C. Andrew Millard
1 A son's opinion
I haven't actually read this book, but this C. Andrew Millard, he's great, except when he grounds me, and even then he's doing it for a good reason.
2 Adopt and Enjoy
Andy Millard provides sound, common sense advice to help investors acheive long-term success without the associated stress. Using simple tips such as turing off CNBC and resisting the temptation to time the market, he educates and advises the reader in developing a more serious, disciplined and prudent process to investing. His numerous personal anecdotes from years in the industry make this book fun and easy to read.
In my twenty plus years as a financial advisor, this is one of the best books for the individual investor I've come across. Anyone interested in improving their investment performance and quality of life via reduced stress should read this book. As Andy says, adopt and enjoy the attitude of a Low-Stress investor.
3 Low-Stress is Good Stress
I have been in the financial business for the past 15 years working the past 8 for one of the largest mutual fund companies in the world. I have read many books on asset management, but have yet to read one that targets the investor who is looking for a simple yet practical why of managing their financial picture as well as this one does. This book hits the mark, and could not have come at a better time. I particularly like the way Mr. Millard deals with topics such as asset diversification. He uses great analogies to bring it all together, and offers great advice on others who can help with the process. Mr. Millard does a great job of bringing it all together in an easy yet necessary read for of us looking to make sense of it all.
4 Now I can manage my portfolio
After reading "Low Stress Investing" it took me less than an hour to re-allocate my portfolio. I had been putting it off and "stressing" over it while waiting for the market to come back. The book is very easy to read and will help anyone that does not have a grasp on investing. The author starts by building an understanding of the markets, investments, and finaly building your balanced portfolio. I meet people everyday that are worried and do not know what to do with their 401K alliocations, now I know where to send them for insight, "Low Stress Investing"
5 A Writer's Recommendation
As a freelance writer specializing in copywriting for book covers (yes, I wrote the cover copy for this book) I have read MANY "how to" investment books. Low-Stress Investing is simply the best book of its kind that I have read. This book shines in many ways: it is clearly organized, provides a wealth of insight without overwhelming the reader, and is unique in providing common-sense asset allocation/diversity guidelines that anyone can use right now. It's just the tonic for today's gut-wrenching economic climate.
6 A Must Read for Every Investor
Finally I have found a book that clearly articulates the how an average investor - like myself - can create an investment portfolio which will acheive their long-term financial goals and objectives (without the everyday second guessing). Andy Millard has put together this book so that you can quickly pick up the steps for prudent/rational investment decision making. I wish this book had been around in 1999!
I am going to give a copy of this book to my financial advisor and see that he adopts Andy's principals. If he doesn't, I'll be looking for a new advisor shortly.
7 Well done, as far as it goes
Well-written, well-researched, and attractively packaged, Low-Stress Investing advises you, in a friendly and encouraging manner, to diversify your portfolio. The author, an investment advisor, argues in favor of using an investment advisor (surprise!) -- but not in a way that detracts from his clear discussion of investment vehicles and strategy. If you're not clear on what comprises a diversified portfolio, not exactly sure what things like "convertibles" are, or feel a little stressed with your investment picture, you'll find this a useful read.
"Keeping Money In Perspective," "Myths of Traditional Investing," and "Stuck on Stocks" provide well-grounded and refreshing insights to counteract the anxiety exuded by the well-oiled machinery of Wall Street and Madison Avenue. Later chapters detail specific asset classes and give advice for allocating assets among equity ("ownership"), bonds ("loanership"), and cash.
This is a good book for inexperienced (and trusting) investors, and will help them focus and evaluate their investments. But if you harbor lingering doubts about the integrity of the stock market, mutual fund industry, real estate and the dollar, you'll probably decide this isn't the last book you need to read on the subject.
