"Provides basic consumer finance information about identifying personal goals and the financial tools to achieve them, managing investments, and avoiding fraud. Includes index, glossary, and related resources"--Provided by publisher.

Identifying your financial goals -- Dream it and achieve it: how to set and attain financial goals -- How to budget and save -- Financial security: a roadmap -- Insurance helps protect your assets -- Young adults: a to-do list for ages and stages of money management -- Couples and money -- Financing college -- Financing retirement -- Receiving a financial windfall -- Estate planning -- Learning about financial tools -- What determines interest rates? -- Cash investments -- Investing in bonds -- Certificates of deposit (CDs) -- U.S. Treasury Securities -- Municipal bonds -- Investing in stocks -- Microcap stocks -- Initial public offerings (IPOs) -- Exchange traded options -- Convertible securities -- Mutual funds -- Exchange traded funds (ETFs) -- Closed-end funds and unit investment trusts -- Real estate investment trusts (REITs) -- Annuities -- Hedge funds -- Speculation in futures contracts: opportunity and risk -- Taking action -- What you should know about financial planning -- Tips for checking out brokers and investment advisors -- Investing basics -- Finding money to invest -- Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing -- Keys to being a smarter investor -- How you can avoid the biggest investor mistakes -- How to get and understand financial statements, corporate reports, and other information for investors -- How you can learn more about foreign companies and markets -- Understanding market indices -- Understanding closing prices -- Analyzing analyst recommendations -- Trade execution: what every investor should know -- Holding your securities -- Direct investment plans (DRIPs) -- Periodic payment plans can be an expensive way to invest -- Margin: borrowing money to pay for stocks -- Market volatility procedures and trading suspensions -- After-hours trading: understanding the risks -- Day trading: your dollars at risk -- When does "investing" become a gambling problem? -- Avoiding fraud and unscrupulous practices -- How to avoid investment fraud -- Outrageous advertising: beware -- Precious metals and other commodities: beware of unrealistic promises -- Mini-tender offers: proceed with caution -- Mutual company conversions: abuse potential -- Junk faxes -- Identity theft -- Safeguarding online brokerage accounts -- Internet investment scams -- Phishing fraud -- "Wrong numbers" and stock tips on your answering machine -- Pump and dump schemes -- Promissory note fraud -- Pyramid and ponzi schemes -- Worthless stock swap scams -- Foreign currency trading frauds -- Additional help and information -- Glossary of investment terms -- A directory of finance information resources -- A directory of investor protection services agencies -- Index.