The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio Author: William Bernstein | Language: English | ISBN:
0071747052 | Format: EPUB
The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio Description
From the Back Cover
Since its initial publication, The Four Pillars of Investing has become a staple for the independent-minded investor looking to make better-informed investment decisions. Written by noted financial expert and neurologist William Bernstein, this time-honored investing guide provides the knowledge and tools for achieving long-term profitability.
Bernstein bridges the four fundamental topics successful investors use to generate exceptional profits on a consistent basis:
- The Theory of Investing: “Do not expect high returns without risks.”
- The History of Investing: “About once every generation, the markets go barking mad. If you are unprepared, you are sure to fail.”
- The Psychology of Investing: “Identify the era’s conventional wisdom and assume that it is wrong. More often than not, it is.”
- The Business of Investing: “The stockbroker services his clients in the same way that Bonnie and Clyde serviced banks.”
From the essential soundness of classic portfolio theory through the inherent wisdom of investing in multiple asset classes, The Four Pillars of Investing provides a distinctive blend of market history, investing theory, and behavioral finance to help you become a successful, self-sufficient investor.
About the Author
William J. Bernstein, Ph.D., M.D., is a neurologist and the cofounder of the investment management firm Efficient Frontier Advisors. He is the author of three finance books—The Intelligent Asset Allocator, The Four Pillars of Investing, and The Investor’s Manifesto—and two volumes of economic history, The Birth of Plenty and A Splendid Exchange. Bernstein is currently working on a history book exploring the effects of access to technology on human relations and politics.
- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (June 17, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0071747052
- ISBN-13: 978-0071747059
- Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
- Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
As the title suggests, the author presents within this book four essential pillars of successful investing. Each section of the book is then dedicated to investigating and detailing each of these pillars and they are: 1) Theory 2) History 3) Psychology and 4) Business. The first section on theory, is one which the author calls "the most important part of the book". In his words it "surveys the awesome body of theory and data relevant to everyday investing". This section centers itself around the "fundamental characteristic of any investment is that its return and risk go hand in hand." The second section on History postulates that "an understanding of financial history provides an additional dimension of expertise." The third section, Psychology, is one in which the author surveys the area of "behavioral finance". Where one "learns how to avoid the most common behavioral mistakes and to confront your own dysfunctional investment behavior." Last but not least the last section - Business - exposes how "the modern financial services industry is designed solely to serve itself."
What sets this book apart from other investing books is the breadth of areas covered, and also the writing style which is both "understandable and entertaining". A highly recommended read for any investor regardless of level.
Below are key excerpts from the book, that I found particularly insightful:
1) "The highest returns are obtained by shouldering prudent risk when things look the bleakest."
2) "Most small investors naturally assume that good companies are good stocks, when the opposite is usually true."
3) "Sine you cannot successfully time the market or select individual stocks, asset allocation should be the major focus of your investment strategy.
The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio Preview
Link
Please Wait...