THE DISCERNING INVESTOR

Attorney and investment counsel Jason presents a thorough guide to investment with a specific view toward retirement.

The author astutely observes that retirement has only become more challenging as lifespans have increased, and consequently, “your retirement planning will encompass a much longer period of time than you might first envision.” Moreover, she asserts, one can’t procrastinate and expect to prepare for retirement properly; the author notes more than once: “This is not the time to learn through trial and error.” Although these are universal truths, “retirement security” is largely about personal customization, Jason points out, as not everyone will have the same goals to achieve or the same hurdles to clear. Her aim is to help readers retire “on [their] own terms,” and to that end, she provides both a general conceptual framework to understand retirement investment, as well as specific, practical counsel regarding the formulation and execution of a retirement plan. She covers a wide swath of analytical territory—volatility and risk, diversification, the ways one should choose a financial expert to assist with investment and other areas of interest. The book concludes with self-assessment tools to build a synopsis of one’s financial health and future aspirations, and it’s a lucid, concise questionnaire that, in itself, makes this volume a worthwhile resource. Jason’s presentation is intellectually rigorous—instead of self-help-style nostrums, she furnishes concrete, actionable advice substantiated with empirical data. Moreover, despite necessary excursions into technicality, this is a thoroughly readable book that will be entirely accessible to those with a limited understanding of investment strategy. Another of its virtues is that it never dispenses hyperbolic promises and unflinchingly confronts the reality of risk: “In my experience, the most satisfied investors are those who embrace the investor’s dilemma, understanding that risk (uncertainty) and reward (high returns) are forever and always intertwined.” Overall, this is an impressively informative book that attests to the author’s 30-plus years of experience in the financial industry.

A clear, concise, and wise guide to retirement planning.