Planning Wealth

This completely revised and updated, plain-English guide is packed with the latest information on choosing the best annuity for your retirement needs. You’ll find out exactly what annuities are, whether they’re the right financial vehicle for you, and which of the many annuity options might have your name on it. You’ll learn the ins and outs of using annuities to fund your retirement years, figure out whether to stress investments with insurance or insurance with investments, and find out how the right combination of annuities can help you squeeze more income out of your savings that any other financial tool. Discover how to:

• Identify the main types of annuities
• Weigh the pros and cons of annuities for yourself
• Minimize the complexity and cost of your annuity investment
• Figure out how much money to commit
• Avoid common annuity pitfalls
• Create an income you can’t outlive

The time to start securing your financial future is now. Annuities For Dummies, 3^rd Edition, gives you knowledge, insider tips, and expert advice you need to make your money do its best for you.

Praise for The Perfect Portfolio

“Today’s markets are rife with challenges that confound novice and professional investors alike. Thankfully, The Perfect Portfolio provides the type of ‘outside the box’ thinking that can enable individual investors to not only cope with these challenges but also to view them as profit-making opportunities.”
—Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach (from the Foreword)

To achieve long-term success in today’s market, you can’t place your faith totally in financial “experts” who are far too often salespeople first and objective advisers second. You must take personal control of your hard-earned savings and build a portfolio that gives you a realistic chance of earning returns that enable you to meet the investing goals you really want to achieve in life.

That’s why Leland Hevner—President of the National Association of Online Investors (naoi.org) and a longtime educator in the financial field—has created The Perfect Portfolio. This reliable resource outlines Hevner’s proven investment approach, known as the Perfect Portfolio Methodology (PPM), and shows you how to use it to thrive in today’s challenging market conditions.

Divided into three comprehensive parts, The Perfect Portfolio will enable you to:

• Build a powerful and efficient portfolio using nine asset classes instead of the traditional three

• Completely avoid the complexities of analyzing individual stocks and mutual funds

• Virtually eliminate company risk from your portfolio

• Use amazing new Web-based tools to enhance and automate your trading activities

• Easily design a portfolio that matches your investing style and thrives in any market condition

• And much more

This is not the stuff of your average investing book. The author is not simply putting a new “spin” on the outdated investing concepts being taught today. He is providing nothing less than a dramatically new portfolio design model and a revolutionary approach to the entire field of personal investing. And this bold challenge to the status quo is long overdue!

With The Perfect Portfolio as your guide, you will realize that investing does not need to be as complicated as the financial services industry would like you to believe. You will learn a simple methodology for building a portfolio that can produce incredible returns with minimal risk. You will be empowered to take personal control of your investments. It’s time to start your new life as a confident investor.

Like the sayings of the ancient Chinese philospher Lao-tzu, Warren Buffett’s worldly wisdom is deceptively simple and enormously powerful in application. In The Tao of Warren Buffett, Mary Buffett — author of three books on Warren Buffett’s investment methods — joins noted Buffettologist and international lecturer David Clark to bring you Warren Buffett’s smartest, funniest, and most memorable sayings with an eye toward revealing the life philosophy and the investment strategies that have made Warren Buffett, and the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, so enormously wealthy.

Warren Buffett’s investment achievements are unparalleled. He owes his success to hard work, integrity, and that most elusive commodity of all, common sense. The quotations in this book exemplify Warren’s practical strategies and provide useful illustrations for every investor — large or small — and models everyone can follow. The quotes are culled from a variety of sources, including personal conversations, corporate reports, profiles, and interviews. The authors provide short explanations for each quote and use examples from Buffett’s own business transactions whenever possible to illustrate his words at work.

As Warren says:

“You should invest in a business that even a fool can run, because someday a fool will.”

“With enough inside information and a million dollars, you can go broke in a year.”

“No matter how great the talent or effort, some things just take time: You can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.”

“Our method is very simple. We just try to buy businesses with good-to-superb underlying economics run by honest and able people and buy them at sensible prices. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

The Tao of Warren Buffett inspires, amuses, sharpens the mind, and offers priceless investment savvy that anyone can take to the bank. This irresistibly browsable and entertaining book is destined to become a classic.

Now, in Bollinger on Bollinger Bands, Bollinger himself explains how to use this extraordinary technique to compare price and indicator action and make sound, sensible, and profitable trading decisions.

Concise, straightforward, and filled with instructive charts and graphs, this remarkable book will be essential reading for all serious traders, regardless of market. Bollinger includes his simple system for implementation, and techniques for combining bands and indicators.

With the proliferation of financial instruments, new areas of instability, and innovative capital market strategies, many economists and investors have lost sight of the fundamentals of the financial system—its strengths as well as its weaknesses. A Primer on Money, Banking, and Gold takes you back to the beginning and sorts out all the pieces.

