Personal finance Books

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Book Synopsis"Powerful, credible, and applicable . . . the methodology is immaculately detailed."—Fortune

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Book SynopsisWhether looking to create and adhere to a budget or trying to best utilize consumer credit and loans, Personal Finance will help readers make smart financial decisions throughout their lives. Guiding them all the way through to retirement, this book includes numerous real-world examples to easily show them how to apply the material.Table of ContentsPart I: The Personal Financial Planning Process 1 1. Personal Financial Planning in Action 1 Introduction 2 1.1 The Personal Financial Planning Process 2 1.2 Factors That Influence Personal Financial Planning 6 1.3 Elements of a Comprehensive Financial Plan 12 1.4 Making Effective Decisions 13 Summary 17 Key Terms 17 Summary Questions 18 Applying This Chapter 19 You Try It 21 2. Money Management Strategies and Skills 22 Introduction 23 2.1 Collecting and Organizing Your Financial Information 23 2.2 Using Personal Financial Statements 25 2.3 Using Financial Ratios 33 Summary 36 Key Terms 37 Summary Questions 38 Applying This Chapter 39 You Try It 41 3. Managing Your Taxes 42 Introduction 43 3.1 The Basics of Federal Income Tax 43 3.2 Calculating Taxable Income and Taxes Owed 48 3.3 Filing Your Federal Tax Return 58 3.4 Tax Planning Strategies 62 Summary 68 Key Terms 68 Summary Questions 71 Applying This Chapter 72 You Try It 74 Part II: Managing Your Personal Finances 75 4. Managing Your Cash and Savings 75 Introduction 76 4.1 Objectives of Cash Management 76 4.2 Rules of Effective Cash Management 79 4.3 Selecting a Financial Institution 81 4.4 Cash Management Products and Services 86 4.5 Resolving Cash Management Problems 96 Summary 99 Key Terms 99 Summary Questions 102 Applying This Chapter 103 You Try It 105 5. Consumer Credit 106 Introduction 107 5.1 What is Consumer Credit? 107 5.2 Types of Consumer Credit 111 5.3 Applying for Credit 113 5.4 Protecting Your Credit and Correcting Credit Mistakes 115 5.5 Credit Cards 119 5.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Credit Card Use 124 Summary 128 Key Terms 128 Summary Questions 131 Applying This Chapter 132 You Try It 133 6. Using Consumer Loans 134 Introduction 135 6.1 Characteristics of Consumer Loans 135 6.2 Types of Consumer Loans 137 6.3 Sources of Consumer Loans 142 6.4 Managing Your Debts 144 6.5 Declaring Personal Bankruptcy 149 Summary 152 Key Terms 152 Summary Questions 154 Applying This Chapter 155 You Try It 157 7. Making Automobile and Housing Decisions 158 Introduction 159 7.1 Buying a Motor Vehicle 159 7.2 Automobile Financing Alternatives 167 7.3 The Housing Decision 170 7.4 Buying a Home 174 7.5 Mortgage Financing 176 7.6 Completing a Real Estate Transaction 183 Summary 185 Key Terms 185 Summary Questions 187 Applying This Chapter 188 You Try It 189 Part III: Protecting Yourself with Insurance 190 8. Insuring Your Home and Automobile 190 Introduction 191 8.1 How Insurance Works 191 8.2 Managing Homeowners’ and Renters’ Risk 194 8.3 Homeowner’s Insurance Policies 197 8.4 Automobile Insurance 202 8.5 Buying Insurance and Filing Claims 209 Summary 211 Key Terms 211 Summary Questions 214 Applying This Chapter 215 You Try It 217 9. Health and Disability Insurance 218 Introduction 219 9.1 Employee Compensation and Health Insurance 219 9.2 Types of Health Insurance 225 9.3 Planning for Disability Income Needs 236 Summary 240 Key Terms 240 Summary Questions 243 Applying This Chapter 244 You Try It 246 10. Financial Planning with Life Insurance 247 Introduction 248 10.1 What is Life Insurance? 248 10.2 Determining Your Life Insurance Needs 251 10.3 Choosing Life Insurance Companies and Policies 258 10.4 Buying Life Insurance 264 10.5 Important Provisions in a Life Insurance Contract 267 Summary 271 Key Terms 271 Summary Questions 274 Applying This Chapter 275 You Try It 277 Part IV: Managing Your Investments and Your Future 278 11. Investment Basics 278 Introduction 279 11.1 Developing Realistic Investment Goals 279 11.2 Understanding Your Investment Alternatives 284 11.3 Factors That Reduce Investment Risk 289 11.4 Establishing Your Investment Strategy 297 Summary 301 Key Terms 301 Summary Questions 304 Applying This Chapter 305 You Try It 306 12. Investing in Stocks and Bonds 307 Introduction 308 12.1 Common Stock 308 12.2 Classification of Common Stock 314 12.3 Buying and Selling Stocks 317 12.4 Stock Selection and Performance Evaluation 323 12.5 Investing in Bonds 328 12.6 Buying and Selling Bonds 337 12.7 Preferred Stock 341 Summary 343 Key Terms 344 Summary Questions 347 Applying This Chapter 348 You Try It 350 13. Investing in Mutual Funds 351 Introduction 352 13.1 What is a Mutual Fund? 352 13.2 Mutual Fund Investment Classifications 363 13.3 Selecting and Evaluating Mutual Funds 367 Summary 373 Key Terms 374 Summary Questions 376 Applying This Chapter 377 You Try It 378 14. Planning for Retirement 380 Introduction 381 14.1 Estimating Retirement Income Needs 381 14.2 Sources of Retirement Income 386 14.3 Personal Retirement Savings Options 394 14.4 Preparing for Retirement Payouts 397 Summary 400 Key Terms 400 Summary Questions 401 Applying This Chapter 402 You Try It 403 15. Preserving Your Estate 404 Introduction 405 15.1 What is Estate Planning? 405 15.2 Key Components of an Estate Plan 408 15.3 Types and Formats of Wills 411 15.4 Estate and Gift Taxes 417 15.5 Reducing Taxes Through Trusts and Gifts 421 Summary 426 Key Terms 426 Summary Questions 428 Applying This Chapter 429 You Try It 431 Endnotes 432 Appendix 433 Glossary 455 Index 478

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Book SynopsisA hard-hitting look at achieving financial freedom by avoiding excessive borrowing and spending If you don''t actively resist America''s culture of debt, you''ll end up precisely where the government, banks, and big business want you to be: indentured servitude. The mistakes people make with their money are basic, and avoidable, and unless you understand what they are, you''re probably going to repeat them. What you need is someone who can shed light on the obstacles we face and show you how to avoid getting tripped up by them. Financially Stupid People Are Everywhere shows how society is rigged to take as much of your wealth as possible, and simple ways you can resist. It investigates, explains, and offers advice for all those who have fallen into debt, taken a second mortgage, been trapped by credit cards, or found themselves unable to get ahead. Discusses what you can do to stop the destructive cycle of borrowing and spending IllustratesTable of ContentsIntroduction Life as a Sucker 1 Chapter 1 The First Rule of Finance 7 Chapter 2 Credit, Cars, and Castles 13 Chapter 3 Toxic FSP in the Alphabet of Idiocy 27 Chapter 4 The Society You’re Up Against 47 Chapter 5 Government of the Corporations, by the Corporations, for the Corporations 63 Chapter 6 How Money Is Power 89 Chapter 7 Financial Freedom 147 Chapter 8 Guarantee Your Own Well-Being 159 Chapter 9 On the Front Lines of Freedom 169 Conclusion In Yourself You Trust 185 Appendix A Smart Scenarios 189 Appendix B Getting Out of Debt 191 Appendix C Keep Current 195 Notes 197 Acknowledgments 201 About the Author 203 Index 205

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Book SynopsisA complete guide to key market features and their impact on each of the main areas of investment This comprehensive guide offers practical advice on how to predict and manage market risk and how to allocate assets for the best performance under different market conditions. The Investor''s Guide to Market Fundamentals covers both the theory and practice of this often-complicated subject, and gives readers a reliable source of market information.Trade Review"…a useful primer in economics for the beginner in financial markets…" (The Business Economist, Vol.34, No.2, 2003)Table of ContentsList of Figures. List of Tables. Preface. Acknowledgements. PART I: ECONOMICS FOR INVESTORS. Why Economic Growth Matters. Business Cycle Fundamentals. Is Inflation Dead? The New Economy: Myth or Reality. Understanding Central Banks. Fiscal Policy. Asset Prices and the Economy. Globalisation and Capital Flows. International Linkages. Emerging Economies. PART II: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MAJOR ASSET CLASSES. Money Markets. Bond Markets. Stock Markets. Currency Markets. Property Markets. Emerging Markets Investments. Commodity Markets. PART III: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. Summary: Economic Fundamentals and Market Performance. Economic Fundamentals and the Investment Process. Ten Years of Changing Fundamentals. Useful Websites. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisA new, updated edition of the ultimate guide to trusts Trusts are powerful and flexible financial planning tools, and this new edition of The Complete Book of Trusts covers everything you need to know to protect your hard-earned assets from taxes, creditors, and more.Table of ContentsPART ONE: UNDERSTANDING THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A TYPICAL TRUSTS. Overview of Trusts. The Trust Document: Basic Building Blocks. Transferring Assets to Your Trust. Grantor's Rights and Powers. Designations and Rights of Beneficiaries. Fiduciary Rights, Powers and Obligations. Investment Standards and Decisions. Distribution of Income and Principal. Miscellaneous Trust Provisions and Exhibits. PART TWO: TAX CONSEQUENCES OF TRUSTS. Planning for the Gift and Estate Tax. Planning for the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax. How Trusts and Beneficiaries are Taxed. PART THREE: TRUSTS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS. Trusts for Yourself. Trusts for Your Spouse. Trusts for NonMarried Partners. Trusts for Children and Others. Trusts for Charities. PART FOUR: TRUSTS FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF ASSETS. Trusts to Protect Your Assets. Life Insurance Trusts. Trusts for Securities. Trusts for Business Asstes. Trust for Real Estate. Trusts for Pensions and Employee Benefits. PART FIVE: TERMINATION OF YOUR TRUST. Trust Termination. Index.

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Book SynopsisMark Kritzman takes on and simplifies six of the most perplexing and persistently challenging financial riddles. Through clever examples and plain logic, this book should help readers to arrive at a deeper understanding of finance and the daily management of money.Table of ContentsSiegel's Paradox. Likelihood of Loss. Time Diversification. Why the Expected Return Is Not To Be Expected. Half Stocks All the Time or All Stocks Half the Time? The Irrelevance of Expected Return on Option Valuation. Primer: Financial Concepts and Quantitative Methods. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisMany investment books include a chapter or two on investment performance measurement or focus on a single aspect, but only one book addresses the breadth of the field. Investment Performance Measurement is a comprehensive guide that covers the subjects of performance and risk calculation, attribution, presentation, and interpretation.Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. CHAPTER 1: Investment Performance Measurement. PART ONE: RETURN MEASUREMENT. CHAPTER 2: Single Period Return. CHAPTER 3: Money-Weighted Return. CHAPTER 4: Time-Weighted Return. CHAPTER 5: Multiperiod Return. CHAPTER 6: Adjusting Returns for Impact of Fees, Taxes, and Currency. CHAPTER 7: Measuring Relative Return. PART TWO: RISK MEASUREMENT. CHAPTER 8: Risk. CHAPTER 9: Absolute Risk. CHAPTER 10: Downside Risk. CHAPTER 11: Relative Risk. PART THREE: MEASURING RISK-ADJUSTED PERFORMANCE. CHAPTER 12: Absolute Risk-Adjusted Return. CHAPTER 13: Downside and Relative Risk-Adjusted Return. CHAPTER 14: Assessing Skill. PART FOUR: PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTION. CHAPTER 15: Security and Segment Returns. CHAPTER 16: Effective Exposure Basis Returns. CHAPTER 17: Contribution Analysis. CHAPTER 18: Attributing Value Added to Management Decisions. CHAPTER 19: Strategy-Specific Return Decomposition. PART FIVE: PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION. CHAPTER 20: AIMR- and GIPS-Compliant Performance Presentations. Appendix: The AIMR Performance Presentation Standards. Index.

