Investing For Dummies, Fifth edition

Want to take charge of your financial future? This national bestselling guide has been thoroughly updated to provide you with the latest insights into smart investing, from weighing your investment options (such as stocks, real estate, and small business) to understanding risks and returns, managing your portfolio, and much more.

• Get time-tested investment advice -- expert author Eric Tyson shares his extensive knowledge and reveals how to invest in challenging markets
• Discover all the fundamentals of investing -- explore your investment choices, weigh risks and returns, choose the right investment mix, and protect your assets
• Navigate Wall Street -- understand the financial markets and the Federal Reserve, avoid problematic buying practices, and evaluate investment research
• Build wealth with stocks, bonds, and mutual funds -- use indexes, understand prices, minimize costs, and diversify your investments
• Get rich with real estate -- find the right property, evaluate the market, finance your investments, work with agents, and close the deal
• Start, buy, or invest in a business -- write a business plan, finance your business, and improve profitability
• Manage college and retirement savings accounts -- establish your goals, evaluate your investment options, and tame your taxes

Open the book and find:

• Recommendations on the best stock, bond, and money market funds
• The best times to buy and sell stocks and bonds
• The scoop on exchange-traded and hedge funds
• Tips for reading and analyzing financial reports
• The best online brokers
• How to make safe and profitable real estate investments
• A wealth of information on the best investment tools and resources

I really do not like money-talk. But let's face it: in our world, you'd better be somewhat savvy in money management if you want to be able to retire on your own terms.

I do not find all the "Dummies" series books useful. However, this one by Tyson was indeed a gem. It took me a week to read through it, and in that time I was educated on all the different kinds of investments, debt reduction, and stock evaluation.

If you have debts, you need this book. If you want to be financially secure on only a modest salary, Tyson is full of all sorts of common-sense strategy.

Like I said, I do not particularily enjoy money talk, but this book presents the essentials in a surprisingly interesting-to-read format. Even now that I have read it, I know that I'll still go back and refer to it for many years to come.

If you are thinking of investing, invest in this book first. It's a wealth of investing info. A tremendous bargain!

(Also very helpful is Tyson's book on Mutual Funds, also in the "Dummies" series)


Excellent Investing book by Tyson.   June 18, 1999
149 out of 153 found this review helpful

I bought this book after reading Mr Tysons first book on Personal Finance. This investing segment in the dummies serial takes the guesswork out of how to start investing. Like Personal Finance for dummies, this edition is also a easy read. I also strongly recommend "More Wealth without Risk" and "Financial Self Defense" for even more strategies on powerful investing. Read and grow rich!


Very good book.   July 4, 2002
Dolores Metcaffe (Albany, NY)
195 out of 203 found this review helpful

Eric Tyson's Investing for Dummies in broad in scope, but still written in plain english. Even the most naive to investing can understand and apply what he writes.I also recommend Personal Finance for Dummies and Mutual Funds For Dummies.You will find these books more informative than Jane Bryant Quinn's books. What is the love affair with her anyway? I made the mistake of buying How To Make the Most of Your Money and found it to be a complete waste. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Read and apply Eric Tyson's great work. You'll be glad you did.


Very comphrehensive. Realistic, doable   October 6, 2002
Sara Thompson (USA)
87 out of 88 found this review helpful

I like this book by Eric Tyson. It is idea for both the novice investor as well as experienced. You will find great information on investing in stocks and mutual funds.It is also written in plain english so anyone can understand it. You don't have to be a Wall Streeter to appreciate the information in here.I also recommend Eric's Personal Finance for Dummies to fine tune your personal finance know how.Great books Eric!


Helps you build a solid foundation for further reading   February 9, 2004
66 out of 69 found this review helpful

I have been investing in stocks, mutuals funds and real estate for about 8 years without ever reading a book on the topic. I bought this book to learn the nuts and bolts of investing. Despite the fact that I am not a beginner I still found the book informative. For example, Tyson says when a stock plummets don't bale out, buy some more at the lower price. I baled out of amazon.com at $11 and of course I deeply regret it now. I have since learned to hold during the bad times and now I am in profit territory with all of my stocks. He suggests that college savings accounts, such as 529 plans, may be a bad idea because it could hurt your child's chances of getting financial aid. He explains how bonds can go down in value and says instead of buying individual bonds it is better to buy bond mutual funds. I had been wary of bonds before reading this book, now I am thinking about buying a bond fund in the interests of diversification.

I didn't agree with Tyson on everything. He is more conservative than I am. I am only in my early 30s, so I believe I am young enough to take some financial risks. Also, he believes that it is a bad idea to pick your own stocks. Yet he also says that if you buy good companies and hold for several years you will always come out ahead as long as you have a diversified portfolio. I see no reason to pay a financial planner (who may put his/her own interests ahead of mine) to do this for me.

One thing I really like about the book is that he doesn't just focus on financial instruments. He also discusses investing in both real estate and small businesses. I will be buying a franchise within the next year and I found this information very helpful. Of course, I will need to do further reading on this topic.

This is an excellent book that I had a hard time putting down. If you want to learn more about investing I suggest that you start with this book. It will provide a solid foundation, and help you move onto more complicated financial books and magazines.