Investing 101

It includes a cautionary look at home mortgages as investments. People wanting basic advice about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, retirement planning, and tax strategies are often frustrated by information overload. This expanded edition has new information about 529 college savings plans, annuities, Roth IRAs, reverse mortgages, and why declining markets can be good for you. Kristof is renowned for taking the mystery and anxiety out of investing by keeping choices manageable.Kristof walks readers through the entire investment cycle and the way they think of their financial lives, rather than presenting stand-alone concepts like stocks and real estate. There's even a portfolio for the lazy investor.Kristof's loyal readership and the success of this book's first edition demonstrate that she understands what's on the minds of investors as intimately as she knows what’s happening in financial markets.Winner: Cover and Interior Design, The Bookbinders Guild of New York/2009 New York Book Show Awards. Investing 101: Updated and Expanded removes both roadblocks, putting people on a path that they can understand and stick with. Pick

The vast majority of us worker drones who haven't yet made complete sense of things will find Investing 101 an easy way to get started." (Miami Herald)"Not only is this book more simple and straightforward than the typical book on investing, it's also more humorous and personal." (Today's Librarian). If I had to suggest a book on investing and personal finance to an absolute beginner, it would be Investing 101." (BookPage)"… an excellent primer about investing. Investors will get a clearer idea of how markets work and what you can realistically expect from your retirement funds." (The Boston Globe)"Kristof's down-to-earth style and clear prose gives her writing a decidedly user-friendly quality. Praise for the first edition:"Investing 101 by Kathy Kristof is a reader-friendly introduction to the basics of investing and personal finance

Great start to planning your financial future I am a newbie when it comes to investing. Prior to reading this book, I had read The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing (great book!). I was under the impression that stocks were the main investment vehicle for those trying to maximize returns. Gee was I wrong! Investing 101 gives you a much broader view of the investing game. For those who want to know the many investment vehicles out there, this is the book to read. It covers stocks, bonds, and various types of funds (social funds, REITs, international fun. "Easy to understand, great for ANYONE, surprisingly interesting read" according to Steven Ross. Definitely not boring. I was expecting a rather dry, but informative read that would take quite a while to finish because of the topic. Yet, the author's style of writing actually engages you, and would engage just about anyone, young, old, poor, rich, or someone in the middle. I accidentally ended up with 2 copies and I actually did not return one, instead I have it to my boyfriend to read and he is also surprised that she was able to make a topic that to some can be painstakingly dry pretty interesting and really reac. R. Newman said Investing 101. Good title, that's what it is.. Kind of dated but a good book. She is a value investor so it is written with that approach. Her contributions in Kiplinger magazine are worth following and this is not a plug for Kiplinger, but rather a suggestion if you want to follow her, she is a monthly contributor there and also of course she has her own blog. This book is good for introduction. It is a "101" and in that sense you can't go wrong for good guidance on financial matters.