8 Wish the book was available 4 years ago
I have been an investor almost fifty years. I wish this book had been available when I started out. The book gives an excellent insight into an individual's true goals for investing, and how to successfully achieve them without the distractions of hype, politics and the media data/frenzy/overload. It makes one look at what they really wish to achieve. You don't have to be a financial genius, a gambler or a constant worrier to be sucessful. The book presents a logical planning system, where you still remain in control of your finances, but without the sleepless nights and chewed fingernails that have been a huge part of our daily routine the past few years. It should be required reading for all initial investors. It is a must for those near or in retirement.
I wish I could have read this book in 1999. I would be much happier now.
If I had been able to read this book fifty years ago, I might be sitting on my private Carribean island right now too.
9 Relief from financial mumbo-jumbo
When most people think about a book on anything financial, especially investments, they expect a lot of lingo straight from Wall Street. This book is completely different! Extremely well-written and full of practial advice, the book gives a step-by-step plan for building an investment package that requires minimal maintenance. This is not formula investing, however; the book shows readers how to evaluate their current position and investment thinking to tailor a portfolio to meet his or her needs, and obtain the goal of enjoying life instead of worrying about money. All of this is done using everyday language and terminology -- while defining key concepts to enhance comprehension -- so that the book provides a solid framework for those of us without a master's degree in finance.
10 A Good Starting Point for a Late-Life Investor
I have just retired after thirty years of public school service. I am able to draw my full retirement and contiue to work and draw my regular pay. It is the first time this poor school teacher has had money to invest. Low Stress Investing was a great guide to my beginning to grow my money. Simple and easy for a novice to understand. Thanks Andrew C. Millard
11 Laid-back Portfolio
Since I am a low-stress investor already, my interest in this book was to see if I was doing it right. The first 100 pages is educational, explaining to the novice what the investment world is all about. The last 40 pages outline the 10 steps of successfully removing the stress of managing one's nestegg. Simply stated it says pick an honest advisor, select an asset allocation, pick the appropriate Mutual Funds, invest your money, then go on a cruise or practice your lob wedges. In other words, quit worrying and stop reading the financials; they don't help anyway.
I have one bit of advice for the author. Turn off CNN and tune in to Fox News. This will help further reduce the stress in his life.
In summary, this small book gives excellent advice, especially for those of us who are retired and have reason to protect our IRA's while enjoying what time we have left. I am comforted in knowing that Low-Stress Investing is the "Road Best Traveled".
12 Laid-back Portfolio
Since I am a low-stress investor already, my interest in this book was to see if I was doing it right. The first 100 pages is educational, explaining to the novice what the investment world is all about. The last 40 pages outline the 10 steps of successfully removing the stress of managing one's nestegg. Simply stated it says pick an honest advisor, select an asset allocation, pick the appropriate Mutual Funds, invest your money, then go on a cruise or practice your lob wedges. In other words, quit worrying and stop reading the financials; they don't help anyway.
I have one bit of advice for the author. Turn off CNN and tune in to Fox News. This will help further reduce the stress in his life.
In summary, this small book gives excellent advice, especially for those of us who are retired and have reason to protect our IRA's while enjoying what time we have left. I am comforted in knowing that Low-Stress Investing is the "Road Best Traveled".
13 At last, the search is over!
As the owner of a Financial Planning and Wealth Management firm in the Midwest, we are often asked by clients and others for the recommendation of a book that is basic enough, but embraces the philosophical tenet of our firm: "An informed consumer is a successful investor." Well, this book sums it up for us! We are now recommending it alongside David Chilton's classic "The Wealthy Barber" (which is an even more basic primer on general financial principals). C. Andrew Millard has done for investing and portfolio management what Chilton did for basic savings strategies years ago. Low-Stress Investing is now required reading for every new client and seminar attendee throughout our area, and ought to be on the top of every investor's must read list! Andy has taken the often perplexing principals of portfolio management and made them simple to understand and much less confusing for every investor, from those beginning to those now licking their wounds. Great job, Andy - looking for the next one - "Low-Stress Living : Ten Simple Steps to a Worry-Free Life"!
