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Investing 101

Name: Investing 101
Author: Kathy Kristof
ISBN: 9781576603079

by Kathy Kristof

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Overview

Investing 101 helps readers take their first steps into investing, even if they've been uncertain how to go about it before. This is the book that gives the novice investor the knowledge base and confidence to invest wisely

Guesswork is taken out of investing in this informative and easy-to-follow guidebook. Subjects covered include investing through mutual funds, diversifying investments, and more.

Synopsis

In the newly updated and expanded edition of Investing 101, Kathy Kristof shatters the myth that investing is impossible for the average person to do successfully. "Investing doesn't have to be difficult or nerve-racking," Kristof maintains. "In fact, wise investing is simple. Ask yourself this question: Will I have the amount of money I need when I need it with my present investment strategy? If the answer is yes, you're doing it right. If the answer is no, you need to change something. It is that simple."

With the most up-to-date material on 529 college savings plans, Roth IRAs, reverse mortgages, and why even bad markets can be good for you, Kristof carefully explains how to invest safely and successfully. She even provides a "Lazy Investor's Portfolio Planner" for those who don't want to spend more than a few hours a year managing their investments. This book is for anyone who needs simple, straightforward advice on how to start investing wisely.

(September 2000) - Today's Librarian

More simple and straightforward than the typical book on investing... also more humorous and personal.

About the Author, Kathy Kristof

Business writer Kathy Kristof is nationally known for her weekly syndicated personal finance column in the LA Times, which reaches 40 million readers online through more than thirty major newspapers. Cited as “maybe the best reporter of all the personal finance columnists" in the TJFR 1999 Blue Chip Newsroom ranking of the top 100 American business journalists, she has received numerous writing awards and honors, including the title of 1998 Consumer Advocate of the Year by the California Alliance for Consumer Education. She is a sought-after speaker for investment conferences and appears regularly on radio and television news programs. Kathy lives in Los Angeles with her two children.

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Editorials

BookPage

If I had to suggest a book on investing and personal finance to an absolute beginner, it would be this.
—(September 2000)

Today's Librarian

More simple and straightforward than the typical book on investing... also more humorous and personal.
—(September 2000)

Publishers Weekly

The "Your Money" syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Kristof has written a primer for novice investors, but despite her accessible prose she misses the mark here. Her opening chapter, "Exorcising Your Demons," examines the various psychological reasons people make dumb investing decisions: for example, the "money-lover" agonizes over every penny spent and is always working for more, while the "ostrich" refuses to alter an investment strategy until it's too late. Other chapters--"Risk and Reward," "Investing in Bonds" and "Mutual Funds"--cull standard advice found in countless books, Web sites and magazines. Yet her presentation of the material is too abbreviated, which may mislead beginners. For example, Kristof describes mutual fund prospectuses as "long, boring legal documents that spell out all the details about investing in a particular fund. Like most long, boring documents, they contain a handful of fascinating tidbits of information that can tell you whether the investment you're looking at is likely to be a boon or bust before you put your money at risk." Then, albeit briefly, she discusses the significant data found in a prospectus. However, after reading about something that is "long and boring," readers may well skip the useful information that follows. There's a chapter on socially responsible investing--it's an important topic, but not for readers new to the game. Kristof's writing style is friendly, but readers may be shortchanged by her breezy approach. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

From The Critics

Personal finance columnist and expert Kathy Kristof's Investing 101 is a compendium of clear, concise, practical, effective advice on getting motivated for investing, assessing financial goals for investment purposes and strategies, choosing the right types of investments based on particular needs or aspirations, finding and understanding financial information, diversifying investments, and keeping good financial records. Investing 101 is especially designed for those new to investing and will save the novice investor a great deal of time, avoid needless aggravation, and prevent unsound financial investment decisions and unacceptable risks.