Just Keep Buying

Nick Maggiulli, Just Keep Buying, Harriman House, 2022 A no-nonsense guide to personal finance that delights in busting myths and dispelling old clichés. Tackling all-important questions like saving and investing, it digs into the psychology behind money and provides a realistic guide to making sound financial decisions.

The Wealthy Barber

David Chilton, The Wealthy Barber, Stoddart, 1989 The book distills personal finance concepts into suggestions that are relatively simple to follow. The Wealthy Barber adopts a tale of three individuals in different financial situations who seek advice from a wily, funny, and affluent barber. I worried that the dialogue and concept would end up being gimmicky and fail to deliver the …

The One-Page Financial Plan

Carl Richards, The One-Page Financial Plan, Portfolio, 2015 The title suggests this is an entry-level book for personal finance novices. It is very readable and a reminder good advisors are out there and their work makes a valuable contribution to client’s lives. The book centers on mastering the psychology behind investing as well as looking at your goals rather than …

The Behavior Gap

Carl Richards, The Behavior Gap, Portfolio/Penguin, 2012 Yes, this book is about money, but it is really about psychology. When it comes to money, people are notoriously bad in their decision-making. We do things we should know are illogical (i.e. becoming interested in stocks when they become expensive and then selling off when they become cheap). The media knows this …

God and Money

John Cortines, Gregory Baumer, God and Money, Rose Publishing, 2016 The book’s guiding premise is shifting the Christian mindset from “How much do I need to give?” to “How much do I need to keep?” The book doesn’t make you feel guilty for wanting to save for college or retirement, yet challenges you to think about how much is enough …

Splitting Heirs: Giving Money & Things to your Children Without Ruining Their Lives

Ron Blue, Jeremy White, Splitting Heirs: Giving Money & Things to your Children Without Ruining Their Lives, Northfield Publishing, 2004 Inheritance is a risky business, often damaging lives, marriages, and children. Few of us bring an eternal perspective to leaving money behind or to handling unearned wealth. But God has entrusted us with His assets and we need to consider …

The Intelligent Investor

Benjamin Graham, The Intelligent Investor, Harper and Brothers, 1949 Make no mistake, this is not one of those “How to beat the market” books. It’s pretty much a textbook, with graphs and charts and long complicated financial terms that you need to study as seriously as you studied for your college final exams if you’re really going to get anything …

Winning the Loser’s Game

Charles Ellis, Winning the Loser’s Game, McGraw-Hill, 2002 In a winner’s game, the outcome is determined by the correct actions of the winner. In a loser’s game, the outcome is determined by the mistakes made by the loser. Professional tennis is a winner’s game. The outcome is determined by the actions of the winner. Amateur tennis is a loser’s game. …

Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life

Bill Perkins, Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020 What is your most valuable possession? It is your memories! Your memories are your most treasured possession, the one thing that defines who and what you are. Consequently, spending money to build up memories is the best use of your money. …