Investing 101 » (Revised ed.)

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.

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.

Introduction

Chapter 1— Exorcising Your Demons

Finding and fixing the psychological ills that keep us from investing wisely.

Chapter 2— Risk and Reward

The basics about how taking a few risks can reap long-term benefits.

Chapter 3— Your Starting Point

How to allocate your assets based on your goals.

Chapter 4— Diversification

Dividing your assets among investment categories is easier when you think about what different types of investments can do for you. Here are the categories, and the choices within them.

Chapter 5— Picking Individual Stocks

Using fundamental indicators of value to pick good stocks, including guidance on reading a financial statement and tips on finding financial information on the Web.

Chapter 6— Tough Sell

How to figure out when it's time to call it quits with an investment.

Chapter 7— Investing in Bonds

Where to put bonds in your portfolio and which bonds to choose.

Chapter 8— Mutual Funds

A primer on mutual funds, from what they are to where to find one to suit your needs.

Chapter 9— Socially Responsible Investing

What social investing is about and how to find socially conscious mutual funds.

Chapter 10— International Investing

The basics on investing outside of the United States.

Chapter 11— Tax-Favored Investing

Uncle Sam gives Americans lots of ways to defer taxes while we save. Using these tax-favored vehicles can give your portfolio a boost. Here are your choices and what they can do for you.

Chapter 12— Starting Small

Think you can't invest because you don't have a pile of cash to start? Never fear. There are several choices for people with as little as $20 or $25 a month.

Chapter 13— How to Fix Your Broken Records

Record keeping is one of the most important—and widely ignored—steps in wise investing. But good records can help you monitor your portfolio and help you determine when to buy and sell. They can also save you a small

fortune in tax. Here's how to keep your records and a worksheet to help.

Chapter 14— Getting Help

Read it all, but still don't want to go it alone? Here's a quick guide on how to hire someone to help you.

Glossary

Definitions for commonly used jargon so you can interpret Wall Street speak.

Index

List of Worksheets

Quiz— How Much Risk Can You Take?

Worksheets— Emergencies

Worksheet— Saving for a Car

Worksheet— Buying a House

Worksheet— College Cost Calculator

Worksheet— Retirement

Worksheet— Is It a Buy?

Worksheet— The Tax Implications of Selling Too Soon

Worksheet— Picking a Mutual Fund That Suits You

Worksheet— Investment Record