14 Finally, A Book that I can Understand!
I can't recommend this book highly enough for the early investor looking for a place to start! More importantly, this book is an absolute must read for every Federal Employee making decisions regarding the Federal Thrift Savings Plan as a part of their retirement. Andy Millard dispenses with the normal investment jargon that in the past has made me feel grossly inadequate to understand the topic. Finally, investing information has been presented in a thorough and simple way so that, even as a layman, I feel I can completely participate in my investments whether I make them myself or through an advisor. While I have never considered myself and investor, this well-written book made me aware that most of us are in fact making investments in one form or another and we had better have some understanding of how it all works.
As a Federal Civil Service employee, I participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan as a part of my retirement savings. Thrift Savings operates much like traditional 401K plans do in private industry, and it can be very intimidating for the uneducated investor. "Low Stress Investing" gave me strong information without overwhelming me. After reading this book, I was able to confidently decide how to best apportion my Thrift Savings contribution and allow my retirement savings to work for me. I now have the courage to let go of the ledge and balance the risk in my retirement plan. I talk to co-workers every day that settle for the lowest return on their Thrift Savings in order to maintain the lowest risk, simply because they don't understand the concepts of balanced risk that Andy Millard so expertly explains in this book.
"Low Stress Investing" is a down to earth well-written book. The honesty and passion for the subject conveyed by the author is like a breath of fresh air in a hard sell society where scoundrels and skeptics abound. Try it - you'll love it!
15 Wisdom For Wise Investing
After reading this clearly written book on financial investing, I immediately bought four copies to give to our children who are just beginning to plan their financial futures. As one who has read many books on investing, subscribed numerous financial periodicals as varied as the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and Money Magazine, and listened to the numerous television guru's make their financial predictions, I found this book the most sane and common sense book on investing that I have ever read. If my children take this wisdom to heart, they will profit.
Andrew Millard took a risk in letting us know of his learning curve on becoming a financial advisor. Thus, he exposes us to his struggles with the great myths of investing like market gurus' or inerrant predictions or relying on stocks alone or trusting all to brokers. As he learned to help his clients, he increasingly came to appreciate the power of diversification or what is known as asset allocation. If people can learn to balance their assets among diverse instruments of investment, they can ride out depressions, recessions, and uncertain times. Thus, they can invest stress free from the day by day worry over the ups and downs of the financial market.
What is particularly helpful, especially to the novice in asset allocation, is the discussion of the various tools of investment including small, large, and medium stocks, stock indexes, real estate investments, commodities, bonds, and mutual funds. Each type of asset has strengths and weaknesses; the key is in the balance. Millard's skillful presentation of the value of a professional financial advisor in assisting you to balance your portfolio on the basis of a fee rather than a commission for sales is insightful. If you are a serious investor or a novice, by reading this book I believe you will be enlightened with new wisdom for wise, worry-free, and profitable investing.
16 Everyman's Guide to Sane Investing
Andy Millard shows us how to bring sanity to the matter of managing our investment portfolios. In these times of sinking equity markets, information overload and the resulting anxiety and confusion,Mr. Millard fills a real need to bring some order and perspective into play. Using sound basics and fundamentals, he presents investing in a way that allows us to incorporate it smoothly into our lives rather than letting it overwhelm our time and energies. He is realistic; he offers no miracles. However, he does leave the reader with a confidence that investing can be dealt with in a calm, controlled fashion, relatively free of stress and worry. This fast, easy read will be particularly helpful for the investor who has lost his/her way and needs a fresh start. It would be ideal for the novice investor.
17 The Perfect "How To" for investing
This book is an "easy read" both in the style and description of the financial terminology. I found it to be an eye opener for me, as I don't consider myself market savvy. By keeping the concepts simple and non-threatening, he helps make his theories on investment strategies make sense to the "beginner" investor. I'd recommend this book for anyone who has been reluctant to begin investing because they're unsure of what's out there, and overwhelmed by the magnitude of possiblilties, or for someone who's already gotten their feet wet but may be questioning the direction their investments are going. Another reason to recommend it is the way Andy strives to keep the human element in his recommendations, both for potential clients, or independent single investors - all too often the financial world is intimidating, with all the terminology, statistics, etc. - Andy has found a way to strip away the traditional approach and find out what is important for the investor and work to achieve their goals. I'd highly recommend this book.
18 A Gem
Andy Millard is a close personal friend of mine. Actually, you will find my name in his Acknowledgements. Andy has assembled and offers a wealth of useful information.
Whether you are a retiree struggling with substantial holdings or a younger person trying to get a grip on this subject perhaps for the first time, here is an easy-to-read and understanable approach to investing. His book also serves as a roadmap you can use as suits your particular circumstance.
I found Andy's treatment of asset classes especially helpful and enlightening. I highly recommend his little gem of a book.
19 Investing, Easy to Understand
I have read Low Stress Investing, and found it to be very informative!! Mr. Millard makes things clear and easy to understand.
Gives good examples to follow, just good advice.
20 A Great Book, With a Timely Topic
Since 1990, I have been in the business of providing investment advice to clients. My job could be made much easier if my clients read this book! It is written in a manner that the lay person can understand and relate to. It shows readers how they can properly diversify their portfolio and invest with less risk and stress.
From my 20+ years of experience, I can assure you that anyone who followed Mr. Millard's easy to implement strategies over the past three years would have experienced significantly less bear market losses than the typical investor going at it without his advice.
Finally, I unabashedly admit that I picked up several insightful ideas from the book that I am currently using with my own clients. From one professional to another, I say "Thank you!"
21 Low Stress Investing
Being in the financial industry for over 7 years I've had the opportunity to read an amazing amount of books on finance over the years. I can honestly say that reading Low Stress Investing was not only extreemely difficult to put down, but it has a no nonsense approach to telling it as it is. Many books add a lot of fluff and bells and whistles to it, but this book was very easy to read and its ideas quite interesting. I can only compare this book to one of my other all time favorites, One Up On Wall Street which was written by one of the best money managers of the 20th century. I strongly recommend this book to anyone from high school students to college professors. Its a MUST Buy!!
22 Low-Stress Investing: 10 Simple Steps to a Worry-Free Portfo
I bought Low-Stress Investing because I find decision making on investments very stressful. This is a great book for people who don't have a lot of experience in investing. It is also full of good philosophy for the seasoned investors. In this world of high stress and garbled information, this book is a diamond in the rough with simple straight forward ideas. I recommend it highly.
23 Brotherly Love?
"Low-Stress Investing" is a great book . This book has made it possible for me to understand a topic I never thought I would be able to comprehend let alone profit from. You see, I am the author's (Andy Millard's) older brother. Growing up, I never much listened to what he had to say. I see now that I would have had much better financial stability had I taken time to hear some of his wisdom sooner. I am an educator and know little about investing and developing a portfolio. Taking the time to read this book has not only made me a better investor but has helped me to appreciate more fully the knowledge and wisdom of my brother. Brother or not, I would recommend "Low-Stress Investing: 10 Simple Steps to a Worry-Free Portfolio" by my brother Carl Andrew Millard for anyone that is interested in understanding more fully the world of finance.
24 Easy to read and understand complex material
After reading "Low-Stress Investing" I feel much more interested in my investments because I actually have some understanding of all the investment jargon. Mr. Millard puts it in language that the investment dummy can understand. He makes it enjoyable to read about large-cap funds, mutual funds, REITs (real estate investment trusts)and all those other investment terms that were always a mystery to me. The book is a quick, easy read and will serve as my resource when I forget what a commodity is.
But this book is about much more that explanations of investment terminology. This book is about forming an investment plan that will not cause a lot of stress to maintain - a plan that will not cause anxiety each time the market sneezes. He clearly spells out how to do this. This book is about how to plan your portfolio so that you can spent most of your time enjoying life. Mr. Millard clearly explains how to get your portfolio into the no-stress mode. Less anxiety - more time to have fun.
