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The purpose of this book is to help investors better understand the global financial landscape and how to best take advantage of the multitude of investment opportunities it provides. Although I have tried to make this book truly global and avoid any form of regional bias, I have referenced most data in US dollars throughout the book as a base currency due to its continued prominence in world finance.

Part One discusses why the most effective way to build wealth is through business ownership. In Chapter 1 we explore why actively selecting good, publicly traded businesses from around the world is the optimal way to obtain business ownership. We also touch on some of the greatest impediments to investment success and why thinking like a business owner can help you weather the toughest stock market environments. We conclude by sharing the characteristics that define a good business.

Part Two focuses on the global investment opportunity, including what is driving those opportunities and the implications for investors. Chapter 2 provides a history of the global economy and how we came to live in the digital age. We look at areas of the world where economic wealth is most likely to be created in the future and some of the spin-off effects of that wealth. Chapter 3 discusses world trade patterns, how trade is conducted, and what risks exist within the global supply chain network. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the world's financial markets and why they are critical to the global economy and everyday life for each of us. A special emphasis is placed on the world's stock exchanges and equity markets.

Part Three examines the key risks involved with investing globally, including market cycle risk, currency risk, and geopolitical risk, as well as how to manage those risks. Chapter 5 discusses how market cycles are driven by the economic cycle, the risks that market cycles pose for investors, and how to best manage these risks. We also examine bear markets and suggest some measures that may provide a warning sign to investors that a bull market is nearing its end. Of particular importance is how to prepare for the inevitable periods when share prices fall significantly. The reader will learn that for an investor who is prepared, these “bear markets” are beneficial because they provide an opportunity to build even more ownership in good businesses. Chapter 6 discusses the benefits and risks associated with investing in stocks denominated in a foreign currency. Chapter 7 reviews different forms of geopolitical risk, how those risks can impact your investments, and how to best mitigate those risks.

Part Four discusses how to analyze companies and identify good businesses. Chapter 8 provides a detailed process for analyzing potential investment opportunities by assessing their earnings sustainability, growth prospects, valuation, investment risk, and balance sheet strength. We also review how a detailed analysis of a company's profitability can aid investors in making better investment decisions, how to assess acquisitions made by the companies you own, and the importance of returning capital to shareholders.

Part Five provides the reader with a primer on each of the world's major sectors and industries. Chapters 9 through 19 provide an overview of 11 global sectors and 91 major global industries. Each chapter is focused on a single global market sector and its constituent industries, specifically communication services, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials, healthcare, industrials, materials, technology, real estate, and utilities. Companies are grouped into sectors and industries based on common drivers of profitability and sales growth. We explore key trends affecting each sector and industry, provide examples of global companies operating in each industry, and describe how to evaluate and compare these businesses.

The last section of the book, Part Six, brings all of the previous material together and reveals how to construct a portfolio of great businesses from around the world. It also provides some helpful tools and resources that every investor should keep on their radar screen. Chapter 20 reveals how to construct a portfolio of great businesses that will help you build wealth over time as well as protect that wealth during times of market weakness. The Conclusion provides a recap of the most important lessons I have learned in the course of my investing career with the hope that they will help you prosper in yours. Finally, at the end of the book you will find some indispensable tools and resources to help guide you on your global investing journey.