Few words strike terror into the average person’s heart like “retirement investment planning.” Like meditation and exercise, it is universally acknowledged as a wise thing to do, but most books on investment strategy plunge the reader into a bewildering cloud of financial jargon and percentage signs. THE ALL-WEATHER RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO, by Randy L. Thurman, offers a straightforward and lucid guide to this complex topic that the most apprehensive novice will find understandable.
Thurman, a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, and Personal Financial Specialist, brings over 35 years of experience in asset management and retirement planning to this book, which is geared towards readers—primarily close to retirement age, though its advice is valuable for anyone—whose foremost concern is not so much wealth generation as a safe, worry-free retirement. Thurman presents his strategy through the metaphor of travel to describe his readers’ retirement years: “like any successful journey it requires a good map, smart navigation, and a sensible route.” The book offers a conservative, prudent approach designed to create a portfolio sturdy enough to weather any economic condition, covering every stage of the process from planning to long-term maintenance.
This second edition of THE ALL-WEATHER RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO has been updated to include a broader analysis of financial strategies and a greater emphasis on developing a sturdy portfolio (one that can ride out “the worst financial storms.”) It is divided into four parts: identifying and clarifying the investor’s goals and current situation; an introduction to investment types and basic concepts; the nitty-gritty of designing a retirement portfolio; and resources for finding the right financial adviser. The heart of Thurman’s guide is a self-assessment to help determine the reader’s overall investing philosophy, using two fundamental questions—”Can I time the market?” and “Can I spot the hot investments?”—that will identify their ability or willingness to anticipate market trends and spot lucrative opportunities. Thurman offers an optimal strategy for each investment style and runs it through a “perfect financial storm,” a 40-year time frame representing an era of catastrophic financial conditions. By showing how each strategy would fare through these worst-case scenarios, readers can not only plot the course best suited to their goals, but may do so with peace of mind.
THE ALL-WEATHER RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO packs a great deal of information into a slim volume, but Thurman’s explanations are clear and easily understood, thanks to his long experience with walking inexperienced clients through the intricacies of investment principles. While more experienced readers may find it somewhat basic, this book is an excellent starting point for anyone seeking a user-friendly and comprehensive handbook on retirement investment.
Randy L. Thurman’s THE ALL-WEATHER RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO offers a straightforward and lucid guide to financial planning that the most apprehensive novice will find understandable. While more experienced readers may find it somewhat basic, this book is an excellent starting point for anyone seeking a user-friendly and comprehensive handbook on retirement investment.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader