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Book SynopsisImagine receiving investment advice from Warren Buffett, B.C. Forbes, Charles H. Dow, and 47 other great investors, all in a single, convenient resource. This collection brings their words of wisdom together in one useful volume, offering readers a unique insight into how these professionals achieved financial success through intelligent investing.Trade ReviewEditor of The Book of Leadership Wisdom "A great patients' drug is one that cures an affliction once and for all, but a great investor's drug is one that the patient has to keep buying." -PETER LYNCH "Those who invest well have an innate ability to distill abundant, raw information into the scarce commodity of wisdom. Here's how some of the best have done it down through the years." -David H. Komansky, Chairman and CEO, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. "I personally knew moderately all the characters except Charles Dow. Any opportunity to learn more from such people is an opportunity that should not be missed." -Roy R. Neuberger, [his job title TK], Neuberger Berman Inc., and author of So Far, So Good: The First 94 yearsTable of ContentsTHE NUTS AND BOLTS OF ANALYSIS. Warren E. Buffett: Track Record Is Everything. Philip Fisher: The People Factor. Henry Clews: The Study of the Stock Market. Arnold Bernhard: The Valuation of Listed Stocks. Paul F. Miller, Jr.: The Dangers of Retrospective Myopia. Jim Rogers: Get Smart...and Make a Fortune. Peter Lynch: Stalking the Tenbagger. ATTITUDE AND PHILOSOPHY. Adam Smith: Can Ink Blots Tell You... Ellen Douglas Williamson: Do-It-Yourself Investing. John Moody: Investment versus Speculation. John C. Bogle: A Mandate for Fund Shareholders. B. C. Forbes: Wall Street Millionaires. Fred Schwed, Jr.: The Wall Street Dream Market. STRATEGY. Edward C. Johnson, II: Contrary Opinion in Stock Market Techniques. Peter L. Bernstein: Is Investing for the Long Term Theory or Just Mumbo-Jumbo? Sir John Templeton: The Time-Tested Maxims of the Templeton Touch. Mario Gabelli: Grand Slam Hitting. Gerald M. Loeb: Importance of Correct Timing. Philip Carret: When Speculation Becomes Investment. MARKET CYCLES. Charles H. Dow: Booms and Busts. William Peter Hamilton: The Dow Theory. Roger W. Babson: Three Different Stock Market Movements. Bernard M. Baruch: Does a Stock Market Slump Mean a Business Slide-Off? Abby Joseph Cohen: A Fundamental Strength. Joseph E. Granville: Market Movements. Arthur Crump: The Importance of Special Knowledge. Robert R. Prechter: Elvis, Frankenstein and Andy Warhol. VIEWS FROM THE INSIDE. W. W. Fowler: The Stock Exchange. Edward H. H. Simmons: The Stock Exchange as a Stabilizing Factor in American Business. Otto Kahn: The New York Stock Exchange and Public Opinion. Charles E. Merrill and E. A. Pierce: A Declaration of Policy. Micheal H. Steinhardt: Investing, Hedge-Fund Style. Laura Pedersen: The Last Frontier. LESSONS FROM NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS. Bouck White: Daniel Drew on Wall Street. Richard Whitney: In Defense of the Stock Exchange. T. Boone Pickens, Jr.: Professions of a Short-Termer. James Grant: Michael Milken, Meet Sewell Avery. CRASH AND LEARN. Frank A. Vanderlip: The Haunting Specter (1907). Edwin Lefèvre: Vanished Billions (1929). J. Paul Getty: The Wall Street Investor (1962). George Soros: After Black Monday (1987). BEYOND YOUR AVERAGE BLUE CHIP. Leo Melamed: The Art of Futures Trading. Stanley Kroll: How to Win Big and Lose Small. Benjamin Graham: The Art of Hedging. Martin E. Zweig: Selling Short-It's Not Un-American. Donald J. Trump: Trump Cards: The Elements of the Deal. Acknowledgments. Notes.

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Book SynopsisUnlike other investment books that dole out one brand of advice to a potentially diverse readership, this unique book guides the reader to their own best personal strategy by showing them what types of stocks fit their individual style.Trade Review"How-to-invest books normally put me to sleep, but DerrickNiederman comes at the subject with such freshness and wit that Igot hooked--and stayed that way right straight through." --Carol J.Loomis, Board of Editors, Fortune Magazine "Put down the Wall Street Journal and look in the mirror, saysNiederman. The key to successful investing isn't knowing the p/eratio of General Motors. It's knowing yourself. This is fascinatingstuff."--John Rothchild, author of The Bear Book and A Fool and HisMoneyTable of ContentsIntroduction. The Bargain Hunter. The Visionary. The Contrarian. The Sentimentalist. The Skeptic. The Trader. The Adventurist. The Psychology of Analyzing Stocks. Dealing with Others. Investing in Real Life. Index.

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Book SynopsisA truly enlightening work filled with fundamental strategies that have worked for others.Martin Fridson documents the essential principles inherent in every billionaire''s success. -Gordon Bethune Chairman of the Board and CEO Continental Airlines Self-made billionaires all have one thing in common: they excel at making money. But hard work, thrift, and focus are only part of the story-you hold the rest of it in your hands. How to Be a Billionaire is the first comprehensive picture of the real strategies and tactics that built the great business fortunes of modern times. Packed with engaging accounts of titans like Ross Perot, Richard Branson, Phil Anschutz, John D. Rockefeller, Wayne Huizenga, Bill Gates, J. Paul Getty, and Kirk Kerkorian, How to Be a Billionaire will show you principles that can increase your wealth and business acumen to the mogul level. How to Be a Billionaire looks at the careers, the methods, and the minds of self-made billionaiTable of ContentsACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE. Do You Sincerely Want to Be Superrich? How Important Is Choosing an Industry? FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES. Take Monumental Risks. Do Business in a New Way. Dominate Your Market. Consolidate an Industry. Buy Low. Thrive on Deals. Outmanage the Competition. Invest in Political Influence. Resist the Unions. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER. Your Turn. Notes. Index.

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Book SynopsisWHAT DOES RETIREMENT MEAN TO YOU? Will your retirement be a comfortable and enjoyable new stage of adulthood or a time of uncertainty, strict economizing, and reduced options? As retirement planning guru Bambi Holzer explains, the choice is yours but the time to act is now, while you re still earning a steady income.Table of ContentsPLANNING. Retirement Planning for a New Generation. Thinking about Retirement: Imagining the Perfect Life. How Much Retirement Income Will You Need? How Much Do You Need to Save? SAVING. Retirement Plans at Work: Making the Most of YourEmployer-Sponsored Plan. Retirement Plans for Business Owners and Self-EmployedIndividuals. Individual Retirement Accounts: A Retirement Plan forEveryone. Other Tax-Advantaged Ways to Save. INVESTING. Making Your Retirement Fund Grow: Fundamentals of Investing. Understanding Stocks. Understanding Bonds. Understanding Cash and Cash Equivalents. Understanding Mutual Funds. Asset Allocation. MONITORING. Monitoring and Managing. Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon. Index.

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Book SynopsisEXPERT ADVICE FOR EVERYDAY SUCCESS! The coauthor of the bestselling Getting Started in Online Investing now brings her winning expertise to the increasingly popular day trading arena-along with the methods of today's most consistently successful trading practitioners.Table of ContentsThe Day Trading Game. The Playing Fields: Nasdaq and the NYSE. The Tools of the Trade. Electronic Brokers: Cutting Out the Middleman. Trading Software: The Day Trader's Control Panel. Define Your Trading Style. Technical Analysis for the Technically Challenged. When Greenspan Speaks, the Markets Listen. The Right Stuff. The Master Plan. The Home Office: Setting Up Shop. The College of Day Trading. The Future of Day Trading. Appendices. Notes. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisMore fortunes are built in real estate on borrowed money than in any other business. And you can build your fortune in real estate using borrowed money too-if you follow the advice and tips in this book. Whether you''re making your first foray into real estate investing or have invested for a number of years, 209 Fast Spare-Time Ways to Build Zero Cash into 7 Figures a Year in Real Estate will show you how to acquire income-producing real estate and build your wealth by using borrowed money. Long-time real estate advisor Tyler Hicks offers proven strategies and real-world examples to illustrate how much MIF-Money in Fist-you can realistically earn by investing in real estate. A valuable guide for new, experienced, or affluent real estate investors, 209 Fast Spare-Time Ways to Build Zero Cash into 7 Figures a Year in Real Estate covers all the bases, from finding loans to hiring an accountant and an attorney to help with the business. Letters from individuals wTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION: How This Book Can Make You Rich on Zero-Cash Borrowed-Money Real Estate xiii CHAPTER 1: Build Your Real Estate Wealth on Other People’s Money 1 Invest in an Item of Lasting Value—Income Real Estate, 3; Recognize the Many Pluses of Real Estate, 3; Build Your Real Estate Riches Minute by Minute, 5; Start-Ups Win in Almost Every Real Estate Deal, 7; Speedy Results Are Possible in Real Estate, 10; Get in on Zooming Worldwide Growth, 12; Good Financing Can Be Yours Even with Bad Credit, 13; Take the Billions Being Offered to Real Estate Investors Today, 14; Forget about a Real Estate License When You’re an Investor, 15; Get into Non-Ownership Income Real Estate, 16; Plenty of Free Advice and Assistance Can Be Yours, 18; Grow Rich with Tax-Sheltered Real Estate Income, 18;Winners Are the Real Estate Norm, 19; Getting Real Estate Funding the Smart Way, 22; Take the First Step to Your Real Estate Wealth, 22; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 24 CHAPTER 2: How to Base Your Real Estate Riches on Borrowed Money 25 Know Why Income Real Estate Is So Good for You, 26; Pick the Location for Your Future Properties, 27; Local Properties Are Ideal for Beginners, 27; Figure What Down Payment You’ll Need, 28; Compute Your Needed Starting Cash, 29; Negotiate Your Way to Success, 31; Bootstrap Your Way to Real Estate Ownership, 32; Find Rental Income Assistance Everywhere, 33; Begin Your Income Real Estate Ownership Journey Now, 34; Stay Focused on Your Plan, 36; Manage Your Holdings for Maximum Income, 39; Increase Your Profits from Every Property, 41; Learn All You Can about Your Holdings, 42; Real-Life Examples of Fast Buildup of Ownership Assets, 43; How to Acquire More Residential Income Properties, 46; “Mud Flats” Can Be Money Machines, 46; Expand Your Ownership to Larger Properties, 47; Forget “Advanced Education” for Your Success, 48; Quick Steps to Make Money in Distant Real Estate, 50; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 51 CHAPTER 3: Start Your Real Estate Empire Without Using Any of Your Own Cash 53 Defining the Zero-Cash Deal, 53;Who Uses Zero-Cash Deals? 54; Focus on the Down Payment You Need, 54; Use Borrowed Money to Begin Your Empire, 55; Start with a Personal Loan, 56;Where and How Your Personal Loan May Be Made, 57; Secrets to Getting Personal Loans More Easily, 58;Where a Good FICO® Score Will Get You Your Loan, 59; Use a Secured Loan for Your Down Payment, 59; How Lenders React to Solid Collateral, 60; Enhance Your Credit with a Guarantor, 61; Use a Home Equity Loan for Your Down Payment, 62; Get Property Improvement Loans for Your Down Payment, 64; Tap into Your Credit Card Lines of Credit, 65; Get the Seller to Finance Your Down Payment, 67; Use a “Gift Letter” for Family Loans, 68; Never Overlook Possible Partners for Your Down Payment Loans, 70; See if You Can Get Some of Your Down Payment Back on Closing, 71; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 72 CHAPTER 4: Bootstrap Your Way to Your Real Estate Cash 75 How to Get in on Good Deals Now, 76; Explore the World of Real Estate Windfalls, 77; How Mortgaging Out Can Work for You, 78; Use Other Rules of Real Estate for Your Mortgaging Out, 79; How to Apply These Powerful, But Simple Rules, 80; Use Every Method You Can to Mortgage Out, 82; The Powerful Methods You Can Use to Mortgage Out, 83; Build Your Mortgaging-Out Wealth Quickly, 84; Know the Other Perks for You from Mortgaging Out, 86; Where and How to Start Getting Mortgaging-Out Cash, 87; Try Your Mortgaging-Out Luck on Multi-Family Buildings, 89; If You Have Time and Experience, Mortgage Out in Development, 90; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 92 CHAPTER 5: Use Single-Family Homes for Your Quick Real Estate Start-Up 93 Start with the Possible and Grow Bigger, 93; Know the Numbers of Your Real Estate Opportunities, 94; Now Here Are the Numbers of Your Single-Family Home Wealth, 95;What Types of Single-Family Homes Can Make Me Rich? 97; Now Let’s Get You Started Getting Rich, 98; Detached Single-Family Home Wealth Building, 98; Work the Numbers for Each Property You Acquire, 101; Put Your Numbers to Work, 102; See the Numbers of Your Real Estate Fortune, 104; Cautions for You When Buying Any Single-Family Home, 105; How and Where to Get Single-Family Home Financing, 106; Quick Benefits Offered to You by These Lenders, 107; Your Eight Steps to Quick Single-Family Home Financing, 112; Other Types of Single- Family Home Investments, 114; Your Moneymaking Tips for Single- Family Home Success, 117; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 119 CHAPTER 6: Where to Find Money for Your Real Estate Wealth Building 121 Your Money Sources Are Almost Unlimited, 122; Getting the Easiest of All Real Estate Money, 123;Where to Find First Mortgage Lenders, 123; Finding the Second Easiest Real Estate Loan, 124; Have Others Finance Your Income Property Fix-Up, 126; Get Guaranteed Loans for Your Investment Real Estate, 127; Get Grants for Beneficial Real Estate Projects, 128; Apply for and Get Lines of Credit for Your Investments, 130; Private Financing Could Be Your Key to Riches, 131; Get Your Real Estate Money from Public Sources, 132; Raising Real Estate Money from the Public, 133;Work with Investor Groups for Your Financing, 136; How to Raise Real Estate Money from Limited Partnerships, 137; Use 100 Percent Financing Funders to Get Your Multi-Unit Money, 137; Lenders That Fund Multi-Unit Real Estate Projects, 139; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 144 CHAPTER 7: Creative Financing of Your Real Estate Fortune 145 Quick Proof That Creative Financing Really Works, 145; Seven Reasons Why You May Need Financial Help, 146; How to Overcome Financial Problems, 148; Get Income Property with an Option, 149; Buy Properties Having Assumable Mortgages, 150; Assumable Mortgage Possibilities for You, 153; Find Zero Percent Down and 100 Percent Lenders, 154; Use a Lease Option Contract to Control Property, 154; Use Credit Card Lines of Credit, 156; Flip Real Estate with Creative Financing, 157; How to Start and Be Successful in Flipping Properties, 158; Take Lenders Out of Foreclosure Properties, 159; How to Be a Hero with Lenders, 159;Work with the FDIC and VA to Flip Properties, 160; Get Section 8 Tenants for Steady Rental Income, 161; Buy and Control Properties in Inner-City Areas, 162; Search for Low, Low Down Payments, 164; Borrow to the Hilt for Income Real Estate, 165; Use Home Equity and Personal Loans to Build Your Wealth, 166; Mortgage Out to Get Paid for Creative Financing, 167; Other Ways to Creative Financing, 169; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 169 CHAPTER 8: Find and Use Unique and Unusual Funding Sources 171 Sure Steps to Finding Your Suitable Lenders, 171; Pick the Type of Real Estate You Want to Own, 172; Find the Unique Lender for Your Kind of Real Estate, 173; How to Find Unique Lenders for Land Deals, 173; Search for Unique Residential Lenders, 174; Start Small in Commercial Properties, 176; Know the Range of Commercial Properties, 176;Wait Before Investing in Industrial Properties, 183; Unique Funding You Can Do Yourself, 183; Two Quick Unique Ways to Raise Money Yourself, 183; Use a Limited Partnership to Raise the Money You Need, 183; Six Steps to Setting Up Your Limited Partnership, 184; Try a Real Estate Investment Trust to Raise Your Money, 185; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 188 CHAPTER 9: Use Sellers Having Built-In Funding for Your Deals 189 Eight Real Estate Deals with Financing in Place, 189; Government Foreclosures Often Come with Financing, 190; Do Internet Searches for Your Properties, 192; Don’t Overlook New Property Financing, 193; Take Advantage of “Financing Available” Offers, 195; Look for and Find Zero-Down Properties, 196; Look for and Buy FSBO Properties, 198; Private Lenders Could Be Your Money Source, 199; Look for the Unusual Offer, 200; Don’t Let Built-In Funding Pass You By, 202; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 203 CHAPTER 10: Count Your Way to Your Real Estate Wealth 205 Know the Numbers You Must Know, 205; Positive Cash Flow, 206; Monthly Debt Service, 208; Figuring Your Monthly Debt Service Cost, 210; Now Do the Simple Numbers, 211; Know What Your Debt Coverage Is, 212; Quickly Figure Your Capitalization Rate, 213; Now Put Your Numbers to Work, 213; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 214 CHAPTER 11: Turn Your Real Estate Holdings into Your Private Bank 215 Use Your Real Estate Equity to Build Wealth, 215; Tapping Your Equity for Profit or Fun, 216; Taking Steps to Repay Your Loan Quickly, 218; How Much Can I Borrow on My Equity? 219; How Is the Value of Your Equity Figured? 220; How to Increase the Value of Your Equity, 221; Use Your Increased Equity to Build Your Wealth, 222; How to Get around “Seasoning” Requirements, 224; Build Your Own “Bank” with Your Properties, 225; Your Keys to Real Estate Riches, 226 CHAPTER 12: Save Time and Build Your Real Estate Fortune Faster 229 Learn the Fast Track to Real Estate Wealth, 229; Flip Real Estate for a Quick Profit, 230; Sublet Properties for Non-Ownership Profits, 231; Use Options to Control Real Estate, 232; Be a Real Estate Loan Finder, 233; Build Self-Storage Wealth Today, 235; Build Big Profits in Off-Campus Housing, 236; Use “Liquid” Real Estate for Your Wealth Building, 239; Be a Loan Correspondent for a Real Estate Lender, 241; Get Loans and Grants from Little-Known Sources, 243; Make an Excellent Income Upgrading Older Rental Units, 244 Finance Your Real Estate Down Payments at 0 Percent Interest, 246; Your Real Estate Wealth Schedule, 247; Best Rules for Your Success in Income Real Estate, 253 Useful Real Estate Books, Reports, Training Courses, and Newsletters for Beginning and Experienced Wealth Builders 255 Real Estate Investment and Management Books, 255; Real Estate Self-Study Success Kits, Books, Reports, and Newsletters, 256 Index 265

