Early Financial Education
The First Book of Investing
I was a beginner in high school so the "beginner's guide" seemed like a great start!
A comprehensive primer for all things related to investing.
Maybe they should have let me read this in school instead of wood burning my name into a piece of wood.
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
Timeless advice by Malkiel that is required reading for anyone buying individual stocks. There is a reason this book cover shows a dart thrown at the stock pages.
Where I first learned how impossible it is to be a long term winner by "picking winners." A great read about mob mentality. For example, in Holland in the 1600s, people started to value tulips at more and more astounding rates. In fact the most sought after tulips went for the price of a mansion along the Amsterdam Grand Canal! Then they crashed to near zero.
People ALWAYS think the next fad is different and can continue indefinitely. Whether electric cars, artificial intelligence, crypto - all waves of excitement eventually grossly overvalue the investment's worth and come back to earth.
Are you SURE you are getting in on the ground floor? Is it possible by the time you read about the latest fad online that it's already overvalued and you are buying near the highs?
Wall Street Journal-Money and Investing
Colorful, easy to read and came with 2 weeks of the Wall Street Journal! I found these in B. Dalton Bookstores (rest in peace) when I was a junior in high school (mid 90s, cough). All books should explain their subjects in such a fun and exciting format.
WSJ - Personal Finance
I learned more about personal finance from this book than anything they taught in high school.
It kept me from signing up for free t-shirts at the credit card vendors who would set up tables around the college campus.
WSJ - Financial Future
Focused on retirement planning before I even entered the workforce.
In this book I learned who was issued Medicare card No. 1. Harry Truman!
Medical Insurance has changed JUST A BIT since this book was published.