to look at the evidence of long-term performance. My firm's experience is that their approach results in happier investors -- Mark Ralphs, Founding Partner of the Financial Planning Corporation LLPHow the authors managed to get so much good information and advice into How To Invest is a mystery to me, but they did. Despite the time that many investors spend on issues such as return expectations, risk and timing, the authors remind us that a keep-it-simple focus is the key to an investment strategy that secures an investor's spending plans. If you only have one book in your investing library, make it this one -- Harold Evensky, founder of Evensky & Katz/ Foldes Wealth Management

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING NOVEL FOLLOW-UP TO WITTY BESTSELLER LIVE ALONE AND LIKE IT Orchids on Your Budget gives advice on all manner of subjects, from entertaining and creating the perfect capsule wardrobe to relinquishing the family estate. Lest you worry about how to put the advice into practice, each chapter concludes with a case study providing examples of women who heeded - and those lamentable souls who ignored - Marjorie's wise words.'It's not difficult to have fun out of economising (up to a point), both because of the sense of achievement it gives you and because everyone else is doing it, too . . . A slight financial pressure sharpens the wits, though it needn't sharpen the disposition. But it takes an interesting person to have an attractive menage on a shoe-string and to run it with gaiety and charm . . . Maybe you would rather play polo than pingpong, but if you've got an old pingpong set and no ponies, you'll get a lot more fun out of life from being a pingpong champion than from taking a dispirited whack with a polo mallet every now and then.'

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Book SynopsisA clear and unpatronising guide to money for teenagers.Jonathan Self's user-friendly guide demystifies every aspect of money and money management, covering such critical topics as bank accounts, living on a budget, the dangers of credit cards, and how to cope with money at university. The Teenager's Guide to Money treats what can be the driest and most daunting of topics with the lightest and easiest of touches. Rich in information and advice, but also accessible, easy to follow and entertaining to read, this is a book that parents should ensure finds its way into the hands of every teenager. In fact, so clear and coherent is the counsel it offers, that it wouldn't be a bad idea if the book was read by parents themselves, just in case they've forgotten its core message that having enough money has very little to do with how much money you earn, and a great deal to do with how well you manage it.Table of ContentsWhy money isn't boring Money for students A very very short history of money Work, tax and benefits A cunning money plan Buying your own home The language of money Your worst money enemy The 'B' word and how to avoid it The ultimate guide to banking Money-making secrets Why plastic isn't that fantastic Get protected Don't become a loan ranger How to retire early and RICH How to turn GBP1 a day into GBP1,000,000 Money help and where to find it. Have money, will travel

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Book SynopsisMAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU by matching your spending and investments to your valuesCONTROL YOUR SPENDING BEHAVIOUR by gathering and tracking financial information efficientlySIMPLIFY YOUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT by learning to use the right tools effectivelyREALIZE YOUR SAVINGS GOALS by understanding what you want to and can achieveIntroducing Personal Finance, by economics expert Michael Taillard, teaches you everything you need to know about managing your financial life. It's crammed full of practical advice on how to save, earn and get the most out of your money.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisFrom aspiring space engineer to content creator with millions of views, Ankur's book covers habits for success, money management, failure, and empathy. A must-read that will be shared and cherished, Ankur aims for it to be the most gifted book ever.

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Book SynopsisInternational finance coach Ann Wilson is known as the Wealth Chef because of her ability to help people cook up monetary success. In this book, Ann has laid out a step-by-step guide to creating financial freedom. In its pages, readers will find five recipes for wealth that helped Ann go from having nothing to becoming a multimillionaire. These recipes reveal the secrets to: • Becoming debt-free while simultaneously generating wealth • Getting your 'wealth accelerators' working • Increasing your quality of life while reducing your expenses • Focusing on personal goals and tracking successes for rapid results Ann takes what she's learned from her own life and from teaching around the world - from Africa, to Asia, to Australia, to America, to Europe - and gives readers an in-depth yet manageable plan and tested principles to improve their relationship with money. Simply put, she shows readers how to become financially savvy and build wealth starting immediately. They realize they can create financial freedom and live their dream life now, feeling empowered to throw away the old recipe for success: mix together one secure job with a lifelong portion of hard work and sacrifice to hopefully live the dream life after retirement. Why wait? With the practices and techniques Ann presents here they don't have to!Trade ReviewA surefire recipe for living your life the way you want, free from concerns about money. -- Lois P. Frankel PhD New York Times bestselling author of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office Ann Wilson not only proves that nice girls can get rich, she does it in a way that's fun to read and easy to understand. A surefire recipe for living your life the way you want, free from concerns about money. In my book, that's rich. -- Lois P. Frankel PhD, author of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office The Wealth Chef is a must if you want to make your money work for you and become financially free. I wholeheartedly recommend it. -- Katharine Dever, international speaker and business mentor

