About the Author
Acknowledgments
You are in the right place! Get ready to become a clever girl investor!
How to use this book
Adjusting your mindset about investing
Why investing matters
Getting educated about investing
Women and the investment gap: Why it’s more important than ever for women in particular to invest
My investing story: The complete game-changer for my finances
How the stock market works
What is the stock market?
Stock exchanges in the U.S.
Indices and the stock market
The economy and the stock market
How the economy affects your portfolio
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jennifer “Jenny” Coombs
Core investing concepts: Inflation, compounding, & the rule of 72
Inflation
What causes inflation?
Inflation in the United States
Compounding
How compound interest works
The rule of 72
Compound interest, the rule of 72, and debt
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Cindy E. Zuniga
Preparing to invest
Key factors to ensure you’re prepared to invest
Setting your investment objectives
Understanding risk
Mitigating risk
The different types of stock market investments
Investing in stocks
Market capitalization & stocks
Investing in Bonds
What to know about bonds
Should you buy individual stocks and/or bonds?
Investing in funds
Index funds to win
The key benefits of index funds
Popular index funds
Researching your investments
Things to look for when researching investments
Extra Credit: More investing terms & definitions
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Adeola Omole
Where and how to purchase your investments
Brokerage firms and robo-advisors
Working with a financial advisor
Practicing with simulation accounts
Trading vs. investing
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jully-Alma Taveras
Investing for retirement
Types of retirement investment accounts
What to do when you leave your employer
Tips to maximize your retirement investments
Are you saving enough?
Investing during retirement
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Faneisha “Fo” Alexander
Simple investing strategies
The 3-fund portfolio investing strategy
Alternative investing strategies: The 1-fund, 2-fund, 4-fund, and 5-fund portfolios
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Jamila Souffrant
Keeping your investments on target
How does rebalancing work?
When to rebalance your portfolio
A common rule of thumb: 100 minus your age
How often should you rebalance your portfolio?
Target-date funds, robo-advisors and portfolio rebalancing
Letting go of a losing investment
The deal with taxes
Income tax and capital gains tax
Tax losses
Minimizing your tax obligation
Investing mistakes and pitfalls to avoid
Key investing mistakes and how to avoid them
Clever Girl Investor: Meet Regina Byrd
In closing
Takeaways to remember
Index