Everyone's Money Book Book

	List of Figures	xv
	Preface	xix
Part 1	Maximizing Your Investment Options	1
Chapter 1	Giving Yourself a Financial Checkup	3
	Determining Your Net Worth	3
	Creating Your Recordkeeping System	12
	Defining Your Financial Goals	13
	Analyzing Your Cash Flow	26
	Creating a Budget That Works	35
	Assembling a Long-Term Financial Plan	46
	Assessing Your tolerance for Risk	50
	Using Your Computer to Keep Your Finances in Shape	58
	Shopping Online	62
	Resources	72
Chapter 2	Maximizing Returns on Cash Instruments	78
	The Importance of Cash Instruments	78
	The Benefits of Bank Insurance	79
	Earning Interest on Cash	80
	Types of Cash Instruments	82
	Using Your Computer for Home Banking	94
	Resources	101
Chapter 3	Picking Winning Stocks	107
	Investing in Stocks	107
	The Basics of Being a Shareholder	109
	Buying Stocks on Margin	112
	Selling Short	113
	How to Pick Winning Stocks	114
	Understanding Key Financial Ratios	118
	Categories of Stock	121
	New Issues	133
	Spiders and Diamonds	138
	Socially Conscious Investing	138
	Stock Indexes and Averages	140
	Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)	141
	Shareholder Freebies	151
	Using Technical Analysis to Choose Stocks	152
	Choosing Stocks with an Investment Club	153
	Foreign Stocks	154
	Making Sense of Stock Tables	156
	Using Your Computer to Invest in Stocks	162
	Resources	163
Chapter 4	Selecting Mutual Funds	193
	Load versus No-Load Funds	193
	The Advantages of Mutual Funds	195
	More on Fund Fees	197
	Buying and Monitoring Shares in a Stock Mutual Fund	200
	Types of Stock Funds: Choosing the Best for You	213
	Closed-End Mutual Funds	218
	Using Your Computer to Pick Mutual Funds	221
	Resources	222
Chapter 5	All about Bonds	269
	Investing in Bonds	269
	The Basics of Holding Bonds	270
	Types of Bonds: Choosing the Best for You	285
	Bond Mutual Funds	311
	Types of Bond Funds: Choosing the Best for You	312
	Closed-End Bond Funds	315
	Unit Investment Trusts	317
	Resources	318
Chapter 6	Speculating with Futures and Options	328
	The Basics of Futures Trading	328
	Futures Pools and Discretionary Accounts	333
	The Basics of Options Trading	334
	Using Your Computer to Trade Futures and Options	339
	Resources	340
Chapter 7	Investing in Gold and Collectibles	350
	Gold and Other Precious Metals	350
	Coins and Bars	352
	Certificates	356
	Precious-Metals Stocks	356
	Precious-Metals Mutual Funds	357
	Precious-Metals Futures and Options	358
	Antiques and Collectibles	360
	Resources	368
Chapter 8	Inside Real Estate	383
	Buying Versus Renting	384
	If You Decide to Rent	386
	If You Decide to Buy	387
	Finding the Right Home	392
	Choosing the Best Mortgage	399
	Protecting the Value of Your Home	408
	Selling Your Home	410
	Investment Real Estate	411
	Using Your Computer to Buy and Sell Real Estate	419
	Resources	421
Part 2	Financing Your Present and Future Needs	441
Chapter 9	You and Your Credit--Managing It Wisely	443
	Open-End versus Closed-End Credit	444
	Secured versus Unsecured Credit	447
	Truth-in-Lending Rules	448
	Types of Loans	448
	Qualifying for Credit	455
	Problems with Billing	471
	Managing Your Credit Wisely	472
	Using Your Computer to Improve Your Credit Management	480
	Resources	481
Chapter 10	Getting the Most for Your Money When Buying a Car	489
	Determining What Kind of Car You Need	489
	The Shopping Process	493
	Closing the Deal	495
	Buying a Used Car	498
	Financing versus Leasing	499
	Using Your Computer to Buy Your Car	505
	If You Have Problems with Your Car	510
	Resources	513
Chapter 11	All about Insurance	520
	The Basics of Insurance	521
	Assessing Your Insurance Needs	527
	Auto Insurance	528
	Disability Insurance	537
	Health Insurance	541
	Homeowners Insurance	550
	Life Insurance	560
	Types of Life Insurance	563
	Choosing a Life Insurance Company	575
	Using Your Computer to Buy Insurance	576
	Resources	577
Chapter 12	How to Finance a College Education	593
	Estimating College Costs	594
	Investing to Pay College Bills	595
	Winning the Financial Aid Game	603
	Applying for Financial Aid	611
	Borrowing Against Your Assets	614
	Using Your Computer to Finance College Education	616
	Resources	617
Chapter 13	The Basics of Tax Planning	638
	The Basics of Filing a Tax Return	638
	Strategies to Cut Your Taxes	657
	Dealing with the IRS	662
	Key Provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997	664
	Using Your Computer to Prepare Your Taxes	672
	Resources	673
Chapter 14	Retirement--How to Get There from Here	685
	Projecting Expenses and Income in Retirement	686
	Social Security	689
	Pensions	697
	Pension Plans for the Self-Employed	703
	Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)	706
	Other Savings and Investments	712
	Evaluating an Early Retirement Offer	714
	Choosing a Retirement Lifestyle	716
	Taking Care of the Next Generation	723
	Resources	723
Chapter 15	Estate Planning--Keeping Your Assets in the Family	745
	What Estate Planning Entails	746
	The Basics of Writing and Executing a Will	747
	The Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney	750
	The Probate Process	750
	How to Avoid Probate	751
	Planning Your Funeral and Burial	759
	Resources	762
Part 3	Controlling Your Financial Destiny	769
Chapter 16	Making the Most of Your Employee Benefits	771
	Pension and Retirement Savings Programs	772
	Traditional Defined Benefit Pension Plans	773
	Defined Contribution Pension Plans	779
	Retirement Plans for Employees of Small Companies and the Self-Employed	793
	Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)	795
	Health Care Benefits	796
	Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)	802
	Dependent Care Benefits	805
	Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)	806
	Education Benefits	807
	Legal Services Benefits	807
	Company-Sponsored Insurance Programs	808
	Resources	811
Chapter 17	Finding Financial Advisors Who Are Right for You	815
	Tax Preparers	819
	Bankers	825
	Financial Planners	827
	Insurance Agents	835
	Lawyers	839
	Money Managers	846
	Real Estate Brokers	853
	Stockbrokers	858
	Resources	865
Chapter 18	Smart Money Strategies for Every Age and Situation	894
	Your 20s and 30s--Establishing Your Financial Foundation	895
	Your 40s and 50s--The Peak Earning Years of Middle Age	900
	Your 60s and Up--The Retirement Years	905
	When You're Single	912
	When You're Married	918
	When You're Divorced or Widowed	928
	Conclusion	944
	Resources	944
	Index	953