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Book SynopsisControl your spending, save money, regain peace of mind, and make your life happier and healthier with Kakebo—the traditional Japanese method of money management that is still widely used today.Having enough money to live is one of the most important factors affecting our health. Trying to balance expenses—utility bills, housing, healthcare, food, and for many, the costs of raising children (not to mention paying for college!)—leaves us worried and stressed. But there is a solution: Kakebo, a practical, proven method that helps you keep track of every penny, manage spending, and save up to thirty percent more!With this invaluable guide you’ll interact with your spending every day for two years, and learn how to manage your personal budget. Designed like a diary, it allows you to record all your daily expenses week by week so you can see exactly where your money goes. Each day is divided into four categories: 1. primary needs—food, personal hygiene, children; 2. optional needs—shopping, cosmetics, gifts; 3. culture and free time—restaurants, books, entertainment; and 4. extras/foreseeable expenses—such as travel, repairs, tuition, and taxes.Kakebo begins with setting a monthly budget. At the beginning of each month, enter your fixed incoming funds and outgoing expenses, and set a savings target. Then, each day, record your various expenses. By keeping close tabs on what you’re spending, you’ll be able to identify the waste and see the most significant areas where adjustments can be made. Kakebo also offers practical and motivating tips that teach you how to save more successfully.Kakebo isn’t just about money—it helps to develop self-awareness, self-discipline, and self-esteem, and promotes peace of mind. Best of all, you can begin any time of year—individually marking the months and days without wasting any pages. Plus, its simple yet inviting for-color graphics help you break down each expense and easily identify see where adjustments need to be made.

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Book SynopsisIn We Should All Be Millionaires, Rachel Rodgers—Black woman, mother of four kids, and self-made millionaire—shared her personal story of how she climbed from crushing debt and financial stress to wealth and abundance, running a multi-million-dollar company.Her book inspired thousands of readers to construct a new attitude about money, claim their power, and build the financial security that we all need and deserve. Now comes the companion guide to help take that attitude and turn it into action.This one-of-a-kind guide: Summarizes the most important concepts from We Should All Be Millionaires in a brief, succinct way, so these concepts stick firmly in your mind. Shifts the focus from “knowing” to “doing,” by giving you small action steps that you can start taking immediately. Provides checklists so that you can complete steps, tick things off as you go along, and track your progress.

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Book SynopsisThe essential guide to the basics of personal financeSelected as one of The Sun's Top Books to Turn the Page on Money Woes'.Manage money, plan for the future in five simple stepsBecoming your own financial hero is simpler than you think. The principles of financial security have been cloaked in mystery for generations. Money plays a key role in our daily lives, but for many of us, these skills were not taught or developed at a young age.THE MONEY BASICS: How to Become Your Own Financial Hero is the straightforward, practical guide to money management, based on Peter Komolafe's innovative and accessible five-step B. A. S. I. C. approach: Budget, Avoid Debt, Save Early, Invest Early and Credit Score.Anyone can implement these methods, no matter what your financial situation. Learn the principles of financial security by cutting through the murk and jargon.The Money Basics will: Help you identify poor money habits Set you on a budgeting plan that works for you Demystify financial terms anTrade Review Selected as one of The Sun’s ‘Top Books to Turn the Page on Money Woes’. ‘Will help you to identify poor money habits, provide a system to control debt, set a budget that works for you and demystify financial terms and processes.’ The Sun

