Mary Farrell's Beyond the Basics: How to Invest Your Money, Now That You Know a Thing or Two

Although it may sometimes seem that there are more investment books than investment opportunities, it's still unusual to find one written for those who possess more than a passing knowledge of fiscal matters but without graduate degrees in finance. Anyone who fits this description should now take heed, however, because Mary Farrell's Beyond the Basics fills this void quite nicely. The respected financial advisor--and regular guest on television's Wall $treet Week--offers solid advice for readers who know "a thing or two" about money matters but want to learn more.

It opens with a lengthy recap of the basics needed to form a sophisticated investment strategy and concludes with discussions on investing for children and rethinking retirement. But it is the middle of this guide that really sets it apart: Farrell fully explains the development of a diversified portfolio that matches financial needs with acceptable risk. She begins with securities, suggesting that choices meeting individual criteria should come from growth stocks (where potential will increase with "low inflation, slow growth and moderate interest rates") that represent large-cap companies (offering exposure to critical markets) and embrace one of two major economic trends (the aging of baby boomers or technology). She also addresses bonds, describing how to "play a neutral market" and utilize "laddering" to flatten interest rate volatility, as well as mutual funds, which can be incorporated to balance portfolios or tap "off the beaten track" opportunities. --Howard Rothman