How to Invest $50-$5,000 10e: The Small Investor's Step-by-Step Plan for Low-Risk Investing ... Book

Introduction:Getting the Most for Your Money ix

Your Personal Financial Calendar xvii

Part 1 Safe Stashing far the First $50

1 Institutional Cookie Jars: Banks 3

2 Credit Unions 15

3 Uncle Sam and Savings Bonds 18

Part 2 The First $500

4 Interest-Paying Checking Accounts 25

5 Money Market Mutual Funds 28

6 Bank Money Market Deposit Accounts 37

7 Certificates of Deposit 43

8 Mini-Investor Programs 51

9 Investment Clubs 60

Part 3 The First $1,000

10 Your IRA, Keogh, or SEP 67

11 Your 401(k) Plan 82

12 Treasuries for Ultrasafe Income 86

Part 4 The First $2,000

13 Utilities and Hometown Companies 95

14 Stock and Ginnie Mae Mutual Funds 99

15 Socially Conscious Mutual Funds 114

16 Index Funds and ETFs 118

Part 5 When You Have$5,000

17 Bonds: Corporates, Munis, and Zeros 129

18 A Stock Portfolio for Beginners 149

Part 6 Over the Top

19 REITs 167

20 Foreign Stocks and Bonds 169

21 Investing a Windfall 173

Appendices

Appendix A Nine Easy and Painless Ways to Save 179

Appendix B Ten Steps Toward College Tuition 182

Appendix C Scams, Swindles, and Suckers 187

Appendix D The Top 25 Financial Web Sites 193

Appendix E If You're Fired 202

Appendix F Cash in a Flash: Ten Sources of Instant Money 210

Appendix G Your Next Steps 219

Wall Street Jargon Made Simple 223

Index 231

About the Author 240