Stop the Investing Rip-Off by Loeper, David B. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Contents Title Copyright Dedication Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Major Brokerage Firms

We All Start Somewhere Are You the Prey of Such a Hunter? What You Need to Care about When Dealing with Brokers Why the Firm Isn’t All That Important Protecting Yourself Track Records Don’t Be Fooled

Chapter 2: Investment Advisers

A Cozy Relationship with You as the Third Wheel Why You Should Not Judge a Book by Its Cover Questions You Should Ask of Money Managers

Chapter 3: Hybrids—Advisory Services Provided through Brokerages

Beware of the Hidden Clause The Best Test for Adviser Objectivity

Chapter 4: Discount Brokers

Discount Brokers Are Sales Organizations, Too Bait and Switch Buyer Beware: Discount Brokers Encouraging “Churning” Questions to Ask to Get the Side of the Story You Don’t Hear

Chapter 5: Financial Planners and Wealth Managers

Peeling the Planner Onion Verify Registration

Chapter 6: The Financial Press

“Rule of Rules of Thumb” Questions to Consider about the Financial Press

Chapter 7: The Broadcast Media

Expert in Retrospect—Mind Games of Experts In Bed Together

Chapter 8: Authors, Self-Help Books, and Financial Celebrities

Financial Authors Financial Celebrities

Chapter 9: Mutual Funds and ETFs

Don’t Be Fooled by Fancy Charts Don’t Be Sold by Magicians Benchmarking, Star Ratings, and Peer Groups “Peers That Are Not”

Chapter 10: Insurance Agents (and Insurance Companies)

Cut Through the Hype How Much Is That Guarantee in the Window? Stealing Your Bucket List from You Emotions and Reason Avoid Needless Risk Equity Index Annuities—The Next Auction Rate Note Disaster? What Is Often Presented about Equity Index Annuities Raising the Concept of EIAs One Step Higher A Deeper Look at Why Insurance Companies Offer EIAs Questions to Ask Insurance Agents

Chapter 11: Your Company-Endorsed Retirement Plan Adviser

Chapter 12: Banks and Trust Companies

Don’t Trust Guarantees

Chapter 13: Software, Web Sites, and Financial Educators

Avoiding the Numbers Game Heads or Tails The Question You Must Ask to Protect Yourself

Chapter 14: Pitches They All Use to Sacrifice Your Life

Dumbfounded by Questioning The Fallacy of Risk Tolerance in Setting Asset Allocation The “Risk Tolerance” Game False Precision Be Careful of Making Needless Sacrifices to Your Life We Have New Information and a New Confidence Level Preparing for Bad Markets Takes More Than Simulating Them

Chapter 15: Resources to Protect Yourself

The Root of the Problem Isn’t There a Law Against This? Places to Go to Learn the Truth

Conclusion Appendix A: The Other Millionaire You Make with 2.5 Percent Excess Fees Appendix B: The Other Millionaire You Make with 1.5 Percent Excess Fees About the Author Index