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Book SynopsisOffers practical tips advice for getting - and keeping - your finances in order. This title covers the various money-management bases, from saving and spending to getting out of debt to investing and planning for retirement. It helps you learn about several useful websites that can help you manage your money.

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Book SynopsisFinancial technology has made huge advances, allowing more people worldwide to gain access to and benefit from banking, insurance, and credit. But the democratization of finance is just starting. Marion Laboure and Nicolas Deffrennes survey barriers to financial accessibility and foresee how financial innovation could impact the broader society.Trade ReviewProvides a detailed account of the economic and social impacts of financial innovations…We recommend this book to readers…who aspire to comprehend contemporary disruptive innovations in finance and the impact of these innovations on the wider economy. -- Kirti Sood and Simarjeet Singh * Journal of Evolutionary Economics *The authors clearly state the roles and responsibilities of governments—again, particularly in developing countries—to promote democracy, but argue that fintech offers a real possibility for changing the world as we know it. This book broadens the vision of fintech's future and unfurls the democratic potential it might have. * Choice *Much is being written about fintech; little about how it may transform our lives. Based on new research, Laboure and Deffrennes explain how fintech will create new possibilities for people in advanced and low-income countries alike. -- Mervyn King, former Governor of the Bank of EnglandLaboure and Deffrennes highlight the growing importance of financial inclusion and technology. With a wealth of data and case studies, this book demystifies fintech and explains its role in democratizing finance. -- Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche BankFinancial services are to the economy what the nervous system is to the human body. Fintech is profoundly changing our economy and our lives. This important book is necessary reading for anyone who cares about the future of our economy or our society. -- Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot Professor and President Emeritus, Harvard UniversityA panoramic view of the rapidly changing world of digital finance and money, Democratizing Finance spans a remarkable range of issues with clarity and depth, and provides an excellent primer on the social and economic aspects of rapidly-evolving fintech. -- Kenneth Rogoff, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisDescribes six fundamental ideas for using modern information technology and advanced financial theory to temper basic risks that have been ignored by risk management institutions - risks to the value of our jobs and our homes, to the vitality of our communities, and to the very stability of national economies.Trade ReviewRobert J. Shiller, Co-Winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics Co-Winner of the 2005 Kulp-Wright Book Award, American Risk and Insurance Association, Inc. Winner of the 2003 Business Book Award, Financial Times Germany/getAbstract Winner of the 2004 Wilmott Book Of The Year Award for General Finance Honorable Mention for the 2003 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Economics, Association of American Publishers "Shiller's ambition is exhilarating, and gives his work something that most business books lack; a deep sense of how economic ideas might transform people's everyday lives."--The New Yorker "The New Financial Order [is] ... easily accessible and pleasantly utopian."--Washington Post "Certain to be controversial."--Publishers Weekly "It is an understatement to say Shiller's book raises complex political, legal and economic questions. Some will probably never happen. But The New Financial Order is still worth a look. It casts some long-standing social problems in a new light, and it puts some fascinating ideas on the table."--Andrew Cassel, Philadelphia Inquirer "While [his] ideas may sound unfamiliar--even radical--Shiller's reasoned case recalls earlier financial innovations such as stock and futures markets, life and unemployment insurance, and earned income tax credits. The earlier innovations addressed the financial and risk management needs of individuals and societies in the same way Shiller proposes for his concepts."--Library Journal "The good news, on Professor Shiller's analysis, is that it is now possible to conceive and construct trade-able indices that will allow insurers to offer protection against such things as industrial decline and demographically-induced pension shortfalls. If we all knew such insurance was available, we could afford more risks with our choice of career, to the benefit of the economy. Creativity is the lifeblood of capitalist economics. Emotional worries about the risk of unemployment are one of the biggest threats to continued innovation... The data and technology to make a market in such things exists. All that is lacking, Professor Shiller says, is the will to make them a commercial reality."--Jonathan Davis, The Independent "There are financial markets that help us manage fluctuations in corporate profitability and commodity prices. But there are no markets to help manage risks from fluctuations in labor markets and housing markets, even though these have a much bigger impact on most peoples' financial security. How could we design markets to help manage such risks? This challenging problem is examined in Robert J. Shiller's book The New Financial Order."--Hal R. Varian, New York Times "[A] though-provoking book."--Risk "Livelihood insurance. Income-linked loans. Inequality insurance. These are some of the bold and imaginative ideas suggested by Robert Shiller... [W]hile the practical barriers to some of Shiller's suggestions may be immense, there is much that is stimulating in this book. If one were to look 30 years ahead, it would be foolish to bet against at least one of his ideas being widely adopted."--Philip Coggan, Financial Times "[Shiller's] ideas are striking, to put it mildly... Mr. Shiller himself is doubtful that all his ideas will be adopted. But his book, which contains some fascinating history, is at the very least thought-provoking."--The Economist "Unemployment is up. Housing sales are weakening. Oil prices continue to fluctuate, and the stock market remains volatile. There's no doubt we live in risky times, yet our tools for managing risk are limited... How could we design markets to help manage such risks? This challenging problem is examined in Robert J. Shiller's book... Here Mr. Shiller turns to the role of financial institutions in managing risk... It is said that behind every successful man is a surprised mother-in-law. If so, there could be quite a large market for such securities."--Hal R. Varian, New York Times "Millions of individual investors could have saved themselves enormous sums of money, and an equivalent amount of grief, by taking Robert Shiller's advice three years ago... Now Shiller is back with another book that also holds warnings of sorts--this time about societal wealth inequalities and the need to mitigate what he calls 'the risks that rally matter in our lives.' If Irrational Exuberance was a sober assessment of a situation that was well known yet widely defended--the nation's infatuation with stocks--The New Financial Order is a dissertation on problems many people don't know they have... Shiller, however, has let his imagination run in this book."--Tom Petruno, Los Angeles Times "In a non-technical way, Shiller engages readers in a wide-ranging consideration of risk and introduces novel ideas concerning the ways people identify, view, and guard against risk... This topic may seem to appeal to a limited audience, but the author's style enables him to broach what might have been tedious topics in an entertaining way."--ChoiceTable of Contents*FrontMatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*Preface, pg. ix*Acknowledgments, pg. xiii*Introduction: The Promise of Economic Security, pg. 1*Part One: Economic Risks in an Advancing World, pg. 19*Part Two: How Science and Technology Create New Opportunities in Finance, pg. 67*Part Three: Six Ideas for a New Financial Order, pg. 105*Part Four: Deploying the New Financial Order, pg. 187*Part Five: The New Financial Order as a Continuation of a Historical Process, pg. 229*Epilogue: A Model of Radical Financial Innovation, pg. 269*Notes, pg. 277*References, pg. 325*Index, pg. 351

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Book SynopsisMoving beyond purely theoretical models, the author applies methods supported by empirical research of equity and foreign exchange markets to show how daily and more frequent asset prices, and the prices of option contracts, can be used to construct and assess predictions about future prices, their volatility, and their probability distributions.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2005 BestBook Award, Riskbook.com "This book provides thorough, well-presented and concise coverage of asset price dynamics and manages to combine new developments, established issues, theory and application in a practical and refreshing manner. It is well illustrated with time series graphs and tables and has a good balance between theoretical concepts and their practical applications with a mathematical treatment that is not too specialized."--Anthony F. Gyles, RSSTable of ContentsPreface xiii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Asset Price Dynamics 1 1.2 Volatility 1 1.3 Prediction 2 1.4 Information 2 1.5 Contents 3 1.6 Software 5 1.7 Web Resources 6 PART I: Foundations 7 Chapter 2: Prices and Returns 9 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Two Examples of Price Series 9 2.3 Data-Collection Issues 10 2.4 Two Returns Series 13 2.5 Definitions of Returns 14 2.6 Further Examples of Time Series of Returns 19 Chapter 3: Stochastic Processes: Definitions and Examples 23 3.1 Introduction 23 3.2 Random Variables 24 3.3 Stationary Stochastic Processes 30 3.4 Uncorrelated Processes 33 3.5 ARMA Processes 36 3.6 Examples of ARMA 1 1 Specifications 44 3.7 ARIMA Processes 46 3.8 ARFIMA Processes 46 3.9 Linear Stochastic Processes 48 3.10 Continuous-Time Stochastic Processes 49 3.11 Notation for Random Variables and Observations 50 Chapter 4: Stylized Facts for Financial Returns 51 4.1 Introduction 51 4.2 Summary Statistics 52 4.3 Average Returns and Risk Premia 53 4.4 Standard Deviations 57 4.5 Calendar Effects 59 4.6 Skewness and Kurtosis 68 4.7 The Shape of the Returns Distribution 69 4.8 Probability Distributions for Returns 73 4.9 Autocorrelations of Returns 76 4.10 Autocorrelations of Transformed Returns 82 4.11 Nonlinearity of the Returns Process 92 4.12 Concluding Remarks 93 4.13 Appendix: Autocorrelation Caused by Day-of-the-Week Effects 94 4.14 Appendix: Autocorrelations of a Squared Linear Process 95 PART II: Conditional Expected Returns 97 Chapter 5: The Variance-Ratio Test of the Random Walk Hypothesis 99 5.1 Introduction 99 5.2 The Random Walk Hypothesis 100 5.3 Variance-Ratio Tests 102 5.4 An Example of Variance-Ratio Calculations 105 5.5 Selected Test Results 107 5.6 Sample Autocorrelation Theory 112 5.7 Random Walk Tests Using Rescaled Returns 115 5.8 Summary 120 Chapter 6: Further Tests of the Random Walk Hypothesis 121 6.1 Introduction 121 6.2 Test Methodology 122 6.3 Further Autocorrelation Tests 126 6.4 Spectral Tests 130 6.5 The Runs Test 133 6.6 Rescaled Range Tests 135 6.7 The BDS Test 136 6.8 Test Results for the Random Walk Hypothesis 138 6.9 The Size and Power of Random Walk Tests 144 6.10 Sources of Minor Dependence in Returns 148 6.11 Concluding Remarks 151 6.12 Appendix: the Correlation between Test Values for Two Correlated Series 153 6.13 Appendix: Autocorrelation Induced by Rescaling Returns 154 Chapter 7: Trading Rules and Market Efficiency 157 7.1 Introduction 157 7.2 Four Trading Rules 158 7.3 Measures of Return Predictability 163 7.4 Evidence about Equity Return Predictability 166 7.5 Evidence about the Predictability of Currency and Other Returns 168 7.6 An Example of Calculations for the Moving-Average Rule 172 7.7 Efficient Markets: Methodological Issues 175 7.8 Breakeven Costs for Trading Rules Applied to Equities 176 7.9 Trading Rule Performance for Futures Contracts 179 7.10 The Efficiency of Currency Markets 181 7.11 Theoretical Trading Profits for Autocorrelated Return Processes 184 7.12 Concluding Remarks 186 PART III: Volatility Processes 187 Chapter 8: An Introduction to Volatility 189 8.1 Definitions of Volatility 189 8.2 Explanations of Changes in Volatility 191 8.3 Volatility and Information Arrivals 193 8.4 Volatility and the Stylized Facts for Returns 195 8.5 Concluding Remarks 196 Chapter 9: ARCH Models: Definitions and Examples 197 9.1 Introduction 197 9.2 ARCH(1) 198 9.3 GARCH 1 1 199 9.4 An Exchange Rate Example of the GARCH 1 1 Model 205 9.5 A General ARCH Framework 212 9.6 Nonnormal Conditional Distributions 217 9.7 Asymmetric Volatility Models 220 9.8 Equity Examples of Asymmetric Volatility Models 222 9.9 Summary 233 Chapter 10: ARCH Models: Selection and Likelihood Methods 235 10.1 Introduction 235 10.2 Asymmetric Volatility: Further Specifications and Evidence 235 10.3 Long Memory ARCH Models 242 10.4 Likelihood Methods 245 10.5 Results from Hypothesis Tests 251 10.6 Model Building 256 10.7 Further Volatility Specifications 261 10.8 Concluding Remarks 264 10.9 Appendix: Formulae for the Score Vector 265 Chapter 11: Stochastic Volatility Models 267 11.1 Introduction 267 11.2 Motivation and Definitions 268 11.3 Moments of Independent SV Processes 270 11.4 Markov Chain Models for Volatility 271 11.5 The Standard Stochastic Volatility Model 278 11.6 Parameter Estimation for the Standard SV Model 283 11.7 An Example of SV Model Estimation for Exchange Rates 288 11.8 Independent SV Models with Heavy Tails 291 11.9 Asymmetric Stochastic Volatility Models 293 11.10 Long Memory SV Models 297 11.11 Multivariate Stochastic Volatility Models 298 11.12 ARCH versus SV 299 11.13 Concluding Remarks 301 11.14 Appendix: Filtering Equations 301 PART IV: High-Frequency Methods 303 Chapter 12: High-Frequency Data and Models 305 12.1 Introduction 305 12.2 High-Frequency Prices 306 12.3 One Day of High-Frequency Price Data 309 12.4 Stylized Facts for Intraday Returns 310 12.5 Intraday Volatility Patterns 316 12.6 Discrete-Time Intraday Volatility Models 321 12.7 Trading Rules and Intraday Prices 325 12.8 Realized Volatility: Theoretical Results 327 12.9 Realized Volatility: Empirical Results 332 12.10 Price Discovery 342 12.11 Durations 343 12.12 Extreme Price Changes 344 12.13 Daily High and Low Prices 346 12.14 Concluding Remarks 348 12.15 Appendix: Formulae for the Variance of the Realized Volatility Estimator 349 PART V: Inferences from Option Prices 351 Chapter 13: Continuous-Time Stochastic Processes 353 13.1 Introduction 353 13.2 The Wiener Process 354 13.3 Diffusion Processes 355 13.4 Bivariate Diffusion Processes 359 13.5 Jump Processes 361 13.6 Jump-Diffusion Processes 363 13.7 Appendix: a Construction of the Wiener Process 366 Chapter 14: Option Pricing Formulae 369 14.1 Introduction 369 14.2 Definitions, Notation, and Assumptions 370 14.3 Black-Scholes and Related Formulae 372 14.4 Implied Volatility 378 14.5 Option Prices when Volatility Is Stochastic 383 14.6 Closed-Form Stochastic Volatility Option Prices 388 14.7 Option Prices for ARCH Processes 391 14.8 Summary 394 14.9 Appendix: Heston's Option Pricing Formula 395 Chapter 15: Forecasting Volatility 397 15.1 Introduction 397 15.2 Forecasting Methodology 398 15.3 Two Measures of Forecast Accuracy 401 15.4 Historical Volatility Forecasts 403 15.5 Forecasts from Implied Volatilities 407 15.6 ARCH Forecasts that Incorporate Implied Volatilities 410 15.7 High-Frequency Forecasting Results 414 15.8 Concluding Remarks 420 Chapter 16: Density Prediction for Asset Prices 423 16.1 Introduction 423 16.2 Simulated Real-World Densities 424 16.3 Risk-Neutral Density Concepts and Definitions 428 16.4 Estimation of Implied Risk-Neutral Densities 431 16.5 Parametric Risk-Neutral Densities 435 16.6 Risk-Neutral Densities from Implied Volatility Functions 446 16.7 Nonparametric RND Methods 448 16.8 Towards Recommendations 450 16.9 From Risk-Neutral to Real-World Densities 451 16.10 An Excel Spreadsheet for Density Estimation 458 16.11 Risk Aversion and Rational RNDs 461 16.12 Tail Density Estimates 464 16.13 Concluding Remarks 465 Symbols 467 References 473 Author Index 503 Subject Index 513

