- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Financial Times/ Prentice Hall; 1 edition (22 April 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0273663097
- ISBN-13: 978-0273663096
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 18 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
199,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #29 in Books > Business, Finance & Law > Personal Finance > Tax
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
No need to be baffled any longer by a flurry of information, data, facts and comments, impenetrabel waves of jargon, and the complexities of the financial markets.
The Financial Times Guide to Investing will introduce you to the complex art of investing, and how to invest successfully, whether you are actively involved in investing or just thinking about it. In addition to providing a simple guide to understanding how financial markets operate, it will allow you to follow and act on your own judgements based on case studies and worked examples, giving you the chance to experiment successfully with shares, bonds, funds and derivatives. The book is written in a clear and uncluttered manner taking many examples and case studies from the FT.
From the Back Cover
THE FINANCIAL TIMES GUIDE TO INVESTING
Two of the greatest myths about investment are, firstly, that financial assets and markets are hideously complicated and confusing, and secondly that you have to pay ‘experts’ to make far greater returns on your money than you could achieve on your own. In truth the most important things you need to know about investing are based on common sense.
The Financial Times Guide to Investing will introduce you to the practical art of investing, and show you how to invest more successfully, whether you are actively involved in investing or simply thinking about it. In addition to providing a simple guide to understanding how financial markets operate, it will allow you to follow and act on your own judgements based on a case studies and worked examples, giving you the expertise to experiment successfully with shares, bonds, funds and derivatives.
Comprehensive and authoritative, this is the definitive guidebook to building your personal financial portfolio and investing in the financial markets with skill and confidence.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
81 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've long suspected that a bit of effort and intelligence are enough for understanding the main areas of finance and investment. One doesn't actually need to pay "experts" to make your investment decisions for you. The jargon is only something you need to learn, it does not have to present an insurmountable barrier. Before attempting to understand the financial pages or specialist books on trading, I bought this and was not disappointed. Working through it slowly and methodically and then returning to the more complex areas and following up the handy links and references provided, I feel much more confident about this whole area.
This is in no way a "get rich quick" book and actually helps to guide one away from such risky attitudes. Nor does it provide advice on savings accounts or the specific market or company that is best for you. It is an education on the world of finance: the markets, players, companies and instruments involved in the flows of capital which maintain the business world, and much of the economy, around us. It shows how most people (you don't have to be at all wealthy or super-brainy) can get involved in this system and, with a bit of patience and common sense, can significantly benefit from it. Armed with the basics and knowing who to deal with and, equally important, who to ignore, anyone should be able to improve their investment returns having read this.
The different kinds of investment are concisely explained and the limitations of some of the more hyped areas become obvious. Some of the mystery of futures trading is resolved, and one can follow-up pointers if interested in any particular area. The terminology used by companies in their financial reports and by the professionals who analyse them starts to become clear and all this jargon is explained again in the invaluable glossary at the back of the book, a place I kept referring to.
What emerges is the way money from savers and investors is used by Banks, Insurance companies and Pension funds to provide funds for new companies, established companies and companies wanting to expand and, as the author points out, how this wealth-creation is not just a good thing for individuals, but for society as a whole. I've already started to notice mistakes in the media, for example a recent TV drama's misunderstanding of the way hedge funds work and one sometimes gets the impression that there is only a dog-eat-dog mentality and little control over what happens in the markets. Undoubtedly there are problems and excesses but, getting closer to the subject and learning how it actually operates, can help to remove the prejudices and misunderstandings some people have about finance and about capitalism.
One fact alone has made this purchase a good one. I realised, when reading the section on pooled investments, that I had lost money on "With-profits policies" thanks to persuasive financial advisers and their commissions from insurance companies. That little piece of education has saved me hundreds of pounds in the future and makes this book a high-return investment in itself.
This is in no way a "get rich quick" book and actually helps to guide one away from such risky attitudes. Nor does it provide advice on savings accounts or the specific market or company that is best for you. It is an education on the world of finance: the markets, players, companies and instruments involved in the flows of capital which maintain the business world, and much of the economy, around us. It shows how most people (you don't have to be at all wealthy or super-brainy) can get involved in this system and, with a bit of patience and common sense, can significantly benefit from it. Armed with the basics and knowing who to deal with and, equally important, who to ignore, anyone should be able to improve their investment returns having read this.
The different kinds of investment are concisely explained and the limitations of some of the more hyped areas become obvious. Some of the mystery of futures trading is resolved, and one can follow-up pointers if interested in any particular area. The terminology used by companies in their financial reports and by the professionals who analyse them starts to become clear and all this jargon is explained again in the invaluable glossary at the back of the book, a place I kept referring to.
