Index Investing For Dummies

Index Investing for Dummies will help you learn about the following:

• What are index funds, anyway? ― learn how index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds work and their advantages over other funds

• Evaluate your index fund choices ― from stocks and bonds to commodities and real estate, understand the risks and rewards

• Make the right investing moves ― discover your investing style, your connection to the market, and your long-term financial needs

• Develop your portfolio blueprint ― decide how many funds you need, where to house them, and whether to mix index funds with other investments

• Manage your money wisely ― disaster-proof your portfolio, correct your mistakes, and get help from the pros if you need it (but tread carefully!)

• Ensure happy returns ― see how to maintain a smooth-running, age-appropriate, profitable portfolio for years to come

Open the book and find:

• Clear explanations of index funds ― and why they work

• How to avoid the temptation to beat the markets

• Evaluations of popular index funds ― the best and the worst

• Sample portfolios, from conservative to aggressive

• Lists of index mutual funds and ETFs

• Web resources that help you stay up-to-date

• A Q&A with John Bogle, founder of Vanguard

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: The (Mostly) Nonviolent Indexing Revolution

• Chapter 1: What Indexing Is . . . and Isn’t

• Chapter 2: A Short History of the Index and Index Investing

• Chapter 3: Why Indexing Works — and Works So Darned Well

• Chapter 4: Why Everyone Isn’t Indexing

• Chapter 5: A New Era Begins: ETFs and Alternative Indexes

Part II: Getting to Know Your Index Fund Choices

• Chapter 6: The Basic Index Investing Components

• Chapter 7: Investing in Stock Indexes: Your Gateway to Growth

• Chapter 8: Investing in Bond Indexes: Protecting Your Principal

• Chapter 9: Diversifying Your Portfolio with Commodity, REIT, and Other Indexes

Part III: Drawing a Blueprint for Your Index Portfolio

• Chapter 10: Finding a Happy Home for Your Money

• Chapter 11: Developing Your Broad Investment Goals

• Chapter 12: Fine-Tuning Your Index Selections

• Chapter 13: Mixing and Matching Passive and Active Investing

• Chapter 14: Making Your Final Investment Decisions

• Chapter 15: A Bevy of Sample Index Portfolios

Part IV: Ensuring Happy Returns

• Chapter 16: Buying and Holding: Boring, But It Really Works

• Chapter 17: Seeking Additional Assistance from Professionals . . . Carefully

Part V: The Part of Tens

• Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Deal with the Temptation to Beat the Market

• Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Screw Up a Perfectly Good Index Portfolio

• Chapter 20: Ten Q & As with John Bogle, Father of Index Investing

Part VI: Appendixes

Appendix A: A Select List of Index Mutual Funds

Appendix B: A Select List of Exchange-Traded Funds

Appendix C: Helpful Web Resources for the Smart Index Investor

Index