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This sharp-eyed, sympathetic study ... has a compelling new angle on the effects of long-term financial instability on working-class families... This is a must-read for anyone interest in causes of--and potential solutions to--American poverty."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "[A] groundbreaking study..."--Richard Eisenberg, Forbes.com "The book constitutes a plea for all those who interact with its subjects to look behind the annual averages to the weekly reality."--Peter Morris, Financial World "Illuminating..."--Diane Coyle, The Enlightened Economist "I really enjoyed this book... These diaries are not just financial records but emotional ones too, and it is here that the book's greatest strength is apparent: there is nothing cold or hard about these finances... Morduch and Schneider's research ... translates easily to Europe. The commonality is uncertainty... Morduch and Schneider make a clear and persuasive argument that blame should not be put on families for the way that they manage their finances in times of such instability and uncertainty."--Lisa Mckenzie, Times Higher Education "As the book illustrates, families are constantly juggling their obligations and making decisions like which bills to pay and how much they can spend on groceries. It's hard to avoid a constant feeling of restlessness when your financial life is taking up so much brain space."--Lauren Gensler, Forbes.com "Morduch and Schneider bring home the seriousness of these swings in income and the problems that result through detailed stories of the real families that participated in the study. Descriptions of the problems facing these people, which make up about half of the book, have a powerful effect on the reader."--Ron Haskins, Stanford Social Innovation ReviewTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction: A Hidden Inequality 1 Worlds of Uncertainty 1 Earning 21 2 Spending 47 3 Smoothing and Spiking 65 How Families Cope 4 Saving 87 5 Borrowing 110 6 Sharing 130 New Ways of Seeing 7 Sometimes Poor 151 8 Secure and in Control 168 Notes 179 Bibliography 203 Index 225

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Book SynopsisRebecca Burn-Callander is the former enterprise editor at the Daily Telegraph. A journalist with 10 years on the business beat, she writes about anything from entrepreneurs to technology start-ups, investment opportunities to economics. She is one of Gorkana's top 100 UK journalists to follow on Twitter and was recently named one of the Smith & Williamson Power 100 for championing entrepreneurship in the UK.Trade Review"Fantastic... Rebecca has taken a dry, complex subject and somehow turned it into a very readable book. Pretty much every investment has been included, and any reader should feel comfortable talking about quite technical investments after reading this. Essential reading for any budding investor - and even old hands will learn a thing or two!" * Carl Reader, director of accountancy firm d&t and author of 'The Startup Coach' and 'The Franchising Handbook' *"Understanding the world of investment isn't easy even in calm markets. At times like this, Rebecca Burn-Callander's guide is more vital than ever. A must read for anyone thinking of taking the plunge." * James Quinn, Group Business Editor at the Daily and Sunday Telegraph *"This is an exceptionally thorough book that gets right to the heart of investing. Hardworking people are becoming more financially savvy, and this book offers a detailed starters' guide on everything from property investment to bonds, and even LEGO. It will appeal to amateur investors in their twenties, and to those reaching retirement age who want to take advantage of the recent pension freedoms." * Elizabeth Anderson, Business Editor, i newspaper *Table of Contents Chapter - 00: Introduction; Chapter - 01: The Risk Spectrum; Chapter - 02: Starting Safe; Chapter - 03: Getting Riskier; Chapter - 04: Risky; Chapter - 05: High Risk and Highly Specialist; Chapter - 06: High Risk With High Returns; Chapter - 07: The Ones That Got Away; Chapter - 08: Conclusion: That’s A Wrap

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Book SynopsisIn the 1990s, numerous Latin American nations privatized their public pension systems. These reforms dramatically transformed the way these countries provide retirement income. This book is a study of the origins of this surprising trend.Trade Review"Madrid demonstrates a deep knowledge of the literature; uses a sophisticated methodology; treats the subject in a comprehensive, comparative, systematic, and analytical manner; and arrives at reasonable conclusions based on solid evidence....[an] excellent book..." -- Governance"It is hard not to walk away impressed with the breadth of scholarship in Retiring the State" -- Comparative Politics"[Madrid] demonstrates a mastery of the relevant empirical material, and he makes a convincing case that the causes of pension reform in Latin America are different from the causes of welfare reform more generally." -- American Journal of Sociology

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Book SynopsisYour Money and Your Life helps readers to make the right financial decisions, at the right time of their lives, in an efficient and cost effective way with an eye towards today's economic environment.Trade Review"Mr. Aliber's book provides the epitome of financial planning information to help readers analyze and identify the most appropriate financial choices. Its easy to follow and practical format is a must for those readers who want to make strong financial decisions." -- Jeff Rattiner, President and CEO, JR Financial Group * Inc. *"In the world of financial planning, there is academic literature, and there are practical guides. Aliber, being an academic who has studied many related topics, but who has also dealt with real-world money management, has framed problems and provided concrete solutions in a uniquely compelling—and grounded—way. In this excellent book lie the answers to your most important financial questions." -- Annamaria Lusardi * Dartmouth College, and author of Overcoming the Saving Slump *

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Book SynopsisA detailed guide for avoiding the pitfalls of retirement funding In Stop the Retirement Rip-Off, author David Loeper provides the necessary tools for investors to take action and make the most of their retirement plans. It offers a road map for employees to understand the fees and costs associated with their plans; document the excesses in a presentation to management; then organize themselves to protest and, if necessary, bring the documentation to the Labor Department in a complaint. Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this book is filled with sensible strategies for making the most of retirement funds and putting future retirees back on the right financial track. Filled with strategies that can help employees stand up and secure their financial future Addresses how to make the most of your money, and your life, after fixing your retirement plan Outlines a practical approach to understanding your organization''s rTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction Make the Most of Your Life! 1 Chapter 1 Why Fees Matter—The Coming "Retirement Plan Sticker Shock" 11 Chapter 2 Types of Expenses Dragging Down Your Retirement Funds 25 Chapter 3 The Price to Your Lifestyle of Needless Expenses 39 Chapter 4 Complaining Without Sounding Like a Complainer 55 Chapter 5 Rallying Your Troops—Just One Coworker Can Help 63 Chapter 6 What Happens If My Employer Ignores Us? 69 Chapter 7 Now That My Retirement Plan Is Fixed, How Can I Make the Most of My Life? 79 Chapter 8 Resources, Investment Selection, Asset Allocation, Tools, and Advice 91 Chapter 9 How Much is That Guarantee in the Window? 121 Chapter 10 Hidden Expenses in Government Union and Some 403(b) Plans 131 Chapter 11 Summary 137 Appendix A Lifestyle Prices of Excessive Retirement Plan Expenses 139 Appendix B ABC Plan-401(k) Plan Fee Disclosure Form 205 About the Author 217 Index 219

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Book SynopsisAWARDS: Silver Living Now Book Award, Mature Living/Aging 2014 (Silver)If you're one of the 25 million single women over the age of 45 living in the United States today, AARP's The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement is your new best friend. Walking you through the challenges of retired or pre-retired life, from managing your finances to staying healthy in body, mind, and spirit, dealing with divorce, and even looking for love or work, the book covers the issues that really matter to you. Whether you're looking for a retirement home or planning a cruise, this book is packed with specific details to help take the guesswork out of retirement. Author and retirement expert Jan Cullinane has gathered real-life stories from women just like you to illustrate your options and give you fresh new ideas about how to make the most of your retirement years.Table of ContentsPreface v Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1 Retirement and the Single Woman 1 Chapter 2 Deciding What to Do with 168 Hours a Week 21 Chapter 3 Working in Retirement: An Oxymoron? 41 Chapter 4 Fitness in Body, Mind, and Spirit 69 Chapter 5 Where Is Your Heart? Exploring Options for Living 99 Chapter 6 A Place to Call Home: What Are Your Choices? 125 Chapter 7 Divorce, Death, Dating, Dependency, and Deepening Connections 181 Chapter 8 Dollars and Sense 227 References 285 About the Author 293 Index 295

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Book SynopsisWASHINGTON POST Bestseller List 3/30/14Solid solutions and step-by-step instructions for planning the next stage of your life Life after 50 isn't what it used to be. The rules have changed. No more guaranteed pensions, retiree health plans, or extensive leisure and travel. It's time to forge new paths and create innovative models. That's where the AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life comes in. Bart Astor, author of more than a dozen books, offers a comprehensive guide for making lifestyle decisions, growing your nest egg, and realizing your goals. This AARP book Provides guidance on the key areas you'll need to consider: finances and work, health and fitness, Medicare and Social Security, estate planning, insurance, housing, and more Offers expert tips on creating age- and health-specific goals through a personal Level of Activity scale based on how active you can and want to be Includes tips for finding fun anTable of ContentsForeword ix Introduction xiii Chapter 1 Where Are You on the Level of Activity Scale? 1 Chapter 2 What Are Your Goals for This Stage in Life? 9 Chapter 3 Staying Healthy for the Rest of Your Life 21 Chapter 4 All About Health Insurance 51 Chapter 5 Making It Last for the Rest of Your Life 71 Chapter 6 Transitioning from Full-Time Work 95 Chapter 7 What Do You Want to Do with the Rest of Your Life? 107 Chapter 8 Transitioning What You Own 131 Chapter 9 Have “the Talk” with Your Heirs 147 Chapter 10 Home Sweet Home 161 Chapter 11 Relationships with Family and Friends 179 Afterword 199 Acknowledgments 201 About the Author 203 Index 205

