Andrew Tobias. The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need. Harcourt Brace, 1996. 221 pages. ISBN 0-15-600337-6.
Okay… really… who would have the gall to write a personal finance book and title it, “The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need?” And, then go out and, well… write the only investment guide you’ll ever need. Andrew Tobias, that’s who.
In this book, now a classic personal finance tome, Tobias more than makes good on his promise. He covers a myriad of subjects and gives direct, clear and sound advice on each one. Sure, when the book was first published in 1978, Tobias didn’t anticipate ETF’s, ETN’s, or structured products, nor did he foresee day trading or the FOREX craze. Still, through it’s many revisions, it’s remained true to giving great basic advice to the nth degree. And, the best news is, the basics haven’t changed, nor, short of the apocalypse, will they.
In irreverent style, Tobias entertains throughout the book, while stressing getting your financial life in order by following these steps:
1) Living within your means
2) Saving
3) Minimizing your expenses
4) Paying off your credit cards
5) Having adequate life insurance
6) Taking responsibility for your money
7) Investing conservatively
Taking advantage of tax reduction strategies, and
9) Utilizing tax advantaged retirement accounts
Slightly beyond the basics, Tobias champions the equity markets by clearly conveying that equity markets outperform safer investments over long periods. But, here he still treads lightly eschewing stock picking for index investing through no-load mutual funds. Today, there may be better alternatives to no load funds, but I find it hard to argue with Tobias’ point: If legions of money managers can’t consistently beat the market, neither can the average investor.
Including only one short paragraph, as almost an afterthought, on how a business of your own may be beneficial is my only complaint about this book. Tobias sees business as a tremendous tax tool, but it can be so much more. It can be a hedge on inflation, supercharge your retirement, create a financial and personal legacy, and be your best investment by a long shot. But, hey, I guess that’s way beyond the basics.
Get this book, read it several times, and understand that financial success is neither magical nor mysterious. It is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals. And, The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need lays them out.
By: Gary Clement