Everyone likes the idea of get-rich-quick schemes, but very few of them are successful in practice. In reality, it’s always a better idea to show prudence and patience when it comes to personal finances—whether opening a savings account, taking out a loan, investing in the stock market, or planning for retirement. But even the most cautious strategy can seem daunting when you’re insecure about money matters; after all, most people can’t afford to take big risks with their hard-earned cash. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find ways to pursue your goals. Here are three books, all recommended by Kirkus Indie, that offer intriguing introductions to responsible money management:
Professional financial adviser Jeffrey Panik’s Your Future Is Now: A Guide to Understanding Your Finances and Gaining Independence offers “a brisk and authoritative financial blueprint for beginners,” according to our reviewer, which tackles everything from simple budgeting (“Understanding the Difference Between a Need and a Want”) and managing credit card debt to understanding taxes and the details of student loans, car loans, and home loans. “We may not always see it as a fun part of the process,” Panik writes at one point, “but taking the time to understand the details is key to success.” Throughout, the author uses bullet-pointed lists, charts, and hypothetical scenarios to transfer a wealth of practical knowledge (pun intended), which young people just starting out will treasure—and some older readers may wish they’d taken to the bank.
In The Wannabe Investor: 40 Must-Know Facts Before Buying Your First Stock, Ann Marie Sabath, a small business owner and successful personal investor, presents a primer for people looking to buy their first stock, and she starts with basic definitions (“Stock is an ownership stake in a company”) before moving on to more complex ideas (“The length of time you hold an investment affects the tax rate you pay when selling it”). Along the way, she offers epigrammatic advice from an investment guru identified only as “Allan,” whose practical tips (called “Allanisms”) are worth remembering even if one has plenty of investing experience. For instance: “Rome wasn’t built in day. Neither will be your success in the market.” Kirkus’ reviewer calls it “a cogent, warmly written guide to beginning investing.”
Make Money Your Thing!: Ditch the Shame and Design Your Dream Life by financial adviser Kalee Boisvert is a guide to fiscal literacy that aims “to support women” and “help them overcome their insecurities around money.” Over the course of this book, the author encourages women to examine their financial assumptions (often formed in childhood), to learn budgeting skills, and to gain fiscal confidence, while understanding that one can use money to chase one’s aspirations—whether they involve travel, purchase of a home, or other life plans. “You’re not on this earth to live anyone’s life but your own,” Boisvert writes. “Stay true to what you want, especially when it comes to your money.” Kirkus’ starred review calls it “a first-rate guide for women of any age looking to increase their wealth and feel confident doing so.”
David Rapp is the senior Indie editor.
