Last night before leaving the university, I swung by the library and got some books on personal finance. While I was perusing through them on the subway ride home, I was struck by Adriane G. Berg’s Your Wealth Building Years. The author, Berg, is originally an attorney from New York, who it appears had a knack for writing and public speaking. So, she’s currently making a living as an consultant and speaker, her webpage is here.
Your Wealth Building Years is mostly for those who are 21 to 35, so its perfect for many new couples or people who are beginning to think about investing. While much of the content can be found elsewhere, Berg’s writing style gives the reader the feeling of being advised by a knowledgeable advocate who has your best interest in mind. In addition, Berg provides a expanded discussion of estate planning and ways to manage the psychology of building wealth. Both of these topics are typically lacking in most introductory books.
A major drawback of the book is that its old. The book was published in 1986 and hasn’t keep up with legal and accounting changes since the mid 1980s. For example, the book lacks a discussion of Roth IRA’s, and the tax rates she discusses have changed a great deal.
All in all, I’m giving the book two thumbs up. Its two decades old, but its a joy to read and is useful, so its probably worth some time tracking down a copy. You can pick one up for dirt cheap on amazon.com.
Best,
James
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