The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need
© Money Magic, Inc. 2/16/02
Saturday Daybreak KATV, Chn. 7
Mary Ann Campbell, CFP

The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need
by Andrew Tobias
Harcourt Harvest Original, $14.00Andy Tobias is my favorite financial author. He's sensible and funny. He's practical and thinks long-term. Parade magazine runs his features often. He has written several books, and has a delightful web site: www.andrewtobias.com This is his flagship book, now in its seventh expanded and updated edition.Andrew Tobias shows you how to use your money to your best advantage - no matter how much or little you have. With full recognition of America's new tax laws, this is truly a great little financial guide.It covers:

• How to spend smarter - and save $1,000 or more
• When to inmvest in stocks, and how
• The ins and outs of investing on the Internet
• What life insurance will do for you, and how much it will cost
• How to handle that big inheritance
• Who - if anyone you can trust to manage your money
• Tax strategies, from tuition to retirement
• The inside skinny on annuities, real estate, Social Security, and more

I like the unique chapter on Tips for Unmarried Couples:

1. Each must have a will., or a Living Trust.
2. Proper title of assets is critical to protecting those you love when they are not legal spouses.
3. Prepare a heal-care proxy for medical decisions in an emergency, and a living will to express your preferences for heroic recovery or not.
4. Consider a durable power of attorney for financial decision. Be sure you trust the person to whom you're investing this power.
5. If you're in a lifetime relationship and think of your partner's family as in-laws, and want them to do the same, think about how you handle gifts and inheritances. Think about having each of your wills name faamily members on the other side as co-beneficiaries along with your own.
6. If you have unequal wealth, remember that there may be serious tax consequences to transferring assets between you. Speak to an expert planner or attorney.

He'll give you so much good information in this book, you're bound to be able to use some of it!