Peter Bernstein skillfully addresses how and why commercial banks lend and invest, where money comes from, how it moves from hand to hand, and the critical role of interest rates. He explores the Federal Reserve System and the consequences of the Fed’s actions on the overall economy. But this book is not just about the past. Bernstein’s novel perspective on gold and the dollar is critical for today’s decision makers, as he provides extensive views on the future of money, banking, and gold in the world economy.

This illuminating story about the heart of our economic system is essential reading at a time when developments in finance are more important than ever.

The Only Official Guide to the #1 Personal Finance Software

Now you can manage your finances and assets with ease! Quicken 2009: The Official Guide is filled with insider tips and expert techniques for tracking your income, expenses, savings, transactions, investments, and much more.

Fully endorsed by Intuit, makers of Quicken, this official guide helps you save time and money by showing you how to maximize all of the software’s powerful capabilities-including new features and little-known tools. You’ll also get valuable guidance along with information about online resources to assist you in making smart financial decisions and planning for a secure future. 

• Customize Quicken for your preferences
• Track your cash flow
• Set up Online Account Services
• Automate transactions and tasks
• Reconcile checking, savings, and credit card accounts
• Track investments and optimize your portfolio
• Monitor assets and loans
• Manage household records
• Reduce debt, save money, and plan for retirement
• Simplify tax preparation and maximize deductions
• Get help and guidance from the new Sidebar feature

Inflated profits . . . Suspicious write-offs . . . Shifted expenses . . . These and other dubious financial maneuvers have taken on a contemporary twist as companies pull out the stops in seeking to satisfy Wall Street. Financial Shenanigans pulls back the curtain on the current climate of accounting fraud. It presents tools that anyone who is potentially affected by misleading business valuations­­from investors and lenders to managers and auditors­­can use to research and read financial reports, and to identify early warning signs of a company’s problems. A bestseller in its first edition, Financial Shenanigans has been thoroughly updated for today’s marketplace. New chapters, data, and research reveal contemporary “shenanigans” that have been known to fool even veteran researchers.

More than one million hardcovers sold
Now available for the first time in paperback!

The Classic Text Annotated to Update Graham’s Timeless Wisdom for Today’s Market Conditions

The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham’s philosophy of “value investing” — which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies — has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949.

Over the years, market developments have proven the wisdom of Graham’s strategies. While preserving the integrity of Graham’s original text, this revised edition includes updated commentary by noted financial journalist Jason Zweig, whose perspective incorporates the realities of today’s market, draws parallels between Graham’s examples and today’s financial headlines, and gives readers a more thorough understanding of how to apply Graham’s principles.

Vital and indispensable, this HarperBusiness Essentials edition of The Intelligent Investor is the most important book you will ever read on how to reach your financial goals.

Topics include:

• Stan Weinstein’s personal philosophy on investing
• The ideal time to buy
• Refining the buying process
• Knowing when to sell
• Selling Short
• Using the best long-term indicators to spot Bull and Bear markets

Odds, ends, and profits

Your Money and Your Brain is as entertaining as it is enlightening. In the course of his research, Zweig visited leading neuroscience laboratories and subjected himself to numerous experiments. He blends anecdotes from these experiences with stories about investing mistakes, including confessions of stupidity from some highly successful people. Then he draws lessons and offers original practical steps that investors can take to make wiser decisions.

Anyone who has ever looked back on a financial decision and said, “How could I have been so stupid?” will benefit from reading this book.

The economic and monetary disaster which seasoned Wall Street prognosticator Peter Schiff predicted is no longer hypothetical-it is here today. And nobody understands what to do in this situation better than the man who saw it coming. For more than a decade, Schiff has not only observed the U.S. economy, but also helped his clients restructure their portfolios to reflect his outlook. What he sees today is a nation facing an economic storm brought on by growing federal, personal, and corporate debt; too little savings; and a declining dollar.

Crash Proof 2.0 picks up right where the first edition-a bestselling book that predicted the current market mayhem-left off. This timely guide takes into account the dramatic economic shifts that are reshaping America and provides you with the insights and information to navigate the dangerous terrain. Throughout the book, Schiff explains the factors that will affect your future financial stability and offers a specific three step plan to battle the current economic downturn.

• Discusses the measures you can take to protect yourself-as well as profit-during these difficult times
• Offers an insightful examination of the structural weaknesses underlying the economic meltdown
• Outlines a plan that will allow you to preserve wealth and protect the purchasing power of your savings
• Other titles by Schiff: Crash Proof and The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets

Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, Crash Proof 2.0 will help you survive and thrive during the coming years of economic uncertainty.

The excesses are most starkly visible in the continuing crisis in banking and investment, and even in the two enormous government-sponsored (but publicly owned) mortgage lenders, to say nothing of the billion-dollar-plus annual paychecks that top hedge-fund managers draw down and the excessive compensation paid to CEOs, regardless of  performance.

Throughout his legendary career, John Bogle—founder of the Vanguard mutual fund group, and creator of the first index mutual fund—has helped investors build wealth the right way and led a tireless campaign to restore common sense to the investment world. Along the way, he’s seen how destructive an obsession with financial success can be. Now, with Enough, he puts this dilemma in perspective.

Bogle offers his unparalleled insights on money, on the values we should emulate in our business and professional callings, and on what we should consider as the true treasures in our lives. By explaining what “enough” truly is, he demonstrates how close everyone can be to having it.

Amazon.com Review

Amazon.com Exclusive: William J. Bernstein on Enough
William Bernstein, Ph.D., M.D. is the critically acclaimed author, financial theorist and historian whose books include A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World, The Birth of Plenty, The Four Pillars of Investing, and The Intelligent Asset Allocator. Bernstein is frequently quoted in national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Money, and Forbes.

If you are wondering about the cause of the current market crisis, then you haven’t been reading enough of Jack Bogle.

Because he certainly knows not only where, but why and how. For decades Jack has been communicating his disquiet in previous books, speeches, and public testimony. Years from now, when historians and investors dissect the economic and market meltdowns of 2008, they’ll consult this slim, well-written volume.

In order to understand the intellectual and moral platform from which he surveys the economic wreckage, you need to know a little of his story. Bogle founded one of the world’s great investment companies, the Vanguard Group. Most men in his situation would have levered such success into a multi-billion-dollar net worth; instead, he “mutualized” Vanguard, converting it, in effect, into a nonprofit organization whose only goal was to benefit its fund holders. From an ethical perspective, Vanguard is the only “investment company” worthy of that name. (As opposed to most financial firms, which are in fact “marketing companies” whose main purpose is to milk unwitting investors of fees and commissions.)

The answer to the conundrum of 2008 lies in the book’s title, “Enough,” which is the punch line from a delightful Kurt Vonnegut/Joseph Heller story. Simply put, our nation has been suffering from decades of unchecked financial excess, for which we are now paying the piper: excess in investment company fees; excess in financial speculation masquerading as diversification and innovation; excess in the salaries of top executives; excess in salesmanship; and most importantly, excess in the role played by the financial industry in our national economy and national life.

Each of these excesses gets its own chapter, and each one is a tightly written gem. Chapters 2 and 3, which dissect out the frenzy of derivatives, structured vehicles, and layers of intermediation behind the recent collapse, alone justify the book’s purchase price.

As Bogle states in the book’s beginning, in the spring of 2007 the financial services sector–which, after all, produces nothing of substantive value–accounted for one-third of the earnings of the S&P 500. By the time you read this, this outsized influence will have shrunken drastically. Let Enough be your welcome to the brave new world; it will satisfy your curiosity, give you a sense of moral balance in this most materialistic of ages, and even plump up your investment portfolio.

–William J. Bernstein

Product Description

Written by John C. Bogle–the legendary founder of the Vanguard Mutual Fund–Enough. offers his unparalleled insights on money, the values we should emulate in our business and professional callings, and what we should consider as the true treasures in our lives. Inspired in large measure by the hundreds of lectures Bogle has delivered to professional groups and college students in recent years, this book will help you discover what it really means to have “enough” and how close you are to really having it.

In Unconventional Success, investment legend David F. Swensen offers incontrovertible evidence that the for-profit mutual-fund industry consistently fails the average investor. From excessive management fees to the frequent “churning” of portfolios, the relentless pursuit of profits by mutual-fund management companies harms individual clients. Perhaps most destructive of all are the hidden schemes that limit investor choice and reduce returns, including “pay-to-play” product-placement fees, stale-price trading scams, soft-dollar kickbacks, and 12b-1 distribution charges.

Even if investors manage to emerge unscathed from an encounter with the profit-seeking mutual-fund industry, individuals face the likelihood of self-inflicted pain. The common practice of selling losers and buying winners (and doing both too often) damages portfolio returns and increases tax liabilities, delivering a one-two punch to investor aspirations.

In short: Nearly insurmountable hurdles confront ordinary investors.

Swensen’s solution? A contrarian investment alternative that promotes well-diversified, equity-oriented, “market-mimicking” portfolios that reward investors who exhibit the courage to stay the course. Swensen suggests implementing his nonconformist proposal with investor-friendly, not-for-profit investment companies such as Vanguard and TIAA-CREF. By avoiding actively managed funds and employing client-oriented mutual-fund managers, investors create the preconditions for investment success.

Bottom line? Unconventional Success provides the guidance and financial know-how for improving the personal investor’s financial future.

