The Little Book of Main Street Money: 21 Simple Truths that Help Real People Make Real Money

by Jonathan Clements; Foreword by: William J. Bernstein

• ISBN13: 9780470522257
• ISBN10: 0470522259
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-05-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Commonsense investing truths for everyone, from a popular and critically acclaimed journalistIn a world gone mad with bizarre credit derivatives, interest-only mortgages, and collapsing markets, we still need to manage our money, put our kids through college, and save for retirement. To the rescue comes Jonathan Clements the hugely popular Wall Street Journal personal-finance columnistwith 21 easy-to-follow rules that could help readers secure their financial future. Clements has spent almost a quarter century demystifying Wall Street for those on Main Street. Now Director of Financial Guidance for myFi, a new Citigroup financial service geared toward individual investors, Clements has a deep understanding of what real people need.In The Little Book of Main Street Money, Clements brings readers back down to earth with commonsense guidance that will put them on the path to clear and intelligent money management. From the big picture (your home, retirement, and life) to the micro (taxes and inflation), Clements offers readers clear-cut guidelines for taking control of their financial life and details the strategies needed to thrive in today's volatile economy. The 21 truths outlined throughout this book are a guiding light for everyone, young and old, just starting or soon retiring. Each chapter reads like a Clements columnclear, pithy, and feisty. From the obvious to the counterintuitive, each truth will either bolster returns or cut costs. Collectively, the 21 truths are a compelling guide to today's treacherous financial terrain. Renowned for his spirited writing and shrewd investment guidance, Clements is the sane voice investors need to keep them grounded in the midst of so much financial insanity.Jonathan Clements (New York, NY) is Director of Financial Guidance for myFi (www.myfi.com), a new financial service from banking giant Citigroup. Before joining myFi, he spent 18 years at the Wall Street Journal, where he was the newspaper's award-winning personal-finance columnist.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Let the Rebuilding Begin

Our Finances Are Bigger than a Brokerage Account

We Cant Have It All

Money Can Buy Happiness-If We Spend It Carefully

Even the Best Investors Need to Be Great Savers

Time Is as Valuable as Money

No Investment Is Risk-Free

Portfolio Performance: Its All in the Mix

Stocks Are Worth Something

To Add Wealth, We Need to Overcome the Subtractions

Aiming for Average Is the Only Sure Way to Win

Wild Investments Can Tame Our Portfolios

Short-Term Results Matter to Long-Term Investors

A Long Life Is a Big Risk

Markets May Be Rational, but We Arent

Our Homes Are a Fine Investment that Wont Appreciate Much

Paying off Debts Could Be Our Best Bond Investment

Saving Taxes Can Cost Us Dearly

A Tax Deferred Is Extra Money Made

Insurance Wont Make Us Any Money-If Were Lucky

Even If We Have a Will, We May Not Get Our Way

Financial Success: Its About More than Money

Conclusion

Wall Street? That Isnt So Far from Main Street

Acknowledgments

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