The Graduate's Guidebook to Creating Wealth and Financial Freedom While Navigating Life's Illusions (ePub)

Any era can be described as "uncertain", but this one more than most. Many"things" of value aren't as solid as we thought. Jobs vanish, even fromprofitable companies. College tuitions rise faster than a parent can save.An offer of early retirement may carry the subliminal message "take it orelse". And, after September 11th, we dare not count on being totally safe.Yet neither can we put our lives on hold. Our days progress toward personalgoals that are deeply held and widely shared: to enjoy our work and ourhomes; raise and educate our children and grandchildren, and provide for ourfutures. We hope to improve our standard of living and secure our olderage. We have choices to make about when to borrow, what to save, and whereto invest. A shiver of doubt may urge more caution than we felt a few yearsago. But life can be long and assumptions change. In good years, we shouldbuild safety nets, in case our prospects take a turn. In bad years, weshould be laying plans for the better times that lie ahead.This book was designed to help find a balance point between safety andenterprise, to address our fears without putting limits on our hopes. It'sa step-by-step system for being responsible for your own lifestyle andfinancial planning. By working with these chapters one by one, you willmaster the fundamentals of money, build a base to keep you and your familysafe, then begin to accumulate the kinds of investments that best suit yourage, goals and circumstances. Don't hesitate to make these decisions byyourself. The chief difference between you and a professional planner isinformation. This book, I hope, will close that gap. Some of the detailswill change over the years that you use this information, but the broadprinciples of personal finance will stay the same: save money, borrowintelligently, invest for growth.