Understanding investing : demystifying the options

via GIPHY

Have you ever wondered how to go about investing in order to increase your wealth?  

Do you want to better understand the share market?  What are the risks of property investment? Are you wondering if your Kiwisaver could perform better?
Does understanding this  it all seem too hard?

The last couple of years have seen a number of new books released on or about the sharemarket and other investment opportunities.  In this week’s business blog we’ve compiled a listing of some of the Wellington City Library resources that can help you better understand your investment options.  

Earlier this year Wellington’s own online investment platform, Sharesies, released a book aimed at those new to investing.

The Sharesies guide to investing : your roadmap to financial freedom / Roberts, Brooke
“The easy way to start investing in shares – whether you have $5 or $50,000 to invest Online investing platform Sharesies has revolutionised the way everyday people invest. Since its beginning in 2017, thousands of new investors – often with just a bit of spare cash – have joined the platform to start their journey toward financial empowerment. With low fees and the choice to invest from as little as $1, Sharesies has broken down the barriers that once priced ordinary people out of the share market. But for many, the knowledge barrier still exists. How to start, what to invest in, and how much – figuring this stuff out can feel overwhelming. The Sharesies Guide to Investing aims to help you answer these questions, and gain the confidence you need to take the first step on your own investing journey. Through easy-to-digest information, jargon-busting investing speak, and stories from Sharesies investors, you’ll learn how to make the most of investing in shares (while staying true to your values) and discover how investing can help you secure your financial future.” (Catalogue)  Also available in Large Print format

Also aimed at the New Zealand investor are a series of books by writer, investor and entrepreneur, Lisa Dudson:

Good with money : 8 simple steps to ditch your debts, grow your savings and live your best life / Dudson, Lisa
“An 8-step plan for getting to grips with your finances and achieving financial freedom-no matter how big or small your goals and no matter how rocky the market (or your current financial situation) might be. These simple steps have helped Lisa’s clients save money, pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and live their best lives. Good with Money introduces a realistic, achievable, and empowering alternative to get-rich-quick and over-complicated money management systems. With helpful checklists, worksheets, a tool kit of resources, Good with Money sets out clear short-term actions that lead to long-term goals. Lisa’s message is it doesn’t matter how much you earn, it’s what you do with your money that matters. And it’s never too late to become good with money and have a financially free life.-back cover.” (Catalogue)

The New Zealand money guide : all you need to know about becoming financially secure / Dudson, Lisa
“Over the last two decades I have personally seen thousands of people make enormous progress with their money and go on to create financial freedom for themselves. This book aims to help you understand financial principals so you, too, can make your hard-earned money work much better in the future. The New Zealand Money Guide is an essential resource for all things money. It’s simple and easy to follow and is full of practical advice to help you create the financial freedom to live the life you desire. This book will help you: get clear on what is important to you in life become more aware and mindful of how you spend your money create positive and helpful money beliefs have a good understanding of how to manage your money understand the risks you may face and how to manage them set achievable financial goals feel less stressed about money make a plan to pay off any debts you have create more money and grow your wealth safely, and most importantly, become confident about managing and growing your finances–Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The New Zealand property guide : everything you need to know about investing in residential property : plus how 10 Kiwis made their fortunes / Dudson, Lisa
“The New Zealand Property Guide is a great resource for both those considering property for the first time and those that have been investing for a while. There are many things that help an investor increase their chances of success.” (Catalogue)

 

Resources by finance journalist Mary Holm will also be of interest:

 A richer you : how to make the most of your money / Holm, Mary
“Bestselling author and New Zealand’s most trusted financial expert on how to make your money work in the real world We live in uncertain times. But this need not affect how you can make the most of your money. New Zealand’s most trusted money expert, Mary Holm, is here to guide you. Shares vs property, timing the markets, relationship issues, following your dreams, house prices, index funds, KiwiSaver, mortgages, helping out the kids… how much will be enough for retirement? Mary has it covered. This is a book for everyone – from the overly cautious savings champion, to the cash-strapped first-home buyer, to the enthusiastic new share market investor. Drawing on the many hundreds of letters written to her by concerned Kiwis over the last few years, Mary shows us how our money can work for us, in the real world.” (Catalogue)  Also available in EBook Libby format

