Markets will ALWAYS hold opportunities for us to make or lose money.  There is no “all clear” sounded when, once again, it will be safe to get back in the market. But here are a few things we should all be looking for as signals that better times may be coming.

First, remember taht markets turn before economies.  So, for example, don’t think that awful unemployment numbers will get better - or even stop getting worse - before markets move up…

Continue Reading »

At the start of 2009, and with fond hope that markets will be friendlier, I’m pleased to read a couple of recent book reviews of The Shortest Investment Book Ever.  

Christian Personal Finance’s comments are here:   http://www.christianpf.com/the-shortest-investment-book-ever-review/

 (I’m grateful for the coverage.  Thank you, Bob.)

Today, I also did a phone interview with Bob.  I’m looking forward to hearing how it will be edited down and will be accessed through the christianpf.com website.

I’m also grateful to Blueprint for Financial Prosperity for their own very encouraging book review and interview, both of which are now posted at their blog site:

The book review can be found at:  http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-shortest-investment-book-ever-by-james-odonnell.html

The interview is at:  http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/interview-with-jim-odonnell-the-shortest-investment-book-ever.html.  (Thank you, Jim.)

For those reading this not yet familiar with The Shortest Investment Book Ever and how it can help so many people save for retirement through workplace savings plans, check out these reviews.

Are you saving for retirement through a payroll savings plan at work?  If so, it’s probably a 401(k) – which is provided for those working in the “for profit” sector – or a 403(b) – for those working in the not-for profit sector.  About 57million Americans save for retirement through these plans.  Many also save through Individual Retirement Accounts, or “IRAs.”

If you save through either, congratulations! — and keep on saving.  The central message, in fact, of The Shortest Investment Book Ever is: “start early, save a lot, spend less.”  If you’ve been doing that already, good for you.  Now keep it up.  But whether or not you have been saving more and spending less, surely you’re aware of the battering that our investments Continue Reading »