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Book SynopsisSuitable for investors, this book provides several proven techniques of Benjamin Graham, "the most influential investment philosopher of the 20th century." In an easy-to-understand style, with entertaining stories and quotes, this book demystifies value investing and gives you simple-to-use trading tactics that can help you reap rewards.Table of ContentsWhat is value investing?; finding safety in the balance sheet; identifying growth in the income statement; choosing a stock; building a portfolio; risk management; special circumstances; corporate management and the value investor; market factors; summary.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis''Distills what matters most into something that is easy and fun to read'' Morgan Housel, columnist, The Wall Street JournalA simple, effective way to transform your finances and your life from leading financial advisor and New York Times columnist Carl Richards Creating a financial plan can seem overwhelming, but the best plans aren''t long or complicated. A great plan has nothing to do with the details of how to save and invest your money and everything to do with why you''re doing it in the first place. Knowing what''s important to you, you will be able to make better decisions in any market conditions.The One-Page Financial Plan will help you identify your values and goals. Carl Richard''s simple steps will show you how to prioritize what you really want in life and figure out how to get there.''In a world where financial advice is (often purposely) complicated and filled with jargon, Carl Richards Trade ReviewIn a world where financial advice is (often purposely) complicated and filled with jargon, Carl distills what matters most into something that is easy and fun to read. The true measure of a brilliant book is whether the material is as relevant to an industry expert as it is to a layperson. The One-Page Financial Plan unquestionably is. Buy two copies - one for yourself and one to hand to the nearest pundit -- Morgan Housel, columnist, The Wall Street JournalThere are very few financial writers that have been more influential for me than Carl Richards. Carl has done more to simplify the investing process than anyone else in America. His trademark combination of wit and illumination make The One-Page Financial Plan an instant classic in the genre. Don't invest another cent before you've digested this highly readable lesson -- Joshua M. Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and author of Backstage Wall StreetNo one in the financial industry communicates like Carl Richards. He has a gift for distilling truth from complexity without diluting it, a skill especially evident in The One-Page Financial Plan. If you're skeptical that an effective plan for your life and your money can be limited to a single page, I encourage you to put Carl's process to the test. I'm confident that, like mine, your time and effort will be well rewarded -- Tim Maurer, CFP®, wealth advisor for Buckingham Asset Management and director of personal finance at the BAM AllianceFeeling tormented by your finances? Read this book. Now. The One-Page Financial Plan helps you identify what you truly want from life, get crystal clear about the financial position you are starting from today, and develop a simple, actionable plan to narrow the gap between the two -- Manisha Thakor, CEO at MoneyZen Wealth Management

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Book SynopsisNo need to stress about your finances anymore with The Little Book of Money. This easy and compact guide provides a multitude of practical tips and tricks for achieving financial prosperity, improving your overall wealth and reinvesting in yourself.Discover everything you need to know to lead a more fruitful and prosperous life in this handy guide, from everyday financial basics like opening up a bank account, to growing your wealth with stocks, bonds and mutual funds to daily, monthly and yearly habits like the mason jar challenge for improved financial health. Whether you are a recent college graduate or someone seeking financial advice, this book will provide easy and practical tips to declutter your finances, improve your personal wealth and free yourself from the emotional stressors of money. Simple tips and tricks for understanding the basics of finance Creative strategies for maximing your income through mastering your

