AboutJohn D Smith, CFP Expertise I can answer detailed questions regarding mutual fund investing, retirement planning, education planning and related financial planning/investment issues. I have a B.S. degree in Financial Planning & Counseling. I am also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and have performed fee only investment management and financial planning services for the past 11 years.
Question QUESTION: hello sir, i am a management student & finance intrigues me. i want to know how to obtain information / study material so that i too can turn an investor. i want to know the basics of finance, which magazines/ websites should i follow???
ANSWER: Hi. If you are interested in pursuing investments for personal interest, then there are a number of resources you can follow. Before I recommend them, please share with me in more detail the information you are trying to learn. For example, the different ways to invest, how to analyze investments, how much a person needs to save to meet their goals, etc. Also, are you looking for ongoing information or are you more interested in one time resources that you can study and learn, or both? Let me know and I will be happy to provide some insight.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: thanks for showing interest in my query. i feel a good knowledge of investments will be beneficial both academically as well as financially. you can start by telling me : how much do i need to save to invest properly. also which source provides the most reliable information on company statistics{like liquidity position, loans/ debts as well as assets under the company} which tell whether to invest or not.
also the investment portfolio should be diversified but how much and what different schemes are there besides MF's , stocks & ETF's???
Answer HI. There are many great books available that discuss these issues. However, the following are investment books I would recommend that discuss investments and the importance of diversification:
A Random Walk Down Wall Street - Burton Malkiel
Common Sense on Mutual Funds - John C Bogle
The Intellegint Asset Allocator - William Bernstein
Investment Policy (How to Win the Losers Game) - Charles Ellis
As far as information in regards to company statistics, Morningstar, Value Line and Standard and Poor's are all well known resources:
