Investor's Library

Review of
The Secret Keys to Smart Investing: Simple Strategic Rules to Diversify and Maximize Your Investment

By Russell R. Wasendorf, Jr.

Reviewed by Karris Golden, Vice President, Traders Press, Inc.

When investors are leery, hucksters come teeming from the woodwork.

They offer every manner of "get rich quick" and "cancel your debt" scheme imaginable.

Believe the hype, and you'll find yourself with an expensive, "no fail" plan to avoid paying your taxes, mortgage and / or credit card debt. For a "low fee", they'll make all your dreams come true.

The reality is simple -- and obvious: Education, hard work and ongoing study are the only real ways to create your own financial security.

However, I have noticed that the cacophony of chattering phonies can make it tough to hear the soothing tones of reliable advisors.

In Secret Keys, Wasendorf doesn't make impossible, empty promises. A leading investment educator and author, Wasendorf is widely recognized as one of the financial industry's leading experts on international markets, full-service and online brokerages, electronic trade execution and clearing, futures commission merchant operations, and the foreign currency markets. This vast expertise has made him a sought-after speaker for conferences and seminars across the globe.

Wasendorf says emphatically that achieving investment success is tough -- and fun. The premise of Secret Keys reminds us that the "investment world is ever-changing," as he writes in the foreword.

We have a lot of choices, which increases the possibilities. Whether you're a beginner wishing to dip a toe in the pool or plunge in head first, "education is key".

Wasendorf delivers that education, offering basic, intermediate and advanced explanations of terms and modern investment tools, outlining the choices and possible goals.

Secret Keys has plenty to offer the long-time investor, too. That's because the "secret" is to keep learning. Following an in-depth primer, Wasendorf delves into improving, enhancing and evolving the ways in which you can diversify your portfolio across unrelated asset classes. He also includes suggestions for reducing volatility and increasing returns.

Secret Keys is a fast read. Its momentum comes from Wasendorf's conversational writing style. (He's a lot like that super-smart friend who seems able to easily explain any topic.) A novice will quickly understand complex concepts while seasoned investors will view such topics with renewed enthusiasm.

Although you can zip quickly through Secret Keys, I recommend giving it a second and third look. Then, place it on your shelf among the reference books you consult when you need to focus or "refresh" your outlook.

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