SELECTED AS A 2008 BEST BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE ECONOMIST

“ONE OF THE SMARTEST INVESTORS ON THE PLANET.”–MONEY MAGAZINE

“This book is an essential read for those who wish to understand the modern world of investing.”
—Alan Greenspan

Winner of the 2008 Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award

When Markets Collide is a timely alert to the fundamental changes taking place in today’s global economic and financial systems–and a call to action for investors who may fall victim to misinterpreting important signals. While some have tended to view asset class mispricings as mere “noise,” this compelling book shows why they are important signals of opportunities and risks that will shape the market for years to come. One of today’s most respected names in finance, Mohamed El-Erian puts recent events in their proper context, giving you the tools that can help you interpret the markets, benefit from global economic change, and navigate the risks.

The world economy is in the midst of a series of hand-offs. Global growth is now being heavily influenced by nations that previously had little or no systemic influence. Former debtor nations are building unforeseen wealth and, thus, enjoying unprecedented influence and facing unusual challenges. And new derivative products have changed the behavior of many market segments and players. Yet, despite all these changes, the system’s infrastructure is yet to be upgraded to reflect the realities of today’s and tomorrow’s world. El-Erian investigates the underlying drivers of global change to shed light on how you should:

• Think about the new opportunities and risks
• Construct an appropriately diversified and internationalized portfolio
• Protect your portfolio against new sources of systemic risk
• Best think about the impact of central banks and financial policies around the world

Offering up predictions of future developments, El-Erian directs his focus to help you capitalize on the new financial landscape, while limiting exposure to new risk configurations.

When Markets Collide is a unique collection of books for investors and policy makers around the world. In addition to providing a thorough analysis and clear perspective of recent events, it lays down a detailed map for navigating your way through an otherwise perplexing new economic landscape.

“Investing, as it is said, is simple but it is not easy. Jonathan Clements’s fine new Little Book underscores the priceless (and price-less) value of simplicity. And his sage advice on living the good life and on spending well and saving wisely will surely make it, if not easy, at least easier for us to achieve financial peace of mind.”
—John C. Bogle, founder of Vanguard and author of Enough

“Nobody, and I mean nobody, can make the world of investing as easy to understand as Jonathan Clements can. In this wonderful book, he teaches Main Street how to beat Wall Street at its own game-and how to have fun along the way. This book does not stop at merely making you richer and smarter; it will even help you lead a better life.”
—Jason Zweig, author of Your Money and Your Brain and editor of Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor

“Jonathan Clements is one of our wisest and finest writers in the field of personal finance. This Little Book contains gems of wisdom not only about investing, but also about living a full and satisfying life.”
—Burton G. Malkiel, author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street

“Easy to read, easy to understan-and easy to put to work-this Little Book is a winner. I’m getting copies for our children-and their children, too.”
—Charles D. Ellis, author of Winning the Loser’s Game

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Street Smart Tips for Main Street
Content from author Jonathan Clements

1. Don’t pay an insurance company to shoulder risks you can afford to shoulder yourself.

2. To make it easier to amass enough for retirement, aim to start saving no later than age 30

3. Make it a point to sock away tax refunds, year-end bonuses, overtime pay, and any other extra money you receive

4. Mentally divide your portfolio into growth money and safe money – and expect a rough ride from the former and comfort from the latter

5. The harder you try to beat the market, the more likely you are to fail, thanks to the investment costs involved.

6. By building a portfolio that is unlikely to suffer big short-term losses, you should improve your long-run investment compounding.

7. Unless your health is poor, plan on a retirement that lasts until age 90 – and maybe longer.

8. Resist following the crowd, whether it’s chasing hot performers in bull markets or shunning stocks during market declines.

9. Before purchasing a house, make sure you will stay put for at least five years and preferably longer.

10. If you’re a conservative investor inclined to buy bonds, consider making extra principal payments on your mortgage instead.

21 Simple Truths that Help Real People Make Real Money
Content from author Jonathan Clements

1. Our finances are bigger than a brokerage account

2. We can’t have it all

3. Money can buy happiness – if we spend it carefully

4. Even the best investors need to be great savers

5. Time is as valuable as money

6. No investment is risk-free

7. Portfolio performance – it’s all in the mix

8. Stocks are worth SOMETHING

9. To add wealth, we need to overcome the subtractions

10. Aiming for average is the only sure way to win

11. Wild investments can tame our portfolios

12. Short-term results matter to long-term investors

13. A long life is a big risk

14. Markets may be rational, but we aren’t

15. Our homes are a fine investment that won’t appreciate much

16. Paying off debts could be our best bond investment

17. Saving taxes can cost us dearly

18. A tax deferred is extra money made

19. Insurance won’t make us any money – if we’re lucky

20. Even if we have a will, we may not get our way

21. Financial success: it’s about more than money