Summary of Mike Piper's Investing Made Simple

Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Index funds are a type of mutual fund that mimic the performance of a specific index. They are designed to simply reflect the value of a group of investments. There are indexes that track just about everything, and more are being created every year. #2 Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are all forms of investing. Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Bond investors seek to make money through the receipt of interest payments made by the borrower. #3 A traditional IRA is an investment account with some additional benefits and restrictions. When you contribute money to a traditional IRA, you usually get a tax deduction for the amount of the contribution. #4 There are restrictions on both the deduction you get for investing in your IRA and on your ability to withdraw money from your IRA. Any withdrawals before age 591⁄2 will be subject to an extra 10 percent tax.