Introduction 1
Overview
Allocating Your Assets: The Five Most Important Steps 9
Asset Allocation Ingredients: Choosing Between the Asset Classes 29
The Packaging of the Asset Class: Choosing Between a Mutual Fund Or Another Packaged Product 51
The Location of Your Assets: Choosing the Right Accounts 69
The Cost of Financial Assets: Understanding the impact of Fees and Taxes 91
The Impact of Economic Events on Your Portfolio 105
Determining Your Asset Allocation Mix
The Three Primary Factors in Determining an Allocation Mix: Your Stage in Life, When You Will Need the Money, and Your Risk Tolerance 115
The Six Secondary Factors That Influence How You Construct Your Portfolio: Your Age, Gender Marital Status, Investing Experience, Dependents, and Affluence 135
The Five Investment Strategies
Capital Preservation 147
Conservative Income 157
Growth and Income 171
Growth 179
Aggressive Growth 191
Summing It Up
Ten Ways to Grow and Ensure Wealth 201
Putting It All Together 211
Index 219