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Book SynopsisGuarantee your retirement income with a DIY pension Pensionize Your Nest Egg describes how adding the new approach of product allocation to the tried-and-true asset allocation approach can help protect you from the risk of outliving your savings, while maximizing your income in retirement. This book demonstrates that it isn''t the investor with the most money who necessarily has the best retirement income plan. Instead, it''s the investor who owns the right type of investment and insurance products, and uses product allocation to allocate the right amounts, at the right time, to each product category. This revised second edition is expanded to include investors throughout the English-speaking world and updated to reflect current economic realities. Readers will learn how to distinguish between the various types of retirement income products available today, including life annuities and variable annuities with living income benefits, and how to evaTable of ContentsList of Exhibits xi Preface xv Preface to the Second Edition xv Preface to the First Edition xvii How to Use This Book xviii Introduction: Why Retirement Income Is Better than Retirement Savings 1 PART ONE: WHY YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR OWN PENSION PLAN: THE MOST PREDICTABLE CRISIS IN HISTORY 7 Chapter 1: The Real Pension Crisis 9 Up a Creek without a Pension Paddle 11 Mixing Defined Benefit Apples and Defined Contribution Oranges 12 It Takes Two to Tango: A Basic Lesson about the Nature of True Pensions 22 Guarantee versus Ruin 23 When Is a Pension Not a Pension? 24 There Ain’t No Such Thing … as a Free Pension 25 The First True Pensions 27 Chapter 2: Planning for Longevity: Risks While Waiting for Your Return 31 The Grim Reaper’s Coin Toss 35 Introducing Longevity Risk 36 Predicting Future Longevity 39 How Should You Insure against Longevity Risk? 41 Will You Get Heads … or Tails? 41 Chapter 3: How the Sequence of Returns Can Ruin Your Retirement 43 How Long Will the Money Last? 44 Clockwise Investment Returns 47 Counterclockwise Returns 49 Triangles, Bulls, and Bears: The Retirement Income Circus 51 Can Buckets Bail Out a Poor Sequence of Returns? 52 Chapter 4: Inflation: The Great Money Illusion 55 What Does This Mean for Retirees? 58 The CPI-ME and the CPI-YOU 60 Does the CPI Measure Your Spending? 62 A Reality Check for Your Retirement Spending 63 What Have We Learned So Far? 64 PART TWO: DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE RETIREMENT SOLUTION: THE MODERN APPROACH THAT IS HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD 65 Chapter 5: Beyond Asset Allocation: Introducing Product Allocation 67 Product Allocation: New Baskets for Your Nest Egg 67 Three Product Silos 68 The Spectrum of Retirement Income Silos 70 How Do the Silos Stack Up? 72 Chapter 6: An Introduction to Life Annuities 73 Pension Contributions as Insurance Premiums 74 Buying a Personal Pension 75 When Should You Buy an Annuity? 77 Annuities versus Term Deposits 79 Is the Annuity Gamble Worth It? 81 Great-Grandma’s Gamble 81 The Power of Mortality Credits 83 What about 50-Year-Olds—Should They Buy Personal Pensions? 84 What about Interest Rates? 87 How Can I Use Annuities to Protect against Inflation? 89 Unique and Personal Insurance 90 Chapter 7: A Review of Traditional Investment Accounts 93 Asset Allocation in Your SWP 95 What Should You Put in the SWP? 96 Chapter 8: Introducing the Third Silo—Annuities with Guaranteed Living Benefits 99 Guarantees and Growth: How Variable Annuities with Guaranteed Living Income Benefits Work 101 Evaluating an Annuity with Guaranteed Living Benefits: How Should You Choose? 104 Chapter 9: Your Retirement Sustainability: Fundamental Concepts in Retirement Income Planning 107 Which Glasses Will You Wear? 109 How Many Eggs Can You Withdraw from Your Nest? 110 What Should You Protect Against: Floods or Meteorites? 113 Do You Feel Lucky? Pensions, Survival Probabilities, and Spending in Retirement 114 Pensions Change the Game 114 How Does Pensionization Impact Your Retirement Sustainability Quotient? 116 Pension Annuities: Step-by-Step Math 122 The True Gift of Pensionization 124 Chapter 10: The Most Diffi cult Question You Will Ever Have to Answer (About Your Retirement) 125 Retirement Sustainability or Financial Legacy? 127 Pricing Your Inheritance 128 Finding Your Spot on the Frontier 130 Chapter 11: Divvying Up Your Nest Egg 133 Creating a Retirement Plan for Robert Retiree: Cases 1 through 10 133 What Is the Cost to Pensionize? 137 When Should You Pensionize? 140 When Should You Turn Your Living Benefi t On? 141 Chapter 12: A Deeper Look at the Promise of Pensionization: Revisiting the Two Gertrudes 147 Activating the Time Machine: Gertrude at Age 65 148 Lifetime Income: Now or Later? The Implied Longevity Yield 150 Lifetime Income: Now or Later? The Role of Changing Interest Rates 152 A Tool to Help with Your Decision: The “What If I Wait?” Analyzer 155 Moving Beyond Yield: Understanding the Cost-Benefit Trade-off of Pensionizing Your Nest Egg 157 Pensionizing: Financial and Nonfi nancial Benefits 160 Summary of Part Two 161 PART THREE: THE SEVEN STEPS TO PENSIONIZE YOUR NEST EGG 163 Chapter 13: Step 1: Identify Your Desired Retirement Income 165 Estimating Your Desired Income from the Top Down 169 Estimating Your Desired Income from the Ground Up 169 Chapter 14: Step 2: Estimate Your Existing Pensionized Income 173 Public Pensions in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand 174 How Much Will You Receive? 174 Benefits from a Defined Benefit Pension Plan 175 What If I’m Worried about the Future of My DB Pension Plan? 177 Timing the Retirement Decision 177 Completing Step 2 177 Chapter 15: Step 3: Determine Your Pension Income Gap 179 Your Average Tax Rate 180 Your Pension Income Gap 181 Adjusting for Inflation 183 Chapter 16: Step 4: Calculate Your Retirement Sustainability Quotient 187 What Kind of Eggs Do You Have in Your Nest? 187 Filling the Gap 188 Chapter 17: Step 5: Assess Your Plan: Is It Sustainable? 193 Chapter 18: Step 6: Calculate Your Expected Financial Legacy 197 Chapter 19: Step 7: Use Product Allocation to Pensionize the Right Fraction of Your Nest Egg 199 Case Study: Jack and Jill Go Up the Hill (to Fetch a Retirement Income Plan) 200 Step 1: Identify Your Desired Retirement Income 201 Step 2: Estimate Your Existing Pensionized Income 202 Step 3: Determine Your Pension Income Gap 202 Step 4: Calculate Your Retirement Sustainability Quotient 203 Step 5: Assess Your Plan: Is It Sustainable? 204 Step 6: Calculate Your Expected Financial Legacy 206 Step 7: Use Product Allocation to Pensionize Your Nest Egg 207 Summary of Part Three 208 Final Thoughts 209 Notes 213 Bibliography 219 Acknowledgments 221 About the Authors 223 Index 225

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Book SynopsisA thoroughly revised and expanded update to the book that critics are calling the first true investing book for the new normal You entrusted your financial security to the experts, and now you're wondering what it'll take to recover from the economic crisis and get back on your feet. In this updated and expanded edition of his critically-acclaimed guide to staying rich in good times and bad, financial planner and investment strategist Jason Vanclef delivers more straight answers and solid solutionsand he takes a well-earned poke or two at Wall Street in the process. According to Vanclef, True Asset Class Diversification is the best way to build the solid financial foundation you need for a secure future. And he puts his money where his mouth is with a comprehensive, easy-to-understand and use plan for maximizing your investmentsnot just cutting your losses. Learn the unvarnished truth about tried and true Wall Street practices and why stocks and bonds are Table of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction xvii Chapter 1 Freeing Your Estate from Conventional Thinking 1 An Unconventional Approach 2 In Summary 3 Chapter 2 The Best Portfolios Are Mixtures of Many Different Asset Classes 5 The Real Meaning of Portfolio Diversification 6 In Summary 9 Chapter 3 The Key to Protecting and Building Wealth in Good Times and Bad 11 General Practitioner versus Specialist 11 In Summary 15 Chapter 4 The Process of Wealth 17 Wealth Bucket 101 19 Buy Assets to Pay For Liabilities! 21 Fortune 400 Secret 23 Brokerisms 25 In Summary 27 Chapter 5 Leaks in the Bucket 29 Not Following Common Sense 30 Limited Investment Diversification 31 Inflation 35 Investment Fees 42 Income, Income, Income 49 Taxes 51 Poor Estate Planning 55 Poor Asset Protection 57 Liquidity 59 Summary: Leaks in the Bucket 61 Chapter 6 True Asset Class Diversification 63 The General Asset Classes 63 20,000 Foot Viewpoint on Money 72 Liquidity Leak Reexamined 87 Chapter 7 Foundations for Your Financial Table 91 Matching Beliefs to Your Asset Choices 91 Time and Real Assets 93 Direct Participation Programs 94 Accreditation of Investors 96 Commissions and Fees 99 Prioritization and Placement of Portfolio Investments 101 In Summary 103 Chapter 8 Building a Strong Financial Table 105 Step One: Know Yourself 106 Step Two: Liquidity Time Lines 108 Step Three: Income Needs 113 Step Four: Growth Needs 120 Step Five: Beneficiary Needs 125 Putting Together a Financial Plan 127 In Summary 142 Chapter 9 Life Insurance, Annuities, and How They Relate to Your Wealth Code 143 General Need for Life Insurance—Family Liabilities 144 Federal Estate Taxes 146 Annuities 149 Index Universal Life and Index Fixed Annuities 150 MVA versus Non-MVA Annuities and Why You Need to Know This 152 In Summary 153 Conclusion: Time to Take Action! 155 Appendix A: Case Studies 159 Appendix B: Different Investment Asset Classes 185 Appendix C: Discounted Roth Conversions 243 Appendix D: 1031 Real Estate Exchanges 265 About the Author 275 Index 277

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Book SynopsisLeverage algorithms to take your investment approach to the next level Digital Wealth: An Automatic Way to Invest Successfully reveals core investment strategies that you can leverage to build long-term wealth. More than a simple review of traditional investment strategies, this innovative text proffers digital investment techniques that are driven not by people but by algorithms. Supported by asset allocation research, the secrets shared in this forward-thinking book have underpinned cutting-edge investment firms as they integrate algorithm-based strategies. In addition to presenting key concepts, this groundbreaking resource explains how these concepts can give you an edge over the professionals on Wall Street through details regarding achieving financial security and meeting financial goals rooted in a firm foundation in behavioral finance, portfolio tilts, and modern portfolio theory. Investment strategies have evolved from one generation to the next, and thTable of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xvii Chapter 1 America’s Savings Challenge 1 We Don’t Save Enough 1 The Key Change in America’s Retirement Planning Process 3 How Financial Innovation Helps 4 The Magic of a 15 Percent Savings Rate 5 Notes 8 Chapter 2 The Risk of Not Investing in Stocks 9 The Short‐Term Risks 10 The Historical Perspective 10 The Logic 12 Chapter 3 The Enemies of a Stock Portfolio 15 Why Inflation Matters 16 Treasury Inflation‐Protected Securities (TIPS) 17 Asset Confiscation 18 Recession 19 Chapter 4 The Value of Time for Investors 21 Why Long‐Term Stock Investing Is Less Risky than It May Seem 21 The Long‐Term Picture 22 How Bonds Can Help 24 Note 27 Chapter 5 Core Assets of a Robust Portfolio 29 Asset Classes We Include 29 Individual Asset Classes We Exclude 34 Notes 39 Chapter 6 Dynamic Asset Selection Determining the Lowest‐Cost Option for Each Portfolio 41 Chapter 7 What Software Does Better than People 47 How Software Helps Investors 49 Example: All the Decisions an Algorithm Makes 50 Chapter 8 How International Investing Can Smooth Returns 53 Demographics Matter 54 Diversification Improves Your Industry Mix 56 Notes 58 Chapter 9 The Advantages of Exchange‐Traded Funds 59 The Benefits of ETFs 61 In‐Kind Transfers 62 The Risks of ETFs 63 Securities Lending Policies 65 Notes 67 Chapter 10 The Triumph of Low‐Cost Investing How Paying Less Gets You More 69 Fooled by Randomness 70 A Triumph of Marketing over Results 72 Notes 76 Chapter 11 Learning from Nobel Prize Winners 79 Milton Friedman, 1976 80 James Tobin, 1981 81 Harry Markowitz, 1990 81 William Sharpe, 1990 82 Daniel Kahnemann, 2002 83 Eugene Fama and Robert Shiller, 2013 83 Chapter 12 The Costs of Being Active 85 The Cost of Closet Indexing 87 The Other Costs of Active Management 88 Notes 90 Chapter 13 The Greatest Mistakes Made by Novice Investors 91 Starting Saving Too Late 92 Are You Using Tax Shelters Effectively? 93 Are You Taking Advantage of 401(k) Matching If Available? 93 Are You Diversified Internationally? 93 Are You Chasing Returns? 94 Are You Overpaying in Fees? 95 Are You Tracking the Right Index? 95 Do You Trade Too Much? 97 Chapter 14 Tilts and Other Ways to Help Long‐Term Performance 99 History of Market Thought 100 Data Mining 102 Debunking Strong‐Form Market Efficiency 103 Rationality 103 The January Effect 104 Sell in May and Go Away 104 Momentum 105 Value 105 Small Cap 106 Quality 106 Longer‐Term Mean Reversion 107 Assessing Tilts in a Portfolio Context 107 Notes 108 Chapter 15 Establishing a Tax‐Efficient Portfolio 109 Tax Shelters 111 Tax Efficiency for Retirement 111 Tax Efficiency for College 112 Tax Efficiency for Giving 113 Tax‐Efficient Asset Placement 114 Tax Loss Harvesting 115 Offsetting Gains with Losses 115 The Principal of Tax Deferral 116 How Tax Loss Harvesting Works 117 Challenges of Implementing Tax Loss Harvesting 117 Conclusion 119 Chapter 16 The Value of Rebalancing and Glidepaths 121 Rebalancing Keeps a Portfolio on Course 122 Tiered Rebalancing 125 Glidepaths 126 Notes 129 Chapter 17 How to Manage a Market Crash 131 Keep Stock Market Investing for Longer‐Term Money 133 Making Saving an Ongoing Activity 134 Pay Attention to Extremes of Long‐Term Valuation Signals 134 Don’t Consider Stocks in Isolation 135 Remember that You May Underestimate Your Risk Tolerance in Good Markets 136 Chapter 18 Your Own Worst Enemy Is in the Mirror 139 The Biggest Threat to Your Returns Is in the Mirror 140 Always a Reason to Avoid Staying Out 141 The Returns You See Aren’t the Ones You Get after Tax 141 The Media Isn’t Your Friend 142 Overtrading 142 Home Bias 143 Failing to Take a Long‐Term Perspective 143 Availability Bias 144 Chasing Performance 144 Ignoring Fees 144 Holding Too Much Cash 145 How Software Can Help 145 Note 146 Chapter 19 Saving for Goals beyond Retirement 147 Tax Efficiency 148 Portfolio Construction 149 Emergency Funds 150 Investment Flow Chart 150 Chapter 20 A History of Diversified Portfolio Performance 153 Stocks vs. Bonds 153 The Impact of Recessions 154 The Impact of Inflation 155 The Danger of Averages 155 The Benefits of Combination 155 An Emerging Market that Has Emerged 156 Chapter 21 The Future of Wealth Management 157 Lower Costs 158 Democratization of Services 159 Increasing Customer Intimacy 160 Improved Financial Awareness 160 Note 161 Chapter 22 Conclusion 163 Author’s Disclaimer 167 About the Author 169Index 171

