I think this is a GREAT post. Investing is a very important subject matter that is often over looked by many young professionals, especially those just starting their careers. One suggestions that I would have is to start investing in your 401k as early as you can. Most companies will match up to 3% of your 401k contributions (YES – free money from your company). You will appreciate the law of compounding when you look at the value of your retirement plan in 30 years (given the stock/bond market remains efficient).

I understand that not all readers have the ability to contribute to a 401k because they are self-employed. Regardless of your retirement plan, START INVESTING EARLY, it will pay great dividends in the future.

Thanks,
Tim

I took the test, and this was my result.

“Your data suggest little to no automatic preference between European American and African American.”

As it happens, I’m reading The Intelligent Investor right now. The original edition. Then I’ll read “Rule #1″.

Why invest in markets at all if you own a business to invest in? I believe that Warren Buffet says that diversification makes very little sense if you know what you are doing.

Overall, your chosen investment education program seems a little hyperactive for my tastes. I’m not sure what Warren Buffett can tell you about managing your own money that a reputable financial advisor couldn’t, especially considering that said advisor will probably know a lot more about your personal circumstances than Buffett ever will. I’d also be careful of taking market advice from investment bankers (look how that worked out for them) or “exclusive” money-managers-to-the-stars (one word: Madoff). Instead, I’d recommend reading a couple books on the subject. Burton Malkiel and John Bogle both have some excellent ones available. It’s not as sexy as talking to billionaires and celebrities, but as Ramit Sethi likes to say, there’s a world of difference between being sexy and being rich.

One last thing: Patrick Clark’s comment about absolute returns is oddly phrased and worth examining closely. No money manager ever wants to lose their client’s money, and they would all love to produce “absolute returns” regardless of market conditions. Yet the fact remains that investing is inherently risky, and only a vanishingly tiny handful of money managers manage to consistently outperform the market averages, let alone never lose money (and it’s conceivable they’re just the lucky ones). Just because you’re “not interested” in telling your client he lost money doesn’t mean he won’t lose it, as many hedge fund investors have had the chance to learn in the last few years. Remember: risk drives return, and there is no magic bullet that will net you 8% a year after taxes and fees, or at least there isn’t anymore now that Madoff is out of business.