In magazine format we offer:

New Zealand property investor
“The New Zealand Property investor magazine provides readers with information you can use to successfully invest in residential property. You can learn from the experts, read the stories of your fellow investors and keep up to date with the latest house prices and rental statistics.” (Catalogue)  Available through EMagazine Libby platform

The New Zealand investment magazine Informed investor is available in hard copy at WCL’s Karori branch but may be borrowed by placing a reserve.

From an international perspective we have:
Don’t stress, just invest : it’s time to set up your investments and get on with your life / Renehan, Alec
“Investing doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Read this book, set up your investments, and get on with your life. This book will give you the knowledge to set it up and the confidence for why it is enough. Forget what you think about investing. Technology has made the wealth-building power of the stock market more accessible than ever. You can now get started with just a few cents. Leading investment podcasters Alec Renehan and Bryce Leske cut to the chase in Don’t Stress, Just Invest. They show you the absolute simplest way to invest in the stock market and explain why this straightforward, automated strategy is enough. In four easy steps, you can access the full power of the stock market, then get on with the rest of your life.” (Catalogue)

The anxious investor : mastering the mental game of investing / Nations, Scott
“A revelatory new guide to building wealth amidst stock market crashes and uncertain economic conditions, drawing upon financial modeling, behavioral psychology, and market history to offer practical advice to everyday investors. Investing is scary… Scott Nations has spent his career studying market volatility. His firm, NationsShares, is the world’s leading independent developer of volatility and option-enhanced indexes. In The Anxious Investor, he teaches listeners how to understand the markets, master their own fear, and make the most of their money. In the first half of the book, Nations offers a quick, compelling rundown of the worst financial crashes in American history, focusing on their causes, the recovery, and the lessons each holds for today’s investors. Interwoven with these stories are fascinating cutting-edge insights into investor psychology: What makes investing so scary? What can behavioral science teach us about overcoming our “lizard brain,” which is notorious for making poor financial decisions? What can help us stay the course when the waters get choppy? In the book’s second section, Nations offers a roadmap that any investor can follow, with practical, easy-to-understand advice to help guide readers through the three different types of market conditions (normal, crash/bear market, recovery). Whether you’re just starting out on your journey to financial literacy or are looking for an investing book to take you to the next level, The Anxious Investor is an invaluable resource.” (Catalogue)

Simple but not easy : a practitioner’s guide to the art of investing / Oldfield, Richard
“Described by the author as “a slightly autobiographical and heavily biased book about investing”, Simple But Not Easy won fans among both professional and private investors alike when first released in 2007. The theme of the book is that investment is simpler than non-professionals think it is, in that the rudiments can be expressed in ordinary English and picked up by anybody. It is not a science. But investment is also difficult. People on the outside tend to think that anyone on the inside should be able to do better than the market indices. This is not so. Picking the managers who are likely to do better is a challenge. Richard Oldfield begins with a detailed confession of some of his worst mistakes and what they have taught him. He discusses the different types of investment, why fees matter, and the importance of measuring performance properly. He also outlines what to look for (and what not to look for) in an investment manager, when to fire a manager, and how to be a successful client. A cult classic for its candid confessions and sparkling wit, this extended edition of Simple But Not Easy – featuring a new author’s preface and a substantial afterword – remains an indispensable companion for all those interested in the rewarding but enigmatic pursuit of investing.” (Catalogue) Available as Ebook only