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Book SynopsisPraise for LOADED LOADED is that rare resource which somehow captures both theoretical and practical wisdom about money, personality, and life. Your views and actions with money will be much improved after reading the wonderful advice in LOADED.James Grubman, PhD, author of Strangers in Paradise: How Families Adapt to Wealth Across Generations and co-author of Cross Cultures: How Global Families Negotiate Change Across Generations YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET...IS YOU. LOADED WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. Based on decades of research and years of hands-on experience with people from all walks of life, LOADED is a must-read for anyone who finds themselves caught between the desire to thrive financially and the complex emotions and conflicting priorities that money so often brings to our lives. Inside, you will learn to: Check your stories. Pinpoint and changTrade ReviewWhat Others Are Saying: "LOADED: Money, Psychology, and How to Get Ahead without Leaving Your Values Behind is that rare resource which somehow captures both theoretical and practical wisdom about money, personality, and life. Sarah Newcomb has done a phenomenal job of distilling the latest concepts from behavioral finance and psychology for the benefit of the everyday reader who simply wants to know how to handle money better. She opens with a big-picture perspective on how we form our money personalities and behaviors, using relevant personal anecdotes and case examples. By book’s end, she leads us to taking charge of our money decisions to create budgets that really work. Writing in a highly readable style, her tone is upbeat and empowering. Your views – and actions – with money will be much improved after reading the wonderful advice in LOADED."- James Grubman, PhD. Author of Strangers in Paradise: How Families Adapt to Wealth Across Generations and co-author of Cross Cultures: How Global Families Negotiate Change Across Generations Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Chapter 1: When It Comes to Money, We’ve All Got Issues 7 Note 9 Chapter 2: Money Messages 11 We Don’t Talk about Money 11 We Talk about Money Constantly 13 From Freud to Frodo: The Stories We Tell Each Other 15 The Stories We Tell Ourselves 19 Stories Can Help or Hurt 24 Heuristics and Biases Shape Our Stories 26 Identifying Core Beliefs 27 Challenging Core Beliefs 28 Using Science to Our Advantage 32 Notes 32 Chapter 3: Poverty, Privilege, and Prejudice: A Crash Course in the Science of Money Psychology 33 Money and Social Psychology: How Poverty, Privilege, and Comparisons Affect Our Minds and Behavior 35 Poverty: Why Not Having Enough Is a Major Drag 35 Privilege: Why Having an Advantage Is Great . . . and Not So Great 46 Prejudice—We’ve All Got It 54 Movin’ on Up 59 Money and Cognitive Psychology: How Specific Thinking Patterns Affect Financial Decisions 63 Why Retail Therapy Feels Good: Identity and Ego Depletion 64 Time and Money: Why We Always Want It NOW 70 Thinking in Circles 81 Finances and Emotions 83 Financial Knowledge 87 Making Change 90 Notes 94 Chapter 4: The LOADED Budget: Creating a Human-Centered Money Management Plan 99 What’s Wrong with Your Budget? 100 Where Does Your Money Come from? 102 Assets and Resources 108 Where Does Your Money Go? 114 Rules of Thumb for Creative Resource Management 140 The Asset Test 141 Putting It in All Together: Your Personal Economy 149 Enjoying a Loaded Life: Living in Harmony with Your Money and Your Values 161 Notes 164 Appendix A: Self-assessments 167 Write Your Personal Financial Narrative 168 Define Your Core Beliefs 169 Financial Management Behavior Scale 170 Emotions and Money (from HelloWallet’s 2014 Pilot Study) 171 Mental Imagery 172 Behavior Identification Form 173 How Impulsive Are You? 174 Big Five Financial Literacy Questions 175 Appendix B: Interventions and Exercises 177 Change the Narrative 178 Challenging Core Beliefs: Find a Counterexample 179 Age Progression 180 Future Visualization Exercises 181 Exercises to Combat MoneyThink 182 Affirm Core Values 183 Cash Flow Worksheet 184 Resources Worksheet 185 Expenses and Needs Worksheet 186 Your Personal Economy 187 Just-In-Time Financial Education Resources 188 About the Author 189 Index 191

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Book SynopsisQuickly make sense of mortgages Taking out a mortgage to purchase real estate is a huge decision, one that could affect your family's finances for years to come. This easy-to-follow guide explains how to secure the best and lowest-cost mortgage for your unique situation. Whether you select a 15- or 30-year mortgage, you'll get all the tips and tricks you need to pay it off fastershortening your payment schedule and saving your hard-earned cash. Fine-tune your financesQualify for a mortgageSecure the best loanFind your best lenderRefinance your mortgagePay down your loan quickerMust-knows about foreclosureTop mortgage no-nosTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 How This Book is Different 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started with Mortgages 5 Chapter 1: Determining Your Borrowing Power 7 Only You Can Determine the Mortgage Debt You Can Afford 8 Acknowledge your need to save 8 Collect your spending data 9 Determine Your Potential Homeownership Expenses 10 Making your mortgage payments 10 Paying property taxes 12 Tracking your tax write-offs 13 Investing in insurance 14 Budgeting for closing costs 14 Managing maintenance costs 17 Financing home improvements and such 17 Consider the Impact of a New House on Your Financial Future 17 Acting upon your spending analysis 21 Establishing financial goals 22 Making down-payment decisions 23 Chapter 2: Qualifying for a Mortgage 25 Getting Preapproved for a Loan 25 The worst-case scenario 26 Loan prequalification usually isn’t good enough 26 Loan preapproval is the way to go 27 Evaluating Your Creditworthiness: The Underwriting Process 28 Traditional underwriting guidelines 29 New underwriting technology 32 Eyeing Predicament-Solving Strategies 34 Insufficient cash for a down payment 34 Excessive indebtedness 38 Insufficient income 39 Credit blemishes 40 Low appraisals 41 Problem properties 45 Chapter 3: Scoping Out Your Credit Score 47 Defining Credit Scores 48 Assessing Your Credit History 48 What goes into your credit report 49 Check your credit report 50 Understanding How Scores Work 51 FICO scores can differ between bureaus 51 What a FICO score considers 52 What FICO scores ignore 60 Interpreting scores 61 Getting your score 61 Managing your score 62 Part 2: Locating a Loan 63 Chapter 4: Fathoming the Fundamentals 65 Grasping Loan Basics: Principal, Interest, Term, and Amortization 66 Deciphering Mortgage Lingo 67 So what’s a mortgage? 67 How to scrutinize security instruments 68 Eyeing Classic Mortgage Jargon Duets 70 Fixed or adjustable loans 70 Government or conventional loans 71 Primary or secondary mortgage market 72 Conforming or jumbo loans 74 Long-term or short-term mortgages 75 Introducing the Punitive Ps 76 Prepayment penalties 76 Private mortgage insurance (PMI) 78 Chapter 5: Selecting the Best Home Purchase Loan 81 Three Questions to Help You Pick the Right Mortgage 82 How long do you plan to keep your mortgage? 82 How much financial risk can you accept? 83 How much money do you need? 84 Fixed-Rate Mortgages: No Surprises 85 Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs) 87 How an ARM’s interest rate is determined 88 How often does the interest rate adjust? 92 What are the limits on rate adjustments? 92 Does the loan have negative amortization? 93 Fine-Tuning Your Thought Process 96 Finding funds 96 Making the 30-year versus 15-year mortgage decision 97 Getting a Loan When Rates Are High 98 Chapter 6: Surveying Special Situation Loans 99 Understanding Home Equity Loans 100 Using home equity loans 100 Operating instructions 101 Considering tax consequences 103 Eyeing 100 Percent Home Equity Loans 104 Taking a Closer Look at Co-Op Loans 107 Identifying the legal structure of co-op loans 107 Dealing with deal-killing directors 108 Tracking down a loan 109 Grasping Balloon Loans 110 80-10-10 financing 110 Bridge loans 114 Construction loans 115 Renovation/remodel loans 116 Part 3: Landing a Lender 117 Chapter 7: Finding Your Best Lender 119 Going with a Mortgage Broker or Direct Lender? 120 Considerations when using brokers 120 Developing a list of brokers and lenders 122 Interviewing and working with mortgage brokers 124 Figuring out how to interview lenders 125 Seller Financing: The Trials and Tribulations 127 Considering/soliciting seller financing 127 Overcoming borrower problems 128 Negotiating loan terms 128 Deciding whether to provide seller financing 129 Chapter 8: Searching for Mortgage Information Online 131 Obeying Our Safe Surfing Tips 132 Shop to find out about rates and programs 132 Quality control is often insufficient 133 Beware simplistic affordability calculators 133 Don’t reveal confidential information unless 133 Be sure to shop offline 134 Beware of paid advertising masquerading as directories 135 Perusing Our Recommended Mortgage Websites 136 Useful government sites 136 Mortgage information and shopping sites 138 Chapter 9: Choosing Your Preferred Mortgage 141 Taking a Look at Loan Fees 142 The point and interest rate tradeoff 142 Annual percentage rates 144 Other lender fees 145 Avoiding Dangerous Loan Features 147 Prepayment penalties 147 Negative amortization 148 Comparing Lenders’ Programs 149 Fixed-rate mortgages interview worksheet 149 Adjustable-rate mortgages interview worksheet 153 Applying with One or More Lenders 158 Chapter 10: Managing Mortgage Paperwork 159 Pounding the Paperwork 159 Filling Out the Uniform Residential Loan Application 162 1 Borrower information 162 2 Financial information — assets and liabilities 166 3 Financial information — real estate 167 4 Loan and property information 168 5 Declarations 170 6 Acknowledgments and agreements 170 7 Demographic information 172 Introducing Other Typical Documents 173 Your right to receive a copy of the appraisal 173 Equal Credit Opportunity Act 175 Part 4: Profiting from Smart Mortgage Strategies 177 Chapter 11: Refinancing Your Mortgage 179 Refinancing Rationales 180 Cost-Cutting Refinances 181 Applying the 2 percent rule 182 Crunching the numbers 183 Restructuring Refinances 186 Restructuring when you need to 186 Getting a fixed-rate to avoid ARM phobia 188 Resetting ARM caps 188 Choosing the fast-forward mortgage 190 Cash-Out Refinances 190 Expediting Your Refi 192 Beating Borrower’s Remorse 194 Phase I borrower’s remorse 194 Phase II borrower’s remorse 195 Chapter 12: Paying Down Your Mortgage Quicker 197 One Size Doesn’t Fit All 198 Interest savings: The benefit of paying off your mortgage quicker 198 Quantifying the missed opportunity to invest those extra payments 198 Taxes matter but less than you think 199 Deciding Whether to Repay Your Mortgage Faster 200 Does your mortgage have a prepayment penalty? 201 How liquid are your assets? 201 Have you funded retirement savings accounts? 201 How aggressive an investor are you? 202 What are your refinancing options? 203 Considering psychological and nonfinancial issues 203 Developing Your Payoff Plan 204 Chapter 13: Reverse Mortgages for Retirement Income 205 Grasping the Reverse Mortgage Basics 205 Considering common objections 207 Who can get a reverse mortgage? 208 How much money can you get and when? 209 When do you pay the money back? 210 What do you owe? 211 How is the loan repaid? 212 What’s the out-of-pocket cost of getting a reverse mortgage? 212 What are the other reverse mortgage costs? 213 What’s the total annual rate? 214 How do reverse mortgages affect your government-sponsored benefits? 215 Shopping for a Reverse Mortgage 215 Making major choices 216 Counseling 217 Deciding Whether You Want a Reverse Mortgage 217 Part 5: The Part of Tens 219 Chapter 14: Ten-Plus “Must-Knows” About Foreclosure 221 Deal with Reality 222 Review Your Spending and Debts 223 Beware of Foreclosure Scams 223 Consider Tapping Other Assets 223 Make Use of Objective Counseling 224 Negotiate with Your Lender 224 Understand Short Sales 225 Seek Legal and Tax Advice 225 Understand Bankruptcy 226 Consider the Future Impact to Your Credit Report 226 Understand the Realities of Investing in Foreclosed Property 228 Chapter 15: Ten Mortgage No-Nos 229 Don’t Let Lenders Tell You What You Can Afford 229 Never Confuse Loan Prequalification with Preapproval 230 Avoid Loans with Prepayment Penalties 231 Don’t Reflexively Grab a Fixed-Rate Mortgage 231 Steer Clear of Toxic 100 Percent Home Equity Loans 232 Watch Out for Mortgage Brokers with Hidden Agendas 233 Shun Negative Amortization Mortgages 234 Don’t Let the 2 Percent Rule Bully You When Refinancing 234 Don’t Assume That All Reverse Mortgages Are the Same or Bad 235 Avoid Mortgage Life Insurance 235 Part 6: Appendixes 237 Appendix A: Loan Amortization Table 239 Appendix B: Remaining Balance Tables 245 Appendix C: Glossary 271 Index 281

