Index Funds : Strategies for Investment Success

A comprehensive look at the world of index funds from the S&P 500 to the Wilshire 5000, and beyond! If you re like most investors, you ve probably heard of index funds, but don t know too much about them. And why should you? They haven t been touted by the financial community mainly because index funds eliminate the need for their services and they re not as exciting as other investment vehicles. But once you get to know how index funds work, you ll see why so many investors are putting their hard earned money into them. The fact is that the subtle investment philosophy underlying index funds, and its related products, will help you grow your wealth in a steady, powerful, and efficient manner so you can achieve financial security and peace of mind at the lowest possible cost. In Index Funds: Strategies for Investment Success, author and cofounder of IndexFunds.com, Will McClatchy, first discusses the main issues concerning index funds, and then provides a path of action by comparing indexes, describing various index funds, and reviewing model portfolios. With this book as your guide, you ll not only learn about index funds, you ll also learn how to use indexing to improve your investing endeavors. Topics covered include: Understanding the philosophy, motivation, and discipline of a successful indexer Creating a financial plan with indexing Choosing markets with the right risk/return profile and finding sensible asset classes Filtering out noise created by financial markets and the media Maintaining an indexed portfolio with quarterly or yearly tune ups Selecting the most cost effective and efficient index funds But this is only the beginning. This comprehensive guide to index funds also examines a variety of issues that every index investor must understand in order to excel, including: the economic theory that underlies indexing; how active investing measures up to indexing; the myths of indexing; and new products such as exchange traded funds. Filled with in depth insights, valuable advice, and informative charts, Index Funds: Strategies for Investment Success will help seasoned market veterans, as well as newcomers, get up to speed on the indexing revolution. The art of indexing has proven itself time and again as a reliable way to earn returns. Whether you want to retire comfortably, save enough for a child s education, or just set aside funds for a rainy day, take this opportunity to learn about index funds and then put them to work for you.