Experts versus the evidence : a practical guide to stock investing / Cai, Charlie X
Experts Versus the Evidence: A Practical Guide to Stock Investing brings together the ideas and successes of experts and the potential of data to give readers the opportunity to learn from the best and to put their insights into practice. Readers will learn two important aspects of financial investment: first, the formulation of investment philosophies; second, how to test and implement data-driven investment strategies on one of the most popular professional, financial, digital platforms. While this book is concerned with the lessons to be learnt from investment experts, it is also interested in presenting relevant evidence on the various investment approaches (i.e. what could have been achieved by a specific approach over recent years). A companion website will host supporting material such as links to key information about the experts, s elected updated investment screening results of the strategies described in the book, investment and Bloomberg technical quizzes, additional discussion of style/factor investing which has been inspired by the experts and information about investment competitions.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Investing with She’s on the Money : build your future wealth / Devine, Victoria
“Everything you need to know to get started investing and building your future wealth with financial advisor Victoria Devine, creator of the She’s on the Money podcast.” (Catalogue)

 

 

The ethical Investor : how to quit toxic companies and grow your wealth / Haddow, Nicole
“Is the money in your bank account helping to fund the fossil fuel and tobacco industries? Do you know which companies your superannuation is invested in? Want to put your money where your ethics are but have no idea where to start? Journalist Nicole Haddow is passionate about financial freedom, but as an investment novice she wants to find out – is it possible to grow wealth while also doing your bit for the planet and its population? In The Ethical Investor, Nicole guides us through the steps she takes to ensure her hard-earned cash isn’t going straight into the pockets of toxic companies. She reassesses what her money currently contributes to and seeks ways to make her strategies greener, chatting with industry experts on everything from superannuation and shares to neo banks and apps to help you get started in micro-investing. Nicole shares the necessary changes she is making to have a superannuation account that’s investing in ethical organisations, a share portfolio on a limited budget with investments in a range of growing sustainable businesses and a strategy for making her home more sustainable. And now you can too!” (Catalogue)

The Ulysses contract : how to never worry about the share market again / Kemp, Michael
“Avoid share market traps and create a watertight plan for long-term investment success. Most of us know the Greek myth of Ulysses. He made a pact with his ship’s crew ordering them to block their ears with wax and tie him to the mast of the ship while they steered past an island inhabited by mythological creatures called Sirens. This story inspired the term ‘Ulysses Contract’, which is a commitment device that helps us to build and maintain good habits and decisions despite future temptations. In The Ulysses Contract, Michael Kemp uses the Ulysses analogy to warn of the ‘sirens’ that tempt investors to part with their money and demonstrates how to put in place a successful investment plan that embodies discipline, consistency, and patience. Written with masterful storytelling that expertly explains complex investment concepts, you will learn how to:-avoid get-rich-quick temptations – think cryptocurrency and day trading-learn from the lessons of history – it’s NOT different this time-develop a long term, low-risk investing strategy. Armed with this knowledge you will become empowered to make sound investment decisions and obtain your own slice of financial freedom. Whether that means spending time with friends and family, helping your children achieve their life goals or dispensing of debt, The Ulysses Contract demonstrates just how remarkably easy it can be for anyone to develop into a capable and successful investor.” (Catalogue) Also available as Ebook Libby

Balance : how to invest and spend for happiness, health, and wealth / Hallam, Andrew
“In this illuminating guide to living a financially healthier and happier life, bestselling author and finance journalist Andrew Hallam demonstrates how you can optimize your income for maximum happiness by investing responsibility and living according your values. He shows you how to enjoy life more and stress less, and use money to care for the environment and help your children succeed–while defining “success” in a way that works for you. Drawing on behavioral science and evidence-based investing, he shows you how to start framing success in a way that actually brings happiness, not stress, into your life. Balance results when your money, connection, health, and purpose are all aligned.”–Page [4] of cover.” (Catalogue)

Making money made simple! : the ultimate guide to finance and investment in the 21st Century / Whittaker, Noel
“The most successful and influential of all Noel’s books and one that truly needs no introduction. Making Money Made Simple illustrates the essentials of money, investment, borrowing and personal finance in a way that only Noel knows how. This is the book that smashed sales records and sold over a million copies around the world. It stayed on the bestsellers list for a record nine years, and was voted in the Top 100 of the Most Influential Books of the 20th Century. This latest edition has been updated to include the most recent superannuation legislation, current figures (for tax, housing, interest rates and investments), as well as the latest sharemarket information.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.