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

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

by Jonathan Clements, William J. Bernstein
Released June 2009
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470473238

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Book description

A gem from one of the most brilliant minds in personal finance.

—Ben Stein, author, actor, TV personality, and New York Times columnist

"Investing, as it is said, is simple but it is not easy. Jonathan Clements's fine new Little Book underscores the priceless (and price-less) value of simplicity. And his sage advice on living the good life and on spending well and saving wisely will surely make it, if not easy, at least easier for us to achieve financial peace of mind."

—John C. Bogle, founder of Vanguard and author of Enough

"Nobody, and I mean nobody, can make the world of investing as easy to understand as Jonathan Clements can. In this wonderful book, he teaches Main Street how to beat Wall Street at its own game-and how to have fun along the way. This book does not stop at merely making you richer and smarter; it will even help you lead a better life."

—Jason Zweig, author of Your Money and Your Brain and editor of Benjamin Graham's The Intelligent Investor

"Jonathan Clements is one of our wisest and finest writers in the field of personal finance. This Little Book contains gems of wisdom not only about investing, but also about living a full and satisfying life."

—Burton G. Malkiel, author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street

"Easy to read, easy to understan-and easy to put to work-this Little Book is a winner. I'm getting copies for our children-and their children, too."

—Charles D. Ellis, author of Winning the Loser's Game

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Foreword
  3. Introduction
  4. 1. Our Finances Are Bigger than a Brokerage Account
    1. 1.1. Taking Stock
    2. 1.2. Living with Leverage
  5. 2. We Can't Have It All
    1. 2.1. Doling Out Dollars
    2. 2.2. Stiffing the Kids
  6. 3. Money Can Buy Happiness—If We Spend It Carefully
    1. 3.1. Making Progress
  7. 4. Even the Best Investors Need to Be Great Savers
    1. 4.1. Seeking Inspiration
    2. 4.2. Tying Our Hands
    3. 4.3. Blowing the Budget
  8. 5. Time Is as Valuable as Money
    1. 5.1. Paying Upfront
    2. 5.2. Working Late
    3. 5.3. Feeling Virtuous
  9. 6. No Investment Is Risk-Free
    1. 6.1. Sharing the Pain
    2. 6.2. Hedging Our Bets
    3. 6.3. Compromising Our Future
  10. 7. Portfolio Performance: It's All in the Mix
    1. 7.1. Bolstering Returns
    2. 7.2. Feeling Queasy
    3. 7.3. Hitting the Target
  11. 8. Stocks Are Worth Something
    1. 8.1. Keeping Grounded
    2. 8.2. Looking Downfield
  12. 9. To Add Wealth, We Need to Overcome the Subtractions
    1. 9.1. Slipping Away
    2. 9.2. Trimming the Tab
  13. 10. Aiming for Average Is the Only Sure Way to Win
    1. 10.1. Meeting Our Match
    2. 10.2. Matching the Market
  14. 11. Wild Investments Can Tame Our Portfolios
    1. 11.1. Staying Calm
    2. 11.2. Spreading It Around
    3. 11.3. Keeping Our Balance
  15. 12. Short-Term Results Matter to Long-Term Investors
    1. 12.1. Retiring to Monte Carlo
    2. 12.2. Cushioning with Cash
  16. 13. A Long Life Is a Big Risk
    1. 13.1. Outliving the Averages
    2. 13.2. Making It Last
  17. 14. Markets May Be Rational, but We Aren't
    1. 14.1. Struggling to Save
    2. 14.2. Riding the Bull
    3. 14.3. Losing Our Nerve
    4. 14.4. Getting a Grip
  18. 15. Our Homes Are a Fine Investment that Won't Appreciate Much
    1. 15.1. Mortgaging Our Future
    2. 15.2. Collecting the Rent
  19. 16. Paying off Debts Could Be Our Best Bond Investment
    1. 16.1. Going Negative
    2. 16.2. Shedding Debts
    3. 16.3. Shifting the Burden
  20. 17. Saving Taxes Can Cost Us Dearly
    1. 17.1. Pocketing Less
    2. 17.2. Doubling Trouble
    3. 17.3. Growing Free
  21. 18. A Tax Deferred Is Extra Money Made
    1. 18.1. Delaying the Day
    2. 18.2. Splitting Up
    3. 18.3. Padding the Bill
  22. 19. Insurance Won't Make Us Any Money—If We're Lucky
    1. 19.1. Taking Cover
    2. 19.2. Assuming Risk
  23. 20. Even If We Have a Will, We May Not Get Our Way
    1. 20.1. Dodging Probate
    2. 20.2. Cleaning Up
  24. 21. Financial Success: It's About More Than Money
    1. 21.1. Playing Parent
    2. 21.2. Losing with Style
    3. 21.3. Getting Lucky
  25. Conclusion: Wall Street? That Isn't So Far from Main Street
  26. Acknowledgments

Product information

  • Title: The Little Book of Main Street Money: 21 Simple Truths that Help Real People Make Real Money
  • Author(s): Jonathan Clements, William J. Bernstein
  • Release date: June 2009
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470473238