The Latino Guide to Personal Money Management

Latinos will become the largest minority group in the United States in the 21st century, but remain largely outside the financial mainstream. For example, the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies reported in March 2000 that 44% of Latinos own their own homes, compared with 75% of whites.According to the Federal Reserve, despite an economic expansion of record length, there is vast disparity in wealth (all assets, including homes, autos, stocks, and savings accounts) between whites and nonwhites. The median net worth for Latino, African-American, Asian, and other minority families was $16,400 in 1998, the most recent year for which the Federal Reserve has data. That figure is just 17.28% of the median net worth of $94,900 for non-Latino white families, virtually unchanged from 17.23% in 1992 (although the disparity in income is much smaller: 62%). The wealth gap is much greater than the income gap for various reasons. Minorities, including Latinos, typically have less access to credit for starting businesses, and are less likely to invest in the stock market. They are also less likely to have accounts at financial institutions, doing business instead with check cashers and payday lenders, the latter of whom often charge interest equal to a 500% annual percentage rate.This much-needed book not only examines the cultural factors that help explain these trends among Latinos, it also offers advice to Latinos on setting up and using accounts at banks and credit unions, saving for retirement or college, sending money to family members in other countries, buying stocks and bonds, negotiating for a home, and applying for credit. It also lists financial institutions and sources of bilingual financial service information and provides Spanish-language translations of key financial terms. Castaneda, a former Knight-Bagehot Fellow in business and economics reporting at Columbia University who has covered business and finance as a freelance writer and a reporter for the the San Francisco Chronicle, has thoroughly researched her topic.Although oriented toward Latinos, this book would be helpful to anyone who wants to take control of and improve their finances.

This is a wonderful book. It gives you a lot of insight into Latino attitudes about money, then tells you how to make sure those attitudes don't screw up your personal finances. It's very well-written and is easy to read and understand. In fact, anyone, Latino or not, could benefit from reading this book. And it has a beautiful cover.

Castaneda and Castellanos have laid the cornerstone for the financial freedom of America's fastest growing demographic group--and key driver for the future U.S. economy. Latino consumers will read this well-written guide as a road map to prosperity. Comprelo y declare su libertad!

Finally! Here's a book that really serves the Latino investor! It clearly shows how to best invest our money and offers many agencies and banks that have bi-lingual services. It really made it easy for me and my wife to figure out better strategies for us to get ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like we've already made progress in our financial plan!

This book is long overdue. With Latinos soon to overtake whites in California as the majority population, one hopes we'll start to see more books/information/entertainment with us in mind. A very well-written, comprehensive guide to understanding money matters.