The Complete Idiot's Guide to Savvy Investing

If you are like many Americans, many of the concepts and processes surrounding investing are a mystery. This book makes it very clear what investing is, spells out the risks as well as rewards, and identifies strategies for successful management of a personal strategy. While the explanations are simple, they are not condescending. The book helped me change my perceptions of money and financial security. How? It pointed out fallacies I had about mundane matters such as spending habits. Further, there are tips and suggestions for defining and achiveing personal goals.

This book is a great place for the beginning investor. In fact, it oughta be required reading for anyone about to get married. It gives the basics on everything from retirements accounts (of all types) to buying a home, to creating your own financial plan, even advice on divorce. Just about any basic information on finances that a person would need can be found here. Someone looking for something a little deeper might do well to skim the book to glean usable info and then to find something a little more specific. As a side note, if you've read this title, skip reading "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Investing Like a Pro," as these two books are essentially the same.

Most Americans can relate to one or several of the following concerns: the acquisition, lack, loss or continued possession of financial security. Simply, the CIG to Savvy Investing has altered my perception of financial well-being as it relates to my life.I am the son of a financial consultant. I grew up being beaten about the head with money management techniques, to the point I became deaf. A friend suggested that I try out Savvy Investing in order to 'get out' of the rut in which I felt I trapped. I purchased this book in early fall of 2003 and quickly began changing negative spending and re-crafting saving habits because Ed Koch and Debra DeSalvo do such a wonderful job of describing financial pitfalls and solutions to everyday problems.The book helped me change my perceptions of money and financial security. It helped me uncover what I refused to see in my spending habits. It helped me focus my efforts and get serious about saving by providing helpful hints and easily attainable personal goals.The simple explanations, of what I previously considered complex financial options, allowed me to 'see' a way out and to plan an attack for getting ahead. In October of 2003, I was sure that I was two years away from purchasing a house. Last week, I put money down on a new home. This book helped me see that I was in a far better position than I believed myself to be, and it opened my eyes to financial opportunities around me.I highly recommend this book for parents to send with their children off to college. I wish I knew going into college what this book taught me over the last few months. I also suggest the book to anyone that feels stuck or burdened by money. Tax time is a great time to read Savvy Investing, because you will quickly understand the benefits of changing your habits. The book will point out tax pitfalls and suggest ways to improve your utilization of YOUR money that you might be throwing away to the Feds. The tips and warnings are invaluable and the suggestions can quickly teach you how to subtly change your spending habits, without infringing on your perceived happiness, while creating future wealth and financial stability.