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Book SynopsisManage your finances and enjoy your retirement Retirement security is one of the most pressing social issues facing the world in the next 30 yearsso if you're approaching your golden years, it's essential to have a secure financial future. Personal Finance in Your 50s All-in-One For Dummies provides targeted financial advice and assists soon-to-be or established boomers with making informed decisions about how best to spend, invest, and protect their wealth while planning for the future. Retirement is an exciting time but it can also be scary if you're not sure that you have your ducks in a row. This hands-on resource arms you with an arsenal of beginner to intermediate personal finance and estate planning techniques for everything from spending, saving, navigating insurance, managing medical costs, household expenses, and even employment. Build a diversified portfolio Create emergency funds Avoid scams and frauds Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Book 1: Managing Your Career and Retirement 5 Chapter 1: Finding a New Job after 50 7 Recognizing the Need for and Value of Experienced Workers 7 Tallying the Benefits of Staying in the Workforce 11 Reorienting Yourself to Today’s Job-Search Realities 12 Deciding What (Else) You Want Out of Work 13 Pursuing Your Passion and Finding Purpose 15 Putting Proven Success Strategies into Practice 21 Dealing with Ageism 27 Chapter 2: Dealing with Changes in Employment 31 Filing for Unemployment Benefits 32 Getting Your Financial House in Order 32 Financing Any Additional Education and Training 36 Writing Off Your Job-Hunt Expenses 41 Accounting for Social Security Benefits Reductions When You Work 43 Taking Advantage of Additional Public Benefits 44 Providing Benefits for Yourself 45 Chapter 3: Joining the Ranks of the Self-Employed 49 Working on Contract 50 Launching Your Own Business 55 Becoming a Social Entrepreneur 65 Exploring Franchising Opportunities 69 Chapter 4: Tracking Small Business Revenues and Costs 75 Establishing an Accounting System for Your Business 76 Keeping Good Tax Records for Your Small Business 80 Chapter 5: Estimated Taxes and Self-Employment Taxes 85 Form 1040-ES: Estimated Tax for Individuals 86 Keeping Current on Your Employees’ (and Your Own) Tax Withholding 89 Schedule SE: Self-Employment Tax 90 Form 8889: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) 93 Chapter 6: Developing a Retirement Plan 97 Deciding When to Retire 98 Knowing How Much You Really Need for Retirement 99 Eyeing the Components of Your Retirement Plan 101 When Setting Up Your Couples Plan 106 Crunching the Numbers 107 Making Plans for Nonfinancial Matters 110 Chapter 7: Grasping Retirement Accounts and Their Rules 113 Eyeing the Characteristics of Retirement Accounts 114 Identifying the Different Types of Retirement Accounts 117 Rolling Over Retirement Balances 120 Choosing Beneficiaries for Your Retirement Accounts 123 Taking Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs 125 Book 2: Getting Your Affairs in Order 127 Chapter 1: Ensuring That Your Last Wishes Are Honored 129 What Can Happen When You Don’t Plan Your Estate 130 Reaping the Benefits of Planning Your Estate 131 Looking Out for Common Pitfalls 133 Realizing What Happens If You Don’t Have an Estate Plan 138 Creating Your Will or Trust 140 Chapter 2: Planning Your Bequests 145 Calculating Your Assets 145 Determining Your Intended Heirs and Beneficiaries 146 Thinking about Your Family Circumstances 149 Estate Planning for Second Families 149 Estate Planning for Your Business 152 Appointing the People Who Will Carry Out Your Estate Plans 156 Finding Professionals to Assist You 159 Chapter 3: Providing for Your Children and Dependents 163 Choosing a Guardian 163 Managing Your Child’s Assets 166 Providing for Your Child’s Needs 167 Chapter 4: Writing and Signing a Will 173 Deciding Whether a Will Serves Your Needs 174 Exploring the Types of Wills 177 Elements of a Will 181 Executing a Valid Will 187 Book 3: Dealing with Insurance 189 Chapter 1: Seven Guiding Principles of Insurance 191 Keep It Simple 191 Don’t Risk More than You Can Afford to Lose 193 Don’t Risk a Lot for a Little 193 Consider the Odds 194 Risk a Little for a Lot 195 Avoid Las Vegas Insurance 196 Buy Insurance Only as a Last Resort 196 Chapter 2: Buying Insurance 199 Understanding What Makes a Balanced Insurance Program 200 Customizing Each Policy to Meet Your Unique Needs 200 Choosing Your Professional Adviser 201 Choosing an Insurance Company 206 Chapter 3: Getting the Most Out of Medicare 207 Starting Medicare: A Broad Overview of Enrollment Deadlines 208 Understanding Part A 210 Exploring Parts B and C 214 Qualifying for Prescription Drug Coverage with Part D 223 Eyeing a Medicare Supplement 230 Resolving Some Sticky Issues 234 Chapter 4: Introducing the Personal Umbrella Policy 237 Discovering the Umbrella Policy’s Major Coverage Advantages 238 Coordinating an Umbrella with Your Other Insurance 240 Determining How Many Millions to Buy 242 Book 4: Handling Budgets and Investments 245 Chapter 1: Protecting Your Employment Income 247 Assessing Your Need for Life Insurance 248 Protecting Your Employment Income: Disability Insurance 254 Investing In and Protecting Your Health 258 Chapter 2: Managing Budgets and Expenses 263 Pointing Out Some Retirement Worries You May Have 264 Spending Your Nest Egg 267 How Spending Really Changes in Retirement 269 Managing Your Expenses 271 Chapter 3: Guiding Investments and Distributions in Retirement 281 Guiding Your Investments through Retirement 282 Looking Closer at Annuities 285 Choosing Your Pension Options 289 Eyeing Withdrawal Strategies for Your Investment Accounts 294 Chapter 4: Making Your Best Choices under Social Security 297 The Lowdown on Social Security 298 Determining When You’re Eligible for Benefits 300 Taking a Closer Look at Spouses’ and Survivor Benefits 304 Identifying When You May Need to Receive Benefits 310 Noting How Working Reduces Benefits 314 Preserving Your Benefits 316 Being Aware of Potential Income Taxes on Your Benefits 319 Changing Your Mind: A Do-Over 324 Looking at What the Future Holds for Social Security 325 Book 5: Planning Your Estate 329 Chapter 1: Yes, You Have an Estate 331 What Is an Estate? 332 Why You Need to Plan Your Estate 339 Why Your Estate-Planning Goals Are Different from Your Neighbors’ 342 The Critical Path Method to Planning Your Estate 344 Getting Help with Your Estate Planning 346 Chapter 2: Bean Counting: Figuring Out What You’re Worth 353 Calculating the Value of Your Real Property 354 Calculating the Value of Everything Else: Your Personal Property 356 Dead Reckoning: Subtracting Your Debts from Your Assets 359 Giving Gifts throughout Your Life to Reduce Your Estate’s Value 360 Calculating Adjustments in Your Estate’s Value Due to Life Changes 360 Chapter 3: Probate and How to Dodge It 363 Probing Probate: What You Should Know 364 Knowing the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Probate 369 Streamlining the Probate Process 372 Appointing Your Person in Charge 372 Thinking Things Through When Someone Asks You to Be a Personal Rep 379 Understanding Will Substitutes 380 Sorting through the List of Will Substitutes 382 Identifying Some Less Common but Worthy Will Substitutes 392 Chapter 4: Understanding Trusts 397 Defining Trusts, Avoiding Hype 397 Trust Power — Making Your Beneficiaries Smile 402 Sorting Out Trusts — from Here to Eternity 405 Chapter 5: Minimizing Estate-Related Taxes 411 Figuring Out Where You Are Today 412 Fortune-Telling: Picturing the Future as Best You Can 415 Hmmm . . . Deciding on Strategies and Trade-Offs 421 Putting Together a Comprehensive Estate-Related Tax Plan 425 Book 6: Tapping Into Your Home’s Value 429 Chapter 1: Making Important Housing Decisions 431 Analyzing Moving 431 Tapping Your Home’s Equity: Reverse Mortgages 436 Looking at Tax Issues Regarding Your Housing Decisions 439 Chapter 2: Reverse Mortgages for Retirement Income 441 Grasping the Reverse Mortgage Basics 441 Shopping for a Reverse Mortgage 451 Deciding Whether You Want a Reverse Mortgage 453 Chapter 3: Deciding to Sell 455 Figuring Out if You Really Need to Sell 457 Knowing the Health of Your Housing Market 464 Chapter 4: Exploring the Economics of Selling 469 Estimating Proceeds of Sale 469 Assessing the Financial Feasibility of a Move 475 Chapter 5: Determining Your House’s Value 481 Defining Cost, Price, and Value 482 Determining Fair Market Value (FMV) 484 Using a Comparable Market Analysis 486 Bidding Wars 493 Index 497

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Book SynopsisLong-Term Care: Planning for Finance, Medical, and Living Expenses We're living exciting bonus yearsdecades that our parents and grandparents didn't have. But how to navigate this complex terrain? Questions abound around long-term care planning: Where to live? How to get the best medical care? What to do about advance directives, wills and trusts, and estate planning? And how to pay for it all after you retire? Getting accurate information and answers wasn't easy. Until now. AARP's Navigating Your Later Years For Dummies helps you and your family understand the growing range of opportunities. Even more importantly, it helps you chart the next steps to live the life you choose, as independently as you choose, no matter your specific circumstances and needs. This book: Covers home modifications so that you can stay at home safely for as long as you likeLays out the opportunities and costs associated with independent living, assisted living and other optionsGives you a range of drivinTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Navigating Your Later Years 5 Chapter 1: Looking Ahead: The Big Picture 7 Chapter 2: A Personal Inventory: Past, Present, and Future 21 Chapter 3: Finding Services 31 Chapter 4: Making Decisions: A Family Affair 43 Part 2: Choosing Where to Live 53 Chapter 5: Staying in Your Home 55 Chapter 6: Under One Roof: Generations Living Together 73 Chapter 7: Downsizing for Now and Later 87 Chapter 8: Assisted and Independent Living and Other Group Settings 95 Chapter 9: Beyond Your Home: Living in a Community 113 Chapter 10: Getting Around: Transportation Options 125 Part 3: Legal and Financial Planning 139 Chapter 11: Unraveling the Rules of Medicare and Medicaid 141 Chapter 12: Paying for Care: Long-Term Care Insurance and Other Options 161 Chapter 13: Financial Matters: Money Management, Wills, Trusts, and More 177 Part 4: Managing Your Healthcare 193 Chapter 14: Choosing Good Medical Care 195 Chapter 15: Demystifying Home Care 211 Chapter 16: Understanding the Different Roles of Nursing Homes 227 Chapter 17: Getting the Healthcare You Want (And Avoiding What You Don’t Want) 241 Part 5: Services for Special Groups 253 Chapter 18: LGBT Older Adults 255 Chapter 19: Services for Veterans 269 Chapter 20: Family Caregivers 283 Part 6: The Part of Tens 305 Chapter 21: Ten Myths about Aging and Future Care 307 Chapter 22: Ten Resources with State-by-State Information 317 Part 7: Appendixes 325 Appendix A: Glossary 327 Appendix B: Resources 339 Index 347

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Book SynopsisTake control of your financial future with expert guidance from wealth educators and property millionaires John Lee and Vincent Wong The Wealth Dragon Way is an essential guide to creating passive income, building property-based wealth, and achieving financial freedom. This inspiring and informative resource can help you define your financial goals and identify the steps you need to take to achieve them. Exploring common myths and misinformation surrounding wealthsuch as money is the root of all evilthis book shows how overcoming fear and self-doubt can change the way you think about wealth and your potential for personal growth. Real-world examples illustrate how entrepreneurs can use alternative strategies to acquire properties below market value. Fully updated to reflect the current economic environment, this second edition includes the Top Ten Habits of Successful Wealth Dragons as well as new chapters on the foundations of true wealth and how to adopt abunTable of ContentsPreface ix Preface to the First Edition xi Acknowledgments xiii About the Authors xv Introduction: The Story of The Wealth Dragons 1 PART I The Why Chapter 1 What Is Wealth? 29 Chapter 2 The Moral Obligation to be Wealthy 33 Chapter 3 Why a Wealth Dragon? 37 Chapter 4 Undesirable Truths 43 Chapter 5 Welcome to the Parallel Universe 49 PART II The When Chapter 6 Get Rich Quick or Get Rich Forever? 69 Chapter 7 Who Is Stopping You? 73 Chapter 8 What Is Stopping You? 79 Chapter 9 The Trap of the Rat Race 85 Chapter 10 It’s About Work, Stupid! 93 PART III The How Chapter 11 The More Money Mindset 101 Chapter 12 Your Relationship With Money 115 Chapter 13 The Wealth Model 123 Chapter 14 A Foolproof Guide to Property Investing? 133 Chapter 15 Property Investment in Practice 159 Chapter 16 Being a Wealth Dragon 175 Conclusion: The Now 185 Final Word 193 Index 195

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Book SynopsisEducate yourself about finance and socially conscious investing with a woman-centered approach Activate Your Money provides the foundational support women need to talk to each other about their money, invest to grow their wealth, and to take the actions required to shift their assets into alignment with their values. Written for smart, savvy women who want to feel financially empowered, Activate Your Money starts where other personal finance books leave off. It delivers the depth of information you need to make informed investment decisions across your entire portfolio. Starting with checking and savings accounts and proceeding asset class by asset class, this book provides you with core investment knowledge, as well as concrete examples about how and where you can invest your money in alignment with your values. You don''t have to do it alone. As women, our strength is in relationships, and this book will help you use that strength to attain betteTable of ContentsPreface: Welcome to a Brave New World xiii Part 1 Establishing Your Foundation 1 Chapter 1 Values-Aligned Investing: Step into Your Financial Power 3 Chapter 2 Your Relationship with Money: Invest with Your Heart and Mind 15 Chapter 3 Your Financial Foundation: Master Some Core Principles 31 Part 2 Crafting an Aligned Portfolio 53 Chapter 4 Cash: Activate Your Savings and Checking Accounts 55 Chapter 5 Cash Alternatives: Yield Higher Returns for Idle Cash 77 Chapter 6 Fixed Income: Grasp the Potential of Bonds 87 Chapter 7 Public Equities: Invest in the Stock Market with Confidence 113 Chapter 8 Public Equities: Select Values-Aligned Investments 133 Chapter 9 Private Investments: Explore Private Debt, Private Equity, and Angel Investing 153 Chapter 10 Alternative Investments: Achieve Deeper Diversification and Impact 177 Chapter 11 Maximize Your Philanthropy: Finish with Grants and Concessionary Investing 199 Part 3 Building a Community of Support 221 Chapter 12 Professional Support: Find Values-Aligned Financial Advisors 223 Chapter 13 Retirement Accounts: Build Values into IRAs and Employer Plans 243 Chapter 14 Gather Your Friends: Get Together for Fun and Profit 261 Conclusion Stepping into Your Financial Future 273 Glossary275 Acknowledgments 285 About the Author 289 Index 291

