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All about Asset Allocation
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WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTING FOR YOUR FUTURE, THERE'S ONLY ONE SURE BET--ASSET ALLOCATION THE EASY WAY TO GET STARTED Everything You Need to Know About How To: Implement a smart asset allocation strategy Diversify your investments with stocks, bonds, real estate, and other classes Change your allocation and lock in gains
Trying to outwit the market is a bad gamble. If you're ...more
Trying to outwit the market is a bad gamble. If you're ...more
ebook, Second Edition, 336 pages
Published
July 12th 2010
by McGraw-Hill Education
(first published September 15th 2005)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)

Nov 19, 2011
Chad Warner
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
investors
Recommended to Chad by:
The Index Investing Show
Shelves:
finance,
non-fiction
The best book I’ve read on asset allocation. It’s a practical guide to constructing a portfolio based on modern portfolio theory (MPT). Full of recent data (2010), studies, charts and graphs, it’s relatively easy to read, but better for intermediate investors, not beginners.
Research shows that about 90% of portfolio performance depends on asset allocation. I liked the point that the goal of investing isn't to get rich; it's to not get poor. Ferri’s advice: don’t try to outguess the markets, but ...more
Research shows that about 90% of portfolio performance depends on asset allocation. I liked the point that the goal of investing isn't to get rich; it's to not get poor. Ferri’s advice: don’t try to outguess the markets, but ...more

Книга хорошо готовит читателя к инвестициям, особенно новичка который планирует куда-то вкладывать средства. В основном рассмотрены инструменты и примеры для долгосрочных стратегий от 3-5 лет и более.
Все выводы и рекомендации автора подкреплены статистикой и графиками с рынка. Особенно понравилось, что уделено внимание, что инвесторы бывают разные и важно понимать куда ты отнесёшь себя. Пенсионер, молодой и зрелый инвестор сильно отличаются в подходе и как собирать свой индивидуальный портфель ...more
Все выводы и рекомендации автора подкреплены статистикой и графиками с рынка. Особенно понравилось, что уделено внимание, что инвесторы бывают разные и важно понимать куда ты отнесёшь себя. Пенсионер, молодой и зрелый инвестор сильно отличаются в подходе и как собирать свой индивидуальный портфель ...more

Ferri has been extremely helpful in my financial education. Although I have read most of his material online, I decided to read this book to see if it would be a good read for some of my students and family members.
I think that every person should familiarize themselves with strategic asset allocation and passive index investing. I prefer a simple portfolio that I control and this book is helpful in helping you develop a asset allocation that meets your goals.
One critique, he could of more sim ...more
I think that every person should familiarize themselves with strategic asset allocation and passive index investing. I prefer a simple portfolio that I control and this book is helpful in helping you develop a asset allocation that meets your goals.
One critique, he could of more sim ...more

This was a really helpful book that added a lot to my investment knowledge and helped me know how to make a plan for my future. I highly recommend it to anybody looking to better understand all the jargon about different types of assets and what they do and how to choose which ones might be appropriate for your portfolio.
Here are the notes I took for myself as I read, much of which is taken frum summarized points at the beginning of each chapter of the book.
Investment planning is critical to lon ...more
Here are the notes I took for myself as I read, much of which is taken frum summarized points at the beginning of each chapter of the book.
Investment planning is critical to lon ...more

I took my time with this book to absorb all the data. This is an excellent overview of the theory of asset allocation with plenty of examples mixed in. Highly recommended as a follow on to Intelligent Asset Allocator.
The first part of the book goes over the different asset classes in detail with a lot of examples. Then correlation is covered, showing how weakly correlated asset classes combined in a portfolio can reduce risk and increase return.
The end of the book is a little rushed. It covers ( ...more
The first part of the book goes over the different asset classes in detail with a lot of examples. Then correlation is covered, showing how weakly correlated asset classes combined in a portfolio can reduce risk and increase return.
The end of the book is a little rushed. It covers ( ...more

I've read many books on investing and this is the book I would recommend that a new investor read before any others. It may be the only book on the subject they will ever need. The author does a great job of de-mystifying "modern portfolio theory" and providing practical advice on how to apply the research knowledge as an individual investor. His explanation of the technical support for allocation of investment dollars by specific asset classes is the best I've found. It won't satisfy someone wh
...more

Fine refresher on asset allocation and rebalancing. The discussion of taxes and fees is quite clear and helpful. I liked the overview of asset classes and related low cost funds, as well as the discussion of life cycle considerations. The prose is not very inspiring but the language is clear. If you are new to the topic, I would suggest Bernstein's books instead.

