This innovative new teaching text provides an introduction to personal investment in a world defined by uncertainty. With a focus on risk, socio-economic change and the regulatory framework, and a wealth of international case studies, the book covers all the key issues that affect personal investment decisions and their ultimate success or failure.

Using real-world examples and clear case studies, the authors provide investors and managers with an innovative method for assessing a company's non-financial assets, allowing them to assess opportunities whose financial rewards are less than certain.

Implementing a financial plan to manage the future is very important. If you have not assembled such a plan, or even if you have not thought about how best to manage your financial future, the time to do so is now, and the resource you need to walk you through every step of the personal financial planning process is Plan Your Financial Future. Regardless of whether you are a recent college graduate or have spent the past several decades in the working world, Plan Your Financial Future will give you the smart, commonsense advice you need to get your financial life in order. Written by an expert and long-standing educator in the field of personal financial planning, Plan Your Financial Future is a comprehensive, objective, and pertinent guidebook for readers of all income levels who want to grow their net worth on a steady and increasing basis. Covering all the financial bases you can reasonably expect to confront in your lifetime, like insurance, investing, income tax planning, Social Security, Medicare, and more, this vital resource begins with techniques to protect a consumer's personal and business assets. It then transitions into the wealth accumulation process and outlines tax management measures, as well as the distribution of wealth for higher education, retirement, and estate planning purposes. Filled with in-depth insight and invaluable financial planning advice, this unique guide explains how to: Insure yourself, your family, and your property against the possibility of significant loss; Invest in financial or real assets—or both; Practice effective tax planning and management techniques; Distribute your estate at death to your intended beneficiaries in a tax-efficient manner; And much more. With its no-nonsense, straightforward style and holistic view of the financial planning process, Plan Your Financial Future is the one resource you need to become a more knowledgeable saver and translate those savings into the accumulation of future wealth. What you’ll learnReaders of Plan Your Financial Future will learn: How to take advantage of benefits that are offered to them by their employer The importance of minimizing the effects of inflation on their portfolios as much as possible Financial strategies for preparing for their children's higher education Rock-solid advice for planning for the financial aspects of their retirement years Whether or not they would benefit from the hiring of a professional financial planner How to create and maintain a personal financial plan that protects them and their families into the future Who this book is for Plan Your Financial Future is designed for readers of all income levels who would like grow their net worth on a steady and increasing basis by implementing and sticking to a personal financial plan. Everyone from recent college graduates to those who have been in the working world for many years will benefit from the insightful, actionable advice offered up in Plan Your Financial Future. Table of Contents Understanding the Challenge/The Need to Begin Do You Need a Financial Planner? Elements of Personal Financial Planning and the Wealth Management Process Insuring Yourself and Your Family Insuring Your Health and Long Term Care Insuring Your Earning Power Insuring Your Property Optimizing Your Employment Benefits Investing in Financial Assets Investing in Real Assets Employing Assets Profitably Income Tax Planning and Management Transfer Tax Planning and Management Life Events that Endanger Wealth Planning for Your Child’s Higher Education Planning for the Financial Aspects of Retirement Planning for the Lifestyle Needs of Retirement Planning for Other Lifetime Goals Estate Planning Philanthropy Reaping the Rewards Sample Data Gathering Form Sample Budget Durable General and Financial Power of Attorney (POA) Declaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment and Medical Durable POA Sample Personal Letter of Instructions Glossary

If you want to take control of your financial future and unlock thedoors to financial success, you must have a plan that will allowyou to find good investments, reduce taxes, beat inflation, andproperly manage money. Whether you're new to financial planning or a seasoned veteran,this updated edition of Ernst & Young's Personal FinancialPlanning Guide provides valuable information and techniques you canuse to create and implement a consistent personalized financialplan. It also takes into consideration the new tax rules thataffect home ownership, saving for college, estate planning, andmany other aspects of your financial life. Filled with in-depth insight and financial planning advice, thisunique guide can help you: * Set goals * Build wealth * Manage your finances * Protect your assets * Plan your estate and investments It will also show you how to maintain a financial plan inconjunction with life events such as: * Getting married * Raising a family * Starting your own business * Aging parents * Planning for retirement Financial planning is a never-ending process, and with Ernst &Young's Personal Financial Planning Guide, you'll learn how totailor a plan to help you improve all aspects of your financiallife.

With more than 135,000 copies sold in previous editions, Personal Financial Planning has become one of today's top answer books for people who want to know what to do with their money, and why. This streamlined seventh edition provides in-depth coverage and analysis of the latest tax law changes. In addition, it features an entirely new chapter on planning and paying for education expenses, including the new 529 plans; ramifications of the GST estate tax repeal; new checklists and questions to tie up each chapter; and more.

An accessible guide that outlines the key elements of an effective financial plan From Larry Swedroe, the author of the bestselling series of "The Only Guide" investment books, with Kevin Grogan and Tiya Lim comes a step-by-step handbook that shows you how to develop a winning personal investment strategy and reveals what it takes to make that strategy part of your overall financial plan. The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for the Right Financial Plan focuses on the "art" of investing and gives you the information you need to create a strategy that is tailor-made for your particular situation. Designed for savvy investors and professional advisors, this book offers the vital information needed for developing and implementing an overall strategic financial plan. In this essential resource, Swedroe outlines the basics in asset allocation and other investment planning concepts. Addresses how you can design an investment policy statement and an individual asset allocation plan Examines how to maintain your portfolio's risk profile in the most cost-effective and tax-efficient manner Offers insights on integrating risk management and estate planning issues into your plan The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for the Right Financial Plan offers a handy tool to help you make more informed and prudent decisions that will go a long way to ensure a secure financial future.