The Elements of Investing

Preface to Anniversary Edition xi Foreword to Original Edition xv Foreword to the Anniversary Edition xix Introduction xxi It All Starts with Saving 1 I. Save 3 First Do No Harm 5 Start Saving Early: Time is Money 6 The Amazing Rule of 72 7 Savvy Savings 11 Small Savings Tips 14 Big Ways to Save 15 Let the Government Help You Save 17 Own Your Home 18 How Do I Catch Up? 19 II. Index 23 Nobody Knows More Than the Market 24 The Index Fund Solution 27 Don’t Some Beat the Market? 29 Index Bonds 33 Index Internationally 34 Index Funds Have Big Advantages 36 One Warning 37 Confession 39 III. Diversify 41 Diversify Across Asset Classes 43 Diversify Across Markets 46 Diversify Over Time 47 Rebalance 51 IV. Avoid Blunders 57 Overconfidence 59 Beware of Mr. Market 61 The Penalty of Timing 65 More Mistakes 66 Minimize Costs 67 V. Keep It Simple 71 Review of Basic Rules 72 Asset Allocation 79 Asset Allocation Ranges 81 Investing in Retirement 85 Getting Specific 86 VI. Timeless Lessons for Troubled Times 95 Volatility and Dollar-Cost Averaging 97 Diversification is Still a Time-Honored Strategy to Reduce Risk 99 Rebalancing 101 Diversification and Rebalancing Together 103 Index at Least the Core of Your Portfolio 104 Fine-Tuning a Bond Diversification Strategy 107 A Final Thought 111 A Super Simple Summary: KISS Investing 113 Appendix: Save on Taxes Legally 115 Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) 115 Roth IRAs 117 Pension Plans 118 Tax-Advantaged Saving for Education 120 Recommended Reading 123 Acknowledgments 125 About the Authors 127 Index 129