With the current banking crisis and volatile markets, many investors are facing a lot of stress. Unfortunately, they may feel even more panicked if they are watching CNBC or listening to their brokers instead of doing their own research and developing a long-term strategy that will give them confidence during market downturns. In his book, "All About Asset Allocation," author Richard A. Ferri (a portfolio manager, professor of finance, and Chartered Financial Analyst) gives readers the investing
...more

This book could be really good but unfortunately is let down in a few areas.
Rick has a good, consistent way of demonstrating and measuring the advantages of diversifying between different asset types. In doing so he also gives a good explanation of modern portfolio theory and the "efficient frontier".
Here's where it falls short:
It is myopically written for Americans. While I can understand that the author might want to stick to the environment and laws with which he is familiar, it would have at ...more
Rick has a good, consistent way of demonstrating and measuring the advantages of diversifying between different asset types. In doing so he also gives a good explanation of modern portfolio theory and the "efficient frontier".
Here's where it falls short:
It is myopically written for Americans. While I can understand that the author might want to stick to the environment and laws with which he is familiar, it would have at ...more

How does this book maintain such a good review average? While it contains a few good pieces of information, the writing is absolutely horrible.
The entire book reads like a high school student essay. You know the type - where the student has to repeat their thesis and main points ad nauseam. This book could be trimmed to less than half its current length and not lose any valuable information. And never mind all the spelling and grammatical mistakes too... (How is this the book's second edition an ...more
The entire book reads like a high school student essay. You know the type - where the student has to repeat their thesis and main points ad nauseam. This book could be trimmed to less than half its current length and not lose any valuable information. And never mind all the spelling and grammatical mistakes too... (How is this the book's second edition an ...more

This is the best nuts-and-bolts investing book I've read. There are a lot of investing books out there that explain how investing works, but they come up short when it comes to explaining exactly how to put together an investment portfolio. This book is the opposite. It focuses entirely on putting together a portfolio, explaining what pieces are needed and why, but it assumes the reader has a general understanding.
This book is based on passive investing and Modern Portfolio Theory, so if you're ...more
This book is based on passive investing and Modern Portfolio Theory, so if you're ...more

A nice, not too difficult read, with plenty of charts and figures but not too much real math or deep theory.
I like how Modern Portfolio Theory was introduced in the 1950's, with Harry Markowitz's "Portfolio Selection". And yet so many people still don't know about it (I didn't, this time last year).
The first part of the book briefly introduces asset allocation. The second and largest part is an overview of the major asset classes. The last section discusses portfolio management principles.
Ferri ...more
I like how Modern Portfolio Theory was introduced in the 1950's, with Harry Markowitz's "Portfolio Selection". And yet so many people still don't know about it (I didn't, this time last year).
The first part of the book briefly introduces asset allocation. The second and largest part is an overview of the major asset classes. The last section discusses portfolio management principles.
Ferri ...more

Excellent book that should be read before you start investing. I'd pair this book w/ The Boglehead's Guide to Investing. They both subscribe to John Bogle's philosophy on investing, and both provide strategy to accomplish this.
I wouldn't say this one differs from Bogglehead's Guide to Investing as much as I would say it adds to it. Where the former covers everything from beginning to end, All About Asset Allocation goes deeper (without getting bogged down in minutia) into how to select the types ...more
I wouldn't say this one differs from Bogglehead's Guide to Investing as much as I would say it adds to it. Where the former covers everything from beginning to end, All About Asset Allocation goes deeper (without getting bogged down in minutia) into how to select the types ...more

Provides analysis of various asset allocation strategies, teaching the basics of Modern Portfolio Theory, and delving into the numbers, showing how different strategies have perform ed both in nominal and real terms. Includes analysis of rather esoteric asset classes (precious metals, fine art, hedge funds, etc.), but focuses on the basics (stocks, bonds, REITs, both national and international).
Ferri closes the book with recommendations for asset allocation for people in different age groups wit ...more
Ferri closes the book with recommendations for asset allocation for people in different age groups wit ...more

I'm working my way through William Bernstein's reading list from the "If You Can" pamphlet.
"All About Asset Allocation" is an excellent introduction to Modern Portfolio Theory. There is a good discussion of the characteristics of various asset classes, volatility reduction using asset classes that are not perfectly correlated, as well as some guidance about which asset classes are not worth using at all (i.e. gold and commodities).
I don't agree with 100% of the recommendations (i.e. I don't thin ...more
"All About Asset Allocation" is an excellent introduction to Modern Portfolio Theory. There is a good discussion of the characteristics of various asset classes, volatility reduction using asset classes that are not perfectly correlated, as well as some guidance about which asset classes are not worth using at all (i.e. gold and commodities).
I don't agree with 100% of the recommendations (i.e. I don't thin ...more

I've been a Boglehead for over ten years now, and have read many of Rick Ferri's articles on finance. This is the first of his books that I've read; and I am impressed. The subject matter is one that interests me; and I found Ferri's analysis to be clear and easily understandable.
He presents the fundamental concepts of modern portfolio theory clearly; supported by multiple charts and graphs. He simplifies the more complex ideas for the nontechnical reader, but does not get so simplistic as to "g ...more
He presents the fundamental concepts of modern portfolio theory clearly; supported by multiple charts and graphs. He simplifies the more complex ideas for the nontechnical reader, but does not get so simplistic as to "g ...more

This book is a good introduction to asset allocation. It contains many examples and detailed numbers about correlation and past performance of many asset classes. I read this book after The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing and it really helped me feel confident about my asset allocation strategy. This is the perfect book if you want an in depth, but approachable analysis of the different asset classes available to the retail investor.

Very good coverage of the basics. At times he is more detail oriented than I am. Recommended an emergency cash fund in retirement with 2 years cash. Other than that point, not nearly so conservative as post subprime Bernstein. My recollection is that he even notes some investors may be at 70% equity in retirement.
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“The category of small-cap value represents approximately 3 percent of the capitalization of the broad U.S. market.”
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“Investors who followed a broadly diversified asset allocation that included a total market fund and a small value index fund would have faired very well during the past decade.”
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