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Book SynopsisDiscover how financial freedom and not fairy tales is at the heart of your very own Happy Ever After Did you know you can become a millionaire by saving just $7 a day and investing for 7% returns? Probably not, because financial literacy is a subject that's overlooked by the vast majority of schools and universities, despite its importance to every single person on the planet. Written initially for a teenage daughter and then turned into a course to train migrant workers, Happy Ever After: Financial Freedom Isn't a Fairy Tale focuses on the fundamentals of understanding money, saving and investing, showing how the magic of compound investing can transform tiny initial amounts into genuine wealth. Finally, it shows readers how to achieve the Freedom Formula of 25x your annual spending that can set you free. Perfect for anyone who hopes to make their future financially brighter than their present, or help their own children avoid mistakes they made, Happy Ever After has a playful tone, featuring a spoiled princess and talking frog, hand-illustrated to help explain some of the trickier ideas that can help change your life.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements xi Preface: Once Upon A Time . . . xiii Introduction: Are You Happy Now? xix Stop Believing In Fairy Tales xxi This Isn’t A Fairy Tale, Princess! xxvi The Chapter 1 Cheat Sheet 1 Chapter 1 The M.I.S.S.I.O.N. 3 The M.I.S.S.I.O.N. Stages 5 The ”Freedom Formula" 7 Part 1: The Freedom Formula is 25X 7 Part 2: The “X Factor” 8 Why The Freedom Formula Is So Important 9 “Out Of The Woods” 11 The Emperor’s New Money 18 The Chapter 2 Cheat Sheet 21 Money 21 Chapter 2 M for Money 22 What is money? 23 Time (and Energy) = Money 29 Working people have money but no time 30 Old people, of course, have no energy 31 The Energy Equation Following The M.I.S.S.I.O.N. 32 Your First Step Out Of The Woods 32 Are You Ready To Be Happy Ever After? 33 The Cinderella Side-Gig 38 The Chapter 3 Cheat Sheet 41 How We Learn To Make More Money 41 Chapter 3 I For Income 42 How To Make Active Income 42 Dream job? Dream on! 42 The Bad Things About Bad Jobs 46 The Side-Gig Side Bar 50 Jill Saves On The Side 54 A Second Step Out Of The Woods 56 Are You Ready To Make More Money? 57 Free Income Stuff – Side-Hustle School 60 The Age Of Dragons And Saving 62 The Chapter 4 Cheat Sheet – Saving 65 How We Save More Money 65 Chapter 4 S For Saving 67 Why do we save? 67 Become A Master Of Disaster 68 Saving For Investments 69 Saving For Freedom 73 How do we save? 75 1. The envelope method 77 2. The direct debit method 78 3. Bonuses and businesses 80 A Little Help … 83 How much should we save? 85 Trick Yourself Into Saving More 88 What are you saving for? 91 Do You Know How Saving Makes You Happy Ever After? 95 Back In The Real World …Save-tember! 97 The Wicked Witch Of The Worldwide Web 100 The Chapter 5 Cheat Sheet 103 How We Spend Less Money 103 Chapter 5 S For Spending 105 “50 – 30 – 20”: or should that be “20 – 50 – 30”? 106 The (Basic) Cost of Living 107 30% Fun? 115 Free (Cool) Movements That Discourage Spending 122 Should I Be Worried About My Spending? 125 The First Seven Cuts 127 Are You Ready To Be Happy Ever After? 132 Jack And The Giant Bean Stock 136 The Chapter 6 Cheat Sheet 139 How We Make Money Work For Us 139 Chapter 6 I For Investing 141 The Long-Term Magic of Compounding 145 R for Risk 148 R for Return 154 Risk = Return? 155 “Integrate” Your Investing With Your Life 156 S Is For Spread 166 K is for Knowledge 170 Back In The Real World: Avoiding Scams 179 Are You Ready For Happy Ever After? 183 A Tax Break 185 How To Own One Cool Cat 188 The Chapter 7 Cheat Sheet 191 How We Own This! 191 Chapter 7 Three Os For Ownership 193 Own The Process 193 What Do You Really Own? 195 The Freedom Formula 208 Back In The Real World: Climbing A Pension Mountain In Your 100-Year Life! 223 What Woods? 224 Are You Ready To Own Being Happy Ever After? 225 “Happy Ever After" 230 The Chapter 8 Cheat Sheet 233 How We Know When To Start Being Happy Ever After 233 Chapter 8 N For Now 234 Here Be Dragons – Yes, Right Here, Right Now 235 No More Delays 238 No More Excuses 240 The End – Or The Beginning? 251 Can You Be Happy Ever After Now? 252 The M.I.S.S.I.O.N. Cheat Sheet (Again) 255 Index 257

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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 4 Part 1: Some Cord-Cutting Basics 5 Chapter 1: Why Cut the Cord? 7 What’s So Bad about Cable? (Let Me Count the Ways) 8 Cable TV is expensive 8 You still get bombarded by commercials 9 You probably watch only a teensy fraction of what you pay for 9 Bundles are (usually) bad 9 Long-term (read: loyal) customers pay more, not less 10 You’re getting nickeled-and-dimed 10 You’re dealing with a near-monopoly 11 Customer service is pretty much non-existent 12 Technical support is a pain in the you-know-what 12 Those darned contracts! 13 Some Reasons Why Cutting the Cord Might Not Be for You 13 Your savings might be less than you hoped 13 You might still have to deal with channel bundles 14 You might still see commercials 14 TV watching will become more complex for you 15 You’ll use way more Internet bandwidth — and perhaps pay for the privilege 15 Your monthly Internet bill will probably go up 16 The quality of the streaming video might be poor 16 You might have to wait a long time to watch new shows 16 You might never see some new shows 17 The Benefits of Severing Your Connection to the Cable Company 17 You save money 18 You’ll probably be happier in the long run 18 You unshackle your TV 18 You unshackle yourself 19 You’re in control 19 Surveying the Cord-Free Landscape 20 Chapter 2: Snip, Snip Your 7-Step Plan to Going Cord-Free 23 Step 1: Deciding What You Want to Watch 24 Option A: Going with just your “must see” TV shows 24 Option B: Going with just a few streaming services 25 Option C: Going with OTA live TV 26 Step 2: Figuring Out the Equipment You Need 26 Step 3: Making a Streaming Services Budget 27 Step 4: Trying Out Lots of Streaming Services — for Free! 29 Step 5: Subscribing to Streaming Services 30 Step 6: Doing a Cord-Cutting Test Drive 31 Step 7: Cutting the Cord — Woo-Hoo! 32 Check your contract 33 Check your bandwidth history 33 Gather everything you need 33 Get ready mentally 34 Know the process 34 Return all equipment 36 Part 2: Cord Cutting Made Easy with Over-the-Air TV 37 Chapter 3: Understanding Over-the-Air TV 39 OTA? OTT? Live TV? What on Earth Is Everyone Talking About? 40 What is over-the-air TV? 41 The pros and cons of over-the-air TV 42 How Over-the-Air TV Works 45 The television station 45 The transmission tower 46 The antenna and tuner 46 What Channels Can You Access? 48 Understanding the factors that affect signal strength 49 Checking the FCC’s digital TV reception maps 50 Using TV Fool’s TV signal locator 52 Real versus virtual channels 54 Chapter 4: Choosing and Setting Up OTA Hardware 57 What Equipment Do You Need? 58 Choosing an OTA Digital Antenna 62 Antenna styles 62 Determine the range 63 Indoor or outdoor? 63 Amplified or not? 64 Unidirectional or multidirectional? 66 Look for VHF/UHF support 67 Watch out for bogus or exaggerated claims 68 Installing Your Antenna 70 Installing an indoor antenna 70 Installing an outdoor antenna 71 Connecting Your Antenna 73 Making coaxial connections 73 Connecting an antenna to one TV 74 Connecting an antenna to multiple TVs 75 Connecting an antenna to your computer 77 Connecting an antenna to your mobile device 78 Connecting an antenna to your Wi-Fi network 78 Improving antenna reception 79 Scanning for OTA Channels 80 Chapter 5: Watching Over-the-Air and Live TV 83 Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Regular TV 84 Changing the TV input source 84 Watching over-the-air TV 86 Where’s the TV guide? 87 Recording over-the-air TV 87 Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Smart TV 91 Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Streaming Device 93 Look, Ma, No Antenna! Streaming Live TV 93 Part 3: Cable-Free Viewing with Streaming Services 97 Chapter 6: The Hardware You Need for Streaming 99 Let’s Talk TVs 100 Screen size 100 Resolution 101 HDMI ports 102 Streamers: Set-Top Box or Dongle? 103 Set-top box streamers 104 Dongle streamers 105 Set-top box streamer versus dongle streamer 105 What to Look for in a Streaming Media Player 106 Smart TVs for Streaming Media 109 Setting Up Your Hardware 111 Connecting a set-top player 111 Connecting a streaming stick 113 Configuring your streaming player 115 Chapter 7: Getting Your Internet Access Ready for Streaming 117 Investing in a New Router 118 Extending Your Wi-Fi Network 121 How Much Bandwidth Is Enough? 122 Taking a look at streaming media bandwidth usage 123 Going on a bandwidth diet 124 Understanding How Streaming Works 126 The streaming process 126 More about buffering 127 I Feel the Need — the Need for Speed! 129 Why does speed matter? 129 How fast is fast enough? 130 Testing your Internet speed 131 Chapter 8: Checking Out Free Streaming Services 135 Is There Such a Thing as a Free Lunch? 136 What to Expect from Free Streaming Services 137 Some Free Streaming Services to Check Out 138 Crackle 138 Haystack News 139 Hoopla 139 IMDb TV 141 Kanopy 142 PBS Video 142 Peacock 142 Roku Channel Store 143 Tubi TV 144 Xumo 145 Free streaming apps for kids 145 A few more freebies 146 Chapter 9: Checking Out Paid Streaming Services 149 What to Expect from Paid Streaming Services 150 What Types of Paid Streaming Services Are Available? 151 On-Demand Streaming Services .152 Amazon Prime Video 152 Apple TV+ 153 Hulu 155 Netflix 156 Paramount+ 157 Peacock 158 Cable-Replacement Services 160 fuboTV 160 Hulu + Live TV 161 Sling TV 162 YouTube TV 163 Checking Out Premium Channels 164 Part 4: The Part of Tens 167 Chapter 10: Ten Ways to Save Money in a Cord-Free World 169 Get the Smallest OTA Antenna Possible 170 Don’t Get Too Much Internet 171 Take Advantage of Skinny Bundles 172 Don’t Commit Until You’re Amazed at Your Luck 173 Watch New Shows on the Cheap 174 Subscribe Strategically 175 Keep an Eye on Your Subscriptions 176 Get a Credit Card Offering Streaming Cash Back 177 Give Up the Premium Subscription Plan 177 Save on Sports .178 Chapter 11: Ten Tips for Troubleshooting Streaming Woes 179 Check Your Streaming Device’s Download Speed 180 Restart Your Streaming Device 183 Check Your Streaming Device for Updates 184 Reset Your Streaming Device 185 Check Your Wi-Fi Connection Speed 186 Reset Your Wi-Fi 188 Make Some Wi-Fi Adjustments 188 Troubleshoot an Unresponsive Streaming Device 189 Troubleshoot a Blank TV Screen 190 Upgrade Your Hardware 191 Glossary 193 Index 203

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Book SynopsisDychtwald and Morison offer a brilliant and convincing perspective: an essential re-think of what ''aging'' and ''retirement'' mean today and an invitation to help mobilize the best in the tidal wave of Boomer Third Agers.Daniel Goleman, PhD, Author, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ Throughout 99 percent of human history, life expectancy at birth was less than 18 years. Few people had a chance to age. Today, thanks to extraordinary medical, demographic, and economic shifts, most of us expect to live long lives. Consequently, the world is witnessing a powerful new version of retirement, driven by the power and needs of the Baby Boomer generation. Consumers over age 50 account for more than half of all spending and control more than 70% of our total net worth yet are largely ignored by youth-focused marketers. How will work, family, and retirement be transformed to accommodate two billion people over the age of 60 worldwide? In the comTable of ContentsIntroduction 01 Chapter 1 The Age Wave is Rising: How the Boomers are Transforming Retirement 05 Chapter 2 Ageism Sucks: It’s Bad for People and Bad for Business 27 Chapter 3 Reframing Aging: There’s a New Story to Tell 43 Chapter 4 Putting Wisdom to Work: The New Role, Timing, and Purpose of Post-Retirement Employment 61 Chapter 5 The Time Affluence Explosion: Fifty Trillion Hours of Leisure to Fill 85 Chapter 6 Searching for the Fountain of Health: Can We Match Healthspan to Lifespan? 111 Chapter 7 Retirement isn’t a Solo Project: The Entangled Endearments of Family Relationships 143 Chapter 8 Home and Community: Stay, Go, Remodel, or Find Roommates? 171 Chapter 9 Funding Longevity: Retirement is the Biggest Purchase of a Lifetime – That Many Can’t Afford 199 Chapter 10 The Giving Revolution: Living with Purpose and Leaving a Legacy 227 Chapter 11 Retiring Retirement: The Rise of Life’s Third Age 255 Acknowledgments 263 About the Authors 265 Notes 269 Index 283

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