Morningstar's 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-By-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances

ISBN-13: 9780470918135 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 320 str.

Christine Benz;?Abar;?Abar

Opis

The quick and easy way to manage money and achieve financial goals The recent economic meltdown has left people in terrible financial shape with little idea of how to turn things around. Using Morningstar's time-tested strategies and sensible approach to money management, Morningstar's 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances breaks down important financial tasks into do-able chunks, each of which can be accomplished in 30 minutes or less. The practical, no-nonsense book

• Lays out the tools to get organized, including how to create a filing and bill paying system
• Details how to find the best uses for one's money, as well as how to properly invest for savings, college, and retirement
• Other titles by Benz: Morningstar(R) Guide to Mutual Funds: Five Star Strategies for Success

These are uncertain times. Morningstar's 30-Minute Money Solutions provides expert guidance on all aspects of personal money management, and it does so in quick, easily digestible steps.

Spis treści

Foreword.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Part One. Find Your Baseline.

Chapter 1. Calculate Your Net Worth.

Chapter 2. See Where Your Money Goes.

Chapter 3. Set Your Financial Goals.

Chapter 4. Create a Budget.

Part Two. Get Organized.

Chapter 5. Create a Bill–Paying System.

Chapter 6. Create A Filing System.

Chapter 7. Create a Master Directory.

Part Three. Find the Best Use of Your Money.

Chapter 8. Determine Whether to Pay Down Debt or Invest.

Chapter 9. Decide Where to Invest for Retirement.

Part Four. Get Started in Investing.

Chapter 10. Create an Emergency Fund.

Chapter 11. Find the Right Stock/Bond Mix.

Chapter 12. Create an Investment Policy Statement.

Chapter 13. Invest for Short– and Intermediate–Term Goals.

Chapter 14. Create a Hands–Off Long–Term Portfolio.

Part Five. Invest in Your Company Retirement Plan.

Chapter 15. Determine How Good Your Company Retirement Plan Is.

Chapter 16. Decide between a Traditional and Roth 401(k).

Chapter 17. Select the Best Investments for Your Company Retirement Plan.

Chapter 18. Make the Most of a Subpar 401(k) Plan.

Part Six. Invest in an IRA.

Chapter 19. Determine What Type of IRA Is Best for You.

Chapter 20. Identify the Best Investments for Your IRA.

Chapter 21. Determine Whether to Convert Your IRA.

Chapter 22. Roll Over Your Retirement Plan into an IRA.

Part Seven. Invest for College.

Chapter 23. Find the Right College Savings Vehicle.

Chapter 24. Find the Right 529 Plan.

Chapter 25. Select the Right Investments for Your College Savings Plan.

Part Eight. Invest in Your Taxable Account.

Chapter 26. Identify the Best Investments for Taxable Accounts.

Chapter 27. Manage Your Portfolio for Tax Efficiency.

Chapter 28. Harvest Tax Losses.

Part Nine. Invest During Retirement.

Chapter 29. Determine Your Portfolio Withdrawal Rate.

Chapter 30. Build an In–Retirement Portfolio.

Chapter 31. Find the Right Sequence of In–Retirement Withdrawals.

Part Ten. Monitor Your Investments.

Chapter 32. Conduct a Portfolio Checkup.

Chapter 33. Rebalance Your Portfolio.

Part Eleven. Cover Your Base on Estate Planning.

Chapter 34. Get Started on Your Estate Plan.

Chapter 35. Handle Beneficiary Designations.

Chapter 36. Create a Personal Legacy.

About the Author.

Index.

O autorze

CHRISTINE BENZ is Director of Personal Finance for Morningstar and a senior columnist for Morningstar.com. Benz was coauthor of Morningstar^® Guide to Mutual Funds: 5–Star Strategies for Success and is author of the book′s second edition. For more information, visit the 30–Minute Solution Resource Center online at www.morningstar.com/goto/30MinuteSolutions.

Blurb

Praise for 30–Minute Money Solutions

"Finally, a simple, easy–to–use workbook to get your financial house in order, 30 minutes at a time. Morningstar′s personal finance guru Christine Benz gives you the essential ′Money Solutions′ for each stage of your life."
Consuelo Mack, WealthTrack, PBS

"Stop worrying about money, stop hoping money will appear, and start taking action by using the easy 30–minute money solutions in this excellent book."
Terry Savage, Personal Finance Columnist, Chicago Sun–Times, and author of The New Savage Number

"30–Minute Money Solutions does exactly what it says: ′A Step–by–Step Guide to Managing Your Finances.′ What it doesn′t say, however, is how successfully Christine has used her vast experience and knowledge to write thirty–six short, easy–to–read chapters that give her readers everything they need to know about personal finance."
Taylor Larimore, coauthor of The Bogleheads′ Guide to Investing

Today′s investor faces money challenges that were unimaginable just a few short years ago. How can you meet the demands of housing, college savings, retirement, and other financial goals without spending all of your spare time focused on them? Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance for Morningstar, gives you the tools for tackling your money challenges with this practical guide. 30–Minute Money Solutions provides investors at all life stages with an effective road map to getting their financial affairs in order by breaking the process down into short, manageable 30–minute steps. To keep your finances on track, you′ll also receive access to an exclusive Web site where you can download worksheets, use financial calculators, find additional money–related articles, and view up–to–date lists of the best investments for your portfolio.

Written in a straightforward and easy–to–follow style, 30–Minute Money Solutions is the ideal money guide for both new and experienced investors from the most trusted name in investment research, Morningstar.