Index Investing For Dummies [Paperback]

Russell Wild (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2008

A recommended, proven way to broaden portfolios and profits

Recommended by finance experts and used extensively by institutional investors, index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide unmanaged, diversified exposure to a variety of asset classes. Index Investing For Dummies shows active investors how to add index investments to their portfolios and make the most of their money, while protecting their assets. It features plain-English information on the different types of index funds and their advantage over other funds, getting started in index investing, using index funds for asset allocation, understanding returns and risk, diversifying among fund holdings, and applying winning strategies for maximum profit.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Broaden your portfolio and your profits with this plain-English guide

Interested in index funds? Want to invest your money wisely? This plain-English guide explains a recommended, proven way to use index investments to build a well-diversified,low-cost portfolio. Whether you're a conservative or aggressive investor, you'll see how to find the right funds that provide healthy long-term returns — and stay afloat in tough economic times.

• What are index funds, anyway? — learn how index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds work and their advantages over other funds

• Evaluate your index fund choices — from stocks and bonds to commodities and real estate, understand the risks and rewards

• Make the right investing moves — discover your investing style, your connection to the market, and your long-term financial needs

• Develop your portfolio blueprint — decide how many funds you need, where to house them, and whether to mix index funds with other investments

• Manage your money wisely — disaster-proof your portfolio, correct your mistakes, and get help from the pros if you need it (but tread carefully!)

• Ensure happy returns — see how to maintain a smooth-running, age-appropriate, profitable portfolio for years to come

Open the book and find:

• Clear explanations of index funds — and why they work

• How to avoid the temptation to beat the markets

• Evaluations of popular index funds — the best and the worst

• Sample portfolios, from conservative to aggressive

• Lists of index mutual funds and ETFs

• Web resources that help you stay up-to-date

• A Q&A with John Bogle, founder of Vanguard

About the Author

Russell Wild, MBA, an expert on index investing, is a fee-only financial planner and investment advisor and the principal of Global Portfolios. He is the author or coauthor of nearly two dozen nonfiction books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (December 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047029406X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470294062
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Russell Wild is the principal of Global Portfolios, an investment advisory firm based in eastern Pennsylvania. He is one of few wealth managers in the nation who is both fee-only (takes no commissions) and welcomes clients of both substantial and modest means. In addition to the fun he has with his financial calculator, Wild is also an accomplished writer who helps readers understand, and make wise choices about their money. His articles have appeared in many national publications, including AARP The Magazine; Consumer Reports, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, The Saturday Evening Post, and Reader's Digest. He also contributes regularly to professional financial journals, such as Wealth Manager and Financial Planning.

The author or co-author of two dozen nonfiction books, Wild's latest works include One Year to An Organized Financial Life (co-authored with Regina Leeds, Perseus, 2010), Index Investing for Dummies (Wiley, December, 2008), Bond Investing for Dummies (2007), and Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies (2007). Before those, he wrote The Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce, along with attorney Susan Ellis Wild, his ex-wife - yeah, you read that right (Wiley, 2005). No stranger to the mass media, Wild has shared his wit and wisdom on such shows as Oprah, The View, CBS Morning News, Good Day New York, and in hundreds of radio interviews.

Wild holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in international management and finance from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona (consistently ranked the #1 school for international business by both U.S. News and World Report and the Wall Street Journal); a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in business/economics magna cum laude from American University in Washington, D.C.; and a graduate certificate in personal financial planning from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (America's sixth oldest college). A member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) since 2002, Wild is also a long-time member and a past president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).

The author grew up on Long Island, and after living in various places both in the United States and abroad (including France and Morocco), settled in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he lives with his two children, Adrienne and Clayton, along with Norman, the killer poodle.

Wild's website is Russellwild.com. His email is [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Helpful, October 17, 2010

By 

Bernice - See all my reviews

This review is from: Index Investing For Dummies (Paperback)

Russell Wild's book, "Index Investing for Dummies" is WONDERFUL!

I just finished reading it the first time (with underlining and studying,
etc.)-- this took me about a month, about 30 hours, I'd say. My subsequent
goings-through are MUCH faster.

This book is so incredibly helpful-- now, when I talk to Fidelity people,
they respect me so much more, because I know exactly what I want, and what
different terms mean. And I'm not so intimidated by the whole prospect of
providing my own retirement anymore (401K, unfortunately), because I
understand what I need to do!

Russell Wild is a wonderful writer-- I know, because I'm a technical writer with an
M.S. in Science Journalism. Wild gives tables exactly when I'd been
thinking... "a table would be really nice here", and he gives ALL the
information that an ignorant person needs! He's thought of everything.

Dummies folks are very lucky to have Wild on-board. His book is the BEST of
all the Dummies books I've bought. It REALLY helped me.

Thank you SO MUCH.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where to Start, June 16, 2010

By 

David R. Vonallmen (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Index Investing For Dummies (Paperback)

If you know nothing about investing or if you've read a lot but need a real-world direction, this book is where to start. I've studied dozens of books, had countless debates with investment advisors with varying philosophies, even learned the Sharpe Ratio from William Sharpe himself, and there's only one approach that I'm positive will work and that's index investing. This book explains why and gives you the perspective you need to avoid all the hype and scams (both intentional and unintentional) that will drain you emotionally and financially. 99% of what you hear out there is noise. This book is signal. After this read Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies by the same author, invest as it recommends, and ignore the minute-by-minute stock updates.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book provides excellent fundamental guidance for someone new to investing in index funds., February 16, 2010

By 

PMJ "Student Investor" (Central FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Index Investing For Dummies (Paperback)

Index Investing For Dummies

This book was clear & concise and provided me the basic fundamental information and data I needed to understand "index" investing. In the current volatile investing climate, I gained confidence by understanding what index funds are, the various types of index funds and how to choose the appropriate mutual fund or ETF based upon my individual investment profile. This is a "must read" for anyone who would like to begin adding index mutual funds or ETFs to their portfolio!
Paul
Merritt Island, FL