The generation that grew up with Reaganomics, Tom Wolfe's "Masters of the Universe," and that quintessential capitalist, Gordon Gekko of the movie "Wall Street," has come of age. Whether they are in college, coping with their first real jobs and independent incomes, or on the brink of starting a family, many young adults are awakening to the fact that paying attention to money is not just for the old, the rich, and the famous. Fortunately for them, Jonathan Hoenig got his wake-up call a little earlier. As a childhood owner of a few profitable shares of Boeing stock, Hoenig became fascinated with the notion of making money without actually doing anything. Now 23 years old and a trader on the Chicago Board of Trade, Hoenig shares his investment insights on the radio program, "Capitalist Pig," broadcast throughout the Midwest, and brings the voice of a new generation to NPR's nationally aired "Marketplace" every month. In Greed is Good: The Capitalist Pig Guide to Investing, Hoenig takes readers on a hip, no b.s. trip through the money maze, showing his cohorts how to "get rich slowly" and have fun while doing it. Addressing people who have amassed some cash for the first time in their lives -- and offering great tips on getting with the program for those who have some catching up to do -- he explains the nuts and bolts of various financial instruments and how to make the best use of them for both short (one-to-five year) and long-term goals. He proves that with a little bit of planning, knowledge of the basics, and the passage of time, anyone can be a master of their own universe. In a lively text, sprinkled with wry references to pop culture (think Love Boat, The Go Go's, and The Gap), bits of financial history, helpful definitions, and off-beat asides, Hoenig presents the "pig pyramid"'a model for structuring a diversified investment portfolio. Taking into account current resources, on-going risks (and risk-tolerance), and future rewards, he clarifies the advantages and disadvantages of each level of investment -- from cash and cash equivalents like money market funds that form the base of the pyramid representing no risk and low return, to the slightly riskier bonds, to the justly popular stocks, which "hold the distinction of having the highest return of any asset class over time." Placing his own "addiction" -- derivatives (options and futures) -- in the "nosebleed section of our Mt. McKinley of money," Hoenig warns that "these supercharged speculations offer the opportunity for either outsized gains or a financial ass-whooping you'll never forget." Hoenig draws on his extensive experience and his thorough understanding of both the ins-and-outs of the markets and the proclivities of his own generation to turn a potentially dry subject into a practical, entertaining read. Readers will learn: Why every investment choice carries some risk, whether it's the stock market or supposedly "safe" bank accounts or certificates of deposit How to get the best possible deal on cash products'from saving accounts to CDs to money market accounts How to distinguish between quality and "junk" in the bond market Why "passively managed" bond and stock mutual funds are a better bet than their actively managed counterparts Why stocks should comprise the largest percentage of an investment portfolio Which stock indexes provide the best measure of what the market is up to How to determine when its time get out of an investment How to play with the big boys and trade options and futures without losing the proverbial farm

Deciding what has ultimate worth is up to every individual. It might be a T-Bill or a T-Bird; an ardent campaign for political change or an amorous adventure on a Caribbean isle; a Harley in the driveway or a Harvard grad in the family room. But the plain truth is "greed is good" Usual library markings (stamped outside pages and inside front page.)

 Harper Business 0-88730-984-4 / 9780887309847
Soft Cover Good New York Ex-Library 

Price: 19.60 USD