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Book SynopsisLearn the basics of investing with this approachableguide to the world of finance Clever Girl Finance: Learn How Investing Works, Grow Your Moneyis the leading guide for women who seek to learn the basic foundations of personal investing. In a no-nonsense and straightforward style, this book teaches readers: Exactly how investing works and what you should be doing, no fancy finance degree required How to leverage investing to build long term wealth even on a modest salary The key pitfalls to avoid in order to become a successful investor How to build a nest egg and invest in your future Insightsfrom real-world success stories from other clever girl investors Clever Girl Financeteaches readers the irreplaceable value of investing for long-term financial gain, and the difference between making money andbuildingwealth. Written for any woman who's ever sought out an accessible introTable of ContentsAbout the Author xi Acknowledgments xiii You are in the Right Place! Get Ready to Become a Clever Girl Investor! xv How to Use This Book xix Chapter 1 Adjusting Your Mindset About Investing 1 Why Investing Matters 7 Getting Educated About Investing 9 Women and the Investment Gap: Why It’s More Important Than Ever for Women in Particular to Invest 11 My Investing Story: The Complete Game-Changer for My Finances 15 Chapter 2 How the Stock Market Works 19 What Is the Stock Market? 21 Stock Exchanges in the United States 22 Indices and the Stock Market 23 The Economy and the Stock Market 26 How the Economy Affects Your Portfolio 26 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jennifer “Jenny” Coombs 30 Chapter 3 Core Investing Concepts: Inflation, Compounding, and the Rule of 72 33 Inflation 36 What Causes Inflation? 37 Inflation in the United States 38 Compounding 39 How Compound Interest Works 40 The Rule of 72 44 Compound Interest, the Rule of 72, and Debt 46 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Cindy E. Zuniga 48 Chapter 4 Preparing to Invest 51 Key Factors to Ensure You’re Prepared to Invest 54 Setting Your Investment Objectives 58 Understanding Risk 59 Mitigating Risk 60 Chapter 5 The Different Types of Stock Market Investments 65 Investing in Stocks 67 Market Capitalization and Stocks 68 Investing in Bonds 70 What to Know About Bonds 70 Should You Buy Individual Stocks and/or Bonds? 73 Investing in Funds 74 Index Funds to Win 76 The Key Benefits of Index Funds 77 Popular Index Funds 79 Chapter 6 Researching Your Investments 83 Things to Look for When Researching Investments 86 Extra Credit: More Investing Terms and Definitions 90 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Adeola Omole 92 Chapter 7 Where and How to Purchase Your Investments 97 Brokerage Firms and Robo-Advisors 99 Working with a Financial Advisor 102 Practicing with Simulation Accounts 103 Trading versus Investing 104 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jully-Alma Taveras 105 Chapter 8 Investing for Retirement 109 Types of Retirement Investment Accounts 114 What to Do When You Leave Your Employer 122 Tips to Maximize Your Retirement Investments 123 Are You Saving Enough? 126 Investing During Retirement 128 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Faneisha “Fo” Alexander 129 Chapter 9 Simple Investing Strategies 133 The 3-Fund Portfolio Investing Strategy 136 Alternative Investing Strategies: The 1-Fund, 2-Fund, 4-Fund, and 5-Fund Portfolios 139 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jamila Souffrant 143 Chapter 10 Keeping Your Investments on Target 147 How Does Rebalancing Work? 149 When to Rebalance Your Portfolio 150 A Common Rule of Thumb: 100 Minus Your Age 151 How Often Should You Rebalance Your Portfolio? 151 Target-Date Funds, Robo-Advisors, and Portfolio Rebalancing 152 Letting Go of a Losing Investment 153 Chapter 11 The Deal with Taxes 157 Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax 159 Tax Losses 160 Minimizing Your Tax Obligation 161 Chapter 12 Investing Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid 165 Key Investing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 168 Clever Girl Investor: Meet Regina Byrd 170 In Closing 175 Takeaways to Remember 177 Index 181

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Book SynopsisHow would you like to succeed in business and master investment by profiting in untapped areas that the masses know nothing about? Uncommon Sense guides you to unique, little-known and commonly misunderstood strategies that generate lasting revenue and sustained results by going against the tide.In this book you''ll discover:- How to asses real value, understand the hidden motives of the media and see through hype.- Real business investing models such as hybriding and super-specialisation which will enable you to invest securely and profitably.- Understand the popular misonceptions, schemes, traps and truths which part you from your money - and learn how to defend yourself against them and secure lasting wealth.Essential reading for investors, innovators and entrepreneurs, Uncommon Sense provides a balanced, insightful and inspiring toolkit for making smart decisions in investing and business.

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Book SynopsisAnyone can look successful with the right watch on their wrist or car parked in the driveway - but what is real success and how much are you really worth? In this fascinating, liberating book bestselling author Rob Moore takes you back to basics and examines how to realize your real value - your self-esteem, your ambitions, your reputation and your income. No longer will you doubt yourself, make self-defeating comparisons or make assumptions about how others see you - instead you will maximize your opportunities and love yourself for who you really are. Rob will show you that no matter what you think you're worth, you're worth more.

