About the Authors

Ken Little is the stock investing writer for About.com and the author of 12 books on personal finance topics, including Teach Yourself Investing in 24 Easy Lessons. His relaxed and informative style helps readers understand complex financial topics in a way that removes the fear factor that often accompanies tackling complex investment topics. In addition to being a personal finance author, Ken was the chief financial writer for a large mutual fund and has been a consultant to several large financial services companies. He’s also served as the business editor of a major daily newspaper and vice president of marketing for a large financial services company.

The Quick List of What You’ll Learn

• Owning individual stocks offers the potential for long-term wealth creation.

• The ultimate key to success is buying the right stock at the right price and letting it create wealth over time.

• Always invest in the business rather than the stock.

• Have a set plan for buying and selling your stocks.

• Understand the risk and reward relationship—they can’t be separated.

• How to use a stock screen—your most important tool.

• How to read financial statements and what they tell you.

• Size matters when investing in stocks.

• How to determine the right price for a stock.

• When to sell is as important as when to buy a stock.

• Asset allocation is your most important decision for long-term success.

• Building a portfolio that fits your financial goals and tolerance for risk.

• How to pick and work with a stockbroker.

• Using trailing stops and other orders to protect your portfolio.

• Common mistakes investors in the stock market make and how to avoid them.