The Thrifty Investor: Penny-Wise Strategies for Investors on a Budget [Paperback]

Craig Israelsen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071361588 | ISBN-13: 978-0071361583 | Publication Date: September 18, 2000

This work identifies and explains those mutual funds and direct stock purchases available for nominal monthly cost. It offers small investors specific, prescriptive suggestions about affordable investments. Craig Israelson demonstrates the performance differentials over time between lump sum investments and investments made monthly - often referred to as dollar-cost averaging - arguing that because most publicly available information assumes a lump sum investment, reinvestment of dividends, no additional investments, and no withdrawls, that today's small investors are somewhat misled; their investment returns will seldom, if ever, match published returns. Historical data illustrates which funds are best suited for each different investment approach.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Step-by-Step Strategies to Help Anyone Start Investing TODAY

Where to Find Stocks and Mutual Funds that Fit Your Budget--Whether Your Budget Is $50 or $50,000!

The goal of investing is to make money, not spend it. Craig Israelsen's The Thrifty Investor is a comprehensive listing of low-cost, high-return stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and more that are tailor-made for the investor on a limited budget. No-nonsense and to the point--to save you time as well as money--The Thrifty Investor is filled with page after page of strategies proven to work for any investor. Use it to take control of your money, and determine how you will start to build your financial future:

*Top-performing low or no-load mutual fund accounts you can begin with as little as $25
*Historical data showing which mutual funds have delivered the most return for a variety of investment approaches
*Direct stock purchase plans (DSPP) that let you buy stock directly from America's leading companies--IBM, WalMart, Merck, and others--for as little as $25 per month
*Dollar cost averaging strategies that let you buy most when the prices are best

The surest route to long-term wealth is to begin investing--as soon as you can, as much as you can, no matter how much or how little you have. Let The Thrifty Investor help you get started, introducing you to investments that can fit into your budget and then showing you how easy it is to invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds--and turn today's pocket change into tomorrow's financially comfortable future.

Product Details

• Paperback: 265 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (September 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071361588
• ISBN-13: 978-0071361583
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,439,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Craig L. Israelsen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he teaches Personal and Family Finance to over 1,200 students each year.

He holds a Ph.D. in Family Resource Management from Brigham Young University. He received a B.S. in Agribusiness and a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Utah State University. Prior to teaching at BYU, he was on the faculty of the University of Missouri-Columbia for 14 years where he taught Personal and Family Finance in the Personal Financial Planning Department.

Primary among his research interests is the analysis of mutual funds and the design of investment portfolios. He writes monthly for Financial Planning Magazine and is a regular contributor to the Journal of Indexes and Horsesmouth.com. His research has also been published in the Journal of Financial Planning, Journal of Asset Management (U.K.), Journal of Performance Measurement, Asia Financial Planning Journal (Singapore), Journal of Family and Economic Issues, and Financial Counseling and Planning.

His research has been cited in the Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Forbes, Smart Money Magazine, Kiplinger Retirement Report, Advisor Perspectives, Dow Jones Market Watch, Family Circle Magazine, and Bottom Line Personal.

He is a principal at Target Date Analytics LLC (www.OnTargetIndex.com), a firm that has developed indexes for the benchmarking and evaluation of target date/lifecycle funds. He is also the developer of the 7Twelve Portfolio (www.7TwelvePortfolio.com) and the author of three books. His most recent book is titled: "7Twelve: A Diversified Investment Portfolio with a Plan" (John Wiley & Sons, 2010).

He is married to Tamara Trimble. They have seven children (Sara, Andrew, Heidi, Mark, Nathan, Emma, Jared). Hobbies include running, biking, swimming, woodworking, and family vacations. He has competed in the Boston Marathon 5 times, but has never won.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy The Book, February 4, 2001

By 

Todd Yung (Santa Cruz,CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thrifty Investor: Penny-Wise Strategies for Investors on a Budget (Paperback)

An excellent read that is current on the fast changing times in the stock market. A great deal of research went into this book and it would take many years of study and fact finding to replicate the data on your own. This book has the cutting edge investment strategies from the mid-90's through the new millennium to harnes your financial future, regardless of income or knowledge. This book is both a great tool of the trade for a seasoned investor and a great starting point for the beginning investor. Save yourself $...and four years of college with this book. If you already have your financial ducks in a row - then give this book to your children or a friend - it will pay dividends for generations. The author is a wonderful father, husband, community leader, friend and the best college professor I ever had. His advice has served me wonderfully over the years - it will do the same for you.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New book takes mystery out of investing, January 9, 2001

By 

"bizwriteco" (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thrifty Investor: Penny-Wise Strategies for Investors on a Budget (Paperback)

This new book is well-written, helpful and painstakingly researched. It's filled with dozens of interesting tables and charts. Israelsen preaches the benefits of long-term investing rather than day-trading and short-term buying and selling. The first chapter, "The Investment Thing," clearly answers such questions as: Why invest in stock? Why do corporations sell stock? What causes the price of a stock to go up or down? How does annual return translate into actual dollar gains? With these basic questions answered, you are ready to absorb chapters on investment risks, mutual funds, how to get into investing, buying stock directly from companies, taxes, and finally, a battle plan. Includes great information on how to save for your children's education as well as retirement. Filled with smart advice and written in an easy-to-understand fashion, "The Thrifty Investor" is a great investment of your time -- and money.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for New Investors with little money, November 10, 2000

By 

Robert (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thrifty Investor: Penny-Wise Strategies for Investors on a Budget (Paperback)

This is an excellent work for new investors, especially thosewho can only start on $50 a month to invest. Based upon his ownresearch as a professor, Craig states: "Investing in stock mutualfunds reduces the chance of experiencing negative returns compared toinvesting in individual stocks." And, he backs up this claim:"Investors who patiently and intelligently invest over a longperiod of time end up being rewarded by volatility rather than hurt byit." One should definitely check out his "Frugal FortyMutual Funds, Grouped by Equity Style" chart on p.39. This bookis meant for anyone to read and understand. It is an easy read--as ifyou were listening to Craig tell you about this. Before one reads"Mutual Funds for Dummies" or even any of Bach, Clements, orSuze Orman, read this first! His students love him, and so willeveryone that reads this short, very readable, and packed full of goodadvice book.