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Following the success of the international bestseller, 100 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO, Nigel Cumberland turns his attention to wealth.100 THINGS MILLIONAIRES DO distills all the wisdom and knowledge of a lifetime of starting and selling businesses and coaching hundreds of wealthy leaders into 100 short chapters of advice on building and retaining sustainable wealth. This is not a get rich quick book. Instead, Nigel explores the habits, tools, techniques and mentality of self-made millionaires and shows you how to begin your own journey to a wealthy future. Mixing simple instructions with activities to get you started, you will find mindsets, habits, and techniques here that will help you get the results you want.100 THINGS MILLIONAIRES DO is packed with great ideas for creating long-term wealth and success for yourself and those you care about. You will discover the habits that are common to wealthy people and find out how to use them in your own life. Every chapter features a new idea that will help you get closer to your goals. Mixing simple descriptions with activities and exercises, you will learn the optimal mindset and habits you need to succeed.Praise for 100 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO'Inside these pages you'll find a powerful reminder of the many ways you can make your life - and other people's lives - more successful. It will help you identify what success means to you and give you the building blocks for making that success a reality. This is your chance to overcome whatever obstacles are stopping you. Read it, act on it and experience the difference' Marshall Goldsmith Ph.D., bestselling author of TRIGGERS

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Book SynopsisMany of our global economic problems started in 1971...when President Richard Nixon took the U.S. off the gold standard. Throughout history, when a government went off the gold standard, an age of turbulence began. In 1997, Robert's book Rich Dad Poor Dad stunned readers stating, "Your house is not an asset." As howls of protest went up around the world, the book went on to become an international bestseller and the #1 personal finance book of all time. Rich Dad Poor Dad is not a book on real estate. It is a book about the importance of financial education. Rich Dad Poor Dad was written to prepare you and your loved ones for the financial turbulence Robert's rich dad saw coming. In 2007, as homes declined in value or were lost to foreclosure, millions of homeowners painfully discovered the wisdom of words of Robert's rich dad. Today we are all aware that a home can be a liability. Today we know a home can go up or down in value. Today, we all know a person can lose money investing in the stock market. Today we all know our money can go down in value and that even savers can be losers. This is why financial intelligence is more important today than ever before. In a world of financial turbulence, your best asset is financial IQ.

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Book SynopsisTools for clergy and congregational leaders to lead theological conversations about money. Scripture and theology provide ample material for a rich discussion of money and possessions. Theologians of every era have written about money. Author Brendan Barnicle offers pastoral programs to bring the conversation into contemporary focus by considering personal budgeting and estate planning (personal discipleship), parish budgets and parish investments (communal ministry), and congregational partnering and policy advocacy (global mission).Trade Review“Talking Dollars and Sense is a well-written book that has a systematic layout as to how leaders in the church can have healthy discussions surrounding money. The book helps with changing the status quo or stereotypical mindset that exists in the church today surrounding the topic of money.”—Alisa Kelly, Canon for Finance and Administration, The Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee“Brendan Barnicle reframes the concept of stewardship: not a season of the church year, not a fund-raising campaign, but a theology that guides the use of all our assets—every one of which is a gift from God. He challenges his readers to recognize how we can use our assets in ways that are creative, redemptive, and sustaining. And he offers practical guidance for engaging congregations in eye-opening conversations around money, faith, and justice. This book is a gift that can help move the church toward building Beloved Community.”—Demi Prentiss, Program Director, Research and Development, Episcopal Church FoundationTable of ContentsIntroduction1. “What Are We Afraid Of?” Financial Anxiety Inside and Outside of Church 2. “What Has the Church Said?” Scriptural and Theological Guidance on Money 3. History of Stewardship 4. “What Does Scripture Say?” Understanding the Theology of the Congregation 5. Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Money 6. Year A: Budget Planning and Estate Planning for Personal Discipleship 7. Year B: Narrative Budgets and Investment Choices for Congregational Ministry 8. Year C: Resource Sharing and Advocacy for Global Mission 9. ConclusionAppendix Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAsking credit card companies, banks, schools and other businesses for better rates and discounts works. Here's how to do it

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