What emerges is the way money from savers and investors is used by Banks, Insurance companies and Pension funds to provide funds for new companies, established companies and companies wanting to expand and, as the author points out, how this wealth-creation is not just a good thing for individuals, but for society as a whole. I've already started to notice mistakes in the media, for example a recent TV drama's misunderstanding of the way hedge funds work and one sometimes gets the impression that there is only a dog-eat-dog mentality and little control over what happens in the markets. Undoubtedly there are problems and excesses but, getting closer to the subject and learning how it actually operates, can help to remove the prejudices and misunderstandings some people have about finance and about capitalism.
One fact alone has made this purchase a good one. I realised, when reading the section on pooled investments, that I had lost money on "With-profits policies" thanks to persuasive financial advisers and their commissions from insurance companies. That little piece of education has saved me hundreds of pounds in the future and makes this book a high-return investment in itself.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Before reading this book I knew nothing about the stock market and the different types of securities, etc. Since reading it working life has become much easier, since I have but had to deal with texts on them in my line of work. Various aspects of the investment world (insurance, pensions, different types of securities, the workings of the stock market and more) are explained in clear and concise language -with the exception of the pooled funds chapter which becomes slightly bewildering, although that's more down to all the varieties there are- and sound advice offered plus guidance on how to read the financial pages. If finance is a new subject for you then it's brilliant and if you're an old hand in the financial world it will still serve as useful reference nevertheless.
110 of 113 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a new investor, I purchased this and the Motley Fool UK Investment Guide.
Both recommend a Warren Buffett-esque long term investment strategy, but the FT book is clearer and more succinct.
The information in the FT book is focused around the common sense idea that informed investment decisions can only be made through an understanding of business, economic and accounting principles. It also explains some of the technical processes behind different investment vehicles. In a nutshell it attempts to answer three questions:
1) What should I know before making an investment decision?
2) How do I execute an investment decision?
3) How can I make better decisions in the future?
Further reading is suggested at the end of every chapter/topic.
This FT book is merely an introduction to the world of investing, but it will get you started in the right direction.
You may prefer the Motley Fool book if you want a more "mind off" approach to investing. There is much less background information and the book will often tell you what to do. Avenues for further investigation are directed at its website where they will sell you a variety of articles and publications that also tell you what to do (and promise higher returns).
Over time, I have found myself returning to the FT book again and again, whilst the Motley Fool has sat gathering dust on my bookshelf.
Both recommend a Warren Buffett-esque long term investment strategy, but the FT book is clearer and more succinct.
The information in the FT book is focused around the common sense idea that informed investment decisions can only be made through an understanding of business, economic and accounting principles. It also explains some of the technical processes behind different investment vehicles. In a nutshell it attempts to answer three questions:
1) What should I know before making an investment decision?
2) How do I execute an investment decision?
3) How can I make better decisions in the future?
Further reading is suggested at the end of every chapter/topic.
This FT book is merely an introduction to the world of investing, but it will get you started in the right direction.
You may prefer the Motley Fool book if you want a more "mind off" approach to investing. There is much less background information and the book will often tell you what to do. Avenues for further investigation are directed at its website where they will sell you a variety of articles and publications that also tell you what to do (and promise higher returns).
Over time, I have found myself returning to the FT book again and again, whilst the Motley Fool has sat gathering dust on my bookshelf.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very informative and easy to read
Takes a fairly complicated subject and makes it an easy read, for those like myself who need to learn everything from the basics.
Published 13 days ago by Shanie72
Excellent grounding forthe would-be investor
Though not perfect, this is probably the best investment book out there for teaching the basics of investment by a mile. It covers a vast number of topics, mostly in good detail. Read more
Published 4 months ago by rafferty
Great initial read if your are getting into financial dealing or...
This book gets a 5 star award as despite some shortcomings there are more positives than negatives. This book should form a type of encyclopedia for any investor, trader or... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Chris
Surprisingly readable!
Prior to picking up this book I should point out that I have (had!) no background in economics at all. Read more
Published 5 months ago by N. Anderson
The Financial Times Guide to Investing: The Definitive Companion to...
This book by Glen Arnold is extremely well written. It contains a concise description and explanation of terms that are used daily in the field of investing and finance, being thus... Read more
Published 6 months ago by helmut
Great Book!
This book is great for first year students in academic programs in finance business administration or economics in general. Read more
Published 7 months ago by nick14688
Excellent Review
Extremely helpful book.
Easy to understand, the author assumes little or no understanding of financial jargon and gradually introduces these using a examples which make... Read more
Easy to understand, the author assumes little or no understanding of financial jargon and gradually introduces these using a examples which make... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Abhijeet
Clear why this book is rated 5 stars
I hardly write reviews but this book is fantastic.
It clearly lays out investment terminology and provides an interesting explanation of these. Read more
It clearly lays out investment terminology and provides an interesting explanation of these. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sach
A must!
I've read a few books over the last few months and I have to say that this book is a must if you are seriously interested in investing. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Bollah
If you have to buy one book....
Being completely new to the area of investing I purchased a few books on the subject. whilst all of them provided useful information, this one was by far the most comprehensive and... Read more
Published 15 months ago by John
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