Details

<p>About the Author xi</p> <p>Acknowledgments xiii</p> <p>You are in the Right Place! Get Ready to Become a Clever Girl Investor! xv</p> <p>How to Use This Book xix</p> <p><b>Chapter 1 Adjusting Your Mindset About Investing 1</b></p> <p>Why Investing Matters 7</p> <p>Getting Educated About Investing 9</p> <p>Women and the Investment Gap: Why It’s More Important Than Ever for Women in Particular to Invest 11</p> <p>My Investing Story: The Complete Game-Changer for My Finances 15</p> <p><b>Chapter 2 How the Stock Market Works 19</b></p> <p>What Is the Stock Market? 21</p> <p>Stock Exchanges in the United States 22</p> <p>Indices and the Stock Market 23</p> <p>The Economy and the Stock Market 26</p> <p>How the Economy Affects Your Portfolio 26</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jennifer “Jenny” Coombs 30</p> <p><b>Chapter 3 Core Investing Concepts: Inflation, Compounding, and the Rule of 72 33</b></p> <p>Inflation 36</p> <p>What Causes Inflation? 37</p> <p>Inflation in the United States 38</p> <p>Compounding 39</p> <p>How Compound Interest Works 40</p> <p>The Rule of 72 44</p> <p>Compound Interest, the Rule of 72, and Debt 46</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Cindy E. Zuniga 48</p> <p><b>Chapter 4 Preparing to Invest 51</b></p> <p>Key Factors to Ensure You’re Prepared to Invest 54</p> <p>Setting Your Investment Objectives 58</p> <p>Understanding Risk 59</p> <p>Mitigating Risk 60</p> <p><b>Chapter 5 The Different Types of Stock Market Investments 65</b></p> <p>Investing in Stocks 67</p> <p>Market Capitalization and Stocks 68</p> <p>Investing in Bonds 70</p> <p>What to Know About Bonds 70</p> <p>Should You Buy Individual Stocks and/or Bonds? 73</p> <p>Investing in Funds 74</p> <p>Index Funds to Win 76</p> <p>The Key Benefits of Index Funds 77</p> <p>Popular Index Funds 79</p> <p><b>Chapter 6 Researching Your Investments 83</b></p> <p>Things to Look for When Researching Investments 86</p> <p>Extra Credit: More Investing Terms and Definitions 90</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Adeola Omole 92</p> <p><b>Chapter 7 Where and How to Purchase Your Investments 97</b></p> <p>Brokerage Firms and Robo-Advisors 99</p> <p>Working with a Financial Advisor 102</p> <p>Practicing with Simulation Accounts 103</p> <p>Trading versus Investing 104</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jully-Alma Taveras 105</p> <p><b>Chapter 8 Investing for Retirement 109</b></p> <p>Types of Retirement Investment Accounts 114</p> <p>What to Do When You Leave Your Employer 122</p> <p>Tips to Maximize Your Retirement Investments 123</p> <p>Are You Saving Enough? 126</p> <p>Investing During Retirement 128</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Faneisha “Fo” Alexander 129</p> <p><b>Chapter 9 Simple Investing Strategies 133</b></p> <p>The 3-Fund Portfolio Investing Strategy 136</p> <p>Alternative Investing Strategies: The 1-Fund, 2-Fund, 4-Fund, and 5-Fund Portfolios 139</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jamila Souffrant 143</p> <p><b>Chapter 10 Keeping Your Investments on Target 147</b></p> <p>How Does Rebalancing Work? 149</p> <p>When to Rebalance Your Portfolio 150</p> <p>A Common Rule of Thumb: 100 Minus Your Age 151</p> <p>How Often Should You Rebalance Your Portfolio? 151</p> <p>Target-Date Funds, Robo-Advisors, and Portfolio Rebalancing 152</p> <p>Letting Go of a Losing Investment 153</p> <p><b>Chapter 11 The Deal with Taxes 157</b></p> <p>Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax 159</p> <p>Tax Losses 160</p> <p>Minimizing Your Tax Obligation 161</p> <p>Chapter 12 Investing Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid 165</p> <p>Key Investing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 168</p> <p>Clever Girl Investor: Meet Regina Byrd 170</p> <p><b>In Closing 175</b></p> <p>Takeaways to Remember 177</p> <p>Index 181</p>

<p><b> BOLA SOKUNBI</b> is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, author, influencer, and finance expert. She’s also the CEO and founder of Clever Girl Finance, a platform that educates and empowers women to achieve their own financial independence and freedom. </p>

<p>“In light of the unfortunate gender wage and investment gaps, this book is full of pragmatic wisdom, encouraging advice, and crystal clear explanations. This is how Bola unpacks the <i>whys</i> and the <i>ways</i> of the world of investing—emboldening women of all ilks to put their money to work (sooner!) for their long-term gain.” </p><p><b> —Roshi Givechi,</b> Design Strategist; former Executive Design Director and Partner, IDEO </p><p> “From starting your professional career to seasoned executive, Bola’s investment book is a must-have in your personal finance library. She builds confidence with a bold but pragmatic mentoring voice during important financial and critical life decisions! She is a visionary leader needed, especially during challenging times.” </p><p><b> —Maureen Jules-Perez,</b> Technology Executive, Inventor, and Strategist </p><p><b> Discover the financial secrets that can help anyone build long term wealth </b> </p><p> If you’re one of the millions of women who work hard for their money every day and wish you knew more about how to leverage the power of investing, <i>Clever Girl Finance: Learn How Investing Works, Grow Your Money</i> is crafted just for you. Written by Bola Sokunbi, a renowned Certified Financial Education Instructor, <i>Grow Your Money</i> helps you unlock the secrets of investing that you’ve been missing out on. </p><p> This book will teach you how to leverage your existing earnings to build wealth (even with a modest salary). You’ll learn how to avoid common mistakes and how to put your hard-earned money to work for you. Finally, you’ll discover how to grow a substantial nest egg that will take care of you well into your retirement. </p><p>Perfect for women of all ages who want to learn about making their money work for them, <i>Grow Your Money</i> belongs on the bookshelves of female professionals and everyday working people who seek to build confidence in the world of investing and personal finance. It can transform a typical salary into a lifetime of wealth and prosperity. </p>

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