All about Index Funds

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, to the point, logically explained
Review: I'm one of those people whose eyes glaze over when encountering numbers and financial data. This book is an excellent primer to index funds and explains the whole thing in a simple and concise way and my eyes didn't glaze over when reading it. Also, tips on investing are explained and enough tools provided that a novice can get started with a good understanding of the index fund market place. If you've been wondering about index funds and what to do about it, get this book.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of info.
Review: Loaded with more information than you ever wanted to know about Index Funds and the somewhat new ETFs. Well written and with a better editor than the last time around, this book is a must read for those who desire to know all there is to know about funds and which firms to invest with, (hint, Vanguard).

Rating:
Summary: Something old, something new
Review: Many of the details about indexing investments have been around for quite some time. This book is intended to be a primer on the subject, however there are numerous updates as well as individual insights that make this book worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Indexing Handbook
Review: The basic idea of an index mutual fund is that it mimics the long term returns of the market. It does so with less risk, more simply, with lower costs, and greater consistency than the much greater number of actively managed (and widely promoted) funds available to investors. Tracking the markets rather than attempting to outperform them may seem, in Ferri's words, like "watching grass grow", but consistency over a long period means superior returns and eliminates the black hole of underperformance. Recent books by Larry E. Swedroe, William Bernstein, Charles D. Ellis, and others make more detailed cases for using the index fund strategy, but ALL ABOUT INDEX FUNDS provides needed nitty-gritty information about the rationale and composition of many indexes from which to develop an appropriate investment strategy. The extraordinary growth of exchange traded funds (ETF) that track market, country, and sector indexes have introduced both flexibility and confusion to the choices that are available. Ferri does a good job of identifying the major index providers, what their indexes represent, the funds that track their movement, and the potential overlap and inefficiencies that result from mixing index providers. A student of modern portfolio theory (MPT), Ferri is an advocate of diversifying investments across several asset classes that respond a little differently at different times to reduce volatility and improve overall returns. It follows that the most important allocation decision is the percentage mix of stocks and bonds. In Chapter 15, "Designing Your Index Fund Portfolio", these allocation issues are tackled in some detail. Suffice to say a typical Ferri index portfolio may consist of some percentage of US stocks, foreign stocks, US bonds, and Real Estate Investment Trusts. This book is not long enough to adequately cover all the topics Ferri addresses, but it is an excellent starting point.

Rating:
Summary: One Stop Investing Guide
Review: This book is a very appropriate mix of theory and technical application. There are too many books that focus on one to the exclusion of the other. There were sound principles that every investor should be familiar with (whether or not you agree) and there are some very helpful practical advice on implementing the theories.
I think Passive, index fund investing is the ONLY way to properly invest. For those seeking more drama, I recommend dedicating no more than 10% of your portfolio to stock picking and timing or just send your money to me. In the end it will be the same result.
This book gives a great overview for a very serious approach to investing in Mutual Funds. I refer to it all the time. For the price of the book, I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Primer on Index Funds
Review: This...McGraw-Hill paperback will provide readers with a terrific return on their investment. Author Richard Ferri provides detailed information on all aspects of index funds as well as how to put together a rationale portfolio of index funds depending on your risk parameters.

This well organized easy to read 275-page book contains 16 chapters on everything you wanted to know about index funds, including:
- Different types of funds and their composition
All about exchange traded funds (ETFs), their features and advantages
Sector index funds, REIT index funds, Merrill Lynch HOLDRS
Global and international index funds
Bond index funds
Enhanced, leveraged and inverse index funds
Tax-advantaged index funds
- Indexes as benchmarks
- Advantages of index funds over standard mutual funds
- Comparison of index funds to actively managed funds for 5,10 and 20-year periods

Then Ferri details how to create your own customized index fund portfolio using an Internet server. He covers what you should realistically expect to earn from your portfolio based upon historical returns since 1950. Next, he reviews the critical subject of asset allocation and the necessity of having a diversified index portfolio that should be rebalanced each year.

Ferri provided guidance on defining your financial goals. He covers determining your future financial needs, developing your current earnings and earnings power, assigning asset allocation parameters, and then stress testing your bond and stock asset allocation. He provides a 5-step method to help determine your asset allocation (setting goals; making an inflation adjustment; determining a savings plan and required return; deciding on asset allocation; and assessing risk).

One chapter pinpoints how to design your index portfolio. He mentions that taxable and non-taxable portfolios should be managed differently. Ferri recommends a simple portfolio for a taxable account. He advises that more complex strategies be used in non-taxable accounts. Ferri illustrates a three-index portfolio and a high-income portfolio using REITs and High-Yield bonds.

The appendix contains a list of 28 low-cost index fund families with phone numbers, 14 useful investment advice and index fund websites, and 12 books about index funds. There is also a 9-page glossary and an 8-page index.

Overall, this book covers all the bases on index fund investing in an easy-to-read style. I highly recommend this book to investors who need to know about these very useful funds.