Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: Five-Star Strategies for Success

An authoritative, must-read guide to making more informed decisions about mutual funds

Providing a balance of theory and application, this authoritative book will enable you to evaluate the various performance and risk attributes of mutual funds. It covers a broad range of topics, including understanding the advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds, evaluating stock/bond allocations within fund portfolios, assessing fund diversification risk, measuring fund returns and risk, and making fund buy/sell decisions.

While informative chapters combine clear summaries of existing research with practical guidelines for mutual fund analysis, step-by-step decision checklists guide you through the selection of various mutual funds.

• Puts the risks and rewards of mutual fund investing in perspective
• Skillfully examines how to select and evaluate the best mutual funds
• Outlines mutual fund service advantages and disadvantages
• Discusses the long- and short-term effectiveness of mutual funds

A fresh look at the ever-changing world of mutual funds

Like all investment instruments, mutual funds continue to evolve. In the last decade however, there has been plenty of change, including market capitalization, the introduction of new types of funds, and the expansion of the mutual fund model to include investments in commodities.

Getting Started in Mutual Funds, Second Edition offers a completely updated look at this popular investment vehicle, including everything from Morningstar's new matrix of evaluating a fund's investment style to implementing mutual funds into long-term investment strategies in retirement plans. Throughout the book, author Alvin Hall also focuses on the basics, like how to read a prospectus, how to evaluate ongoing fees and expenses, and how to gauge a fund's performance.

• Acquaints you with the various types of mutual funds and how they are structured
• Explains important mutual fund terms and concepts
• New chapters include information on exchange-traded funds and how they compare to mutual funds in terms of performance, risk and fees
• Reveals how to assess a fund manager's investment style and its impact on your returns

This is the eBook version of the printed book.

Want a powerful competitive advantage? Become a better business writer. Better writers get better jobs and more promotions. Winning is about persuading people, and that means writing: emails, Web sites, presentations, proposals, resumes, grant proposals, you name it. Businesses know this: that's why they spend $3 billion a year helping their employees become more effective writers. If you hated writing in school, or if you just weren't that good at it, we have great news. Business writing has changed. Forget jargon, pomposity, grammar drills: just figure out what you want to say and say it simply, quickly, conversationally. The Truth About Business Writing That Works shows you exactly how to do that. Step by step, you'll learn how to plan and organize your content; make your point faster; tell your readers what's in it for them; construct winning documents of every kind, print and electronic, even blog entries and text messages! The Truth About Writing That Works brings together its field's best knowledge, and shows exactly how to put it to work. With an "aha" on every page, it presents information in a clear, accessible style that's easy to understand and use. Written in short chapters, it covers the entire field, cuts to the heart of every topic, pulls back the curtain on expert secrets, and pops the bubble of commonly-held assumptions. Simply put, this book delivers easy, painless writing techniques that work.

Everything on Treasuries, munis, bond funds, and more!

The bond buyer’s answer book—updated for the new economy

“As in the first two editions, this third edition of The Bond Boo continues to be the ideal reference for the individual investor. It has all the necessary details, well explained and illustrated without excessive mathematics. In addition to providing this essential content, it is extremely well written.”
—James B. Cloonan, Chairman, American Association of Individual Investors

“Annette Thau makes the bond market interesting, approachable, and clear. As much as investors will continue to depend on fixed-income securities during their retirement years, they’ll need an insightful guide that ensures they’re appropriately educated and served. The Bond Book does just that.”
—Jeff Tjornejoh, Research Director, U.S. and Canada, Lipper, Thomson Reuters

“Not only a practical and easy-to-understand guide for the novice, but also a comprehensive reference for professionals. Annette Thau provides the steps to climb to the top of the bond investment ladder. The Bond Book should be a permanent fixture in any investment library!”
—Thomas J. Herzfeld, President, Thomas Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.

“If the financial crisis of recent years has taught us anything, it’s buyer beware. Fact is, bonds can be just as risky as stocks. That’s why Annette Thau’s new edition of The Bond Book is essential reading for investors who want to know exactly what’s in their portfolios. It also serves as an excellent guide for those of us who are getting older and need to diversify into fixed income.”
—Jean Gruss, Southwest Florida Editor, Gulf Coast Business Review, and former Managing Editor, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report

About the Book

The financial crisis of 2008 caused major disruptions to every sector of the bond market and left even the savviest investors confused about the safety of their investments. To serve these investors and anyone looking to explore opportunities in fixed-income investing, former bond analyst Annette Thau builds on the features and authority that made the first two editions bestsellers in the thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded third edition of The Bond Book.

This is a one-stop resource for both seasoned bond investors looking for the latest information on the fixed-income market and equities investors planning to diversify their holdings. Writing in plain English, Thau presents cutting-edge strategies for making the best bond-investing decisions, while explaining how to assess risks and opportunities. She also includes up-to-date listings of online resources with bond prices and other information. Look to this all-in-one guide for information on such critical topics as:

• Buying individual bonds or bond funds
• The ins and outs of open-end funds, closed-end funds, and exchangetraded funds (ETFs)
• The new landscape for municipal bonds: the changed rating scales, the near demise of bond insurance, and Build America Bonds (BABs)
• The safest bond funds
• Junk bonds (and emerging market bonds)
• Buying Treasuries without paying a commission

From how bonds work to how to buy and sell them to what to expect from them, The Bond Book, third edition, is a must-read for individual investors and financial advisers who want to enhance the fixed-income allocation of their portfolios.

More than one million hardcovers sold
Now available for the first time in paperback!

The Classic Text Annotated to Update Graham's Timeless Wisdom for Today's Market Conditions

The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham's philosophy of "value investing" -- which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies -- has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949.

Over the years, market developments have proven the wisdom of Graham's strategies. While preserving the integrity of Graham's original text, this revised edition includes updated commentary by noted financial journalist Jason Zweig, whose perspective incorporates the realities of today's market, draws parallels between Graham's examples and today's financial headlines, and gives readers a more thorough understanding of how to apply Graham's principles.

Vital and indispensable, this HarperBusiness Essentials edition of The Intelligent Investor is the most important book you will ever read on how to reach your financial goals.